I do not own Gears of War, I wish I did but sadly Don't.
THanks to Porcelain Fish for being an AWESOME BETA PERSON! And thanks to those who read it. Please comment, a little hint on how you want the story to go would be great :)
Gears of War : Day at the Beach
Chapter 7 -Trust
Elaine sat on the doctor's slab, the piercing bright white light flashing in her eyes rapidly as the examination continued on. She could hear the older woman go on about different types of jungle rot on exposed flesh, or sodden boots, as well as what sexually diseases were running rampant since Prescott declared an aminunity for those who wished to defer to the C.O.G. She continued to ramble on and on about the proper food intake as well after shoving a wooden tonuge depressor that tasted like barberside. Elaine tried to refrain from gagging as the taste hit the back of her throat.
Doc Hayman was amused as she flashed the little light down her throat. Then turned away. "You weren't listening to a word I said were you Gear?"
Elaine looked up at her and shrugged. "Sorry Doc. I wasn't." Hoffman had warned Elaine that Maryon Hayman was some one who took her role in New Jacinto quite seriously.
The older woman sighed as she pushed up on her whiting bangs. "Okay you need to eat twice the amount of calories you have been."
Elaine's brow shot up. "Err... I ate far less than that and worked at peek performance in the hollow."
Doc doubled back against the small metal side table. The clamour raised a few brows of the patients and other medical staff around them. Taking a moment as her hand fell to her mouth, she took a sharp breath in and gestured Elaine to a more private examination area.
It was another serious of tests, Hoffman had of course relayed to the good ole Doc that she would be getting a rather interesting set of patients to be cleared before active duty. And just as he had briefed the doctor, He had concocted up a story for Elaine to recite. It was a endless drill. Elaine sat on a new slab, while the Doc listened to her breathing then paused.
"You're heartbeat is irregular but the count is exceptional for some one whose under weight."
In other words you are saying for some one whose a twig. Great Doc. Elaine thought to herself. "Its due to the trauma I suffered for the couple of weeks, or months in the Hollow." Elaine's body tensed a bit more as she rolled her head between her shoulders, the various audible pops filled the pause. Okay there is not pussy footing around it. Hoffman said not to reveal too much but I know that look. She smells something. Bernie gives me that look. She looked at her nails as she pulled an expressionless face, and her best non chalant voice. "Look I was treated like a animal, beaten, starved, raped. You name it I prolly suffered it. The healer's that found me when I surfaced on the islands said I was lucky to be alive, and that I had more stitches than healed flesh."
Maryon's brow shot up, studying Elaine's composure. In her opinon; which she had many, Elaine had yet to face those demons. And when it does there will be hell to pay. She nodded her head as she wrote down her findings. "I'll need to draw some blood to make sure you don't have the Nexus flu or anything else from that encounter."
Elaine's smug look returned as she studied the doc. "Seriously? What did Hoffman tell you?"
Maryon's patience was wearing thing for this woman. But before she could lecture her about how Elaine was taking her time away from more pressing matters; even if sprains and the occasional shot up foot were all she was treating since Delta arrived back; Elaine handed her a manila folder.
"You'll find everything in order from the doctor's who rotated us here." She pushed herself off of the slab, as the woman looked over the folder.
Doc flipped thru the various pages for the Aine's family. She frowned, looking up while opening her mouth up to speak. Finding herself alone with her thoughts. "Damn." She tossed the folder down. There was no way to get ahold of the doctors who authorized this until they came back from the other islands. Placing both hands down hard on the table. Frustrated rolled off her in waves as her nurse came along. "Send the next on in. And some one find me Hoffman." She bellowed.
~~~/~~~
Hoffman sat at his desk on the second floor of the deplatidated building. His hands folded up before him as he read various reports; some on raiding of C.O.G. Instalations along the cost, others about the farmer's bickering over not enough protection. It was never ending. This should of been a welcomed relief but it was tedious. Boring. He did not want to spend the twilight of his miltary career stuck behind a desk while the ceiling collasped around his head. "Geez just what I need, my ears up in crap."
"Sir."
Victor looked up to see Anya wearing her old comms related uniform. He chuckled. Gesturing her to enter to meager office. "Yes?"
Anya stood rigid at attention before his desk. "Doctor Hayman needs to see you."
He cringed. "Is she at least in a good mood?"
Anya made her features appear apphrensive and shook her head.
Hoffman stood up and nodded. "thanks." Then headed out the door with Anya in toe. His mind started to form various ways to do damage control. He wasn't sure what shit storm Elaine had left him to deal with.
