(a/n): Hello! I'm back!!! Whew! I was sick this whole week and I feel absolutely better and ready to write more! I am really glad you liked the last chapter. Like I have said before, the plot it starting to play. Well this chapter will include a match and some explanation from Trinity. What will Dess do? Will he rip out Zack's guts? Will he give up on Trinity or will he still love her? Oh and lets not forget what will Zack do with the red team. But first here are some thank yous to my reviewers!

Slash The Ironman: I'm glad you like how my story's plot twisted. I didn't expect you to like it. But hey, seems like your enjoying it. That's good news. And yeah, your right, no body likes Dess anymore. Poor Dessloch, poor, poor Dessloch. Not to worry, he'll get his vengeance and his bride. ^_~. Hope you keep reading.

Fun: I am so glad you like it. Don't worry. Remember I'm dedicating the end to you, so no worries. I know you love Trish and Dess. I love them too. Complications are always needed to make a good plot. Well keep reading because you will like the ending. It is so sweet! It makes me tear sometime! Tear in a good way.

Cough: Hello! Yeah I know, most of my chapters contain cliffhangers but, hey, don't mind me. I just love cliffhangers. I don't know why. Although I don't like when a book is ending with a cliffhanger. Anyway not to worry, the end of the book is not going to be a cliffhanger, okay? Oh and more matches are coming up! Enjoy!

Well onto the story and most importantly, ENJOY! ^_^

Chapter18: Normandy Shoreline

            Dessloch was washing his face with cold water in the bathroom. He was experiencing many feelings at once and didn't feel good at all. Zack, once a good friend but then betrayed Dessloch, was now also Trinity's personal trainer in tactics and weapons. He was completely speechless and he doesn't know what to say. He loves her, he knows that for sure and because of that his heart aches. He never thought he would love anyone, ever. But when he was proven wrong he now feels the pain of love. Truth and love hurt a lot but the worst part is that he never saw it coming.

            Dessloch turned off the water and wiped his face on a clean towel and walked out. The quarters were empty. The whole team went their separate ways for now. They should be back in a few hours for a meeting. Dess decided to stay because he didn't want to go anywhere.

            He thought about all the things he shared with Trish. He really thought they really had something in between them. He couldn't believe it but there was something between them. The problem is, is that he never expect it to break like that, easily. Why did Trinity even allow him if she was with Zack? Maybe it wasn't as serious as he thought or maybe it was. Why didn't anyone tell him? He feels so pathetic.

            Dessloch shook his head from his thoughts quickly. What is he thinking about? He is a warrior; he shouldn't worry about these things. He is a grown up man and he should worry about more important things. But then, he just misses her. He just misses her voice, her touch, everything. He got so used to be with her, it became like a drug. He became addicted and now he can't get her out of his head.

            Dessloch ran his fingers through his hair to cool himself. He'll need to talk to her. No way will some punk take her away from him. She is part of him now and he won't allow it. Zack didn't deserve her. He didn't at all.

            "Luther? You okay?" Dess looked up at Boris who sat next to him. "You're early." Dessloch said as he looked away. "Yeah, well I got bored." Boris was a good guy, his best pal, anyway. Luther decided to talk to him about the matches to get his mind off things. "The match starts soon." Boris nodded. "Yeah, I heard it's going to be the last. Dunno whom we are fighting against though."

            Like they ever knew whom they fight against. Most of the time it was a surprise, sometimes it wasn't. Dessloch got used to it. "I see she's still on your mind." Luther looked at Boris surprised. "Am I that really easy to read?" He asked as he buried his head into his hands. Boris chuckled and patted him on the back. "She's a good woman, I can tell you that. And yeah, I know you for a long time, you are easy to read." Dessloch shrugged and sat back.

