"Hey Nick wake up." said Amari shaking me awake.
"We there yet?" I asked still drowsy.
"We got five till we drop."
"Got it."
I grab my M110 next to me and inspect it. My scope is good and my verticle grip, silencer, and bipod aren't loose. Alec grabs his M4A1 sopmod rifle with an angled foregrip and silencer. He motions to put my mask on. I turn the oxygen on and stand up. The Chinook door opens and a gust of cold air rushes inside. The light turns green.
"Lets go." said Amari going first.
I follow right behind him. I freefall for a good twenty to twenty-five seconds before I pull my parachute. The night's cold breeze hits me as I fall. I bend my legs and roll as soon as I land. I pack my parachute and put on my tan tac basball cap. I then look for Amari.
"Whiskey." said a voice behind me.
"Tango." I reply.
"Nice of you to remember the countersign Nick. Lets move, it's at least a ten mile hump to our target."
"Good to go."
We walk for about an hour and a half in silence before I break the dead air.
"How long do you think its been?"
"Since we last seen it? I say about two years or so."
"I wonder how much it has changed since we've been there."
"Why don't we find out." said Amari pointing out in the distance.
"Is that it?" I said with a bit of excitement looking through my scope.
"Yeah. I say we have a mile to half a mile, give or take."
"Then lets go." I said moving with a pep in my step.
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Twenty minutes later, we reach the front gates as the sun begins to rise. The home I no longer recognize.
"Well we're here. No sign of them." I said looking around.
"Maybe because it's only six o'clock in the morning."
"Hey Amari is that them?" I said pointing to the two men I see walking towards us.
"Holy shit it is. Nice to see you again Marco and Jean."
"Just in time too." said Marco opening the gate.
We walk in and I look around.
"Nick you can take a break now."
I sigh in relief, dropping my pack with a loud thud.
"So how was the time overseas with our allies?" asked Marco.
"It was good. I trained him everything I was taught when I was a SEAL and as a Marine. He already knew how to shoot a gun so I didn't have to waste time with that."
"Was that because of his past?"
"Yeah. Him being a child soldier in the Central African Republic, he already knew the basics of combat."
"While you two were gone, we gained more cyborgs." said Jean getting into the conversation.
"Yeah we saw Angelica before we left."
"Several more have joined the ranks. We lost one because of her handler was killed and another because she killed herself and her handler."
"So the one with no handler isn't alive?"
"She's still with us, but she's mostly used for testing now."
"So their all under conditioning now?"
"Most of them are. It works better than letting them think for themselves."
"Anything we need to know before we head to the Chief, Jean?"
"There will be a mission coming up tomorrow."
"Alright, lets go Nick."
"You got it Amari." I said picking up my pack and following him.
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"Been a long time since we last met, Amari. I trust our American allies treated you well." said Jean as we walked.
"Bout two years since Lorenzo transferred us back to the U.S. military, Jean." responded Amari placing a hand on my shoulder, "So why are we being called back?"
"I'll let Director Lorenzo explain that once we get there."
"Well hurry up and get there so I can speak to Lorenzo."
"What happened to this place?" I asked aloud.
"Development." said Jean blandly.
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"Did you hear about the new members we're getting today?" said Henrietta taking a sip of her tea.
"That's probably just a rumor." replied Triela resting her head on her hands.
"It's no rumor. Jean even told me that it was a boy!" chirped Rico happily as always.
"Gah I hope not, two is more than enough." said Triela rolling her eyes.
Just then Amari and Nick lead by Jean walk by the open door. All the girls look at the pair in disbelief.
"Great." said Triela face palming herself.
Henrietta takes two sugar cubes and puts them in her tea, "Looks like the rumors are true then." taking another drink.
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We reach Chief Lorenzo's office and knock on the door. We hear "Come in" and we enter.
"Welcome back." said Lorenzo seated in his chair.
"What's the situation Chief, Jean wasn't telling me why we were called back." said Amari.
"We suspect a bigger threat in the area and need as much help as we can get. You both have experience that will prove useful."
"Well here we are sir."
"So he is ready for more missions without conditioning?"
"Yes sir." I said.
"I guess we'll find out tomorrow. Dismissed."
We leave the room and go down the hall.
"We need to practice your shooting before the mission tomorrow."
"Alright. Do you remember where the shooting range is?"
"Oh shit." said Amari as he put a hand under his chin to think where it could be, "Go ask those girls in there Nick."
I walk over to the door and knock.
"Come in." I hear from inside.
I walk into the room and the first thing I see are blue eyes staring daggers at me.
"Do you need something Nick?" asked Angelica softly.
"Yeah um, do you know where the range is?"
"I'll go show them." said Angelica standing up.
"I don't think that's necessary Angelica." said Triela.
"I think it's perfectly fine. If you may please follow me."
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We walk outside and cross the courtyard.
"So why did you go Nick?" asked Angelica.
"Oh uh, I was called away." I said.
"That's a silly reason but I'm glad your back." she said smiling back to me
"I agree, do you remember what happened?" said Amari.
"What happened?"
"Nothing, it wasn't important." said Amari.
'She must've forgotten',I thought to myself.
"The range is over there. You can practice your sniping in that building."
"Merci." I said.
"Oh no problem." said Angelica.
We make our way to the building and set up. Amari takes out the spotting scope and I shoulder my M110.
"I'm not surprised they wiped her memory of the incident." said Amari.
"It's weird."
"I saw that girl giving you that evil look."
"Yeah I know." taking my first shot, "Makes me remember Josephine."
"You miss her a lot huh."
"I still talk to her but I rather be with her."
"Well once this mission is over we can go back."
I smile wide, "I'd like that a lot."