Sorry for the long delay, my hard drive went and lost the original chapter I had written. And thank you for those who subscribed, and commented. It is greatly appreciated. Anyways... I do not own Gears of War, or its characters.
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Chapter 10:

-Heartbeat-

Prescott was intrigued by Elaine's presence let alone a bargain. With all that has happened on the island as of late; it would be refreshing to see what could add to the surmounting pile of troubles. He gestured for her to sit down. Even being the gracious host as he offered up a sifter of his well aged drink. "And do tell what is it that you have to offer me, and why it would have any impact on my interest?"

Elaine refused the drink, as she sat down. It was not hard for her to imagine what back alley deals he had down in the past, but most must of looked like this. Or sadly this was a bad replica of the glory days of Sera. She repressed the shudder before it became apparent. 'Come on El. You can do this. Just close your eyes when you shake hands with the devil.' She pasted the fake smile as she steepled her fingers together, sitting in a way that would hide her condition not that she was showing. But the less he had over her. The less he could use against her, and use against the Locust the better. "I know you've been cleaning up house. And in so that leaves just one little, tiny loose end to tie up. Yes?" She only paused. Trying to sound like Prescott as she spoke. She was careful of words, and implications she was stating. One wrong word could sadly put her in a place she couldn't, and didn't wish to be in. She watched his slight nod, knowing the seed was taking root in his thoughts. "We both know... the liability it can be."

"Get to it already." He growled out of frustration. 'She would of made a good politician. But does not leave much for interpretation. Direct and too the point. Refreshing...but idlely irritating.'

She chuckled softly, pushing herself out of the worn out leather chair with the creaky springs. She paced barefoot on the thread bare rug. Canting her head softly as she folded her arms behind her back. Mocking his very own gestures with her own lacking femininity. "Let me ask you first. What would happen to the state of the C.O.G. If the civilians found out you were one of the ones to approve of the testing that created some one like me." She watched him closer now. Her dark, penetrating eyes saw the creases, and furrows in Prescott's face grow, and deepen. The sounds of the chair groaning as he shifted. Elaine chuckled softly as she walked about the room. Unforrowing her arms as she started to play with the various objects. "I thought so. What if you and I could make such a weighty evidence vanish... and benefit you as well as them?"

Prescott arched his brow, watching the woman. "You have my undivided attention Elaine." He folded his hands together though he was rigid sitting there like the prominent politician.

Elaine licked at her lower lip. She knew it was now or never. The only thing mattered, was to disappear; was to give what ever life that grew inside of her a fighting chance with out the taint of her maternal or commanding hands. "You send me back to the main land. I vanish. You of course have the other two. I heard some one utter words about elite guards. You know they are far more controllable than I."

Prescott's teeth started to grate; though he sat forward thinking of the implications of Elaine vanishing away. A thought crossed his dark little mind. He nodded, trying to be suave as he pushed himself up from his chair and strode with his arrogant air to where Elaine stood. "But how can you guarantee me that you will not go to the Locust side of things. You know the inner workings of the C.O.G. It'd be not in the behest of what we stand for to allow you to leave unaccompanied."

His proximity was almost as bad as being in a small, dark hole. 'Prescott is shaken by the thought. Interesting.' She canted her head softly as her hair would move with the subtle movements. Elaine wasn't a fool on how to use her wiles to her advantage to distract. She needed to do so with Prescott to get him to drop his guard and agree. But what struck her was how he still thought the C.O.G. Was a dominating population instead of a rag tag of survivors. "You'd have to trust me. I mean... am I not more a liability to you and your secrets here in plain site? I could accidentally let it slip what we both know." She flicked his nose as she moved away from him; only to have Prescott squeeze her arm as she tried to escape. "Send me to an outpost. I know there is one."

Prescott didn't know that his signals were monitored. He had tried his best to keep it low, and under the radar but evidently some one found it out. 'I've gotten sloppy. If she knows that means that old fart has figured it out as well. But her idea has merit. And it is in the benefit of the C.O.G.' Prescott nodded slightly, "If that is what you truly want Elaine. You're dismissed."

She watched him for a moment longer before taking the front door out, she had passed the two lackey's he recruited. She was in deep thought, muttering to herself as she continued on her way to the only place open late at night. Her hands shoved in her pockets, she stopped of course to pick up her discarded gear. Chuckling as one of the simple guards seemed perplexed at her leaving it there.

