A/N: Disclaimer: Refer back to Chapter 1

A/N: Disclaimer: Refer back to Chapter 1.

WARNING: OOC, LANGUAGE, SUGGESTIVE NARRATIVE

Chapter 3: Materialization

The two Embryon members kept their eyes peeled as they allowed the first squad a lead of thirty feet. Argilla and Heat had their binoculars, "When the heck are they going to give us what we want?" asked Heat impatiently, growling a bit.

They had been tailing the suspects for over two hours…And so far, they had yet to transgress from Embryon military protocols.

Argilla chuckled as she pressed herself further into the sand, not being bothered by the gentle drizzle of the rain, "Calm down Heat…These sorts of missions require patience…"

She heard him snort in mockery and she merely chuckled; Heat could be a bit childish at times.

"So, what are you doing in this shit-ass lame mission?" she heard him ask; his tone, bored.

She giggled again, still monitoring intently every motion their "comrades" from afar made, "Nothing. I was bored. You got a problem with that?"

Now, at hearing her response, it was Heat's turn to laugh, "Right…You were bored."

"Do I detect a tone of skepticism Heat?" came her drawling tone.

"Not at all. I was just saying that…I figured someone like you wouldn't want their hair ruffled or their clothes dirtied." he said with a confident tone.

With a smirk, "Well, then, if you think that, then, I'd have to say that you really don't know jack shit about me Heat."

Heat was enjoying himself. She was forward wasn't she? And she wasn't hesitant to curse either.

"Is that a sex-invite Argilla?" he asked, hoping that his perverse tone and choice of words would get her off guard.

But, he was mistaken.

She merely giggled, "If it were, it wouldn't be for you."

Hold on. Where did that come from? Sex? A sex-invite?

'What are those?' she asked herself.

"Ouch." he said playfully, his eyes still on their targets, "But seriously, why don't you just tell him?"

Her hair suddenly stood on one end as she heard his question, "Tell who what?"

Heat rolled his eyes, "What do you think?" His eyes suddenly narrowed, "Heads up. Let's go. They're on the move!"

Argilla cursed herself; she hadn't noticed. She wanted to hate herself right there and then. She wasn't able to control her emotions…Heat had been a good actor though. He had been able to juggle his duty and his sense of humor in one flawless act.

He was able to be outstandingly alert while keeping her entertained.

'Damn it! Where's my mind?!' she screamed at herself as she followed Heat's lead.

xxxxx

Serph smiled as he took a sip of his cup of coffee, "I believe that Gale is right Cielo. Argilla too."

Cielo, who had just finished filling Gale's mug with coffee, looked at Serph, puzzlement clearly written in his sapphire eyes, "Huh?"

Serph met his eyes and smiled, "I meant that you do make the best cup of coffee."

Cielo blushed, "Dat's not true! I make terrible coffee!"

Gale almost choked, "Sometimes…I just don't understand you…"

Serph looked at the two with a smile, not just in his lips, but within his heart as well. But still, his sight began to blur and his hearing began to dim. No matter what he did, his mind and heart were somewhere else.

Heat and Argilla had departed for their mission two hours ago…and their last transmission was over half an hour ago, telling them that they had reached the Vanguards' territory. They had also said that the squad was doing what they were supposed to be doing…and nothing more.

Serph sighed; could they have been mistaken?

A part of him wanted to be mistaken and a part of him didn't.

If they were mistaken, it would mean that they weren't traitors but they would have to hunt down other suspects…And if they weren't mistaken, it would mean that while they weren't going to have to hunt any more people, it was dismaying to know that these members of the tribe were actually turncoats.

Bad for the men's morale.

Another factor that scared him was the fact that while she was out there, he was in here. That meant that he would not be able to protect her.

'But Heat's there…' his inner self assured him.

