John pursed his lips as he reached into the abdominal cavity of the pinky demon and searched for the liver. "You think they're human?" He said, looking past Gamgee who was dissecting another type of demon at Sam who was working on the bird. He could barely see her head over the creatures hammer shaped skull. It was so huge they had used a conveyor to bring it. Its wings were frozen in rigor mortis and bent against the ceiling.

"What are you saying?" Gamgee said, putting on shielding goggles as he started up the bone saw. "Do they look human to you?"

"No, what I mean is…" John started to say and then broke off as he reached for the torch to see well.

Genghis had stationed him to help Sam. John suspected it had more to do with keeping him away from Phoenix rather than his knowledge of what they were dealing with.

"Well, there's one thing I can tell you for sure." Sam said, grunting as she wrenched apart the bird's skull. "The only think I can tell you about it is that it is a partially carbon based life form."

"What about the other part?" John said as he moved over to the crash cart to get a saw.

"Silicon?"

"Yes, it's DNA has silicon embedded into the scaffolding chains."

"You don't seem so surprised, about that?" John observed.

"I'm not. It's obvious this creature isn't from earth, and we found fossils of something similar to what this might be if it were buried under Martian rock for so many trillions of years. It seemed to be silicon based too. We just didn't get a chance to analyse it because of the humanoid remains we found immediately afterwards."

"So how could these things have survived?" John went up to her.

"I don't know. But that's not the only thing that's bothering us." Sam said as she went towards the computer and pulled up its genetic profile.

John frowned as Gamgee came up beside him and said, "We pulled up a very similar profile for an organism on earth – if you replace carbon instead of silicon in it's structure you'll find a near ninety percent match."

"What kind of organism?"

"The Vulture family," Gamgee said.

"Vultures?"

"Yes, and you know what makes it creepier?"

"What?"

"The Andean Condor is a hundred percent match."

---

"Curiouser and Curiouser." Gryffin said; John detected the sarcasm in his voice.

"That's not even correct usage, Sarge," Sandman mumbled.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Smith said.

"He's not joking." Sam said, giving him a comparative profile. "The silicon is the only difference in their structures – otherwise the shape of the helix, the base-pairs, even right up to chromosomal arrangement you'll find them to be a close match."

"Wait a minute," Genghis said. "You said the condor we found in the sewers wasn't Californian right? It was an Andean condor."

"Yes. We analysed it again, after we discovered this, there seemed to be no mutation."

"So what was it doing here? In the sewer? Keeping that demon company?"

"We don't know – obviously someone brought it to the base."

"Possibly to test it with this thing?"

"Wait a minute…!" Gryffin said, "Let's just back up here one second. This creature was supposed to exist a million years ago, right, it's the Martian equivalent of a dinosaur?"

Sam and John nodded.

"So how could this thing survive?"

"We don't know. From what we've inferred from its anatomy," Sam said, nodding at Gamgee who pulled up a schematic drawing of the creature's skull. "It's retina and occipital cortex indicate that it is a daytime predator and not a nocturnal one. It's vision is twice sharper than an eagle's – analysis of it's voice box and lungs…"

"Dr. Grimm, spare us the technical details and tell me what I'm dealing with here?"

"What I can tell you is that it's carnivorous, it can breathe even in the nitrogen rich environment of surface, it's skin is so tough that it can tolerate IR and UV radiations beyond the white light spectrum, it's vocal abilities are developed enough for inter personal communication."

"It can talk?"

"To a creature similar to it, yes."

"So there's a chance there are more of these?"

"Communication is a valuable asset for survival as a group – so yes."

"There's something else," John said. "According to what we could process from its DNA – this creature has some amount of recombinant DNA."

"Translate."

"Ten percent of this specific creature's DNA seems to belong to the Andean condor. Gryffin's question can possibly be answered by the fact that someone messed with the genetic material of the bird and must have reconstructed it."

"What does that mean?"

"It means either this is a Martian vulture turned Earthling condor or…" Gamgee said.

