She was thankful for Jinx, him being away doing things not being able to catch her out in a moment of utter weakness.
As she dreamt the precursors came to her for the first time in a long time.
"Ah you have done well in helping aid the dark one onto the path of balance and light, but your task is not yet finished."
The voice told her.
"You have been given the ring and the bracelet, but the necklace, that will help you unlock your power it is hidden deep within the wasteland."
"The wasteland?" She asked.
"Tossed away eons ago by Mia Acheron that necklace is the final key to helping balance yourself and those around you."
"How do I do this how do I find it?" She asked panicked.
"Follow the dark one to the light." The temple room she was in began to shake as the precursor vanished into thin air.
The dust and rocks started to fall all around her with a deafening banging and crashing.
Serena sat bolt up right as the noise followed her from the realm of dreams to the awaking, the bashing on the door of the house was loud enough she thought they would go through it.
"By the order of Baron Praxis open this door for inspection!" The voice of the guard yelled over the bashing.
Serena took a moment to register what was happening, she grabbed a hoody quietly out of the wardrobe and put it on, then grabbed the pistol out of Jinx's bedside table.
She snuck under the bed and felt around, just as she was told to do.
"Break it in!" One of the men yelled.
Her nails hit a lip and she pushed on the panel and it dropped down and it slid back silently.
Serena dropped down the hatch into the darkness below as the door crashed in and slammed against the wall.
She slid the hatch door partially shut and waited and listened as she heard boots shuffle around the apartment.
"Look over there." One of the men said as she heard him pick up her discarded uniform armour plates.
Serena silently swore at herself for not getting rid of it before she got here.
"The tracker has located her to here, she must have ditched the gear and moved on."
"Inform the Baron." Another male voice said. "Do a sweep of this building and then move to the next building."
The voice sounded familiar, too familiar to Serena, then she clicked, it was Michaels.
She heard the boots on the floor in the bedroom, she slid the panel fully closed quietly and held her breath, pistol aimed at the hatch opening.
The boots clunked on the wooden floor slow and steady, they stopped and she could hear armour plated knees hitting the floor and the armour scraping along the wooden floor under the bed towards the closed panel.
Serena's heart rate increased at the thought of being found, she had witnessed the torture in the Baron's prisons, she did not want to be on the receiving end of it.
Her finger hovered over the trigger of the pistol.
"Evidence is packed up, get your ass moving we have twenty more buildings on this block to search." Michael's voice rang out.
The armour scrapped across the floor and she heard the footsteps leave the room and out of the building.
Serena released the breath she was holding and relaxed putting the pistol in the back of the leggings she had on, she grabbed her communicator and dialed Jinx.
"What happened?" Were the first words to come across from Jinx in a worried tone.
"They know I was here," she whispered, "I forgot the tracker in my uniform, they have taken it with them, I need to get to the underground."
"Follow the tunnel to the end I will meet you there in ten minutes, don't panic I will help get you out." Jinx cut the line.
Serena followed the cold dark tunnel, her feet wading in the water standing on sharp stones that cut into her feet.
Her hand following the wall, it was rough and damp.
The place was wet and smelt bad, she turned a corner she could see a dim light at the end.
She walked to it cautiously as the light grew so did the smell, a familiar yet disgusting one. It hit her where she had smelt it before, on duty with Delta crew during her punishment, she was I the cities sewer system.
Know and behold as she walked into the light it opened up into one of the many chambers of the sewers.
Standing there with arms folded leaning against a rail was Jinx, cigar in mouth.
"Took you long enough, come on I will get you to Torn, you should be safe at the underground."
"I am sorry Jinx, I've ruined your home." She told him as she stood in front of him and hung her head.
"Don't worry I will sort out another place, don't stress, what we need to concentrate on now is getting you through the industrial section to the slums and to Torn." He smiled at her and lifted her chin.
"It will be over soon I am sure."
"I am never sure as to when this war will be over." She sighed and the two of them began the slow walk to the exit to the industrial section of the city.
"Where are your boots?" Jinx asked. "Huh? Oh yes I didn't have much of a chance to grab them before they smashed in your door." Serena said in a daze, she pulled the hood of the hoodie up as they walked in silence towards the doors to the outside.
The doors slid open loudly echoing around the chamber.
"Ladies first." Jinx motioned to the awaiting elevator, a small smile crept onto Serena's face.
Once in, it began to lift, Serena shuffled nervously, it wasn't far to the underground but it was full of guards looking for her and Jak.
The elevator stopped and the doors to the inner city limit opened, the light was blinding.
"Shit I didn't know it was day!" Serena exclaimed not wanting to go out in case someone recognized her.
"Relax sweet cheeks old Jinx will get you there, wait here." He told her as he walked up the ramp, he inspected the area cautiously but nonchalantly. He spied exactly what he was after, a two seater zoomer sat with the keys in it.
"Must be my lucky day." He smirked to himself and climbed in and started it up.
Serena waited what felt like an eternity for Jinx to come back, a zoomer came down the ramp. "Mame your chariot awaits." Jinx winked at her and she took no hesitation in climbing in.
