Sorry, no new chapter. Instead, I rewrote this one as I wasn't happy with it.
Arthur lowered his guns. Blood caked the tip of one, some still wet, some trickling down the barrel. Shit, now he had to clean his guns on top of all hell breaking loose across the entire ship. It didn't help matters he had no idea if his wife was all right or not.
He grimaced and sank to the floor to clean the gun. It was for the best to not think about it. Sonya was all right, she had to be. Right then he needed to focus. Yes, cleaning his guns would help with that.
Besides, it was for the best to not have dirty weapons. It could very well be the difference between life and death especially if they stalled during the heat of battle. There would be no do overs. He wanted a child with his beloved after all. If he didn't make it through this, then, nah, forget about it. A child couldn't happen if Arthur wasn't there to help create one. This was the reality of battle. Hell, it was reality for an eighth of the bloody forces. Those who had most likely never known hell of combat.
Arthur inspected the gun he had just finished cleaning. Good, there was no sign of any more blood. Arthur started to put the weapon back together.
"Has anyone seen Private Asran?" the newbie's voice cut through the clamor of battle preparation.
Arthur looked up. "Hey," he called, "Newbie, are you looking for me?"
Barack turned. His jaw tightened, visible despite their distance. Barack strode over to him. "Lieutenant Williams has ordered us to join the search party for Major Nightlord," Barack informed him.
"Are you leading this marry band?" Arthur smiled. It could be the rich boy. Though that seemed unlikely.
"The lieutenant colonel is leading us."
What? Arthur gaped at the newbie. That couldn't be right. He had to have misheard. Sure, the man had helped and done more in the now than any commanding officer Arthur had ever known, but there was not taking back his short, foul temper.
"What did you just say?" the words trembled, distant and close all at once.
"Lieutenant Colonel Nightlord is leading the search party," Barack repeated.
Why? Why the hell did they want Arthur to go?!
Arthur forced himself to breathe. There was a way he could turn this situation around if only just a little. Perhaps he could test the Lieutenant Colonel to see if he really was the foul tempered leader that he appeared to be, but his current actions contradicted. It seemed out there and impossible, but perhaps it would work and perhaps it wouldn't.
"No way." It truly was a ridiculous thought.
"Are you still scared of him after everything that's happened?" The Newbie's eyes narrowed. "He put his life on the line for the medical bay. No commander has done that."
Arthur's eye twitched. Did it really take so little to change newbie's heart about their foul tempered leader? "I don't care," Arthur snapped.
Barack's lips twitched into a shadow of a snarl. "You don't have a choice. It's a direct order." Barack turned on his heel and strode off. The sound of his boots rang in the near silence their conversation had brought.
Arthur glanced around. The others were staring at him. Whatever, it didn't matter. All that mattered was making it through this day alive. Yes, he just had to make it through this mess alive then everything would be good.
Just great. Arthur grumbled as he holstered his now clean weapon. He followed Newbie at a slower pace, dragging his feet. This assignment just kept getting worse and worse. Why the hell did the UN hate him so much? He could at least, hopefully, test Lieutenant Colonel Nightlord without getting killed by the man for just opening his mouth.
The tapping of a boot punctuated the noise of the soldiers preparing for another fight to keep the medical bay safe. Arthur looked up to see the sound was coming from Tabitha. Her arms were folded across her chest and her sharp gaze was locked on Arthur.
Their superior stood nearby. His sharp, icy gaze locked on Arthur. A permanent scowl marred his narrow, sculped features.
Arthur shivered. Jesus. That man's every motion was chilling, powerful with enough strength to sever Arthur's head from his shoulders.
"Behave yourself, Private Asran," Tabitha whispered the order.
"Oh, trust me, I have no desire to be beheaded today," Arthur whispered back.
The hall dropped in temperature. Arthur glanced at the lieutenant colonel. The icy gaze had fallen over Arthur. Had he really heard Arthur over the noise of the hall? Crap! If he had then that wasn't good. Arthur waited to for his superior to attack him. Nothing happened. The lieutenant colonel looked away from Arthur instead of making to attack him. A small frown had replaced the scowl the tall man had worn. The frown flickered out, lasting less than a heartbeat.
