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Guardians Awakened:

Chapter Three: Arrival

It was nighttime by the time Alyx touched the HH down on the civilian airfield after the long and dubious task of convincing traffic control to let them land without proper documentation or flight coordinates. Even so they landed and were immediately surrounded by the security guards as well as the local MPs. Alyx sighed, he sure as hell wasn't going to fight his way out of this. Two men grabbed him and forced him to his knees. Alyx turned his head and saw that Sain and Tatsukan were also likewise entertained. It started to drizzle and Alyx shivered, the water was cold and unforgiving as it ran down his wings.

"Thank you boys. I'll take them from here. Put their copter away and repair and refuel it as needed. They've came a long way." A tall female feline stepped through the ranks of arrayed soldiers and guard. She wore a long red scarf over her black suit; she took her sunglasses off with flourish. "Excellent, you three are exactly who I wanted to see. Come. Follow me." She bent down to Alyx's face level and smiled sweetly, "And, ah, don't run. It would be rather, unpleasant..."

Alyx shrugged as Tatsukan and Sain both looked at him, he stepped forward cautiously and grunted as the two large men hauled him to his feet and after the feline. Alyx cut his growl short and instead looked around trying to focus on where they were going. Sain had at least had the sense to shift back into a human before they'd landed, but Alyx hadn't even thought about it after such a long argument with the air traffic controllers. The feline jumped into a black sedan that was sitting in front of a hummer... with the GC emblem on the back....

"Okay, what the hell is th-" Alyx started but grunted as one of the men hit him in the gut.

"Silence."

"Mmhhmm." Alyx groaned softly as his lungs and ribs burned momentarily.

Him, Sain, and Tatsukan were shoved into the hummer and then squashed between the jar-heads who'd manhandled them from the HH. Alyx looked at the interior of the hummer, it was indeed one of the old GC trucks, still had a sniper rifle and a med-kit stowed against the roof too. And, he noticed the little round spheres above him on the rack and grinned. He hoped that they'd drive out into the country side. Alyx had an idea to try out.

He fidgeted in his seat a little and clasped his hands in front of him; at least they hadn't bound any of them.

~~Sain, I'm going to need you to protect Tatsukan somehow.~~

He didn't dare look back at her but simply waited for her mental reply.

~~Okay. Why? What are you gonna do?~~

Alyx didn't reply but rather stretched a wing towards the spheres. He heard Sain's intake of breath and knew she understood what he intended to do. Alyx looked out the window and waited as the city crawled by, why was the traffic so slow here? After about five minutes the city thinned out and five more after that there were going down rough muddy back roads.

"You guys don't talk much do you?" He asked as he casually stretched again and managed to hook a wing claw on one of the spheres and slide it down the wing membrane to rest behind him in the seat.

One of the men eyed Alyx for a moment before sighing and looking away. The one next to Alyx answered,

"I said silence. Nobodies allowed to talk." He pulled Alyx's wings and arms down, "No funny business either."

Alyx noticed that farm land was flying past them through the windows and he waited a few moments before replying,

"Maybe I'm a comedian." He popped the pin out of the grenade and tossed it into the driver's seat as he slammed against the man next to him pushing the door open and falling out of the vehicle. He groaned as he hit the ground and rolled tucking his wings in. He came to a stop and looked up seeing Sain and Tatsukan a few feet from him. He looked farther up the road and watched the hummer swerve before the front end flashed orange bits of shrapnel flying everywhere as the rear-end of the vehicle went spinning away from the road.

Tatsukan stood up,

"What the FUCK was that!??" He shouted before Sain clapped a hand over his mouth and dragged him with her as she and Alyx ducked behind a rock wall next to the road. They sat there for a second before Sain handed Alyx a Sniper Rifle. He raised an eye ridge at her,

"What? It's a TKIV. I couldn't let it get blown up, besides, we might need it." She held up the medical kit, "I grabbed this too."

Alyx opened the bolt and checked the ammo in the rifle and on the pouch connected to the stock.

"Ten shots... Any more in the bag?"