"Vice versa." Genghis said, in a sigh of realization. "So ultimately, what can we be sure of?"

John said, "UAC or someone's been experimenting out here, Genghis, if anything I'm sure of that."

"And it's probable that that 'someone' either's dead or must be that demon we killed down there." Genghis nodded. "I don't think any alien would come down here and experiment with our equipment and we wouldn't know about it. So let's assume it was one UAC or the government people." He turned to Gryffin and said, "Gryffin, pull up a list of all expeditions and assignments on Mars, if there were any in the last one year."

"But, all…" Sam began to speak.

"Acitvities to Mars were restricted, yes, I know." Gamgee nodded. "UAC pretty much controlled all the archaeological research on Mars, but I know for sure there were private trips to Mars, after the ark quarantine was lifted, from private organizations, mostly international ones."

"Which was less than six months ago." Sam said, nodding. "The last one was from the Ark built in French Polynesia."

"Exactly, I mean, America isn't the only country with a claim on Mars."

"But it's a long shot," Sam said, "for someone to experiment here if they were…"

"You forget," Bazooka, cut in. "It's possible this could be a terrorist infiltration, which makes this operation a code red."

"So basically," Genghis said, "we have no contact with HQ, few answers and too small a team."

He stood up and sighed, rubbing his face. "I think it's safe to declare this operation as autonomous. We are no longer going to operate within standard protocols."

John frowned.

Everyone else nodded, except for him and Sam who didn't understand the meaning of what Genghis said.

"Okay," Genghis said. "Reaper and I are going to the arsenal to gather more weapons and ammo, Gryffin update the surface team of our status. Dr. Grimm, you and Gamgee, as of now are going to keep working on those things. Bazooka's going with you to keep you safe. Smith, I'm authorizing you to access the facility's research material – anything that can help you secure communication, you use it."

Smith nodded, John could see that he seemed to be relieved to hear those words.

"No one, goes anywhere alone, Sandman, eyes on the sewer entrances. HQ is likely to send another team within the next twenty-four hours. If they don't, then I'm giving this mission the next forty-eight hours, to be resolved, if not, we're packing up and hiking to the nearest city."

They all nodded.

Genghis dismissed them and then picked up his weapon and motioned for John to follow him.

"Going down that line of operation might be dangerous for you, Genghis." John said, cautiously. "Two days without contact is hardly within codes standard parameters of declaring an operation as autonomous."

"Let's get one thing straight, Reaper," Genghis said, curtly as they turned towards the airlock for the Arsenal, "I'm not a puppet of either the government or UAC. Unlike your previous sergeant, the lives of my men are more important to me."

John frowned. "What are you implying?"

"Nothing…yet."

John stopped Genghis, just before the entered the armoury. "If you're trying to say, you don't trust me, Genghis, you might as well just say it, don't dance around."

"I don't trust anyone, Reaper." Genghis met his eye. "All I'm saying is, you're being here, that alien invasion we just experienced, doesn't add up. Rumor is you're no longer completely human."

"And I suppose you always believe what you hear?"

"I believe what I see, and I see that you're a problem for Phoenix."

"Did she say that to you?" John said, frowning.

"Phoenix, never says anything…and that's the whole thing. She doesn't talk. Frankly she's spoken more in these two days than she has in three years."

"One would consider that a good thing, in the normal world."

"This isn't a normal world, Reaper. And she isn't a normal person."

"Phoenix can take care of herself." John said.

"Each one of my men can take care of himself, Reaper – doesn't mean we don't look out for each other."

"Now, why would I want to hurt your girl, Genghis?"

"I wouldn't know, Reaper," Genghis narrowed his eyes, scanning John's face. "Why would you?"

"Look –"

"You look! As of now, I am now your CO. You and your sister are observers. I don't give a fuck what the orders are – I want my men out of here as soon as possible."

"I respect that," John said. "But it wouldn't be of any use getting them out just before a possible invasion or attack, now would it?"

