I don't own Gears of War or their characters.

Please be for warned, maybe a have scenes of violence, strong language as well as spoilers from the various media of the G.O.W. world.

Thank you to devisaur, nicole-envious, Fire Kunai for the reviews and helpful reminders and suggestions.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~A day at the Beach~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

-Mine's bigger than yours-

It was early in the morning, and the rest of the group was still sleeping around the dying embers of the camp fire. The shore birds could be heard cawing from their early morning fishing. A cooling breeze swayed off the waves and thru the palms and brightly color flowers. Dom dressed in to his green fatigues; wandered off towards to beach as he heard grunts and small whimpers. He paused a few feet away as he saw Elaine working out with her chainsaw staff halves; wearing a pair of capri pants, tank top, and fishing net shirt. She was rotating them in succession in front of her. You could hear the whistling of the chainsaws roaring to life; whizzing around as they sawed through the silence. It was a vague reminder of Skorge's staff. "Where you get that?"

She looked up at him as she slowed their arcs. Sweat trickling down from her work out as she then held the halves in either hand at her side. "Look I don't want to see like an ungrateful bitch but none of your business alright?" Her features hardened; looking hauntingly like some one else.

Dom frowned. "You know we aren't all like those assholes."

Elaine nodded. "You're right. But doesn't mean I am going to trust you."

He walked closer to her. His head nodded, softening his features. "I would call you just as crazy as those guys back at the village if you trusted me off the hop."

She held out one of the staff poles to him. He took one, inspecting it. Off in the distance under the cover of some of the palmed trees; Marcus watched them. He didn't trust her just as much as she did them. There was something both Bernie and Elaine were hiding. And it seemed her choice of weapon was the key. Dom was a good guy. Like a brother. The only friend he had. Hell the Santiago's were more of a family than his father Adam Fenix. He wasn't going to risk Dom's life on a risk like Elaine. Something wasn't adding up.

Elaine looked doubtful as she shook her head. "Yeah well it's not like I got a chance to say thank you for the ringer they put me thru." She walked to the beach. Elaine pulled off her fishing net shirt, tossing it aside on the white sands before plunging into the murky water; leaving her in a torn tank top.

Dom watched her oddly. "Are you sure you should be doing that with the wound you have…." he started. He noticed the scars and red tattooed symbols all over her back and sides as she stood mid thigh deep in the water.

"What's your point exactly?"

He sat down on the beach. "How did you get those scares?"

Her fingers rested on the water's surface. Her head fly back, sending the obsidian tresses down in a cascade, heaving out a sigh of annoyance. "You know you are annoying? "

Dom shrugged as he pulled out the baggie with Maria's picture. He stared at it. His calloused fingers running over the fading image of his loved wife, lovingly stroking her features as if were flesh and bone in his hands. "Yeah I have been told that a few times in the past."

She rubbed her eyes, and then looked at Dom. "What do I have to do to get you to go away and leave me the hell alone?" She cringed inwardly over her words, regretting having them there. She regretted even talking to them in the first place.

Dom looked up from the photo. "What did you mean when you told Marcus yesterday? That whole he looked like him."

She rolled her eyes as she made her way back to the beach. Elaine sat down next to him, gingerly taking his photo from his warm hands. He was angry when she did. But he didn't want her ripping it up. He didn't want Elaine's nimble fingers destroying the last connection he had to his beautiful Maria. Licking at her lower lip, she let out a strangled sound. "Look there something's about me that even Bernie doesn't know about me. "She handed it back and stared out. There was a long uneasy silence.

It was like being around Marcus; silences. They sat in the long, uneasy silence. Dom noticing no real emotion surfacing on her features, rather she looked like an image in a photo. As Dom and Elaine just sat there in the sand, wasting the time till the next awkward conversation to start; staring at each other, studying each others features. It just seemed like a shell that they retreated into. Dom shook his head, putting the picture away carefully. "Look I'm not going to force you in to telling me what happened, I'm not looking for details. I just want to know what you meant."

Elaine looked at him. "Because, he looks exactly like him; the same blue eyes. Same pointed, calculating stare that picked you apart, piece by piece. He's a Fenix isn't he?"

Dom was flabbergasted by her omission. Running his calloused hand over his face, rubbing against each battle scar and his overgrown goatee; trying to keep what little of his sanity left from breaking away. His mind reeled. "Okay don't freak or anything but who? And yeah, Marcus is a Fenix, why?"

Another long, silent, uneasy pause . "Adam." With that Elaine rose up. Grabbing her weapons and walked further down the beach.

Marcus had come up. Arching his brow, contorting his scared up face in confusion. "Did I hear her right?"

Dom's hand shot up. Stopped Marcus with a gentle shove back, so that he wouldn't have gone after Elaine, possibly hurting their chances of communication with the only link they had with the island. "Yeah, but I don't think she's going to tell us anything else by force. Give her time. "

The duo watched as she continued on into the grey horizon. Then both turned to go wake the others. Bernie was already awake drinking some fresh black coffee. Cole was sprawled out on his back snoring deeply. Anya was inside a tent. And Baird was wrapped around his precious box of junk. The camp was eerily quiet with the exception of the generator humming some feet away. The fire crackling and Bernie's tapping her boot on the trampled ground.

