AN: What's up everybody? Are you excited for chapter 3? I hope so. I've had this sitting in my drafts for months now. In other news, I got a review on one of my stories about how I shouldn't give up on it. Well, have no fear reviewer, for as of tonight that story has just been updated. That story is called An Unwanted Journey if anyone is curious and wants to check it out. Shameless self-promotion for the win! Anyway, this chapter is going to take us back into the Modern Warfare 2 plot and we finally get to "see" Captain Price and Soap, somewhat. Another note, Ghost tells Shadow a story and I wrote that part in the first person. That's all from me. Got anything to add, 5TORM, uh I guess it's DEFCON now?

DEFCON-0: Not to toot my own dick, but I like turtles.


Located

Sgt. Gary "Roach" Sanderson

Firebase Delphi

August 16, 2016

"What do you mean they're not here!?" Roach snapped, sitting up in his hospital bed.

"They left, sir," one of the doctors replied.

"Where in the fuck did they go!?"

"Th-They went to go pick up some of your squadmates, sir."

"They're getting Captain Price and MacTavish without me!? That's bullshit! Gahh! FUCK YOU, SHEPHERD!"

Roach collapsed back down on the bed.

"This blows. I should be out there with them. Shepherd can suck the biggest of dicks." Roach sighed sadly.

"Guess I'll just sit here and play with my dick."


Located

Lt. Ryu "Shadow" Oda

Unknown location, Afghanistan

August 16, 2016

"Nikolai!" Captain Price shouted over the radio. "We're pinned down here! Where are you with our damn evac chopper!?"

"We're on our way, my friend. Hold on," Nikolai responded.

Shadow and Ghost sat on the seats of Nikolai's Little Bird.

"Check your weapons, Shadow," Ghost advised as he turned to look at Shadow.

Shadow checked his mag. Satisfied that his mag was fully loaded, he slammed it home into his TAR-21, taking care to make sure its holographic sight was on. He checked the chambers of his two .44 Magnum revolvers holstered at his thighs and patted the two combat knives strapped to his waist. He nodded to Ghost.

"Alright. We're ready to provide Captain Price and MacTavish with support."

The Little Bird crested a large sand dune as they were met with the sight of two figures cowering behind a destroyed car. Dozens of soldiers donning black body armor and tan combat helmets unleashed an endless barrage of machine gun fire at the men in cover.

"Damn. We should have brought a Pave Low or something," Shadow muttered under his breath, now back to his normal demeanor.

No loud yelling, like during the safe house raid, or depression, like after Roach was shot.

"We bloody should have," Ghost agreed, hearing Shadow. "We just have to suck it up and kill those bastards."

"Right," Shadow nodded as he reached back into the Little Bird.

He pulled out an M240B with an extended drum, his grip tightening around its vertical foregrip.

"You told me to expect heavy resistance. I brought this."

He handed the machine gun to Ghost and produced a second one.

"I brought two. One for me and one for you."

"We are close enough! You guys can start shooting now!" Nikolai shouted over the sound of gunfire and the Little Bird's rotors.

"Give 'em hell, Shadow!" Ghost cried.

Both men pulled the charging handles on their M240s and rained hell down on the armed men below them.

Within seconds, the number of soldiers below them decreased significantly as men began dropping like flies.

"Get down there, Shadow!" Ghost ordered over the deafening noise. "I'll cover you!"

Shadow tossed his M240 back into the Little Bird and hopped off.

He secured his landing by means of landing on a hostile's back, breaking it, and then proceeding to snap the man's neck. The soldiers around him were unaware of his presence and instead looked skyward to the Little Bird, where Ghost was somehow firing both M240s.

"This hurts so much, but it's so fucking fun," Ghost chuckled, unable to control the recoil.

With an amused smirk, Shadow drew the dead man's handgun, a Desert Eagle. He dropped to his back and covered himself with the dead man's body. He quickly fired every round into the men around him, one bullet for each man around him. All kills, if not fatal wounds.

The machine gun fire from the helicopter stopped and the men once again turned their attention to the car in front of them.

"Price and MacTavish are aboard, Shadow. Now it's your turn." Ghost said over the radio.

