Predator remembered when he was just an F.N.G. He remembered Roach, he remembered Ghost. All these bloody memories, haunting him.
He checked his watch. The time was 19:26.
Predator cautiously looked round the haystack, revealing a patrol of Makarov's men. Predator ducked back, took a deep breath, and checked his clip. His rifle had long since been emptied and his pistol had 12 rounds. He knew he'd be found eventually. Best die like a man. Like a real Task Force 141 member.
Predator slid from cover and yelled as his last 12 rounds sped for the enemy.
---14:00---
Toad walked up to Ghost and said something quietly. Ghost replied with a nod, impassive looking as ever because of his mask. He turned and looked at Andy "Predator" Gatson.
"Got the plan?" Ghost asked.
"Sure." Predator replied. "I'll get ready."
While Ghost, Roach, Scarecrow and Ozone stormed Makarov's safe house, Predator would be watching the road. He wouldn't have complained even as a sniper, like Toad and Archer, but he got a dull job. He was never trusted with 'big' stuff.
Ghost and crew set off up the road. It was a whole two minutes until they reached danger.
Predator slowly picked up his radio as explosions sounded. "Need backup?" Predator asked hopefully.
"Not yet." Came Toad's reply. "Ghost hit a landmine ambush, but slipped past."
Predator slung his radio down, where it clattered pathetically in the dust. He paced slowly further up the road.
---14:32---
From this distance, even, the battle sounded loud. Ghost and Roach had got inside, he knew that much.
Predator reached for his radio to find out more, when he realised it wasn't on his belt. He'd thrown it on the floor up the road.
Cursing, Predator trudged along to pick it up. And nearly stood on Toad's body. Predator ducked for cover, and peeked round to see Sheperd and a soldier.
"Did we get them all up here?" Sheperd asked.
"Yes, except 'Predator', who's up the road." The reply came.
"Good." Sheperd nodded. "Now I can get Roach and Ghost." He walked off.
Predator blinked several times. Had he seen and heard right?
As the soldier came his way, Predator pounced on him, pinning him down, knife to throat.
"What is Sheperd up to?" Predator said through gritted teeth.
The soldier laughed. "The 141 is dead, or soon to be! Have fun warning Ghost, though!" He gestured to the side.
Predator looked round, and saw the mangled remains of his radio. At the same time the soldier grabbed Predator's arm and pulled the knife away, before giving him a hard uppercut.
Predator rolled, and pulled his rifle off his back. In one trained, swift motion he was on one knee, gun aimed, emptying a clip into the soldier.
After seven loud shots, Predator reloaded. He checked to see if the man had a usable radio, but it had been shot in the conflict.
Predator slung his rifle onto his back, retrieved his knife and ran full pelt down the road. He shot down an enemy soldier and looked into the safe house window.
"Shit!" Predator swore, realising Ghost had already gone on ahead with Roach. He ran down into a field, stabbing one of Makarov's guys in the back.
Predator shot anyone who came near, and finally made it to the stretch of woods uphill from Ghost's LZ.
The helicopter hovered slightly, rotors blowing the grass, as Sheperd stepped forwards to 'greet' Ghost and Roach.
But just as Predator was about to shout out a warning, a mortar knocked him off his feet. He lay dazed in the grass, vision blurred, as Sheperd shot Ghost and Roach, took something from Roach and burned them both.
Predator stumbled to his feet, every inch of him screaming in agony, and forced himself to where the helicopter was now taking off. Predator had to get them from the fire, and a little more pain wouldn't hurt. It would actually, he found out, as he reached into the fire and pulled them out.
He doused the flames, but it took a while because the sadistic bastard had covered them in petrol.
Ghost was stone dead. The bullet had done that before the fire had started.
Roach was more promising. He was listing swear words as he sat up despite his burn wounds.
"Careful, you're hurt." Predator warned.
"I figured that much out." Roach gasped. "Ghost?" He rolled over and spotted his fallen comrade. "Ghost!" He yelled, grabbing him, feeling for a heart beat.
"It's no use. He's gone." Predator said softly, Pulling Roach from Ghost's body.
"I'll make Sheperd pay." Roach said through gritted teeth, grabbing a half-empty machine gun.
"But Makarov's men first, ok?" Predator quickly added, aiming his rifle at the men uphill.
---17:49---
Predator and Roach were in a clump of trees, behind the safe house. They were slowly heading up towards the road to freedom. Makarov now had complete control of the area and it was tough going.
Roach had been very healthy, after the bullet was removed from his stomach and the wound bandaged. He hadn't so far cried out in pain; just made angry faces with gritted teeth.
Now they had a road block. It consisted of five men and a jeep.
"I saw we surround 'em and take 'em out." Roach whispered.
"I'll go left, you right." Predator nodded in agreement to Roach's plan.
He slowly crept around, using cover. Accidentally he knocked a loose stone, causing the guards to turn and face him.
Next it was a mad sprint downhill to avoid them, firing shots over his shoulder. He did shake them off, but now he was alone and far from destination.
---19:28---
Predator was alone and doomed as his fired at the enemy patrol, but they quickly countered and shot the gun from his hand. None of the four guards patrolling had been even hit. The lead one took aim on Predator.
Predator sighed and shut his eyes, but the shot never came. Slowly opening his eyes, Predator saw the gun trained on him, but the user on his radio.
Soon the soldier nodded slowly to himself and clipped the radio to his belt.
"You're in luck, follow me." The solder said in a thick Russian accent.
When Predator stood there dumbfounded, convinced he was about to die, two men escorted him forwards. To the safe house.
Inside, he was rammed into an armchair where he was watched by the soldiers. On another seat sat Roach. He shrugged and nodded his head to a figure sitting at a computer. It was Vladimir Makarov.
"Wondering why you're not dead?" Makarov asked.
"You're going to force me to do magic tricks?" Predator suggested sarcastically.
Roach made a 'Hmph' noise, the closest he ever got to a laugh.
"However amusing that might be, it's not the answer." Makarov said coolly. "After Sheperd betrayed you, Price struck a sort of deal with me. I'm going to let the 141 kill Sheperd."
"And then…?" Roach asked.
"I can't say if Price or MacTavish will spare me." Makarov said boredly. "So I'll kill them first."
"They'll take you down no problem!" Roach spat.
"As most wanted?" Makarov raised his eyebrows. "They'll be alone."
"They'll be with us!" Predator said, leaping to his feet, knife in hand.
Someone knocked him out.
---05:14---
Predator slowly woke up. He was in a bedroom of the safe house. His head and hand had been bandaged, and a sandwich was on the bedside table. Yum, pickle. As he greedily scoffed, Roach walked over. Someone had bandaged his stomach properly and the burns were treated.
"Great room service. Roach said. "And a lovely view too."
Predator walked over to the window and looked out at a group of guards.
"They're outside the door, I can hear them." Roach commented. "No escape."
Predator sat on the bed and put his head in his hands. "I buggered up back there. We were caught."
"I messed up too." Roach replied, twirling a pen. "I got caught."
Predator's head was really throbbing. He lay back down on the bed.
"Do you think Captain MacTavish will make it?" He asked drowsily.
"Yes." Roach answered, face determinedly hopeful.
Predator drifted back into unconsciousness.