Sain held up a box,

"Eight more right here, but that's all."

Tatsukan shook his head,

"What the hell!?" He gestured wildly before Sain clapped a hand over his mouth again. The sedan drove up the rode and stopped. The sound of doors opening was heard as well as the feline's voice,

"Yeah, I knew this wasn't going to be easy. You! Check for survivors. The rest of you split up and start searching for them."

Sain glanced over at Alyx who nodded and Sain prodded Tatsukan to follow as the three of them crept farther into the field they were in now. They walked about a mile into the land until finding a stone building. It was burnt out but looked stable enough. Sain led the other two up to the second story of the building and found a spot that still had roofing to keep the rain off. It also made a good look-out position. Alyx grinned, good ole' Sain.

Tatsukan was fuming,

"Can I talk now!?"

Sain motioned for him to be quieter,

"Quietly, but if someone shows up be silent."

Tatsukan nodded,

"Okay, what the fuck was that!? I thought you two were shopkeepers! Was it really necessary to blow the truck up? And why do you need a gun!?"

Alyx waited to see if Tatsukan would continue, but he seemed finished.

"The last question's answer should be obvious." He paused for a second and sighed looking over at Sain, "How much should I tell him?"

Sain shrugged,

"Your call dear."

"Tell me what!?" Tatsukan exclaimed.

Alyx sighed. And rubbed the back of his head.

"Well, I've already told you that we're sorta fugitives." Tatsukan shrugged, "Well, drop the sorta, me and Sain are both ex-special forces, as best I can put it. Everyone thinks we're dead, or at least, they thought we were dead."

"That doesn't explain why you blew them up!" Tatsukan waved his arms about ineffectually.

"I did what I had to for us to get away. We're alive, no?" Alyx growled, "Be thankful for that. Practically all of my team is dead thanks to the likes of them!" He pointed out in the general direction of the exploded hummer and the sedan. "And the ones who are alive, I don't even know if I can trust. Save her." Alyx gestured at Sain who was now keeping an eye out for anybody approaching their current sanctuary.

"Why can't you trust the ones who are alive?" Tatsukan's tone softened a little, "they were your team right?"

Alyx sighed and shrugged,

"You don't know the NSP and what they can do with people these days."

"Who?"

"Exactly. They're so good at what they do that most of the public doesn't even know who they are. They control it all, mass-media, government, stock market, military. This planet is like a chess board to them."

Tatsukan shook his head and plugged his ears,

"Okay! I've heard enough. I've conspiracies enough without you adding to them!"

Alyx chuckled,

"I'm sure you do." He walked over to where Sain was watching and lay down beside her setting his rifle up, "Get some sleep darling, I'll take first watch."

Sain nodded and kissed him on the cheek before curling up on the floor and quickly falling asleep.

Tatsukan grumbled and sighed,

"I guess you guys are used to this shit. I wish I could just fall asleep like that."

Alyx laughed,

"Spend a few years in any covert military position and you'll learn how quickly."

"I was an eagle scout once!"

Alyx looked over his shoulder at Tatsukan,

"I doubt it."

"Okay fine. I quit the boyscouts, but I did spend a lot of time outdoors."

Alyx sighed,

"Then just go to sleep, and let there be some peace and quiet up here."

Tatsukan didn't reply but rather grumbled to himself and flopped onto the floor.

Alyx sighed, it was finally quiet. First time in days... A cricket started up in the floor below, and Alyx sighed again.

. . .

The night had passed without incidence and the trio had managed to sneak out from the web that the feline's men had set up. They made it back into the city and had bought new clothes and rented a room in a motel not too far from the outskirts. Tatsukan has also managed to 'find' them a car to use but he wouldn't say from where. He'd gone out on 'business' and said he'd be back before nightfall, leaving Sain and Alyx alone in the motel.

Alyx purred softly as Sain kissed him deeply, the two holding each other close in the bed. Alyx broke the kiss after a second,

"I don't think he'll be gone long enough Sain." He murred as she ran her claws over his chest.