"Can't. Too many." came Shadow's clipped reply.

"Damn." Ghost grunted.

Shadow tossed the body off of himself and rolled backwards onto his feet. Drawing one of his combat knives, he jammed it it sideways into the jugular of the nearest soldier. He viciously ripped it out and slashed the throat of a soldier behind him. He flicked the blood off of his knife and slid it back into the sheath before turning and sprinting towards the Little Bird.

Aboard the Little Bird, Ghost and Price gave him support, killing many of the soldiers behind him. A soldier attempted to tackle him from the side, but Shadow somersaulted over him and shot him in the head with a sidearm. As he approached the slowly rising helicopter, he jumped up and latched on to the bench on the right side before pulling himself into a sitting position. Ghost pulled the pin off a grenade and dropped it below them, killing several more soldiers.

"Get us out of here!" Price yelled.

Nikolai pulled the Little Bird higher into the sky and out of range of the soldiers down below.

"We need to get Soap outta here." Price added.

"Da. I know a place."

"We need to get back to Firebase Delphi." Ghost said. "We need to pick up Roach."

"We can't stop." Captain Price immediately replied.

Shadow looked up at him, about to ask about Roach.

"We'll drop you guys off, but then we're going to keep moving. Soap needs proper medical attention and the two of us are fugitives, Shadow. I don't want you, or the rest of the 141, roped into that with us. Besides, with you guys seen as the good guys, you can still help take down Makarov."

Shadow slumped a bit in his seat but nodded.

"Besides, the faster we take down Makarov, the faster we can clear our names."

Shadow sat up straighter and cracked his knuckles. Price smirked.

"Alright, Firebase Delphi is about two minutes away."

Those two minutes passed in relative silence. The only sounds that could be heard were the sounds of the helicopter, Soap's labored breathing and Shadow cleaning his knife. Soon Firebase Delphi's motor pool came into view. The Little Bird lowered until it was a foot above the ground. Ghost and Shadow hopped off and walked off in the direction of the medical wing of Firebase Delphi as the Little Bird rose into the sky.


Located

Sgt. Gary "Roach" Sanderson

Firebase Delphi, Afghanistan

August 16, 2016

Roach lay comfortably in his hospital bed with his head propped up on his arms.

"Today was a great day," he mused. "No. Fuck that shit. Today was a fantastic day."

The sound of approaching footsteps had Roach turning his head to see Ghost and Shadow walk into the medical wing until they arrived at his bedside. Ghost stuffed his hands in his pockets and Shadow crossed his arms over his chest.

"How did your day go, Lieutenant?" Roach asked. "And… why the hell are your hands in your pockets?"

Ghost grunted, realizing his mistake and withdrawing his hands.

"Alright, I suppose. MacTavish was wounded and Price wouldn't come with us. Said that the two of them were considered fugitives and didn't want to drag the rest of the 141 down with 'em," he explained, shrugging. "So how was your day, Roach?"

Roach flashed a shit-eating grin, causing the two Lieutenants to look at each other.

"I got laid!" Roach cried out happily.

Shadow leaned backwards in shock and surprise at Roach's outburst.

"Roach….you did… fucking… what?" Ghost asked slowly.

"Got laid. By a hot nurse." Roach replied in satisfaction, relishing in his achievement.

"Lucky bastard," Shadow muttered.

"Just gotta get yourself fucked before you can fuck." Roach grinned.

His grin stretched even wider. Roach thought his face was going to split in half.

"You gotta get lucky. You need to hope your nurse is a girl whose brains you'd bang into the floor, and then you need to get her wet."

"You what, mate?" Shadow asked.

"Putting it simply, I got a nurse aroused," Roach shrugged. "How many times do I have to say it?"

"The bloody hell did you do that for?" Ghost cried out in shock.

"I was bored." Roach shrugged again, grin unfaltering.

"That's no reason to put the moves on a nurse!" Ghost protested.

"I got sex out of it though!" Roach said defensively.

"It doesn't bloody matter!" Ghost cried.