Marcus grumbled as he sat down next to Bernie. "So whats the story on the kid?"

Bernie looked at Marcus gauging him. Then she looked to Dom, regarding him as he smiled while sitting down across from her as the fire crackled between them. "She's a good kid Marcus just she didn't get a good life."

Dom smiled weakly, but it was a small reassurance. "Look Bernie, we aren't judging her. "

Bernie nodded, and then shook her head softly. Her greying black hair swayed along with the action. "It really isn't my place to say. But she is one of a few that escaped the hollow. When I found her, she was primal. She was covered from head to toe in grub shit. Bloody. Funny thing was after she was treated, and cleaned up. She still didn't look remotely human. When I had found her, the village given up hope on her before even trying to help her or even under estimated her abilities. It took a while to get her to talk. Seems Prescott knew about Locust taking P.O.W. s "Bernie paused as she looked to Dom. His face was pained. But he nodded like he needs to hear it.

Marcus folded up his hands under his chin, deep in thought. "She escaped from the hollow?"

Elaine already had came back from her long walk. She heard Bernie talking. It hurt her to hear Bernie telling her story. But El always trusted Bernie's judgment. Stopping behind them she put a hand on her hip, holding the pistol in the other. "I escaped three times actually. And every time they caught me. I got punished."

Bernie straightened.

"Look Bern I get what you're trying to do. But I highly doubt they would believe that the Locust have a sick sense of entertainment when it comes to using humans like fighting pets."

Dom looked up at Elaine. 'That explains all the scars on her back, sides, and stomach.'

Elaine watched them with little regard. 'Eventually you have to come to terms; with the shit that happened then El might as well do it now. If Bernie is with them you know two - three things off the hop. 1,) that she trusts them. 2.) They tried to help in the market with out knowing why; and 3.) That she and them seem as much fucked up shit as I had. They were gears after all.'She stepped over the log and sat next to Dom. Licking at her lower lip. "Look I was a particular pet." Looking to their faces now, and then focusing on Marcus' dark features; figuring it was him that started the questioning. "I was really good at fighting when my life depended on it. I don't regret killing my fellow human to stay alive." She lied. She did. It haunted her every dream watching them die over and over again. Blood was spurting every where. But she had to survive. It was for Maria. She made a promise.

Marcus made an indignant sound in the back of his throat. "Whose prized pet, were you?"

"Skorge."

Dom sputtered. "What?"

She looked at Dom. "I know sure as hell I didn't sputter. Look Myrrah gave him first dibs. I was one of ten he had. Then I was the only one." She shrugged. She wouldn't admit Skorge had a sick habit of keeping his pets close, or that he gave her armor. He treated her wounds personally, making sure that his possession was able to entertain him for a period longer. He may have hated her, but she was his through bred. "That's where I got my talons. And yes that's what I call them."

"Talons?" Marcus blinked.

Elaine smirked; holding up the weapon. "Mine's bigger than yours."

He studied the chainsaw half staff. Then noted its mate lay not to far away from her grasp. He made another disapproving sound. Marcus holding up his lancer rifle dwarfing the chain saw staff in comparison. Then he smirked, His scars contorting his face, making himself look scarier and meaner. "Mine shoots bullets."

Elaine looked at him with out a flinch. "If am close enough to use one of my talons…your bullets won't do shit; you'll be dead."

Bernie laughed as did Dom. Marcus only got up and went to patrol the area. Elaine watched him for a moment then looked at Dom. "is that all you wanted to know?'

Dom nodded. "For now."

When Marcus came back after some time spent walking around, Anya was talking with Elaine at the Dill. Elaine was giving a good description of which leaders were known to put a knife in the back of their so called friends. And what was considered good behavior and manners. Anya nodded slightly. Then they packed the dill up.

"Look its easy you bring the fish and the deer I bagged. They will consider you one of their own. Just don't mention me. Question their decisions on anything including justice. Or they will hang you all. Good bye"

Marcus chuckled. "We can't all go in."

Elaine's perky self vanished in a second. Turning on her heel facing them again, "Oh hell no. I put up with you for a night. No. I am not playing babysitter to some gear heads."

Bernie frowned at the sudden change of plans. "Can I volunteer to stay behind?"

Elaine threw her arms up and shook her head. "Hey it's my camp… but hey lets ignore the hermit. I mean its not she really matters any ways." Elaine stormed off to the beach with her fists clenched.

Dom shook his head. "You like riling people don't you?"

"Baird and Cole best stay behind."

"WHAT?" Baird shouted. "Marcus man come on; what happens with the Dill. You need me."

Cole just folded up his arms when Marcus rubbed his eyes. "Look if we all go we look like we are going to take over the meeting with C.O.G. agendas. As much as that is what is going to happen. I want to avoid being seen as an oppressive force."

Anya nodded with a brief smile.

"Great so we get to baby sit the freak? Tell me why I am getting punished." Baird sulked.

