Everything Changes.

[Laine]

Adrian flew off to the side, the force of the spear going through his hand powerful enough to knock him back onto the deck. Moments later a pained, horrified screech rang out, as immediately the agony tore up his entire arm and blood began to dribble out either side of the object. The local whom had him hooked frowned as he missed his shot. He threw down his gun, grabbing the cable with both hands and wrenching it backwards in an attempt to dislodge it. The doctor responded with another scream, and was pulled towards the side of the boat by the harpoon curled around his palm, with the spongy flesh of his hand starting to tear as it took the slack.


The man smirked, gripping the cable in his hands tightly and jumping into the water, punishing his boat-thief by dragging Adrian even closer off deck. His hooked hand hung over the side, the string taut as the man continued to tug. Yells and cries of pain filled the swampy clearing as Adrian resisted against it, tears rolling down his cheeks as he struggled like a fish out of water. Out of desperation, the doctor swung his legs over the edge of the boat, allowing himself to be pulled into the sludgy water by the tribesman.


Meanwhile, Lydia moved beside her cover, lifting her head slightly above the deck. She got a clear shot at the local still standing on the deck, whom was shrieking in victory. His body fell heavily into the water as he received two plasma bullets to the chest, letting out a terrified howl as he did so.

 

[chellemrys]

Cas, who was busy struggling in the water, stiffened in the water - freezing completely at the sound of Adrian's deep, horrified screeching. Like an echo, it reverberated in his mind for several seconds, until he shook his head, and ducked out of the way of a punch aimed at his nose. Eyes narrowing, face scrunching up in rage, he became like an animal. A scream of his own, and he was punching the man several times, blindly hitting him as hard as he could swing. As fast as he could too. The man stumbled backwards at the shocking response, unsure what to do now that Cas wasn't being defensive, but merely swinging blindly in a beserking rage at his face- connecting with it several times. As the man slowed, Cas brought up his gun and splattered his attacker's brains out into the water.


Swinging around, Cassidy heard Adrian's second scream. He didn't have time to feel the relief before the next fit of rage, as he caught sight of the sadistic harpooner tugging on the cord attached to Adrian's broken flesh. Cas sunk down into the water, disappearing out of sight below its murky surface. The man, tugging Adrian into the water and towards him more and more, failed to notice Cas' stealthy disappearance. Only noticing once it was too late, and Cas had gone.


The Lieutenant popped above the water behind the man, hands closing over his face and pressing into his eyes. Immediately he released the gun, letting the line go slack and his lover go free. Cas fought to hold on as he began to scream and writhe, moving too slowly in the water to shake Cas off. The dark Lieutenant wrapped his legs around the man's waist, holding on steady as he began turning the man's head in a three-sixty turn, each vertebrate popping like someone was smacking gum at each degree he went. Until he got off the convulsing man, letting him go with a glare that could have followed him to Hell had he sunk far enough. The man's head had turned so far, he was staring at Cas, with his backside still up against Cas' torso, as he let him sink.

 

[Laine]

Despite the agony in his hand, the doctor blindly fought against the dark water he’d fallen into, waving his arms and legs reflexively in an attempt to reach air. He caught sight of his attacker as he finally bobbed back to the surface. The local stared back with grim satisfaction, and a gurgled cry came from Adrian as he felt another sickening tug on the wedge of torn skin between his thumb and index finger. His feet scraped across the soft mud of the swampbed as he resisted, searching desperately for the cable so he could pull back on it. It suddenly went slack, and Adrian started backing away as he saw his lover appear, turning around and paddling towards shore. The short harpoon dangled and flopped awkwardly through the water as he did so, still tightly hanging onto his hand as Ade’s head swam with nausea.


As he reached the shore, Lydia looped a hand underneath his shoulder and dragged him out past the waterline. She lay him on his back, letting him cough and splutter from swallowing several mouthfuls of the foul, swampy water, before her face wrinkled slightly at the object stuck in his left hand. She stepped over him, signalling for Ahnna to come out and help the Lieutenant, whom was still locked in a fierce battle with Ade’s attacker. By the time she emerged from her hiding spot, however, Cas was already wading towards shore, and so she too stood over Adrian.


The Captain lifted up Ade’s hand by the wrist, causing him to scream and writhe away from her. Ahnna wordlessly pinned him down with her knees, holding a hand over his eyes to stop him from looking. Lydia immediately took the long side of the wooden harpoon, pressing it hard against her knee in an attempt to snap it. It took a few seconds for the stiff material to give, and she immediately dropped it, pulling from the shorter, hooked side until Ade’s hand slid off it, making a bloody splot sound as it was finally released. The doctor’s teeth were gritted and he gasped in anguish as his hand was released, unable to splutter anything wordlike as he held the injured limb to his chest.

 

[chellemrys]

Cassidy arrived just as they began tugging the harpoon from Adrian's hand. Cas ran out of the water, up to his lover's side with eyes like saucers, hands still trembling with rage. He still had no idea how badly Adrian was injured, and feared the worst for certain as he stepped up to the other just in time to hear the sickening splot of blood hitting the ground. Cas couldn't help the tiniest smile at what he saw, despite how ironic it was. Only his hand. Just the hand. Cas turned around as the two worked, swaying in place. In a few minutes he had gone from waking, to thinking his lover was dead or mortally wounded, to not having much left to care for.


Lydia and Ahnna walked away, leaving Cas and Adrian there on the shore. Cas turned round, still trembling at the sight of Adrian. Falling to his knees beside Adrian, he put ginger-hands on his lover's free hand, not saying much. Internally kicking himself as he watched tears still fall down Adrian's cheeks from the pain, "W-What do I do?" He whispered, knowing Ade just couldn't be left there, waiting for treatment that wouldn't come. Cas wiped the sweat and tears off Adrian's cheeks, shaking his head.

