Vera rounded the corner toward the elevator. She found Sam dragging her injured self toward the elevator. Vera came up beside her and gently touched Sam's arm. Sam jumped, but relaxed when she realized it was Vera. Vera took her arm and wrapped it around her shoulder. She took Sam's weight and helped her into the elevator.

"Where's John?" Sam muttered.

Vera eased Sam against the wall. "Finishing this."

Sam hummed. "Like he always does."

Vera snorted. "No kidding." She stood up and moved to the doors.

"You love him." Sam muttered.

Vera's head snapped back. "What?"

"You can't hide it." she replied. "I can see...in both of you."

Vera shook her head. "You're concussed, Sam."

"Doesn't make the fact...any less true." Sam muttered. "He doesn't...learn Russian...for just...anyone." Sam's eyes closed, finally slipping unconscious.

Vera turned her attention back to the hallway. She held Reaper's gun in her hands, waiting for Reaper to return. Sam's erratic breathing was Vera's sign that she was still alive. She looked over her shoulder and prayed Reaper would make it back. It had been a few minutes since Vera heard anything form the Ark chamber. She prayed Reaper was on his way. If he couldn't stop Sarge, what chance did Vera have? Yes, Reaper told her to toss and ST, but what if she never got the chance? What if Sarge killed them and got loose on the surface? What chance did the world have if he got loose?

Vera caught the sound of movement down the corridor. She turned back to look through the corridors. Through the flickering lights, Vera caught sight of a figure walking through the hall. She raised her pistol in preparation for confirmation. As the lights flickered on briefly, Vera caught a glimpse of Sarge walking through the hall.

"Der'mo." Vera muttered. Reaper had failed. She drew herself into the elevator and pressed the 'close door' button.

As the doors closed, Sarge reached into the elevator and grabbed Vera by her arm and pulled her from the elevator. Sarge threw her across the hall. Vera collided with the wall, causing her to drop her pistol. Vera pushed herself off the floor and looked up to see Sarge charging her. She rolled to her side, avoiding Sarge's large fist. She rolled onto her knees, turning to look at Sarge. Sarge turned and charged her. Vera jumped to her feet, bringing up her arms to block.

Sarge swung his fist at her. Vera moved fast to block, but Sarge was moving faster than she could keep up with. Her only option was to back out of his reach before his fist made contact with her body. One hit and it would be all over. Vera stepped back at every swing Sarge made for her. She took quick glances over her shoulder, making sure she wasn't backing into a trap. She kept her arms up in case she didn't move far enough from Sarge.

"You're a fucking wuss, Vera." Sarge snapped. "At least Reaper had the balls to face me like a marine, before he died."

Vera said nothing. She back flipped from Sarge using her good arm and headed toward the Ark. She watched him fallow her with every flip. She landed in the Ark chamber and dove from his sight. She ducked behind a pillar and listened for Sarge. She heard him enter the chamber before it grew quite. Vera peeked from behind the pillar. Sarge was slowly looked for her. She quietly dove from her spot behind another pillar. She leaned against the concert pillar, finding it wet. Vera looked at the pillar; it was covered in blood. Not from the floor, put from the second level. Vera followed the trail up the pillar. She gasped as her eyes fell on Reaper's extended arm.

"John." Vera whispered.

Something moved behind Vera. She spun around just as Sarge's fist slammed into her face. Vera's head hit the pillar. She bounced off the concrete and collapsed on the ground. Vera gasped for air. Her body burned in pain. Her arms trembled as they tried to lift her battered body from the ground.

"Motherfucker died with honor. Like every good soldier on this mission." Sarge said. "Which is more than what I can say for you."

Vera looked over her shoulder. "Fuck you."

Sarge grabbed the back Vera's neck and hauled her onto her feet. He threw her into the pillar again and then tossed her out onto the main floor of the Ark chamber. Vera rolled onto the floor, groaning in pain. The room spun severely, tainting her vision of Sarge's location. She could barely make out Reaper's impaled form on the level above her. Vera turned from the sight. Sarge stalked toward her, ready to finish her off. Despite her deteriorating state, Vera flipped herself onto her feet and pulled out her boot knife.

