Summary:

Lara's gotten herself captured and Muzzie's stuck with watching over her. With things looking bleak for Lara, will our death-defying heroine be able to get out of this mess?

Updated on 14/03/2019


Muhammad woke to the sound of men barking out orders. Cracking his sleepy eyes open, he was immediately assaulted by what little sunray filtering in through the tent flaps, a not so subtle courtesy from the sun that it was now daybreak. Taking his time to get his bearings right, the newbie slowly stretches about. Day 4, make or break. And there was much work to be done later on. He lets out a soft groan.

Inhale, exhale. Inhale, exhale. Inhale, exhale. Morning routine. Gets him psyched for whatever the day has in store for him. With a sigh, the PMC sat up slowly, basking in the first rays of the morning sun as a light chilly breeze passes on through. Yep, it's still cold outside. The rain and the morning dew had seen to that but by midday, the weather will be back in full force with its heat and humidity.

"What time is it?" He sees 07:00:31. "Oh fuck me, I slept through the entire watch."

Eh no big deal, he shrugs.

'What's Walter gonna do? Shoot me? He can eat a dick and watch Croft himself if he thinks pulling a night watch is easy,'

He shrugs at the thought. Swerving his head left and right, Muzzie sees Pendanski and Croft still out so right now there wasn't much to do aside from waiting for Walter to rouse from his sleep and take further instructions from thereon. Other than Muhammad, there weren't any other contractors inside the command tent. Makes sense, only the team leaders were allowed in and even then they had way too much on their hands to come in and go as they please.

Free time was a luxury afforded only to those with a higher appointment, ground-pounders such as himself were consigned to a fate worse than death; Sai Kang.

'At least I'm being paid well enough for this shit. Still, I don't mind if they'd pay me just a little bit higher. Like another thousand bucks higher. In Euros- aww man that would be nice.'

Muzzie seriously hopes to rejoin his team in the effort soon, it's starting to get boring real fast just sitting there wasting away watching over Lara fucking Croft. Speaking of Croft, that woman really was something else. He steals a glance at her, still draped in his Goretex jacket.

'Cute.'

He thinks with a smile. She looked so peaceful and harmless now that she's unconscious, yet so...terrifying when she was awake. Nobody expected her to show up in Brazil of all places and start fucking things up. In the short span of time she was loose in base camp, Croft racked up a respectable body count of twelve security operators. Twelve guys with vastly superior training and experience than Muhammad and Croft tore them apart like it was fucking Tuesday. What chance did he have in taking her down if she broke free?

Muhammad shakes away those thoughts. He's armed while she's tied down and weaponless. At this point, only the Almighty could help her.

"Know what? Maybe I should take a walk, get some fresh air," he mumbles with a slight nod. All cooped up in the tent must be getting to him. Just a little stroll 'round the perimeter to stretch his legs and get some air. Perhaps even a quick chat or two with the guys.

Grabbing his weapon, Muzzie sets off for a little walk whilst munching on a fruit bar. Even in the field, he's gotta keep his macros up, gains and all.

Squish. Squish. Squish. Went his boots as the newbie trudged over the mud and onto a makeshift bridge. He flattens his body to the side as a pair of mercs carrying a big metal box amble past him, heaving and groaning. Muzzie recognizes their faces; they were part of the new additions who'd flown in with the resupply chopper.

No words were exchanged as they made their way past one another.

Empty faces from his colleagues greet him as they quietly went about their business, welding, rigging, chopping, hauling. Some ignored him, some would give a cordial nod in his direction. Everybody was suffering and Muzzie felt really guilty. All around as far as his eyes could see were his fellow comrades breaking their backs and sweating buckets yet here he was sheltered from it all. With last night's attack killing off nearly a quarter of their manpower and the heavy downpour damaging some of the equipment, the expedition team was set back several paces.

Wires and riggings had to be tied down and secured, stores had to be re-accounted for and any damages wrought by the heavy downpour last night needed to be fixed post haste.