~~~/~~~
Elaine blended in to the shadows as she hurried her pace down the long corridors till she made her way outside to the parade grounds. Thankful for the fresh air versus the dust mote, and disinfectant of the medical center. The smell of heavy machines, gunpowder, and sweat seemed to be far more reassuring than inside the darkened building. She cringed. Maybe its because of all those years in a lab that I feel that way. She mused to herself as she pushed her way thru the crowd.
Bob, one of the twins that was posing as her elder brothers stood at the crates where the oddities tended to hide away. He had a sort of peace about him as he spotted Elaine's distance closing.
Her head tilted a bit as she looked around. It had been endless parades, drills since they arrived in New Jacinto. Elaine never saw how Bob was in the labs, rather it was she couldn't remember him. Vaguely she could his twin. He was the more aggressive of the two. And out of all the failed experiments Terran and herself were the most aggressive with the alpha and dominance command structure engrained in to their D.N.A. But this was different than a lab. They were free.
Though Bob stood there, completely appeased with the world around him. The queit tranquilty of no feeding tubes or drugs, he was relishing the time that he could leave this world too behind.
"Are you alright Bob?" Elaine asked as she stood beside him. Trying to figure out what he was staring at.
Bob watched the humans march, practice, converse with out a clue as to what laid inside their own barriers. "Yes." He said in the gutteral sounds of Locust tongue.
She sighed. He had come so far with talking, or the latter. Questioning. It wasn't in the nature of the Locusts to question their existance nor the orders issued. However with their human natures now finally surfacing. Bob questioned. It didn't bother Elaine that he was gaining some small measures of freedom. She encouraged it. Terran on the other hand wasn't adjusting.
Terran seemed to resent Elaine as any sort of voice of authority. He challenged her openly, and advanced on her as often as he could. Wearing her barriers thin each time.
Elaine brislted as she sensed Terran's presence nearby.
Terran wore his retrofitted C.O.G. Armour as he walked along side Prescott. Even with the blue lenses on the helmet, Elaine's skin began to crawl. She could feel his eyes burrowing in to her. Prescott though seemed unawares of the silent war between the two, he even failed to noticed the stiffening of either one.
"Ah, Aine. I should have you court marshalled and admistrativly punished for the stunt you pulled at the K.R. Landing sight." Prescott stated eloquently.
"I hadn't taken my pledge yet. So you would pubicly punishing some one who was granted a pardon for her crimes the moment I stepped on the soil here at New Jacinto." She tilted her head, her long bangs covering her blue, calculating eyes. "And that would not bode too well with the other survivors now would it? I mean a single woman who punched a man of your sheer size and tenacity. Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. That should only be a bee sting Sir."
Prescott's hand gingerly touched his nose. The cartilidge was still bruised and trying to reform its bond to the lower half. "Ah well then we will have to rectify that once you are cleared for active duty. Till then Miss Aine. I would like to see you privately in my office before the day is out."
Elaine's body tensed as she slowly nodded looking for a distraction. Any distraction. Prescott still made her feel dirty, and the need to retch was there every time he looked at her. Even the times in the lab facilities; when he checked on their progress. She felt that need. It was the manner he placed himself, maybe it was his stench. She couldn't place it. But as she tried to figure out what exactly she was going to say she heard explosions from the far corner of the installation. Terran's stride fell in with Prescott's as they got him to safety.
Bob looked to Elaine with a chuckle. The corners of his lips curled up slightly under his helmet. "You. Lucky." He spoke finally in Tyran.
Elaine nodded. Indeed but her luck streak was slowly running out. And she could feel it, it was going to be soon. As she watched the C.O.G. Hurry to deal with her lucky distraction, and then strode off to where the non miltary was allocated. Shoving her hands in her pockets and shrugging her braid over her shoulder she walked on queitly avoiding most of the people as she headed to the palmed beach.
~~~/~~~
In the following days Elaine swore her oath to be in the C.O.G. Though she didn't feel anything different as she once imagined. The only benefit it seemed was she was platoon leader of her and those she rescued from living their non existant lives in glass tubes. As she watched from the corner of her eye as Terran shifted uncomfortably. She was granted Corporal, and she ran their little team called Foxtrot. As the procession went on thru the swearing of the oath went on, Elaine mused. I was told that I had shown great tatical knowledge, and received a review on how my performance was back near Mecca. But who gave it? Her eyes drifted over to Delta and then over to the opposite side; where Hoffman stood just right of the chairman.
As others recieved their handshakes and other accolades Marcus shifted uneasily on his feet. He watched Elaine and the men who were now her platoon with great distaste. He had given a reveiw on Elaine. She had shown her self useful, and like Baird her uses were on repairing or building. As well as Locust knowledge. Though we could of used that knowledge back on the main land weeks ago.
