Mission 5: Cold
They had set up in the Antarctic base. It was cold. There was power there, and water but hardly any heating. Alexia wasn't bothered by the cold. Albert at least pretended he wasn't. Alex shivered in her winter jacket. The labs were warmer, all the equipment emitted heat. The bedrooms were the worse. The day left her exhausted. But sleep wouldn't come. She recalled the conversations they had over how to stop Spencer.
"Do you know what kind of virus he has?" Alexia asked.
She changed into another lab coat. Wearing some underwear and a sleeveless shirt under it but not much else.
"I doesn't really matter. " Albert says. "The real problem is that he has the same virus we have."
He looks over at her.
"So what you mean is, that we need to neutralize it?"
"Yes, I've been working on something before all of this."
He had been working on a way to destroy her regeneration powers. A way to kill her for good. It takes her by surprise. She did consider it. Making a serum to neutralize his virus but she feared that he would find out, use it against her. She had believed he would never make one himself because he would fear it being used against him. She had been wrong. He seems to pick up on it. The hurt expression she is trying to hide.
"Don't tell me you've never considered it, sister."
"Of course I have." She says." I just never actually made it.
It frightens her. He is close to completing the very thing that can kill her. And now she is going to help him do it. Once Spencer is gone and their little alliance is over he would be coming for her. The realization hurts. But then she feels like a fool for believing otherwise.
It's difficult to work alongside him again. Like nothing had ever happened. It does feel like back then, when they had been working to take down Spencer for the first time. However they only talk about work. Things used to be a lot more intimate back then. She can feel him behind her. Just like old times. Half expects him to embrace her, to touch her like he did back then. She has to bite back a moan, lost in her fantasy. He reaches past her, takes something from the stand and walks away. Whether that was on purpose or not she doesn't care. Feels her face burn. Being this close to him again is driving her crazy. Now that they aren't trying to kill each other. Now that there is so much around to remind them of the past. She has time to think back, to remember. All those times, before he betrayed her. She had been so happy. Believed he had finally returned her feelings. But of course it had all been a lie, hadn't it?
It's been ten years since that night. Ten years since they had been together. Ten years since she has been with anyone. Deep down, she still loved him. Even after everything he did. She wanted him. Knew it was stupid. Hated herself for being unable to let go of these feelings. He had used her. Nothing could change that. And yet it almost hurt physically how bad she longed for him. But there was no way she would go to him. No way could she ask for such a thing. He would turn her down. Mock her. And if he did accept her, it would come with a price. Her life most likely. So she lays in her cold bed. Under layers of covers that do little to keep her warm in the arctic nigh. Sleep escapes her. She can see her own breath in the air as she gasps. Trying to find her release from the tension that's coiled inside her. Thinks back to all the times they've fucked and the one time they've actually made love. Finally feels her muscles begin to quake. Anticipation building. Imagining it's his hands touching her and not her own. Feels it hit. The orgasm is mediocre at best. Too short. She can still feel the tension crawling under her skin. The ache for him still just as strong. She rolls to the side and lets the tears of frustration fall.
It's a memory that still haunts him. Her face leaning over him. That day. They were fourteen at most. It was warm. Probably summer. They went horseback riding. Without supervision. It had been his idea. There were two new horses. He wanted to show off. No saddles. He thought she would back out. But she didn't. In the end it was his horse that went off the road. He lost control. Hit his head on a low branch. When he came to they were sitting under a tree. She was leaning over him. Golden hair shining in the sun. She was probably trying to kiss him. But back then all he could see was her looking down on him. She had beaten him in his own game. She just had to put herself above him. Treat him like this. Like he was helpless. Laying in her lap. He did the only thing he could do. Lashed out. Pushed her away. Told her he never needed help, not from her, not from anyone. He could see the hurt on her face and actually felt happy. Happy he could rob her of a victory.
The image of her face leaning over him. It was something that never left him. She became so cold after that day. He thought she had been challenging him with that coldness. She was in his eyes a girl, which meant she was weak. She didn't laugh or cry in front of him anymore. She stopped asking him to play games. And when he made the mistake to ask her for help one day with the homework she reminded him that he didn't need help from anyone. He saw it as a challenge. Her – the weakling, trying to prove she was better than him. Now he could only look back at it in shame.
Her face looking down on him when she caught him falling. Remind him of that day. His shame. He couldn't. He let go. It was that image of her face that haunted his mind while trapped as the black knight. He wanted to make it go away but it wouldn't. He had fought her, without realizing it was really her. In the end she had saved him. He thought he could feel her breath on his face before waking up. But perhaps he had imagined it. Somehow it felt strange waking up, without her face there. Once long ago he mistaken her care for pride. Now that she had denied him of it. He knew what a mistake it had been. Even when they worked together, the cold remained. It was there, lingering. Her guarded behavior. The pretense. Even when they were alone. She said she loved him and yet he could still feel the cold.