"Hey Blondie maybe if you are good boy. She might let you look at her generators." Bernie chided as she climbed up in to the Dill. As much as Baird's sulky attitude irked her with out relent. She couldn't help but feel sorry for him and Cole. More so Cole to deal with both Baird with his habit of focusing on only his mechanical hobbies or Elaine who wasn't exactly fond of people after a life in the hollow. She was polite enough. She usually gave people wide berths, avoiding when ever possible. But the kid had enough traumas. They all had.

Cole looked at them, almost with the puppy dog face. If he had a tail, it would have been wagging. "No worries, I'll keep him in line."

Marcus nodded as he was the last to climb inside the dill. They headed off to the village a click away. Baird sulked at the fire as Cole turned to look at the beach. The sun was starting to break thru the clouds. The heat and humidity was still moderate. "Hey Damon baby; did bring your swim suit?" Then rushed off like a kid. He knew better to waste a day with no real duties.

Baird kicked some dirt up. Then sat with his box of new toys; Finding his calm in building, fixing anything mechanical. Baird grumbled, "Get left behind while driving my dam baby out."

Elaine stripped down to a pair of skivvies shorts and bra, the stitches and scab healing remarkably fast. Elaine lying out on the white sands when she could hear the softened plunks as Cole's heavy C.O.G. armor hitting the sand. Followed with a large splash in to the cold water, Cole coming up quickly; "WOOOOOOO dam that's cold." She sat up laughing some then shook her head.

"Damon baby you got to try this." Cole shouted then turned seeing Elaine lying out on the beach. 'Does she only own black clothes? Seriously has to be sad to be always all alone. We got to stick together now that the grubs aren't really coming every few seconds from the emergence holes.'Slowly he waded closer, his muscular thrash ball arm moving back. Then arcing its way back, scooping up water in an arc; splashing her with water.

Screeching loudly as the water hit her skin, El looked wide eyed at Cole. "So cold," her teeth chattered. She stood up and shook her head. "You… you splashed me?"

Cole shrugged, resembling an errant kid. "Who else is going to come and play with me?"

Baird looked over to the beach. Noticing Elaine standing there shivering for a moment or two. Elaine's luscious heart shaped bottom was hugged by the tight, small, black short; exposing her sleek curves. Her body was riddled with various scars and odd red tattoos. Her newest wound seemed to be healing nicely as he strained to look. She was hugging herself making her already ample chest seem perkier. His brow arched up as she brushed her tresses away. 'If we were born in different times she would have been a centerfold model.'He licked his lips slowly.

Elaine turned slightly to see Baird staring at her then flipped him the bird and waved in one smooth movement before running in to the water. She could tell when eyes were here more so the ones of a lecherous intent. She came back for air, pushing her hair out of her face to see the thrash ball player coming her way.

Baird looked back to the pile of odds and ends, then back to the water. "Dammit" He could hear them laughing and splashing. Rising up he walked with his hands at his sides. He made it to the waters edge when Cole splashed him too. "Hey! Hey! Man you're going to rust up my armor."

"Or the stick shoved up his ass." El muttered under a quick in take of breathe.

With in a couple of minutes, Baird stripped down to his skivvies and had her in his arms as he moved in a deeper part of the water. Tossing her up like a sack of potatoes. "How's that for stick shoved up my ass?" He laughed out then was tackled down by Cole.

Swimming back up for air El watched two roughhousing, shaking her head as Baird was standing on the beach watching on the horizon. Elaine noticed the way his muscles were corded, as if the gear were etched out of stone. Shaking her head muttering she ran, pulled Baird back in to the water with a splash.

Cole could only think it was unfair that Anya, Bernie, Dom, and Marcus couldn't be enjoying the water instead of having to attend to the meeting in the village.

Marcus had stayed with Anya while she sat in the meeting hall that reassembled a run down picnic shelter. The multiple tables with uneven legs were littered with different foods including the now cooked fish, and deer. The leaders assembled discussing the pirate stranded problem that seemed to drift along with the C.O.G. Bernie and Dom casually walked around the village's different roads. Making themselves visible to the hidden under belly that was dodging them with every chance they could get.

"So how do you know the kid?" Dom asked curiously trying to get a grasp on Elaine.

Bernie's eyebrow shot up as she glanced at him from the corner of her eye. "She's not a kid Dom. She's the same age as Baird. "Chuckling softly as she stopped in front of a group of kids who were curious about them.

Patting one of the girls' heads Dom felt the familiar twang in his heart. Both of his kids had passed away on Emergence day; his whole family wiped out in a serious of events that no one could have foreseen. He put on a brave facade, smiling away till the kids ran off hearing some one with treats. "Well okay how much do you know about the woman Mataki?"

Bernie's shoulders lifted, rolling off the rough nights sleep on the hard ground. "What is it exactly you want to know?" She turned to face him, switching the way she had the lancer cradled in her arms. "Look Dom, when I said she didn't have it easy, I really meant it. Elaine was found wandering alone on an island. No one knew where she came from, or how she got there. It was like she was dropped there, discarded on the side of the road. "

With that simple thought unlocked a memory that she had been trying to forget when she decided to leave the southern islands behind. Bernie turned and continued on walking along in silence.