The engineers had already built makeshift bridges and pulley systems, ready to be used in transporting men and equipment once inside the temple but with last night's heavy rain dampening the soil and turning the entire area within and around the expedition team into a muddy hellscape, more had to be built just to traverse from one side of the camp to the other. With a deadline to meet in less than six hours and the men fighting through heat, humidity, exhaustion, and loss, it was little wonder why morale was at an all-time low.

The heat was packing on and the temperature was steadily climbing. It was frustrating just how fickle minded the weather could be here in this part of the world. The night before it pissed on them with a vengeance but this morning it looks as though the weather was driven to evaporate every last drop of water back into the atmosphere.

Already complaints of heat rash and athlete's foot were starting to spread throughout the camp.

In fact, Muzzie swore his soles were starting to feel funny, like the beginning of a nasty itch forming up beneath, he'd better have that taken care of once they've royally fucked off out of here.

He came upon more and more people but the other contractors paid him no mind as he went past them although a few did look up and wave at their strange co-worker. As he went deeper into the jungle, Muzzie ran into Tyoma and Clarke tasked with burying last night's casualties. Just the two of them with oversized shovels digging an enormous pit to throw the bodies in. The dead were all neatly piled up in a straight row still in their personal effects and gear. Their weapons and ammunition were gone, probably salvaged and redistributed.

Muhammad had seen natural causes of death but this was the first time he came upon a scene of carnage.

"Yech! What the-" he nearly hurls. Not only did they die violently, but they were also starting to smell. "Oh my God,"

"Sukka just be thankful you're in that tent doing nothing and not out here doing this!" growls the Russian as he shovels a large chunk of dirt out of the ground. Clarke says nothing but he continues walking up and down mumbling a mismatch of words Muzzie didn't understand.

"What's he doing?"

"Giving them their last rites. Here we cannot afford any fancy funeral rituals. So he's taken it on himself to say a few words and throw some dirt. Its the least these sorry bastards deserve." sighs Tyoma whilst shaking his head.

As morbid as that sounded, this was the reality each and every PMC faced in their line of work. To be buried in a ditch so far away from home, how melancholic. It was high-risk yet high-paying for a reason. But one cannot possibly spend all that money if one is dead now can he?

"Will their families know?" he asks softly as he inspects one of the bodies. This one looked young, he had an arrow stabbed through the side of his head. Probably a couple of years past Muhammad at best, maybe even the same age. Tragic waste of youth.

As much as he felt pity for the deceased, he couldn't offer any prayers lest he incurs God's wrath. At the end of the day, they were still kafir. Islam forbade him from offering prayers to the bodies of non-muslims.

"They will more or less receive a letter of condolences," says Clarke as he finally speaks. "But it'll probably be just some bullshit like how their loved one died in a freak accident or something."

"No pensions given to the fam' too, that's fucked up," recoils Muhammad with apprehension.

"It is what it is, bro, you knew the risks when you signed your life away on that dotted line for a quick buck," says Tyoma sagely to which Muhammad quietly disagrees. It's not always about the money.

"So why are you out here, boot? Relieved of watch yet?"

"Nah, I just...came out to take a walk. Guess I'll be heading back now. Catch you guys later then,"

"A'ight,"

"Take care, Makhamet,"

"It's Muhammad, you fucking chibai!" he gave a toothy grin as Clarke and Tyoma broke out into short chuckles.


Back in the tent, Lara was in the midst of regaining her consciousness. It's all starting to come back to her now. Gunfire. Screaming. Bullets whizzing. An explosion. Inaudible voices.

