Hysteria it's bugging me calling me and twisting me around yeah I'm endlessly caving in and turning inside out because I want it now I want it now give me your heart and your soul and I'm breaking out I'm breaking out that's when she'll lose control and I want you now I want you now I feel my heart implode and I'm breaking out escaping now feeling my faith grow old "I don't believe you..." She whispered. She numbly shook her head. It was impossible, Melissa wasn't able to commit such atrocity! "I DON'T BELIEVE YOU!" She angrily threw the report on the deck, sheets of papers lazily gliding in the command room with a soft ruffle. She jumped to her feet, facing the major. "Melissa can't do that! She's not a murderer! She wouldn't! SHE WOULDN'T, DO YOU HEAR ME?" An uneasy silence fell after her outburst, the various officers present taken aback save for Karirin and Mardukas. "Pardon me for interfering Ma'am, but how would you know? She's a trained soldier, killing people has always been part of the job description. Besides, we know very little about her past, which is partly why she's never been promotted over the rank of sergent-major or allowed to pilot the Aru." Mardukas asked, the slightest hint of reproach coloring his tone. Thessa was shocked to the core. She knew all of this of course. After all, the final decision in both matters had been entirely hers, but having it casually brought up in this situation was like a slap in the face. She knew. And Melissa undoubtly knew too. She felt like the most hypocritical person in the world at the moment. Melissa had known all along, and still, she had fallen in love with her. At least, that was what the Mao in the record Thessa had preciously preserved was telling her everynight... She didn't even tried stopping the tears that flowed from her eyes. How pathetic! Clinging like that onto an illusion, a mirage! The real Melissa had rejected her. The real Melissa had left. The real Melissa had become a murderer, The real Meloissa was lost to her... She should just forget everything and carry on with her life, fulfilling her duty. But she couldn't let go. The revelation hit her with the force of a physical blow. She couldn't let go. She still needed her. She still wanted her. She still loved her with all that she was... A small, bitter smile tugged at her lips while tears were still streaming down her face. How fitting! The rich, spoiled brat who fell for a cold-hearted murderer.The princess-witch - she inwardly snorted - in love with a vengeful fallen angel. Cursed destinies. Doomed passion. Under the worried gazes of all her officers, she said in an almost inaudible voice "I know... I know she wouldn't, because... I love her..." Her smile widened at this admission, although this smile talked about anything but happiness. Lie and truth so tightly knotted that they were undistinguishable. The silence in the command room was almost deafening. Everyone was shocked, save for Karirin. Mardukas, for his part, was gaping openly. Thessa kept her eyes stubbornly glued to the deck. Inside of her, a firm resolution had formed. She would do everything in her power to retrieve Melissa. Mardukas quickly recovered and said, regretfully "Under the present circumstances, you'll understand that we'll have to inform the proper hierarchy. You will probably be temporarily suspended of your functions..." Thessa nodded, not really listening. She would do anything, no matter what. -- yeah it's hurting me morphing me and forcing me to strive to be endlessly caving in and dreaming of my love because I want it now I want it now give me your heart and your soul I'm not breaking down I'm breaking out that's when she'll lose control and I want you now I want you now I feel my heart implode and I'm breaking out escaping now feeling my faith grow old With a grunt, Melissa threw the limp body of a sentinel in a trash bin and checked one more time that her path was now clear. At first, she had just intended to take pictures of the site she had discovered no long ago, thanks to her contacts, that was a secret hideout of whatever organisation Radek Vaszclav and Urs Grechtner were part of. It was a usine localised in the industrial zone of Budapest. In the few days she had spent spying on this place, she had seen a flurry of activity. Trucks going in and out endlessly, techies running around in a frenzy and a very heavy security.To say that she was curious about whatever they were doing in there would be the understatement of the year. She was sure it was somehow related to what had happened in Columbia. But then she saw HIM. Radek Vaszclav, or Silent, as he was called. Apparently accompanying some VIP of theirs. All thoughts of prudence had then flown right through the window, leaving only the burning desire for vengeance. She knew she was pushing her luck. But. What did she have to lose that HE hadn't already taken? Besides, it was such a golden opportunity to pay him back. She couldn't possibly let it pass. She slipped unnoticed behind several other guards, her dark outfit helping her blending in the shadows. She finally reached the main building were Silent had disappeared. There was of course no way she could enter by the same door, but... She lifted her head, studying the walls of the factory and spotted what she was looking for. The window was at least three-storey high, but she was confident she could climb up there despite her still healing ribs, thanks to the adjoining wall and the gutter. By the time she reached the damn window, she was panting heavily and her arms felt like lead. Thank god for small miracles, the window was open and after a quick check, she lost no time slipping in. The climb had been more taxing than expected and her ribs were a bitch, but the promise of future vengeance was better than any analgesic at this point. Once inside, she took time to catch her breath while examining her surroundings. She was in a small office of some sort. A small desk of old brown wood, a battered chair, a very old computer and building plans were cramping the place. Manilla folders scattered everywhere. Obviously, it hadn't been visited in a very long time, judging by the amount of dust and cobwebs... Although her lungs disagreed, it was a good thing. That meant she was relatively safe here. It was unlikely someone would suddenly barge in. Well, if Luck kept smiling to her