Imperium: Volume 2

I was sitting in the mission control room with Jay and the others minus Sarah. He wanted a break down of what we found. We kept it quite. Only the initial recon team was in the room with Jay and Raeve.

"Alright Rowen." Jay said as he handed me a cup of coffee. "Do you want to tell me what happened?"

Just as I was about to get started June quietly made her way in and stood at the back. I looked at Jay and he just gave me a nod, saying that it was alright for her to be in the room.

"We were in the town of Trinity...."

.........................Flashback........................

I was sitting in one of the small bistros that lined up the streets. This place was still in tact as it held some sentimental value to General Elias, so the town was barely touched. However it was under full jurisdiction of The Dominion.

It had been just over 2 weeks since we set off for our mission, and this had to be the fifth town we wondered in. Not even counting the many camps that we found along the way. Getting through border control was hectic to say the least, but we all had the fake papers to get us through.

We were sent out to find any sort of intel. Anything on General Elias, the leak that we havnt figured out yet or plans that had yet to come to fruition.

We were currently split up. I took to the shops and Kipksy took to the town square with Tanner and Bogie. Sarah insisted she stay close to any patrols that were in the area, to listen in just incase she found a particular someone that could give us info. Whether it was given to us willingly or by force, we didnt care. The job had to get done and none of us wanted to leave empty handed.

I looked at the time, and it was around the hour we made our way back to the truck. We didn't stay to long in one place, to give the impression we were here to pick up essentials and would make our way back onto the road. We were a couple days out from base camp, and the next town on our list was half a days journey.

•~ I've got nothin, how about you?•~

Sarah's voice popping up in my head. I took one last sip of coffee.

•~ Nada here, you making your way back to the truck?•~

•~ Yep, I'll be there in a few minutes, Kipsky and the others are making there way back aswell, so I'll me- •~

Her voice cut out. As if she suddenly hit a wall.

•~ Sarah?•~

•~ Hold on•~ She said.

I waited till I heard something. I didn't hear anything from her for a few minutes, so I made my way into the direction I knew she would be heading from.

•~ Sare, tell me what's going on•~

•~ Where are you?•~ she asked me.

•~ Im on my way to you•~

•~ Building with the clock tower...hurry•~ She said.

I quickened my pace till I reached the corner of the clock tower, and made my way slowly around the bend. When I walked from out the side I saw Sarah trying to talk her way out of some Dom Squad soldiers. She didn't look like she was panicking but she was playing the role. She was looking for an out, and I was it. She saw me and quickly looked over to me while trying to keep up the conversation. I saw one of the soldiers holding her papers, and looking over the documentation. Those papers were fucking fool proof.

I knew why they stopped her. The sick twisted fuckers saw her alone, and from what I knew when I was in the squad they liked to toy around with defenseless woman. I approached cautiously. If there was one other advantage that I had, it was that I knew how to play the game.

"Hi sweetheart, I thought I lost you." I could see the tension in her shoulders. She was listening in, and from the look of it, it wasn't good.

"What's going on? Is everything okay?" I asked the soldiers as I wrapped my arm her.

There were three of them. Dressed head to toe in black gear. The only thing you could make out from their features was their eyes. They wore a balaclava, which told me these were part of a new unit. They had a red star embroidered on their sleeve. I had no idea what that meant, but obviously they were shifting things around in the units.

The one holding her papers looked to me. "Are you with her sir?" He asked.

"Yes, this is my fiance." I made sure to smile at her. "Is everything alright?"

He was studying my face intently. Waiting for me to break, but I held my gaze.

•~ He doesn't believe you•~ Sarah told me.

Just as he was about to ask for my documentation, a few more soldiers were walking out of the building behind them.

"Mathers?" One said.

I peered over the soldier in front of me and looked towards the black figure that headed our way. I couldn't recognise him as he was wearing the same head covering.

"Oh sorry." He said. He pulled the mask down to reveal his face. "It's me Donaheus."

"Don! How's it going buddy!" I put my hand out as a gesture and he took it.

"What the heck are you doing here? I thought they had you heading towards one of the prisoner camps?" He asked with a smile on his face.

"Ya...ya I was but I got reassigned to the Capital. They figured they could use some more Doms with a medical background. They gave me a few days of leave before I head out, and well...here we are." I told him.

