Prologue


Eighteen Years after the fall of the Locust


A plan, if constructed to perfection, was only worth doing if there was a hundred percent chance of success. Call it foolish, but this was the mindset of Jaime Wilks and something he had invested significant time and effort into. The product of which resulted in him standing on a stage in the middle of the city staring back at the expectant gathering. Glancing down at a scrap of paper clenched in his hand, he took a breath and cleared his throat.

I'm going to destroy them all.

"I am responsible for myself and my actions; I shall conduct myself honourably, and live a clean and frugal life. I have responsibilities to my fellow citizens. I shall be loyal to them, and humble, because we are elements of a greater whole, and without them I am nothing."

He paused a moment, using the time to play the crowd to his favour. He knew these words signified the importance of unity, to be part of a bigger existence, and every single gullible human standing at his mercy believed he would be their protection.

There was a time when he would have felt a quiver of regret, wondered if he was doing the right thing. But not anymore. Not after witnessing the pointless slaughter of innocent Outsiders for no other reason than being born to families who chose to live their lives outside the walls of New Ephyra.

He swallowed back the lump of aggression that threatened to emerge. A feeling that made him sick to his stomach, a twisting hatred that massed within him that turned his innards black.

It hadn't been an easy plan to piece together. He had spent many a day watching the movements of different squads to pick out the perfect target. Someone who held resentment within them, someone curious enough to step away from their responsibility to sample the Outsider world. Someone he could easily manipulate.

He glanced back at the person in question. A Lieutenant, born and raised outside the COG but circumstances had driven him into their clutches. He was an outsider at heart, but he was loyal to responsibility. He took his job seriously, a formidable soldier, but he was desperate for acceptance. And Jaime was going to squeeze him dry.

"I have responsibilities to our society; I shall understand and respect my place in it, defend it, and work to make it prosperous, so that I may receive society's protection, and that we may hand on safety and prosperity to future generations."

He finished his oath with a flourish, forcing the uninterested crowd to believe the words he promised them. Convincing them that he had seen the error of his birth, that the COG way was the only way. He had bowed to the dominant power.

They'll never know what hit them.

He stepped off the plinth and was met with offered hands of acceptance, as the Officers welcomed him to their world. A blur of unfamiliar and entitled faces as they gripped his hand and thumped his back. He worked his way down the line soaking in their words of welcome. His plan was working perfectly.

Something moved in the corner of his eye, and he glanced across at the crowd. A mixture of indifferent faces reflected back at him. He shook his head to compose himself and took his seat amongst the recruits. What had he seen that had unnerved him?

Then he saw it again, or maybe they allowed themselves to be seen. Wild dark curls that fell over her shoulders and dark eyes that matched his. His stomach plummeted at the sight, and he clutched a hand over his mouth. He lurched from his chair and stumbled through his unit, staggering towards the men's cubicles where he dropped over the nearest toilet and vomited the contents of his stomach.

Not her. Anyone but her.

"Shit," he grumbled as his guts squirmed again forcing another surge out.

There was a knock on the outside of the cubicles, and an accented voice called to him.

"Are you okay Private Wilks?"

Jaime groaned as he clutched the toilet bowl.

"Jaime?" he could hear the concern in his Lieutenant's tone, the sucker genuinely liked him.

"She's here," he moaned back in response.

"Bloody hell! You saw her?"

"Standing in the crowd, just staring at me," he shivered at the memory.

"Why is she even in the city?"

"Probably to make a point, to threaten me,"

He heard the Lieutenant let out a sigh as he worked out his options.

"Once you feel up to it get yourself cleaned up and head to the party at the mansion when the ceremony ends,"

"What about her?"

"Concentrate on yourself, let me deal with her,"

Jaime nodded to himself listening to his Lieutenant's footsteps march away. So many months constructing this perfect plan and she was the only one who could threaten its success. Which was why he had worked hard at blackening her integrity, painting her into the villain. At every opportunity he forced situations that would result in her and his Lieutenant clashing. He poisoned every chance for them to understand one another until any chance of an alliance between them was destroyed. He made his Lieutenant believe that she was the one threatening the safety of New Ephyra. Incited her outrage when he made his family think the Lieutenant had lured him away from his family for the COG.

He was not going to allow his twin sister to get the better of him this time.