"Mmfh," she moans as the pounding in her head intensifies. "Ugh, my head. Feels like it's been kicked by a horse,"

When she tried raising her hands to tuck away loose strands of her hair from her forehead, Lara discovers that she couldn't move them around for they were locked in place together. "What the hell?" Her expression transforms into one of horror as Lara realizes both her wrists have been cable tied to the leg of a large field table. She reacts almost immediately by struggling to get the bindings off albeit in vain. Lara also notices her right arm from shoulder to wrist was bandaged. Whoever patched her up was definitely had some first-aid expertise judging by how tight and neat the gauze was wrapped around her arm.

And then it hits her. Before she passed out. Someone needed her alive, said she'd be useful.

A smirk plays itself across her features. If these wankers think she'll help them get the Gema O Diablos then they're in for a huge disappointment. The only thing she'll be assisting them with would be their destruction.

Alright so, quick assessment. They've taken her gear, her belt, everything, leaving absolutely no stone unturned. Not even the clothes on her back were spared.

That mini swiss knife she'd hidden within the seams of her pants was gone as well.

'And it was a such a great gift too,' she laments. 'Sam's gonna kill me if I don't get it back.'

It was a memento of her and Sam's 2nd year anniversary together, shortly before all this...Trinity business. The nifty little gadget even came with a manicure file which made it all the more precious to her. So to recap, they've taken her gear including one cherishable item, bound her hands to a fucking table and the ones who strip-searched her probably enjoyed every fucking moment of it.

Her eyes narrow at that last thought, anger bubbling dangerously as it slowly rises from her chest. Lara's never felt so naked and violated before up until now. Even more reasons to hate Trinity. When she gets out of here, there'll be hell to pay. One could be damned sure of that.

Right, first things first she needs to set her priorities straight.

Getting herself free from these bonds would make a great start, the second would be to locate her gear and the third would be to give Trinity their comeuppance. While trying to free herself, Lara takes in her surroundings. She was in a giant tent with maps, reports, files yet nobody's home. This must be their central command.

Oh wait, hang on, she's not alone after all.

There was a man fast asleep at the end of the table she was cable-tied to. He wasn't in military gear, just plain khaki pants, and checkered shirt. Was he one of them? Or was he forcefully brought here against his will? If it was the former then she had a potential ally in her midst but if it was the latter then Trinity must have lost their marbles to have him so close to her with no security detail nearby.

Judging by how he wasn't in restraints and the fact that he has a drop-leg pistol holster on his thigh, the man before Lara has to be Trinity. Though it remains to be seen what was his connection to the organization and just how high up the proverbial food chain was he standing on.

Of course, this was all purely speculation, guesswork on her part if he really was with Trinity. 'Innocent until proven guilty' as the great Albus Dumbledore once said.

What? She absolutely adored the Harry Potter series, don't be judging her dear readers.

It got Lara through her teenage years, regaling her with tales of magic and adventures beyond and they're both British products so there's something she could fully connect with. In fact, she's spent most of her life surrounded by books and movies of fantasy and adventure.

Han Solo, Nathan Drake, Gandalf the Grey, these were her idols whose stories have kept her on the road in following her late father's footsteps.

Progress on those binds was coming along well, her knuckles were almost free. It won't be long now. Priority number two needed a little...reassessment; getting back her gear could come later. She needs to assess if the man sleeping before her was a threat. If he wasn't Trinity then Lara would have rescued a valuable ally who could provide a much deeper insight to Trinity's sinister plans and of the ruby they were both competing for. But if he was then this was too good an opportunity to pass up. She could silence their leader and sow chaos among their wretched ranks.

Without a leader, these people would probably pack up and go crying back to their masters with their tail 'tween their legs, plus, she'd have dealt another blow towards their 'inexhaustible' supply of assets. Then she could focus on the ruby without having to worry about armed thugs trying to kill her. Elementary.

'Just a little more,' Lara chews on her lips in anticipation of getting out of her restraints. 'Nearly there, comeoncomeoncome-'

"Oh hey!" The enthusiastic voice jolts the young archaeologist out of her concentration. "You're up!"