 

[Laine]

“Uh – ah - ” Ade continued to gasp in pain, only slightly comforted by the presence of his rescuer. He gripped the other’s hand tightly, mind reeling with terror as he tried to gather his thoughts enough to answer Cas’ question. Up until now, it hadn’t occurred to him that he was their only medic, the only one who really knew what they were doing. He met Cas’ eyes, which were filled with worry but also unease about what to do. “…B-bandages, cotton wool, water – and – and – shit –“ Adrian groaned as he struggled to sit up. Cas’ hand was instantly at his lower back, pushing him upwards until he was able to lean forward, the hand lifelessly sinking down his chest and into his lap, oozing blood. “-and scissors-” He choked as the Lieutenant sped off to the first aid kit on the boat. The doctor risked a look at the injury, fighting shallow breaths as the nausea and faintness came back.


He let Cassidy open the water canteen, using his good hand to hold the bad one out by the wrist, palm facing upwards. Two strips of tattered flesh hung below the wound, and jiggled sickeningly as Ade’s hands shook, predicting another wave of pain as Cas poured the water. Bloody fluid splattered to the ground as it was doused with water, and a surprisingly comforting coolness washed over the limb, numbing it slightly in the early morning breeze. “Ah – ah, that’s enough.” Adrian gasped, not wanting to waste what little clean water they had. He nodded to the scissors on the ground, “Cut a long strip of bandage - ” He watched the other work, while gently flexing the fingers on his injured hand, face scrunched in pain as his middle and index fingers protested.


“Right – right, you see this part-” He lifted the hand, eyes travelling to one of the thin strips of flesh, about 1 ½ inches long, “You need to wrap the bandage, so that is pressed against my palm – now, start with the wrist - ” He huffed impatiently as the Lieutenant tried his best, gingerly circling around Ade’s wrist as he tried to hold his hand steady. His nostrils flared as he tried to calm his breathing, and he turned his head away as his lover started painstakingly wrapping the cotton and bandages around. He felt the other stop, and he gasped with gritted teeth, “Y-you're doing good. Just – keep going. It needs to be tighter around here.”

 

[chellemrys]

The entire time Cas worked, his hands trembled. He tried to keep up with the instructions, while trying to inflict as little pain as he could. Cas made being tough a big deal in front of Adrian; he made it seem like he hated it when Adrian was afraid or made things a big deal that Cas was used to. He knew he acted like everyone should just be like him, but when something actually happened to Adrian he knew how foreign this somebody was supposed to be to combat and injury. That was the reason for his trembling as he tried to wrap his lover's hand; he knew that Adrian was never supposed to handle this, or be exposed to this. It was nothing to do with the blood or gore.


Cas finished the wrapping, and tied the bandage off, letting Adrian take his hand back. Crawling over to Adrian, he took the edge of his shirt and wiped away his tears, avoiding letting his crimson stained hands touch his skin. Lydia called from behind them in the water something about getting supplies from the new boat, and Ahnna splashed into the water to join her, wading through maroon waters and tiny chunks of flesh. Cas ignored, not leaving to help them. Instead he washed his hands behind him, before rejoining the other, wiping at the sweat on his forehead with a grimace at his own performance, failing to protect Adrian against such simple people.

 

[Laine]

The doctor grimaced at the thick wad of bandages wrapped around his hand, now obscuring the recent binding tattoo on the back of his palm. Their first-aid supplies were quickly diminishing, and Ade realised that with Cas’ track record of injuries, it wouldn’t be long before they were all out of sterile equipment. He blinked gratefully at the other as he came back, smiling weakly as he held the injured limb against his chest. “Sorry.” He muttered, biting his lip. “I…I didn’t even hear them coming. It’s a good job I’m not out here on my own, hm?” He looped his good arm around the other, pulling him closer and nuzzling him.


He slowly stood, legs still jiggling a little from the shock. He suddenly turned to the other, face clouded with worry as they started walking towards the hovercraft, “You didn’t get hurt, did you…?” He looked the other up and down, scanning his body for any blood or contusions. He didn’t appear to be badly injured – aside from a few knocks to the face. The doctor picked at Cassidy’s shirt, soaked and grimy from the swamp water. “I’m gonna need to re-dress your cut before we start moving again.” He frowned.


Adrian finally hauled himself onto the boat, hanging onto his drahy for dear life as he swayed uneasily, both from lack of balance and confusion over the situation. Lydia had already started pouring gas from the plundered boat into their own, while Ahnna was sorting through the several small crates and bags. Dane was slowly taking inventory, as the Captain had ordered - his face was still pale and eyes were still blank as he did so, after a sleepless night haunted by his lost comrades. Aiber was the only one not working, resting his ass on a pile of worn clothes and frowning at the bright sunlight on top of them.

 

[chellemrys]

Cas didn't smile at Adrian, a tiny wave of relief washing over him when Adrian didn't seem to be upset. He let the other pull him closer, wrapping an arm around him and squeezing him tight. Helping Ade, he led him towards the craft, everyone eager to get out of the place. "You can do it while we're moving. We really need to get out of here, someone probably heard us." He warned, Lydia overhearing as they approached and agreeing.


"We need to pick up the pace," The Captain called out, looking around warily into the darkness of the trees, "Everyone on board, quick- quick!" She clapped, securing the last crate of new supplies and running back towards the steering wheel. Cas meanwhile helped Adrian to where they had slept the night before, ensuring he didn't fall as Lydia fired up the craft, and they sped off into the trees.


About half a mile away, three agents stood on a boat, stiff as they listened to gun shots reverberate though the trees. "It's coming from the West..." A green skinned woman whispered, pinpointing with her superior hearing the source of the echo. "It sounds like... Two different types of guns. One definitely the standard plasma shooter issued..." A nod to the man at the hull, and their craft silently slid through the water towards the source of the noise.