The one thing Aliana Wilks had decided, as she navigated her way through the symmetrical streets of New Ephyra, was that there were too many people in this city. The squash and bustle of excited civilians were almost too much for her Outsider mind to comprehend. So many times she had wanted to turn around and leave, but her desire to find him one last time drove her onwards. She knew the danger she put herself in, being the daughter of an Outsider ex-COG soldier painted a massive target on her head. But she was smart. She knew how to keep a low profile. She just wanted to see him, she needed to warn him. She'd deal with her father's wrath later.

The crowds gravitated towards the city centre where a colossal podium towered over the civilians. She sighed, typical of the COG to thrust their status in the faces of those ill-educated to know the difference. She dug through the crowds, ducking and diving under elbows to gain a vantage point of the recruits.

Her stomach dropped at the sight. Her twin brother towering over the mass of civilians pledging his loyalty to them. She could hear them around her, muttering it word by word under their collective breaths as they soaked in his treachery.

Damnit

She clenched her fists and searched the platform further, picking out different Officers she didn't recognise. All of them ignorant to the false recruit before their eyes.

Taking things into her hands, she made the decision. She had to make herself visible. Just a glimpse. A threat as such, to let him know that she was watching his every move. She darted forward, sidling through the crowd, so she was close enough to be seen. She edged a little closer, eyes fixed on him burning a hole through his blackened soul. Then, sure enough, he cast a look at her, his brow creasing in recognition before he lunged from his seat and fled.

She dropped back from the crowd, weaving her way to the safety of an alleyway as a squadron of robots marched in her direction. She hid behind a disposal unit, pressing against the wall and dropping to the floor. Rubbing her hands over her face, she let out a heavy sigh. It had taken every strength within her to defy her family and travel to New Ephyra in the hope that one person would listen to her.

And now she was here, she didn't know how she was going to do it. Would he even believe her when he had nurtured a relationship with the one person she was going to warn him about?

As she saw it, she had two choices now. Flee back to Sanctuary with her tail between her legs in the hope that she had scared Jaime enough to rethink his actions, or find a way to make her target see sense.

The crowd had begun to disperse from the square. Some headed towards a large mansion playing loud triumphant music. The party to celebrate the admission of the new recruits. How she was going to find him amongst the COG elite, she had no idea. But she wasn't ready to give up.

Using her height, or lack of, to her advantage she surged back out into the crowds, casually drifting from one group of civilians to the next until she reached safety down another alley. From her hiding place, she watched the people chatting among themselves, and she worked out her tactics. As she attempted her next plunge into the crowds, a surge of civilians cut her off going in the opposite direction and dragged her backwards. She struggled against them, like fighting a strong current, making little headway. The sheer volume of bodies yanked her away despite her protests. She felt herself drown amongst them just as a hand grabbed hold of her and pulled toward the safety of the side street. She stifled a yelp as another hand wrapped themselves around her waist and drew her to them. She dared herself to gaze upwards at a pair of familiar honey coloured eyes.

"You," she allowed herself to finally breathe as her heart hammered in her chest.

"Ali," he paused taking her features in as if committing her to memory, "what are you doing here?"

"I came to find you,"

"Are you crazy?" he placed a hand on her cheek, "they would have killed you if they found you."

"Sul, I needed to warn you,"

He paused a moment, his hearing tuned in on something beyond their conversation and he placed a finger to his lips to silence her. Quietly he stepped in front of her, casually hitching his elbow against the wall to hide her from a small group of female recruits. They approached him excitedly, as you would expect a group of teenage girls eager to please their young teacher.

"Lieutenant Ward," they chorused.

"Recruits," he acknowledged them with a nod.

"We thought that was you. Sir, are you going to the party?"

"I'll be there shortly, you should head over before the Majors notice you're missing,"

"Yes sir!" they chanted and marched off in bouts of giggles.

As he let out a sigh of relief he felt Aliana's arm wrap itself around his waist, "I think you have admirers."

"Like that matters," he whirled around and pushed her against the wall, he heard her breath leave her lungs at the impact as her vision flicked up to him. He leaned down and kissed her fiercely, forcing a moan to rumble from her throat before she returned the sentiment. As his lips plucked reluctantly from hers, he cast his eyes to her eyelashes, drawn shut as if in lingering remembrance of their contact. He traced a finger under her chin before running it over her pinkened lips, resisting the desire to kiss her again, "damnit Aliana, why did you have to come here and drive me crazy."

Finally, her eyes flashed open, fixing him with an intense look that seemed to offset him from their encounter.