"Man, well it's been awhile since basic hasn't it. Time flies when your having fun." He looked over to his peers. "I shit you not this guy whipped my ass so hard during combat training, I could barely sit for a week!"

The fellow soldiers laughed. He looked over to the soldier holding Sarah's documentation, and waved his hand for him to pass it over. He looked it over.

"Anna." He said. "Is she with you Mathers?" He looked giddy.

I smiled. "Yes...Don this is my fiance. We thought we would take a look at the place and grab a few things while on our way."

He held out his hand to her and she took it with a smile on her face.

"Hello, nice to meet you." She said.

"Likewise." He replied. He looked at the two of us. "Well! I won't hold you up any longer." He handed the papers back to Sarah. "Sorry about the confusion, you just can never be to careful. Especially wondering on your own miss." He looked at her giving her a grin.

He was a fucking snake, and I didn't like how he was eyeing her down.

"Ya no worries." I said. "Perhaps we will run into eachother again."

"Let's hope so." He replied putting his hand out again. I returned the gesture and they started walking past us.

We headed in the opposite direction, making it look like we were window shopping.

•~ Hold my hand•~ She said. I did what she told me.

She pointed to a window, making it look like something caught her eye. I played along, but I wasn't sure why we were still pretending.

•~ Go to the right of me please, and face me towards you•~

What is she getting at. I did what she said and faced her towards me. I was now facing the direction the soldiers were head in. I quickly noticed one of the soldiers had stayed out and was watching us. She must have sensed it.

•~Adjust my jacket at the neck, and do it with a smile•~

I did what she told me and she kept up with the facade as she returned it with a smile.

•~Kiss me •~ She said.

•~ What? •~

•~ He's not convinced, so do it. Do it like you mean it •~

Was this really how our first kiss was going to be like? I've been wanted to taste her lips for awhile but not under these circumstances.

•~ Rowen please •~

I looked into her eyes and brought my hands to her face. I felt the smooth skin of her cheek as I rubbed my hand over her bottom lip and I brought her up to me.

Her hands grabbed at the sides of my coat, and what I expected was the flutter in my chest but it never came. It felt too right, to let such a little thing stop me from what I wanted to do for awhile now.

It was a gentle kiss, and her lips fit mine perfectly. I slowly pulled back.

•~ Is that good enough? •~

She quickly shook her head. "No."

She pulled me back down to her and what was a facade a minute ago, was replaced with pure longing. I felt it. She wanted this as much as I did.

She pried herself from me and looked in my eyes. A sudden blush fell upon her cheeks and I couldn't help but smile. I looked back behind her and the soldier was gone.

"He's gone." I told her.

"I know." She looked back. "He left a while ago." She looked back to me and smiled.

"Come on. The others are waiting." She said as she took my hand and led me back through the town square towards the truck.

It was incredibly hard to stop replaying the kiss in my head. I could still feel her on my lips on mine, and the warmth of her hand sent goosebumps all over my body.

We saw the truck in the distance with the others waiting for us. We let go of eachother and quickly replaced our expressions to a more seriousness note. We hopped in the back and Kipsky drove off.

"Where to?" He asked.

"Landsdowne." Said Sarah.

We all looked at her confused.

"But that's a Dominions military base." Said Bogie.

"Lansdowne. We have to go to Lansdowne." She looked at me. "Do you trust me?"

I looked at the others then back to her. She found something.

"We do." I replied.

"Lansdowne it is then." Said Kipsky.

............................Present............................

I looked to Jay who was sitting across from me with his arms crossed but looking down.

"The stars on their uniform. What does it mean?" He asked.

"From what Sarah could read, they are a special forces unit. It must be something new, because I've never seen it before. She told me they were looking for something."

"Looking for what?" asked Raeve.

I turned to him. "I'm not sure. She hadn't picked it up."

It was silent for a bit. I could tell the sudden information of a specialized unit was new to them. What could be so important that general Elias would send out a single unit in search for.

"Continue please." Jay said.

..................... Flashback........................

We were parked 10 kilometers outside The Dominions base, where we set up camp near the road side. Sarah filled us along the way on what she could read from the soldiers that stopped her, and found that their headquarters were here in Lansdowne. She also understood that they would be returning back here tonight, so we had to make haste.