"We could always lock him out." Sain murmured in his ear before taking it into her teeth lightly and pulling on it.

"He already doesn't seem to trust us; I don't think it's a good idea. He could sell us out." Alyx chirped as Sain's claws tightened on his chest pressing hard,

"Then we could always kill him... He does know too much about us." She laid herself on top of Alyx looking pleased with herself.

"I don't think that's a great idea either."

Sain sighed and released her hold of Alyx and rolled off of him,

"Then what should we do?"

Alyx shrugged and glanced at the television set which was muted.

"Hold that thought..." He hit the unmute button and turned fully to the screen.

"-the truck had been destroyed with an H-45 fragmentation grenade, military grade. Authorities are not sure whose bodies were recovered, but police do have an idea who is behind the bombing," Tatsukan's face appeared on screen, "Tatsukan, Yui, a resident of Germany, also the infamous Saint Patrick's day killer landed here in Norway on an unauthorized flight and disappeared soon after that. If you have any information regarding Tatsukan Yui's whereabout's you should contact your local police station immediately, this man is armed and dangerous so take caution." Alyx flipped the television off and leaned back on the bed.

"Well... That's kind of creepy and cryptic no?" he stared off into the distance a little stunned.

Sain was silent for a moment,

"Saint Patrick's day killer?"

Alyx shrugged,

"I have no idea. But now that I think of it, everyone at the airport seemed scared of the sight of him."

"Except that feline."

"True... I wonder where she has off and went to."

Sain sighed and sat back down on the bed,

"Iunno..." She looked down at Alyx, "Well, he probably won't be back soon, but that was a total mood killer." Alyx nodded, as she continued, "I think we know where he got the car from... And the laptop, and phone, and radio..." She trailed off. "Why did we come with him?"

Alyx sighed and looked down.

"I saw Vance on the same day he decided to leave. They had some sort of meeting. I was hoping to find him again and try to see if he was still on our side."

Sain looked over at Alyx with a hard expression,

"Why? You said we were through with that life! That includes leaving him behind! I've not seen my brother in the same amount of time you've not seen Vance." Alyx started to say something, but Sain cupped his face in her hands, "We were starting over for us remember. Try to have normal lives, start a family..." She trailed off as her eyes studied Alyx's face.

Alyx sighed,

"Yeah I remember, but why couldn't we take the last of the GC's with us? I'm sure they want out as badly as we did."

"But what about us! We both almost died Alyx! We were almost dead!" Sain's eyes started to cloud with tears.

"If you'll remember, you did die love." Sain jerked away from Alyx and looked away from him shivering. He continued, "Think about it. With that tattoo of yours we're immortal! We don't have to worry about anyth-" He was cut off as Sain slapped him hard.

"Shut-up! It sounds like you only love me for that tattoo! Maybe I don't want to put stock into it! Did you ever think of that? Maybe I'm tired of fighting all the time! Did that ever occur to you!?" She choked on a sob, "I've seen enough blood to last me an eternity, and taken enough lives to haunt me until the end of time. I'm tired of all of this Alyx! I don't' want it. I just want to settle down somewhere quiet where I don't hear the screams of the people I've killed!" She subsided into a fit of tears and pounded on his chest with one hand weakly.

Alyx put an arm and a wing around her gently and licked at her face rocking her gently. He grabbed her offending arm and held it still as she fell apart into his arms bawling.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know you felt quite that way..." He whispered softly to her ear as he rocked her gently as she subsided into hiccupping sobs and eventually to sleep.

He sighed and looked around at the room. What was more important? A mate or a life without regrets... He looked down and shook his head falling asleep himself.

. . .

A ray of sunlight landed upon Alyx's face as the morning sun came up. He grumbled and swatted around his head rolling over in bed to try and fall back asleep. His eyes snapped open however when Sain nipped at his nose.

"Guh! Whaa?" He jerked upright in bed, "What? What is it?"

Sain smiled softly,

"Good morning sleeping beauty."

"Oh..." Alyx smiled muzzily, "Mornin' love."