Serph snorted, 'It's not just from the enemy that I want to protect her from…'

But all things aside, he couldn't wait for their next transmission.

xxxxx

Argilla and Heat pressed themselves against the debris for cover as they continued to monitor the squad. She heard Heat chuckle from beside her.

She whispered darkly at him, her eyes blazing displeased, "What the hell is so funny?"

"Them." he responded curtly, "They haven't even the slightest idea that we're here!" he whispered back.

Argilla rolled her eyes, "Shut up! I think I hear something."

Heat slowly lowered himself on the muddy ground and took out a small mirror looking at it and adjusting it so that he had a view of what went on from the other side of the debris; their "comrades'" activities.

Argilla followed suit and had her cameras ready. If they were to prosecute these people and bring them before the military tribunal, they would need concrete evidence of defection and collaboration with the enemy.

Argilla's forehead was filled with beads of sweat as she held her breath. There they were…Two individuals were walking up to their squad.

She could hear Heat growl in anger as the treachery was done before them. It had been a messenger from the Vanguards…And it looked like they were giving the squad instructions.

Argilla wanted to vomit, "This is just sickening…" she whispered.

"Shut up damn it!" Heat cursed under his breath.

A moment later; the contact was over.

xxxxx

Serph reviewed the recording over and over…They were right. These people were traitors to the Embryon. The question was now, what they were to do with these people.

"Should I have them arrested?" Gale asked calmly, his arms folded.

Heat growled, flipping his cape impatiently, "Can't we just kill those sons of bitches?"

"Manners, manners Heat!" Cielo reprimanded, wagging his finger left and right at him. Heat glared at him, "What did you say?!"

"Okay guys; that's enough!" Argilla interjected, getting in between them, "Really Heat. Don't be such a prat."

Now that all the commotion had died down, all eyes were now on their all the while silent leader. Serph, who had his eyebrows furrowed in deep contemplation, raised his head to meet their gazes, "No. We will do nothing."

Serph could have sworn that he saw Heat's eyes pop.

"What?!" Heat shouted.

Ignoring Heat's question, he turned to Gale, "Assemble the army."

Argilla's mouth hung agape; they were going to attack Svathisthana?!

xxxxx

"Heat! Wait up!" Argilla said, jogging up to him after their meeting.

Turning around to face her, he showed her his most irritated look. And from the looks that she was giving him, he figured that she got the point.

He wasn't in the mood to talk. And if she had something to say, she had better say it quick.

"I wanted to know what you were telling me during the mission. Tell who what? What do you mean?"

Heat raised an eyebrow. She still wasn't over that. He rolled his eyes, "Just what I said. Why don't you stop being such a prissy miss and tell the bastard how much you want him?"

Argilla paled as his words passed through her brain and was interpreted. Was she really that obvious? And here she thought that she was successful at keeping a low profile.

"W-what…?"

Heat rolled his eyes, "Hey. I don't care what you do with the bastard." he spat, "All I'm saying is that, if you really want something, go for it. Don't be just some damn coward."

With those words, he turned and resumed his walk, grumbling a few curses here and there. She understood though; why he was upset, that is. Serph had told them to mobilize their army and to prepare for a siege and yet he hadn't told them anything else.

He hadn't told them what it was they were to do with the traitors. All that he said, aside from the siege, was an order for them to not say anything; a contract of pure confidence. She blinked; strange logic.

"I trust you Serph…" she spoke aloud.

But going back once more to Heat's words…He had told her to not be a coward and take charge of the situation…

"How easy it sounds…" she sighed helplessly.

Well, coward or no, now was not the time, "Maybe someday…it would be."

xxxxx

A week had now passed and Serph grew all the more anxious. Like the first nights of having dreams, he had them once again. And again, the dreams were the same. Embryon would lose and Argilla would die.

He sighed and slammed his fist on the wall. Wasn't he changing the future enough? He knew who the perpetrators were; didn't that count for anything?

'I suppose not…'

"Gale, how are we doing?" he asked his emerald-eyed comrade.

