I was taken from my family at a young age. I don't know what my family was like. Hell, I don't know my real name. Only a number - 11744. Codenamed Alex. I was trained from birth, from my capture, to kill. To be a soldier. Most kids go to school to learn of math and grammar, right? I learned about emotions- how to hide and conceal them, and also how to read them. I learn about the human mind- natural instincts and impulses. I was taught how to fight. How to kill. Not only properly and swiftly; but gracefully. Stealthily. "Do not hide in the shadows and on rooftops," my trainer told me. "You must hide in plain sight. Always be a blade in the crowd. Trust me. They will least expect it"
I was part of the Gods. The three classes of mercenary super-soldiers. There were three different units- The Zeus, Hades, and Poseidon. The Zeus' were the elites- that's the unit I was apart of. We were the best of the best, and had experience that others wouldn't log for the next few years. Then you had the Hades unit. They were ruthless and swift, but were only used for all-out wars. They were expendable. Then the Poseidon unit- the Recon group. They were smart, edgy, and clever. Being part of the Zeus unit was a heavy title, and I was put in a squad with 11359, or Zach, and 41102, Allison. But Allison? That's for another time.
Anyway, while it was an American project, the bases were localized mostly in central Europe. My particular story takes place in the outskirts of Poznan, Poland, a day or two away from Berlin. I don't know how they get the kids, let alone ship them illegally to foreign countries, but, hey. They were good at keeping themselves secret, so I didn't really dwell on it.
The process in which it happens? Oh, God. Don't get me started on it. It's a horrible process, that no one should ever go through. They reinforce your body with metallic structures, so your muscles are extra reinforced. They then inject you with all these concotions that makes your blood hurt, and you feel like throwing up just when you move. But the after, when you come down? It's euphoric. You feel invincible. It was horrible.
Throughout my life, I was taught apathy. I was taught how to be a cold blooded killer. Often times I wondered who my parents were. What they were like. If I had any siblings. But these thoughts would not bother me, only cause me to be distracted. My life was just that; a life. No more, no less. That all changed when she entered it.
The new recruit to my squad - number 23813. Codenamed Alicia. She was an interesting female to me. She was the only person I made any contact with- usually I was more stone cold than any other recruits. I said very little to her. She was talkative, but relatively harmless. As morose as I was, even at times. I often caught myself thinking about her, compulsively. This confused the hell out of me. I didn't know what to think of this. Months went on. We became closer, and inseparable. I began to feel what I never did, or never would again, feel with another human. I felt trust. Comfort. Compassion. We once snuck out of our bunks at night and watched as the full moon peaked from behind the falling leaves flowing through the air. It was the night I felt the warmth of another person's soft touch against my hand. The slow steady breathing of the one I thought I loved.
Others became aware of this bond. They knew what was going on. The mentors thought little of it. A mere roadblock in both of our very promising futures. We would walk to every training session together. Every break, we spent on the stairs of the barracks. Talking. Sharing stories. We both gave each other names to satisfy our comfort. Alex Kazama. And Alicia Belle. Around our superiors, we used our codenames or numbers. Around each other, and only each other, would we say the others full names. This caught the attention of the superiors.
One normal day, Squad 113- mine and Belle's squad- were ordered to find and extract a package. I, Alicia, and our third partner, 11359, Codenamed Zach, set out with the usual supplies. The package was of high priority, given to us specifically considering we were the best Squad and never failed.
Until that day.
Halfway to our target, we were ambushed. All were wearing somewhat similar biomechanical armor similar to our own. I instantly figured it to be a rogue group of mercs who copied our tech, so we had no trouble fighting back. I drew my swords, as did Alicia, and Zach, who unholstered his dual 9mm's.
The battle was raging. Hiding behind thick forest walls, my black armor was covered in soot. Alicia's deep purple covered in blood- not all hers- and covered in scrapes. Zach's maroon chest piece even had a large hole in it- The bullet stopped by the final layer. Though, the fight had only begun. Shielded in a shield grenade, we made our final decision to sprint it out to the Extraction Point, two miles due north of the target. "Keep up." I said to the two. I drew my AUG, Alicia her combat shotgun, and Zach cocked his carbine semi-auto rifle. The enemy advanced, ever so slowly. The shield gave out. The race was on.
Being the best squad was no task easily achieved. Which is exactly why we were the best. We easily ran through, all four point seven-six miles to the target. We picked up the target- a fallen comrade dubbed MIA two months before. Number 41102, Codename Allison. Zach's twin sister. She had been stranded there for two weeks, surviving off whatever she managed. Being a soldier, though, didn't stop her from keeping up as we got to their extraction. "LZ is extremely hot," Radioed Command. "Proceed with caution 113." I grunted in response, throwing an incendiary grenade at our attackers.
When all quieted, I did a quick check for any injuries and ammo counts. Zach had been shot in the leg. Allison in the hand. Alicia was quiet. And pale. I moved her trembling hand and saw a sight that gave me a feeling I never knew. I felt my heart stop a moment. Alicia was shot and bleeding heavily from a sniper bullet to the abdomen. "... Alicia." Was all I could say. She gave me a smile, a smile only she could give. "I love you Alex." She whispered, before falling to the floor.
In the medical section of the bird command sent, medics and myself were working to bring Alicia back. The average human could only be dead for five or so minutes before being brought back without serious consequences. Soldiers like us could go from an hour to a day or two. They managed to bring back a pulse- weak, but alive, and I managed to find a bullet. A bullet from a sniper rifle that looked very familiar.