            "She always surprises me, you know. I can never guess what she's thinking. I mean I would have never guessed Zack and Trish knew each other." Luther said in a sad way. "I have to agree. She's not an easy woman, Luther. But good things are always hard to get. You have to learn that." Luther thought about what he has said and didn't feel better at all. He already knows that. He just doesn't think he's good enough anymore. "Why don't you go see her?" Dess' eyes widened. "Are you serious?" He watched Boris nod. "Go on. Talk to her. I'm sure she never meant to do this to you. She just didn't want you to hurt her friend. Maybe she didn't want to lie to you anymore." Dessloch played with the idea a little longer. "Alright." He stood up. "I guess it's worth a try." Boris nodded and Dessloch left.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

            Zack was with his team in the Lift Hallway. This is their last match. He heard it takes in the last assault map area. Zack was still shocked from Luther. He never expected to meet him here. He didn't even know he was here. Zack admits it. It was his fault that Luther was arrested but if he hasn't captured him, the League would have killed him. He knows it. The League does not ask questions. If prisoners run, they shoot them, as easy as that.

            His throat hurt like hell since his little encounter with Luther. This tournament has sharpened Luther's skills. He can feel it. Luther used to be so young and skeptical about ways of attacking. Now he is mostly like a monster whose adrenaline had leaked out. The tournament has made him stronger but it has weakened his soul. At least Luther used to be a kid with feelings, now he was a machine. Zack knew it was his fault, but he wouldn't bare Luther to be dead. If the kid still hates him or not, he will still try his best to help him. It was his duty and still is.

            "The match starts soon, are you ready?" Ivana asked him interrupting his thoughts. Zack nodded in return and double-checked his armor. Zack didn't beat himself up much over Luther's change. At least he still got feelings. Any idiot will guess that there is something going on between Trinity and Luther. Not that he cares but he knows Trish for a long time. He doesn't want her to get hurt by Luther because Luther needs to change a little first. Maybe he needs to spend more time with her.

            Zack didn't know exactly so he doesn't much care. All he knows is that he will protect Trinity from anyone. He knows her true identity too. That's why he needs to help her. He knew her father well. Her father had taught him lots of stuff, and he was grateful. Now its time to fulfill a promise he promised to the old man.

            Zack was a much older man, then Trish. He is a man of thirty-five years with more than halve of his years as a soldier and a veteran. He counted Trinity as his younger sister somehow. He has never felt like falling in love with her but maybe because she was young. Right now she is a beautiful young woman and very attractive. Not that it bothers Zack; it's just that he always looked at her as a sibling. He knew he would always look at her that way. 

            The past that haunts Zack is not the only thing. But his experience as well. Zack once loved someone, dearly. He would give his life for her. But something wrong has happened. The Skraaj attacked the city she has lived. It was terrible, absolutely terrible. After that Zack could not allow himself to be loved. And that is why he cares for Trinity so much. He wants her to have a fulfilling life and a happy one.

            "Welcome to yet another assault match of the Unreal Tournament. Today our contestants are going to battle in the Overlord! This map takes place in Normandy during World War II defenses, a perfect place for our contestant to go head to head. Today, the two teams are the legendary Dark Phalanx and the THUNDER CRASH team!!!" The crowds cheered at the name Thunder Crash. He has heard of it. It's a team where Malcom is; he was the one who won second place in the Statistic of the Tournament. This is going to be a hard match. A very hard match.

            The two teams went onto the stadium. As always, roars and cheers filled the giant oval-like stadium. Zack was the last to be on his team, since he joined a few weeks ago. "Lets wish them a good luck." "You worried?" Zack looked at his teammate, Gorn who has asked him. "Not really, just going to try to do my best." Gorn nodded.

            Gorn was one of those hotshots. He fought cool and tried to sound cool but he didn't look no where cool. His face was practically destroyed from a certain match and now he has metallic implants on both of his eyes and some other parts of his face. Laser dots beamed from the implants as his eyes, making it scary to look at. He said something about his senses failing and that these implants helped him with his sight and a few other senses like smelling and hearing.

            Zack, of all the years in the army, never heard of such a method. And he didn't want to know how they did it to him. "Malcom is one of the toppest players, you know?" Gorn whispered. "Yeah I know." Zack pulled his gloves on tighter and was ready to fight. He heard Ivana slam on the button and they slowly appeared in Normandy Beach.

