Secret War: Upon Blood Sands

Chapter 18

Author's note: Alright! Usually, I don't make these author's notes but have done it twice in a row now. But I'm wondering, what do you guys think of the Space Marine, Kalakor? There's...something that happens to his character later in the story, and is wondering what you guys think it's going to be. I'm really curious. Uhh. I take back my statement on my last author's note. I'm going to try to get a lot of Secret War: Upon Blood Sands did the next couple of months. As I'll have all of next year to work on my original stuff, so expect a few more updates. Enjoy!

Adelana knelt in a tent with Hayden and Delthasi. Two troopers stood over them while another two were at the entrance. She sighed; it seemed like the same shit, different day now.

"This is ridiculous," said Delathasi, the first words uttered in hours.

"I know," sighed Hayden. "We're meant to be professionals, and yet here we are."

"We're, we're just down on our luck, is all," said Adelana, trying her best to sound optimistic.

Hayden snorted. "Luck hasn't anything to do with it, Adelana. We're here because fate had been manipulated for us to be here. So the enemy can use us as hostages so Attelus will co-operate with them."

"You don't know that," said Adelana.

"No," said Hayden. "I don't, but call it a really, really educated guess. Everything seems to revolve around him, Adelana. Everything. Coming here was a huge mistake. I see that now. I should've seen that the moment we stepped on this Emperor forsaken planet. If it weren't for him, we wouldn't be here. If it weren't for him, your world would still be alive. If it weren't for his sentimentality toward his Velrosian heroes, we wouldn't have been captured."

"But-!"

"Adelana, I know you're in love with him, and he's in love with you. But please stop defending him. You know I'm right."

Adelana flinched, feeling her face flush. "I'm not- he's not!"

Hayden locked her with a grim stare.

"All right," said Adelana. "You're right. So what do you think we should do? Huh?"

"I think all of you need to just shut it," said a deep voice, and the female agent swaggered into the tent. She still wore her mask, but Adelana could feel the contempt in her stare.

"Hm," said Hayden. "I thought that you would be happy to hear us bickering and plotting."

The agent shrugged. "It also means you might be plotting to escape. Do not even think about it."

"Thinking and talking aren't the same thing," said Adelana.

The agent's attention snapped to Adelana; then, she knelt in front of her with such inhuman swiftness that Adelana couldn't help flinching.

She studied Adelana for what seemed an age.

"You really are as pretty as they say," she said and placed her hand on Adelana's cheek as though to pull her into a kiss. "And a smart arse too. Just like him."

"Don't touch her!" Hayden snarled.

The agent's attention snapped to him. "Or what? You foolish old sniper? Do you think I am afraid of you? Or death? I have faced worse than what you could ever imagine. I do not fear you, nor anyone."

The agent stood and turned as the tent flaps burst open, and the two other agents entered, carrying Attelus between them.

"Attelus!" Adelana couldn't help crying when she saw just how badly beaten he was.

The two agents froze as they saw the female.

"Agent 2k-3," said the one with the curved sword. "What are you doing here?"