ECLIPSE VIRUS SON!

Yes I do (hopefully) want to continue this to roughly Revengeance.

As of 09-29-2013 as I write this, Lyrical Nanoha FORCE as been set on long-hiatus… Well, it certainly makes my RPing for a BetrayerS FORCE era easier to make character expies like Vandein being an 'Albert Wesker' like villain.

Also! I changed the picture for the cover. (Don't know when its going to show up) Drew it myself. I am a terrible artist.

0100 Hours

In the room where Flor was once held, Quint was taking a quick smoke of her cigar. The dim light from the front faintly glowed against the dark bluish moonlight. And to top things all off, she had this woman, Eva, instead of Adam. She knew the biblical references between the names, and ironically her own in this situation, but something in her gut gnawed around wrongly.

She exhaled a puff of smoke before turning to Eva. "This wasn't part of the plan. So where is Adam?"

Deflecting the question, the brunette asked, "What's your codename?"

"Snake."

The biker woman walked over to the bed that Quint was smoking on. "Snake… Are you here to tempt me?" she coyly asked. Dryly looking away, she shifted herself a bit further when Eva sat down next to her.

"Answer the question. What happened to Adam?"

"Colonel Harlaown is a very suspicious man. He decided to keep an eye out on him for awhile. So we decided that I was going to replace him for tonight."

Playing with the cigar in her mouth, Quint decided to change the subject. "I heard that you used to be a code breaker for the NSA."

"That's right. Four years ago Adam and I defected to the Soviet Union." Her eyes crept around Eva's choice of clothing for night as she took notice to the pistol at her side. A mass weapon that she was familiar with. "Mauser? C96?"

The brunette lightly smiled, tapping its characteristic wooden handle. "Always a good weapon to have on a bike."

"I also saw that you used stripper clip and combining that with sideways muzzle jumping firing technique… Gotta say, very impressive."

Eva pulled the weapon out and held it to her parallel to her face. "Bet you never seen that in West."

"But it's an imitation right? The symbols on the side?" Quint quickly glanced at the weapon. On its side were white letters, definitely not Belkan.

"That's right; it's a Zhonghua Type 17 pistol. You got quite the sharp eyes." She bowed her head a little in respect before taking in another puff of her cigar. Eva turned around and grabbed something off the table. It was a pistol, much like the .45 she had before The Boss broke it. It even had a suppressor.

At least, it's some proof that she was there. The purple-haired agent thought as Eva handed her the pistol. "But this… This one is Haimirian made."

She casually looked at the pistol, before taking a double look. Taking it from her hands, she immediately set down her cigar and stamped out the little flicker end. Something or somethings caught her eye.

"The feeding ramp is polished to a mirror sheen. Slide's been reinforced. The interlock with the frame has been tightened for extra position."

Eva giggled as her partner continued to gawk about the weapon. "Sight system is original; thumb safety is extended to make it easier on the fingers; A long type trigger with non-slip grooves, a ring hammer, and even the base of the trigger guard has been filed down for a higher grip."

Wanting to test the firing system, she held out the pistol away from Eva and pulled on the trigger. A quiet clink sound. Perfect harmony in her ears. When she turned back to Eva, she rested it against her cheek. "Where did you even find this?"

"A Western munitions armory. It might have belonged to one of the US officers." She grabbed a few more things from the table and started to walk over. A tranquilizer pistol, a can of sorts and what looked to be like a doctor's coat.

"Hm? What's that?" Quint asked, pointing at the doctor's coat.

"A disguise that helps you looks like a scientist."

"Why's that?"

"Security is tight around the place, especially with an army of scientists helping build new weapons for Harlaown's soldiers. Last time I checked, Flor was in the Design Bureau just north from here. But if you disguise yourself as one of them, you might be able to sneak in."

"So the best way to get into the lab is…"

"Through the rear." She said, starting to pace in the room. "First, you need to head through the jungle north from here, until you reach a heliport. Just beyond there is a large crevice. Go through there and you'll arrive at a mangrove swamp. Passing through the swamp will be a warehouse and just beyond that are the labs. Flor should be there."

Stopping, she turned back to Quint who was filing down on the pistol's handle with a combat knife. "And what are you doing right there?"

"Rubbing down the handle just in case I need a knife in close quarters battle."

"But don't you have your magic to support with that?"

