14th March 2011, Egypt/Sudan border - 1706 local time

Tala ducked as another grenade sent a wall of sand cascading towards him and his platoon. The rescue mission had gone well – the two platoons had airlifted the casualties and seven hostages to safety and the Silver Wolves were left to cover the final retreat. He pulled back, level with his second-in-command. “Any lost?”

“None yet, sir!” he answered with a brief salute.

“Yet being the important word,” drawled another soldier. Tala smirked.

“Always the pessimist, Spencer,” Tala said. He looked over the sand bags and scowled. “Shit,” he murmured. “Please say that’s a mirage.”

Spencer swore as well at the large number of black clad soldiers that were approaching. Tala frowned.

“There’s no way we can fight with just us. Spread the word, retreat on my signal.”

The second-in command nodded and vanished. Spencer edged closer. “The General will be pissed when we get back.”

“I don’t care. He’d be pissed if we all got shot.” Tala peered through the sand and his eyes widened as a voice drifted across the desert.

“Well met Tala! Well met… long time no see, ne?”

Tala fumbled and swallowed. “Shit…”

“Boris,” Spencer murmured.

Tala punched the floor. “I thought he was dead!”

“Obviously not.”

“Spencer get back into ranks.”

“But…”

“That’s an order!”

He gave a quick salute and slipped away. Tala took the risk and stood up.

“What do you want, bastard?” he asked.

“A little of this, a little of that and maybe the world on the side. I’ve worked hard enough to get it.”

Tala scowled. “Don’t you get it? How many times have you been thwarted? Three?” Tala laughed. “Not a very good track record is it? Do your cronies know you were defeated by a bunch of thirteen year olds eight years ago?”

Boris’s face contorted in rage. “Well it looks like you’ll be defeated, Tala Ivanov. How are you going to feel knowing you led your platoon to death?”

“I wouldn’t know, they’re not going to die.” Tala raised his arm and gave a quick jab downwards. There was a frantic rustling and the clank of guns against belts as his platoon fled.

Boris scowled. “Open fire!” he yelled.

Tala smirked and raised his hands. The bullets were caught in a thick wall of ice. Tala looked over his shoulder, still holding his hands up to support the shield. He heard the rumble of trucks and someone’s yell.

“Tala!” It was Spencer. “Tala, come on!”

Tala shook his head. “Just go! Go now!”

“No way! I’m not leaving you here!”

“You have to! Follow orders for once you stubborn twit!” Tala looked up. The corners of the wall were rapidly melting despite his efforts.

The truck rumble faded into the distance and Tala gave a small smile. “Goodbye old friend.” He lowered his hands and staggered. The ice wall crumbled without its support and melted into the sand.

There was a distinctive chuckle, one Tala knew all too well. “That was a nice little trick you pulled, Tala,” Boris sneered. He grabbed the army leader by the scruff of his neck and Tala let his head roll back. His eyes fell in and out of focus in exhaustion. Boris laughed again.

“Might as well keep you as a consolation prize.” He dropped Tala and the redhead crumpled to the floor, breathing harsh. “Knock him out and bring him back to quarters. I may have some use for him yet.”

Tala coughed and icy blue eyes went blank as a club hit the back of his head. A small word escaped parched lips, unnoticed by his captors.

“Rei…”

Bay City – Japan, 1447 local time

Spencer pelted down the drive way of the Japanese mansion still in his desert combats. His blond hair was flying about his face and he skidded to a halt, hammering on the office door.

“Hiwatari, open up!” he shouted. “Kai!”

The door clicked open and he was faced with Bryan. The Falcon raised an eyebrow. “What are you doing here? I thought you were in Egypt.”

“I was, it’s bad. Where’s Kai?”

Bryan frowned. “Get inside, you’re out of breath. Do you want something to drink?”

Spencer shook his head, held back tears escaping and trailing down his cheek. Bryan looked shocked and worried and quickly showed Spencer to Kai’s study.

Bryan knocked and entered. Kai was sat at a large hardwood desk, back to them in a large leather chair. “As much as I love you Bryan, how many times have I told you not to disturb me when I’m working?”

“This is serious,” Bryan said, shutting the door behind Spencer with a soft click. Kai swivelled around on his chair and his eyes widened behind his glasses. “What’s happened?” he said quickly.

Spencer swallowed. “Bad news or very bad news?”

“Bad news.”