***


All day the six fled further into the woods, hoping to find some sort of town to rest and hide in. Nothing though. The forest seemed to last forever, and they wondered just how far from civilization they were. Every once and a while there would be an abandoned shack, maybe evidence of some camping hunters. But for miles they weaved through vines and dense hanging branches, having no where in particular to go. Lydia eventually chose a spot to hunker down for the night, deciding they had made it far enough to outrun them. Besides that, darkness had begun to fall - making it impossible to see ahead and not bump into the roots that sunk down into the water from the trees on either side. Pulling the boat up onto an island of roots, they began to unpack some new supplies. Now they had a blanket, and a crate of food they had brought with them. Even a lantern and some matches.


Cas sat with Adrian, resting under "doctor's orders", taking it easy. As they began unpacking, Aiber -who had been doing nothing all day- stood up and began helping. Just eager to eat. He worked for around fifteen minutes, going through crates and helping them carry stuff. However, after a while he glanced over at Cas. He isn't working at all. The tough agent stopped by a bit of glass.

 

[Laine]

Ade sighed, leaning back against the tree trunk next to his lover. His hand was still throbbing painfully from the injury, and he groaned dramatically every time he accidentally tried to use it. Ahnna appeared out of the darkness behind him, for once less interested in Cas and tapping Ade on the shoulder. “Dane says he managed to burn himself - trying to light the lantern.” She said in a quiet, timid tone. Her concern for her last remaining comrade had increased exponentially since the previous day. His lack of sleep was beginning to make him clumsy and unreliable, dangerously so. “…Would you mind…?” She asked, wincing a little. The doctor rolled his eyes, but nodded, patting the Cassidy on the leg as he stood. He followed Ahnna to where the other Private was crouched, bottle of water at the ready.


Aiber paced back to where the boat was docked, picking out another crate of food and searching through it with greedy eyes. His well-fed belly bounced, causing the boat to sway whichever direction he stood. He looked up at the dark agent, and snorted, picking out a luxurious-looking fruit and wrapping his jaws around it. “Oy – I didn’t see you helping, Mr. Time Agent.” He spat, staggering to the other side of the boat. He started picking out small treats, like dried meats and more fruit, and began stuffing it in a tiny bag he’d claimed, slinging it around his back for later, private use.


“Helmi - you don’t even get up to help your drahy while he’s being stabbed by the locals.” He smacked his lips together, satisfied as the Lieutenant lifted his head. “And – from what Ade’s told me – this ain’t the first time it’s happened, either.” He lied, gracefully dismounting from the boat and dusting his hands off.

 

[chellemrys]

Cas' eyes flicked over to Aiber in the dark. He had been trying to ignore just how damn irritating the engineer was. But sometimes the other sought out conflict, and then it became a challenge to tune out the antagonist. Becoming very personal, very fast, his mind flew to Vos, and Cas wondered why Adrian would complain about that to him. Plus, accusing him of such carelessness, when he was Adrian's drahy was just offensive.


Tensing, Cas skipped right to his defensive stage: "Yeah? I only see you helping to fill your own gut. In fact, you don't really need much food in comparison to the people who actually fight for us." Cas stood up, following the other towards camp. Deciding to see if he could get the lantern working, since Dane evidently couldn't. Cas was the only one here with a knack for the old technology, because he had lived with it. Besides Adrian, who was occupied. Kneeling down next to the glass lantern, he examined how it ignited. Unlike 20th century ones, you needed to fill a part of the contraption with fuel, before sticking a match in the bottom to ignite it. But it was less advanced than auto-light technology from the 51st century. Learning the world of the in between could be odd and sometimes frustrating, but he got it lit within a minute, placing it in the center of the root island to light their work.


"Aiber- it was so kind of you to grab that bag of food for us. Why don't you set it up here so people can get something to eat?" Cas called, grinning at his own antagonism, as several people turned to stare hungrily at the bag over the engineer's shoulder.

 

[Laine]

“Aw, dear.” Aiber grunted, sounding nonchalant, even though he backed away a few steps. “I wouldn’t trouble your poor, halfwit soldier mind with the kind of things I do for my job.” He smirked, waddling away towards the camp. In reality, back at the TA, he’d had some use – working to make sure everything ticks over right – although things rarely came down to the wire for him.


The greasy man narrowed his eyes, sliding the bag off his shoulder, “Oh, this? Sure – I mean, I don’t see why you couldn’t have brought it, since it was sitting right next to you. But er, I suppose that minor injury is still giving you jip, hm?” He unzipped the bag and placed it down next to the lantern, allowing Lydia and Ahnna to pick out what they liked, before digging his hand in and grabbing a thick wedge of cheese-like food, chomping on it hungrily.


Next to the lantern, Ade was gently dribbling water on the raised red patch of skin, just below Dane’s wrist, his eyes narrowed. The engineer’s eyes flicked up to Cas as he reached for the bag, taking out some of his food. In retaliation, Aiber fished into his back pocket, pulling out a metal tube. He twirled the voff with his fingers for a few seconds, before leaning over and offering it to the injured Private Agent.


“Fancy this, Dane? It’s the last one I got, but, it might help you sleep.” His voice was achingy compassionate, and he chuckled as Dane reluctantly shook his head. “Naw, you’re probably right. Being so young, you might get, well, addicted to it.” He purposely shifted his view to Cassidy, a smirk travelling across his face. “And what a burden you’d be on us if you had some kind of…psychological dependency on them. Am I right, Doctor?”


Adrian was gently daubing cotton wool on Dane’s wound, attempting to soak up the fluid oozing from the open burn. He made a noncommittal ‘Mmm’ sound, too engrossed in his work and not really paying attention to what Aiber was saying. It just so happened to work in the engineer’s favour. Aiber smirked back, lighting the voff and inhaling the relaxing drug. “Ah. So much better after a stressful day.” He sighed, ignoring the irritated glare from Lydia as she continued to quietly chatter with Ahnna.

 

[chellemrys]

Cas rolled his eyes at Aiber, disregarding his irritating commentary at first. A) There hadn't been much to do sitting on the boat all damn day. B) He was under Doctor's orders to not do anything, for fear that he could reopen the wound and prevent healing. If Aiber wanted him to live another day to fight, or at least be able to stand they day they needed him to fight, then he was supposed to keep resting at least a couple days longer.