"Mataki, is that a girl?" Rork shouted as they walked on patrol around the flotilla like settlement on the banks of the polluted river that winded next to the road.

Bernie looked over, hobbling over as she was still recuperating from her shattered leg, sliding in to the water as she pulled the girl floating along, clinging to dear life on a piece of drift wood. Bernie dragged the broken body up on shore from the murky waters. Bernie's warm fingers, finding a pulse then shook her head as her Rork rounded up some of the stranded to round up the body.

He held out hand to her, pulling her up from the water when then looked up just on the outside of one of the houses. Garbage littered every where. "Stupid dogs got into the garages again."

Bernie shook her head, seeing the bird's nest of unwashed hair, matted with filth and blood. Her body was hunched over a piece of rotting fruit. A feral pair of eyes stared right back at her. As the wild child stood up, Bernie's eyes grew huge noticing the red armor unlike the blue and black that the gears wore. It was all wrong the way she looked, standing there with her lolled to one side as she walked backwards with a swagger.

"Its okay sweetie, its okay; why don't you stay put. We are here to help you." Bernie called out softly, almost motherly to her.

When they started to draw closer, she swaggered back, dragging an odd sort of chain saw on a long metal pole, another was hooked up on her hip. The girl was trying to escape into the long over hanging boughs of the trees that grew on eastern side, the grove of weeping willows. Her head snapped to the other side in a jerky motion as she grunted and growled in warning to the two approaching her. Her breathing came out in an odd rhythm of labored pants. Droplets of blood rolled down from under the chest plate of the armor.

Rork tried rushing her as the girl hissed and screamed loudly, later on when asked; witnesses claimed it was a nightmarish sound. Something dark that came from the gut, fueled by sheer abuse and neglect. As his distance closed in on her she positioned herself in a crouch, releasing her weapon as she pushed off with her lithe legs in a feline like pounce, extending her arms out; grasping at Rork's face. Scratching, hitting any part that was exposed. It took several others with Bernie to pull her off.

"Bloody hell, shoot her! "

Bernie wrapped her arms around the girl's upper body, pressing her closer to hers. Bernie wrapping her legs around the girls; after she landed a few good kicks in a Micheal's face and Don's chest. "Sssh, its okay now." Bernie speaking calmly, even though her leg was sending shooting pain thru her body.

"Get the doctor." Some one shouted.

Everything was a blur around her and the kid. Finally the wild child stopped thrashing around. Her body eased slowly against Bernie's. "Ssh, you're going to be okay now. I got you. You're going to be okay now." Bernie whispered again, she started to calm more almost in back into a docile state. But that had changed when the doctor came running up, her medical bag discarded on the ground next to them. Pulling out a syringe filled with a clear bluish substance.

The girl's blue eyes went wide, as she fought against the woman trying to confine her. The other woman was holding a sharp, metal point to close to her body stirring up memories that had motivated her to run in the first place. Her head snapped back, connecting into Bernie's; both suffering a wave of dizziness and instant pain. Bernie had enough as the girl's body went rigid, then tried to twist its away around, thrashing away causing the slowly healing bones to creak and groan under the abuse. Bernie focused, and then bit the girl's ear. 'Always worked on dogs.' She thought, as the girl howled out then calmed again.

The doctor blinked at the reaction of the girl as she was bitten. The putrid smell hit the group as the doctor went to work injecting the girl with a calming sedative. Then the woman hurried off to take care of Rork's wounds.

Bernie was wheezing by the time she could smell, the adrenaline in her system finally disappointed as she unlocked her joints. Letting the girl go, tingles engulfed her limbs, protesting as she moved to stand up. Her hands were rubbing the feeling back in her numb legs faster, looking at the kid. "Someone go warm up some water." She barked out as she needed to get away from the stink.

Elaine felt the warm fuzziness flow thru her veins as her eyes wearily looked around the scene of carnage. The warm embrace holding her in place was gone. Frightened, and disorientated, Elaine looked around. Then belly crawling towards Bernie and wrapping her arms around Bernie's right leg.

Frowning at the kid, Bernie understood fear; helping the girl up to stand. She wobbled, the drugs having a quick effect on her. Leaning on each other, Bernie led Elaine to the bathe house across the river, crossing a bridge as she looked to the comrades who were getting medical treatment. 'One girl did all that damage, it makes you wonder what happened to her to make her so scared and lethal.'

Inside the bath house the make shift tub was filled up with warm water and bubbles. Bernie helped Elaine strip down from the Locust armor, and entered the tub. As soon as she was rinsed the water instantly turned to a brownish red. They emptied and replenish the water several times before introducing soap. Bernie washed the girl up, taking care of her as she sat there in silence.

Bernie groaned as she stood up, stretching out her back as she put her hands on her lower back. The girl was finally cleaned up, a few major wounds were tended to, and now she was dressed in warm clothes lying on a bed. Bernie picked up the discarded locust armor to toss the armor out in the garbage, Elaine spoke up for the first time in hours in a weak little voice. "Please don't throw my armor away."

Bernie couldn't do anything but stare at the girl. "What did you say?"

She licked her lip as the sedative had long worn out of her system, "Please don't throw out my armor."