'Really? Oh, come on, for fucks sakes!' screams Lara at the top of her inner voice and immediately stops what she was doing as the Trinity soldier came striding in and set his weapon down several feet away from her.

'Of course, there'd be a guard, damnit!' And to think this could have been an easy getaway.

"The medics say you hit your head real good trying to get out of the kill zone when the grenade went off. To be honest, I really wasn't expecting you to be up so soon but uh," he takes a pause, facing away, eyebrows pursed, deep in thought. And then he continues without missing a beat. "you seem to be doing alright." It took Lara a moment to realize the guard was rambling on more towards himself than actually conversing with her.

"Still," he turns to look at her and gave a grin which seemed too genuine and friendly for Lara's own liking. She prefers maintaining the status quo of seeing Trinity's soldiers as nothing more than faceless bad guys to dispatch than actual people. Makes them easier to kill. "Better late than never I suppose."

"Yay," she cheers sarcastically, lips pulled into a wry smile.

"Ah-hah-hah-hah, fuck you." He then pulls up a bench and sits facing her from a few feet away and for a moment both sides took a silent pause to size each other up before the guard decides to look elsewhere.

He was shorter than most Trinity soldiers she's encountered (And bested), his faux-American accent stood out like a sore thumb. After spending a large chunk of her adult life traveling, Lara could easily distinguish between American and Britsh accents and this guy was no American. The way he cradles his rifle and the incessant tapping of his boot against the ground tells her he's bored. Probably itching for some action. Typical grunt.

Unfortunately, due to her current situation, taking him out would not be easy at all. As it stands, he has all the cards in his deck. In his hands was a high-powered rifle, plus, he had placed himself at a respectable distance between them, yet another tactical advantage in his favor. In layman terms, the bastard could shoot her if she so much as took a step forward.

"You ah, ahem," he frowns, unsure of how to proceed. "you put on quite a show out there last night," as the guard speaks, he whips out a six-inch blade to slice open a ration pack. His jittery movements and lack of eye contact were not lost on the young archaeologist. The guard was nervous.

"I aim to please," she smirks, trying to get under his skin. He opens his mouth to bite out a retort but closes it and shakes his head with a sigh.

That knife in his hands was her ticket out of here. That rifle by his side would come in as an added bonus too. If Lara could bait him to do something foolish, like oh let's say hit her, or worse, grope her like the animal he probably was, she could counter-attack and neutralize him.

Lethally.

Getting hit was not an issue, she's taken plenty a slap and the occasional haymaker in this dangerous line of work.

"Quick question," she quips in her thick British accent to which the mercenary raises an eyebrow.

"Uh, sure. Go ahead."

"How many of your friends did I kill last night?"

"Pfft, nice try," chuckles the mercenary but his face soon morphs into a cringe as he takes the first bite at the nutritious yet foul tasting slop. "Look, I know what you're trying to do and it's not gonna work. At least on me, that is."

Instead, she gives a wide smile that somehow didn't quite really meet her eyes. "I have no idea what you're talking-"

"Oh I'm sure you do Lara." he coos in a sing-song, causing her to flinch. She wasn't used to having the bad guys use her first name or speaking to her nicely for that matter. "I see you've been eyeing my knife." he puts the blade away. "You think what? I'm stupid is it?"

'There, a break in his accent. Can't tell where he's from yet. Maybe I should just ask- oh what the fuck Lara! Focus! First priority: escape!'

"Well the ones who came before you certainly were," she says sweetly causing him to chuckle once more. 'This one's grown a brain cell. Time for plan B.'

"Okay, you caught me. I really thought it'd turn out the way I'd imagined," She sighs, giving a defeated look yet her hands began to stealthily work their way out of their binds. It's nice and tight alright but she has to try. Nothing good would become of her fate if she stays in Trinity's hands and if anything, Lara refuses to believe in such archaic delusions.

'We make our own destiny. And I refuse to sit here and wait to die.'