"We're going." The lieutenant colonel turned and set off down the hall towards the lift.
"Go," Tabitha instructed, "and keep him safe. We can't afford to lose two commanders today."
"Right," Arthur stammered. Protect the lieutenant colonel? How the hell was Arthur to manage that? The man was far too powerful. There was no need to protect him!
Arthur started after Newbie who had raced to catchup with the lieutenant colonel. It was as if Newbie was a puppy racing after his owner, ears perked and tail wagging so hard it shook his entire body.
A small snort of laughter escaped Arthur. Yes, that was the perfect description for Newbie. He really was a puppy.
The newbie puppy's pace quickened until he walked beside the lieutenant colonel. "Sir, if you don't mind, I have a question over what happened at the ceremony." Those words shattered the tense silence.
Great. Yet perhaps this wouldn't be so bad. The newbie puppy was asking about the ceremony. Ah! Who was Arthur kidding? Of course, it would be horrible and could result in possible injury even death.
The newbie puppy shifted a little, stance wary as if he too feared the lieutenant colonel's response to his request. At least being a puppy hadn't robbed him of all his common sense.
"Yes?" the lieutenant colonel almost grunted the question.
"Well, um," Newbie Puppy cleared his throat, "why did you destroy the camera? The way it happened and given the rest of the events today just make it seem out of place."
If it wasn't so terrifying walking close to these two, the way Newbie Puppy seemed so nervous beside a man who wasn't quite as tall or broad in the shoulder as him would have been amusing. The fact remained, Arthur was near to them, out of arms reach of the lieutenant colonel but still close enough he might not be able to flee if the enhanced human turned his ire towards Arthur.
"It was an order."
Arthur's eyes narrowed. "Right?" he muttered to himself. Still, was that the truth?
Arthur shivered and looked towards the other two. The lieutenant colonel was looking at him. Oh, shit, he had heared Arthur!
The man's gaze slipped away from Arthur. A breath escaped Arthur. That had been too close for comfort. Arthur should just keep his mouth shut, but still… he was curious.
"What would you have done if not for this 'order'?" Arthur asked, voice as light and friendly as he could muster. His heart raced. If he misjudged how the lieutenant colonel would rather then Arthur would be on the receiving end of the insane strength the lieutenant colonel had displayed when crushing the camera.
The scowl melted into a frown. "I would have spoken with them," the lieutenant colonel confessed. "I would rather not have the entire colony against me day one," he stated.
Really? Well, Arthur supposed that did make sense. Enhanced humans had a rough lot in life. All but four were treated like slaves, something subhuman and should be crushed and suppressed out of fear of what they could do. The four who weren't slaves had to have a rough upbringing as well given they had been raised for one purpose in life. What did it matter if the lieutenant colonel could take off Arthur's head with a swing of his fist? In the end he was just as human as Arthur was.
"Then was it to turn us against you?" Newbie puppy asked.
"I suspect that was the point."
They entered the lift.
If that had been the point, then whoever had issued the order had seceded. The vast majority of people wouldn't have trusted the lieutenant colonel after such a display of rage and power. Heck, Arthur was one of those people. His heart flickered. Well, crap! This just sucked.
Arthur inspected the lieutenant colonel. The man's gaze was harsh at first glance, but it seemed more of a façade than how he actually felt. The scowl didn't reach his eyes. His eyes only appeared cold due to their color, there was warmth there, mixing with worry. Despite the conversation it seemed the lieutenant colonel was concerned about the major. Who wouldn't be if their family member was in mortal danger?
"What's the plan?" Arthur asked. His heart skipped a beat at how calm he sounded.
It hurt far more than Arthur cared to ever admit that he might have misjudged the lieutenant colonel. Still, there was a sure-fire way to test this.
"I can play decoy to draw them away from where the major is," Arthur offered.
"No," the lieutenant colonel's voice was fierce. "I'm not risking you or any other in such away. We're outnumbered, but that doesn't mean you or Lieutenant Barack need to be treated like a disposable pawn."