Bernie nodded, and frowned. "How bout we put it here… so it can air out?" As the girl nodded, Bernie moved the pieces aside, making sure it was near an open window so that the stench wouldn't stink them out of the shack. "Do you have a name sweetie?"

Elaine nodded softly from where she laid down on a simple cot. "They called me Elaine."

Bernie nodded. "I am Bernie, now go to sleep. I won't let anything bad happen to you Elaine." Bernie watched the girl's eyes grow heavy as she tried to fight staying awake. Tucking her under the blanket; then pushing the length of hair away from her face. Studying Elaine's bruised and swollen face.

"Huh?" Bernie said as she looked up at Dom.

"Marcus wants us back at the meeting hall, seems that they are adjuring for the day." His broad shoulders lifted and fell quickly. "It's going to take twice as long to track down those sick bastards who torched the farmstead back at Port Farrell."

Anya rubbed her temples as she sat at the table, and then rose, collecting her notes. "Just seems all too easy. Let's get back to Elaine's so I can unwind and report in to Hoffman."

The ride home in the oversized car was uneventful, as they rumbled down the utility road. Marcus gripping the wheel as Dom sat next to him. Anya and Bernie in the back watching the green, lush world sped past. Silence engulfed them for over half the ride when Marcus cleared his throat. Then the cab drifted back in to silence.

Bernie closed her eyes as she drifted back again.

A few weeks had passed quickly as Bernie and Elaine fell in to a regular pattern of taking care of each other. Elaine's injuries were slowly healing, and she was starting to become healthy with the regular flow of rations. 'Going to stay for only a couple more weeks. She doesn't need me around.' Bernie tried to convince herself about leaving.

Elaine's coming in to Bernie's world shifted plans on trying to getting back to the main lands. Back to what she believed in, what she did before her leg was shattered. To Bernie being a gear meant being back with a family she knew. The wild child was slowly allowing others close, and was talking a lot more. Learning how to survive while by her self; was even able to skin a few cats.

"Bernie do you think you will be back on the islands again?" Elaine asked taking the k bar and plunging it into the carcass of the deer.

Bernie leaned against the tree with her arms folded up on her chest. "I don't know sweetie."

Elaine laughed as she started to string up the hide to the drying rack. "Are you going to give me your cat skin boots?" Arching a brow softly as she gave her best 'I've been a good girl, spoil me' smile.

"Fat chance El. "She laughed then moved off the tree as she helped Elaine hang up the carcass to drain the blood out before they started to cure the meat. "Do you remember the Oath of Coalition I taught you?"

Elaine nodded softly, wiping her hand one her pants. "Yes Bernie! I have it memorized."

"Say it for me then."

Elaine fold up her hands as her body shifted away from Bernie's. "I shall remain vigilant and unyielding in my pursuit of the enemies of the Coalition. I will defend and maintain the order of life as it was proclaimed by the Allfathers of the Coalition in the OctusCanon. I will forsake the life I had before so I may perform my duty as long as I am needed. Steadfast. I shall hold my place in the machine and acknowledge my place in the Coalition. I am a Gear. "

Bernie's head bounced a bit as the dill lurched to a stop, stretching a bit as she hopped out. The weight of the humidity started to bare down on them as they walked towards the camp. Food was laid out as well as clothes drying off. Anya's finely manicured brow arched up as she stood next to Bernie.

"Looks like we missed all the fun." Bernie chuckled.

Cole shrugged some as his grin grew while cooking the fish stir fry. "Well boomer lady you know what they say? All work and no play makes Cole train a very dull gear."

Off in the distance where their paths had first crossed Baird could be heard shouting at Elaine about the care of the old generators. "You silly woman, this is a precise machine."

"Looks like something's never will change." Dom sat down, taking a cup for coffee.

"You blonde fool, touch my dam gen again and I will break you fingers." She belted right back holding up a wrench, poking Baird in the chest.

"I'd like to see you try. Now move it, the couplings are all backwards, and you fried some of the components."

Elaine was pushing him away with the wrench. "Don't you dare? I don't care if you are a gear or not you are not touching my gen." As both Baird and Elaine started to push each other away from the yellow box sitting up on the hill; fighting over whose superior skills were truly needed. Bernie marched up there as the camp laughed hearing them bicker back and forth like an old couple.

"Geez woman what did you do to this?" Baird barked.

"If you two don't smarten up I will make you kiss and make up." Bernie barked out at them.

El looked at Baird then at Bernie moving away from the generator; purposely dropping the wrench too closes a very vulnerable part of Baird's anatomy. "Oops it slipped." El turned and walked back down to camp.

Baird's eyes were wide as he finally released the pent up breathe. "She almost crushed my jewels."

Bernie shook her head as she turned heading back down to camp, Elaine yelling out. "It's not like you would be missing much." Bernie hides the chuckle shaking her head as she wondered how Delta was going to hand the two temper tantrums of Elaine and Baird. "Both you both have hobbies that borderline obsession."