Sarge's eyes glanced down at the knife. "You think a fucking knife is going to stop me?"

Vera smirked. "One thing you should know about me Sarge. YA ne umirayut legko."

Sarge narrowed his eyes. Vera held his glare, waiting for him to strike. Sarge leapt into the air for Vera. Vera stepped back as Sarge landed where she'd stood just seconds before. He swung his fist at her. Vera dodged his fist, moving her torso out of his line of sight. Vera ran the knife over Sarge's extended arm, slicing through the sleeve of his uniform. Sarge jerked his arm from Vera's reached. He looked at his arm and back at Vera. Vera held up her hands. The knife dripped was covered in Sarge's black blood, dripping from the down pointed tip. Sarge gave a deep growl at her. He swung his fist at her head. Vera brought up her right arm in defense, extending the blade slight. Her arm stopped Sarge's arm from hitting her head. The force embedded her knife into the side of his arm. Vera smirked at Sarge, but Sarge smirked back. His hand grabbed Vera's wrist. He pulled her arm and flipped her onto the floor. Her back hit the floor with an echoing impact. Sarge pinned her with his knee and gripped her hand. Sarge held her right hand and slowly increased his grip on her hand. Vera cringed as Sarge literally crushed the bones in her hand. She screamed as the bones broke under his grip. The knife fell from her grasp and clattered onto the floor beside her.

Sarge slammed his left fist into Vera's face. Her head snapped to the side. She gasped in pain and blood seeped from her lips. Sarge grabbed her throat and hauled her to her feet. He threw Vera across the room, into one of the pillars. Vera's back bounced off the pillar on impact, sending her to her knees. There was no time to move before Sarge ran at her. He slammed his knee into her stomach, driving her against the pillar once more. Vera chocked and crumpled to the floor at Sarge's feet. She gasped for air on the floor, trying to fight against her struggling lung. Sarge kicked Vera's left rib cage, jarring her breathing further. Vera rolled onto her back, gasping for air. Sarge stood towering above her battered body. He lifted his foot and pressed it against her throat. He stepped down slowly, cutting off Vera's breathing completely. Vera grabbed his boot, trying to push him off her throat, but he was too strong. The continuous collisions with the pillars and lack of oxygen started to affect her quickly. The Ark chamber grew blurry in her eyes. Vera closed her eyes, gasping for air. She couldn't let it end like this.

"Fucking waste of time." Sarge said.

Suddenly Sarge was jerked from Vera. He was thrown up onto the second level, into the pile of railing scraps. Vera gasped as her airway was freed. She coughed viciously, coughing blood onto the floor. She turned her head to the right. Reaper stood in front of her, standing between her and Sarge. His vest bore several punctures holes, running through to his back, but there were no wounds.

"Then maybe you should finish with me, first." Reaper said.

Sarge rose from the floor, holding a piece of steel in his hand. He wrapped it around and around his hand, creating a form of brass knuckles almost. He leapt off the second level, raising his fist for Reaper.

Reaper's reaction was still slow from his impalement. Sarge's reinforced fist slammed into his face, throwing him over Vera's body onto the floor. Sarge hauled him upright and slammed his fist into his chest. Reaper was thrown backwards into the wall. A chunk of the concrete shattered from impact. Sarge stalked over to Reaper. He swung his fist, but Reaper ducked. Reaper grabbed Sarge around his torso, but Sarge elbowed him in the back. Sarge threw Reaper across the room into the wall again. Reaper managed to push himself up off the ground as Sarge swung his foot at Reaper's head. Reaper caught Sarge's foot and threw him into the wall. Sarge hit the wall and rolled onto the floor.

Reaper stood over Sarge and swung his fist for his face. Sarge caught Reaper's hand and flipped him over. Reaper hit the floor several feet behind Sarge. Sarge was on his feet and moving for Reaper before Reaper hit the floor. Reaper kicked himself up and ducked as Sarge tried to punch him. Reaper managed to wrap his arm around Sarge's and his arm. Reaper pushed Sarge into the wall and tried to pull the rode from his hand.

