Summary: He is his older brother, and as his older brother it is his job to protect him at all cost. So Hesh was aware that he'd failed his mission of being an older brother to Logan when he helplessly watched him become yet another victim to Rorke. But Hesh wasn't going to take this sitting down, and now had a new mission which was to rescue Logan from the hands of the Federation, no matter the cost. But new problems begin to arise when Rorke cooks up a team of his own to help him fight against the Ghosts and eliminate them once and for all. A team known as the Reapers. Eventually Hesh/OC, possibly Logan/OC as well, but less than likely.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from the original Call of Duty franchise. However, I do own the plot to this story and the OCs I throw into it.

Author's Note: So this chapter is gonna be pretty short because it's suppose to set up for the next chapter (and mind you while there is romance in the story, this is more of an action/drama/romance than anything). It takes place a few minutes after Logan was taken by Rorke so Keegan and Merrick arrive unaware of what just happened. Since Hesh got shot twice, was banged up in the crash and nearly drowned, I was trying to be a bit realistic with his injuries while still trying to keep him in character. But anyway hi! I haven't written on here in awhile and I hope you guys enjoy my story (I thought about it after I beat the game for like the tenth time). Please show support and review (it keeps me motivated to type the chapter) and enjoy!

The
REAPERS

ACT I

Chapter 1:
A Flame Ignited
July 5, 2027 - 19:34:10

When the chopper arrived on the beach, what the team saw was something they hadn't expected. Instead of arriving to two wounded but safe Walker brothers, when they landed, neither of them were in sight. The two ghost members Merrick and Keegan could see the fading tracks in the sand where they must of emerged from the sunken train which was now in the ocean, clearly stopping to rest near the rock. Where they went from there though was for the two soldiers to soon find out.

Merrick looked back at the chopper which was on stand by near the shoreline, the sun setting over the rippling ocean. By now the missile launches from LOKI had ceased, the sounds of numerous birds, seagull and other animals coming from inside the jungle. "There was some commotion here," Keegan's voice suddenly broke Merrick's train of thought, now bringing his attention over to his partner as he saw him kneeling beside the rock. He observed the sand and noticed the terrain beside it appearing unsettled; it was as if someone had wrestled in it. Following it were two sand trails, both showing signs of struggled. Yet what stood out the most was the blood that progressed with it.

"They've clearly been compromised," said Keegan, "The trail doesn't look to be made too long ago. If we follow it then we might be able to catch up to them." Merrick lifted his gun and started following the sand trail. "Let's pick up the pace then," Merrick said, Keegan following close behind.

The trail was longer than they thought it'd be; eventually both trails turned from drag marks to foot prints, one of them clearing limping from the patterns they'd left. Eventually, both trails went into the jungle, causing both Merrick and Keegan to come to a halt. The two check outed the area, seeing no signs of where either of them could of gone. Daylight was declining and the trees were now casting a dark shadow over the surface of the jungle.

"Merrick," he turned to look at Keegan, "I found some more blood this way." The two followed the light trail of dribbled blood, heading deeper into the jungle until... "Hesh!"

Hesh lie on the ground, his back pointed upwards and his face pressed against the dirt. Still there was no sign of Logan anywhere.

Merrick and Keegan rushed over to his aid as they rolled him onto his back, causing him to wince in pain. Merrick looked down to see two bullet holes in separate areas on his arm, blood both dry and moist staining his uniform and the greenery beneath him. He appeared pale as cold sweat beamed down the sides of his face and his chest puffed up and down unevenly and barely at all.

"He's lost a lot of blood," Merrick stated, "Who do you think did this?"

"The Federation?" Keegan suggested.

"Maybe," Merrick said, "We'll find out later though; you look for Logan, he can't be too far. I'm gonna bring Hesh back to the chopper."

"Rodger that." As Keegan went off into the jungle, Merrick picked Hesh up bridal style and started back onto the beach. The chopper wasn't too far from them now. Merrick was glad he'd brought a medic on board the helicopter, that way Hesh could get patched up while Keegan and him continue to look for Logan. They'd have to be quick about it though; after the work Logan and him put in, the Federation would be crawling all over this island soon enough.

Merrick could suddenly feel mumbling against his clothes as he looked down at Hesh who apparently was trying to speak with him. "What is it Hesh?" he asked. Merrick made brief eye contact with Hesh after asking, but paused and stared at him for a moment once he did. When he looked into the twenty eight year old's pine green eyes, instead of something like strength and passion being in them like normally, he saw something different. It was something he never wished to see in a ghost. In Hesh's eyes that involuntarily let out tears, Merrick saw despair and desperation. He saw total loss.