Cas dug into the sack, retrieving a piece of bread and turning the dark brown chunk over in his hands like it was a gift. He tore off a tiny chunk, sticking it in his mouth and chewing to enjoy the food, unlike Aiber who was simply wolfing down his stolen chunk of fish-smelling cheese. Cas sat down after, next to the bag, leaning back against the tree and watching his drahy work from a distance. In growing irritation, he glared over at Aiber as he took out a voff and offered it to the private. Didn't he say that he didn't have any of those?





Then Aiber started in again. 'And what a burden you’d be on us if you had some kind of…psychological dependency on them. Am I right, Doctor?' The words hung in the air around Cas, almost feeling Aiber's searching gaze as he waited for a reaction. Cas' face had visibly darkened, still staring at Adrian as he worked and murmured in agreement. His brows drew down, not able to hide an expression that was a scowl mixed with confusion - bewilderment. Adrian told him? No. That would not have happened. Especially not to that-


Cas' thoughts were cut off by another rude attempt to get on Cassidy's nerves, and his gaze snapped over to Aiber as he loudly announced how good it felt to inhale that voffy. At that moment, he felt it was perfect to ask, "Aiber- why do you have such an awful problem with me?"

 

[Laine]

Aiber leisurely stretched out, exhaling the sweet vapour through his nostrils. Soldiers are so easy to piss off. He smirked in satisfaction as he shifted his gaze to the Lieutenant, and saw indeed that his face was tense, brow lowered so he resembled some kind of angry caveman. He cocked an eyebrow, giving the illusion he had no idea what Cassidy was talking about. He let the accusation hang in the air for a few seconds, before blinking back innocently. “You? Ay – I have no problem with you, Lieutenant. You’re the one who seems so…tense.”


The camp suddenly got quiet as the two exchanged words, and Ade lifted his head, frowning at his drahy, who was clearly getting more and more agitated. The imminent danger of the U.G.G. being on top of them any second was making them all nervous, but Adrian was especially concerned for his lover, whose violently prideful streak was already well-established within the group. It was not the time to be making enemies, especially with a harmless, fat engineer who still had the potential to be of some use, if they hopped again.


“Or is it just me?” Aiber shrugged, meeting the eyes of everyone else in the group. He flicked the half-burned metal tube away in to the brush behind him. “I mean – I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone – let alone a Lieutenant - practically tear a tribesman’s head off. With his bare hands. Especially when…you had a gun so easily to hand…?” He sounded confused, as if he himself couldn’t believe Cassidy would do such a thing.


Ever since Aiber had arrived, he’d had it out that Cas was some kind of hothead, ready to blow at the slightest hiccup. It was an intentional insinuation, too – the Agents among them knew all too well that rage and animosity were punished severely at the Academy, attributed more to mission failures than any level of clumsiness or machine malfunction. Lydia was the prime example of this fact; detached and focused, she had climbed higher ranks than Cassidy, despite being part of the same Private unit. The insult Aiber gave was directed to Cas’ integrity as an agent – the implication that he couldn’t control himself, even at a basic recruit level. Which, of course unbeknownst to the engineer, was the reason Cassidy so painstakingly hid his attacks from all but Adrian.


“Perhaps…We’ve all been a little highly strung.” Ade said, trying not to agree with Aiber, although at the same time he avoided his lover’s gaze, “And…I don’t think any of us are in a position to judge-“


“-But still.” Lydia spoke up, her face furrowed in deep thought. She looked at Cas, addressing him more than anyone else, “Leaving bodies that have been killed in such a manner…would be effectively like leaving a trail of breadcrumbs for the U.G.G. to follow. Aiber’s right. We should be more careful.” She nodded.


Aiber nodded too, a deep wave of satisfaction spreading across his face as his eyes circled back to Cassidy. That’s right, Mr. Time Agent. You should be more careful, otherwise you’ll be the sole reason the U.G.G. tracks us down. He chuckled weakly, leaning back against the tree and looking up at the sky. “Mhmm. I sure don’t fancy waking up with a gun pointed in my face. You agents might be used to it, but ah, me and Ade – us civilians – certainly aren’t.”

 

[chellemrys]

Cas looked between all the group members, especially at Adrian as Aiber spoke. Ganging up on him, Adrian made out to be on his side. His face was turning redder, and he swallowed thickly, being more and more irritated as he stared at Aiber's greasy chops smacking some food. So what if Cas tore apart someone with his bare hands. Sometimes there just wasn't the option to use a gun. Sometimes the enemy would have an opening if you moved to get your gun, or raise it- simply because you weren't blocking their attacks anymore. The Lieutenant wasn't too bothered by this, until Lydia's comment hung in the air around the camp, and he got several narrow-eyed stares from the others, avoiding his eye. Even Adrian.


The Lieutenant growled at the insinuation that he would be the reason they were found. More like Aiber would be the reason, smashing down the brush and making sounds. And if they were caught, the four agents would be the people defending this ungrateful bastard. Cas caught another glance from Adrian, who quickly averted his eyes. Oh, so you agree, do you?


The Lieutenant curled his fist around his bread, huffing as Aiber once again included Adrian in a group with him. Like they were pals, over him. That especially bothered him. Cas' eyes flicked between Adrian, glaring at Lydia, and then back at Adrian again. "Better than you, sitting around just shoving food into your fat mouth like a slob. I don't get you- I practically saved your life. Twice. I don't think you could have defended yourself, really, especially against the UGG." His voice had risen, and in his hands the hunk of bread was being ripped apart in frustration.

 

[Laine]

“Cassidy, that’s enough.” Lydia growled threateningly. Even in the dim light of the lantern, she could see the frustration; tense hands, food crumpled, voice strained. She was not afraid to argue with the Lieutenant because she could hold her own in a fight if it ever came to that. But the Captain knew if Cassidy attacked the engineer, it would be less than a fair fight.