Baird had watched her leave, shaking his head trying to catch up to her as Anya side tracked him. "Let it be Damon..." She gestured for him to come. She was on course to Hoffman's office, as was Marcus, Dom, and Cole. Though Baird watched the direction she went in. He was going to have to find her later. It was far too important to leave the old man waiting.

Elaine was too deep in thought as she entered the make-shift tavern. She sat at one of the tables, thankful there wasn't as many who usually littered the tables. She smiled to the woman who was cleaning up. Ordering her self something simple to eat and milk. Trading off whatever she had, or could do as payment. She sat down at Dizzy's table with him and his two daughters.

"Well if it isn't the pup. Finally finished with my girl?" Dizzy asked with his good natured chuckle.

Elaine looked up, though she was feeling a new wave of dizziness and nausea. She nodded slightly. "Yeah. The old girl is ready to go. But the winch needs to be fixed soon Dizzy." Elaine looked to the girls, Elaine had always a soft spot for them. Often when Dizzy was away. Elaine visited them, or they her.

But Dizzy gave her that look, he noticed the way she was paled, and the toast she had gotten. His brow arched up. "Why don't you too go on home, while I talk with Elaine on boring stuff." His girls nodded, hugging Elaine. Asking quickly for her to visit them again, then bidding their good nights to their father. Dizzy waited till they were far away. "Everythin' okay there El. You looked... well..."

Elaine looked up. Dizzy had become a big brother to Elaine in the motor pool. She didn't know what exactly he was getting at. But she cut him off. "Yeah. Tired. And think I caught something when I was main land. Its nothing."

It wasn't enough for Dizzy. He could smell when something was up. He'd seen his wife pregnant and he guessed along. "I take it Doc Hayman found out exactly, and you weren't expecting it?"

She chuckled, ripping her toast in to small pieces as she popped a tiny portion in to her mouth. But it tasted odd, the texture only curled the milk in her stomach. "Yeah. Okay Dizz just spit it out?"

His hand rested on her shoulder. Giving it that fatherly squeeze. "It'll be okay El. Yanno that. And yanno I got your back like a butt crack."

She smiled faintly."Thanks Dizz. It means a lot." She pushed away her plate as well as the milk. Resting her head on the table top for a moment. Waiting for the room to stop spinning. Things were happening quickly, too quickly for Elaine to grasp on too. She finally righted herself five minutes later; she cleared her throat. "You better get home. You're girls gonna be missing you. We can talk later."

He just nodded, watching her try to eat some more before he got up. "You know where to find me. And get some rest." Dizzy was worried about the dark purple circles under her eyes. Even how pale she'd gotten. But he wasn't going to pester her, that was what the good ole Doc was for. He just left, heading home.

Elaine rested her head back down once Dizz left. The toast pushed far enough away. Her arms hugged her sides tightly. Time moved so slowly to Elaine as she was left with her thoughts. Though it wasn't the deal with Prescott, or being on the island with what was left of so many nations, but rather Eric's death. She'd seen so much of it in the span of her life outside lab. And it was him starring up at her. The sense of foreboding that got her. She could feel death's icy grip slowly tighten around her. Making it hard for her to breathe.

A hour had passed quickly, the meeting with Delta and Hoffman was done. Something about the emergence of Stalks, and Prescott hiding something waged on his mind. Baird had ran off some where back to hiding again. And he found himself starring from the threshold at Elaine with her head down on the tabletop. He grunted. Sam and Anya both had waylayed him into trying to make peace with her, for the benefit of Bernie, and Baird. But he didn't trust her. "Hey kid." He gruffly said as he took a seat near near.

She groaned. Elaine didn't fall asleep, just sat still. Her head slightly tilted up to look at him as her chin rested on the beaten table's surface. "What?"

It was the first time Marcus had seen her so ragged, like what his father had looked like after numerous late nights working. "You okay?"

Elaine didn't know if it was an illusion of genuine care or something else. But she shrugged. Sitting up. "Yeah just tired. I don't sleep well lately."

Marcus nodded, though the words of Doc's rung in his ears. He nodded slightly. Watching as she got up. "Want to talk about it?"

She stopped, leaning against his table for a moment. "No. Look I know you're trying to play nice. But drop the charade Fenix. We both don't like each other. And it works better that way. You know that in a fight, I got your back. Cause if I was going to stab you, you'd already felt it." She growled slowly.