Gale, who was analyzing the charts that he held in his hands, looked away from them and directed his gaze over to Serph, "We will be ready in two days."

Two days. He took a deep breath.

It was enough time.

"Serph, what is going on?" Gale asked, sincerity in his voice. Serph wanted to tell him; but not now. It was still too delicate a matter to speak of.

He wanted to assure his teammates that nothing would happen…and tell them that he had a plan; but if he said that, it would only rouse their curiosity. He'd wait until the time had come.

Two days.

"You'd know in two days Gale. I promise. But for now, I must ask you to follow my orders to the letter. Got that?"

Gale could only nod, "Understood."

xxxxx

Argilla took a deep breath. She couldn't hold this to herself any longer. She had to tell someone. And who better than a fellow female?

"Er…you must understand that I normally…don't do these things Sera…" Argilla said; her tone defensive, her words filled with hidden embarrassment.

Sera chuckled at Argilla's behavior. She was sitting by her chair, fiddling with her hair, her pink eyes darting left and right, settling on no particular object. She was uneasy.

"Just calm down Argilla and tell me what's wrong." Sera said, suddenly sitting beside Argilla, and clutching her hand in hers.

Her silver eyes looked deeply within the older woman's and pleaded for Argilla to tell her, her woes.

"I've been…seeing someone in my sleep…I…I can't seem to…remove it…Am I…Is there something wrong with me?" Argilla asked, her words spoken painfully, her face mirroring the aforesaid feeling.

Sera could only look at the woman sympathetically. It wasn't their faults that they were without dreams…It wasn't their faults that they did not know what it was or how to understand it now that they did have it.

She sighed and closed her eyes momentarily before opening them, to gaze at Argilla's confused and scared pink eyes, "No. There's nothing wrong with you…Argilla," she paused, taking in her relieved facial expression, "those pictures…those visions in your sleep are called dreams…"

"Dreams?" Argilla repeated, entranced.

Sera nodded, "Dreams are…hard to understand." she finished with a slight sigh.

Argilla gave her a flabbergasted look, "Hard to understand?! I don't understand!"

Sera chuckled, "That's exactly the point. No one knows for certain what dreams are. Some say that it's telling you of your destiny…or view of the future…or…"

Sera stopped as she saw Argilla's beet red face, "Argilla, what's wrong?"

"The f-future?" Argilla squeaked.

Sera blinked, still not understanding as to the nature of Argilla's sudden blush…After a moment of thought did Sera finally begin to understand, "Did you dream of someone Argilla?"

Argilla almost choked with her own saliva as she heard Sera's question. Laughing nervously, she scratched her head, "Hehe…no…That…that's just silly…"

Sera, who had her eyebrow raised, looked at her firmly, not swayed by her silly antics, "You did dream of someone…Didn't you?"

Succumbing to defeat and embarrassment, "I…Is it bad?"

Sera chuckled, "No! Of course not! People dream of other people…because…because they love them."

"L-love?!" Argilla shrieked, snatching her hand away from the younger woman as if she had been burned with hot coal, "W-what…what is that?!"

Sera stood up as well, taking a step towards the now, near hysterical woman, "Well…love is…the desire to be with that person you love. Love is…the desire and the power to protect the people close to your heart…to sacrifice anything and everything within you to…to see that person happy. You feel this don't you?"

Argilla felt a lump in her throat, "To…to protect my comrades…"

Sera smiled, "This person whom you dreamed of…You love him."

Argilla's face suddenly became devoid of any color, "W-what makes you say it's a 'he'?"

Sera smiled, "I can see you, you know? I see it in your eyes…"

Argilla groaned as she forced herself to walk back to the chair and sat back down, her chin resting on both her palms, with her elbows on her knees, "Yeah…but…now, I don't know what to do…I keep seeing him every night…I can't even get a decent night's sleep!"