Aiber glowered at Cassidy at the ‘fat’ comment, nostrils flaring. ”Mhmm. Do as your Captain says, else she’ll demote you back to Private again. A generous rank, in my opinion, given your quick temper.” He scoffed, getting up and waddling towards the bag in the middle of the camp, besides the lantern. He cast a wide shadow against the trees behind him, and he knelt in front of it, digging inside. He started pulling out clothes – the last of Adrian’s old, clean clothes, from his apartment – and rifling through them, struggling to find anything to replace his sweaty, soiled shirt. The doctor was too engaged to notice what he was doing, and was taken to peering at a cut on Dane’s hand that looked infected. Adrian huffed and stood up, pacing back over to the boat to get the tweezers out.


Aiber stared at Cassidy as he continued to sneer, knowing that the eyes of his other campmates were on him, “And me, a lazy slob? Perhaps you’d better ask yourself – why was it that your precious drahy got hit today?” He tossed one of Ade’s shirts onto the ground, landing in a trail of foul-looking swamp ooze. “The rest of us were awake and hiding by the time those barbarians approached us. And you, Mr. Sneaky-Stealthy Time Agent, the safest hands he could possibly be in? You were asleep.”


Lydia’s expression darkened at the sudden accusation. She had overheard Aiber saying something similar earlier to Ade, when he winced in pain from trying to pick something up. “You too, Aiber. Quit stirring. Let it go.”


“Hey - I’m just saying,” Aiber said, raising his hands in a shrug as another shirt flew over his shoulder. “We were all thinking it. How is it that he was the only one injured, despite being in the closest proximity of a highly trained, higher-ranked agent? The one who’s bound to protect his lover? Worse still - if Ade had slept on shore, with the rest of us, he’d be perfectly fine right now.” He wiped his sweaty face with a cloth – which was actually a flannel shirt – and dumped it on the floor.


“Alright. Both of you, stop it. This instant.” Lydia ordered, leaning forward to intervene. As Aiber looked up he saw that the Lieutenant had stood, and was standing over him threateningly, his face illuminated by the lantern.


Aiber smirked at the cold threat, rising to his own feet and folding his arms and squaring up to the Agent. You can’t touch me. “Face it – you’re a detriment to this team, Cassidy. You might help us in a few scrapes, sure – but if I did my job as poorly as you do yours, I’d be fired on the spot.” He leaned forward, lowering his voice to a whisper and nodding at the doctor’s silhouette out on the boat. “And you know what? I seriously doubt he’s ever felt safe while sleeping next to you. I know I wouldn’t.”

 

[chellemrys]

Cas watched Aiber, now mindlessly towering over the engineer. He winced when the shirt landed in a disgusting puddle of putrid, vomit-consistency water. The color being no better. The Lieutenant had his arms crossed, but slowly lowered his arms down to his sides, hands clenched in fists. Trembling white knuckles, from how upset every passing second made him. He didn't even hear Lydia, or see her try to step between them. His vision became hazy as he listened to every last insult get hurled from the filthy lips on Aiber's greedy mouth. He brushed a thumb over his knuckles unconsciously, waiting.


Aiber finished speaking, and the Lieutenant stood there silently, unmoving. Eye twitching slightly as Aiber dropped another shirt into a pile of sludge, trying to slug on one of Adrian's favorite t-shirts, that he often used to steal from Cas. The only thing that filled the silence was Cas' tiny smirk, as the corner of his lips pulled up. The dark haired man's eyes flickered over to Lydia, who was stood partially in front of Aiber. He decided to turn away, and watched from the corner of his vision as she slunk back to her seat. But he just as soon pivoted on his two feet, slamming a fist into Aiber's pudgy face and watching as he stumbled into the side of the tree, tumbled and fell into the murky waters below, screaming. Cas screeched like he was going to war, jumping over the roots as Lydia chased frantically after him, reaching a recovering Aiber just in time to slam his elbow into the back of his cranium, as he came up to stand. "You are a fat bastard, and just wait until you need me-" Cas was tugged back by Lydia violently, still screaming obsenities.

 

[Laine]

Ade’s head raised as he heard a shout from across the camp, cocking an eyebrow. Cas momentarily passed over the lantern as he went for another blow, casting a dark shadow over the camp as he screeched. The doctor instantly dropped what he was holding, dashing off the hovercraft as dread clutched in his chest. The U.G.G.?! He tripped over the side of the boat as he dismounted, causing him to harshly smack the wet soil underneath him. He scrambled up at the sound of another screech, and suddenly yelling voices erupted in the small swampy clearing.


Aiber was face-down on the ground, wailing and holding the back of his head. Cries and sobs of pain were flying from his mouth, bloody drool dribbling out onto the sand below him from a bleeding nose and mouth. “F-f-fucking animal! Get that violent piece of sh-shit away from me!” He yelled. Aiber’s vision swirled as he tried to drag his heavy carcass up from the ground. He sunk back down on his elbows, turning his head to face the vicious Time Agent, who was practically foaming at the mouth. “I’ll need you?! The only one who needs you here is Ade, so you can give him his daily dose of abuse and embarrassmen-” A hand was clamped around his mouth as Ahnna intervened, and he started wailing again as she touched his bruised jaw. Lydia struggled to hold Cassidy as the vile pair exchanged threats, almost mirroring what had happened between Cas and Ade the first night they had travelled.


Adrian finally arrived at the scene, shirt smothered in dry-green mud. He quickly pieced together what had actually happened. “Oh, Jesus, Cassidy!” Ade yelled, his face red with stress and looking absolutely appalled with his drahy. “What the fuck did you do that for?!”


“Go-go and help Aiber.” Lydia groaned, hoping that the doctor would break their line of sight and stop the enraged Lieutenant from lashing out again. The doctor stepped in between them, and the Captain dragged Cassidy back further still, growling in his ear, “You’re only proving him right, you damn idiot.”