She looks at him when she thinks he isn't looking. He notices. She keeps doing it. Glancing over. Especially when they are alone in the lab. Alex feels him standing there, behind her. Turns around to.
"Did you need something?"
He looks irritated.
"Were you expecting a thank you or something?"
At first she is confused. Then realizes what he meant.
"Well I did save you. But that would be too much to expect from you."
It seem to anger him further.
"I'm helping you kill the old man, isn't that enough?"
"You're doing it for your own personal vendetta. "She says
She should have expected it. He feels like he owes her now. Of course he can't stand it, being in debt to someone. Having someone hold power over him. She didn't do it to make him owe her anything. But he couldn't possibly understand that. She had tried to be kind to him but he always made her regret it later. And yet she still wanted him to return it. Even when she knew he was incapable of it.
"What do you want of me?"
His words take her by surprise. He would do anything she asked to no longer be in her debt. She feels her face heat up as she considers the possibility. To feel his skin on hers again. To be with him again. The ache she feels for him could be soothed. But she know it would stupid. Perhaps she could ask him to spare her life. But would he? She doubts it. Any promise he makes, he would break it as soon as it was beneficial to him. And if asked for his body, he would forever remind her of it, humiliate her. Even if he knew how she felt.
"I want nothing from you" she say, confident, cold.
She know it will hurt him. Deny him of what he wants. It's all she can do. Then when time comes, she will remind him that he still owes her for saving him. Walks away. Alone in her room. Let's the mask drop. Regrets not asking him for it. He could never love her, or anyone but himself. But she could have had him in her arms at least once more. He could be so gentle, so attentive, it almost made her believe he did love her. But it was a lie. She could never trust him again. But even if it was a lie, she missed it. Especially in these cold dark nights.
He sits on his bed. Pondering what to do. She had denied him, of course she did. She had been for the past ten years. Denying him all that he wanted. That was why they fought. That was why they killed each other. On the surface anyway. He could not escape it. Even when he tried to. She would always remind him of it. Remind him of what he did. Of his shame. His failure. And he had been so proud of it. It made him grind his teeth in frustration. But the past would not go away. Her coldness will forever remind him of his cruelty. Cruelty as all she will accept from him. It's all she will let him be.
The shower only has the option of cold water and ice cold water. But even the icy cold doesn't do it. It surprises him a little. He blames on the ice cold room. Waking up shivering in the dead of night. The ice cold shower makes the frigid room feel almost warm. Dries himself of. He wonders if he should go to her. Perhaps. As he dresses he recalls their conversation. He know she did want something. The blush on her face was one he knew well. Having seen it so many times.
Alex lays on her side, back to the door. Shivering under her covers. Trying to get a wink of sleep. She envies Alexia who has the body temperature of a furnace. Almost considers dragging the woman into her bed. Only to sleep. Only to feel warm again. She hears the door open. Doesn't move. It's cold under the covers but outside is even colder. They show no signs of leaving. Move closer to the bed. She briefly wonders if she is imagining it. If this part of some dream. She feels cold as they lift the covers up. Now she know it's real. Lifts, her head up, turns.
"What are you doing?" she asks, white breath visible in the air.
He climbs into bed with her. Holds her arms behind her back. Licks along her ear. She freezes.
"Don't think I didn't notice you blushing. "His voice low, husky.
She shivers, but this time not from the cold.
"What are you talking about." She gasps, feels his hand slide under her sweater to squeeze her breast.
"I know you too well, sister."
He kisses her exposed neck.
"I told you I don't want…" she gasps again.
He flips her on her back. Moves to undo her pants.
"oh I'm not doing this for you." he says." I just have a hard on like you wouldn't believe."
She tries to act angry.
"So you think you could just..."
"Don't think I forgot. "He licks her neck "the way you used to blush when you..."
She can't' take it anymore. Captures his lips in a kiss. Can't believe she is getting this free of charge. Moves her hands under his clothes. He is indeed hard. Feels him through the fabric. He bucks his hips against her touch. Desire overwhelms embarrassment. He figured her out so easily but she doesn't mind. Not this time. He moves his fingers inside her. She bites his lip, stops herself from crying out. Feels him bite back in return. Already, her body feels much warmer. Finally managing to get him free from his pants. He kisses her again, more gentle this time. Moves closer. Prepares to take her. She can feel tears well up in her eyes from the anticipation.
