Hello everyone. Long... Long time no see. Apologies for not posting anything in a while, I honestly lost all will to write and had severe writer's block.

In an attempt to get started again, I am updating/rewriting Winter's Apocolypse. I'm trying to make it more linear (fewer flashbacks) and flush things out. I hope everyone enjoys the new version and sticks around, All rights are owned by Disney and Bethesda respectfully.

Please read and review and I'll attempt to answer any question. Thanks.

"I don't want to set the world on fire... I just want to start a flame in your heart..." The sweet melody of the Ink Spots sang through the radio as she paced her quarters back and forth wearing the rubber soles of her boots away. Her right hand was placed protectively over her stomach to protect the life now growing inside her from the absolute hell house that was her current posting. Why did she agree to come here?

"Because I'm an idiot and I owed him a debt." She said to herself. She sat on her bed and placed her face in her hands. This place was… she did not know how to describe it. They were in the middle of nowhere California, protecting the creepiest scientist that she had ever met. She would overhear them sometimes in the mess, talking about their 'test subjects' and they would have the most sinister grins. She and the rest of the military security were never privy to the research being conducted but sometimes late at night, she could swear that she would hear a whisper of screaming. Her colonel had dismissed her suspicions as shell shock and threatened to have her committed if she kept up her accusations, so she dropped it and went back to trying to be oblivious.

Now getting out was her number one priority and she needed help. Her uncle was brigadier of a nearby marine training facility, but the transfer had to come from within the base. She had to tell him anyway as it was protocol, and she needed his help. Steeling her resolve she stood, placing her cap on, and marched out of the room and down the long metal corridors dimly lit by white neon lights. It was the middle of the night; the corridors were deserted apart from the occasional patrol who saluted her as she walked by. Besides the patrols the only person she knew would be awake was the superior officer. She had known the man for nine years and was the only person she could trust and rely on here in this godforsaken place. As she walked, light echoes could be heard as if the metal walls were carrying screams from deep down in the depth of the base. She hated this place. Arriving at his office door she gave three sharp knocks and quietly waited for a reply.

"Enter!" A rough male voice answered. Pressing the bottom to her right the door slid up allowing her access to the office. Coming to attention at the door her right hand snapped up to the side of her eye and back down in a crisp salute to her captain.

"Lieutenant Winter, what can I do for you this early in the morning?" The captain smiled at his old friend. It was an odd friendship they had. Both were as close as siblings due to their time in Anchorage, but what made it odd was the fact he was army, and she was Marines. It was not unheard of for friendships to occur between the different services, but none were ever this close. Even nine years later he could vividly remember their time in the tundra of Alaska, the cold air biting them as hordes of Chinese soldiers charged them, the clanging of spent brass rattling of his power armor as round after round fired from his minigun, the muzzle flash from Elsa's sniper as picks of the officers in the ranks.

He had asked for her when he took this posting. He wanted people he could rely on no matter what in a place like this. He was not oblivious to the rumors or his friends' suspicions. There was just no hard proof or evidence and anyone who snooped to a little too deep seemed to be reassigned quickly and quietly. He had a wife and son who lived in on-base housing, and to close to allow him to do any real investigations.

" Permission to speak freely and in private sir?" Captain Maxson could see the fear in his friend's eyes and knew something was making her uncomfortable. He gestured to the seat in front of his desk which was quickly filled by his fidgety lieutenant. He had first met her in Anchorage when her platoon was trapped behind the Chinese lines and his battalion was sent in to rescue the marines. He still found it funny that the Marines were so adamant that they did not need to be rescued, and they still believed that including the lieutenant in front of him.

"So why this early visit?" his curios gaze fell to where her hand was placed over her middle. She just looked at him, but no words came out. Her mouth was slightly ajar and the face of a deer caught in headlights Maxson took pity on her.

"Take it congratulations are in order then." She smiled a sigh of relief at seeing Roger grinning from ear to ear. Both started laughing and it felt like old times before they were posted in this facility. The two officers relaxed into their seats as the laughing subsided. For the first time since finding out about her pregnancy, Elsa had hope.

"Roger. I need to ask you a favor. I need to get out of this place." Roger looked at the pleading brunette and could only sympathize with her situation. He thought of his son who was only 4 years old. Yes, he worried about them being close to the base but being with child while in the base was entirely different. Roger was going to help he owed to his son's Godmother.

"Well, I can start the transfer process, but it might take a while." Roger began typing into his terminal looking for the appropriate forms when a loud screech echoed in the small space. Looking from the terminal he saw the marine towering over him hands firmly placed on his desk looking desperately at him.

"I need to get out of here tonight, Roger! Please. I... I cannot be here. Not now that I am pregnant. " His friend was in tears as she begged in front of him. Roger sighed. If it had been anyone else, he would have told them to fuck off and get back to duty before they face a court-martial, but this was not anyone. This was his friend. This was the woman who dragged his shot ass through a mile of snow to a medic. She was the reason he could play with his son during leave and dance with his wife after a candle-lit dinner and now, she was asking the same. The ability to play with her child and see he or she grow up. Looking at the phone on his desk a plan began to form.

"Go back to your quarters and pack while I'll see what I can do. " The Marine walked around the desk and hugged her friend tightly to which Roger replied in kind.

"Thank you, Roger." Those were the last words spoken as the marine unlatched herself from Roger and practically ran to her room and began stuffing all her processions into her duffle bag.