Ade instantly dropped to crouch next to Aiber, and held the man’s chin in his hand, holding it up to the light so he could peer as his nose. “He – he socked me, Ade!” Aiber screamed, tears rolling down his cheeks as he grabbed onto Ade’s shirt, “That – that Cassidy is a bloody psychopath, you hear?! I told you he would – any chance to hit out at someone – I think I might have concussion, oh Helmi, or – or I bet my nose is broken,” He said, all the while spraying little flecks of blood onto Adrian’s shirt. The doctor frowned at the engineer’s injuries, even moreso at the words coming out of his mouth. He scowled at Aiber, not comfortable with letting him get away with insulting his lover for much longer.


“Seriously, Aiber?!” Ade snapped, letting out a stressed sigh as Cassidy continued to rage behind him, “Will you both just shut up for a goddamn second?!”

 

[chellemrys]

In the dense jungle-like swamp, only a small distance away, three agents drifted in a craft in complete silence. They had been doing this all day, wary that they were dealing with highly trained specialists, that could easily tell if they were being followed or not by the slightest noise or wrong movement. Luckily, they were alerted to where the others were first. Far off in the distance they heard a loud CRASH of water, some muddled thrashing in the water, and screaming. The green skinned woman pointed, and looked around at the other two, who lazily were sitting, looking around. "Echo from there..." She whispered, and the boat turned in said direction.


***


Meanwhile, back at the camp, Cas was blind to the possibility that perhaps they were being tracked, and the hunters may be close. A blind rage. He plowed like a bull, unmoving at Lydia held him back, urging him to stop. Dane joined her, tugging furiously at an equally furious Cassidy, pulling him away from Aiber as Ade appeared. "I did it because he is a fucking piece of shit. Don't worry about the U.G.G., Aiber, because-"


Adrian pulled Aiber out of sight behind a large tree, Cas still spitting and plowing in place. Cas could hear Adrian and Aiber, and it simply made his blood boil to know that Ade was taking care of Aibe. That bastard. "Oh- fucking let him bleed to death, wouldya?" Cas yelled, Lydia smacking him upside the head.

 

[Laine]

“Cassidy, I said shut it!” Adrian growled from the other side of the tree, his voice strained by the stress of the situation. Everyone but Cas and Aiber seemed to be nervous of the noise they were making – particularly because it was so late at night. The sound level was bound to attract predators – of one form or another – to their camp. Little did they know what was already on it’s way.


“Oh, you’d love that, Mr. Bloodthirsty Time Agen - Argh!” The engineer yelled back, only to be cut off as Adrian stooped back to examine him, purposely gripping his chin a little tighter than he would’ve if it were Cassidy. The doctor grimaced as his eyes traced along the fat man’s poorly-lit features. There was a mild amount of blood, and the damage to his nose looked superficial, although his jaw seemed to click every time he moved it. Which he was doing a lot.


Aiber continued to blub and cry out, obviously shaken by the fact that Cas had struck him, twice. Now he was alone with Ade, he suddenly seemed more frightened, and he pleaded with the doctor, gripping one of his shoulders tightly. “I – I need to protect myself. That fucking Time Agent – your drahy – is going to kill me, Ade, don’t you see that?!” His eyes crooned around the trunk of the tree in paranoia, as Cassidy was going to re-appear at any moment and tear his guts out. He groaned as Ade gently squeezed the muscles at either side of his mouth with one hand, testing for any slackness.


Ade sighed heavily, “He won’t kill you, Aiber.” He didn’t sound as sure as he should’ve been, perhaps, and the both of them noticed. Adrian rolled his eyes as he felt the other shaking in terror, “He would’ve done it by now if he was going to. Trust me.” He took a step away from the engineer, satisfied no permanent damage had been done. At the other side of the tree, it appeared that Cas had quietened down – or Lydia and Dane had shoved something in his mouth to shut him up. The clearing seemed eerily quiet without Cas’ screeching.


The engineer stayed pressed against the tree trunk, air rushing out of his bloated nostrils as he watched a stressed Adrian pace away. That’s what you tell yourself, isn’t it, Ade?! His panicked thoughts turned to himself, and the doctor he wrongly assumed he’d befriended. “I’ll – I’ll steal myself a gun. From one of those Privates.” He muttered to himself, taking in deep gasps. “That way – when he next tries to attack me, or Ade, I’ll be ready for him.”

 

[chellemrys]

Cas was fuming, sitting on a large bench-like root next to Lydia, who was angrily reprimanding him. Dane was on the other side, in case he tried to get up. Arms crossed, a scowl darkening his thousand mile stare at the puke colored swamp water below. Was he listening to anything Lyd had to say? No, his ears were attentive only to the rumbling of Aiber's voice, across the root island, muffled by the obstructing tree trunk.


As Cas stared down at the water, a tiny wave rippled across the surface, lightly splashing into the roots. Silent like a church mouse, slipping into the roots with gentle plip. He narrowed his eyes at the tiny ribbon, stiffening and looking up. Lydia stopped speaking, looking over at him when he changed posture to scrutinize the sudden caution. He hadn't heard the splash of those crocolisks, and he certainly hadn't seen one in a while. The swamp birds had fallen silent too - the entire area was consumed in the silence of the dead except for Aiber's complaining behind the tree. And as Ade walked away, that soon fell away too.


Another ripple, bigger this time, moved across the water - becoming more frequent with every passing second. Dane was snoozing, thinking Lydia had just fallen tired of lecturing. But Cas and Lydia turned towards one another, both reaching for their guns wide eyed. In that moment, a red flash tore across the camp, whizzing by Adrian's face as he walked towards the two with an irritated grimace. It smashed the lantern, putting them in total darkness.


Lydia was up before Cas, who also stumbled to his feet, dragging Dane with one hand, toting a gun with the other, staying low in a panic. Lydia was searching in the dark, trying to get behind cover before they-


A myriad of bolts soared through the air, like an onslaught of tribal arrows. Cas tripped over a root, falling on his elbows and rolling out of the way. "Boat- BOAT!" Lydia screeched, turning around to shoot back and interrupt the assailants. From the ground Cas fired back, trying to get an accurate shot in the strobe-light effect the bolts were causing. He could see their boat approaching fast now, enemies ducking in an interrupted stream as the lights flashed.