Sera chuckled, "Don't worry too much about it Argilla…"

Argilla shot up, standing immediately, her eyes widened, "Not worry about it?! Sera, this thing's driving me crazy!"

Sera smiled, "Dreams are also a reminder of what you should do…" and with those cryptic words, she walked out of the room.

Argilla looked on after her, finding wisdom in her words…

Dreams…remind you.

'It's reminding me of what I should do…'

She then remembered Heat's words.

"All I'm saying is that, if you really want something, go for it. Don't be just some damn coward."

So, the way she understood it, her dreams were telling her to tell Serph what she felt for him.

'Is that it? Really?' she asked herself.

'Why is the world against me?'

xxxxx

Argilla walked up at the rooftop of their HQ. She had asked around about Serph and she had learnt that he was there. And so, dragging her feet up the seemingly endless staircases, she nervously set into action what her supposed dream had been unconsciously telling her to do.

She took a deep breath as she opened the door that led to the rooftop.

They were to begin their assault in two days…They were still waiting for Serph to brief them…and well, now that they had time, she supposed that this was a good time to speak to him. Before the confusion and the mayhem, that is.

When the assault began, there would be no more time anyway.

She opened the door and walked out, greeted by a gentle but chilly air, along with the perpetual drizzle. She looked around and saw him, sitting by the ledge, with his back turned to her.

With outmost grace, she walked to him, careful not to make any sound when suddenly, "Hello Argilla. What brings you up here?" Serph asked, without turning around to look at her.

Argilla smiled; she should've known that she would never be able to sneak up to him or sneak past him.

"Hey."

"Is this seat taken?" she asked casually. She looked at his profile and saw him lightly smile, "No."

"Thanks." she said appreciatively as she sat beside him, "So…Serph…ah…How…how are you these days?"

Serph looked at her with a curious smile, "That's not what you're really here to ask me. What is it Argilla?"

She laughed nervously; she was this easy to read?

"Serph…I…I…uh…have to talk to you about something…"

Serph raised an eyebrow, "What about?"

He suddenly noticed how silent she had become and how her eyes dodged his. He had been firm and resolute the entire time that she had appeared but now as he looked at her, he was beginning to feel his resolve falter.

She was close to him now… She was merely inches away from him…He could just feel her soft lips on his…

She could feel blood in her face, and she forced herself to look at him, "Er…well…"

What was she to say? What was she to do?

He was looking at her intently now, with no intention of looking away either. 'Oh God…what will I say to him? Will I just say 'Hey Serph, guess what? I've been having dreams about you and uh…I think I love you!'?' she thought disgustedly and shamefully.

Nope. She can't really say that…That would ruin everything.

Besides, "love" was such a strong word. And as of now, she was still quite unsure about its exact meaning. Sure, Sera had explained it to her but she had yet to really experience it. She felt something strong for Serph; that much she knew, but was it enough to be called "love"?

'I…don't know.' she thought with defeat.

She sighed.

"Oh well…Nothing. I just want to know…about our briefing. When will it be?" she asked, diverting the subject. She looked at his face intently and saw him taken aback by her question.

Well, her diversion worked.

"Two days." he told her sternly. His face hardened and then, "But that wasn't it, was it?"

Argilla could feel the onset of heat on her body again. And so, she did the one thing that she was really good at, "Serph! What's that?!" she yelled, pointing behind him.

Serph immediately turned around, "What?"

He saw nothing out of the ordinary and turned back to her and found the space beside him, empty. She was gone.

xxxxx

'Stupid! Stupid!' she yelled at herself as she stomped back to her room. Oh well, there was always tomorrow…

'There aint gonna be one if we get wiped out.' she thought sourly as she remembered the upcoming siege.

She sighed as she reached her room and went inside, "I'm not ready…I can't tell him just yet…This is so crazy…"

'But what about Serph?' a voice in her head pointed out.

She growled, "He'll know in time damn it! Not now!"

She forced herself to lie on her bed, "I'm tired…I wanna go to sleep…" she whined.