Sarge grabbed Reapers hand and pulled it from his. He turned fast, pinning Reaper to the wall. Reaper managed to pull up part of the rode from Sarge's hand. But Sarge elbowed Reaper in the face. He swung his fist, rode extended. Reaper held up his hand, catching the rode through his palm. He winced, but held it firm. Sarge pushed forward, trying to drive the rode into Reaper's face. Reaper watched as Sarge's transformation further. His forehead extended out, his teeth grew sharp and dangerous, his eyes turned red. Sarge slammed against Reaper, trying to drive the rode into him. Reaper moved back against the consol. It beeped loudly beside him. Reaper glanced for a split second at the consol. The controls turned red with the words: STANDBY. Reaper looked back at Sarge. He grabbed the rod and wrapped it around his hand. Reaper tried to hit the controls, but Sarge never gave him a chance. Reaper beaned Sarge in the head and pushed off the wall. He glanced in Vera's direction.

Vera rolled onto her stomach. She groaned as the pain surged through her body. She looked to her left as Reaper pushed Sarge from the Ark controls. Vera met Reaper's eyes and knew what he was thinking. She nodded and started dragging herself toward the controls. Vera forced herself onto her uneasy feet. She staggered toward the controls, falling every few steps. She glanced over her shoulder. Reaper was fighting Sarge hand to hand while still holding the rode around his right hand; Vera turned back to the controls and pushed on. She staggered to her feet for a few second and fell again. She gasped for air, clutching her broken had to her chest. Vera reached with her left hand and dragged herself across the floor. She grabbed onto the rim of the console and heaved herself to her feet. The screen was glitching and Vera had no idea how to activate the Ark.

Vera closed her eyes, "Ugodit' Bogu." She slammed her left elbow onto the controls and fell to the ground.

"Quantum portal activation in progress." The computer said.

Reaper's head snapped up. The liquid core emerged from beside them. He spun Sarge, catching his legs in the core. Sarge hung in mid air, connected by the core and latched onto Reaper. He frantically tried to unwrap the coil from his wrist before it was too late.

"Five...four...three...two...one..."

Reaper released the rode as it ripped through his hand. The liquid swallowed Sarge and transported him from the Ark. Reaper glanced at his healed hand. His head snapped to the discarded belt on the floor. He pulled out an ST grenade and popped the top.

"Like the Kid said," Reaper said. He pressed the button and tossed the grenade into the Ark. "Go to hell."

Reaper turned from the Ark, toward the console. Vera was leaning against the console wall, her head hung down toward her chest. Reaper ran to her and knelt beside her. He gently lifted her head, brushing her white hair from her face. "Vera?"

Vera's eyes slowly opened. She smiled and nodded slowly. "Thanks for...saving my ass."

John smiled. "Anytime."

Vera exhaled deeply. She leaned her head against the wall behind her with a groan. "Let's get the fuck outta here."

"You know, that's the best plan I've heard all day." John said. He grabbed Vera's left arm and rose to his feet. He lifted Vera onto her feet. Vera winced as the motion jarred her body. She stayed on her feet momentarily before nearly staggering back onto the floor. John caught her and wrapped her arm around his shoulder.

"Sam?" He asked.

"She's in the elevator." Vera answered.

John nodded. They walked together from the Ark chamber into the corridor. Vera's breathing was deep and heavy as she clutched her broken hand to her chest. She tried to walk, without making him carry her weight, but her ribs seared with pain.

They reached the elevator, but the doors were closed. John pressed the button. The doors opened. Sam was still on the floor of the elevator, unconscious. John eased Vera into the elevator first. Vera pulled her arm from John and braced herself from the door. John bent down next to Sam and lifted her into his arms. Vera pressed one of the buttons on the controls. The doors closed and the elevator began rising to the surface. Vera leaned against the wall beside Reaper. She turned to him. His eyes were on his sister in his arms.

"Almost home." He whispered.

yay! almost done...wait what?!

translations

Please god. Ugodit' Bogu.

I don't die easily. YA ne umirayut legko.