The drive to the underground seemed like a walk down death row, guards prowled the streets on high alert.
Jinx took them slow and steady not wanting to raise suspicion, he took the zoomer to a dead end street a few blocks from the entrance to the underground and they both ditched it.
"Okay Seri this is the final stretch till you are safe home. Are you ready?" She nodded in response, "grab my hand and play the part of a young girl infatuated with her boyfriend okay?" Jinx told her.
"Are you freaking mad Jinx?" She responded abruptly.
"You wanna get there or not?" "Fine." She grumbled and took his hand in hers.
It was large and her fingers looked tiny in comparison to hers.
Walking through the slums they stuck to the buildings as close as possible. The people walked with their heads held low, not paying much attention, scattering out of the way of the guards.
"I haven't realised how down trodden the people are." Serena told Jinx.
"I guess until you are in civilian clothes and on the other side you wouldn't take much notice." Jinx sighed as they approached a junction in their path. He walked slightly in front of Serena as he rounded the corner a patrol unit was coming right toward them.
Jinx stopped suddenly and Serena walked straight into him.
He turned and pushed her back into the wall of the building, his hand came to her cheek, she had no idea what was happening as his lips met with hers.
Serena resisted at first but then felt herself melt into him as he pushed her back and deepened the kiss, his tongue exploring her mouth and Serena indulged in a guilty moment returning his kiss.
The boots of the patrol went past, Jinx broke the kiss.
"Wow." Serena gasped and touched her lips with her fingers, breathing heavily.
"That was unexpected."
"I couldn't let them see your face," Jinx winked, grabbed her hand and they continued to the underground.
The stone door ground it's way up as the doors opened and Serena made her way down the steps into the underground headquarters.
Serena stopped by the bunk beds and leant against one and turned to Jinx.
"Thanks Jinx if it wasn't for you I would never have gotten out." Serena spoke quietly.
"Call it sheer dumb luck, I will leave you to it sugar, don't be a stranger." He leant down and kissed her cheek.
Serena smiled to herself and took the final steps to where Torn was, bent over the desk reading blueprints.
Her feet padded on the concrete floor she walked to him from behind and without thought hugged him.
"Seri?"
"Thank you." She let go and Torn gave her a once over in her dishevelled state.
"I am glad you got out, here take my key use my room and shower up and grab some clothes and boots."
She smiled weakly and took the keys.
"Thanks."
Serena put the key in the lock and turned it.
The room hadn't changed from what she could remember still plain black and white, minimal stuff and tidy.
She placed the clothes on the bed and went to the attached bathroom.
She let the steam from the shower fill the room and undressed carefully.
Her body bruised from the explosion she wiped the mirror with the towel and stared at her face.
It was racked with guilt and sadness.
Serena hadn't taken the time to look in the mirror in a while to study her face.
She looked exhausted the years were starting to catch up on her.
Sighing she got into the shower and let the water flow over her, scrubbing the dirt away her thoughts travelled back to Erol.
His body lay broken cradled in her arms, the things he said to her she wished he had said years ago before the war turned nasty.
For four years she had stuck by his side, four years she had seen him kind and sweet and harsh and brutal.
The tears began to flow down her cheeks, how could she have loved the monster of a man, but she knew the kind side.
She had no idea what had happened to him after Jinx and her made their escape.
Her mind turned to Jinx for a brief moment, he was so kind to her, and then she thought of the kiss they shared. She had enjoyed it, but was racked with guilt as the man she had loved for those four years in her mind died two days ago.
"Get a grip Acheron!" She told herself.
She turned the water off as a sniffle escaped her, grabbed the towel and began to dry her hair and her body. Wrapping the towel around she began to dress.
Black cargo pants, black tank top and black jacket.
She french plaited her hair and then once again wiped the condensation from the mirror.
"Your free." She spoke to herself and left the room.
"Seri, feeling better?" Torn asked.
"Yes much better, we need to discuss this piecer bomb though." She told him.
"Bomb?" He questioned.
Serena walked to the table, "two weeks ago Krew asked me to take something to the Baron, I believe these were the plans to the piecer bomb. This will be used to crack the precursor stone, but I believe Krew is up to something."
"Why would the Baron want to crack the stone to get to the metal head nest when Mar's weapon sits awaiting it?" A voice asked from behind them, as the Shadow walked into the room, his wooden shoes clunked on the concrete.
"That's a very good question, isn't Jak working closely with Krew?" Torn asked the Shadow.
"Yes, I believe the boy is and last I heard the back street dealer was spotted out near the dig."
"There is a weapons factory there, that's where the KG robots are being manufactured." Serena spoke up. "We need to alert Jak somehow." The Shadow said.
"Ashelin." Was the one word Serena spoke.
"Ashelin?" Torn asked confused.
"She will know what her father is up to and what is happening, we all know Jak has the security pass to get entrance into the palace, I wouldn't be surprised if he is there now, we need to get word to her to keep an eye out for him." Serena explained.
"Get on it Seri." Torn told her, excusing herself she went to one of the unoccupied bunks and pulled out her communicator.