“Boris isn’t dead. He was in the Sudan with a pile of soldiers – we reckon he was behind the rebellion.”

“And the very bad news?” Kai said, his voice almost a whisper.

Spencer wiped his face and looked at Kai sadly. “Tala’s been taken hostage.”

Kai covered his face with his hands and Bryan swore fluently. “Boris won’t treat him nicely. Not after he blew up those labs in South Africa.”

“How am I going to tell Rei?” Kai said. His voice sounded nasal and it cracked on the last syllable. Bryan hesitantly went to Kai’s side, unsure of what to do and settled for resting a hand on the bluenette’s shoulder. Kai pulled off his glasses and wiped his face, sniffing loudly.

“What exactly happened?” Bryan demanded from Spencer. His voice was shaky too – he and Tala were very close. Spencer swallowed.

“Four platoons were sent to rescue seven hostages from the Sudan. We had two helicopters and a harrier on stand by for backup. Everything was going fine – we hadn’t lost anybody, there were a few grenades but the hostages were rescued and packed off with the other three platoons. Tala volunteered to cover from behind and we were just holding off some rebels when Boris appeared with a whole bunch of soldiers armed to the teeth.”

“Shit…” Bryan said. Spencer nodded.

“Tala signalled the retreat before Boris opened fire… then Tala did that wall thingy, I can’t remember what it’s called he hasn’t used his ice powers in an age!”

Bryan took several deep breaths and swallowed. “That would have used a bundle of energy – not only has he had little practise there’s no water to manipulate. He’s be supporting it all himself.”

Spencer sat down sharply and grabbed his hair with his hands. “I knew I should have stayed. But he said for us to go! Then he dropped the wall as soon as we were out of range.”

“Did you hear anymore gunshots?” Kai asked, praying that Tala had been killed swiftly.

“None.”

Kai swore. “Then he’s going through hell.”

Bryan looked at a space on the wall blankly, still kneeling by Kai, a hand on his shoulder. “Half of me wants him to be alive but…”

“The other half wants him to have a quick end. I know.” Kai saved the spreadsheets and documents on the computer before shutting down and leaning heavily on the desk. He picked up a photo frame and two tears escaped down his cheeks. Tala was grinning wolfishly, his eyes sparkling with laughter as he held Kai by the scarf and Bryan around his neck with his arm. Spencer was in the background, smiling slightly. Kai swallowed and wiped his face.

Oh Tala… he thought. Please be alright…

Rei looked up from his SuDoKu puzzle when there was a sharp rapping at the door. Frowning slightly as he padded to the door, he wondered who would be looking for him at this time. His bare feet sunk in the thick plush carpet and he slid the chain on the lock before opening it. Seeing who was outside he quickly undid the catch and flung the door open. “Kai? Bryan?” He swallowed and took a small step back. “Spencer?” Rei took a shuddering breath and rested his hand on the wall. “He’s dead, isn’t he?”

Bryan and Kai exchanged glances and Kai cleared his throat. “Not exactly.”

“Not exactly? Damn it Kai! What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Tears slid down Rei’s cheeks and Bryan quickly pushed him inside, not wanting to wake the rest of the apartment dwellers up.

“It means he’s been taken hostage,” Spencer answered quietly. Rei fell back onto the sofa with a small “Oh Ancestors,” escaping his lips.

Kai edged closer to his friend and rested a hand on his shoulder. Out of all the Bladebreakers Rei had been closest to Kai due to his clear-headedness and calm demeanour. Tyson may have been the first to break Kai’s walls but Rei was the first inside them. They’d even had a relationship for several months until they both decided to split – it was easier as close friends. Rei gave a shuddering sigh a pulled a photo of Tala from the inside of the book he was currently reading. Tala was in his army uniform, smiling and saluting to the camera, Rei pulled into his body with the redhead’s free arm. Rei smiled slightly and two tears splashed the photograph. He cleared his throat twice to get himself under control and looked at Kai. “Do you…” he swallowed. “Do you know who’s taken him?”

Kai faltered and his mouth opened and shut uselessly once or twice before speaking again. “Boris.”

Rei’s lip wobbled and his golden eyes blurred. “Oh Gods!” he sobbed. Kai pulled him into his arms and rocked him as the neko-jin sobbed into his shirt, gently rubbing his back.