            "You have 10 minutes to assault the base and destroy the assault cannon by destroying the controls in the control room. You will encounter many passages that run underground and heavy resistance from machine guns and two cannons and one main cannon. Use extreme caution. Remember you must defend this base for as long as it will take you taking it. Good Luck!" The female computer voice has said and Zack appeared in the vessel with all of them. "Alright, everyone. Assault the base. Teamwork is extreme important. Move out." "Yes sir." They acknowledged and went out onto the Normandy Shoreline, picking up the sniper rifle and minigun.

            Zack peaked his head out as he was ordered to go first and found himself headless. "Die." He heard a woman's voice ring into his earphone. Strangely, Zack didn't feel pain this time. He reappeared in the vessel and the whole team stared at him. "Okay, looks like they have good snipers. Zack you snipe them as we will proceed." Zack nodded and picked up his sniper rifle and took deep breath as his team left.

            Zack picked his targets off one by one and then when it was clear he ran for it, dodging the cannons, making sure he still had his two feet with him. Zack finally entered the tunnel and picked up some ammo on the way. He heard his teammates get slaughtered as he saw flak and bullets crossfire from both sides. Zack's jaw dropped to the floor. There are five people there and not one person could run through them. This was just a joke.

            Zack gripped his rifle and carefully crouched as he spotted Riker. He aimed and shot but Riker ducked the minute he heard the blast from his rifle. Zack cursed himself quietly and crawled closer. Just then Malcom jumped down and started to fire his flak cannon at him. Zack changed his weapon to a minigun and backpedaled as he returned fire but Zack was diminished.

            Zack appeared in the vessel again and he was really shocked. They expect them to get past the snipers, past the automatic machine guns, and then the cannons. Then all they give you is some ammo and expect you to cross the oblivion the team has created in the boiler room. This is beyond crazy.

            Zack took the sniper and minigun again as he went for another try. Zack sniped Azure who was sniping with…a rocket launcher and past the defenses. Before he reached the boiler room, it seemed his team went past that crossfire. Which was a good thing, he didn't want to get his head blown off in that place.

            Zack caught up to his team where Nikita and Ivana is and followed through the hallway and onto a ramp with yellow lights beaming down. He went out into an open area and stopped dead when he heard his teammate, Gorn get fragged. Zack quickly identified the sniper and backpedaled to where he came from and hid behind the wall. He took his sniper out and careful slid into view as he aimed for Aryss' head. It took one shot to kill this one and he was relieved.

            He didn't say anything in return. He thought it was too cruel, these people didn't deserve this he knew it. As sniping skills came back to him from the wars he fought, he carefully crawled and scanned all the bridges up top. He found Riker's face and quickly pulled the trigger, forcing his face to get swallowed by the skull. "Oh, yeah." He said, happy that this time he died in one shot.

            He carefully pressed forward. He found lots of enemies as he sniped them one by one but then he has realized that they will be coming forever. He quickly ran forward when they were busy fighting with his team and Malcom shot him hard in the chest. Zack rolled away and picked up some health in the middle of the bridges. "Malcom is on killing spree." The announcer has said. Zack snorted. Of course. Standing on the highest point and shooting anything that moves. Zack tightened his grip and slowly started to go up the bridge.

            Zack hid behind the boxes as Riker discovered him and got his sniper ready. His heart was racing and he felt heavy sweat come down his whole body. It was very hot in this place and a lot of fire is being exchanged. Wonder if he will win this match because it hardly seems like it.

            Zack peeked out and lots of people fired at him. He quickly found one head and blew into bloody chunks of brains. Seems like Othello (Thunder Crash member not Shakespeare's character. Okay? Okay. ). Zack knew he was wasting his time with this and that it was worthless because he needs to go up there quickly, before the time runs out.

            Zack changed his position and went directly below the control room so some people didn't see him. "5 minutes remaining." Shit, shit, shit! Zack thought as he took another breath. He quickly decimated Aryss who was running up the ramp and he started to run. He quickly ran up the ramp and changed his weapon to a minigun and followed the rounded bridge.

            Riker met his face with a rocket launcher and fired at him. Zack flew into a wall in one piece and he was still alive. Zack swore that he saw Riker smile as he aimed at him. "Die, bitch." He called out to him as he fired of another shot. Zack didn't hesitate as he rolled to his side and then forward and straight into Riker. The impact of the missile missed them completely as they rolled of the bridge. Zack got a hold of the edge as Riker held onto his foot.