He didn't follow her. He just let it be. A silent, unready truce had been strucked in such harsh words. He just nodded. Thinking about how life had went. How tomorrow was going to shape up. The outlook was bleak.

~~~/~~~

Prescott paced as his two lackeys came in. "Is it done?" He asked anxiously. The stalks were getting more frequent and his plans could not wait. There was one more loose end he had to tie up. He gestured for them to follow him as he made his way out to his office before they would meet up at the docks that following morning. "Make sure you get this done. And that our guest is safely on board."

The two nodded and headed to the barracks.

Elaine was fast asleep in her bunk, she had seen Doc Hayman previously for help to be able to sleep. Though her thoughts were more clouded after the doctor had left the small observation room. Elaine had taken a gander at the files the doc had started on her. 'Impulsive. Possible her trauma from her time down in the hollow will make her unstable. Best bet is to find a foster family if such occurrences become to arise. Should be under watch.' Those words meant nothing to her, but it bothered her greatly that some one would try to take the one good thing that made her gray world seem all that much brighter.

The pregnancy was already almost at the ending of the first trimester. Though Elaine's small form was barely showing, it'd happen. And the thought of being under Prescott's thumb, as well as others watch would only make it that much harder. The dreams she had wasn't helping either. It always was the same dream, but the details changed slightly. A baby that looked locust with a human nose. Or a human baby that was gray and growled like a locust; and every one's reactions. In the end her and the child were always put down like rabid mutts.

The first came in, after waiting for some time for others to finally leave. The barracks was dark, and hardly any one left. Most were off in the bathrooms, readying for the next emergence. The whole island was up in arms, some wanting to leave, others wanting to drink it away. It made for the perfect staging. He came behind Elaine, gagging her as she went to struggle, the other quickly came up; hitting her hard on the back of the head.

Elaine's body was dead weight, and covered in a thin sheen of sweat. They did not waste the time they had to bind her hands with a length of cord. They did as they were told too. To incapacitate the woman, and get her aboard with out others noticing. They worked quickly, bridal carrying her to an awaiting boat off in the shadows. They timed their movements right between the constant guard that paroled. They placed her at the bow of the small fishing boat, and padded their way out at first. Until it was far enough distance for the rickety motor to finally be used.

The two didn't banter back and forth in case Elaine woke up. Prescott's words were clear. Nothing was to befall her. And if it had, they'd be paying for it. They stayed silent as they crossed the water until they came to the surfaced small submarine. Carefully one would go down below through the hatch as the other lowered her form. When she was aboard they locked her in to a small room, leaving her bound until they would return some hours later.

Elaine would wake long after Prescott had boarded with his two trustful guards. There was laughter, and a conversation that she couldn't catch. When the throbbing had some what subsided she looked at her surroundings. It was a small, dark room. Too cold for her likings. Elaine felt oppressed, and down in the cage she was kept in. She pushed herself along where the floor and wall met. Trying to get a jist of the room. But it wasn't enough to keep the pregnant woman calm. Sweat started to trickle down her back, and breathing became labored. Tears were starting to roll, she thought she was passed all this, was able to handle it. But now she realized the Doc was right.

Prescott could hear Elaine's shuffling around. Leaving the two to drive in to the depths back to where all his communications were relayed too. He stood at the door, watching her with his cold, pensive stare. "I see you finally woke. If you promise to behave we will see that you are comfortable for the rest of the ride."

Elaine frowned as best she could with the sweaty material that prevented her to talk. But she nodded. She knew better than to bite down hard on the hand that was feeding her. She would wait and bide her time until she could escape till then she would do what ever it took to get out of the confinements.

"Good girl." He released her from the bindings and brought her to the galley. He gave her something to drink, but didn't say anything else to her. Even when she questioned. He just gave her that devilish, knowing smile. She frowned, and waited for what seem a eternity. Elaine noticed the changes in pressure, and even when there was turbulence. But she just stared at the table's top. Questioning her own actions, if she had done the right thing.

The submarine had docked, and Prescott prompted Elaine to follow, not that she had much of a choice. She dubbed his lackeys as Frick and Frack right after Frick had shoved the barrel of his lancer in to her back. She moved carefully, trying to hide what she was so patiently trying to protect.

The three of them stood at the end of the dock as Prescott spoke to an familiarly dressed man. Elaine paid close attention to detail. The staging area reminded her of pictures in old, soggy magazines. Elaborate structures lavished in luxury and wealth. This place definitely came across as that to her. She followed silently as another set of coats lead her away. Spiliting her with the escorts she had. She was too tired, and weak to try to stage her break out. She was waiting to see what was going to happen. This location didn't smell like disinfectant, or have any bearings of a labatory. But it some how reminded her of where she called home for several years of her life.

They poked and prodded her, making sure she was healthy before being dumped in to a lavious suite. Prescott was already there waiting, drinking a sifter of Brandy again. Elaine shook her head. Her voice was quiet as she spoke, but her words were laced with venom. "I see even as the world you help created as it is crashes you take the time to savor the finer things in life."

"Come now Elaine." He swirled the amber colored liquid in the glass. "You knew what exactly you were signing up for when you made that deal. And you're being rude. We have guests."

Her lip curled up as she looked at Prescott then to where his hand gestured. Her stomach bottomed out, feeling like a open pit, a void the moment she saw him. He had considerably less hair, and some more wrinkles than she remembered. But there was the sharp nose, and prominent features. Even the same blue eyes. She went to take a step back.

"I see you know each other." He sneered. Rising up. "I'll leave you to get better acquainted." Prescott rose, finishing the liquid with the bite. He left creator and science project alone. He though made sure both were under guard if they were to venture. Or if she was going to kill him.

Silence ensued as the room became suddenly more breathable, though less comforting to either of them. Adam had spent a few minutes trying to place the familiar face. Though memories of people seemed to wane away after several years being trapped under Prescott's long shadow.

"Do I know you?"

She nodded slightly. The bile of what had happened to her rose up. Her anger was like a bubbling pot on a stove, waiting to boil over. But she gritted her teeth. "You created me." It stung for a few moments to be forgotten. 'Maybe its best that I am forgotten.'

He watched her before he rose up. Cleaning off his rounded rim glasses, and then took a long, studying look of the woman before him. He took a sharp breathe in. Time was not kind in Sera. Looking at Elaine was no different. But he recognized those eyes. They were much like Marcus' own. They held that same stare, and that same steady stream of despise. But it was the features of Myrrah that drew him back to the last time he saw her. The night he left her the message. "Elaine?"

She nodded. Though not sure of what she was to do. Her fists white knuckled the tighter she squeezed. But her muscles wouldn't respond, nor snap forward. All the plans she had, the things she told herself when this day would come hadn't happened. She didn't lash out to kill him. She didn't scream and punch him. Rather she stood there like a soldier of the C.O.G. "Yes Doctor Fenix." She said automatically.

He shook his head. Walking away. His own fist was balled up, and hit the small ledge of the sideboard. "No – no. He shouldn't have you." He frowned. Turning to her again. The little girl he saw was now gone. She was a slim, scared, tattooed. But she was no longer the child that would of saved them all. He noticed that she was starring at him oddly, and it drew him back away from thoughts. "What do you know?"