Baird grinned from ear to ear, the thought that some one else with technical knowledge to tinker with as well as it was Elaine. The woman whom he admittedly had a crush on. Though since they returned to New Jacinto they hadn't much time to see each other like they did days before on another island.
As the people dispearsed Elaine went to talk to Hoffman. He had gestured for her to come over with a simple wave. Though his facial features remained determined. "Great I'm in trouble." She walked with the same approach the other gears had been trained to do. Head held high, shoulders squared.
"Ah Aine. Walk with me."
She nodded. Hating the act she needed to still hide her real name until they knew how much did Prescott recalled to that project. They strode side by side, Elaine wrapping her arms behind her as she took a deep inhale of the foral, humid air. Both dressed in their fine uniforms. "Sir?"
As they crossed the parade square, Hoffman waited a moment before he spoke. "There is a group heading main land... some talk about a distress beacon on our frequency. I nominated you and yours to go."
Elaine nodded. It took time for the information to process in her head. "When do we rotate out?"
Hoffman chuckled. She already sounded like the rest of them here. "Soon enough. Though you will have to take active duty. I assigned you to the motorpool. As for your brothers..."
She looked at him. Cutting off any train of thought that he would of stated. "Sir. They will handle themselves well."
And that was that.
~~~/~~~
It didn't take long for them to fall in to a comfortable routine. Some one had fixed up a television station and there was pre-locust music playing with in the mess and through out certain buildings through out new Jacinto. Delta was schueduled to do the brunt of the patrols and maintenance of the key vehicles. Baird was in his hay day with the comms for the maritime fleet. And Bernie had Elaine help her out with basic survival classes.
Everything around them seemed to mesh. Terrain and the others had found a way to go unnoticed for sometime under their helmets till Elaine had been able to trade a few items for some beige body make up. She frowned as Eric's eyes kept watching her intently. "Stop it."
"Stop it." One of the twins mimicked.
I don't know what I liked more the fact they were silent, or that I was the only one who was wandering around. She sighed as she shifted her weight on her feet. Eric closed his eyes as she smeared the beige on his face. "Well at least you have a human color now."
Eric looked to the mirror vainly. Then spoke in a series of grunts and grumbles. She sighed, as much as they taught him in Tyran. He kept speaking in Locust. Or stayed silent. Terrain looked up as he checked over their various weapons. "He says he looks funny. And it itches."
Elaine rolled her eyes as she turned to Terrain. "I know what he said." And there was the part she hated most. Terran. He was an alpha in amongst the males of the group and would likely show Elaine her place in that. As subtle as he was, he kept trying to make her feel small and insignificant. And since the island break out he has made sure to keep pointing out he would eventually beat her in hand to hand combat. Her eyes drifted back to Eric. "Its only while we are to make." she paused and did air quotations. "Our presence known to the stranded who are wanting to convert to the C.O.G."
Eric nodded.
She turned and moved to Terrain. He was the worst of the bunch. He looked the most like a locust. Elaine sat in front of him as he dry shot the pistol in to the ground. Her fingers dabbed in to the container she mixed the dry powder with water and a bit of soap. Improvising as best she could. His hand shot out as her finger tips dabbed his jaw.
His cold stare penetrated her inner soul. He shoved her hand away. "I don't want."
She growled. And shook her head. "Fine then when they see you they can scream Monster and kill you."
Terran forced her to sit back down when she tried to get up. Growling back at her. "Must get close enough to kill. They no get close enough."
It was the simple hissing drawl that emphasized the point. He was smarter than the way he spoke, but the anger seized him up inside. She knew why he was refusing. He's proud to look like the locust. Proud to have people scared of him. Elaine pulled her hand away from his grip but to no avail. Terran kept holding on.
He took a long snort of air in through his nose. And then he smiled, slow and deliberate. Almost like the Chairman's; and it ate away Elaine's insides. She'd seen that look directed at her so many times. And seeing it from him could only mean the same or worse. "You smell better now." She blinked, Elaine smelt like the motor pool, and carabolic soap. He took another deliberate sniff of her scent; then pulled her closer to him. Closing the distance between them as he spoke low. "You don't smell like him!"
She shook her head as she finally pulled away her hand from his. It was about her scent today. And the day before it was about how she dressed like them. And the day before was something else. He found ways to nit pick and belittle her. He's trying to break me down. Trying to show his dominance over me again. Elaine kicked the crate from under him as she handed the other twin who watched silently the impromptu cover up as she grabbed her weapons and their clips. "I swear Terran. If you are going to piss on me and mark me as yours do it already.. just so I can rub your damn nose in it."
"Elaine." Some one shouted as she pulled the belt on.
"Coming." She growled out and glared at Terran before turning to leave.
Terran watched her from where he fell on the concrete then smirked. I might intend to do that after I break you down, traitor.