"You're in danger Sul,"

"What do you mean?"

"We need to talk, privately,"

He shook his head, "I'm expected at the mansion, they'll notice if I'm not there. And Jaime will be waiting."

"Sullivan..." her words were soft, understanding of his situation, but she was desperate, "please, I beg you."

He thoughtfully placed a hand on the wall as he deliberated, "if I hid you somewhere, would you wait for me?"

"If it meant you listening to me, of course,"

"No matter how degrading the place is?"

A frown etched across her forehead as she met his eyes, "Sullivan do you not understand how important it is that I talk to you."

"Okay, come with me,"

He took her by the hand and led her into the streets, winding between civilians until he arrived at a building hidden down a myriad of alleys. From the doorway, several ladies busied themselves in readiness for the evening's civilities. They all looked beautiful, dressed in a mixture of silk and lace with their hair pinned up high.

Aliana tugged his arm back and gave him a panicked look. What was she doing here, this wasn't a place for her. He interlinked his fingers between hers and drew her closer.

"Please trust me," he uttered gently, and every part of her believed his honesty.

An older lady, with a mane of brunette hair that hung seductively over half of her face, met them at the door. She crossed her arms over her chest as she assessed them.

"Please don't tell me you're bringing ladies over to my house now, Sullivan. We don't play that way remember," Aliana couldn't help noticing that her accent had a similar lilt to his.

"I'm sorry, but I need somewhere safe to keep my friend until I return. You're the only one I can trust,"

"Hefty words considering where you live, Lieutenant Ward. You should watch how loud you express that, ears are everywhere,"

"Will you help me?"

"Of course I will, I have a room where I can keep her hidden until you return,"

The woman offered a hand to Aliana and patiently awaited her acceptance. She swallowed nervously as she noticed the ladies in lace bodices and curvaceous skirts watching them curiously from the doorway.

"It's beneath the COG to search a whore house for an Outsider rebel. You'll be safe with me, child,"

"How did you?.." Aliana frowned as she took a step forward and her fingers slipped from his.

"Everything about you screams Outsider,"

"Oh," she self consciously glanced down at her clothing.

"But don't you worry about that, I don't judge here," the woman successfully managed to herd Aliana inside before Sullivan could say anything further.

Aliana glanced back at him before allowing herself to be bundled up the stairs, apologising to each skirt hem she stepped on. Eventually, she was sent to a room and the door shut after her. The sound of the key in the door was the final reminder that she was entirely at the mercy of a group of strangers.


Lieutenant Sullivan Ward knew he was playing a dangerous game. But then from the moment he was born to a poor family from the South Islands his life had become one giant gamble. He had chosen to embrace his heritage rather than the oppressive COG. When the Lambent murdered his parents at the age of four he still stubbornly remained true to himself. Even after the destruction of the Locust he and his grandmother kept to themselves travelling the Outlands and fending for each other. Her death had all but destroyed him, and he no longer had it in him to fight off the COG's constant pressure.

But at the age of twenty-three here he was, a Lieutenant, leader of the Night Squad and tasked with training the new recruits. He hated that his life had brought him to this.

Things had changed the moment he encountered Jaime. There was something about him that he wanted to believe in, an offer of friendship that he had yearned for all his life. The emptiness within him somehow felt fulfilled, and the more Jaime pushed him for information about his life and the COG, the more he wanted to oblige him.

He had known for a long while that Jaime was manipulating the tension between him and Aliana. At first, he thought it jealousy, that the brother didn't want his twin sister involved with his plaything. But the more he got to know him the more he realised that Jaime viewed Aliana as a threat. To what, he wasn't overly sure. Jaime forced them into arguments about pitiful issues and encouraged him to hurt her. Sullivan struggled to work out why an eighteen-year-old teen was so scared of his sister that he resorted to violence.

The moment he made the decision to reach out to Aliana, after one particularly fierce argument, he knew he was done for. What he'd been led to believe about her was all incorrect. Cultivating a forbidden friendship behind Jaime's back had been so wrong, and yet, from the moment their friendship had developed into something more, so damn right.

His life had turned into one long tactical event, hiding secrets from so many people. And yet he knew he could remain honest with her. The one person he'd allow to see him for who he really was.

As he casually jogged towards the mansion, straightening out his uniform before entering, he took a beat to shake himself back into the real world. To exude the exterior of a Lieutenant that knew what he was doing. He nodded to the collection of guests as he entered, slowing his pace to a leisurely stroll and began his mingling.