Elaine stood out on the beach after supper was long over, in the distance grey thunder clouds were rolling across as the winds started to pick up. The waves rolled with white caps beating against the shore. Elaine holding a pair of binoculars in her hand when Dom walked up. "I hope you guys can handle an island storm." She loved over her shoulder at him,

Dom nodded as he put his hand on her shoulder, and then took the binoculars to see what she meant. The two watching the fork lightening shatter down the sky, then vanish leaving a ghost imprint for a couple of seconds. A loud rumble of thunder clapped again. "Guess you are stuck with us again?"

Elaine shrugged, taking her binoculars back. "Looks like its true what they say."

"And exactly do they say?" Marcus came up, watching her closely.

She smirked, her right lip curling and her nose wrinkled. "That once you get an infestation of gears you can't get rid of them even with raid."

Marcus didn't smile or laugh just gave her the look that could kill. She folded up her arms looking at both Dom and Marcus with a calculating stare. "I didn't ask you to stay. But here you are here. Don't like my views go back to the village and deal with theirs. You'll just end up having to keep the poor scared folk from running off in the storm."

"It can't be that bad right?" Dom asked as she kept walking towards the house, and then turned his gaze to Marcus. "Right?"

They had just got inside when the first sheet of rain pelted down, window was picking up, breaking branches on the trees outside. Bernie just finished lightly the fire in the fireplace inside the main setting area. Mattresses laid on the floor with blankets, every one bunkered down as the thin plains kept out the rain and the howling winds. Elaine started boiling water for tea and coco as Baird and Cole started playing cards. Anya frowned as she jumped every time the thunder rumbled.

"So, Elaine… does it always get this bad?" Anya rubbed her one hand over and over nervously.

Shrugging some, Elaine sat down. "It gets worse. This could be a zephyr that blows over quickly." Looking to Anya as her features looked dismal. Giving her best reassuring smile she looked to the windows in deep thought. The sounds of the window and the clatter of thunder were a distant lullaby to her; drawing her back down to the now flooded hollow.

Every one was bunkered down when Cole went off in the house with a candle lantern. He found a quiet space as he started to write really small a letter to his deceased mom.

Dear Mom,

Well another day in paradise, and we are staying with some one who survived the torture of the Locusts. How could they hate us so bad to treat us like animals? Every time I think I have a handle on what they are like, were like; they did things I just couldn't imagine. You would like her mom. She's a bit weird like boomer lady, I mean Bernie,

His letter went on till there was no more paper. Resting his head back against the wall; reflecting on his life, wondering if he could get use to the change that was coming.

Baird sat tinkering with the fire when Elaine woke screaming. Her knuckles were flaring white as she gripped the arms of the broken chair. Her looking around wildly before running both hands over her face. Visibly she was shaking before she pushed herself out of the chair, striding out of the living room; heading up stairs as she felt a warm hand over hers. Her eyes traveled the length up from his hand to his face as Baird watched her worried.

"You okay?"

"Yes."

"You're lying." He smiled softly at her walking around the banister to her.

Pulling her hand away from his, she took the stairs to at a time. "It was the storm." Then she vanished in to one of the bedrooms. Opening one of the glass doors, she sat on the little Romeo balcony as she watched the waves a yard or less way crash on the built up levy.

Bard looked around; he noticed Cole asleep in one of the rooms tucked away in to some corner the papers falling out of his hands. Anya was on the couch and Marcus tossed and turned on the floor beside her. Dom just sat looking at his picture with a tortured look on his face, and Bernie was asleep on the mattress. Shaking his head he climbed up the stairs in the same manner as Elaine did. He strode down the hall on the thread bare carpet as he felt the cold wind. Standing in the door frame he watched her with a hardened look.

'What am I doing up here? Bernie or Anya should be up here, not me. I can't play the knight in shiny armor. I can't help her,.' Baird thought but he didn't have control of his body, it moved on its own volition next to her.

Elaine watched him, looking at him funny as he settled down next to her. Then both of them leaned on the door frame staring out thru the bars as the rain fell. Each lost in their own haunted pasts.

Hours passed in the house when Baird awoke to find that he was covered up with a thick quilt wrapped around him, alone in the upstairs bedroom alone. The world outside was in a bit of an upheaval. Leaves and branches tossed around like the fake snow in a snow globe after it is shaken up. He got up heading down stairs to where every one was asleep. Marcus tossed and turned, mumbling something in his sleep. Dom snorted loudly while he slept on another cot. Bernie sat up as she pushed back a few errant dreadlocks. Bernie looked at Baird oddly. "What time is it?"

Baird shrugged as sun light started to peer thru the grubby windows. "I don't know."

The two sniffed the air as the hint of eggs and wild meat wafted along on the cleansing breeze. Both rising up and heading outside. The others could rest a while longer. El looked up as she plated two steaks and scooped out some eggs next to it. "Eat." She handed them the plates and then made her own.

"What did you dream about last night that made you scream?" Baird asked between mouthfuls.

She shrugged, as her features looked perplexed. But not at the fact she really couldn't remember but the fact he remembered to ask her again after a long night of starring out at the water. "I told you already it was the storm."

Bernie snorted as she heard the answer, she knew Elaine. She didn't scare easily; one of a few people who could stare down any locust with out flinching. Bernie quickly shoveled some food in her mouth before she could insert her foot in to it.