Roger smiled as he watched his friend run from the office. He pulled out a file with several phone numbers in it, scrolling through them until finding the one he needed and dialed it into his desk phone. Ringing could be heard on the other line before a rough voice came through, not pleased whatsoever.

" Whoever this is better have a damn good excuse for calling me at this ungodly hour or there will be hell to pay." Roger took a deep breath to calm him. He had heard of this man's reputation. If rumors were to be true, then the only reason he was still a Brigadier was due to the amount of time he was demoted for insubordination. Then there were the stories of how he had led his men through hell during the Yangtze campaign and was utterly ruthless towards the enemy. The sights that had been described to him about the carnage left by him and his marines.

"General Winters this is Captain Roger Maxson of the US Army. I'm sorry to wake you sir but I am calling about your niece, Lieutenant Elsa Winters." Roger was not one for religion, but he was praying to any god he knew of that this worked.

" And what about Elsa is everything ok." The old marine General was as tough and feared by many but was a family man through and through and would do anything for his family and kill anyone who harmed them.

"At the moment yes sir but I fear not for long. She needs to be transferred out of here to somewhere… Safer."

"And where is here? Elsa is tough and I'm sure she can manage it." The general was not one to pull strings or do favors for anyone in the services. He was a Marine and if you wanted something done, you got it done. End of story. Roger had to be careful now. This facility and its research were classified but at the same time this was Elsa, and it was not as if he was telling some reporter. He talking to a General. He took a deep breath and steeled in resolve.

"Mariposa sir, but that's not all sir... Elsa is pregnant." The line went quiet as the General took in the news. He had heard Rumours of that place and stories so grotesque that it made a sergeant major throw up. Plus, Elsa is pregnant. No wonder she wants to get out of there. He looked at a photo hanging on his bedroom wall. It was him and Elsa's father, his brother, standing next to each other in their fatigues. Both were holding a 4-year-old Elsa between them smiling. He never had kids, his wife left him years ago and he never remarried. After the death of his brother, he tried as hard as he could to be there for Elsa but being he was usually a world away it was difficult. He would be there now.

"Get her in a car and here on the double and I'll fill in the appropriate paper. Also, do not tell anyone she is leaving am I clear Captain? If your CO makes any fuss, tell him, I'll roast his balls over a fire and then feed them to him."

"Yes sir"

"Good. I will let you know when she gets here. And captain."

"Yes sir?"

"Thank you" With that the line went dead. Maxson placed the phone down and sighed. He was beyond relieved that he was able to secure Elsa's transfer and that he had survived his talk with the General. Now he had to organize a car to take her to the camp.

Sitting on her bed, Elsa just stared at the clock on the wall. It had been an hour since she had left Roger's office. What was taking him so long? At that moment, a sharp knock rang from the door. She leaped off the bed in eagerness before a feeling of despair settled in the pit of her stomach. She slowed as she approached the door.

"Who is it?" There was no hiding the shaking in her voice.

"It's Doctor Facilier, mademoiselle." Her fingers refused to push the switch upon hearing the thick New Orleans accent on the other side of the door. She knew why he was here but what she did not know was how he found out. Her fingers seemed to involuntary flick the switch which revealed the person standing outside her room grinning from ear to ear. She looked at the man in front of her with the feeling of utter disgust running up her spine.

"That's lieutenant to you, Doctor, now what can I do for you this early in the morning Doctor." The Marine allowed her hatred for the Doctor to fester as she answered him.

"I heard you had some good news, and I came to offer a very sincere congratulations mademoiselle." Her fists balled at the poisonous words being spat from his mouth. There was something very strange and eerie about him and the soldiers stationed here tried to avoid him at all costs.

"For the last time, it is lieutenant, Doctor and if you don't mind, I have work to do." With the last word, she shut the door on the Doctor. Finally, as the sun rose, she stood in front of her old friend wishing him a fair well and thanking him for everything he had done for her.

"I'll let you know when I get to the camp and then when I get to Boston. Please tell Betty and the kid that I said goodbye." Roger just smiled and nodded. Elsa gave a crisp salute before getting in the car and leaving that horrid place behind her. Roger turned and entered the facility heading to his office to have a needed coffee, but he was intercepted before he could even reach the mess.

"Captain, could you have Lieutenant Elsa report to my exam room as soon as soon as she has finished breakfast, please?" The man's tone was demanding. Roger sighed he hated this asshole.

" I'm sorry Doctor but Lieutenant has been reassigned and has just left." The Dr faced him with a frown showing his wrinkles.

"How odd, captain, I don't remember any request for reassignment crossing my desk." Roger looked at them with a blank face but internally he was furious. The blasted scientist had the biggest god complex he had ever seen. Struggle to put his fist through the Doctor's face getting harder with every word.

"That would be because you are a civilian scientist and have no authority over military personnel. And in this case, Lieutenant Winter is a marine and the request for her to return to her unit came from up the chain of command." He would have to admit at how satisfying it was to put Facilier in his place, even if it were just a little. Doctor Facilier was not too happy with how he was being talked to, nor that he had now lost his science project. Dealing with the army was one thing but marines were a different thing. He just had to assume that his partner in this project had the balls to finish it.

"Well, we heard she was with child and wanted to run some tests to... Make sure they ate both okay." Roger was slightly creeped out by how the man's face went from being angry back to sinisterly gleeful. To be honest, the scientists here creeped him out, but Facilier oozed evil. Now he was grateful that he was able to help Elsa leave and hopefully back home to Boston.

Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed it. I will hopefully have the second chapter soon as the first chapters will be a reworking of the ones I previously posted, and again please like and comment.