It wasn't that Sullivan hated big parties, there was once a time when he loved his fair share of music and dancing, but here all he saw was pretence and fakery. The recruits were lined up like gladiators being assessed for battle as the higher ranked officials plied them with alcohol to see who dropped first. Like a sick game of dare. He remembered his time like a horrific flashback. The stronger the drink, the higher the display of dominance. The longer you lasted, the more chances you had with the higher-ups.

He caught sight of Jaime along the lineup, several women flirting around him. He couldn't help notice that the Private didn't look overly uncomfortable with the situation. Deciding to save him regardless he headed over.

"Ladies," He tipped his drink in recognition, "I apologise for the inconvenience, but I need to borrow Private Wilks for a moment."

They were reluctant at first but soon their attention drew to the next eligible male, and they moved on.

"I didn't think they were ever gonna leave," Jaime muttered back, "not that I would have refused them."

"Trust me, you don't want to go losing your virginity to those women. I know from experience,"

"And that's you assuming I still have it,"

"A worrying image to have in my head,"

"And yet you're the one that brought it up,"

Sullivan indicated to the door, "come on, let's go for a breath of air."

"Did you find her?" Jaime asked, leaning against him with the alcohol swimming through his body.

"Yes, and she's been dealt with. You have no reason to be concerned, she won't return,"

"That's a relief to hear,"

As they casually entered the courtyard, a rush of cooling air met them at the door, a group of four men acknowledged them. Sullivan stiffened as he glanced up and gave them his best smile. It took him a moment to steel himself before he led Jaime over. Every part of them oozed wealth and breeding. From their perfectly tailored officer's uniform to their similar styled hair; short cropped and slicked back. Sullivan, with his longer than regulation chestnut hair and tribal tattoo that dominated the entire left side of his body, seemed out of place in comparison. If this wasn't an indication that he didn't belong here, nothing would come close.

"Jaime, I'd like to introduce you to my squad. Connor, Alun, Nait and Victor,"

"You know, you can just call us the Night Squad," Connor, the tallest of the four, stepped forward and offered a hand, "we've heard a lot about you, Private Wilks."

Jaime flushed in embarrassment as he accepted the offered hand, shaking it eagerly, "I must say I've heard a lot about you four also. Sullivan's talked much about the Night Squad and his team. It's part of the reason I wanted to join the COG."

Connor gave him an impressed nod of approval, "I look forward to seeing what you can bring to the table."

"Trust me, you won't be disappointed," Jaime smirked, glancing back at Sullivan who had seemed to tune out of the conversation.

"Are we boring you, Sully?" Alun asked as he nabbed another glass from a circulating bot with a tray of offered alcohol.

"Of course not," Sullivan responded, his expression remained the same, "I'm just keeping an ear on the recruits being harassed by those men."

He nodded in the direction of the young female recruits now cornered beside the hedge, their nervous laughter served as a warning to Sullivan that they'd long lost control of the situation. He excused himself from his group to intervene, leaving Jaime with the Night Squad.

"There he goes, off to play hero again," Nait muttered, downing his glass before turning his attention to Jaime, "so you're Lieutenant Ward's little Outsider prodigy."

Jaime tutted in response, "I wouldn't liken myself to anything of the sort. Lieutenant Ward likes to think he can control me, but I know where I stand."

Connor gave him a look, "oh really? You care to explain?"

Jaime glanced across at Sullivan for a moment before glancing back, "I have a reason to believe that Lieutenant Ward might not be as perfect as he's led everyone to believe."

"You realise to talk such slanderous words against your training Lieutenant is grounds for treason, I can have you court-martialled for much less,"

"And yet you won't," Jaime gave him a confident look, "because I know you want him taken down even more than I do."

The squad exchanged looks between themselves before fixing on Connor.

"I'm listening," he answered, no hint of emotion in his voice.

"Find me after Lieutenant Ward leaves for the night, then we can talk in detail," without further explanation Jaime headed towards Sullivan to join in the conversation with the grateful recruits.


It had taken longer than he expected to escape the party and he'd done everything in his power to leave early. But still, it seemed for nothing. A single candle remained alight in the room. Bathed in the gentle flickering light with blankets folded neatly back over the end of the bed, Aliana slumbered on top of the sheets.

