Scattered Memories

Chapter 3

A/N: I am sorry about the wait for this chapter, and I'd like to say thank you to Azuranmage who has left me lovely reviews :D

Some time had passed as the group made their way through the silent city, sometimes walking into an ambush or having to defend themselves. This was followed by sarcastic comments from Baird, and some amused replies from Dom and Cole. Marcus was as quiet as Selene was unless he had to give them an order.

"Hey Dom?"

He turned around when he heard Selene call his name.

"Yeah?"

"How much longer is it going to take us to get to this place? I don't want to rush anyone, but I think maybe we should avoid being out at night. I don't know why, but it's beginning to make me feel uneasy."

"You're right, we need to be under cover before night falls," Dom replied as he looked up at the sky. The day was slowly fading into twilight, and he knew the Kryll would soon be out in force. The group soon came to a set of steps leading up to a barricade with someone sitting at the top. When he saw them all, his eyes followed them carefully.

"Hey man, what's up?" Dom said as he looked up at him.

"Same old shit and before you ask, Franklin is here. He's in his usual spot," he answered sarcastically. The gate started to open as they walked towards it.

"Head on in."

Dom gave him a thumbs up and walked through the gate, the others following him through. Just before Selene made it through, she paused and leant against the wall that was there. She started taking deep breaths to try and keep herself from vomiting. Her head was still hurting from when she had woken up, and all the time they had been moving, the pain hadn't subsided. Selene felt a hand on her shoulder, and looked up to see Cole there.

"You alright?"

"I'm fine," she answered with the best smile she could do. "I've still got that pounding headache, which is turning itself into a migraine. I'd be more satisfied if I woke up from a hangover, it would have been worth the nausea and splitting head."

Cole grinned at her.

"Yeah I hear ya, but lets keep moving. We don't want to get shut out here."

Nodding in agreement she followed him through the gate. Marcus, Dom and Baird were already walking ahead of them through the oddly silent camp. Everywhere Selene looked there were people looking at their group with glares, or running into buildings and shutting doors behind themselves. Some of the Stranded even threw insults at them as they walked past. Keeping up with the rest of the group, she saw that they had came to a stop in front of three men. The one who was sat in the middle of what looked like his guards, stood up when his eyes met Dom's.

"Hey Santiago. What you doing here? No news on your lady, would have told you if I heard anything."

Selene looked at Dom with a puzzled expression, but didn't ask what he had meant. Of all the few things she remembered about herself, she would never poke her nose into other peoples business unless they chose to tell her. So she turned her attention back to the one who had spoken, and carried on listening to the conversation they were having.

"I don't need to be seen with you, it'll ruin my reputation."

Why Franklin had said this confused Selene, but this statement was completely ignored as Dom continued speaking.

"I need the junker you've got."

"What? Get real man. I'm not giving you the only working ride I've got. Whatever problems you've got I'm sorry to hear it."

"You owe me one. And I'm calling in the favour," he said. "Right now."

The guards on either side of Franklin got up and readied their guns. As Selene and the others put their hands on theirs, he waved his hand at them and they lowered their weapons.

"Alright fine, you can have it on one condition. Those guys behind you stay here," he said indicating Baird, Cole and Selene. "They'll be collateral, we could use the extra guns."

Dom turned around to face them, and then said suddenly, "Not the girl. If anything does show up, you make her hang back. She's still recovering from a concussion and amnesia, so I want you to look after her."

"But Dom..." began Selene. But she was silenced by a stern look off him. She sighed and held her hands up.

"Okay okay," she said dejectedly. After she had finished speaking, Franklin threw the keys at Dom and told him where the junker was. After a few more words were exchanged, he and Marcus headed off leaving the three of them at the camp. Before any of them could speak, a woman walked up to all of them with a smile on her face. She had long red hair and dark green eyes, and was wearing what looked like a green vest top and black jeans. On her feet were army boots.

"Welcome to the camp," she greeted in a warm voice. Selene noticed by the tone of her voice, that she was like a mother figure. "If you boys want to go and eat something, I'll take care of your friend here. If you don't mind my saying darling, you look like death warmed up."

"Well I feel like it, can't say much about how I look though. But I'll take your word for it ma'am." She laughed and turned to the men.

"Well then, we'll leave these guys to go and eat something. And I'll see what I can do for you."