"Leave it, Ghost," Shadow said placatingly. "It's a trivial matter. Roach's misconduct is the least of our worries. The bloody Yanks are going to be breathing down our necks to make sure we don't go about doing what Price and MacTavish just did. They're probably going to disband the 141."

Ghost sighed.

"You're right, Shadow. Roach is getting out in a few days. Let's take it easy until then."

He turned and walked off.

Shadow lifted his balaclava and took off his sunglasses, hanging them on the neckline of his jacket.

"Don't worry about him, Roach," he said softly. "He's really tense and I don't think he's very happy that Price isn't letting us work with them directly."

Roach nodded, a bit shocked at seeing his Lieutenant's face for once. He was younger than he was expecting. He looked to be in his late teens to early twenties.

"He's also probably upset over the fact you got to knock boots before he did."

Roach snickered.

"I'm heading out. If that nurse comes back, make sure you two are quiet. Don't want to let the whole base know you two are doin' two person push-ups while the rest of us have to settle for choking the chicken."

Roach lost it, bursting into tears and uncontrollable giggling as Shadow pulled his balaclava back over his face and slid his sunglasses back on. He turned and walked out of the medical wing, Roach's hysterical laughter trailing behind him.


Located

Lt. Simon "Ghost" Riley

Firebase Delphi, Afghanistan

August 16, 2016

Ghost sat in a metal chair in the vehicle depot, adjusting his desert cammies. He realized at that moment that he hadn't changed his footwear at all since bailing out Price and MacTavish. His skull balaclava was smelly as all hell, even with it resting on his lap. He peacefully sipped his beer, with a full case of twelve at his feet, watching the sun go down. The setting sun painted the sky with beautiful colors of orange and pink.

"Nice night, huh?" a voice asked from behind him. Ghost turned to see Shadow, standing behind him carrying a folded up metal chair and holding a case of Mountain Dew. Shadow was dressed in the same clothing, save a form-fitting white t-shirt. His balaclava was pulled up and was acting as a beanie on his head, and his sunglasses hung from the neckline of his shirt as well.

"Beautiful night." Ghost clarified as Shadow set the case of soft drinks down and opened up his metal chair. Ghost heard Shadow open the case, pull out a can of soda, and crack it it before taking a sip.

The two best friends sat in companionable silence as they simply enjoyed each other's company before either of them spoke.

"Ghost?" Shadow asked timidly, as if he was afraid for simply asking the question.

"Yeah, Shadow?" came Ghost's reply.

"How did we become friends? I just know that one day I'm being pulled from the SAS and getting stuck in the Task Force, and the next day you and I are best friends. Not that I'm complaining, but how exactly did that happen?"

"Well, Shadow. It started like this…"


Six Months Ago

RAF Hereford, UK

I stood with most of the members of Task Force 141 in front of you. Roach was off doing who knows what, and I got a good look at you. I could tell that you, still an Officer Cadet at the time, were just a kid by the fact that you had a bloody baby face. Free of blemishes of any kind. You still had that light in your eyes that all stupid FNG's have. But what surprised me was the still face. Not many recruits are emotionless as you were.

"This is the new recruit?" Captain MacTavish asked with unmasked scorn. "Doesn't look like much."

Your expression didn't change, but I could tell his little comment got to you.

"Easy, Soap." Captain Price said.

The corner of your mouth twitched as you held back a smirk

"Alright, lads let's get ready. We leave in ten."

"Is the FNG comin' with us?" I asked.

"Aye. Let's see how good he is in a real scenario," Price replied.

We spent the next several minutes prepping our gear. I had already been ready, so I watched you get your gear together. I wondered why in the fucking hell anyone would have two goddamn .44s, and what kind of arsehole would take more than one knife.

You know my little saying. Ounces make pounds, pounds mean pain.

And a TAR-21… that was weirder than this guy I heard of who took a JGSDF-issue PM-9.

That was a strange combination of weapons, to say the least. And I wondered how the hell you'd fight with them. 'Course, if you were part of the 141, there must have been some reason. You almost looked like Roach, cheeky little combat helmet and balaclava. The more I think of it… a lot of guys looked like 'im.

Price called us over to the helicopter and we all boarded. While everyone else was busy making sure their shite was in order, you were just watching the landscape pass.