~~~/~~~

The moment that Prescott had left, the world that was only the island soon dwindled and they were back on the fleet. Baird was left to fix Jack in his shared accomadations. But his thoughts drifted back to Elaine. He was getting frustrated as he tinkered away to get the little robot back up and running. Even took apart the scientific robot Ichabob for parts. He couldn't seem to get his head straight. When the island was deemed unsafe to live, he spent time trying to find Elaine. There was no sign of her. Even her brothers were at a loss words. Between Hoffman's requests to crack the drive, and everything else; they hadn't talked. And Elaine seemed to only pull further away.

People started to notice his words started to get more clipped as Hoffman and some others left for Anvil Gate. Baird was in a state of melancholy. Cole tried his best to cheer up his teammate, but there was no way. Cole had even started to enquire if any one had seen her before the pick up and haul ass. But it was fruitless. Though one of the fisherman were rumored to of lost a fishing boat, long before Prescott's vanishing act. Nothing seemed to sit right.

The open seas didn't hold much hope as the two stood at the rail. Lancer's cradled in their arms. "I'm sure shes okay baby." Cole stated with softer euthasism than usual.

"Yeah sure." Baird clipped out starring out. Making it look like he was watching for stalks but rather he was lost in thought. Trying to remember the last words they had.

Anya and Sam were not far off watching the two as they spoke softly. "Seems like Blondie is having a hard time."

