A/N: Aw hell, I'm kinda late on this chapter. Nuff talking, let's jump right on in.
Location: Merceii
"C'mon, let's move. I don't hear anything." Allied Officer Bates said as she peered down the empty hallway, her Magnum in hand.
"Got it. Ok Jason, lift him on three. One, two, THREE!"
A Gunner and a Rocket Trooper helped to lift an injured Commando off the ground. His leg was shot off by enemy fire, however his fellow soldiers were able to patch him up and stop the bleeding.
"No boogies spotted." a female Sharpshooter said as she looked away from her scope.
"Go."
The Rocket Trooper helped the Commando limp along while the Gunner grabbed his own gun and the Commando's one as well.
"You can still shoot right?" the Gunner asked as he handed the Commando his LMG with a mounted flamethrower.
"What do you think?" the Commando said as he grabbed his gun.
The five soldiers were one of the few Allied soldiers still alive after the initial massacre. After what seemed to be hours of hiding they finally got the courage to venture out of their hiding place.
Bates, dressed only in a white tank top, pants fatigues, boots, was asleep when the enemy attacked and was awoken by the sound of explosions and gunfire. Upon realizing what was happening, she quickly put her blond hair up into a ponytail and grabbed her eight-cylinder hand cannon as well as her handheld shield, before running to aid her comrades.
The Gunner was Hagar. A large, portly, and bearded man with a fondness for cigars and dogs. The man wasn't a simple Gunner with a bipod mounted laser machine gun, no, he was an Elite Gunner that wielded a lightweight minigun. Though not as accurate as their smaller cousins, it made up for its sheer firepower and rate of fire. He was covered in green bodyarmor that made him almost indestrucatable, however he's still just as nimble with it on.
Jason was the Elite Rocket Trooper. Instead of wielding a clunky LAW, he instead wields a rocket rifle. A rifle that shoots small, dart-like rockets that packs a punch. Along with the traditional Rocket Trooper gray fatigues, he also has a jet pack that allows him to rain down on targets from above. He doesn't talk a lot, but his actions do most of the talking.
The Sharpshooter was Gwen. A hot-tempered woman that's a natural crack shot. As a high-ranking Sharpshooter, she's noticed with black fatigues and hood which can change color depending on the environment around her. Her railgun sniper rifle can pierce all types of armor.
The five slowly made their way down the hallway, checking around for any signs of the enemy.
"The portal room is a couple of clicks from here." Bates said. "If we can make it there, we have a chance of getting off Merceii and into safer territory."
"Safer territory my ass." Hagar said. "Almost everywhere we go is some godforsaken hellhole."
"You only say that because you can't get a light," Gwen responded. "That's going to kill you faster than diabetes, fatty."
"At least I have curves, twig."
Gwen shoved her rifle into Hagar's face as she gritted her teeth. "I dare you to say that again."
"Guys! Really? This is not the time to compare body parts! Stop fooling around and let's go!" Bates said.
The two glared at each other before moving along.
The way to the portal room was not a pretty sight. Bodies of friends and foes littered the ground. Some still looked alive, others you could'nt tell who it was anymore. The higher ranked soldiers kept a straight face, they've seen the horrors before, to them the chilling effects were numbed.
"So does anyone know what the fuck these things are?" Gwen asked. She motioned to the downed knights. Some were average sized while others were simply enormous. No matter the size, it took way too long to take one down. Whatever their armor is made out of was enough to for the knight to take down a squadron of soldiers before going down. The knights carried similar weapons to the Allies, while the larger ones carried swords, axes, and other large melee weapons.
"Nope." Bates said. "Fuckers take twice as long to die."
"Bastards are fucking bullet sponges," the Commando said. "Some of our armor piercing rounds bounced off those tin cans."
"And don't forget about the dragons." Hagar said. "I've never seen that much flying reptiles in my life."
The five soon made it to the portal room. The doors to the room had been blown off.
"If we're lucky, a portal ring should be operational. If not, then let's hope a PDD is still in there." Bates said as she holstered her gun.
"What if none of those things are here?"
"We're fucked."
The portal room was a gigantic room filled with multiple large portal rings. Since the attack, some of the rings were destroyed or damaged. The room itself was filled with debris and bodies of the dead.
"Ok, let's fan out and check if any of these things are still working. Commando, guard the door."
The rest nodded and started to check if any of the portals still worked.
After searching for a good few minutes or so, the four couldn't find any working portals rings. However, Bates found something else.
"Hey! I found something!"
"Is it a working ring?" Gwen asked.