"Yes, but every armed forces nowadays having magic supported troops, they tend to forget that they do get winded from over-extended magic use and can't charge of their attacks. Just in case I do get tired enough from fighting, I can always just switch over to regular tactics like a normal soldier."

"And where did you learn this?"

She fell silent for a moment before admitting, "The Boss. She was always one for unorthodox tactics, even if she was a combat mage." There was a few times when she was younger, learning the basis tactics with mages where she had learned that sometimes magic really can't solve everything, even with its inherent non-lethality.

Smiling at her craftwork, Quint slid the knife back into her breast holder and took up the can. Resting on the top was a pin. A dark yellow band wrapped around the middle. "And this thing?"

"It's a stun grenade, according to the scientists. It produces a blinding white light and high pitched ringing sound that would do exactly what is it. Stun the person or people surrounding it. Sorry that I couldn't bring any more."

"Mana based?"

"Nope. Some type of metal-oxide reaction."

Tilting her head, this was definitely a find. She did overhear Major Graham talking about the Mid-Childan's developing their own type of non-magical stun weapon, but she guessed that the Shutrans had developed one as well. Standing back up, she nodded. "Right. So let's get going."

"Wait, what do you think you are doing?"

"What do you mean?"

"You look a little tired. Why don't you rest your head for a while?"

She frowned, still feeling fine. "I'll be good." Attempting to get past her, Eva held her hand out, blocking her path. "I don't think so. It's a jungle out there and you'll need your energy to get through."

"And you? Don't you need to head back?"

"Yeah… Or else they'll get suspicious that one of their own disappeared."

Quint sighed as she turned her head to the ground with her pistol, playing around with the suppressor. Eva raised an eyebrow and walked over. "A bit disappointed are you? All right then, how about I do something special for you?"

Her eyes lit up as she watched her.

"I'll stand on guard as you sleep. So be a good girl and lay down." Her eyes slanted down, her mood dropping a little below neutral.

"Something the matter?" Eva asked.

"I don't trust you well enough."

"How well do you have to know me to trust me?"

"Hmph… I don't know if I can trust anybody."

A low sigh escaped her lips as she leaned up against the door to the room. Eventually, the Haimirian gave up. "Alright fine… I'll take a nap." Closing her eyes, she quickly fell asleep.

-.-.-

With a glazy film over her eyes, Quint started to wake up. The feeling of sleepiness still present, her chest started to feel a bit heated. It was a bit relaxing, especially where it was coming from. A blissful sigh escaped her lips as the pressure stopped for a moment then continued. Her eyes started to crack open to see a long clean brown hair. To the side were two crossing red hairclips.

But the weariness of sleep immediately died down as something outside the room alerted her sense. Quint immediately turned her head to the side and peaked out the window. The pressure had also disappeared as Eva looked at her with some concern. "What is it?" She asked.

"Four soldiers just outside…" The agent lifted the tranquillizer pistol in her hand, having stowed the mass-round pistol at her side. The brunette looked out the window as well and cursed under her breath.

"It's the Ocelot unit." Motioning to the bed that Quint was on, she added, "Let's get out of here. Quick!" She grabbed a hold of one side of the bed as Quint did the other. "One. Two. Three..!"

Both of them pulling up, the bed easily lifted off the ground. Turning it sideways, it revealed a small hatch. Once back on the ground, Eva grabbed on to the knob end of the hatch and opened it. "We can use this to escape." The first one down, she crouched and ducked her head underneath the ground and shook her head. "Damnit… Ocelot…"

Quint's eyes slanted when she heard the name. It was the twenty some year old Major that appeared roughly a week away. She probably guessed that there was a chance that she would be facing off against her, but twice in the same area? And accompanying her men?

"I'm going on ahead. Gotta make sure that she doesn't see my face." Eva reminded her. Her attention whirling back over, Quint nodded.

"Looks like I'll keep them occupied then." She chuckled as Eva leaned over and gave her a peek on the cheeks. Her face lit up, confused and astonished.

"Don't go dying on me." She whispered before closing the hatch door. The sounds of her hands and feet scratching on the ground slowly moving away.

"Move!" commanded Ocelot as her troops footsteps started to walk over to the room. She readied her self whiling thinking of her options.

Can't go through there now… The purple-haired agent frowned again. Her Barrier Jacket still the black color from yesterday, Quint looked around the room. Faded red with patches of brown, she knew exactly what colors she wanted. The pattern slowly shifted from black to dark red with patches of green and red. It would at least keep her from getting detected too easily.