There was a stirring in the pit of his belly as he quietly approached her, tenderly running his fingers along the warmth of her body. He leant across, gently plucking her mass of dark curls and planted a kiss on the nape of her neck. She let out a slight moan, the sensation of his nearness drawing her towards consciousness.

He couldn't process the swirl of emotions that his heart wanted him to understand. The universe wanted them to be enemies, but why did he feel so complete when he was with her? Being with her was jeopardising the friendship he was cultivating with Jaime, and if the COG ever found out, he would be court-martialled for sure.

Yet he was willing to risk it all for her.

He slid his arms out of his jacket and draped it over the chair in the corner of the room, he unhooked his braces over his arms and carefully unbuttoned the first few buttons on his shirt. Letting out an audible sigh he dropped heavily to the bed. The mattress rippled in response to his added weight and Aliana let out a groan.

She sleepily lifted her head, wild curls swept in different directions, hazily assessing the room before glancing behind her at him.

"I fell asleep? How long have I been out?"

"You're okay, I've only just returned," he heaved his feet out of his boots and tossed them across the room then hoisted himself fully onto the bed, resting his head on the pillow and hooking his hands behind them.

"Long night?" She sat up, tucking her feet under her as she twisted to face him.

"Long enough,"

"I thought you enjoyed being around people,"

"Actual human beings, not people pushing their political agenda at every breath. I spent half my time warding off unwanted attention from the recruits,"

"Sounds... fun?"

"Keep telling yourself that," he rubbed his hands over his face, and let out a yawn before clearing his throat and addressing her, "so you wanted to talk?"

She studied him a moment, he was exhausted that was obvious, but there would never be a right time for her to broach the subject with him.

"You said I'm in danger, you care to elaborate?" he pushed again, shuffling up on to the bed till he was half sitting, "your father out to wage war against me because I stole his precious boy from him?"

"Well yes, but that's not the pressing issue,"

"I wish he had listened to me, Jaime made those decisions without my interference. He came to me,"

"Sul please,"

"I mean, your entire family blamed me. And even you couldn't defend me. I've never felt more alone in my life," he looked lost.

"Hey," Aliana shuffled up the mattress and placed a hand on his chest, "I'm on your side. Why do you think I'm here now."

He took her hand in his, drawing it to his lips where he planted a kiss on the back.

"Talk to me, Ali," his eyes drew to her holding them in his gaze.

She opened his mouth to respond, hesitating until he squeezed her hands to encourage her, "It's Jaime."

A frown creased its way across his forehead, she could see the wall coming up instantly, "what about him."

"Jaime's dangerous Sul. I've been watching him for months, and I'm sure he's up to something,"

"So this is just a feeling," his fingers drew away from her, she was losing him bit by bit.

"It's more than that, why can't anyone see that. Jaime is out for blood, and he's going to take you down with it,"

"Bullshit,"

His words surprised her, but she kept her resolve.

"Jaime sought you out remember, he dragged you to our village. Why would he do that unless he wanted to involve you somehow,"

"Will you stop this already," he sat up and swung his legs off the bed, "this is the story I hear from Jaime on a daily basis. Except he's saying it about you. He says you're dangerous that you're a threat to the COG and that you'll drag me down with you."

She stared back at him as he strode across the room in frustration. He clenched his fists as he took a breath and swung round towards her.

"I've never had any reason to distrust Jaime, he's had my back, even when your family turned on me. He's the one good thing that matters in this place,"

"And what about me?" the words slipped out of her mouth before she even realised it.

"I'm not fooling myself, Ali, you and I will never be more than whatever the hell this is. Because we're too loyal to our own causes."

"Fair enough," she twisted herself out and shuffled off the bed, pulling on her boots one by one.

He watched with a frown, "what are you doing?"

"You've made your position clear, Sul. I've tried to warn you, but you won't listen to me. So I'm leaving with my dignity intact,"

As she headed to the door, he raced towards it and blocked her path. She gave him a look.

"What are you doing?"

"Stopping you,"

"Why?"

"Because I'm not ready to let you go yet,"

She shook her head as she tried to push past him, but he stopped her, nudging her backwards. She growled to herself and tried again, only to be forced back.

"Damnit Sul," launching forward, he grabbed hold of her, keeping her locked in his embrace. She struggled in his hold, "please, you need to let me go."

He always marvelled at how unfazed she was at his height and strength. She held her own regardless of his size.

"If I release you now, you and I will be over. And I'm not willing to let go yet,"

She let out a stuttered sigh, eyes drifting upwards to meet his, "Sullivan, you can't have us both."