"No, it wouldn't." Genghis agreed. "Precisely why I'm giving this two more days."

The door opened to the weapons lab and they both headed in. The bigger more advanced weapons were relocated four years ago before the base was completely sealed off. Poet had discovered a hidden stash with weapons used commonly by special ops in combat, possibly left there for requirements of any team that would come in the future on any assignment, like theirs had come today. John was relieved to hear that the crates were untouched and didn't show use for four years. It put the odds against any terrorist infiltration of the base and internal conspiracy, but also confused their dilemma further.

John helped Genghis pull out the three crates and transfer them to a conveyor. They air between them had been tense and John decided against trying to ease Genghis' weariness. There really was no point.

John hauled the last box, which had replacement ammunition in it onto the conveyor when he noticed a nano wall further away. He asked Gryffin to pull up a schematic onto the console – it implied the room behind it to be the artillery section.

"Any video?"

"It's took dark – thermal reads indicate no life signs. Data logs indicate one tanker's still there, it's been abandoned. Looks like an ancient elephant which is pretty much useless."

Something pricked John at the back of his neck. Without waiting for Genghis' consent he headed towards the room. For some reason Genghis didn't stop him or protest. Instead, quietly followed him and even punched in the access commands.

The nano wall sparked little before it materialized. John and Genghis cautiously ventured through it. Genghis left it open and turned on the lights.

Sure enough there was something which looked like a tanker, covered under the sheet. John explored the room, and Genghis lifted the sheet to check the tank.

"It's older than half a century." John heard Genghis say. "Seems like it was built in1998. Wonder why it isn't in the war museum?"

"Maybe they were restoring it or something," John mumbled as he punched in the access codes to another wall – which was the biggest nano wall he'd ever seen.

"We didn't explore this part before." Genghis said. "I guess it slipped our minds."

John didn't process what Genghis said.

"Reaper?"

"Genghis?"

"Yeah?" Genghis came around and stopped when he saw what John saw. "That's a big ass nano wall."

John nodded at him before he stepped through it; when Genghis came in and turned on the power, both men gasped.

They were standing in what seemed to look like a hangar about five miles long. The exit of the hangar sloped gradually upwards. As they walked closer they saw that the height of the slope pretty much covered the depth of the base and led to a trapdoor that seemed like it could accommodate a jet.

John frowned. "Who's checking the southern perimeter, on the surface?"

Genghis pursed his lips for a minute and said, "Phoenix? Why?"

"Have they reported in to you?"

"Yeah, twice."

"Did she mention a gate? Or the opening of this hangar?"

"I don't remember – she would have noticed it, I'm sure…but…"

"Exactly," John turned around and began walking towards the nano wall.

"Hey! Wait, what are you-?"

"That slope is mechanically activated," John said. "If all UAC protocols were followed when the base was shut down, that bridge should have been retracted."

"What if someone forgot to put it down?"

"I don't think so –" John said. "Besides, you said, Phoenix hasn't mentioned the entrance of this hangar, right?"

"No," Genghis said, "I said, I don't remember her mentioning it."

"Whatever." John stalked determinedly towards the airlock. "I'm going to the surface to check this out."

----

It had been nearly two days since they landed. Crappy canned food, crappy air conditioning and crappy communication with HQ and basically to summarize it – crappiest mission.

She'd had worse missions before.

Missions where she'd thought she'd be stuck hungry, thirsty and sleepless for weeks. Then there was that whole ordeal on Deimos; more blood than she had seen in a life time.

She didn't even want to go down the CO line of thought. Before Genghis she pretty much got kicked around squads getting transferred so often she began to think that she actually attracted scum COs.

There were also missions where the CO and other dicks wouldn't stop feeling her up. There was one, when one of her colleagues, actually got too desperate and tried to force himself on her and when she rendered his 'performance' inactive, temporarily, she'd been and her CO nearly deemed to be an insurrect and later sent on probation on the charged with assault. Then there was that time her CO thought that the life of an innocent civilian wasn't half as important as his getting back in time for a stupid poker game.