"Seriously?" he giggles. "What, did you think I'd get pissed off, lose my temper, try to hit you and somehow get my ass kicked and you escape?"

"Something along those lines, yeah." she shrugs.

"This isn't fucking Hollywood, you know that right?"

"Worked for me a couple of times. Remind me to sue after I get out of this, yeah?"

He lets out a sigh. "You're really something else you know that, Lara?"

"I wasn't aware we were on a first name basis. In fact, I don't even know your name."

"Meh," he dismisses her statement with a wave of his hand. "You can call me Muzzie."

"Muzzie?" she giggles. "What kind of name is that?"

"I dunno, everyone calls me that. So it just kinda stuck I guess. And second of all, why shouldn't I call you Lara. That is your name is it not?"

"Course it is but your people normally don't call me that. They've got more... creative names for me," She ends that with a roll of her eyes.

"You mean like, bitch, cunt, fucking bitch, dirty fucking cunt, goddamn whore-"

"Don't push it." she hisses.

"Okay, okay." he raises his arms in mock surrender, a cheeky grin stretching across his face. "Just trying to improve my vocabulary is all,"

"God, you're annoying!" Lara takes a pause to shake her head. "Honestly, you're the first Trinity soldier I've met who's so..so... chatty."

"Thanks, I'll take that as a compliment. At least I'm keeping you entertained for the moment."

"Not in the least," she curses under her breath. "Aren't you military types supposed to act professionally? Isn't this, what do you call it-"

"Fraternising with the enemy? Pfft," he scoffs. "I am a professional in my job, make no mistake. But right now there's just the two of us here unless you count my boss, botak over there," he nods his head to the sleeping form on the table.

"What?"

"Erm, botak. Baldy, sorry. Ah, his name's Pendanski but I call him botak. Don't tell him that. It'll be our little secret,"

She bit back a snort. Yeah, sure, whatever.

Wait, Pendanski? Isn't that one of the bad guys from that book 'Holes'? Well, at least that's cleared the air about the mystery man's allegiance.

"But just to give you the benefit of the doubt," He leans forward while looking her straight in the eye with a serious expression, "You sent twelve people to an early grave." He shakes his head. "May Allah forgive them."

'Allah? wait, what-'

"Yes, I'm a Muslim and no, I don't plan on converting to become a bible thumper anytime soon. I'm just here to finish a job."

"But...but-Trinity! They...and...and then-you-but-"

Her face was one of utter confusion, a look which Muhammad honestly found adorable as hell. It doesn't help that she's one of the most beautiful women he's laid eyes on. He could feel his nether regions -No. Stop. Down, boy. Down. Down!

"Look, its a long and complicated story, okay but long story short, Trinity needed men with military experience to fill in for security contractor roles so I applied, got myself shortlisted and well, here I am."

There was a tense awkward silence between them as the conversation was left hanging. But then, "You must either be really, really stupid or really desperate enough to throw your lot in with these wankers. Maybe even both."

Ouch.

"That's not very nice."

"So report me, I don't care. The truth hurts."

It was true, Muhammad needed money real bad which was why left his homeland in the first place. Keep calm, don't let her get you all riled up. She's messing with you.

This wily she-Rambo's trying to mess with him; get inside his head, make him slip. Psych-warfare at its finest. "Stupid? No. Desperate? Maybe, I mean the hours are long and the living conditions," he takes a look around. "sucks ass but the pay's good-"

Lara cuts him off with a laugh. Muhammad didn't like the tone of that laughter. He's got enough EQ to recognize when someone's mocking him.

"You risk life and limb for something as petty as money?" her gaze hardens as her bright pair of almonds blaze against his dark browns. "You're pathetic! You're nothing more than Trinity's slave!" she finishes with a spit that struck him right in the face.

Gan Ni Na Pua Chi Bai!