The footsteps were getting closer as she was running out of time. Remembering the stun grenade that Eva gave her, she held it close before hiding under the shifted bed. Now it was the waiting game.

The footsteps stopped at the door as she wrapped her finger around the pin. Somebody cocked a shotgun outside and fired it at the door slowly fell to the ground. She quickly removed the pin and threw it into the nearby room. Closing her eyes and plugging her ears, the grenade exploded.

Even with covered ears, the loud ringing and shock disoriented her for a moment. Her ears felt like somebody had just smashed them at the eardrums, but at least it wasn't painful as the other troops that were just outside. Hopefully. Quint hesitantly opened her eyes to see four Ocelot troops on the ground, making various discombobulated noise. Trying to get up, Quint raised her tranq pistol at the soldiers and fired. It didn't need to be a direct hit around the head; with the way they were, knocking them over would have done the same. She was already lucky that the troops were in a small enough formation just outside the door.

She stumbled to the side of the door frame, trying to get her senses all back to normal. She slowed her movements before taking several deep breathes. Heart rate falling, and her ears returning to normal, she looked over the soldiers, wondering if there was anything worth salvaging from them. They were lightly equipped with grenades and whatever weapons they had. AKs and MYs. Displeased with the limited amount of gear that they had brought, she started to stow away some of the items before she heard the loud crack of a revolver. Immediately hugging the wall, she peaked out the corner. Two more shots cracked out of the revolver as Quint quickly shifted to the other side of the adjacent room. Pistol raised and magic ablaze in her other hand, another shot. That's six…

When she reached the open area, just where a small flight of stairs were, the purple haired agent spotted to figures. One was Eva, caught in arms with a knife up to her throat. At least her helmet was still on. And the one holding her up was Ocelot, a smirk across her face.

"I've been waiting for this moment… I knew that it would be you coming back!" She exclaimed.

Quint frowned as she looked around. Any bit of aggressive moment and Eva would have her neck sliced open. Her magic attack would only so far too.

"That's it!" The blonde excitedly said. "That's that stance!"

Eva pushed back against her capturer trying to head off the ledge, but Ocelot was faster and easily held her up again. "I don't think so." She warned, knife closer to her throat.

The young Major's face frowned when her hand pressed against Eva's chest as her knife wielding hand slid down and groped her. "The hell? A female spy?" Almost instinct-like, she smelled her neck. "Damn bitch is wearing perfume…"

With her attention occupied Quint tried to inch her way closer before Ocelot held a revolver at her. "Stay where you are. I've had enough of your judo."

She blinked her eyes at the revolver. A little bit of relief calmed her emotions the new situation. Now to make Ocelot attack her…

"I see that you got yourself a single action army." Quint remarked, still keeping her stance.

"I took your advice to heart…" Ocelot smirked holding the weapon up right. Strange runes and carves were engraved into it before she pointed it back down at her opponent. "There'll be no accidents this time."

"It wouldn't have happened if you weren't showing off."

"What did you say?"

"It's a nice gun, I'll give you that. Trying to pawn it off later as a collector's item? Even those runes are fake, no magical backup for you to use either."

The blonde's face slowly started to fume as Quint waited for her fire. "And you're forgetting one simple little thing."

"Huh?"

"You haven't the guts to shoot me."

"We'll see!" She challenged, cocking the revolver and pulling the trigger. But nothing happened as fired again. Again and again, nothing came out.

Taking the opportunity, Eva dealt an upwards kick to her face, stunning the young Major forward. Using her freed momentum, she kicked her face again as Ocelot stumbled the ground in front of Quint. The now helmeted brunette leapt off the ledge and onto her motorcycle that she left in the same spot.

Infuriated, Ocelot got herself back up, knife in hand as she recklessly charged at Eva. Revving the throttle, she charged in. She lifted the front end of the machine as it bashed against Ocelot's hand and fell on top of her body, smashing at her Barrier Jacket. Coughing in pain, a scuff mark was ingrained into her face as the knife was thrown into the air and Eva circled around to Quint.

Coughing a bit of blood and struggling to get back up, Quint decided to speak up again. "Six shots. The Single Action Army only carries six shots."

"Errghhh…" The blonde groaned out.

"The Makarov carries eight… You haven't been really practicing with that haven't you?"

