"This must be it.", said Echo.

I open the door. It's a simple layout with a bed in the far right corner of the room, desk in the other corner, and a closet.

"I guess it's only me."

"For now probably. Rest up, we have a mission tomorrow."

"Ok."

I walk over to the bed and get in. I forgot how a bed felt like. It was way better than the floor back at the agency. I fall fast asleep.

"Zero, get up. We need to go.", said Echo waking me up.

"It isn't morning."

"The Director wants to see us in action now."

"Fine.", I get out of bed.

"We need to show them the TALOS."

"Great."

"Hey I have to wear one too."

The TALOS, or Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit, was made to protect the user from critical hits from pistols to anti-materiel rifles. It also increased speed and strength of the user. Only problem is that the user can get seriously hurt if they can't take the conditions from the suit.

The suit forms to your body to protect you completely. The suit can cause migraines, severe pain, or death. Death only occurs if the user panics while the suit forms to you. The suit will crush your body if you panic.

As we reach the medical wing where our equipment is, we load up. General Adams, Director Lorenzo, and a couple of handlers stand and watch us.

"You go first.", said Echo.

I step into the TALOS and Echo activates it. The suit slowly takes up my body. The only skin showing is my head. Echo gives me my full face helmet.

"Your turn."

Echo puts on the TALOS and I give her the full face helmet. Our team name ROGUE is on the right leg of the suit. Echo grabs a XM8 with a verticle grip and red dot sight. I grab a Benelli M4 Super 90 with a angled grip and holographic sight.

"That boy Zero, did he always have those grey eyes?", asked Lorenzo.

"Ever since we got him. It's funny, those two have weird eye color. Echo has purple eyes. They both share something.", said General Adams.

"What's the mission?", asked Echo.

"You two are going to clear a building of terrorists. these terrorists are from the FRF."

"The what?", I ask.

"The Five Republics Faction. A right-wing separtist movement in North Italy. They are responsible for bombings and kidnappings all over Italy. They are to be stopped. You will be taken by helicopter, head to the top of the building.

"Yes sir.", We head to the top of the building.

The ride takes at least ten minutes. Echo is dropped at ground level, they take me to the top of the building. The building is 3 floors. I clear the top, she clears the bottom, clear the middle together.

"3...2...1...GO.", said Echo on the radio.

I breach the door and meet 3 terrorists in front of me. I cut them down with a burst from my shotgun. I take cover while a RPD takes aim. I rush the gunner while bullets are bouncing off the suit. I blow his head off.

One of his buddies pulls out a grenade and rushes me. What he doesn't know is that he is commiting suicide. The grenade goes off killing him, but blows the floor under us. I fall on two terrorists, crushing them.

I get up and open fire. Echo comes to my position. Only one is left. He pulls out his pistol and fires at us, but with no effect. I walk up to him and put my boot to his neck and crush his windpipe. Mission complete comes across my HUD.

"This is Echo, requesting extraction."

"Coming in.", said the helicopter pilot.

"They work perfectly.", Lorenzo looks at the screen in amazement.

"They've been working together since the beginning.", said General Adams.

"How old are they?"

"Zero is 16 and Echo is 18."

"How can she control someone like that at that age?"

"The one picked to lead is trained at leadership at a early age. They meet when their matched follower turns 6 and they train together."

"They don't have a choice, just like ours."

"The lucky ones are killed during the experiment phase."

"You don't have to erase their memory, smart."

"If they don't have any memories of the outside world, they will listen to anything you say."

"None of them asked why?"

"If they disobey, they will be punished."

So this is what the world has come to, thought Lorenzo.