anyway. She headed to the door but froze all of a sudden. Wait! Building plans? She backtracked to the desk and here there were. Plans of the entire building, floor by floor. She couldn't get luckier, could she? She quickly memorized them and set off again, hunting for her prey. Silent as a panther, she ambled down a metallic stairway. The sound of heavy footsteps alerted her. She quickly found shadows to hide in, unsheathing a long.thin knife. Soon enough two guards showed up, walking lazily past her never noticing her. She slipped behind them and brutally stabbed one in the neck, then, in a clean single swipe, opened the other's throat who had unknowingly turned to his death in his surprise. Blood splashed her face and the walls as he fell bonelessly at her feet, strangled gurgles being the last sounds he would ever utter. She dragged the two corpses out of sight, hiding them behind crates. Then she went on the path she had memorized and which would lead her to the main hangar, and hopefully, to Silent... Finally she arrived to the main hangar accessing by a discreet office door to the working area indicated on the blueprints. The working area, situated about 20 meters below was literally swarming like an ant's's nest. Thankfully, no one paid her any attention. It was between 150 and 200 meters long and at least 100 m large. Workers in white overalls were bent over delicate pieces of electronics, others were at the command of other engines. She squinted and upon seing the pieces of electronics, was almost sure they were part of the engine she had briefly examined back in Columbia. Her gaze wandered to the far end of the hangar and that's when she spotted Him. Silent. Pure murderous hatred filled her crimson eyes. She knew blood as red as her eyes would spill tonight. Finally! She'd make him pay! He was conversing with the previous VRPs. Urs Grechtner was there too. Several guards were positioned all around. She realized she would never be able to reach them. She wracked her brain for a solution. There had to be a way! She wasn't afraid to die in the process, but she just wanted to make sure she wouldn't go to hell alone. She had to bring Silent along, at the very least. For her fallen comrades. For Olafson's legs, for O'Brien... For lost opportunities... She backed down in the alley she just came from, retrieving one of the dead guard's assault rifle. She had to try. Even if she wasn't the big shot Kurz was, she was still a well trained soldier She checked again her surroundings, making sure no one would find her. She dropped to her knees and aimed carefully, steadying her breath. Sweat trickled from her forehead, she knew she had only one chance at this. Inspire. Expire. Inspire. Expire. Her fingers slowly pulling the trigger to the limit. Inspire. Expire. Block. -- BKAM BKAM BKAM The sound of gunshots echoed in the old paved streets of the Hungarian capital city, almost overcoming the hammering of her heart in her chest. Hadn't she been already out of breath, she'd have cursed her luck to every nine hells. Why, why in the fucking world couldn't things just go her way? BKAM BKAM She ducked in a nearby street. Close! The last two shots had been too close! She'd have to find a way to get rid of her pursuivers. Fast! BKAM BKAM BKAM BKAM She replied, not really caring if she hit anyone but effectively forcing her pursuivers to hide too. At least, no large car would be able to follow her in these narrow streets. However, she was aware of the fact that she needed a vehicule if she wanted to escape them. A motorbike, anything! She looked around frantically. Then she saw the Traban hiding in the shadows maybe fifty meters away from her. She sighed in dismay. Conveniently placed fast sport cars could only be found in movies, it seemed. Well, it would have to do. At least this car would be easy to steal... She hit the driver's window with her gun and reached down to open the door. She lost no time in sliding in and looking for the power cables under the steering-wheel, she could very well hear the fast approaching steps and shouts. Luckily, the Traban had obviously been very well kept and it started out quite easilly, if loudly. She tore her way along the street, keeping her head as low as possible under the shower of bullets aimed at her, since the car walls were as thin as paper. She thankfully quickly found a lateral street and fifteen minutes later, she was quite confident she had managed to lose them. Damnit! She hit the steering wheel with both hands in rage! How could things have gone so horribly wrong? He had been at her complete mercy, a breath away from death. But no! Just as she was about to seal his fate, he looked up, saw her and with inhuman speed and reflexes dove forward over one of the VRPs, a young man with very light hair, dodging the bullet from a mere millimeter. The bullet hit some gaz bottle behind which exploded, momentarily blinding her. Then she'd been forced to back off while Silent and the others took cover and started firing at her. She'd had no choice but run away. "How could I let such a golden opportunity pass ?" She loudly berated herself. Now Silent would be on his guard.Worse, he would certainly look for her. Melissa abandonned the battered car in a halleyway. She didn't need cops asking her why her car was filled with so many bullet impacts. Looking around her warily, she gingerly made her way to the subway. After a quick scan, she decided nothing was suspect and went to the lockers, stepping around torched beggars reeking of trash and frelated vodka. She opened one of the lockers and pulled a sport bag out of it. She quickly pulled cloths out of it and proceeded to change. A thick pullover of creamy wool went over her bulletproof jacket and tight black top. A long grey skirt replaced the navy blue cargo pants. Black leather high-heeled boots replaced the rangers. A thick anthracite coat made of velour and a grey b‚ret completed the outfit. Throwing dagues went inside the boots and she slid a Glock 19 in her inside holster. Finally, she withdrew a few rolls of cash from the locker, which she hid in her coat. She had several hides like that were scattered through the city. Once set, she locked the locker and got on the first subway heading for the old city. She never noticed the two shadows following her.
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