Ocelot grabbed back her revolver and got to her feet, "Damn!" She grunted her free hand in another one of those gestures. She spun the weapon with its trigger guard before resting it into its hostler. Realizing that it was reversed, she quickly removed it, spun it a few times and placed it back properly. "Th-this… This isn't over!"

Outgunned, she ran from the ruins and back into the forest. Eva raised her pistol as Quint pushed it aside. "Let her go."

"Why?"

"She's still young."

"It would have been easier to get rid of her right now…" Revving the throttle again, Eva took off into the forest as well.

All alone and quiet, Quint rested her body against some of the rubble. Her head was still ringing from the stun grenade but at least it was just annoying her now. Her Barrier Jacket shifting over to a forest green color with patches of brown, black and lighter green, she took off into the forest to make her way to the research laboratory.

-.-.-

Not too far away from the ruins, the Haimirian agent reached a swamp. The moist morning air filled the area as a thick fog rested just above the water. With all Barrier Jackets, they were immune to water so her body would feel nice and dry, but it really can't be said about her face.

Good thing I had my hair cut before the Virtuous Mission, or this would have been a mess… She mentally noted before stepping into the waters. Even though the Jacket was water proofed, it still felt like something slimy had gripped around her legs. Moving slowly at first but eventually picking up speed, Quint navigated herself around the swamp, weary of the shadows casted in the waters. Whether it was large crocodiles or just other aquatic creatures, she didn't want to take a chance. Eventually she reached the other end of the swamp.

Feeling winded more than usual, she checked around her body. A long and slimy creature had latched on to her neck as she felt it sucked out her blood. Luckily there was only one. She quickly flipped her radio on and called Paramedic.

"Paramedic? This is Snake."

"Snake? Oh hello there. It's good to hear your voice again since the hospital. Is there something up?"

"Yeah, I got a leech on my neck… UUuhhh, I kinda forgot how to remove it."

"Ah ok, this is pretty simple actually. All you have to do is find where the sucker of the leech and slowly pulling it away. After that, clean the wound and throw the leech away."

"So don't burn it off with a cigar."

"… Why would you do that?" She asked with a very confused tone of voice. "If you do that, the leech is probably going to throw up whatever it ate or sucked up and might give you an infection. I mean, if you want to get a kick out of it, then I guess you can burn it AFTER you remove it."

"Thanks Paramedic."

"No problem. Is there anything else that you want to know about?"

Quint already started to pulled around her backpack as she looked through it. Eventually, she found a small package with her favorite cigars all clearly packed and dried. The bag was made by some new rising company called Flexigrip and with the military contracts; she was able to use one of the prototype patented storage bags. Unzipping the bag, she pulled out a lighter and a cigar. "Oh yeah, I forgot to ask you but… About this being your last chance as well."

The tone of her voice dropped a little. "Ohhh. That… Well… What about it?"

Lighting the cigar, she took a puff before continuing as she started to pull away at the leech. "I heard something about getting your medical license revoked. So what does that exactly mean?"

"In general, it means that a doctor or any other health care professional cannot practice medicine as directed by the Medical Board."

"So then you're out of the job then."

"Very much so."

"So then why did the Major say that it was something like 'If I fail, then we'll be going up against a firing squad'?"

Her line was silence for a full minute before she started to say something. "Snake, when you have dedicated your life to something and then watch it be taken away, how would you feel?"

The question unnerved her. Peeling off the leech she set the animal on the ground before taking her cigar, pressing the lit end into the leech. It's micro cries of pain lasted for barely a second before it stopped twitching and died.

"… I honestly don't know. I'd be… sad obviously, but I'd feel as if a part of me was just crushed."

"Then you know a little bit of how it was. I've wanted to become a doctor ever since I was a little girl and now that I have my dream… I don't want it to go away. You have something like this, don't you? Something that you're passionate about?"

The agent sat back into the ground to think. There was obviously The Boss, but would she be the exactly end of it? No, there was something else that linked the two together than being mentor and apprentice.

"… Fighting, I guess. Being able to stand up and fighting back. I've…" She took another puff. "Been a soldier ever since I was little girl."

"Aren't child soldiers denounced by the United Nations?"

"Only since the end of World War II. And even then, since when is the UN ever been effective in trying to do anything against it? There are always wars, and there are always people fighting. Eventually, kids are going to get involved, directly or not." She sighed. "At least, that's what The Boss told me."