            If they are going to fall, Zack knew he would die. He feels that he is weak, too weak to fall that distance. Zack started to pull up but Riker pushed him down. Zack held his grip. He felt someone step above him and it was Azure as she pointed Flak Cannon in his face. "You're not so great now." She said with a smile which was disreputably spoiled by Ivana's minigun. The blood spilled on Zack's face and he couldn't see well with the red in his eyes. "I'm sorry did I blow your head apart?" She taunted and came up to Zack and fired at Riker, making holes in his face and skull that burst open with the brain splattering across Zack's boots. He pulled himself up and brushed the blood off his eyes.

            "You have to be careful, you know?" He thanked her and they both ran up to where was Malcom. He was a smart fellow. He was completely hidden behind the wall except for his hands and head. He spotted them and shot at Ivana and they both ducked. "All right, listen. We can't wait forever soon his teammates are going to come. I will cover you. You go and deal with him, understood?" Zack nodded and quickly passed a small distance and was on the same side as Malcom.

            Malcom couldn't see him because of the short angle they were at. Zack clutched his shoulder as a bullet was buried beyond his armor. He looked at Ivana and she had problems defending on her own because they just kept coming. But where are his teammates? Are they that easy to kill?

            Zack shook it off and quietly went along the wall Malcom was hiding behind. Zack didn't have much energy left in him and he knew he had to do it fast and fiercely. He picked up a Flak Cannon from a corpse which seemed like Othello (Thunder Crash member. Okay? Okay.) and took a deep breath. He saw Nikita climbing the bridges. Zack nearly jumped out of his skin when he heard Malcom fired at Nikita. He got her in her back and she fell.

            Zack acted quickly when he saw the barrel of the sniper was in view. Before he got off another shot Zack grabbed the rifle and pushed it up, causing Malcom to fire at the ceiling. Malcom hit him with his foot and Zack fell on the bridge, his head peaking out the edge. Malcom put a foot on him as he aimed the sniper straight at his face. Zack pushed the sniper up again and pushed him off with his legs.

            Malcom backed off and aimed at Zack's head as Zack kicked his sniper aside quickly. Zack rolled forward and tackled Malcom, pushing the sniper from his hands. They rolled into the control room and Zack stood up to break the controls with his foot when Malcom tripped him and crawled onto him and punched him hard in the face as he then reached out for the sniper, turning his back on Zack. "One minute remaining." The announcer boomed inside Zack's ear. Zack got on his knees and threw his hands around the front of Malcom's neck and forced him to the floor as he began choking him.

            Malcom elbowed him in the face twice and Zack let go of him. Malcom stood up with his sniper aimed straight at him. "Good-bye." He said and cocked his sniper. As right on time Zack kicked it from his hands and it landed on the controls. Malcom was angered as he lunged himself at Zack. They both rolled and Zack got on top of Malcom and punched him hard. Malcom put his two feet on Zack's chest and pushed him back into the wall and then tripped him. Zack fell and his heart raced. "Thirty seconds remaining." Zack quickly stood up and Malcom hit him again hard in the ribs. Zack cried out in pain as he really felt his ribs give in.

            Malcom picked up the sniper rifle and aimed it at him again. A smile was growing on his face. Zack breathed heavily as he has given up. He didn't have energy within him anymore. He was tired. Malcom cocked the gun slowly with pleasure. "10 seconds remaining." "Well this it." Malcom said and pressed the trigger and the sniper clicked empty. "5…4…" Zack quickly acted as he kicked the sniper out of the way again and hit Malcom's face with the other and it landed on the controls, breaking them. "1." The main cannon made a disrupted sound as it slowly collapse from its holding position. "Congratulations. You are the winner." He heard his whole team cheer. Zack wiped blood from his temple and slid down the wall. He was dead tired. But no matter he now must defend the base for full 10 minutes. Well at least he has sniper handy…             

(a/n): So what did you think of this chapter? Enjoyed it? I hope so. In the next chapter, Dessloch will talk to Trinity and you will find out if everything works out. A match is also coming up. Please review. ^_^