Anya nodded softly, her back was against the stairs as she read several of the reports from Michealson's desk. "We all are. We are drifting along with no real information. Not only that but seems Elaine didn't make it aboard. No one knows where she is."

Sam frowned. Baird and her had a good natured friendship, if it could be called that. They tolerated each other. Though it seemed that maybe to others it was more. She sighed. "She'll show up. I don't doubt that."

Their conversations bounced around until it was time for Delta to finally bunk down. As Baird laid on the matteress, the others in the room were fast asleep. He just stared up at the metal slats. Wondering. Thinking. He couldn't sleep. And so it would be until they would make landfall. Or at least till he had something to fill his thoughts.

~~~/~~~

Adam and Elaine walked the corridors under constant guard. The two found it uneasy at first to talk to each other. They had to move past what had happened all those years ago. She learnt why she was truly created. How long the C.O.G. Had known about the Locust existence. Even what life was like before Emergence day. She listened curiously as she stopped at the rail that open a rainy world outside. It was depressing the constant loom of clouds.

He noticed, color some what returned to her. But Adam didn't have the luxury of time any more. It was always in constant action to find something. Something he never told Elaine about. The two would continue on their walks as Prescott sat in his comfortable luxury of the Chairman's suite. Watching them through the close circuit cameras that littered the once resort.

Elaine finally sat down in the room that Adam had called home since his arrival. She felt the waves of morning sickness attack at her. Even the soft fluttering in her stomach. This was a time to be content, even excited over a new life forming. But she felt trepidation. Exhaustion. Fear. The broth they had for their lunch as Elaine volunteered to help him in his research only seemed to unsettle her stomach. And Adam watched as she ran to the bathroom. Knocking over stacks of research notes as she went.

Elaine was washing her face off when Adam came in. That pensive stare, reminded her how much she missed the company of Delta. It was his voice that drew her back to the present. "You should try this." He held out some ginger style tea. She wasn't readily going to take it but slowly she built up a trust in the man that claimed to be her father.

He watched as she sipped it slowly, the two moving back to the living room. He was picking up notes and even found the picture that he kept of Elaine. There was a look of regret to his features when Elaine spoke. "Doc... are you okay?"

Adam nodded. He didn't dare to ask much of her. For both of his kids, he had wronged both greatly with the necessity of always working. He missed out on being a father to Marcus. And treated Elaine only as another project. Work had become his only life. Forgetting what was left behind him. "Just in thought." The answer didn't pacify Elaine but he turned to face her. Gesturing for her to follow.

Both knew of the cameras that monitered their very existence. But neither seemed to care. Elaine hopped up on the examination bed with her tea watching Adam trying to find something. "How far along are you?"

The question seemed to draw only a slouch and sigh. Shaking her head. The morning sickness came and went so often it was hard to hide. "Three months or so. Give or take." She answered with no emotion. She felt shut down. The trust on her life was one thing, but trusting any one who was labeled with the title Doctor was another. Her child was her major concern, and the memories of her own childhood filtered in her mind. She shuddered.

Adam finally found the small, hand held machine. It had a weird little mircophone attached to it. He grabbed some of the gel that had been used as a lubricant for the various scopes. But it would have to do. He took the tea from her. His fatherly smile warmed her slightly, but worry still kept creeping back. He pushed Elaine's scrub top up just past her slight belly.

It would be the first time Elaine would hear the heart beat inside of her. She stared blankly at her belly. Adam chuckled softly, drawing the memory of when his own wife of Elaine's namesake and him had first her Marcus' heart beat. "Its a good. Strong heartbeat."

Elaine cleaned off the gel, and sat back up. Her hand was on her belly. She had noticed the fluttering. Doc Hayman had told her that it was the movement of the wee thing inside her But this time it was more predominant. She looked up. Swallowing hard. Elaine had expected to share such a tender moment with Adam. But she grabbed his hand. Letting him feel the strong foot kick.

The two found a small ray of hope. And for hours the two worked side by side. Adam had drawn several vials of blood from himself, and from Elaine. Though from her was not for his research, it was to make sure she was healthy, that his grand child was healthy.

Weeks would pass by and they had a good relationship. And eventually Elaine and him would talk about what had happened all those years ago. Though Adam didn't apologize, she could see his remorse for his actions cause. It bothered Prescott, though he kept his distance, it bothered him that either was not very trustworthy.