And so, she closed her weary eyes.

xxxxx

Serph sighed; it had been a day and a night now. She had been avoiding him. She wouldn't even look at him.

Had he done something wrong?

Oh well; it would have to wait…

'Wait a minute…' he thought wistfully as he remembered his dreams. In there, she would tell him of her feelings. If his dream was real, it would mean that she really did…want to be with him.

Was that what she wanted to say?

He smiled at that thought.

Or was she trying to gain information about their briefing? Well, he couldn't really blame her if she did, or his other teammates for that matter if they did. After all, he had not said anything.

But now, with the invasion the next day, he had to tell them. Granted, he said that he would tell them tomorrow, but now would be better.

That was why he has assembled the team there at the Strategy Room.

"Good morning ladies." he greeted them. He saw Heat wince at that. Serph grinned.

"Well, as you know, tomorrow is the day we defeat the Vanguards. The assault will begin in 0600 hours. Now, this is your official briefing about the siege."

He could see all four pairs of eyes light up at what he said.

"Now, we all know who those spies are. And undoubtedly, they had told the Vanguards our plan and our locations. Gale," he said, turning to the green-eyed man, "have you set up the perimeter where I asked you to?"

Gale nodded, "Yes. We have set up bunkers and strongholds south southwest of Svathisthana. Companies Echo and Foxtrot will be there while the frontal assault groups, which will lay direct siege on the city with the tanks will comprise of Companies Romeo and Sierra."

Serph smirked, "Did you brief the aforesaid Companies of their locations?"

"Yes. I have debriefed all of the lieutenants and their battalion commanders."

Heat raised an eyebrow, "What are you getting at?"

Cielo scratched his head, "Yeah mon. Wat's going on in your head?"

Serph nodded, "Since this is the initial plan, the Vanguards would probably know it already. That means that their defenses would be centered on those areas that I've specified."

"So?" asked Heat impatiently.

"So," Argilla interjected, "all we have to do is change our positions at the last moment and attack them from behind. They wouldn't be expecting us since they had their spies gather the information. Information that was baited." she said in full confidence, nodding in understanding.

She turned to Serph, "This is what you were planning all along? You wanted to trap the Vanguards into thinking that they had us ambushed while we, in turn, ambush them?"

Serph nodded.

"Yes. It's your standard coup de main operation with a twist." said Heat, crossing his arms.

"So, dat was why you didn't take out dose traitors ja?" Cielo asked, a bit unsure.

Heat grinned evilly, "Yeah…and then, when those Vanguard bastards have fallen, I got dibs on those traitors."

Gale and Argilla winced; they knew what that meant. Heat was going to take those people out; personally.

"Not to worry about that Heat." Serph chuckled, "I will have them apprehended just before the operation begins. They would be detained here at Muladhara."

Heat gave the team a toothy grin, "Sweet…That way, I won't have to look when I come back from plundering and pillaging Svathisthana."

Argilla shivered from her spot; Heat could be such a sadist at times…

"But why didn't you tell us den mon?" Cielo asked, confused. Serph chuckled, "I'm sorry for withholding information. But it couldn't be helped. The information had to be convincing; no chance of foul play. I can't let the traitors suspect even in the slightest that we are baiting them. So, I couldn't tell any of you. I couldn't risk the leaking of information; not until the positions had been filled and the troops in place."

Heat nodded, "Right. The troops had been camping there for the last twenty-four hours right? Undoubtedly, the Vanguards already know of their existence and would just wait for the main siege tomorrow. So, it was just to add props for the show?"

"Precisely." Gale concurred, "Now, we have to pull those troops out tonight. Since the troops only consist of two platoons, it would be easy enough to move them at night without much fuss."

"But how mon? Won't dat be noisy?" Cielo asked, tilting his head to the side, his face displaying an expression of impudent ignorance.