All these were worse than this mission. After all she was in one of the most prestigious special operations squad under an acclaimed CO who despite being a notorious prick actually respected her, her colleagues liked her and – whether she liked it or not – they were pretty protective of her. She had been so used to discrimination that the fact that they considered her their friend actually took her by surprise. An honor she would never forget or disappoint. She actually was allowed to voice opinions – a liberty she took so seriously that she exercised it only when absolutely necessary. The good thing about being with the Rangers was that no matter how hard their previous missions were, somehow, being with these people who had unknowingly become a surrogate family to her actually made her feel positive.

Above all else, the Rangers had provided her the opportunity to use her education in military sciences and she was finally able to use her brain for something productive than just blowing things up.

Her mother had raised her to believe that irrespective of what they did – you don't pass judgment in anyway – and the drawback of her job was that she had to use weapons which she despised to kill people. A lot of her mother's principles had lost their effects on her, ever since Snakeeeyes murdered her family – mostly overclouded by hatred and resentment, but a fair amount of them stuck all the way. So, though she didn't and actually never showed it to Genghis she was actually relieved that she had made it in.

No, this wouldn't be her worst mission but it was the crappiest.

She told herself it was the food. Which never was a problem because she actually had tasted Genghis' cooking.

Then she told herself it was the fact that they knew nothing about this place or the creatures. Which again did not matter, because sometimes their missions actually got called off because they couldn't find anything that would solve whatever problem they were sent to solve.

Then she told herself it was the heat which was beating down on her head as she walked the perimeter of the base in broad daylight searching for any framework for the shield.

Then, she told herself that the crappiness could be attributed to Reapers presence and that blocking him and shutting him down whenever he got in her face would change that. It didn't work, obviously – because Reaper didn't hound her so much after their conversation in the Ark, and it annoyed her because she began to wonder why.

Finally she came to the conclusion that it was all these things combined with the fact that she actually wanted to laugh every time something funny happened.

Something was changing within her – something was crumbling her shields, something was making her express her feelings a little more than normal, something was making her want to spend time with people, making want to live and stop existing.

More often than once she actually let a smile slip.

Whatever it was…she didn't like it.

It was not good – either she was getting too familiar with her peers or John was opening up the walls she had so carefully built by his mere presence.

Finally, fed up with the burning sun, Phoenix put on her glares as she kicked a stone in the general direction of the perimeter, propping her gun against her knee she pulled off her jacket and tied it by her sleeves around her waist. Her body actually thanked her for the relief from the heat.

The hot Nevada air sifted around with her hair as she headed towards the last tower post of her quarter. Poet had taken the north and west, Hobbit had taken east and she had taken south.

She was informing Poet of this over the comm when she paused within a meter of the tower.

"Phoenix?"

"Yeah, that's about it. Over."

"Out."

There it was…that darned feeling again.

Don't turn around, she told herself. You're probably wrong.

She wasn't – that feeling never was, and she did turn around. She wanted to kick herself when her confirmation came in Reaper's form, headed towards her, wearing a pair of glares too.

She hated being right.

She hated feeling his presence even before he turned up.

"You'll get yourself burned." He said when he came within a foot's distance.

She didn't answer.

"You're wearing those glasses, you know." He gave her that condescending smile. "I can't read your answers. Either take them off or open your mouth."

"Did you want something?" she said, curtly.

Through those glasses of his she couldn't make out what he was doing, because he was silent for an unusually long time.

"Yeah, I wanted to check that gatepost, again."

"That's up north."

"I know."

"Then why are you here?"

"Because, my dear warm welcoming friend," he said, sarcastically, "there's a south gate, too."

Idiot, she thought. "No," she said.

"What?" He inclined his head as though he hadn't heard her.

"I said: No!" She said, louder.

"I heard you the first time. No, what?"

"No, there is no south gate."