 

[Laine]

Adrian collapsed next to an exposed tree root, pressing himself against it and panting. He had been in the middle of the camp as the shot had passed by, so close he could feel the warmth against his cheek. The familiar tightness in his chest and nausea came over him as the darkness swallowed up the camp, only barely lit by dazzling plasma bolts hitting nearby trees. The glow of the moonlight barely did anything against the canopy above them, and he squinted to try and attempt to get his bearings. Led by Lydia’s voice, he carried on, stumbling forward and holding his hands over his head until he reached the loose, wet soil surrounding the hovercraft. “Oh my god-!” He could hear laboured, gasping breaths behind him – Aiber was close by, too. Dane stood behind another tree, covering the two as they scooted towards the boat, with Lydia following close behind.


Some distance in front of them, towards the advancing U.G.G. agents, Cassidy was still on the ground, returning fire. A loud splash sound could be heard as Cassidy dispatched on of them. Ahnna slid closer towards Cassidy, next to a tree, her dirty white hair reflecting the bolts of light that passed through the clearing. For a second, there was a ceasefire, before a barrage of plasma bullets began hailing down towards the two, practically lighting up the clearing with repeated flashes of light.


As Ahnna took cover, breathing steadily next to the barrel of her gun, she heard the slightest snap of wood underfoot, to her left. Looking across the clearing, towards Cassidy, the Private saw a figure, briefly, advancing past her and the Lieutenant, and towards the boat, whose engine was just starting to rumble into life. So the U.G.G. agents shooting at them must’ve been nothing more than a distraction, allowing the third agent slip by through the water and the trees to take out their escape vehicle.


She fired blindly at the trees in an attempt to startle them, before bolting across the clearing and charging towards them. A flash of red gunfire passed between the two as she suddenly leapt, coming down on the rival like a tonne of bricks. She slammed the other’s head against the ground, twisting her neck to the point of no return with another snap, before regaining her footing and swivelling back to continue shooting at the one left, all in one, flowing movement.

 

[chellemrys]

Cassidy crawled on his belly towards the boat, turning back to fire every few seconds. Frantically he searched for Adrian's shilouette in the flashing dark, eyes moving rapidly from person to person as the space lit up like lightning struck. At Lydia's frantic cries, urging everyone to get to the craft, he rolled and began running towards the boat. Zig-zagging to avoid plasma bolts. He clutched at his side, knowing the wound was still fresh; it had begun hurting again, shooting sharp pains up his ribs.


Panting, Cas reached the craft. He ducked and avoided an incoming shot, and stumbled into a panicking Adrian. He clutched the other's arms, tugging him down as an assault of red streaks rained towards them. He shoved his drahy down into a corner, running up to join Lydia who couldn't get the boat to start in the dark. Finally it roared to life, and she tried backing the craft away, but there was a sharp lurch that sent all the agents stumbling to the right. The boat caught on a root beneath the water. Lydia could barely avoid the shots of the advancing assassins, and try to start the craft. Cas stood by her, firing back at their assailents in an attempt to provide her more time.


"We need to get out of here!" Ahnna screamed over the spitting of bolts, ducking to avoid a bolt that narrowly missed her nose. She knelt behind Cas, who was concentrating on firing carefully aimed shots at the figures in the flashes of lights. He managed to get one in the leg, making the agent stumble and fall face first into the water. Behind them, the sound of a new craft approaching roared, and all three turned in bewilderment. Ahnna jumped to her feet, "EVERYBODY QUICK." Lydia snatched Adrian up from the corner, and Aiber hastily dashed out of his hiding spot with his arms jiggling above his head. Cuffs on all, and they disappeared in a flash of blue light. Leaving the assassins in new darkness, only shaking their heads.


***


With a crash all six landed in a dumpster, together. Adrian and Aiber were heaving and huffing, trying to regain their balance. Cas, Lydia, Ahnna were already hopping out already; Cas automatically grabbing his drahy and dragging him out by the jacket. He brushed off Adrian, grabbing the dumbstruck and dizzy Earthling's hand before dragging him along as he ran at top speed from the alleyway next to Lydia and Ahnna, Aiber and Dane following close behind with some encouragement. Before they even left the alleyway, a group of five assassin's appeared in an enormous flash of blue light - screaming orders to chase down the wanted agents.


Cas screamed obsenities, pushing Adrian in front to run, as he turned and bicycled backwards down the street - firing shots rapidly into a severely confused crowd. Holiday shoppers scattered in all directions, screeching and throwing bags. The assassins were temporarily blocked by the mob of frantic people, screaming and running in circles like terrified children. Lydia pointed towards a park, and they all ran across the busy street in heavy traffic. Entering the park, the screams became a background drone. Now inside a fairytale, so peaceful in compare. The trees were altered to have glowing rims, glowing a soft blue and yellow to illuminate the park. Millions of tiny lights provided the place with a lazy, warm glow - rather than traditional street lamps. But the agents were the only things not peaceful in the park, frantically running across the scene with guns in hand. Cas kept tugging Adrian's hand as it went taut, him falling behind every so often. Sweat poured down his brow, the stress rising to make his throat go dry and close. They had been found in less than ten seconds by the bastards.

 

[Laine]

“Whuh-wait up-!” The half-scream half-gasp came from behind, as Dane dragged the engineer faster than his legs could take him. Ignoring the cries of help, Cassidy and the others steamrolled forwards blindly, away from the assassins that were working their way through a distressed crowd. Adrian was disorientated and distressed, just as bad as when the TA had been attacked, and all he could do in response was tightly grip his lover’s hand, and allow himself to be towed by the other. The Time Agent’s injury was reopening, however, a dark red stain slowly expanding around his flank as he ran.