She rolled her right arm as she walked towards the group with in the parade grounds. Nodding to a few she recognized from Anya's tour the first few days there. She smiled a bit. "Hey boys." Shaking the hands of a few who had befriended her. Remember to play human today Elaine. She cajoled herself.
One of the soldiers walked up with a cocky smile. "Hey Elaine betcha I can whoop you this time?"
She shook her head, A perfect way to blow off steam. She tugged off her belt she just put on. Wondering why she even bothers with it now. "Sure. I know you have motor pool duty this week...think we can trade.. my patrol for it?"
He smirked throwing the first punch as the others had fanned out in to a circle around them. She ducked the fake and ended up in his jab. The air in her lungs rushed out in a ooff sound. As she recovered her swept at her feet, kicking up sand at the same time.
Elaine forced herself up and stood in the training ring, her fists loosely gripped as she stood in a horse stance. Her eyes focused on another gear, there was cheering and a few jeers along the outside of the ring. As the other gears boots kicked up dirt with each heavy laid foot in to the dense golden sand. El didn't move as she slowed her breathing as she shifted her body in to a round house kick. His jaw felt the brunt of the power behind the motion as he was set off balance. Elaine stood over him careful of the legs, she smirked. Then turned, walking away.
"You think that was necessary?"
Elaine let her shoulders rolled then lifted them quickly in a half attempted shrug. "Its not my fault, he wanted a lesson. He got one."
Bernie rolled her eyes. And the two fell in to step to the motor pool. "You think that's a way to make friends here?"
She glanced out of the corner of her right eye, sizing up the senior C.O.G. Member. "Bernie, I've got a question for you..." El waited to Bernie gave a slight nod. "When the hell did you get soft?"
Bernie laughed as Elaine hopped up on the flatbed aptly named "Betty."
Dizzy Wallin peeked out of the drivers cabin, his brow shot up and looked down to Bernie. " A bit late aren't you?"
Elaine climbed up the walkway to the troika, she smiled down to the scruffy civi-gear. As her hands checked over the heavy machine gun, she smiled. "You think I look this good with out some work?"
Bernie shook her head. "Make sure shes back in one piece. "
"I know." Dizzy and El called out at the same time, followed by a fit of laughing.
Dizzy looked back to Elaine as he wiped his hands on a greasy clothe, "We are gonna go down the southern roads. Just be careful. And don't scratch Betty."
Elaine laughed as she got all comfortable in her spot. "C'mon Diz this is me we are talking about."
His grizzled face didn't change as he looked at her like he did with his two daughters. "I mean it El. You scratch up Betty, it'll be the last time you girls hang out."
El looked at him oddly. He has a weird fixation on the dumb lift. But she nodded as she loaded the chamber. "Yah yah .. just drive old man. And don't cramp our style." she teased.
He chuckled and went in to the cab, the old grind lift started with a wheeze, then a shudder before the engine started to purr. It lurched forward as they started out of the motor pool. There was a clang as some one came up the ladder. Dizzy turned sharply and headed towards the south side of the island.
Elaine's hip caught the railing as the turn came sharply, her botlock pistol drawn on the person as they came up. She grumbled, then shook her head upon seeing Marcus Fenix. "Great."
Marcus walked across the flat bed, "Looks like you have a full ride Dizzy." His finger shoved in his hear.
Dizzy laughed across the comms. "Well Fenix, I was slotted for one... what brings you along.'
Marcus watched the collective of what was left of Jacinto. "Just coming along for the tour."
Elaine bristled as she stood up, her hands gripping the troika's handles. And I was having such a good day too.
As they came along the southern road, the bumps and divots caused the two to bump around. Elaine turned her body to sit on the rail, and her foot pushing up against the other side. Dizzy was cursing up a storm that they didn't need the comms to hear. She looked to Marcus who was standing against the lower gallery's walls when the glint of something caught her eye.
"Fenix... ten o'clock."
His head swiveled a bit, "I see 'em" He pulled out the sniper rifle, looking down the sight.
Elaine's hand twitched on the handles as she slide to stand up. Turning the troika's muzzle to the direction before they heard the plink of a high velocity projectile hitting the grind lift's armour shell.
"Dammit whose hurting Betty?"
She shook her head, flicking the safety off, then aimed towards the brush. "Fenix?"
He tried to track who fired when another plink followed in to succession. "Shit."
"Good enough for me." She pressed the triggers tearing down trees. Fenix looked up at her then growled as he couldn't see what exactly where they were. Just the spray of the large caliber bullets. After a few minutes, El's fingers released the trigger. Then stood there listening then looked down her nose at Fenix.
"Come in command." Marcus punched his finger in to his ear.
There was a warble then static before a male voice responded. "Report."