"Good to hear," Arthur grinned as tension eased from him. Thank whatever god there was he hadn't been tossed aside as a decoy. Arthur knew he could annoy people into chasing him, but how long he could stay away from harm was another story entirely. Especially given those they faced were also enhanced humans. Arthur was just a regular soldier in his thirties. An enhanced human could easily tear him apart.
"We need eyes on where my brother is being kept," Abel stated, eyes glittering. "Sargent Kudza, can you see what's happening around cargo bay nine?"
"Sir."
"A few of the rebels have congregated around that cargo bay," Kudza reported. "Is there anything of importance there, sir?"
"The major," Abel replied in a dark tone.
"Understood, sir. I will keep an eye on what's happening there. The rest of my team will work on keeping Lieutenant Williams and Captain Nightlord informed on rebel movements where they are."
"Good."
Now they had eyes, or so it seemed. At least Arthur wasn't a decoy or someone to be thrown away. It meant he might just live to make his first kid with his beloved.
"Understood, Sir."
The elevator drew to a stop.
"Stick together," Abel ordered. He moved from t he elevator with light steps. So light Arthur could barely hear the tapping of his military boots let alone the clicking of the armor on his formal uniform.
That was just amazing to have someone of Abel's size making such little sound in the uncomfortable uniform.
Arthur moved after Abel. His armor clicked, sounding a gun going off compared to Abel's softer movements. Damn it all, that was so unfair. It would have been so much nicer to have his movement match Abel's rather than being one that might alert the enemy to their location.
A louder sound almost banged through the hall. Arthur glanced behind him. Score! His armor's sound was nothing compared to Newbie Puppy's. Thus, Arthur wouldn't be the one to give away their location. If anyone did, it would have been the Newbie Puppy.
"Sir, there are a few rebels heading your way," Sargent Kudza's voice came over the radio.
Abel stopped and held up his hand in a silent command for Arthur and Newbie Puppy to do the same. Arthur stopped to Abel's right while the Newbie Puppy was on Abel's other side.
Abel closed his eyes. There was a short paused where it appeared he was listening for something. He flicked his wrist in an order to Arthur.
Arthur raced across the hall to the small amount of cover on the other side. He peered around the corner, careful to keep his movements small so as not to draw unwanted attention to himself. Yup, there were two rebels there.
Great! Arthur grinned and held up two fingers so Abel could see.
Abel nodded. The movement was followed by a flash of white. Arthur blinked. Abel had vanished from his position. Gunfire pierced the air.
Arthur whipped around the corner. His guns at the ready for support fire. It hadn't been needed.
Abel stood over two corpses. His wintery gaze locked on one of the two.
"Great shots!" Arthur praised as he stood. Shit, why did Abel even need Arthur and Barack there? Well, that answer was painfully obvious. Abel was a commanding officer. Thus, he needed bodyguards even if he could handle the rescue on his own.
A frown had replaced the normal scowl Abel wore. He didn't react to Arthur's complement, rather his gaze remained locked on one of the corpses.
"Eh? What's wrong?" Arthur moved to Abel's side.
"Are you all right, Sir? Were you injured?" Barack raced over to them, face pale.
Abel's only response was to kneel. His hand covered the shattered mask over the rebel's face. The bullet had pierced the helm easily and struck the rebel in the forehead.
Arthur winced. At least whoever this rebel was had died quickly.
Abel removed the helmet.
"Shit," the word fell as breath from Arthur's lips. What the hell was this?!
"What?" Newbie Puppy asked with a deep frown.
"That's one of the rep's reps," Arthur explained as he stared at the face of the man.
"He is," Abel confirmed. "The one from Canada."
"What? But that doesn't make sense." Newbie Puppy knelt beside Abel. "Why would a representative side with those trying to stop us from reaching Mars?"
"Could be an illegal," Arthur pointed out. "But how the hell did get that high up? It doesn't make sense. Everyone who works for the UN is tested to make certain they're not an illegal."
"He must have had help from someone even higher up than him," Abel stated.