"That's really sad when you think about it." She remarked, her tone getting lower and lower.

"If a child has high magic amplitude then they are sponsored by the government to train. It doesn't matter if it's Shutra, Mid-Childa, Haimiria or even Galea."

"How long have you been fighting Snake?"

"I want to say since I was nine, but I really don't know. It could have been younger. I saw real combat experience when I was fifteen, in the Chosun War."

"I'm sorry to bring this up Snake."

"It's fine Pre-err, Paramedic and don't worry about it. It was nice to have this talk."

"Th-thanks. You too Snake."

Just before she turned off the radio, Quint received another call from her ear. Thinking that she was wasting a bit of time, she got back up and slowly started to make her way out of the swamp.

"Snake? Are you there?" Eva's voice rang to life.

"Eva? Did you make it back without any trouble?"

"Nobody saw me."

"So then you're back with Harlaown, right?"

"In a matter of speaking."

"And The Boss too?"

"Yeah… But we are getting along pretty well. I guess that traitors have a lot in common."

The word 'traitor'. It stung, reminding her all too much of probably the final part of the mission. Her lips parting a little, she asked, "Why would anybody want to defect? I just… don't get it. Betraying one's country and all."

"Are you talking about The Boss?"

"No, no. In general. But ok, then what about you? Why'd you do it?"

"I guess you could say that I was bit… shut in. Unaware of the world around us. And then when I started to work for the NSA, I just kinda lost faith in the things I've been taking for granted."

"Like in?"

"How the universe works."

"Eh?"

"No, no. Not the actual universe, but the universe that the intelligence community sees it. How people, and countries change to the environment. And the times."

"That sounds like what The Boss said."

"There are so many things different from Shutra and Haimiria, but its only a matter of position. A change in perspective. Half of what I'd been told and taught was a complete and utter lie and the other half is a conveniently constructed half-truth."

"So then the real truth is?"

"Hidden in the lies."

"… Are you lying too?"

"Who knows? I've been trained to make the most severe falsehood sound like the honest truth. Weren't you?"

Shaking her head, the words started to confuse her. "No, I… believe because I have to. Even if it's a lie. That's my mission."

"I'll have to remember that. My radio frequency is 142.56. See ya."

-.-.-

The crack of an electric fence hummed around the forest as Quint looked around. Taking out her binoculars, she did find it off in the distance. Even a guard had been stationed nearby. The jungle ground just ahead of her seemed way to quiet. Even during the Chosun war, this seemed a bit out of place. Mines? Traps? Frowning, she laid her body prone to the ground and started crawling.

Brushing past some of the shrubbery, her violet eyes spotted a small device on the ground. It was boxed shaped and resting on four separate joints. Claymore mines. To mage, these things were living nightmares. Only a few heavy class mages would be able to power through it. With a sixty degree cone shaped explosive power, these things were death traps. But strangely they were facing the other way, as the 'front towards enemy' words were not visible. Happy at the Soviet's ineptitude, she continued and found a hole in the electric fence. Squeezing through, she made it to the other side with ease.

Looking around, she saw that the guard was still looking the other way. Getting to her feet, she snuck her way over to the guard. Raising her pistol she whispered, "Freeze!"

The guard immediately dropped his weapon and held his hands up. Crossing to the man's front, Quint saw that he had the standard fair for the rest of the soldiers here. She grabbed the man's radio and flicked it off before throwing it casually over her shoulders. Slowly, she started to poke around at his equipment belt. Two stun grenades, some extra ammunition (even some tranquilizer rounds) and a Shutran Ration.

"Are-are you going to kill me?" He asked, his voice trembling. Quint smiled as she walked behind him. She charged her free hand with magic as she punched at the lower bit of his ribs. Before he could yell out, Quint's other hand firmly held over as she choked the man. After a few struggling moments, the man passed out.

"Nice and easy."

-.-.-

The outpost of the Shutran GRU was a well equipped boxed in area. With guards patrolling around the corners and eyes on the look out for a Haimirian infiltrator, they were scanning all around the place. One of the guards yawned as he stretched out his arms. It was a rather dull day after all. Earlier in the morning it was a rather far placed outpost. Still, they followed Colonel Harlaown to the letter; least one of them gets forced retirement.