"We had an incursions ..."
Elaine didn't focus after her turned his back on her she leaned against the mounted gun and stared out as the monsterous truck continued its way down the deserted road. The sound of steel rubbing against the massive tires as they cleaned up after years of neglect.
Marcus grumbled as he leaned against one of the wells on the back. And the unease of silence and the vehicle's engine took over again; before Dizzy's voice crackled thru. "Did you get the bastards that were hurting Betty?"
Elaine shook her head as she shifted her weight and put her focus back on the trees. "I'll make sure I give her a good facial when we get back a'ight Diz?"
Marcus looked up oddly at Elaine as she said the most girly thing ever to come out of her mouth. "Not sure they could be hiding."
There was a pause again before the comm crackled again. "I like her answer better."
~~~/~~~
Elaine's right leg wrapped around the ladder as she rested against the back end of Betty. Her C.O.G. Armour laid just by the the remnants of power tools and her lunch beside her grease covered wrenches, she sent several hours since they got back working on her. Making sure none of the lines were punctured, and she gotten ride of the awful rattle when Baird stood at the people sized door. He rested against the jam with his arms folded over his chest.
"That's a sight that I liked to see." He remarked with a smirk.
She looked over her shoulder at him then shook her pigtailed head as she focused on the engine again, hearing his chuckle. "What a little girl on girl action or Betty's manifold opened up and tools scattered around?"
Baird strode to her, climbing up the ladder behind her as she took a bite of her sand which. Waiting till he was right behind her, brushing her long obsidian wisps out of the way; then kissed her neck softly. "Well there is that too. But I meant you all covered in grease, and sweat."
She shivered as she blushed and looked at him. They hadn't much time together alone since they came back from the little island. Between the patrols, Delta and her group there wasn't ever any time. She smirked as she touched his face with her dirty hand, leaving a streak across his cheek.
He laughed as he caught her hand and canted his head backwards; waggling his brows. Elaine laughed. "Frisky?" She leaned in and kissed his lips softly; feeling him kiss her back too as she twisted her leg from its perch and then her body to meet his.
As they kissed they waited to see if Bernie would come in unexpectedly as usual, but it was late at night. Most patrols didn't include complete rounds of the motor pool. Breaking the kiss Baird helped her down from the ladder. Then kissed her as her boots hit the floor, his hands plunged in to her hair.
There was urgency to his kiss, the last time they had a chance to be intimately close was interrupted by Bernie, who then tried to give the birds and bees chat with Elaine. Now there was silence, and the smell of a garage. Baird broke away from the kiss as he shut the door to the part of the garage they were.
She stood against the tire as she watched him, her cheeks painting a rose color as he came back, wrapping his arms around her waist as he ground himself in to her, her lips reclaiming his as they greeted each other. After a few minutes Elaine's hands uprooted themselves from the nape of Baird's neck and started tugging at his shirt.
Slowly his shirt came off as did hers, and they found themselves up on the flat bed part of the lift. Baird laid out the fire blanket as Elaine grabbed a portable radio from one of the work stations. Baird watched her with out a thought in his head except. Mine. Then moved to her, leading her to the blanket. Laying her down on it as he folded down next to her, his fingers tracing the plains of her stomach to the crest of her chest.
Leaning into her he kissed her right breast, his mouth felt hot thru the black lace bra she worn. His hand drifted in a soft caress to her hip. Elaine purred contently at the attention he lavished on her right then her left breast. Then she rolled, straddling him as she leaned down. Planting sweet little kisses on his neck. Her hands molded themselves to the endless cords of muscle and scars. She then kissed the scar on his shoulder, then the next, and the next.
"Elaine..." he breathed out in a rasp.
She sat up, smiling down on him as his arms cradled her close and he rolled them over. Pinning her under him. Their hands roamed each others bodies as they could hear the outside world drift on by. Pausing only when they heard the door open, coupled with a few curses in a language Elaine did not recognize then the lights shut off, leaving the skylight and moonlight above to light them.
His eyes stared into hers as they stripped away the rest of their clothes, tossing the fatigues over the side of the lift, taking one of her nipples in his mouth as his hands molded over her form, travelling with a soft caress against the red and black tattoos; leaving goose bumps in their wake.
Elaine's body responded so readily to Baird's soft caresses, and ministrations. Her head rolled back as her hands tangled in his hair. She couldn't think of his touch being gone now. Sighing softly as her black hair cascaded down her back. The moonlight accenting each curve of their bodies and the soft trickling of sweat; creating the effect of sparkling gems on flesh.