He kissed her gently before she pulled away; she looked down at the floor,

"Sorry about last night... I kind of had a melt-down."

Alyx kissed her again as she looked back up into his eyes,

"It's okay. I'll never know what you want if you don't tell me, even if you have to break-down to tell me."

Sain grunted a noncommittal answer and kissed him a little harder, she broke it after a second,

"Whatever the case, get dressed. I have a guest coming over for you." Alyx looked at her quizzically and she shrugged, "I'm not telling. You'll just have to wait and see."

"Did Tatsukan ever show up?"

"No." Sain looked away from Alyx and out the window.

Alyx got dressed and checked himself over in the mirror. As haggard and torn-up as ever; the past week had not been kind. Sain shifted into a human form and dressed as well, before she lounged about in one of the chairs in the room. She looked up at Alyx,

"Go into the bathroom until I call you love..." Alyx started to say something but Sain threw him a pistol, "And keep this on you just in case. Ruger LCP if you're wondering. I always keep that one handy, no matter what."

"Okay?"

Sain pointed a stern finger at him,

"No complaining! And do exactly as I said."

Alyx sighed and retreated into the bathroom. He sat down on the toilet and looked at himself in the mirror bemusedly. What was he doing? And how did he manage to always end up in situations like this? Not necessarily sitting in a bathroom waiting for his mate to call him, but rather running from governments all over the continent. He looked down at his tattoo and thought back to the aircraft factory. He'd simply wished the factory and its surroundings gone and they'd... Vanished... granted they vanished spectacularly, but it was odd that he wished it all gone and it'd simple popped.

Alyx looked onto the sink counter and held his tattooed hand up. He thought about the soap bottle vanishing. With a pop similar to a wine bottle being uncorked the bottle vanished in a blue flash as his tattoo glowed.

"Whoa..."

Alyx thought for a moment, now he wanted it back. The bottle appeared with another pop and a flash above his head and fell down onto him.

He jumped as it hit his head,

"What th- ...Okay, that's interesting..."

He didn't have any time to keep experimenting with this 'power' as Sain called him out.

"Alyx darling, please step out."

Alyx heaved a sigh and swung the door open holding his pistol behind his back. He stepped out and blinked as the sun had come up fully and the room was much brighter than the bathroom. His vision adjusted and he shouted bringing his pistol out level and pointed it at the wolf's chest.

Vance threw his hands up,

"Whoa! Dude I'm unarmed! UNCLE!"

Alyx dropped the gun as fast as he'd pulled it out and staggered a bit.

"V-Vance?"

Vance frowned and stepped forward and poked Alyx in the chest,

"Who else!? You are so damned hard to find!" Vance turned around and gesticulated, "You're supposed to be dead!!! But instead you're here in Norway blowing my men into little pieces! In the accompaniment serial killer slash burglar as well! " He turned around again and pressed his face close to Alyx's and growled, "Explain yourself. And explain well, or I'll make sure we have a body to go with the service we had two years ago."

Alyx flinched a little,

"Answer me one question first."

Vance subsided and sat down on the bed heavily,

"Fine. Ask away." He threw up an arm.

"Are you still working for the NSP?"

Vance's face hardened

"Yes, but I'm destroying them from the inside out."

Alyx nodded,

"Okay... This could take a little explaining."

Alyx took a breath to start but Vance held up an arm,

"Wait... Who is she?" He motioned to Sain. He turned towards the human, "Or, I'm sorry, who are you?"

Sain laughed. Hard.

"You don't remember me Vance!?"

Vance looked at her and cocked his head to the side.

"No. Have I arrested you lately?"

Sain grinned a little,

"Imma dump you in a vat of boiling garbage water Vance."

Vance's eyes grew large.

"Sain!? But how? You were- You're more dead than him! And now you're... Human?"

Sain looked down at herself,

"Oh, yeah... Sorry." She flickered into her own form, a dragon once more, "Recognize me now wolfie?"

Vance gawked for a moment,

"How'd you. No, never mind." He turned back to Alyx, "I want your explanation first."