Adrian began to panic as he looked around him, seeing that they were once again on a completely foreign planet, but this time they had no supplies whatsoever, and they had already been found. Providing they could find a place to hide, the assassins chasing them would sniff them out in a matter of hours, even minutes. “Cah-Cas, y-your wound,” Adrian tried to yell inbetween gasps, although the Lieutenant didn’t seem to hear him.


“How were they able to follow us so fast?!” Lydia growled. She ran at the front of the pack, with Ahnna, and was already trying to figure out their next step – she didn’t know the planet well, but providing they could acquire some kind of vehicle, they could move quickly out of the urbanised area and into the country, similar to how they had done on Earth-


A tree in front of them suddenly burst into flames, struck alight by a plasma blast that whizzed past their heads. Lydia and Ahnna both grunted and violently turned to the left, but Ade’s legs carried on going, and he heard the other cry out as the Lieutenant had to wrench him away before he ran straight into the blaze. He carried on running, but Ade noticed the sudden lurch in his gait, running on pure adrenaline as the new flesh in his side tore once again.


“Lydia – Lydia, we have –we have to stop!” Ade yelled, tugging back on Cassidy’s arm to make him slow. The park they were in seemed to go on for miles, and Adrian wondered how long both he and the rest of the group were able to go on for. Gritting her teeth, the Captain started dialling rapidly on her hopper, looking back at the group behind her, which was starting to lag and break apart. Unbeknownst to her, an officer at the U.G.G. headquarters could see every button she pressed, and keyed in the same sequence, signalling to the next set of trained agents to ready themselves for the jump.

 

[chellemrys]

Cas growled at Ade, turning round to yell, "There is no time!" He pulled back at Adrian's arm, trying to get him to follow regardless. How was it worth dying over trying to attend to a tiny wound. He put the brakes on, skidding to a halt next to Lydia as she furiously began clacking commands into the device. "I-" He was interrupted by a fight to catch his breath, wheezing and clutching at his side. "I have no i-idea..." The Lieutenant was dizzy, trying to stand. He fought the pain, but was lucky the adrenaline ebbed away the throbbing pain in his side. He grabbed a cuff from Lydia, putting his own wrist up to hers as she finalized the commands. Cas clung to Adrian's right arm, looking a yellowish color as nausea affected his balance.


The gang of assassin's were nearly upon them as they disappeared in a flash, landing smack in the middle of a warehouse. "Where are we no-" Ahnna began, but was interrupted as a flash like lightning came down mere feet from their own spot, and agents were upon them again. Several obscenities were screamed as they ducked, running in different directions, scattering. Lydia dove behind a large crate, "Fight!" She screamed, commanding the agents to turn and hold their own. There was no other option, they seemed to find them wherever they went anyway.


Cas shoved Adrian down behind a crate, rolling away to get a better angle at defending the squad. They began driving the U.G.G. agents into cover, halting their progress. A lady shot up, trying to run at the pile of crates and items they were behind, and Cas aimed and shot at her. She almost made it to the end of their barricade, and Cas downed her. But in order to do so had to let several shots whiz past a hiding Aiber's nose, who pressed himself up against the crates, eyes wide and staring at the Lieutenant with crazed discs for eyes.


As Cassidy fought, he moved further and further away from Adrian, concentrating on taking down as many as he could, and moved into whatever position guaranteed that. There must have been ten or twelve agents they were fighting, because he could barely duck out to get a shot without being met with a myriad of shots raining down on him.

 

[Laine]

“You – you,” Aiber spat from his sweaty, greasy lips. The panic, the exhaustion, the injuries - all formed one violent blur, with only the dark Lieutenant as the focal point. The assassins faded away, and the engineer’s true enemy lay clear in front of his eyes. The only one inbetween him and his only comrade. Adrian.


He moved fast – faster than any of them had seen him move – and snapped around, towards the Private sat to his other side. Dane was just as panicked, but the training made him focus on the danger in front of him, and ignore the fat, unarmed engineer reaching over. With one swift movement, Aiber lunged, putting his hand on the barrel of the plasma weapon and tugging it fast out of Dane’s hand, just as he was lining up a shot. He twisted back and rolled over, onto one knee, closing one eye and briefly lining up the sights, with the Lieutenant’s head bobbing up and out of it as he continued to return fire. “F-fucking Time Agent,” He panted, squeezing the trigger as he saw the Lieutenant move again.


Lydia slid back behind the box, shaking her gun to cool it down as the assassins continued to fire. Eight left. Only eight left. Cassidy takes out three, I take out four, Ahnn- Her rapid planning halted as she saw Dane’s head jerk awkwardly out of cover, and then back, letting out a cry of shock as his gun was taken. The dark barrel of his plasma weapon remerged from the wrong side, pointed at the wrong side. For once, Lydia’s responses weren’t quick enough, and the bright-blue bolt discharged with a mighty crack, speeding towards Cassidy as he returned to the cover position.


Aiber’s shot was only one of many ringing out at that moment, and Adrian pressed himself up against the crate he was thrown behind, panting roughly and holding back sobs of hysteria as the battle continued. They were far outnumbered. They had been cornered. The U.G.G. had figured out – or maybe they had always known – how to track them through the hoppers, and now, no place in time or space was safe. Safe. Ade thought back with bitterness almost two years ago, when he and Cassidy had met, and what an alien comfort he had felt then; nestled on the couch, warded from the terrifying dangers and technology by dark skin and chaotic hair. Since then, he had craved the closeness of the other again and again, and he peeked out from beside his crate, eyes widening at the other, whom suddenly recoiled as his gun hit the floor.


The realisation quickly hit the Private. He flew to Aiber, pinning him against the crate and attempting to wrench the weapon out of Aiber’s hand. The engineer practically foamed at the mouth, and continued to pull the trigger, firing multiple times at crazed angles. “Die! Die! Die!” He repeated, pushing a flabby hand in Dane’s face as he tried to pull the other off him. With no other choice, the Private agent grabbed Aiber by the neck, pushing him sidewards with shaking hands until the engineer toppled onto his head, exposing it to the enemy as it passed outside of cover.