Baird watched Bernie then looked at Elaine before asking again Dom came out, looking a bit more like himself. "Morning princess…" Bernie smiled brightly.

"Bite me granny."

Elaine laughed as she held out a plate for him; "Don't drink the water. You broke my gen."

Baird nodded as he sat down. "Yeah yeah I will fix it after breakfast."

As they sat down to eat, one of the village women ran up holding her child tightly to her breast; she was crying while the child was screaming in fear. Both covered in soot and blood. "Please help us, they … they acted the village."

Dropping her plate Bernie went and helped the woman. Dom ran back inside getting Anya and Marcus. 'Man I don't want to interrupt them but this is bad.'

Baird was getting the dill cleaned off while every one scrambled to get to the village. Elaine rushed off to the brush. The sound of a smaller engine roaring to life, revving it a few times, she drove it out where the road was. She stopped for the moment as she looked to Shannon. "Please Lainey you have to help." Shannon cried out as she grabbed parts of her sweater, Bernie holding the child trying to calm him as she did once for Elaine.

Breathing out as she marched with confidence; touching Shannon's shoulder. "I will." She grabbed her boltok pistol from the log by the fire, tucking it into its holster at her back before leaving. When Baird pulled the dill alongside of her amphibious quad; she was already sitting back on the quad, putting it in to gear.

"Hey!" Baird shouted at her; she looked at him over her shoulder as he tossed one of the communications sets at her, then a hammer burst rifle. "Just in case." Nodding her thanks she sped off while Marcus and Cole hurried out to the dill with Dom in tow.

"Who was that?"

Baird slammed the dill in to gear as Anya stayed behind with Bernie to help give medical attention. Cole squinted seeing the black hair whip around, "Its El." He grinned then cocked his lancer. "Oh bring it on, baby."

Marcus made a grunt as he looked at Dom.

Elaine could drive one handed after using the quad between the village and home; she easily got the head set on, and slung the hammer burst over her shoulder. They turned down another road which cut off ten minutes on the drive. "Follow me."

Baird turned down the road after her. "I got to get my one of those things." He drooled over the mechanical mastery of the quad as they got to the village long after she arrived.

The village was an over size brawl as stranded pirates were fighting and taking what they could that wasn't nailed down. There was blood and bodies littering the rest of the drive, but as Elaine went to drive around she was nailed in the chest by a two by four; knocking her off the quad to the ground hard. Fazed for only a second she rolled over as the broken plank came down aimed at her head. Pulling out the pistol she fired a warning shot.

Then man swimming the board looked at her, he was one of the villagers. He dropped the board and started running when one of the stranded pirates nailed him in the head. The body fell forward as he aimed at her this time. Elaine closed one eye as she took the time to line when the dill hit him, sending him flying thru the air. Looking in to the windows with a salute then ran off. "Geez'us what took you so long? Stop to ask for directions princess?"

Baird rolled his eyes as they got out of the dill. Trying to round up the stranded pirates was proving hard to do when they blended in to the villagers, using them as shields. "You're not so tough now huh you stupid gears!" One shouted with a gun aimed at the head of his victim.

"Put the gun down, it doesn't have to be this way. " Marcus switched to his diplomatic voice. He slowly was walking to the man.

"You don't get it do you. This is our territory. You're the trespassers."

"We can talk about this." Marcus tried again.

He pointed the gun at Marcus now as he gripped the neck of the villager. "There's nothing to talk about. You're not welcomed here. This is ours."

Elaine sneaked her way up behind the pirate, the hammer burst poised as she watched Marcus try to debug the situation at hand. Shrugging she hit the man hard in the back of with the butt of the hammer burst. They watched him fall to his knees, releasing the villager and gun at the same time.

Marcus scowled at Elaine as the man got away. But the situation was defused. "What did they get away with?"

Baird was helping bandage up one of the little kids, and Cole was helping get people settled down. "It looks like they took the medical supplies, food, and parts. " El looked up from one of the crates that were smashed on the ground; her hand rubbing her chest as she found it hard to breathe with the throbbing; as she stood up a barrage of bullets peppered the ground. The bullet spray sent Marcus and Elaine rolling for their lives as they stopped behind the dill for safety. Baird threw his body over an injured villager. Cole ducking behind a pillar of the meeting hall, and Dom stuck behind a fallen shanty closest to the market place.

"Incoming frag."

Dom dived out from where he hidden, rolling along the ground and breaking into a roadie run towards the next. Pop, pop, pop, pop. The dirt erupted up as a spray of bullets followed behind.

"Dom!" Marcus shouted.

"Cover me," Elaine clipped at Marcus as she ran out to the pile of crates. Blind firing her rifle at the opposing side; while Marcus aimed his lancer, firing in to the crowd.

"Cole get those villagers out of here." Dom shouted knowing out of every one having to adjust to shooting at another human. Cole nodded, moving to help those pinned down by the firefight. Baird was already trying to line up a shot from a safe distance. The echoing baritone POW reverberated as Baird worked on reloading the rifle and lining up another shot. Heat metal blasting back and forth as the pirates' numbers began to dwindle down only till one stood there. He was too well hidden away in one of the stalls. Countless comrades of his fallen as he took the generous fortune to still be alive, and with a plethora of ammo and weapons surrounding him who can take a few others with them.