"We have to... we have to go back," he seemed to stammered, his voice croaking from the pain that was both figuratively and literally, "We... We have to get Logan. I-I tried to, I did. But he was too fast and... and I couldn't make it. I was weak. I was too fucking weak!" Hesh gritted his teeth in frustration, clenching his fist to the point where blood began coming out. For the whole walk to the chopper, Hesh mumbled apologies to himself, constantly repeating that whatever happened was his fault and that he was useless. The older ghost knew that what Hesh was speaking of wasn't words coming out of a soldier who'd lost one of his men, he knew these were words of a concerned older brother who was scared for his younger sibling. Merrick began to tune it out; he didn't like hearing this kind of talk from a soldier, especially one as helpful as Hesh.

Merrick placed Hesh on the chopper when they arrived, the medic immediately beginning to work on his wounds, Hesh still rambling to himself. "Do you know where Logan is?" Merrick asked.

"He took him," Hesh said.

"Who took him?"

"Rorke did. He came out of nowhere and attacked us and took Logan away. I tried to chase after him but..." Hesh cut himself off when he noticed his voice raising, getting enraged the more the sentence went on. Merrick was conflicted himself after hearing Hesh say that. He'd be lying if he said he was surprised Rorke survived, but all the same he was still disappointed; it made their dilemma all the more difficult. What does it take to kill this guy?!

Merrick's attention snapped back to Hesh when he saw him trying to retrieve a weapon and climb out of the chopper. He pushed him back on. "What are you doing?" asked Merrick.

"We've gotta go get him."

"You're badly wounded, you're not going anywhere."

"Like hell I am! He's my brother, I'm not going to leave him!"

Merrick ignored Hesh and flipped on his mic to communicate with Keegan.

"Keegan," he said, "Head back here."

"What about Logan?" Keegan asked.

"Rorke has him."

Silence fell on the other end before Keegan finally said, "On my way." At this time, Hesh was staring at Merrick as though he were crazy. "Get this chopper started up again," he ordered, waving his hand in the air.

"We can't go back! Logan's still out there waiting for me; I'm not leaving without him-"

"You need to calm down boy," interrupted Merrick, "We've got this under control."

"No you don't!" Hesh retorted, "Rorke is injured and alone, we can take him."

"I would of thought you'd wised up by now kid."

Hesh swore under his breath as he tried to climb out of the helicopter again, ignoring the pain that seemed to flare up in his body like a grenade.

All of a sudden he felt something sharp pierce into his neck and come right out immediately after. When he looked over to see who the culprit was, he saw that the medic had given him some sort of shot. Not long after he felt completely faint, as though he'd been punched in the gut multiple times. Hesh collapsed on the metal floor of the chopper, saliva coming out of his mouth and small specs of darkness clouding up his vision. He'd been sedated.

Hesh's heart rate began to calm and he watched as Keegan climbed aboard the chopper, speaking to Merrick about something he couldn't hear over the chopper. Or maybe it was the pounding of his heart he couldn't hear over.

When the chopper lifted from the beach and soon away from the island, Hesh felt sick. He'd abandoned his brother. He couldn't tell if it was the medicine or his emotions, but right now he felt an unstable numbness fill within him, distracting him from the physical pain he could no longer feel.

Everything was gone. His parents had died and left the two of them orphaned, their home was destroyed by ODIN and the Federation, and now Logan was gone too. The sudden realization of it all crushed and consumed him as though he were still underwater, but it nearly didn't feel as bad as the guilt he had. He knew this was his fault somehow. If only he'd tried harder to save him. If only he'd seen him coming in time. If only he'd listened to Merrick earlier when he told them to wait instead of going after Rorke like a bull and a red flag... then Logan would still be here.

Tears forced themselves out again, but it wasn't due to the pain and guilt anymore. They were now tears of anger. As the medicine slowly made his eyelids grow heavy, he knew it wasn't going to end here. Hesh would never let it end here. The drugs may have him down right now, but mentally he was more alive and ready than he ever has been in his entire life, for he'd promised to himself and their dad Elias that he'd take care of Logan and be there for him no matter what.

Logan needed to be rescued and Hesh would be the one to do it.

I've been sedated once, passed out like two minutes after and started laughing before I did. I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter, please don't forget to show support and review, another chapter should be up soon :)