A growl rumbled in his stomach. While he wasn't one to enjoy the Shutran rations, they were something to eat. No way were they going to feed off the creatures of the fortress. But then again, he had heard of a new shipment of foods that the outpost got a few days back. Some type of pre-packaged food in the form of noodles. All you needed was boiled water and time. Mizuho and its strange ways. For a country that survived two nuclear bombings, they've recovered pretty well, even if it was a non-allied country to the Soviets.

His stomach growled again as he started to make his way over to the food shed. Boxes of all kinds lay out in the area as he looked for the noodle packages. To his surprise, one of the boxes was on the ground and flipped over. Shrugging, he grabbed the noodle package and left the room.

-.-.-

The box shifted again Quint tried to reposition herself under its cover again. For some reason, she felt safe. Calm. She needed to tell somebody about this. Remembering the frequency for the weapon design and equipment expert, she dialed it up and opened the channel.

"Ahh, I was WONDERing when I was going to get a call." The voice said. It was distinctly male with a bit of enthusiasm. Whoever this Sigint person was, she would have to wait until the end of the mission to see his face. "So yes. Ms. Snake. I'm Sigint, the man in charge of weapons design and equipment for the IIA. So what can I help you with today?"

"Well… I'm in a box."

"… Can you say that again?" His voice seemed a bit confused.

"I'm in a cardboard box."

"WHY are you in the cardboard box?"

"I needed a place to hide when somebody was coming and the only thing that could give me cover was this box and… Well… It's comforting." She admitted. There was no exact reason why. "I dunno, I suddenly had this urge to get inside."

"You mean to stay undetected right?"

"No, no, not like that. It goes beyond just an urge. It's destiny. My destiny. To be in this box." Quint could hear her voice becoming louder and filled with excitement.

"Destiny..?"

"Yeah, yeah! And when I got inside, I suddenly had this feeling of 'inner peace'. I can't… I can't put it to words. I feel safe. Like this is where I was meant to be. Like I'd found the key to true happiness. No, no, that's not true! Ice cream is true happiness. No wait! I got it! Eating ice cream in cardboard boxes! That's the key to true happiness."

Sigint stammered on the other side of the line before Quint started to hear batting sounds on the microphone. He must have long hair.

"Do you understand what I mean?" She asked.

"Not a single bit." He said rather deadpan.

"You should come inside the box. Then you'll understand what I mean."

"Man, I don't wanna know what you mean with your freaky ass box! I've done some crazy stuff with the equipment in the past but… I'm done… There are no words."

"So then you understand my feelings then?"

"NO."

"Oh."

He took a moment to calm himself down before sighing. "Yeah, well anyways. I guess that dumbass box might be a decent disguise if it's indoors."

"So I can carry it with me?" Her voice perked with cheeriness.

"Can you put it in your bag?"

"I think it's too big."

"Then no. You'll just have to leave it where it is." Just before he turned off the channel Quint could hear him mumbling. "Terrible first impressions with boxes and…"

-.-.-

The crevice that Eva had told her was only a few yards away as she looked around. The jaded edges of the place laid large boulders to the side. Barren trees grew away from the thick patches of forest trees not too far back. From beyond the crevice was nothing more than rolling hills and grasslands.

But when Quint stopped just before the crack in the ground, she heard the ringing of boot spurs. Walking out of the corner of one of the boulders was Ocelot, her ponytail rocking at her side.

"Nyhaha… You're here at last." She announced, having a bit of strut in her walk. Quick drawing a revolver, she immediately dropped down to her Strike Arts stance. But at this range…

Her opponent raised an eyebrow as she spun the revolver around her trigger finger. It was different one from before, definitely something more practical than the one she had earlier.

"Twice now you've made me taste bitter defeat." She growled before 'meowing' into the air just like before. Hearing the thunder of footsteps she glanced behind her as Ocelot troops rushed towards both them, completely surrounding her.

"I'd hate to disappoint the Cobras but… You're mine now." Throwing another one of her gestures Quint's hand gripped around the pistol at her side. "All of you, stand down." She barked as the Ocelot troops did as they were told.

The blonde Shutran woman withdrew one revolver from her uniform and then a second one as she started to twirl them in a fancy pattern. "Ocelots are proud creatures… They prefer to hunt alone."

Forwards, backwards and to her sides, the revolvers spun. In a dizzying fashion, she flipped one over the other hand before putting it away. The other one, she continued to play with it, the metal and wood handles clanking together. Once over the other hand and behind her back she withdrew them both and pointed at Quint as she crouched back into her stance.