"Fucking Chibai!" He shoots to his feet and stabs a finger at her. "You know what, bitch? Fuck you, I'm done okay! I tried to be nice because I sympathize with the situation you're in, but it looks like you're just a cold-hearted, sarcastic, murdering whore. And don't talk to me about slavery or some fuck-shit. You're the one in captivity all fucking tied up while I'm out here," he gestures to himself, at the same time, wiping away the disgusting globule of saliva running down his cheek. "Free as a whistle."

Then he does something totally unexpected. The mercenary blows a raspberry.

'I've been policed by the village idiot.' she sighs.

"They put the new guy to watch over me. I feel insulted really. Three years of ruining Trinity's plans and these wankers put a boy-"

Eh, what the motherfuck? Is she tired of living?

"Boy!?" Muzzie explodes. "You fucking take that back!" he says while pointing an accusing finger at her once more.

'Ah, so that's his trigger. I think I can make this work now.' A sly grin lit up on her features.

"Hey, hey, what-what is that? What are you smiling about?"

"Oh nothing, just mulling over the fact Trinity really must be desperate for bodies to throw at me if they've started recruiting the likes of you. I mean, child soldiers, really? That's low even for them."

"Whaaat!?" He shoots to his feet with his rifle cradled dangerously in his hands.

'That's it, come closer.'

"Fuck. You. I'm turning 24 this year, alright! Last I checked its been almost a decade since I hit puberty-"

Muhammad stops himself before he gave away too much...irrelevant information.

"Mhmm, cool story bruv." she dismisses him with a roll of her eyes. "Did you drop that lie on your recruiter as well?"

"What the fuck are you talking-"

"Speaking of which, kid, do you still live with your parents?"

She cuts him off with a cheeky smile that was just begging to be pimp slapped right off. It wasn't till he started his career as a private military contractor six months ago that he finally moved out of his home. "Does mummy give you phone calls every now and then just to tell blow kisses?"

The bedtime story part was totally untrue of course but he does call her frequently to tell her how much he misses her. And yes...sometimes they do blow kisses to one another.

"I...well...you..." he sputters, terribly roasted by Lara fucking Croft of all people. Muzzie gave a cry of frustration followed by a sigh before going back to wolfing down his MRE pack. For the next few minutes, they simply stared each other down in uncomfortable, palpable silence, until a nasty thought crossed his mind. He'd heard rumors over lunchbreak that Croft was orphaned from a young age, time to...kick the proverbial hornet's nest. Facing Lara once more, and this time with a toothy grin that could only spell bad news. Muhammad drops the bomb right up her face. "At least I still have a mom to give phonecalls to. The same can't be said for you."

Oh~ boy.

If looks could kill, Muhammad would have died probably a hundred times over. "You take that back." Her voice was low, barely controlled rage simmering beneath the surface just waiting to explode. Muzzie in a show of defiance simply turns his body to the side and laughs it off, trying to put up a strong front when in actual fact he was freaking out.

Uh-oh. Is she still looking?

From the corner of his eye, he could see the prisoner literally shaking with rage. If she wasn't tied down to the chair, well, there'd be nothing left of him to bury, probably. He gulps. Looking anywhere else but her direction, he lets out a snarky comment just to pretend he wasn't bothered by her rage. "Someone really oughtta teach you not to start something you can't finish,"

"Go to hell!" she snarls in reply, ending their conversation.

For the next hour, the two sat in palpable silence, stewing in their pent-up frustrations with neither sides even so much as batting an eyelash to the other.

It wasn't till Muhammad decides to quench his thirst that Lara spoke to him. After all that's said and done, getting him to share his water supply would be a longshot but she has to try.

Her chapped lips haven't tasted anything potable since what happened last night and this guy, for all his shortcomings and affiliations with Trinity, well he seems to be more cordial acting than the rest of them.

"Can I..." she pauses mid-sentence unsure of herself yet already grabbing the guard's attention.

"Eh?"

"Can I have some water?"