"Whoa! Whoa! Hold on a sec, that means someone very high up is setting the stage for the colony to fail. Who, the hell, would do that?" This was just out of the blue. Anyone higher up than this guy would be personally invested in the success of the colony. They would have to have paid enough money in funding the project to feed all the stavering people on Earth. "Then, how would that person not get caught? It doesn't make sense." Arthur shook his head.
"Unless," – Abel stood – "but no, there isn't enough information over this matter." He touched his radio. "Sargent, we'll need to collect the bodies of the dead rebels."
"Understood, Sir. I'll relay the orders."
"Let's go." Abel looked between Arthur and Newbie Puppy. "We have my idiot brother to save."
"Sir!" Both Arthur's and Barack's reply rang as they stood.
x – Cain – x
Darkness. It was suffocating as it pressed down on Cain from all sides. Cain gritted his teeth. He could feel a rough material pull at his eyelashes each time he blinked. It was enough to know he had been blindfolded.
This was far from the time for him to bet captured by this damned group! If they had harmed his precious siblings, then they were dead! He would make every last one of them pay.
"Report," a sharp voice snapped. It was close to the woman had barred his way. Perhaps it was even the same person.
Cain's eyes narrowed. Not that this mattered. He had to find a way out of this mess so he could protect his precious siblings. They needed him.
"What?!" the woman shrieked, the sound grating against Cain's pounding skull. "He was alone, bloody alone, and you let him slip away? You idiot!"
There was a pause.
Cain tested his restraints. Metal bit into his wrists. They had bound him tightly. His hands would have been going numb if the restraints had been any tighter.
"I don't need excuses. Results are all that matter to the boss! You got it? So get results!"
"Ma'am," the word could just barely be heard from the radio.
"Silence!" The sound of her boots striking the floor followed. "Where is he now?" Her clothes rustled from a shift in position. "Leading the UN forces!" her scream echoed through the space, dampened by what sounded like crates.
Cain must have been in one of the cargo bays. Not that this mattered much. What mattered was who she was talking about. Was it Abel? If there was a higher power, he prayed they would keep his twin safe. Well, as far as anything could keep his twin safe. This was Abel after all. His reckless, hot-headed twin.
"Where are the other two?" the woman demanded.
Other two? It must be Seth and Lilith. He could careless where Lilith was, but Seth… Hopefully his precious, little sister was safe.
"What?!"
The word rang through air and pierced Cain's skull. Damn it. Was this how Abel felt whenever someone shouted? If so, Cain had the deepest sympathy for his twin.
"Damn it all! That little brat is guarding the bridge!"
Little brat? Cain's jaw tightened until it ached. She had to be talking about Seth. How dare she refer to Seth in such away! Though, by the sounds of it both of his siblings were currently safe.
Cain breathed. That was more than good to hear. It would make it so Cain could focus on his own escape rather than keeping his siblings safe. If the people under his sister and brother were any good, they could protect Abel and Seth. Granted, Cain didn't put much stock in that. After all most people hated them for just existing.
Tch, these freaks were still going to have pay. They had messed with the wrong family and Cain would make them realize this.
"If they refuse his generous offer, then we are left with no other choice."
Now what?
"Ma'am," a second voice quavered nearby, "he would be displeased if we just—"
"Shut up," she snarled. "Kill the other tree," she relayed the order.
Kill them? No way in hell! His ears rang, heat pulsed through his body. How dare she order his siblings execution. How dare she!
Cain strained against his bonds. Chink! They would pay! He strained. Every last one of them would pay!
Pain lanced through his wrists. He'd kill them all!
A hand pressed into his shoulder. The woman clicked her tongue. "Now, now, Major, you should know better than to struggle." It was the bitch who had ordered their deaths.
Cain jerked again. White hot pain lanced through his wrists. His hands slipped from the restraints. His hands tingled. It didn't matter! Nothing mattered save for her death!
An inhuman cry tore from Cain's lips. He rammed his full way into the woman. The two of them fell to the ground. One hand refused to move. He wrapped his good hand around around her neck.
Cain gasped as he was yanked backed.
He lashed out blindly. A shout filled the air as his boot made contact with the fighter holding him.