She had a plan, and was determined to see it executed.

We had to wait till night fall when she sensed the convoy vehicle down the road. Several had passed over the last couple hours, but she knew which one was our mark.

"There! that's the one." She said. "Get ready."

We left the truck on the side of the road and made it look as if the engine had busted, and Sarah and I were the lonely stragglers waiting for assistance.

Bogie, Kipsky and Tanner were in the tree line with their sights zoned in for the shot.

"Here they come." Sarah said and we got back playing our roles.

"Just let me lead...okay?" I told her. I took her hand and squeezed it as we got into to position.

We positioned ourselves at the front of the truck, where we had the hood up. Within minutes the truck was approaching us from the road, and we heard it come to a full stop. I heard the door open, and someone jumped out.

•~That's him •~

She confirmed with me. I popped up my head and saw Don walking towards us with a surprised look.

"Mathers! Two times in one day? It must be fate ahah." He said.

"Well aren't you a sight for sore eyes." I smiled.

"What do we have here? Having engine trouble?" He asked.

"Unfortunatley yes." I replied. "You wouldn't know anything about these peices of shit would you?" I said as I kicked the tire.

"I'm afraid not, but let me get you one of the others guys, maybe they can help." He ran over to the back of the truck and called out a couple names.

I watched Sarah go to the back of the truck and grab out some food from one of the coolers and some beverages. She then started setting them out on the tailgate. What was she doing?

"Gosh Anna, that looks delicious." Don said as he made his way back with two others.

"Well, there is plenty to eat and your more then welcome to help yourself. I can't imagine how often you guys are able to eat being so busy and all." She smiled.

"How gracious of you." He said as he eyed her down again.

"If you don't mind, we are pretty vamished."

"Of course." She said.

He waved to the driver, who then told the other men in the back to come out.

I see what she was doing. Honestly I wasn't sure how she was going to get them all to come out but, clearly she knew what she was doing.

She watched them all intently making their way to the truck to grab a bite to eat. She kept looking back to the truck. Something was happening inside her head, I just wasn't sure what. She looked at me with a smile and gave a nod.

"This is so much better then what they have back at base." Don said with his mouth full.

Sarah and I stood together away from the vehicle with our backs to the tree line.

He was chewing is food like a god damn cow, and that's when he stopped. He had a confused look on his face.

•~Rowen...........this isn't good•~

He was looking down the road to the base.

"Why were you heading to the base?" He said still looking down the road.

"Don."

I called out to him. He looked at me, and I heard the bullets whip past me taking them all out.

There bodies slumped to the ground in a matter of seconds. One kill shot was all it took to take each one down. Six bodies. Six bullets.

I stood in place as Kipsky and the others came out of the tree line. I walked over to Don' s body that lay on the ground. I bent down and checked for a pulse before looking at his face.

"He deserved it." I looked to Sarah who could sense the small amount of remorse I was giving off.

"Rowen.....he deserved it." Was all she said.

She would know more about him in the mere minutes that she spent with him, then I would have with weeks of basic training under our belts. I didn't doubt her for a second.

"Quickly.....we need to strip them and move." She said.

We then moved with conviction.

..........................Present................................

"You got into their military base?" Jay looked surprised.

"Yes." I replied. "We were in and out, within the hour."

Jay stood up and placed his hand on the table. "And? Were you able to find anything?"

I pulled out a folded map from my back pocket and threw it on the table in front of him. Jay opened it and shined a light to get a better look.

"It's a topographic map." He continued scanning. He looked over and found a set of numbers written in red. "What happened to the truck?" He asked while continuing to scan the map.

"We ran into trouble, and had to ditch it." I looked over to June. I didn't say anything but without saying a word she quickly left the room to find Sarah.

"What's this mean?" Jay asked while pointing to the number sequence.

"We think it's a date." I replied.

He stood back and studied the map. He looked at it for a few minutes before quickly rummaging through maps on his desk. We all looked at eachother with uncertainty, as he pulled a clear plastic map of the Capital and placed it over the topographic map.

"Jesus." He said.

"What is it?" Raeve asked.

Jay started counting on his fingers.

"Twelve..........we have twelve days." He said.

"Twelve days till what!?" Raeve asked.

He was silent but looked up to all of us.

"Twelve days till they hit home base."