"Serena, oh thank the precursors your still alive." Shouted Ashelin down the line.
"Yes, yes thanks to Jinx."
"Seri I am so sorry about Erol." She sounded as though there was genuine concern in her voice. "Count Vegar has taken him away, I don't know if he is still alive or what has happened they have him at some facility." Serena paused for a moment, " I don't think he will make it and it would be better for all of us if he didn't." She sighed.
"Wow, that seems a bit harsh." "What do you expect, he found out my secret, he was using it against me, I have done things in the last week I never want to repeat in my life, ever." "Oh Seri, I don't know how you ever let Torn talk you into being with him."
"Look that isn't the reason I called, Jak has the security pass for the palace and with the hate for your father I am sure he is in that palace as we speak. He needs to get to the KG factory at the dig." There was a pause, "my father has just left to meet with Krew at the dig just now."
"Shit Ashelin, Krew is not good news."
"But isn't Jak working for him?" Ashelin asked.
"Yes, under strict orders from Torn, why?" "I am just not sure what side of this war that dark eco freak is on." The line went dead.
Information was handed to Torn and Serena found herself a bunk for the night, as she lay down on the uncomfortable mattress the door opened.
Not thinking much of it, as the door always opens and closes with the coming and going of men and women. She felt something brush her hand and it chirped she sat up and there on the floor next to the bunk was the golden fluff ball that Serena cherished more than anything.
"Sasha!" She squealed excitedly and the muse lept into her arms chirping.
Serena hugged her feeling her warmth.
"I told you I would get her to you." The Male's voice said quietly in the darkness.
"Thanks Jinx, I cannot thank you enough for your help in the last couple of days." The muse made herself at home at the foot of the bed as Jinx sat next to her.
"Anything for you, your sacrifices have ensured our hopeful survival against these things and the Baron." "Ha thanks, I haven't done a lot really."
She smiled shyly in the dark.
"Your too modest sugar, I'm gonna grab a bunk, night angel." He leant over and kissed her forehead and grabbed a bed. Serena smiled in the dark and hugged her blanket close to her as she fell into a fitful sleep.
Serena walked in the darkness a light shone in the distance, as she walked it became larger.
She started to run as she reached it she found herself on the track at Mar stadium.
Erol stood there his back to her.
"Why didn't you stay and help, why did you let me die, why didn't you love me?" He asked her.
"I did love you, I did help you.."
He interrupted her abruptly.
"That's right you did! Now you don't, you know some days I think you were just as cruel as I was." Be laughed and his shoulders shook with the motion.
"I always loved you Erol, even after the things you did, I stood by you."
Serena walked towards him, she reached out to his shoulder and grabbed it. Erol shrugged it off.
"You stood next to me for four years and lied, but guess what you will never be rid of me, I will find you and you will be mine!" He laughed and turned to her.
His face was covered in burns barrel embedded into it, blood poured down his face as he walked to her and she stepped back.
Serena tripped and fell onto her back, he kneeled down over her, Serena's heart felt like it was in her throat.
"I own you!" He pointed to her chest and then he pointed to her stomach and smirked.
"Aaaaand I own you." He laughed minaclly as tears poured down her face.
"No, it can't be true!" She yelled.
"Oh but it is!" He grabbed her face and inched closer as she screamed.
"Seri, Seri, wake up Seri, it's just a bad dream." She felt arms shaking her, she sat upright and leapt into those arms.
They pulled her onto a lap and cradled her stroking her hair.
"Shhhhh, Seri it was just a dream." The voice told her and it was one that she recognized as Jinx.
"Oh Jinx is was horrible." She sobbed quietly.
He held her gently, "do you want to talk about it?" "It was Erol, he was alive he was questioning me and then I tripped and he was on me." She said between sniffles.
"He pointed at me telling me he owned me and then he pointed to my stomach and told me he owned this as well."
"Was he implying you are pregnant?" Jinx asked.
"I think so, precursors I am paranoid now, but I can't be, no." She tried to tell herself.
"Get tested it will be the only way to put your mind at ease, now come on, I will lie with you till you fall asleep okay?" He told her reassuringly. She nodded and they climbed under the covers, Jinx held her close in the safety of his arms as she eventually fell into another fitful sleep.
They were awoken to screams outside, Serena sat up and pulled her boots on, and grabbed her pistol. There was shouting going on outside.
"What in the precursors is going on?" She mumbled to Jinx who was right behind her.
"I have no idea but we better go check." He told her.
They ascended the stairs and looked out there were people screaming and running, gun shots from blaster rifles.
"What the..." Serena started to say as she watched a metal head pounce on a civilian.
She drew her pistol and shot it in the head, it's skull gem popping out and clattering to the ground.
She grabbed her communicator. "Torn what the hell is going on?" She yelled down it.
"It's bad Serena, we were double crossed by Krew he set the piecer bomb off and now we have lost all power to the shield walls, metal heads are pouring into the city left right and center!"
"Shit we need to find Jak."
"I've got someone on it. Help the civilians nearest you, I will have a plan shortly." He cut the line.
Serena turned to Jinx, "what in Mar's name happened while we were asleep!?"