We still had a few minutes to go before we landed.

"Got a name, kid?" I asked.

"Ryu," was your reply.

It was pretty obvious you weren't one of those talking types. Unlike Roach. He doesn't shut the fuck up, ever.

"Ryu Oda. My previous squad leader called me 'Shadow.'"

"What the hell kind of name is Shadow?"

"I followed my previous squad leaders around near constantly. Almost like their shadow. Hence the name. One of them wanted to call me 'Ninja' cause they thought it was funny, but by that time 'Shadow' had already stuck."

"Fair enough. Any specific skillset?"

"Not really. I'm pretty decent at hiding. Hide and seek champion. I'm fairly good at stealth tactics. I'm pretty good at blending into crowds. I'm also okay in hand to hand combat."

"141 isn't what I'd call a force that goes loud often, you'll survive," I said reassuringly. "Keep going."

"I was an all-star gymnast in high school," You added. "I could have gone pro, but I decided to join the military."

"Damn. Those are two totally opposite ends of the spectrum. What made you decide to join the military instead of going pro?"

"I don't know. I was always one for giving back to society and what better way to give back than to protect my home by joining the military?"

Noble, but that's the kind of thing every recruit spits before they get fucked by the big green weenie.

"That's true, I guess. I-"

I was interrupted by Captain Price giving us orders.

"Alright, gents," he began. "We're at the Y in one mike. Ryu, you are going to keep this place locked down. No one touches this bird without your say, is that clear?"

"Loud and clear, Sir? What's the password?"

"What?"

"Password. What do I ask people that get close?"

"Ask them to tell you the name of your squad leader."

"Got it."

"Ghost," Captain Price continued. "You and Roach hit the north entrance of the compound, while Soap and I work our way through from the back. We'll meet in the middle of the X. Archer and Toad are on overwatch. Just like the original plan."

"Yes, sir." the rest of us, minus you, chorused.

"Good. Let's go," Price said.

We all rushed out of the helicopter. I watched you lean casually against the side of the helicopter as you watched the surrounding area with a careful eye. Not gonna lie. I was a bit put off, but now I'm rather impressed. You acted like you were bored and not expecting much, but looking back, you knew what was going on around yourself.

"Come on, Roach. Let's do this."

Roach and I started towards the objective… I won't bore you with the details of that.

What next?

Oh, right!

We all made our way back to the helicopter with the intel we snatched from the building we raided. Just as we reached the clearing, we were ambushed by some of Makarov's men.

"Bloody fucks, you're not getting it back!"

We were engaged in a firefight for quite a while when out of nowhere one of the Ultranationalists jumped me and tried to kill me by blowing up a belt of grenades he was wearing. You steamrolled the fuck out of him and tossed him back to his buddies. Killed quite a few of them for an FNG, I might add. The bastard knocked the wind out of me when he tackled me and it took me several moments to catch my breath. In the meantime, you stood above me dual wielding your Magnums as you took down the Ultranationalists who were quickly realizing how much their ambush had failed. Dunno how you did it.

"I think they're neutralized. Let's RTB, debrief, the usual." Price ordered.

Captain Price pulled you aside and told you something. I think he recommended you to the brass, because you came back as a Leftanant. I remember sneaking you some beer… it was fucking warm, too. Not like either of us cared.


Present Day

Firebase Delphi, Afghanistan

"So, we became friends because I saved your sorry ass during an op?" Shadow asked with a chuckle.

"Shut it, mate. That was just a bad day. Standing in clear view of the enemy… that's crazy. But crazy is what makes friends," Ghost said. "All right, well I think I'm gonna turn in for the night."

"Night, Ghost," Shadow said.

The sun finally slipped below the horizon, plunging the sky into darkness.


AN: Aaaaand scene. Tomorrow, story time not our time, we hopefully get more action. I say "hopefully" because when I start typing I just let my fingers work and give little thought, cause that's how I roll.

DEFCON: Nipples. Operator, beard as fuck, grow one you must.

Alright, well I'm done writing this chapter. Don't forget to favorite the story, review the story, and follow to see chapters similar to this one. See ya.