"No. It's a PDD." Bates replied as she showed the others.
"Great!"
"One problem. It's an old one."
"What does that mean?" Hagar asked.
"The newer versions can operate without the use of a rift, this old thing, needs one."
"Is there any close by?"
"Right now, I don't know," she turned it on and started scanning. "But I'll start looking."
"Uh, guys..." the Commando said.
"What is it?"
"D-d-dragon..."
The others turned and saw from outside a large maroon dragon stared at the five. It opened it's mouth and a column of red hot fire streaked towards the five.
"DUCK!"
The four were able to jump away from the blast, but the Commando was unable and was burnt to a crisp.
"FUCK OFF YOU OVERGROWN LIZARD!" Gwen shot a round into the beast's eye. It recoiled in pain before flying off.
Hagar flung a desk to the doorway. "We gotta barricade the doorway! Something's telling me that dragon's coming back with much more than himself."
"Got it!"
While the others started piling stuff into the doorway, Bates feveriously started looking for a rift. "Where are you? Where are you? C'mon you piece of junk, find a goddamn rift."
"Bates! Boogies coming in hot!" Jason shouted as he fired his rifle down the hallway through the cracks in the walls.
"I know, I know! Don't rush me!"
"Light them up!" Hagar threw a frag grenade before opening fire.
"I found one!"
"Where does it lead?" Gwen asked.
"I-I don't know...but it looks familiar!"
"Oh great..."
"Just open it!" Hagar said.
Bates pressed a couple more buttons and a familiar blue rift opened in front of her. Before any of them could get through, the barricade was smashed opened by a large knight wielding a war hammer, knocking them all down.
"C'mon! We gotta go!" Hagar said as he got to his feet. He tried to grab the others but was blindsided by the said knight.
"Hagar!" Bates yelled.
"Bates!" Jason yelled. "Go through the portal! We'll catch up with you!"
"There's no time!"
"Don't worry about us, Blondie. I wanted a challenge anyways," Gwen said.
Bates tossed the PDD to Jason. But before she could do anything else, a blast knocked her into the rift and into darkness.
Location: Topeka, Kansas
Jaz had been working alongside Jane for at least a day right now as Topeka High's Phy. Ed teachers. Though the class was still strict, it was significantly more lax than the previous class. The two worked as a team, with Jane teaching and Jaz scouting for troublemakers.
Back on Merceii, Jaz sometimes had been put on duty watching children as they play while the parents worked. She knew how to handle the troublemakers. Her method was simple, she would pull the troublemaker(s) aside and give them a stern talking to, and would occasionally flash her eyes red, just to Make sure they understood.
After that day, it was obvious no one would be disruptive in P.E anymore.
"Good work today Miss Jaz!" Jane said. "I am certain that from today, these kids will excel in becoming better American citizens!"
Jaz smiled. "Of course," she said. "Oh, and if you don't mind. I'm going to take a look around town."
"Affirmative! This town is the pride and joy of America!"
"Is it because it is your hometown?"
"Yes!"
Jaz chuckled. Truth be told, she kinda liked his enthusiasm. Even though it may be annoying sometimes, at least he was happy about it. After all, it did lighten the mood.
She exited the campus and walked around the city. It was much bigger than Teufort and much more busy.
Which made it more likely for a crime to happen.
"Empty your pockets and I won't cut you like butter," a lowlife mugger threatened as he pressed a knife to Jaz's neck. "We can do this the easy way or the hard way."
Jaz held back a smirk. There was no way that was going to happen because of three reasons. One: she had her shield, which would block the knife. Two: her skin is nigh impenetrable. Three: her healing factor would patch her up even before a drop of blood would hit th ground. But she decided to let it play out.
"Oh really? And what if I want the hard way?" She asked.
"Then I'll spill your blood."
"Try. I dare you."
The mugger sliced at her throat but as Jaz predicted, nothing happened.
"What the...?"
"My turn," she pulled back a fist and clocked the guy right in the face. He flew out of his shoes and landed a good distance away. "Hm, so that's what a love tap looks like."
She put her hands back into her jacket's pockets and continued to walk down the street. She hadn't taken a few steps before hearing a familiar sound. Looking to the left and onto the street, a blue colored portal opened and dropped an unconscious female on the ground.
"Aw crap..." Jaz looked and saw a horde of cars coming down the street towards the woman. She ran out and scooped her up before a large semi ran her over.
Upon saving her, Jaz was able to see who the female was much clearer.
"Bates?!"
Bates eventually woke up with a throbbing headache. A side effect from the explosion as well as from rift traveling. She put a hand to her head and shook off the headache.