"Twelve shots. This time… I've got twelve shots."

Standing there, the purple-haired agent wondered why she didn't just shoot her there.

"Alright then… Draw!"

The two immediately dove in opposite directions, hiding behind large boulders around the crevice. The second Quint hit the ground, she heard Ocelot's revolver crack as the bullets grazed against her Barrier Jacket. Damned fast kid...!

She hugged against her stone barrier and peaked over. Looks like Ocelot took to hiding as well. A small tuff of her hair popped out as she took aim and fired. The lock of hair flew in the air as the ribbon that held her ponytail broke off and flew with the wind.

"H-hey!" She yelped immediately popping out and grabbing it. In those split moments, Quint fired again, going to center of mass. The mana shot bursted against her Barrier Jacket as the blonde curled back from the recoil.

"Major! Men, open fire!" One of the Ocelot troops yelled as bullets punched at her Barrier Jacket as she moved out of the line of fire.

"Stay out of this!" She barked at her troops as they hesitantly lowered their weapons. Diving for cover again, the two tried to find one another. As Quint looked over her shoulders and boulder, three bullets made their mark against her Jacket as she groaned from their impact. The bullets didn't ingrain themselves into her skin at least.

Looking to the side there was some more rubble and Quint leapt over to the side her pistol aimed at the edges of the other side, and took to pot shots at the Major as she grunted again. Unleashing the rest of her ammo, the Major's bullets ricocheted off the rocks and ground as a few came close to making their mark.

"Nyha… Damn… I've never felt a tension like this before…"

Quint looked over her shoulders. There was a rock blocking her view. Creeping out more, Ocelot continued to talk to herself.

"That's so different from simply changing a clip!"

To her surprise, she was wide out in the open, emptying her revolvers and reloading them, an almost child-like glee on her face.

"This reload time is… just… intoxicating!" With the free opportunity, Quint lined up her shot and fired as Ocelot growled, withdrew her other revolver and fired with that. The shots banked off her legs, some grinding against the loose protection. She felt some blood dripping down.

"Yeah! That's it Major!"

Checking her corners, Ocelot was running out to another rock as she took another crack shot, the condensed mana shot bouncing off the cover. She needed to reload as the mana cartridge popped out from the bottom of the pistol with a hiss. Magical energy hissed against the wind as Quint jammed another clip into the pistol.

She heard the revolver fire off again as she heard a tree branch snap. The agent looked up and quickly ran from her cover to another one a bit away. The blonde sniped off an insekt nest nearby as the angry black bugs swarmed about before heading away.

Again, the two of them ducked and dove into cover, making sure that they didn't lose track of one another. Bullets and magical rounds bounced off and nicked against the rocks, each shot getting more and more accurate. They mirrored each other's movements, eyes locked and slanted down. Trying to force Ocelot into the open, Quint looked at the dead trees and spotted a few insekt nests floating above. She discharged her rounds at the top of the nests as furious bugs flew about Ocelot's area as she spun her revolvers in circles, batting away the creatures as Quint took her chance and fired again. Her opponent's Barrier Jacket wavered from the hits, yet her own was started to fail as well.

From their covers, the two of them stood again in the open, their weapons raised at each other. But then something caught their eyes. The insekt swarm that left returned again, this time bringing friends.

"Damn it…" Ocelot snarled as she started to back off. "He found us…"

Confused, Quint turned around to see a cloud of insekts descending at her. Her eyes widened, putting away her pistol and charged both hands with magic to swat away at the bugs. Strangely, the insekts didn't seem to sting her, but just force her away.

In contrast to her opponent's allies as they were rapidly stung by the creatures, many of them crying out in pain from their venomous stingers. Even if she was batting away the little beasts, she saw the horrific effects of their poison. Faces immediately bloated up from repeated stings as they collapsed on the ground dead as the bugs started to gnaw at their flesh, freshly puffed with their poisons.

The blonde Major however faired much better than her comrades as she continued to swat and thwack the bugs away from her body with her spinning revolvers. But even she knew that she couldn't keep this tirade up. Slowly, she started to back away.

"You were lucky… We'll meet again!" She asserted before taking off towards the grassland hills.

Realizing that her only escape was the crevice, Quint tucked and rolled away from the swarm around her. Getting one step for momentum she hastily dashed and jumped down the side, falling into darkness.