Serph shook his head, "No. They would walk in foot. They would disperse in groups of ten and make their way to their new designated spots. The rest of the army will not be informed, since they will only know of their own positions and not the others'. That way, the traitors would not suspect any change in plans and won't have enough time to warn the Vanguards. I've already contacted Companies Echo and Foxtrot about the change and the decoy."

"Decoy?" Cielo asked.

Heat snorted, "It means a diversion; idiot."

"What diversion?"

Gale smiled knowingly, "The strongholds will not be evacuated. So, when monitored, the Vanguards will still think that our troops are there…And when the siege begins, well, they'll be unpleasantly surprised."

Argilla smiled sadly but did not let it show. She still had a problem with deceptions…But still, their very survival depended on this…

Serph nodded, "Well…now, we have to discuss our would-be positions."

Gale nodded, "Alright. Well, since that is the case, I present a new plan."

xxxxx

The time had come. All were in their designated positions. Instead of south southwest, platoon Echo and Foxtrot will now both attack from the east. Romeo and Sierra will still lay siege of the front gates while Alpha, their team, will infiltrate the base in the midst of the all the fighting. Bravo will reinforce Echo and Foxtrot while Charlie and Delta will assist Romeo and Sierra.

It was tricky and risky.

Serph full well knew that they did not outnumber the Vanguards…But it was important that the Vanguards think that they did.

Even if the spies had most probably told him that they were few. The siege would just have to convince them. Besides, that was just a diversion anyway.

What their real objective was, was to infiltrate Svathisthana and kill Harley.

Serph had just dismissed his teammates, and now, they headed towards their transport; a jeep. He didn't like the jeep though. It was too exposed and the risk of being blown up by a mortar was high…but it was the only way. It was swift and effective.

A chopper was also plausible but the towers from Svathisthana would just take it down. Nope; the jeep was better…and it was sneaky.

And so, as they walked, Serph felt a wrench in his gut. He had seen this before. He blinked as he recalled the flashes from his head.

Argilla smiled heartily at him; her pink eyes, twinkling, "Serph…? What are you doing?"

Serph scratched his head and smiled at her sheepishly, "Well…I…"

"Hey! Come on you morons! We haven't got all day!" drawled a voice from afar.

He ran to her and grabbed Argilla's elbow. She was quite startled, "Serph! What are you doing?"

He blushed and said nothing. And then, in that same instant, he crashed his lips to hers. Her eyes widened as she felt his warm and moist lips on hers. Why was he doing this? She opened her mouth to speak but was unable to as he slipped his tongue within.

This was the time when he'd kiss her in his dreams…

This was it…This was the test that he had been hankering for; the test that would either save him or damn him.

He took a deep breath as he looked at Argilla's back. She was walking towards the jeep briskly. This was it…He wanted to kiss her…He really did…He wanted to taste her…But at the same time, it felt wrong.

Was he supposed to kiss her? Now that he saw what the future was to be, would he follow through it? What was supposed to happen now?

There were so many questions floating through his head…

So many…

"Serph?" a voice roused him. He blinked, surprised, it was Argilla.

"What's wrong? Nervous?" she asked.

He could only nod; it was changing…little by little.

He could tell by the look in her eyes that she wanted to tell him something…Something important. Suddenly, she lunged herself at him, completely taking him by surprise. His silver eyes widened as he felt her lips hungrily kiss him.

A moment later, his arms latched themselves onto her waist. But before he could fully respond, she pulled back. It was all over.

She smiled nervously at him, "Hehe…Well, we'll have plenty of time to talk after all of this is over…" and with those words, she ran from him.

He allowed himself a small smile. Things had changed. That was a good sign…Now there was a good chance that the outcome would be completely changed as well…

But aside from that, he was now sure…one hundred percent that his dream was real. It wasn't just some flight of fancy of his mind.

It meant more than that. Argilla, she really did want to be with him. His future was changing. And now, he just had to do everything he could to keep it that way.

xxxxx