Trees. More and more trees.
As the Ghosts moved through the Amazon, Keegan sat in the back of the Humvee. He took out a crumpled photo from his breast plate; he unfolded the corners and straightened out the wrinkles. Hesh looked at the mysterious man, wondering what gained the attention of the silent member. As they approached a clearing, shots rang the air. After hurriedly placing the photo back into his vest, Keegan raised his gun and so does the rest of the Ghost team.
He seems distracted. Hesh remembered what Merrick said after they left San Francisco a month before. It seems that it has been only months since the ODIN attack. Since Elias died. Since Logan was taken away. It has been 11 years since the Federation had taken over the ODIN satellite. A year since Rorke killed Elias. Nine months since Hesh last seen Logan alive. Hesh shook his head and told himself to focus. He needs to focus; for Dad and for Logan. However, Keegan seemed to have drifted farther into his thoughts and lost himself after he came back from NORAD a month before they shipped out, always looking into that photo. Something happened, and Hesh felt it.
As they reached a safe spot, Keegan and Hesh exited the back, Merrick and the two new guys, Aaron and Mason, from the front. Kick and Neptune rode the other Humvee behind them. Aaron was a heavyset African- American kid from Seattle; he was taller than Keegan and bulkier than Merrick, but didn't have Merrick's temper, he was patient and kind. Mason, on the other hand, was a Latino kid from the streets of Downtown LA, had a certain swagger to him and the synonymous LA- temper, but was an all- around good person. He was as athletic and as tall as Hesh, and had a good sense of humor. Both were marines. They were good friends, you could say brothers. This reminded Hesh of Logan, how they spent their lives with each other, how their bond that could conquer over mountains.
"Sergeant Mendoza, you and Kick will make sure we are clear on all sides! I don't want a Fed coming close to this area! Sergeant Young, you and Neptune will search for a good place to set camp. Keegan and Hesh, there was a building over to the right, I want you to check out what it contains. Understood? Let's go Ghosts!" Since Merrick became captain, he's been trying his best to be like Elias. Trying to fill the big shoes Elias left behind. It's just another reminder how much the Ghosts care for one another, like a family. Merrick's like the eldest child after the parents are gone and the others need to listen to stay alive.
"Let's go, Walker." Keegan seemed so irritated. He motioned to Hesh to get going, impatient Keegan. What's going on with him?
Keegan and Hesh approached the vine encased building. As they headed into the first floor, blood stained the ground.
"What the hell went on?" Keegan questioned the site of a horrific scene. Hesh raised his gun to check out a hall to his right, Keegan assumed position to cover from the left hall.
After checking all rooms in the halls, Hesh lowered his gun, "All clear." "Here too." A staircase was exposed at the end of the left hallway. Keegan and Hesh moved towards the staircase cautiously.
Klink.
The sound alerted the eldest of the two, forcing Keegan to push Hesh into a room far from the sound.
No explosion
Startled, Keegan covered Hesh's head, counted 10 seconds, but no explosion.
"What the hell…?" Hesh said as he got up and dusted himself off.
"I thought.."
"It's okay." Hesh examined the elder, then went on to examine their surroundings. Keegan looked out the window of the room.
Trees. Goddamn Trees.
"What was that?" Hesh pulled Keegan back from his thoughts.
"I…don't know."