"What are you talking about?" John suddenly looked around and then back at her. She didn't need to see his eyes to know his expression was somewhere around incredulity. "Of course, there is one!" He said. "There's the entrance to the underground hangar before it, too."

"You really think, I wouldn't have noticed, Reaper?" she hung her gun around her shoulder and folded her arms.

John folded his arms and said, "First off, I'd prefer it if you called me John."

"I'll call you whatever I want."

"Second off," he said, stressing on his words. "I'm wondering the same thing, why didn't you notice the south gate?"

Phoenix pulled her glasses up over her forehead and glared at him as though he had gone mad.

"What?" he said, after two seconds of silence.

"First thing – why did you come to check the south gate specifically? And second, how do you know there is a south gate?"

John shrugged. "Because according to the schematic, the south gate is in front of the entrance to the underground command bunker. You know the one through which the artillery passes through directly to the weapons lab?"

"What?" Phoenix pulled out her scanner and reran the schematic on it. "There's no south gate! Only the fencing. See, it's not even on the map."

"That's ridiculous," he said, "Show me." He yanked her scanner and saw the schematic. Phoenix folded her arms and waited for him to realize she was correct, there was no gate on the map

"And besides, even if it weren't on the map, I would have seen it."

"Genghis and I were checking Ordnance research," John said, frowning, "and I saw the inside of the entrance. It has to be activated from both ends. He's waiting down."

"Wait a minute," she said. "According to you there's a gate, with a surface entrance? Like the north one, only it doesn't show on the map."

"Yeah."

"John," she said, "I've scanned the whole perimeter. There was no gate."

"What are you talking about?" John again wheeled around to check. "What do you mean there's no gate?"

Phoenix sighed. "If it would satisfy you to check it yourself, be my guest." She turned around.

"No," John said, grabbing her arm to stop her. "You're coming with me."

"What?" She protested as he dragged her towards the coordinates. "Hey! Stop pulling me! I'm not coming with you anywhere? I've seen that gate and I know for sure…I…Reaper! John! Goddammit!"

He wouldn't listen to her. She spewed and sputtered, kicked her feet and her boots collected dust as they slid along the ground. She even tried to kick him as he dragged her along with him but he was too strong and too fast.

"Oh you're just enjoying this aren't you, you prat!"

Then she wished she hadn't opened her mouth. John stopped and turned to face her – he was too close. Then he gave her that stupid grin, that cocky stupid grin that made her feel too feminine for her own good, and drawled in a way that should have irritated her and not made her feel like giggling like an idiot – much to her chagrin. "Or else I wouldn't have been doin' it sweetheart!"

Phoenix gritted her teeth and flung her hand out of his grip.

"I'm not your sweetheart!" She mumbled, as she nursed the spot where he had held her arm. He continued grinning at her.

"What are you smiling at?"

"You look like a kid whose candy got taken away for misbehavior!"

"No I look like a kid whose been forcefully dragged against her own will!" She retorted.

"Well at least, we agree there." He chuckled softly.

"Huh?"

"That you're a kid?"

"I'm a wha-" Her face straightened when she saw that he had successfully pulled her leg.

"Argh!" She growled and pushed him backwards as he started laughing. "What's so funny you asshole?"

She was so mad at him! And the nerve he had! He still laughed as he held his ground. She wanted to laugh too – that's what she was mad at.

"You seem to have gained your balls now that no one's here to breathe down your throat with the comms being down and all!" She said folding her arms across her chest.

He stopped laughing and kept a lopsided smile which was doing something to her. He said nothing.

"What are you staring at?"

Silence.

Okay – obviously he wanted nothing more than to annoy her so she would not give him the pleasure. So using her amazing ability to be equally silent she stood her ground and they both stared at each other not seeing each others eyes because of their shades.

When John began to fidget, Phoenix heaved an internal sigh of relief, sure that he was going to give in and stop bugging her; and when the stupid smile faded out of his face, she relaxed her stance and hoisted her gun over her shoulder and began to say, "Look, we have a lot of things to do so let's stop playing childish games and…what…?"