"What if I told you that my heart wants you," his voice dropped to a low rumble.

"Well, then you're more of a fool than I thought you..." he trapped her mouth with his own, one hand sliding up to cradle her head. He felt her body go rigid as he trailed his kisses down to her neck until he could hear her gasp, and her voice mewled a response, "Sullivan."

"Tell me you want to leave, and I'll release you," his words teased at her ears and he felt her knees buckling.

"Sullivan," she gasped, hands now pressed against his chest.

His lips plucked gently at her neck, he could sense her will to fight against him slowly ebb. He returned to her mouth, and she met him with eagerness, her fingers gripping his shirt for leverage and forced him backwards. He staggered back until his legs hit the bed and they buckled over it, a tangle of limbs heaving and gasping.

She sat astride him and pulled away, her face flushed. It took him a couple of minutes for his brain to function. He glanced back at her, and she responded with a sad smile.

"It's time we move on, we both know that,"

He sat up quickly, before she could move from his lap, and embraced her.

"I don't think I can," he whispered back.

"Oh Sul," she was thankful that he couldn't see the tears that forced themselves out, escaping down her cheek. She allowed herself to be held, the sound of his heartbeat the only thing keeping her going. For she held a secret of her own. And the reason why she was holding back from opening herself to him. Within the gentle swell of her abdomen, under the protective embrace of its parents, grew a tiny life, it's heart already beating a rhythm that would signify its strength and influence the decisions its mother would make even now. So for one last time, she allowed herself and Sullivan to believe that they were a normal couple. That everything would be okay. Even though she knew that their fates would skew in different directions.

Eventually, she drew from him and headed towards the door, pausing to glance back at his forlorn look.

"Please promise me that you'll heed my warning,"

He nodded sadly, "yes."

She fought with herself for a moment before striding quickly over to him and stealing a kiss before he could stop her. She straightened up and walked to the door before speaking again.

"You realise that everything Jaime said about me is right. I am a danger to the COG, but you've always known that. Being anywhere near me will endanger your life, and yet you still choose to be here. So if his words carry some truth in them, why can't mine?" She gave him one last look before pressing the handle down and drawing the door open, "But unlike Jaime. I'm on your side."

She let out a sigh before stepping into the corridor to leave his life forever.


Jaime had been waiting. He had a gut feeling that the traitorous Lieutenant had been hiding something. He could read that bastard like a book. And as he watched the door open, his gut instinct paid off.

Her.

He should have known.

He watched her slip into the shadows of the streets and vanish into the expanse of the city. He let her go, she had a part to play in this after all. He couldn't sacrifice her just yet. But now he knew that she and the Lieutenant had been playing him all this time, he was going to use it to his advantage.

A figure emerged from the darkness to stand alongside Jaime.

"It appears you're correct,"

"Would I lie to you?" Jaime smirked to himself as he glanced across at Connor.

"So he did hide her,"

"Like a whore,"

"And how do you want to proceed with this?" Connor crossed his arms and thoughtfully eyed the building.

"We hold the aces, let's keep it like that, play him a little to see how easy it is to hang him with it,"

"It'll be a difficult one, he's popular with the recruits. Does a good job with them. I struggle to see how an ex-Outsider is going to blacken that credibility,"

Jaime shrugged, "we want the same thing. I'm willing to play the long game. What about you?"

Connor turned away, slowly heading toward the shadows before he responded, "You get me what I want, and you'll have our full cooperation."

Jaime felt a smile spread across his face, the steps in his plan were progressing to perfection.


Author's Notes:

Rules First: The oath Jaime recites is the Octus Canon, I cannot claim ownership of this, it belongs purely to the Gears of War franchise and Rod Fergusson. But damn is it good, plus I thought it suited the occasion quite nicely.

That done. Hey folks, thanks for the wait. You still have a little while to go before regular updates, but I thought I'd tease you a little with a prologue because I'm that nice a person. So here we have eighteen years after the fall of the Locust whole new shiny characters who are still connected to my main OCs. In case you are wondering the main story will run alongside Gears 4, so Chapter One will jump ahead six years after this.

I'm interested in reading your opinions, where you think the story might lead, so please share them. If you're worried I have it all plotted out and it's currently plastering my office wall. Way too many diagrams to keep control over. I even have a map. Long story, you'll understand when I post the relevant chapters.

Anyway, enjoy.