Cain tore the blindfold from his eyes. A glint of metal caught his eye. Cain dove for where his sword was.
"Stop him!" the woman gasped, coughing. She staggered to her feet.
Cain's good hand wrapped around the hilt. He whipped around as he drew the blade. Blood covered his vision as the sword slashed through the neck of a man who had leapt to stop Cain.
A body fell to the floor with a dull thud.
Cain lunged for the next closest. His blade slid through the man's chest. Cain kicked the body from his blade.
"You will all pay!" the words rang from Cain. He turned and slashed at another. The figure fell.
All Cain could see was red. The heat coursing through him kept him moving.
Another fell, followed by another, and another. It didn't matter how many Cain had to kill. He'd kill everyone aboard this ship if he had to. He would keep his siblings safe, protected forever.
Cain whipped around when movement out of the corner of his eye drew his attention. There she was! Cain lunged.
A strange, black liquid formed behind the woman. His hands were being swallowed by it. No! He wouldn't let her off that easily.
The liquid completely enveloped her. Cain's blade struck metal.
Cain snarled. Damn it all! He'd let her slip away. Damn her to hell!
"Brother." A hand took hold of his shoulder.
Cain spun. He flicked his blade towards his attack her. His blade froze when his attack caught his wrist. Cain blinked.
"Abel?" Cain's sword clattered to the ground. He had almost— Cain's stomach churned. It hadn't happened. Abel was fine. He was safe. But Cain had almost killed him. Vile burned his throat.
"Get a hold of yourself," Abel snapped. His eyes narrowed, making the pale blue flash.
"Abel." Cain tore his wrist from Abel's grasp. He pulled his twin into a tight embrace. Pain shot through his injured wrist. It didn't matter. Nothing else mattered outside of what he held in his arms. Abel. His precious twin was safe. That was all that mattered. Nothing else did as long as Abel was safe.
"What the hell?" Abel snapped. Abel pulled out of Cain's embrace. "What's wrong with you?" His normally icy gaze blazed.
"They said they were going to kill you," Cain explained. His voice rang, high and joyful. The tone wasn't natural. Abel was safe. He was alive and well.
"And you believed them." Abel snorted. "Seriously, Cain." Abel shook his head. He turned. "Private Asran, check of any survivors."
Cain followed Abel's gaze. There were two with his brother. His eyes narrowed. If either of them meant his brother harm they would meet the same fate as those who littered the floor, blood pooling around their lifeless forms.
"Understood." The private saluted Abel of all things. A large grin was on his face. He moved off to see if any of the bodies were still alive.
"Sargent Kudza," – Abel had his on his radio – "check the vicinity for any of the rebel forces."
"There are none, sir," the voice was muffled to the point Cain had to strain to hear the reply.
"Odd. Was there any sign of how they fled?"
"All I saw was an strange tar like substance wrap around them," the Sargent replied.
"We'll go through the footage once we have this mess cleared up." Abel frowned. "Have a few of your men prepare holding cells."
"Roger that."
If Abel was alive, then it would follow Seth was as well. Abel was making no moves to show otherwise.
"Sir." The private had returned. He gave Abel a not so serious salute. "There are no survivors here."
"Thank you for checking, Private Asran. Good work." Abel turned to Cain. "Come on, let's head for the medical bay."
Cain followed his twin from the blood-stained cargo bay.
"It's a good thing those containers are so thick," Private Asran spoke with a light tone. "No need to worry about soiled food from all the blood and everything."
Abel gave a small huff of laughter. His eyes sparked a little.
Cain glanced at his brother then the man who had made him laugh. "What cargo hold was this?"
"Nine."
"There aren't perishables stored here," Cain informed them.
"Good to know." Private Asran's eyes narrowed.
It didn't matter if there had been food there or not. Cain didn't regret his actions. His family was far more important than the colony having food.
Cain would kill anyone who threated his twin no matter how many there were. All that mattered was his family. Not the colony, not the UN, only Abel and Seth.
Cain's good had balled into a fist. Yes, he would protect them for any and all who meant them harm.