She broke off, when she realized that somewhere between her words he had come close in front of her – way too close.

"Now what?" She said, trying to show anger and not her discomfort.

"Childish games." He said, softly.

"Aye – well, don't you agree?…" Her accent began to thicken; a problem whenever she got nervous. Gaining control of her language she said, "I mean, we're just going to stand and stare at each other all day, then we're never going to find out…"

"Phoenix."

"What?"

"Shut up."

Quinn sucked in a deep breath as he extended his hand to her face and gently pushed her shades up and let it rest over the top of her forehead.

He'd exposed her eyes.

She moved back but he kept a hand on her shoulder to keep her from moving away.

Phoenix purposely but unobtrusively shook her head, the shades slid down back to their position. Anyone would think it happened by mistake.

Anyone…but the man in front of her.

He pulled the glares away from her eyes, gripping her shoulder to stop her from retreating.

"Are you scared of me Phoenix?" He said slowly.

She swallowed and tried to keep up a stare into where his eyes would have been if she could see them. "No." She said.

"Then why are you running away?" He came, closer – she could feel his breath on her forehead; he tucked the glares into his breast pocket.

"I'm not," she said.

"No?" He nudged her to come closer, but she was frozen in her spot.

"This isn't fair protocol, Reaper. You're invading my space."

"Well," he said, gently teasing, "what are you going to do about it?"

She shrugged her shoulder, causing his hand to retract and then stepped away. "This."

He stood there for two seconds and then nodded, he took her glares out of his pocket and handed it to her. She sighed and extended her hand to take it but before she could do anything he caught her hand and hauled her towards himself. She gasped loudly as she collided against his body, and he steadied her with his hands, painfully gripping her arms.

"Goddammit Reaper!" She gasped.

"What?"

"Stop it! What do you want from me?" She cried. "I…I'm not…"

"Forgiveness."

That made her stop struggling. "What?"

"Forgive me, for…for not…"

"I told you before," she said, cutting him off before he could affect her. "It's okay. It was your job…"

His hand pressing against her face silenced her. She didn't want to do it – but she did. She closed her eyes and leaned into that touch – that familiar gentle touch.

"Please stop." She pleaded in a whisper.

"Kaela," He said so softly. Her eyes shot open.

"I'll call you that, right now. Okay? The last time, please!"

She swallowed and allowed him to see the hurt she was feeling.

"The last thing I want to do," he said, "is hurt you all the more, Kaela. Do you believe that?"

"Yes."

"Don't fight me, please, Kaela. I don't want anything more than friendship."

She sobbed and closed her eyes, fighting off the tears. His thumb running over her cheek just caused her heart within her to well up and want to fling her arms around him and let go.

No, her logical mind argued. Don't be a fool.

"It's not you I'm fighting," she said in a strangled whisper.

She opened her eyes and looked at the shades that covered his. There was no need to see his eyes to see his expression. She felt his question. 'Then who?'

"Myself," she whispered, sobbing. She pulled away from him, looking at the ground – he let her go. "I'm fighting myself – everything about myself, John. The past, the memories, who I was – who I am now. It's like…I'm at war within myself."

He said nothing.

She looked up at him, with a determined expression. "And this is a fight I have battle out on my own."

She saw John moisten his lips with his tongue. He sighed and nodded. She felt relief flood over her. His nod was a final commitment. He would not interfere any more…at least she hoped so.

She looked away from him and then at the Nevada horizon. Neither of them said anything for a long time. She was grateful because that time allowed her mind and body to calm down.

His cold, commanding voice had returned when he finally spoke. "We better get to the location of that gate and find out what's going on. Ready, soldier?"

Soldier.

Phoenix took in a deep breath and then turned around and raised her head as a sign of attention. "Yes, sir."

----------------------------------

(A/N: sorry had a lot of work to do. Please review. It helps me write more!)