Cole nodded to Selene and the woman. He then turned around and grabbed Baird by the back of his armor and started to drag him off towards where someone was waiting for them. She heard his protests get louder, but Cole completely ignored him and kept pulling him along.

"That blond haired one certainly seems to be the sarcastic one of your group," the woman said as she chuckled to herself. Selene found herself smiling as well.

"Yeah he is, but I think he cares at least."

"Before we do anything though, I should at least tell you my name. Can't expect you to trust me just like that can I? My name is Lillian, what's your name?" she asked, still smiling.

"I'm Selene Taylor."

"Well then Selene, let's see if we can take care of you. I'll get you some food and you can wash your face if you want to."

Selene nodded and followed Lillian as she walked through the camp. As she walked, she found herself wishing that her memory would come back soon. Not knowing anything about her life before now was a strange feeling. When they had stopped walking, they had come to a building which seemed to be still intact. Lillian walked in and sat her down on a shredded sofa while she looked in a case that was on a shelf.

"So Selene, how did you get into the army? You certainly look like you know your way around a gun."

She sat and thought about it for a moment, trying to remember anything about why she was in the army.

"I honestly don't know," Selene said as she watched the woman. "The last thing I actually remember about my life, is waking up with a pounding headache in the middle of a battlefield. A little while after that, I remembered a memory from when I joined "

"Ah, I see. Amnesia?" Lillian questioned with a frown. She walked over to Selene, and put a glass in front of her which smelled strongly of peppermint.

"It's peppermint infused water with a little arnica[1] for pain," she said as Selene had raised eyebrows. Selene took the glass from her and drunk a little of the water, enjoying the fresh taste it had.

"Thank you," Selene began. "But yeah, they told me I had amnesia from the start. The only reason I know my name and rank in the army is because of this," she said holding up the chain she had around her neck. Lillian who was watching her with a thoughtful look on her face, walked over to sit down next to her and put an arm around her shoulders.

"Don't worry sweetheart. I'm sure you'll remember more in due time, and you've got friends to look out for you for the time being. And if the tattoo on your arm is any indication, you know who your mom and dad are."

Looking down at her arm, Selene saw she that she did have a tattoo on her left arm. It was a red heart with two lancers, and the words mom and dad. Running her fingers over it, she sighed.

"I can't even remember them," Selene whispered to herself. Lillian stood up and held her hand out.

"Don't get upset darling," she said with a smile. "You'll remember when your mind is ready. Lets go and get your face washed and you'll feel better in yourself."

She nodded and took Lillian's hand, allowing her to help her up and lead her outside to where their water was stored. As they walked, both women listened in to the radio contact between the camp, and Marcus and Dom. Reaching the tanks where the water was stored, Lillian filled up a near by bucket from a tap attached to the tank.

"Help yourself and I'll be back in a minute," she said with another smile. Selene watched her walk away, sometimes pausing to speak to people. Turning her attention back to the bucket, she scooped up some water and started to wash her face while enjoying the cool feel. She started to think about who her mother and father were, and what they might look like when another sharp pain ran through her head.

-Flashback-

Selene followed Dom through the quiet halls of the prison, keeping her lancer raised in case of trouble.

"Sir?"

Dom stopped in his tracks and turned to look at Selene.

"What?"

"We'll be in deep shit once the higher ups find out what we're doing. Are you sure this is the right thing to do?"

He shrugged his shoulders, and continued walking down the prison halls towards their destination.

"First of all, you don't need to call me sir. And second, this guy has more experience of dealing with this all than me and you put together. We're going to need him whether Hoffman likes it or not."

Selene nodded as she continued to follow him down the hall. Once they had reached where they needed to be, Jack began work to open up the cell door. When the door was opened, she stood to the side keeping her lancer ready.

"What are you doing here?"

"Getting you out of here. Put this on, you're going to need it."

The sound of the bag hitting the floor echoed through the hall, followed by the sounds of someone putting on their armor. A few short words were exchanged, and Marcus stepped out of his cell.

"Who is she?" he asked as he looked at Selene.

"Her name is Selene Taylor. She's just been promoted to COG Gear."

Selene nodded in response.

"I've heard that name before. Your mother and father were gears weren't they?"

"They were."

-End flashback-

When Selene came to her senses again, Lillian was back at her side shouting to someone across the camp. All she could hear was gunfire.