"Do you see him?"

Rat - a- tat- tat of heated steel roared to life again as the lone gun man fired back in to the village square. His clip emptied fast, while the barrage stopped, Elaine pushed herself up and over the crates, her hammer burst cocked and shouldered as she walked carefully and quickly forward. Tell - a - tale click and "Ha ha." made her dive for the closest cover. Finding a poor leverage in one of the stalls. With no real skirting around the base, a slit between old wooden boxes used to store the last of the remnants of fruit and vegetables.

"What the hell does she think she's doing?" His clipped tone was heavy with displeasure as he looked to Dom. "She's going to get herself killed."

As the next clip emptied out in to the air and ground, Elaine focused on the heavy sound of the lancer; her blue eyes looking for the white burning muzzle flash. Setting down the hammer burst, her hand snaked down slowly her side to her boot. She pulled out the large k - bar knife that Bernie had given her years ago, out of her boot in a smooth, careful movement. Crouched down, El moved slowly, she could hear the gunfire hit the metal as she took the hop between out crofts of poorly constructed buildings. With her blade snapped back, along the length of her inner forearm, the cold steel resting poised for when she needed it.

"Shit, I lost her." Dom growled moving to the next spot of concealment.

Marcus glared at the marketplace. "We can't risk shooting her by mistake." He punched the dill's tire.

As one side still shot, she caught on to where he was, making the mistake of standing astride his hidey hole. Elaine smirked coldly, as he turned his back to her, she stood up, and her steps were light as she held her arms up, one to ensnare his head. The other with the knife at the ready, her body relaxed while her blood flowed in her veins; the raw urge to savor the battle. Elaine's body up against his like a shadow hugging it in the midday sun, her arm snaked up wrapping itself around, holding his head back. The pirate's eyes looking at her, pleading silently for his life; the knife sliced from ear to ear; severing the jugular in a smooth, precise movement. His body went rigid his finger pulling the trigger; firing bullets in to the stall he used to hide behind, a sloppy line all the way to dead body of his buddy. She felt the warm spray on her arm his body drained away; her arm released his head and turned walking back to Marcus and Dom. Crimson red on her face, neck and upper torso dropped down as she wiped her knife off on her top. Bending down picking up the hammer burst off the ground after replacing the knife to its sheath in her boot.

"That was just too easy." Dom stated pointedly as he looked around.

Marcus growled as he got up seeing her walking back towards them. He moved first. Grabbing her right arm tightly with in his hand; holding her in place. "What the hell did you think you were doing?"

Elaine looked at him; bile was rising up in her throat as images of Adam Fenix drifted in her mind like a sickness. Elaine pulled her arm out of his vice like grip. "What I had to do." She glared back as they stood nose to nose.

"You don't ever do that again. Got me?"

She scoffed, shaking her head as she didn't back down. Elaine pushed herself more in to his space; "I'm not a gear you can't boss around!"

They stood for several tense, volatile moments before Dom ran up getting in between them.

What was left of the village was a gory mess after the stand off; bodies and their parts littered the grounds as Marcus straightened, organizing what was left of the villagers. Elaine resting with her back against the dill, her body relaxed a bit, catching her breath. Quickly life was returning to the bullet riddled village. Death clung in the air like an Oman of things yet to come; no one seemed to notice it but Elaine. Even after villagers came to give their thanks to Delta and her; plans to celebrate their great triumph in a feast once the village appeared back from the disarray.

Baird saw the purple bruising from the plank just under the hem of her beater tank top and thru the blood of a fallen pirate. He moved to her. He pushed on the bruise. He heard her wince as she went to react.

"Whoa… just making sure you're ribs didn't puncture in to your lungs." He held up his hands. Checking the other side as his eyes met hers. "How are your stitches?"

She swallowed hard. "Fine, I guess."

He grabbed at her shirt, pulling it up, as he moved her arm into a chicken winged position. "I can cut them out; they don't look infected and are healing nicely." His fingers linger down the red puckered skin.

"Are you always the grabby sort?" She moved her arm in to a more comfortable position as Baird used small scissors to remove the stitches slowly.

"No just good with my hands."

Shaking her head, Elaine looked away. "Yet you still are a pain in the ass." Her eyes wandered over to Dom and Marcus who were talking to the villagers who survived the attack. Arranging a burial detail before disease ran rampant. Then she looked around for Cole who had sat down with some children, telling them the rules of thrash ball. Cole promised them a game when he can.

"Yeah well just remember this pain your ass saved your life."

Elaine snapped back to looking at Baird, looking down at him as his fingers smeared some salve over to scab. "Yeah, and you are the same one who wrecked my gen." Elaine let her shirt fall as she pushed herself off the dill. She headed for the quad.

Cole chuckled as he stood next to Baird after the kids let him sneak away. "Damon baby I think you are barking up the wrong tree."

"You mean… she hits for the home team?"