The door slams open. Light from the hall hurts with how bright it is. Alexia walks into the room.
"Incoming attack!" she yells.
"What?!" She can't believe that out of all the times it would be now.
"The security system picked up movement. Towards the base. They're not human."
Alex wants to scream.
The dim light of sunrise can be seen over the horizon. Alex pushes the speed on her snow bike. Albert is further to her right. She jumps over a large pile of snow. The arctic waste is vast. Alexia gives directions from the security room. There is snow rising from the ground like dust. Something big is moving. She stops, takes out her binoculars.
"Two targets. Coming your way"
"I got them on sight." She says to Alexia over the ear piece.
One looks like a giant spider made from ice with a tail of a scorpion. The other one looks like a hunter, lizard like, but with large clusters of ice like crystals around its body. The tail is much longer It runs on all fours.
"I've had enough of giant bugs." Alex says.
She hears Albert chuckle.
"I'll take him." He says. "You always were scared of spiders."
"And whose fault is that?"
He laughs, driving away from her. She follows. Goes further away, towards the lizard. Runs the bike over its back, jumps up. Takes her gun and shoots until it's empty. Grabs the wheel again and lands on the ground. Revs up the engine and prepares to run it over. The lizard like creature shrieks. Turns around and starts to run. But then it vanishes before her eyes. She looks around, tries to see it. Then large ice shards begin to fall from the sky. Alex barely moves out of the way. Avoids damage to the bike.
The thing had jumped up. The crystals on its body were being shot at her is it fell. She had never seen a creature like this. She ran forward preparing to shoot it as it landed. It reflected the shot with a whoosh of its long tail. This was going to be thought. It shook its body, sending ice shards her way. Alex dodged. Aside from a small cut on her arm. Almost instantly the wound began to freeze. The edges getting iced over. She regretted not taking the spider. Albert's armor would be prefer for this. But she would not ask for his help. Calling on her mutation she uses the petals to shield. It jumps over her, lands behind her. But she had expected it to. Hid her vines under the snow. Wrapping around it's legs. Shifting one petal to block her back. She could finish this quickly but she was angry. Puling the creature up as her vine like tentacles bound it she began punching it like a punching bag until her fist finally caved in its skull. It lay there in the snow, blue blood gushing out. Alex was getting ready to walk away but the remembered something. Tentacles ripping of one of its ice covered claws and dragging it to her.
She made sure her brother was still occupied before assimilating the limb. New eye appearing on the petal. It was her own unique mutation. She kept it a secret from him. Didn't use it. Saving it for when she needed it most.
Albert approached the spider- scorpion like thing. Dashing towards it in great speed. It spat something that resembled clear liquid. He moved out of the way. Jumped on top of it. The giant stinger tried to prick him. He caught it but was surprised to feel the force was pushing him back. Holding it with two arms was difficult. Perhaps he had not regained his power fully. It annoyed him. He let go, jumped off. The spider lunged at him, knocking him into the snow. If only he could bind its legs, keep it still. Alex would have been more suited to deal with this thing. It took him a moment to realize he was knocked back into the liquid the spider had spat at him. It began to free him to the ground, to cover his body. Ice crawling over him, expanding. He called on his mutation. Feeling embarrassed that such a creature had forced him to use it. it felt different. Almost painful, like was drowning. The memories of being trapped returning
He had been the first of the two to awaken a unique mutation. Black tentacles from his back, reaching as far as his arms did. They did not have the range his sister did. But they had other uses. Serving as extra limbs at first and then he learned he could transform them into goo like substance or harden them. Wrapping them around his arms and making them as hard as steel. Making them viscous and trapping her fists or bullets in them. They were smaller than her massive mutation but it made them faster.
The ice creeping up his body exploded. He didn't realize he was screaming until he stopped. It covered his entire body. The black armor. Only now he was in full control. Whatever Spencer did to him cause his mutation to evolve. He was faster, stronger. Jumping on its back one again he caught the stinger, jumped again, lifting the creature up into the air and tossing it to the ground while still holding on to it. The rush of power making him feel exited. He wanted to see what else he could do. He swung it around by the tail until it ripped from its body. He launched it at the falling creature like a spear, impaling in the air. It was a good start but he knew he could do more. Wanted to do more. To fight to feel this rush of power continuously. But the creature was dead.
The rush still pulsed in his veins even when he returned to normal. The excitement had reminded him of a different kind of excitement. He tried to slow down his breathing. He needed to calm down or he ride back would be a very uncomfortable one.
"You're slow" Alex says sliding down the hill of snow.
She notices how he is slightly flushed, breathing heavy.
