In the morning everything resumed as normal, though Oracle could still tell that some people were still trying to recover. Mirage, as usual, was nowhere to be seen, most likely working with those trying coordinate the war that was about to be declared.

The war...

Another war... more death... more cities ravaged, more families torn apart. Oracle started walking again, blending in to the other Bounty Hunters going from place to place.

But this time, I'll be in the middle of it, fighting to save my planet. I'll have a voice in this war, I'll be able to do something about it instead of running and hiding.

Oracle continued to build up the strength in her shoulder, already feeling some of it returning. At about twelve in the afternoon Oracle was called to the main control room where she and Mirage both chose where their units would move into Maklava, Hyperion, Genési, Elysee and Serenitieux.

Those five cities were the ones closest to them, and if they got them under control Necron would have a harder time reaching out to other cities without having going through them first.

She had had some say in what was going on, but the final decision always rested with Mirage. He listened to her though, as she knew he would. They were starting to call all of their units back to their bases. They were getting men organized into platoons, fireteams and companies.

Mirage had started assigning leaders to companies, platoons and fireteams. Fighter pilots were also being assigned their roles if air combat was initiated.

Their first goal would be to get civilians to safety in smaller towns farther away from the five main cities, and any other cities that could potentially be in the path of the war. They were hoping that they would be safe before too much fighting broke out. Oracle knew that that most likely wasn't going to happen.

Reclaimer would attack them as soon as their units started moving into the cities. Mirage had contacted the leaders of each city, and their police forces. They knew what was going on, and hopefully they could get a message to Paragon before Reclaimer cut communication.

Maklava's leaders had been... hesitant to believe them after their battle in the streets, but eventually they saw his true motive, and moved in on him. They said that they would help them in their efforts, and if it came to the war they were preparing for help lessen the damage to the city itself.

It was a relief that they didn't have to fight against the police force. That would have made things ten times harder.

Oracle sighed. She had a headache just thinking about it, and Mirage was the one organizing it all. She tried to help with whatever she could, so he was sharing the weight of his responsibilities with her as well.

He picked me as his second in command, it's what he needs me to do.

Oracle looked at the clock on the wall. It was only 14:27, but it felt like the time had passed far faster than that. Her morning had been spent with Mirage making decisions. She had just eaten, and now had some time to relax.

Oracle reached up and massaged her shoulder. It hurt, a dull, aching throb that reached up into her neck and down to her elbow.

She went in search of an ice pack. She asked Desertfox about it when he was free and he gave her one.

Oracle resisted the urge to sigh as the coolness from the ice pack seeped into her aching muscles. She went to go take a nap, keeping the ice pack on her shoulder while she slept.

When she woke up she found Mirage sitting on the edge of the bed. He looked at her and she raised an eyebrow.

"I didn't want to wake you." He said, moving a strand of hair out of her face.

"How are you feeling?" He asked.

"Sore." She said, sitting up and putting the now warm ice pack down by her feet.

"How are you holding up?" She asked, looking at the bags under his eyes.

"Tired." He said.

"And my body aches in places I never knew could ache."

Oracle grinned.

"I know how that feels."

Oracle moved her arm, trying to get some of the stiffness out of it.

"I know I haven't been around as much the last few days." He said.

"And I'm sorry."

"It's fine." She said, leaning closer to him.

"I understand."

Mirage wrapped an arm around her waste and kissed her, ignoring the sound of people bustling about outside the closed door.

"I love you the same." Oracle whispered when they separated.

"Nothing has changed."

"And I hope nothing will change." Said Mirage.

"Me too. I want to hold on to you for as long as possible."

She moved so that she could curl up and rest her head against Mirage's chest, listening to his heartbeat. The steady rhythm calmed her, let her know that he was there. Mirage wrapped his arms around her, holding her close.

"If I lost you I don't know what I would do." She said, the realization hitting her hard.

"With war so close it's a possibility I don't want to think about."

Mirage tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, looking down at her with caring eyes.

"Me either." He said.

"I don't ever want to let you go. It would be the hardest thing I would ever have to endure."

Oracle smiled a little bit.

"I have someone I can trust, someone I can depend on and lean on, who won't let me down."

Mirage reached down and took her hand, squeezing it reassuringly.

"I won't let you down. I'll always be here."

Oracle and Mirage stayed like this for awhile, neither of them wanting to do anything else. Eventually Mirage had to go to yet another meeting, and disappeared.

Oracle stayed sitting on her bed for a couple moments after he was gone, wishing he was still there. She shook it off and got up, deciding to get a breath of fresh air.

She brought a combat blade and a handgun with, just in case. It never hurt to be cautious. When she emerged into the outdoors she breathed in the scent of pine needles.

