Chapter 30: The Return

Andrea’s feet were the first things to regain feeling. She hadn’t even been aware of anything and then the soft molded feeling of her familiar combat boots appeared all at once. To go from absolutely nothing to sensations in her lower body were jarring to say the least.

Where am I? Andrea’s mind was slow to wake up.

She could feel firm footing beneath her shoes. Concrete or some type of rock. The sensation of life traveled from her feet up to her ankles and then progressed quickly and steadily towards her knees.

Was I asleep? Andrea tried to open her eyes.

Her eyelids didn’t react. Actually nothing did. Not her eyes, not her hands, and not even her lips. Andrea’s mind sounded the alarm, but only her toes curled in response. Her heart didn’t even stir.

Now that she thought about it, Andrea couldn’t feel her heart at all.

Feeling reached her thighs.

The good news was that everything underneath her thighs felt perfectly fine. It was almost as if she was being unfrozen from stasis like in sci fi novels.

Or like the pod. Andrea realized the sensation was similar to how it felt when the strange pod had released her from its embrace.

She could remember it now. Her time with Spencer. Her time with her commander. The way his dark hair had tickled her thighs when they spent quiet time together in his bedroom.

I’m alive! Andrea’s heart would be pounding if it could move. … Why wasn’t I alive?

Sharp claws, pale gray skin, and cold bloodied pavement flashed through her mind.

That’s right. I failed. 

She had died being arrogant.

She had died being weak.

She had lost the one thing in life that gave her more meaning than being a club to beat down humanity’s enemies.

Why am I back? Andrea’s initial joy gave way to sober self reflection. I don’t deserve a second chance.

Yet here she was. Though the process felt slow truthfully it had only been a second or two since Andrea was first aware of anything at all. Her mind was simply processing things at such a high rate that it felt like time was crawling by.

Feeling returned to her midriff and hands next. Andrea could feel that her shorts still clung to her body. That was good. Her hands tightened around the familiar grip of her nightstick and riot shield. That was even better.

Deserved or not she would do everything in her power to protect her commander.

The line of feeling reached her chest and shoulders. Everything was fresh. She could feel her shirt, tac vest, and a warm breeze on her abs.

Her heart thumped to life finally catching up to the adrenaline that Andrea knew should be coursing through her veins.

Finally her lips opened to taste the air. Smoke and carnage. Just like she remembered.

“Commander…”

The agony of darkness faded as her eyelids regained their motor functions.

Brightness flooded her vision and suddenly there he was.

Spencer, her commander, had aged since she last saw him. His brown eyes were less timid and more focused. His hair was messy and unkept. The dirt on his face almost masked the sunken bags under his eyes. The armored vest was nowhere to be seen. Andrea hated to think it had been necessary, but the fact that he didn’t have it on suggested that it had already been destroyed at some point. Spencer instead wore a torn blue shirt and light grey jeans. His arm had a fresh bandage wrapped around it.

At some point Andrea’s hearing had kicked in, but the cacophony of combat noises did little to pull her attention away from the man in front of her. How could she have missed so much?

“How long?”

******

Spencer let out a long breath.

Andrea was back.

Not only that, but the bruiser looked just as fresh and combat ready as the day Spencer had first found her in her pod. When the bright light had put her together from the ground up Spencer had a brief flash of concern that Andrea wouldn’t remember him. That he would have to start over. Not that reintroducing himself to his first companion would have been the end of the world, but the present situation didn’t lend itself to lengthy conversations.

“How long?” Andrea’s voice was uncharacteristically small and fragile as she spoke.

Her normally vibrant green eyes watered dangerously as she took a single step towards Spencer. Every second mattered, but Spencer wasn’t about to ignore Andrea’s needs. Not again.

He hugged her tightly.

“Welcome back.” Spencer’s voice caught in his throat. “I’m so sorry.”

Andrea’s own arms hesitantly settled on Spencer’s back.

“It’s been four days.” Spencer grimaced. “I’m sorry it took so long. I’m sorry my poor decisions got you killed.”

Andrea gasped and pulled back. Her eyes were wide and disbelieving.

She has to be upset. Spencer braced himself.

“Four days?” Andrea’s voice grew stern. “It’s only been four days? How?”

Her hands shook. She lifted them up to cup Spencer’s cheeks.

“How could you look this worn down after only four days? Who is supposed to be protecting you?”

Andrea looked around for the first time. A heavy thump reverberated the ground next to them. Spencer turned to find Sarah dusting off the skirt of her dark dress. The sword wielder had a nasty fresh bruise forming on the side of her head. Spencer immediately stepped forward.

“That looks bad. Are you all right?” He asked, gently lifting a hand towards the black and blue spot next to her ear.

“The three faceless ones on the roof are dead.” Sarah shut her eyes and let her head lean into Spencer’s hand.

“Three? Naomi said there was only two and that you guys managed to kill one before she was kicked off.” Spencer frowned. “I would have sent her back up if I knew you were outnumbered.”

“It’s nothing a few mongrel kills won’t fix.” Sarah kissed the back of Spencer’s hand and met Andrea’s questioning gaze briefly. “Welcome back to the land of the living, Andrea. The commander has spoken highly of you. I do hope you work hard to live up to that reputation.” 

Before Andrea could respond Sarah darted forward to act as vanguard for Naomi. The white haired ranged specialist had her hands full. Quite literally, actually, as Naomi beat a hellhound’s face into the asphalt while her blasters tore up a pair of dogs across the street.

The situation was still bad. Hellhounds were arriving in larger numbers now while injuries on Spencer’s side were accumulating quickly. Spencer had a minor injury on his arm, but his gun was bent beyond use so he was effectively out of the fight. His mind drifted briefly to the injured police officer’s handgun, but knew that the man had used up the last of his ammunition before they were rescued.