Baird carefully maneuvered her to lay on her back, his manhood swelling at the intimate touch of skin to skin. He sat back on his heels staring down at her body. Elaine's every scar, tattoo, bruise only made him more aroused. Whispering as he leaned forward. Nibbling on her ear as his hands travelled down her sides. "Perfection." He started kissing down her neck, biting at the crook lightly then licking at the mark.
Elaine's stomach fluttered with the whisper from Baird's lips. She felt beautiful, like she was being created by his hands, her hands rolling over his form, raking down his shoulders causing faint red marks when she felt his touch at the juncture of her legs. Her body tensing slightly.
Baird sensed her body's sudden state. He propped himself up on a elbow. His hand touched her hip softly now. He knew how hard her past had been after talking to Bernie."Trust me El, I won't hurt you."
She bite on her lip nodding softly. "I do trust you."
He leaned forward kissing her belly softly as his hand slide down her hip, finding her nub. He grinned deviously as she gasped. Her body was so warm and welcoming to him as he looked at her as she moved her legs apart a bit, allowing a better access as her hand snaked around his manhood.
Baird groaned at the soft hand slowly sliding up and down. "Elaine." Giving her a pointed look as she giggled softly.
"If you get to play, then so do I." She leaned in kissing him hard as they took their time to explore each others bodies. Till he brought her to climax. Then leaned in licking her juices up as he heard her cries of pleasure. His own needs were succeeded by hers as he moved over her.
The torture was sweeter yet as she could feel the pressure of him at her juncture. Her hips moved at the same time. As much restraint to take it slow with her, Baird couldn't help him self. He didn't wait for her body to adjust, the need for release was calling him.
"Gawddamn." He gasped as he thrust in and out quickly.
Her eyes rolled back as her hips met his, her hands digging in to his arms as he quickly brought her back to her own peak, they moved together as she now was on top. Baird clinging to Elaine as she clung to him. Their bodies tingling as they reached their climax. Baird cradled her close to him as their foreheads rested against each other.
His hands caressed her back to her hips as he stared in to her eyes as his features washed in to content. He laid back against the crinkling fabric of the fire blanket, pulling her with him as her head rested on his chest. He kissed the top of her forehead as they cuddled together. Both enjoying the beating other their hearts and the lull of their heavy breathes.
"Maybe hes in here?" A familiar voice called out shattering their illusion of serenity.
Elaine couldn't help but laugh as they looked at each other and the scattering of clothes that laid literally all over the garage. He rolled himself to his side, setting Elaine carefully down, hiding her from any view any one could get from the door. "Busted?"
He kissed her hard on the lips as his fingers tweaked her one nipple. "Only if we get caught!" He laughed as he pulled on his fatigues while Elaine watched his lean body angle it self.
"Baird?" Dom shouted turning on the lights.
Elaine rolled over on to her stomach, hiding her head under her arms as she tried to fight a giggling fit. Baird slipped on the deck as he tried to get his foot thru the obviously female style fatigues. "Dammit."
Dom stopped and walked a bit further inside the garage. His brow arched up as he say a shirts and a lacy bra hanging off one of the rolling tool boxes. Using the barrel of the lancer he picked up the bra and held it out in front of him. "Baird you in here or not?"
Cole came up as Baird fixed the fatigues just enough that it didn't look to inconspicuous. Standing up his hair messed, and acting like he was woke up by their calls. "Yeah.. yeah.. am up." Elaine peeked up at Baird as she walked to one of the wells. She bite on her tongue harder as she noticed his pants weren't the right fit.
Dom held up the bra for Baird. "Seriously dude I am starting to worry about you. Please say you have an incredibly hot woman up there with you?"
Baird's ears felt warm as he blushed. "Err.. what do you want?"
Cole laughed. "Wooo boy who is it? Its El ain't it..."
Elaine groaned in to the fire blanket as Baird ran a steady hand thru his hair; Dom shook his head as he hung the lacy little item up on life with what seemed to be the matching piece of the lower half of her body. "Elaine when you are dressed Hoffman wants to see you too."
"Okay Dom."
Cole howled laughing as he shook his head. The two left as Baird shimmied out of the Elaine's pants and tossed them at her. Grabbing his garments. They quickly retrieved what was tossed around while stripping down. Baird pulling Elaine close once their clothes were back where they should be and kissed her. "C'mon seems like its important."
She nodded slowly as she climbed down. "I doubt I can face them after this..."
Baird smirked turning the lights off as they left, hearing the two not too far ahead of them. "I'd be more worried about what Dizzy would do if he found out."
Elaine gawked at Baird and then looked ahead. "So busted."
~~~/~~~
Elaine awoke in a cold sweat, her left hand ran over her face as she looked around her, the men she called her brothers laid asleep in their make shift beds. She in her bunk. She sat up as she breathed in and out slowly. She had dreamt of her time in the hollow. Her body seemed to of stored up the memory of being starved, and broken repeatedly. Her stomach seemed to hollow itself out and want to retch.