"You must be really out of shape it a thing like that gave you a work out." She is only teasing him but tries to make her voice as harsh as she can.
"Let's head back he says." Then smirks" I believe we have some unfinished business."
Alex returns the smirk. Pulls him into a kiss. One hand moving down his coat, sliding inside. She feels that he is still hard. A pleasant surprise.
"Detecting another group of enemies." Alexia says over the ear piece.
Alex pulls away.
"Shit. How many?"
"A lot. Can't confirm the exact number. Sensors in the entire area are going off."
"Alright. Let's finish this quickly. "She sighs going back to her bike
It takes her a moment to realize what she is looking at.
"There must be tens of them" She says in disbelief.
He lets out a frustrated sigh.
"Spencer's behind this."
"But it was just days ago. How did he.. In such short time?"
"He had a decade to prepare. This is but a fraction of his army."
Alex feels a little bit intimidated.
"Are you scared, sister?" He seems to sense it.
"Of course not."
"Good. Then how about a little game?"
She looks at him curious.
"A game?"
"Let's see who can take out more of them."
"What's the prize?"
"The winner decides." He gives her that "I know I'm going to win" smirk.
"Alright then." She looks at him, challenging, defiant.
There many spider like creatures, the lizard like ones too. Then there are the large one eyes creatures. They tower over the rest. He goes left, she goes right. Diving into the mass of monsters.
She lures the lizard like creatures towards the large one. Waits for them to jump up and start using the ice shards. Dashes under it, using it as a shield. Call her vines, wrap around its neck. Slingshots herself into air. Takes her gun out and shoot the shards of ice. The bullet knocks it of course, it hits another shard. They bump into one another like billiard balls. Change direction, fall unto the creatures bellow, impales a few spiders. The lizards fall, prepare a new wave of shards. Alex is falling between them. Maneuvering her body. One lines up perfect. She kicks it right into the large eyes of the tall creature. Its massive form stumbles, falling on the others bellow it.
She catches one of the lizards in the fall. Wraps her legs around its head. It tries to break free. She adjusts the position so she is on its back. Aiming its head towards to the ground. The back is like a blind spot for the creature. Its ice can't shoot back only forward and a little to the sides. However it makes fighting in group difficult. It sends a blast of shards to the ground, thrashes trying to avoid having its head crushed. It's blasting everything below. Alex jumps of, takes her gun shoots it. The ground is full corpses. But more keep coming towards her. The fight is far from over.
He focuses. Feels it forming in his palm. The black material of the armor extends forms a pole. He tries to change the shape but its rigid, jagged. Perhaps in time he can make something else. He throws it at the lumbering giant cyclops. Blinds it. Runs up its arm as it punches down blindly. Extracts the weapon. Removing the eyeball in the process. It slides down and splatters to the ground. He jams the pole in again and it comes out through the bad of its skull. He drops down, aims, and impales a spider. The lizards are a nuisance. Their attacks don't hurt him but they irritate him. They are fast but he is faster. Caching one by the throat and squeezing.
The sun is setting and the ground is littered with piles of dead creatures. Snow stained with red and blue blood. Mushy. Alex is feeling tired. Jacket ripped and stained. Muscles aching. Albert looks pristine, not scratch on him.
"45" he says confidently.
Alex burst out laughing and he looks confused for a moment.
"46" she smiles triumphantly.
He looks outraged.
Something moves behind them. He changes his arm, sends a pole flying into it's head. The spider drops dead.
"Well, I guess it's a draw."
"That was after. It doesn't could." She protests.
"Looks like someone is a sore loser. "
"Oh? I can still get back before you do." She says.
He smirks. So she is turning it into a race. It just like before, when they were children. Before she grew cold.
They race across the snow on their bikes. Alex pulls ahead for bit. He catches up. In the end there is no winner. They reach the hangar side by side. She looks at him. The unspoken question in her eyes. He gives a brief nod.
She showers. Her room at least had warm water in the shower. Changing into some warm clothes she sits on her bed. Waits. Her body feels tired. The adrenaline from the race wearing of. He comes from the bathroom. Pushes her down on the bed, kissing her. It's cold. They get under the covers. She feels a pleasant feeling of warmth spreading thought out her body. He kisses her deeply. Body pressing against hers. She wraps her arms around him, rubbing his back. Relaxing. Comforting. He places lazy kisses along her neck. Nuzzles into the crook of her neck. She tangles her fingers in his hair. Feels his breathing calm. Feels content to just lay there and hold him like this.
Alexia peers into the room. They never showed up to give her any reports on their encounters. Only to find them asleep. They look peaceful. Almost cute. She smiles a little. Reminded of her own bother. Closes the door.