“Four engies?” Andrea asked, nodding to Spencer’s team.

“Yeah.” Spencer coughed and reached out to take Andrea’s hand. “There’s a lot to explain and I want to tell you everything. For now can you help us get these people somewhere safe? We need to get off of the street, wait until things calm down, and then escort them north to the edge of the pillar’s boundary.”

Spencer knew heading north from here would take them right past his home. It would probably be good to stop by and gather up a few more things anyway. None of that would matter though if they couldn’t escape the constant flow of hellhounds and faceless ones being drawn to the sounds of fighting.

Andrea’s fingers tightened around Spencer’s.

“Why did you say it was your fault?” She asked him.

Spencer paused, thoughts shifting away to the fight at hand and back to four nights ago.

“I’m your commander, but I’m also responsible for bringing you here.” Spencer told her earnestly.

Andrea’s eyebrows scrunched together. “And that-”

“It matters, because I should have taken better care of you. Of us.” Spencer gestured between them. “I was so worried about being safe, about saving lives, about not being useless that I blinded myself to your needs and how to help the person who was right in front of me. For that I am sorry.”

The corners of Andrea’s lips curled upwards. It wasn’t her usual wide smile, but it was a start.

“You’re not mad that I was too weak to protect you?”

Spencer shook his head. “I was never mad at you. I was mad at myself for not understanding what I really needed. You deserved better than what I gave you. I-”

Andrea’s lips crashed into Spencer’s without warning.

This wasn’t a chaste approach or a shy venture. Andrea claimed Spencer’s lips with a mania that was difficult to understand. Her hands trembled on his shoulders even as she pulled him tighter against her. Her chest shuddered with bubbling laughter while at the same time tears actively poured from her eyes.

‘Bonding Event successfully passed, Milestone successfully passed, First Kiss: 

• Ten store credits awarded.

• Team member, Andrea, stats vastly improved.’

“Damn. You’re really everything I’ve ever asked for and more, aren’t you, commander?” Andrea bit Spencer’s lower lip and growled.

It would have been enticing if she wasn’t still actively crying.

“If that's true, why is it so bittersweet?” Spencer asked.

“Commander!” Anny’s voice tried to break in from the side.

Spencer waved her back. His eyes remained on Andrea.

“Forgive me, commander.” Andrea wiped her eyes and gave him a sad smile. “I’m just mourning the loss of our private time together. It was never going to last, but I didn’t expect it to end so suddenly.”

Andrea pushed herself back and snapped to attention.

“Reporting back for duty, commander.”

******

With the addition of Andrea the battle turned from a slow attrition war to a carefully coordinated retreat. Naomi, Beatrice, and Anny took the lead and angled the group in a north westerly direction. To cut down on noise levels, and to let her blasters fully cool down after firing for such a long period of time, Spencer requested Naomi refrain from using her ranged weapons during the retreat. By comparison Anny’s smaller wrist blaster wouldn’t cause much more noise than Andrea’s nightstick so Spencer let the shorter girl continue to use hers.

At the rear Sarah and Andrea fought off hoards beautifully. Spencer had suggested the pair leap frog one another. One would sprint a distance back while the other fought the closest pursuers. Once the sprinter was set the roles would switch and the cycle would begin again. Retreating from an active fight was risky, but no two engies were better suited for the job than Sarah and Andrea. Lifesteal and health regen kept them moving and kept them in fighting condition even as hellhounds or faceless ones scored a hit when they turned to run.

Spencer remained with the police officer. Between Spencer and the officer’s wife they managed to keep him moving throughout the mess. Spencer made sure to keep an eye on both ends of the line just in case one of his team needed extra help. Not that he could do much without his weapon, but still it would pay to be aware of his surroundings.

Even through all of the fighting and coordinating one question dominated Spencer’s mind.

What was the cost to bring Andrea back?

There was no info-box after he activated the ability. No warning. Not even an indicator. Spencer checked everywhere he could think of, but as far as he could tell nothing had changed. His credit count remained the same, his quests remained the same, the contents of the store remained the same, his backpack remained the same, and even his body still had all of its limbs.

It should have been a relief, but a sinking feeling in Spencer’s gut told him that his ability wasn’t as free as it seemed.

A few blocks away from the Chili’s and the number of pursuers began to dwindle. They were out of the main commercial stretch of the city and were close to entering the neighborhoods just sound of where Spencer lived. When the last faceless one fell to Sarah’s blade Spencer made the call to find a rooftop somewhere. There were still plenty of hellhounds on the hunt, but if they made it onto a roof the dogs would eventually lose interest. 

It was Anny who found a convenient way on top of an In-N-Out restaurant. Spencer initially wanted to decline the option as it didn’t offer as much cover on top, but right next door to the burger chain sat a California State Highway Patrol center. When things calmed down it might be a good spot to look for a replacement weapon. That alone tipped Spencer’s opinion.

It didn’t take long to get everyone up. The hellhounds all growled menacingly, but lacked the ability to climb up after them. The high afternoon sun beat down on the group, but they were alive.

Unexpectedly, Andrea stood in the center of the group and cleared her throat.

“If I could get all of the enhanced humans to the side, I’d like to have a discussion.” The red haired engie requested with her arms folded over her police vest. Her visor was folded away, but the tall young woman’s eyes were hard to read.

The rescued civilians moved to the side respectfully and Andrea turned her attention to Spencer.

“I would never forbid you from listening, commander, but this is a conversation I’d like to have with my fellow engies if you don’t mind.” Andrea smiled gently.

Spencer nodded. His curiosity was piqued, but he trusted her enough not to pry.

“All right.” He sat down next to the drive-through archway. “Just let me know when you’re done.”