Terran studied her from his bunk, he woken up when Elaine started to trash about. Her toned arms resting up on her bent legs. He watched as her nostrils flared, her face remaining blank; and how the beads of sweat seemed to roll off her shoulders.
Pushing herself up, Elaine gotten dressed in to her black fatigues, then proceeded out side to the beach. Though the sense she woken up with being sick and hurting hadn't waned as it usually did as she moved about. Shivering as the cool night's air hit her. "Great. Just great." She muttered. Continuing on.
Elaine walked till there was only the vaccant docks left. She sat at the end of one, rubbing at her breastbone as she stared out across the water. The cool ocean breeze, and brillant moon just rising over the horizon painted a brightness to the stars that loomed over head and their reflection far below on the water's surface.
To say the truth she was nervous over being rotated out for a salvage run. She didn't know how Terran would act with out an army of humans lurking around each corner. But she was just as anxious as she was dreading it.
"Aine you will go back to the main land. There is enough fuel to take a king raven there and part way back. You will meet up with one of our tankers that is already out on the seas." Victor looked at her as he spoke, though his hands indicated where they were going on the outdated map resting on the wall.
Elaine nodded. Her eyes focused for a moment on Hoffman to see if there was something hidden in what he was saying, before studying the map.
Marcus cleared his throat as he and Dom waltzed passed Elaine. "Sir?"
Elaine glanced at both men then turned to focus on the map. Thankfully it was a map indicating the rises of land shelves with a see thru overlay with all the cities and towns that use to be there before Emergence day. Though her ears were burning bright red, she traced her finger along where the king raven would be landing. On the Southern tip near a small village call Hyacinth. She pulled another see thru layer down showing the once vegetation. Her mind reeled. 'If I am correct there is a ...' she frooze.
Marcus watched the woman who they picked up on another island, the same one who set a C.O.G. Medical lab on fire, and punched the Chairman in the nose freeze, her body had tensed enough that her act of a child trying to keep busy while the adults talked fell apart.
'If i am correct,' her thoughts started again. 'There is a enterance to Nexus thru.' Her eyes followed the geotherms, and vegetation maps as she saw it. She righted herself, not bothering to see if any one was paying attention to her. But it was staring the C.O.G. In the face, just as much as it was staring at her. Blackness, a void. Her features went grim, and her eyes focused on the barely visible reflection of the three men, Hoffman, Fenix, and Santiago standing behind her. But only one was watching her.
"Fenix; you and Delta will be going here. Supposedly the gracious Chairman says there is stores of supplies."
Marcus watched her for a moment longer and nodded."Wilco." Dom studied Marcus for a moment. Something was up.
Hoffman looked between Fenix and Elaine. Nodded. "Dismissed."
She saluted as best she could. She didn't like the whole gracing the upper command. She liked shooting, fighting, and who could resist the hardened armor they wore. But saluting seemed almost like groveling. She had vowed to herself after she found Mataki that she'd never grovel again. Turning on her heel she strode past the men, and those in the makeshift war room out to the encampment for her oddity brethern.
~~~~/~~~~
Marcus sat dismantling, and cleaning the plates on his armour. Something wasn't right. Elaine stiffened, like she, He paused, his hands moving to another plate after snapping the first one back in to place. She's up to something. Marcus couldn't help the feeling that whatever she saw was something to do with Locusts. And he couldn't let it go. She was their captive, their toy, their slave. She could easily infiltrate the C.O.G.
But after the sinking of Jacinto, the Locust horde was much like the humans; C.O.G. And stranded alike. Scattered. There was only reminants of what was left of either race. And the Locust haven't been seen since landing in New Jacinto. But it could be possible that the Locust were trying to gather intellgence on where we are the weakest. It wasn't in Marcus' nature to be overly suspicious of any one. But Elaine's past was questionable when they don't know exactly what happened to her before Bernie found her, and what Elaine had told them. Something wasn't right.
"Marcus." Snap. Snap. Snap. Anya's long, slender fingers snapped together, then waved infront of his face. "Marcus?"
He grunted and looked up. Any one who was around him in the barracks was now gone. Leaving Anya and him. "Yeah?"
Her brow arched up as she pushed away her recently trimmed bangs out of her face. "Are you alright?"
He looked up to her, and then to the plate. It was the same one he had started with. He'd spent the duration of his silent theories cleaning and replacing the same plate over and over again. "Yeah, I'm fine."
Anya righted herself, then folded her arms across her chest. 'Uh huh. Why for some reason do I not believe you?" They had known each other since both of their worlds changed. And now the two people both had cared for very much laid in the grounds at the All Father's Cementary.