Alyx shrugged,

"Okay two years ago in that building I told you guys Sain was dead, and well... She was..." Alyx stopped for a second remembering that horrible moment where Sain's body had gone limp, "Or at least I thought she was... I don't know how that worked, but I disarmed the bomb like I said I would." Alyx sat down in one of the chairs in the room, "Uhm, after that me and Sain discussed how we could get out of the Corps for good."

Vance held up a hand,

"You couldn't have just asked for a discharge?"

"No. Sain had murdered General Black in the middle of a conference with Eli. So that was out of the question."

"Why did you guys want out so bad?"

Alyx sighed and Sain looked away, it was her who answered,

"I was pregnant."

Vance looked over at her for a moment and nodded slowly,

"So you guys have a kid now?"

Alyx shook his head,

"No... Sain was shot..." He looked away, "Anyway, I somehow destroyed the building and everything around it and... teleported I think. There was an explosion and then we woke up in my old safehouse."

"Safehouse?"

"Oh... Umm, it was a personal house that I'd purchased under a different alias a looong time ago."

Vance nodded.

"So why didn't you ever tell, me or Swanson, or even you're brother, Sain; that you guys weren't dead. Woulda saved us some grief."

Alyx sighed,

"How? You guys are on active duty so the NSP is watching you and phone lines are always monitored. And to add to our worries we didn't know who we could trust."

Vance looked down,

"I guess I get it. I don't like it, but it makes sense."

He looked back up at Alyx,

"Why're you hanging out with Tatsukan?"

Alyx grinned,

"Well, I knew he was finding Eli for you and I want Eli dead so..." He trailed off.

"Revenge and assassination?"

Alyx shrugged,

"Pretty much and I'd hoped to get a chance to speak with you."

Vance shrugged,

"Well, here I am. Sain at least had the decency to call me on my cell phone."

Alyx looked over at Sain who chuckled,

"I didn't use either, of our names I just told him he needed to get his ass over here. Alone."

Vance shrugged

"Of course I'm not stupid enough to actually come alone, but I'm not bugged so no worries man."

Alyx tilted his head,

"Who'd you bring?"

"Swanson of course."

Alyx nodded,

"Where is he then?"

Vance motioned vaguely,

"Out there with a sniper rifle, we all know how bad of a shot he is." He laughed, "So I gave him a-"

Suddenly holes started popping into the walls and windows of the motel room as a .50 cal machine gun opened up outside.

"Fuuu-" Vance's profanity was cut off as the room next to them exploded. All three of them hit the floor as the bullets continued to whizz through the room.

Alyx slip Sain's little pistol to her,

"Where's the sniper rifle!?" He shouted over the gunfire.

Sain pointed under the other bed in the room and Alyx slid across the floor to it and grabbed the TKIV shoving a stripper clip down into it. The barrage stopped for a moment, the silence was almost more deafening than the shots themselves.

"Somebody spot! Where the hell are they!?" Alyx shouted again as he poked his rifle out from around the bed. He noticed that he was mostly behind the radiator and thick concrete lower wall of the building. Probably not enough to stop a bullet but enough to slow it down it should just ricochet off his scales. He flinched as a bullet did just that bruising his side as the gun opened up again.

"Blue building, third floor, second window from the left!" Vance shouted as he and Sain slunk into the bathroom trying to put as much material between themselves and the gunner.

Alyx flicked the rifle up and immediately had a scope-full of muzzle flashes from the Browning M2 above him. He waited a second and then caught a glimpse of a man's face behind the gun and pulled the trigger. There was a single crack and then silence.

Alyx sighed and looked down and then behind him.

"Anyone else?"

Vance had a pair of binoculars smashed to his face.

"White house, ground floor in front of the flower garden."

Alyx moved and spotted the man with a rocket launcher, he was having some reloading issues so Alyx alleviated his problem with some hot lead through the head.

"That's all I see man."

Alyx nodded, and cocked his head to one side.

"Sirens." He stood up, "We need to get out of here."