The guard, however, made no move to comply with her request.

"Please?" she tries once more.

He gently swishes the bottle around, the sound of sloshing water arousing Lara's parched lips and setting her throat on fire. "Ooh~" he calls to her in a sing-song voice, "lookey over here, see what I've got~"

"Does widdle Wawa-Cwoft wants some water?" he lets out a sharp bark of laughter.

She says nothing to that playful jab, only nodding furiously to quell that burning feeling of embarrassment and anger. Deep inside, Lara was wondering just how could she make his final moments as agonizing as possible.

'Death by fire? Or toxic gas? Decisions, decisions.'

"The not-so-famous explorer Lara Croft asks for my help," the guard puts his hand to his chest in a ridiculous display of dramatics and overly exaggerated British accent. "Alas, she has hurt my feelings, oh bully!"

'Fire arrows it is,'

"Fuck your feelings, seriously, a simple yes or no would have sufficed."

"It is as you've said, I am but a humble slave unworthy of offering you anything, not even sustenance." He continues spewing nonsensical drivel whilst taking small sips from the canteen.

"Would you cut it out? I said please didn't I?"

"Mmm..." he moans and then smacks his lips for added effect. "Nothing like a good swig of water to quench your thirst, wouldn't you agree?"

Her hands tremble as annoyance warps itself into mind-numbing rage.

"So good, mmf, oh you want some?" he teases her by shaking said canteen left and right, the sound of sloshing water making Lara's throat burn even more.

"Fuck you!" she spits, her salvo stopping short a few feet away from the infuriating thug.

Most of Lara's enemies who knew of her fearsome reputation would have known better than to go messing around with her. Her rage gives her great powers, feeding her focus, clarity, and strength which she channels to full potential. Her anger, her rage has led her to achieve both amazing accomplishments as well as commit terrible acts of violence on more than one account. But more than that, it's kept her alive throughout these years in her war against Trinity.

But fuck it if it wasn't fun. It's like dangling a piece of meat on top of a leopard's cage with your bare hands. As it is, Muhammad was having a ball dishing out sweet payback. Tit-for-tat.

The look on her face as it burns from a tanned shade of peach to bright apple red was oh so priceless.

'And downright adorable. Not that I'll ever tell you, Croft.'

"I'd love to share but what if you try to attack little ol' me?" he feints a whimper.

"Yeah? Well why don't you come closer and find out," she hisses venomously.

"Nah I'm good. Anyways this bottle seems to be," Muzzie sloshes it around some more. "Eh, I'd say half full. If you want this, you'll have to take back what you said."

"Take back wha- about what!?" she cries out exasperatedly. 'God, you're so annoying! Did your parents pour paint in your cereal?'

"Oh, nothing much, just the things that you said about earlier on."

"What's the matter, big boy? Can't take a little heat?"

Anyone else would have hit her for such insolence. But not Muhammad. It takes a problem child to know another and knock em' down a few pegs.

"Do you want water or not?" he cocks his head sideways still grinning at her.

"Fine! I'm..." she looks away.

"Say it," he prods.

Lara opens her mouth to say something but found no words coming out.

"You got a cock in your throat or something? We don't have all day, Lara." he snickers wickedly.

'Wait till I get out of here. Oh, just you wait.'

"I take back what I said." albeit halfheartedly and through gnashing teeth. "I'm sorry."

"See, it wasn't so hard now was it?"

She pictures killing him a dozen different ways in her mind.

"Anyways here, have fun!" He screws the cap on and throws the canteen at her without warning.

Was it any surprise she'd miss?

"You did that on purpose didn't you?" deadpans the mercenary, annoyed at her pathetic attempt to catch said canteen.

"My hands are tied to the table, shit-for-brains! Are you really that stupid to think I'd be able to catch it?"

"Oh yeah," he says while deep thought. "My bad. Alright, alright I'll hold the bottle up and you drink but!" he holds up a finger. "You're gonna have to promise me you won't try anything."

