A/N: So. This whole "disappearing off the face of the earth" thing has happened enough times now that I'm not going to bother with giving excuses, or laying out a plan for going forward. One more chapter coming tonight.

Last Bastion, Kahje

Day 1, 1845

"Ekris, we're on our way to you. We need to take care of that Harvester - are you on the rooftops yet?"

"On our way up. We'll be a couple of-"

Click. Irving switched off his comlink with a grunt of disdain, the chatter fading until it was lost amidst the rush of pouring water. The big marine was stood atop the administrator's desk, staring out at the sunken cityscape as the water peaked above his waist.

All things considered, he was in a remarkable state of calm. Nothing more to be done now. The mission was complete. The team was out safe. She was out safe… job done.

Fuck that.

"Goddamnit!" he roared, swiping one arm through the rising water and spattering it across the administrator's bay window.

Quite suddenly, a tide of anger carried him off the desk, landing two good blows against the window with his fists before he plunged beneath the water. He bobbed down, then rose up again, yelling and flailing, bare hands pounding off the glass…

It was to no avail. The glass was meant to withstand a personal mortar, never mind a marine's pummelling. With a growl of anger, he kicked off against the window and splashed back over to the desk. By the time he found his feet upon it, the water was up to his elbows, and he had to press his hands against the ceiling to keep his footing. A sluice of cold, murky water ran down his arms as he did, pouring down his neck and into his collar, sending a shiver along his spine. Cold, or fear?

He growled at the very thought of admitting the latter, and dug his fingers into the battered ceiling, angrily. The slight scrape of his nails on steel was inaudible against the din of water still rushing in through the broken pipe, now beneath the water level and belching out great bubbles to fill the room…

Far across the city, silhouetted in the light of a low sun, a dark shape flitted across the horizon. Watching on, resignedly now, Irving could almost imagine the beating of leathery wings, the unearthly howl echoing between the city spires… the Harvester swept low over the water, circled around a smoking tower, then rose again, head snapping back to release a scream left muffled by the glass window. It swung lazily between the rows of battered buildings, rose up, flew by, and quite suddenly, it was hovering level with the rooftop opposite the administrator's office. With a crunch of stone that might have been a figment of the marine's imagination, it clambered over the top of the building, onto a low stone ledge, and nestled there like a bird at roost.

As the water gradually crept towards his shoulders, Irving found himself staring at the creature, his own eyes boring into its passive, monstrous face. A set of glowing blue eyes, half a dozen or thereabouts, were roving idly over the side of the building, watching for any sign of movement. Oh-so gradually, they crept upwards, floor by floor, towards the roof.

"No, no, no…" Irving growled, quietly. "Eyes down, you bastard. Down here…"

The Harvester remained unmoved, deaf to the marine's muffled utterings. It shuffled slightly on its perch, eyes roving up to search the rooftops across which he could only assume three other figures were running.

"DOWN HERE!"

Even the marine himself was caught off-guard, as a cry loud enough to tear his breath from his lungs spilled out of his lips, and one arm raked the water, swiping angrily at the surface. He lost his balance with the arm removed, stumbling on the desk, but his gaze was still locked on the Harvester.

"COME ON!" he bellowed, with whatever air remained. The tide slipped above his shoulders, a new pressure forcing him down, but he was acting on instinct more than sense. Even as his footing faltered, a free hand went for his shoulder, yanked his rifle up out of the water-

Crack crack crack crack! He pulled the trigger without the slightest hint of 'proper form', and the rifle's backside smacked him in the jaw like a rookie on the range. He swallowed it down with a growl, though, as bullets ricocheted off the window, plunged beneath the surface of the water…

Irving fired until his clip was empty, and pulled the trigger for a few more clicks besides. The greyish tide lapped up over his collar a moment later, cold water poured down his neck and into his armour, causing a sharp intake of breath at it hit his chest. He faltered, digging his one free hand into the ceiling, but his knees were buckling, his lungs bursting as the cold clawed at them.

Skree. A rush of movement from beyond the window, a muffled cry and a flash of dark, leathery wings. His attention was torn away, though, as the water hit his chin. He tipped his head back, gulping at the air, taking in a few final breaths before the cold tide rose up to his jaw-

Wham. There was a shudder of movement, walls and floor and desk beneath his feet all shaking, for just a moment. The room lit up crimson, fire dancing in the corner of his vision and lighting up the room- only for it to be darkened once more as a shadow blotted out the sun, growing close…

Wham! Another shudder from the room, the sound of breaking glass… and for a brief moment, Irving felt weightless, his mind spinning as it tried to process what was happening. It failed, for the most part. The desk beneath his feet rocked over and then tipped, taking his legs from beneath him. He plunged under the water, swallowed a lungful of ice, felt his rifle tear away into the maelstrom… and then, quite suddenly, the whole room was moving, the whole mass of water rushing through a broken window.

He spun to the side, leadenly, still choking on icy water and trying to reach for any semblance of security, but to no avail. The room slipped away, a set of savage claws passing either side of him, and then suddenly, he was truly weightless. Wind and noise met freezing cold, and he somersaulted, saw a flash of sky and then a flash of cold water below. He went tumbling downwards with the torrent, vision spinning. Sky, sea, sky, sea…

Wham.