He watched her with cool blue eyes. She always knew when something was up, even if he wasn't giving much away. "We have our orders."
She nodded.
Marcus shoved the chest piece of armour aside. "We're going island hopping again."
She shrugged, and gave an indifferent stare. "So? Spit it out Marcus. What's bothering you?"
"How much do we really know about Elaine?"
Anya blinked, the pint of jealously that had been triggered before was slowly wallowing its way back to life. She shifted her stance rocking back and forth slightly before stilling herself again. "Not much. Just she was an escapee of the Locust horde. Then resided with Bernie for sometime, and then on her own near a island village where they raped her and she killed a person."
It never seemed to cease to amaze him how well Anya could recall information at the drop of the hat, or how she made it sound like it was an everyday occurrance. Though his money was betting on that now hearing a story like that was a dime a dozen. "Exactly."
She heaved a long sigh. "Marcus are you saying that given what has happened to her she shouldn't come with us?"
He shook his head. "She's going main land with her squad. Delta is going island hopping."
She blinked. Aine was going back to the mainland. She knew that supplies were low. But sending a squad with all the stranded still lurking around was a costly risk to be taking. "Oh." Anya couldn't think what else to say.
"Look, Anya. I am just saying how can we trust her? We don't exactly know what the locust did to her?"
She blinked again. Good ole Marcus looking at the bigger picture. But the locust are gone right? But she didn't have a retort for him. They just instantly assumed that she was on their side, after they rescued and reunited her with Bernie back on smaller island. She fought with them,and played tour guide. It was his piont though. How can we trust her?
He studied Anya for a moment the rose up. The sounds of boots scuffing the floors echoed in their silence. Marcus knew she was trying to pick apart his question. Trying to figure out a way to make him see Elaine wasn't the enemy here. That maybe she could be trusted. That was Anya. She tried to see the best in everything.
"Do you trust Hoffman?'
He doubled back when she finally said something, though he didn't look visibly shaken. He and Hoffman had bad blood between them. Leaving a man to rot or be Locust food would do that too a man. But that was another question in it self. Did he trust Hoffman? As a man. No. As a man who was his senior officer. Yes. He had no choice. He may not of liked it but he was a member of the C.O.G. Much like his father and father's father before him. You don't question, you just follow orders with your head down.
Anya let her arms unfurl themselves and fall to her sides. "Marucs... we all know he knows something and using his better judgement to help Elaine. Maybe sending her the main land with her brothers... is the best he could do with out endangering New Jacinto." She had to think of the right words to pussy foot around triggering another string of consipiracty theories and questions she didn't know she could answer.
Marcus just bristled.
~~~~/~~~~
Elaine squatted at the beach, her eyes staring out in to the bleakness over the ocean. The sounds of the tide turning out calmed her aching head. She couldn't sleep, and with in a handful of hours they will be rotating out. Her, Terran, Bob, and Eric. Her fears were keeping her up. She didn't know what exactly to expect. And now the complication of Baird. She scoffed, and finally sat down. The course and under her palms, and the fresh smells of the salt water triggered another string of thoughts.
Bernie followed Elaine after spotting her half way to the beach. Settling next to her with a beer in each hand. She looked at her. "Okay kid whats eating you?"
Accepting the beer, she took a long swig. Elaine knew Bernie would start talking the birds and the bees with her; so talking about Baird would be a bad thing. Something she wouldn't even recommend Terran doing. "Just anixous.'
Bernie nodded. She heard about Delta being shipped out. And that Elaine was heading some where's else. "Ah. You'll do fine."
Elaine laughed it was such a Bernie thing to say. You'll do fine. Taking another swig she set the bottom of the bottle in to the sand. "How can you be so calm the night before you get rotated out?"
Bernie shrugged, bringing the bottle to her lips. "Guess I'm just getting old." Elaine rolled her eyes, watching Bernie take a sip; then held the bottle halfway between them. "Lets make a toast." Elaine reached for hers and clinked the glass against its mate. "Too a non eventful trip."
Elaine smiled then drank the rest of the beer. "To an uneventful trip."
"Now lets talk about Baird."
The younger woman dropped the empty bottle on the sand. She kept her eyes straight and shook her head. "Lets not and say we did." Oh no its the mother hen Bernie rearing her head in to things.
Bernie tried to stiffle a chuckle. She didn't know the extent of what they were doing up top the grind lift Dizzy loved. But that they were beat red when caught. "Just don't loose your head El."
Elaine looked to the older woman as she got up, collecting the beer bottles and made her way back to the mess hall. Her mind was a utter blank, it wasn't a Bernie thing to say. Shaking her head she looked back to the waves. "Too late I think..."