The sun was setting, casting scarlet light over the river. No one was out training, everyone would be eating around now.

Oracle turned around when she heard something move behind her, her hand gliding towards her pistol. Her whole body tensed for a fight, adrenaline starting to pound through her body.

Suddenly she caught someone try to tackle her form behind, and she dodged the attacker. She drew her pistol and leveled it at the other Bounty Hunter. Oracle knew that he wasn't one of the Rogues.

He was after her bounty. She shot once, the bullet pinging off his armor. Oracle dodged his second attack, firing again. This time she didn't miss. The bullet hit him in the chest.

She put another bullet in him just to make sure, and looked around for anyone else. She didn't see or hear anyone.

Oracle only saw the shadow of the Bounty Hunter before they slammed into her, knocking her to the ground. The pistol skidded across the rocky ground, too far for her to reach.

Oracle looked up at her attacker. He wore a black vest and pants with armor covering his legs and arms. His hands were covered by gauntlets, and armored boots covered his feet. Oracle identified several combat blades along his arms, and there was a pistol in a holster on his side.

The armor itself was black and grey camouflage, dented and scuffed from the battles he had been in. Oracle looked up at her enemy, at his fire orange eyes. Red blond hair swept into them, hiding some of the intensity of his glare.

The most terrifying thing to her was that his mouth was melted shut, only a slit for eating reminding her that there once was a mouth there.

He couldn't speak because of the damage that had been done, but the way he narrowed his eyes at her told Oracle everything she needed to know.

She opted to go for where the pistol lay on the ground, but he stopped her from getting to it. They both went tumbling to the the ground, her shoulder giving a huge throb of pain.

She saw the sleeve of her black T-Shirt get pulled up, revealing where the bandages covered the puncture wound. Oracle tired to pull away as he reached for her arm but couldn't get away in time.

He grabbed her and dug his fingers into the wound, sending fiery pain shooting up her arm. She gritted her teeth, her eyes starting to water because of the pain.

Oracle felt blood well from the wound as the other bounty hunter continued to use her injury to his advantage. She needed to break his grip. Oracle knew how, but it was going to hurt.

She got her feet underneath her and twisted away from him. She felt him release her, the pain spiking and then begin to subside. Blood was starting to soak through the bandages now.

Oracle rounded on him, combat blade in hand. She slashed at his throat but he dodged it, and in turn slashed at her. They went back and forth like this, Oracle managing to cut his upper arm. He was able to get her in the calf, but it wasn't deep enough to cause major problems.

Oracle looked behind her. He was pushing her towards the river, trying to corner her, and it was working. She almost growled out of annoyance, but kept it in.

He slashed at her stomach, but she blocked it with her own blade. What she didn't see coming was his blow to the back of her knee.

She lost her balance and fell, splashing into the shallower water of the river. Oracle fought against him, but her shoulder wouldn't allow her to. That arm wasn't as strong as her other yet due to the surgery, and it throbbed painfully.

She felt him shove her head and shoulders underwater, but she managed to take a deep breath before she was submerged.

The water was cold, and it stung her wound. Rocks dug into her back and shoulders, some sharp enough to break the skin.

She continued to struggle as he held her under, starting to get more desperate as the urge to breath became stronger.

Eventually he yanked her back up above the water where she took a deep breath, the air searing her lungs.

He submerged her head and shoulders again. Oracle fought widely, her vision beginning to blur. She finally broke his grip and he stumbled away from her. Oracle clawed her way back to shore, soaking wet, lungs burning.

Her back ached and stung from where the rocks at the bottom of the river had bruised and scratched it.

Oracle coughed up water and took in several rasping breaths, trying to regain her senses. She heard footsteps, and looked up to see Silencer coming towards her, combat blade in hand.

I'm not done with you. Said a slightly robotic male voice.

It took Oracle a minute to realize that it was coming from his wrist band. It was programmed to read his thoughts and translate them into words. He stalked towards her as she got to her feet, facing off against him.

"How did you know where to find me?" She asked.

Reclaimer told us. He answered.

I used the other Bounty Hunter as bait, distracted you.

"So you want the bounty."

Yes. You have quite the price on your head.

He slashed at her and they began their dance of death once more. This went on for several long moments before he managed to get on her bad side and put pressure on her shoulder.

It gave out and her combat blade went flying. He held his own combat blade to her throat.

Trapped. He said.

You're mine now.

Before Oracle could react his armored fist connected with her head and she collapsed to the ground, pain coursing through her head.

He knelt by her, looking into her eyes as the world faded around her. As she fell unconscious the unknown Bounty Hunter gave her his code name.

You may call me Silencer.

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That was a long chapter. Fun to write, with a bit of action towards the end. Silencer was fun to write. Hope you liked it as always!

~~Nightfury107