Author's Note: Some quick things to keep in mind before you begin reading. First off, this story is the first part of a series that is definitely an AU. Timelines had been shifted for this series and certain events changed so that MW2, Black Ops II, and Ghosts can all exist in the same universe (therefore, for the dates coming in chapter 1, yes I am aware that MW2 takes place in 2016 but for the purposes of this story, its in 2009). Secondly, David Mason is replacing Joseph Allen and Mike Harper is replacing James Ramirez (though Ramirez may make a token appearance once or twice). Finally, some of the concepts in this are based off the ideas of magical realism. For those of you who don't know, magical realism is defined by Webster's Dictionary as "a literary genre or style associated especially with Latin America that incorporates fantastic or mythical elements into otherwise realistic fiction." This series is not called Unnatural for nothing and some of the unusual added aspects about will be treated as if they are natural. Some of them will not be. For example, what much of Task Force 141 are in this story is common. What David and Alex Mason are, is not so common. Now, before my author's note becomes longer than the prologue, on with the story!
December 20, 1989
Miraflores Locks, Panama Canal, Panama
Alex Mason
He knew how it was going to end. The men who'd managed to grab him hadn't bothered to remain silent. Instead they'd been laughing about their plan, about fooling his friend and brother-in-arms into killing him. Mason didn't doubt that they would succeed. Woods was so set upon seeing the man responsible for his torment dead that he wouldn't hesitate. Wouldn't question whether or not Noreiga's information was wrong. He'd fire, one shot through the head, and it would all be over.
Having that knowledge didn't mean that he was giving up. He had a young son at home and he was going to do his best to get back to David, which meant fighting this every step of the way. Still, at heart, Alex Mason was not an optimist. He knew how situations like this general turned out, and he knew that the guilt would eat away at Woods until their was little left of his friend. If Woods survived what was probably to come, and he likely would, then he would question every single move he made until it would drive him mad.
Aside from the damaging psychological affects that would have on Woods' mental state, there was also a chance that it would cause damage to his son. Woods was legally the boy's guardian should anything happen to Mason in the field, and he couldn't be that if he was wracked with guilt. Worse yet, Menedez might still be coming after Woods for revenge. That, mixed with Mason's involvement in the mission that had gotten the man's sister killed, could put David right in the firing line.
The last thing Mason wanted to do was to put his son's life in danger. His late wife, Camille, had died from a mission gone wrong. It was part of the reason he'd originally retired and the reason why he'd made the promise to David not to leave. Now he'd broken that promise, in the name of rescuing Woods and while he'd accomplished that goal, it was going to result in his death. His son would probably never forgive him for that, but that didn't matter anymore. David could hate him, so long as he survive the storm that was coming.
He struggled between his two captors as they led him down what sounded like an empty street, a scratchy feeling bag over his head. The struggle wasn't solely physical though. Part of him was stretching, reaching desperately for something that had lain dormant within him for a long time. He hadn't seen the specter in question for a long time now, though he'd heard the voice attached once during an interrogation for this particular assignment. It left him hoping, with everything that he had left, that the figure would answer his call one last time.
The first bullet smacked into his chest, sending him crashing to the ground. Under the wave of pain there was confusion. Woods hadn't missed a standing target with no one in his way for years. What had happened? Then a voice near his ear said, "You called me?" and he understood.
"Take care of him," Mason rasped, chest burning with every movement. Then a second bullet slammed into his chest, jolting his body against the unforgiving ground once more.
The world around him was fading into nothing more than shadows when the voice said, "I promise." Unseen by the people involved in the drama around him, Victor Reznov rose from beside Alex Mason's still frame and vanished.
Two hours later in what appeared to be an abandoned building, the windows rattled and the walls groaned. A man who thought he could saunter out, triumphant, fled in terror, leaving more people than expected alive. Events were set in motion that night. Things that could not be changed. Things that forever shifted the events that were to follow.