"Ugh, where the hell am I?" she asked to no one in particular.
The Officer found herself on a couch in a slightly dirty, but still decent apartment. She assumed it was the living room since it had a small coffee table and tv in it as well as another chair. She saw a doorway that led to another room and that the living room connected to the kitchen.
"You're awake, thank goodness!" Bates turned her head slightly and saw Jaz standing in the doorway that led to another room. "I thought you were in a coma or something."
"I experienced worse," Bates said back. "Now where am I?"
"Topeka, Kansas, USA," the taller woman said. "Soldier's apartment to be more specific."
"Who?"
"Oh right, you're not really aquatinted with the guy yet."
Jaz quickly explained who Jane was and how he's a friend of theirs. She also told her what she was doing once she got there.
"Oh, the Incident. I remember that," Bates said with a sigh. "I assume you got blown here."
"Yup, and before you ask, I had no contact with anyone else other than you."
"Stranded? Well, that's nice," she flopped back down on the couch. "You know, you do look like your sister with those clothes."
"I know," Jaz said with a groan.
"You actually look pretty nice like that. You should take that jacket off now and then."
"Says the girl who doesn't have E-borderline F breasts." Jaz said with a roll of her eyes. "I keep zipped up for the obvious reasons."
"But don't...oh right, everyone else doesn't know you beat them up with ease, riiiiiiiight."
"That and it's kinda illegal to do that around here."
It was at this moment that Jane kicked open the door carrying a bag. "I have returned with some righteous American food! he said. "Who's up for some barbecue?"
(Kanas offers some great BBQ, btw. Not making this up, Travel Channel said so)
Later...
"So that's how you ended up here," Jaz said. Bates told the two how she ended up on Earth and the events leading up to it. "And the three allowed you to leave without them?"
"More or less, they could've came with me, but I was blasted into the rift and blacked out. I have no idea what happened to them after that."
"They made the ultimate sacrifice," Jane said. "The highest honor of saving another one of your fellow compatriots by having the enemy take yours instead. Duty and honor."
"Was it a worthy sacrifice?" Bates asked. "Three death to prevent one isn't a good trade."
"They had a duty to protect you. You are a higher ranking,"
"My rank doesn't matter! Those three are significantly better than me. I'm only an average shooter, and I'm not exactly a good tactician, either. I- I don't even know how I got this rank for pete's sake!"
Jaz blinked. "You don't remember?"
"Am I suppose to know?"
"Yes."
"Oh right...you had temporary amnesia, god why didn't I tell you this sooner?"
"I had WHAT?!"
"About five years ago, you got hit in the head during a battle. You got a serious head injury and amnesia. Eventually your memories came back, but only recent ones. Whenever you tried thinking of your past it would either hurt you or you couldn't remember a thing." Jaz explained. "I wanted to tell you so it may jog something, but I'd keep forgetting."
"So what was my past like?"
"You were one of the earlier test subjects in the experiment Joli and I were in."
"..."
"We knew each other even before the Allies got together, in fact, we were in the same company." Jaz said. "Joli and I both saw the effects of the earlier serums. It turned majority of the subjects into grotesque monsters that were put down immediately."
"What happened to me?"
"The serum had a...different effect on you."
"Like...?"
"Ah...it's kinda hard to explain without..." Jaz tapped her helmet. "How'd do I explain this?"
"What? What is it?"
"Instead of a monster, you turn into a different...person with a different personality," Jaz said. "Like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde."
"Did I hurt anyone?"
"No, she's still has some of your personality. Just it's a bit more sadistic-like," she explained.
(Flashback)
About a day or so after Jaz and Joli's escape...
"Ok, let's see what shit just went down," Joli said as she loaded a round into her grenade launcher. "We were just injected with an experimental serum that turned us into Amazons and we just turned into fugitives running from our own country." The younger twin was wearing a green tank top, camo pants, and black boots with a green army cap.
"That's pretty much it..." Jaz said as she adjusted the rocket launcher that was on her back. She was wearing a similar outfit, but had an green army helmet.
"Now what? You're the one that makes the choice."
"Right now, I'd think we should find some shelter. It's cold, rainy, and dark," she said. "Morning we'll try find a town or something."
"Gotcha,"
As soon as the two were about to head off, they heard some rustling coming from behind them. Joli readied her grenade launcher while Jaz put up her fists. However, who came out was someone didn't expect.
"Bates?!" The two shouted.
"Eep! Don't shoot!" The smaller woman said. She was dressed in a green shirt and black shorts and was barefoot.