Rei pulled away a few moments later, his eyes puffy and red from crying. He sat backwards, pushing Kai away and lifted his slim hands to the kanji pendant around his neck. The kanji was the symbol of love delicately made from solid silver. He fiddled with it for a bit longer before closing his eyes and sighing. “Thanks for telling me… let’s just pray he has a quick end. Not unless…” He looked at Spencer hopefully.

The burly lieutenant saluted. “Kenny’s already tracking him on his new machine and there’s a bundle of volunteers ready to rescue him, Rei. It’s the least he deserves.”

Rei gave a small smile. “He’ll freak though.”

Spencer smirked. “At least we’ll know he’s alive. Get some rest, Rei. We’re taking you to Egypt this evening.”

Rei nodded. “I’ll see you later then.”

Kai pulled Rei into his arms and the two men gripped each other tightly. They touched cheeks before parting and Bryan gripped Rei’s arm in silent farewell. Rei shut the door behind them and rushed to the bedroom. He collapsed on the bed and buried his face in the pillows to muffle his mournful sobs.

On the bedroom cabinet, two bit chips glowed, one blue and one green. Driger gave a roar audible to all sacred spirits and Wolborg howled, each spreading the word across the world.

Tala grunted as he was flung against the wall. Blood dripped slowly from rapidly clotting wounds and some trickled down his face. He focused two icy eyes on his tormentors and doubled over as a well placed kick hit his stomach, winding him.

“Enjoying yourself, Tala?” a smooth voice asked.

Tala looked up and smirked slightly. “Immensely,” he rasped before he was kicked down again.

Boris sighed. “I must say I’m disappointed. I thought I taught you to fight back?”

“I’m not going to entertain you.”

“I thought not. Well we’ll see what your little army friends say when I broadcast to them later. How does public torture sound?”

“You’re sick,” Tala spat.

“All in a day’s work, Tala.” Boris rose from his chair with a laugh. “Shut him in his cell, gentlemen. Save some for later.”

Tala was thrown against the wall of the small cell and his crumpled to the floor. The door shut and he was immersed in darkness. He pulled his knees to his chest and curled in the corner, ignoring the protests from his muscles and cuts.

Was this is? Was this how he was going to die? Tortured and beaten like an animal? He sighed and closed his eyes. He wasn’t sure what he wanted his comrades to do. Rescue was their profession but he didn’t want them risking themselves for him.

Then again it would show off their skills if they could pull it off.

i If being the word /i , Tala thought with a sigh before dropping off into much needed sleep.

15th March, NATO Rescue Camp – Egypt, 0917 local time

Rei watched from his seat in the shadows as people bustled back and forth. Kenny was typing frantically at his computer and a large screen flashed with a picture of the Egyptian border with bright points of light marking platoons and squadrons. Suddenly there was a shout from a technician in front of the screen.

“Sir! Transmission coming in!”

Kenny jumped up. “Put it on the screen and start tracing! Now!”

The large screen flickered and a large cavernous room appeared it was a good transmission and Kenny’s group of hackers quickly locked on to tracking the source. Kai and Bryan rushed into the room and Spencer looked up from his maps. Rei edged forwards out of the shadows to get a better look.

There was a soft laugh, one that Rei knew well but it lacked humour. “You were always vain, Boris,” Tala murmured off screen.

There was a cracking sound of flesh on flesh and a growl. “Shut up, weakling. Let me send your friends a message.”

The camera swivelled around and focused on Tala and Boris. Tala was chained to the wall but his arms and his clothes were in tatters. He smirked slightly at the camera and his eyes fell in and out of focus. “You really think they’re gonna just hand everything over to you?”

“I said shut up!”

Tala chuckled again. “Make me.”

“Don’t tempt me, Ivanov.”

“Sir!” it was one of the technician’s at the front. “Signal source from the Marra Mountains, sir!”

Spencer quickly vanished into the shadows at Kenny’s nod to alert the rescue team that was on stand by. The Silver Wolves hadn’t rested properly since their captain was taken and they were going to get him back.

Rei was torn between pride and worry – pride at Tala’s quick comebacks but worry that Boris was getting more and more infuriated. Boris made his wishes known – he wanted the Four Sacred Spirits, Dranzer, Dragoon, Driger and Draciel.

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Ooooh! Excitement and drama – almost completely AU, my first Tal/Rei and Kai/Bry – what d’ya think? Should I keep going?

Second chapter of Winter’s Salvation coming soon too:D