"Bates, what the hell are you doing here?" Joli said. "We're on the run, you can't be with us!"
"Sorry, Sargent but I didn't want to stay back there and be some kind of experiment to them," she said. "And truth be told, I feel safer with you two."
Joli looked towards Jaz for advice. "As long as she can pull her weight I'm fine with it." The older twin said.
"Fine, you can come and..." Joli was suddenly went silent when she saw beams of lights in the distance. "Bates, you made sure no one was following you right?"
"Yeah why-"
A shot rang out and missed Joli by mere inches.
"Fuck!" Joli picked up Bates and slung her over her shoulder. "Jaz we gotta run!"
"Hey! I can walk!" Bates complained.
"You're too slow, cardio isn't you."
The two ran further into the forest. Over logs, rocks, and other obstacles, if they couldn't find a path, they simply created one. Literally, what's the use of having super strength and being near indestructible and not putting it to good use?
"We got a coper over us!" Joli yelled as she blasted through a tree.
"Got it!" Jaz fired off a rocket and brought the attack helicopter down. It exploded somewhere behind them, possibly taking out the soldiers behind them.
Bates was able to look what was going on in front of her instead of what was going on behind her, but what she saw caused her to gasp.
"Joli! Mechs!" She said.
"What?!"
In front of the group were two large mechs. The biped-machines easily passed eight feet and sported two chain guns on both sides.
"This is not good." Jaz said. The three saw how destructive these mechs are. They're fast, heavily armored and packing heat. The machine guns they sported can easily tear through most armor and it also had two missle launchers that decimated anyone foolish to stand up to it.
One of the mechs fired a missle at the three, knocking everyone to the ground.
"Is everyone ok?" Joli asked as she got to her knees.
"I'm good." Jaz said.
"Bates, what about you?"
No response.
"Bates?"
"She's over here!" Jaz said as she hurried to the woman's side. "Blast must've knocked her out."
"Dammit!"
'BOOM!'
Another explosion rocked the ground.
"You watch her. I'm going to deal with the mechs." Joli said as she got to her feet.
"No, I'm going with you. You can't handle those things by yourself."
"But someone needs to watch her."
While the twin argued, no one noticed that Bates was slowly waking. But something was different about her. Her irises were now colored red instead of their usual brown color and her skin now had a reddish tone to it.
"You're the one that received field first aid, not me so...hey, where did she go?" Joli said.
"Wait, what?!"
The two looked around trying to find their missing friend.
"Don't tell me someone snatched her."
"I doubt that, I would've sensed someone sneaking up on us."
The two were suddenly alerted when they heard the sound of metal being crushed followed by the dying scream of someone.
"You know, I think I have an idea where she may be." Joli said.
The twins rushed over and found the missing woman trashing the two mechs. The first one was on the ground and on it's back, it's front hatch torn off and the driver brutally beaten to death. Bates was currently fighting the second one, using the hatch of the first one as shield. She brought the piece of metal over her head and hurled it towards the second mech.
The mech was impaired by the piece of metal and tumbled forward and promptly exploding.
Bates slowly walked over to the stunned twins.
"I guess the serum worked after all didn't it?"
"Awwww noooooo!" Bates wailed. "I could've saved them instead of running away! WWWWWWHHHHHHHY!?"
"Bates, you didn't know. Don't be so hard on yourself." Jaz said.
"Yeah, you were injured and weren't at your best." Jane added
"But still, I could have done something."
"Look, I know things could've went differently if you hadn't had that head injury. But when shit happens, it happens," Jaz said. "You can't fix the past, but you can fix the future."
"Right...you know I kinda want to spar with you now."
"Roger." Jaz said with a smirk as her eyes turned red.
A/N: Ok guys, here's the thing. I'm not doing individual stories for the rest of the mercs (Heavy, Medic, Spy) and whoever may appear to them. They will be added as the story progresses.
The reason I'm doing this is because I want to story to progress and not stop just for some backstory. To make it up, I'll spoil who's OC is going to appear with each merc.
Heavy- Kit (eclipseddarksoul)
Medic- Skyla (Bayoboo)
Spy- Muerte (Morales)
If your OC isn't here, that means I have other plans for him/her/it.
I really got to go and catch a bus so I can teach some football players some yoga. (No really, I have to)
Bates 'The Officer'
Age: 24
Height: 5' 5''
Weight: 127 lbs
Bio: A Officer with a strange past. Bates was injected with a similar serum that gave the Demolition Twins their power. In her case, she received similar powers, but can only have it active for short bursts before tiring.
Till next time,
-D.W