"Fine."

"Say it."

"What?"

"Say 'I promise not to hurt you!"

"I promise not to hurt you." she crosses her fingers. "Now hurry up and get over here,"

"Alright, but I got my eye on you." She rolls her eyes at that, no pun intended.

Poor Muzzie. So young, so naive.

He doesn't know that throughout the entire time they spoke, Lara has been quietly attempting to free her hands and has succeeded in doing so.

He doesn't know that it was all just an act for him to get within striking distance. Lara's plans for salvation came at the cost of silencing him.

Permanently.

"There, better?" Lara says nothing but continues to guzzle down the water canteen. "Oi, oi, slow down you're gonna-"

Too late. She hacks and heaves as water shoots out of her nostril and mouth.

"Oh my god! What the fuck! Ugh, I got some of it on my face!" wails Muhammad "And stop laughing, chibai! It's not funny!"

Lara couldn't help but laugh out loud at the guard wiping away at his face. It was too much, the look on his face, how he'd reacted. Priceless. Shame she has to kill him.

Instead of hitting her, however, Muhammad simply sighs and hands Lara some wet wipes he's got stored in his vest's utility pouch. He saves a few pieces for himself. As they cleaned themselves up, he poses a question that's been burning within for some time.

"Was it scary?"

"Was what scary?" a puzzled expression on her face.

"What I mean to say is that uh," this was indeed an extremely sensitive question to which most who've committed the deed would not be willing to share. "was it scary the first time you..." he finishes by running a thumb across his throat.

"Killed someone?"

"...yeah."

Silence.

"Okay yeah, that was kinda rude, sorry for asking. If you're uncomfortable then that's fine. You don't...don't need to-"

"It was," she nods, her voice barely a whisper. This time, the mercenary sits cross-legged right in front of Lara, eager to know more.

Lara doesn't make any attempt to scramble away as the merc invades her personal space, mainly because she needs him right where she wants him; within striking range.

She continues, her voice was hushed and solemn. "I remember my first kill and it was terrifying. The blood, the labored breaths he took as he clung onto the last vestiges of his life. That tortured look on his face."

She shakes her head before continuing. "After a while it just got easier, a stab through the heart, setting people on fire, snapping the neck, an arrow to the head." She shrugs, "It just got easier and easier until you find yourself desensitized to it all."

She sees the young guard before her turning a little shade of green. "You've never killed anyone yet before, haven't you?"

He somberly shakes his head.

"Death...it..its a natural part of life, but to...to bring death to someone else is...I dunno, Lara." he lets out a deep breath. "I just know that I might have to shoot someone someday and I don't think I can...I can..."

"Live with it?" she finishes what he was trying to say.

"...yeah." And then he looks up and sees Lara dabbing her face with those wet wipe he gave her.

It wasn't her wiping her face that made him freeze. It was the fact that her hands were free of their binds.

"What?" she cocks her head sideways. And then she realizes it as well.

'Oh-'

'-fuck.'

Both reacted at the same time but Lara was faster, having tangled in close combat plenty of times.

Her leg shoots out, sending poor Muhammad sprawling on the wet muddy ground with a severe case of nose bleed.

"Awfff, whattheffawkk!" he screams in pain as thick rivulets of blood, his blood came bursting out of his nose like a burst pipe.

Damn, she had one solid kick that's for sure.

Before Muhammad could even get his bearings right, something heavy straddles him, drives a knee to his body armor and a pair of hands wrapped themselves tightly 'round his neck.

It doesn't take a genius to guess who it was.

'Oh fuck how'd I miss this? She was playing me this whole time!' he screams within the depths of his mind as he thrashes about with his hands on her wrists, desperate to ease on the burning pressure tightening around his neck.

The body armor held off her knee from putting too much stress on his stomach but those hands need to be off his neck!

Muzzie's screams came out nothing more than a throaty rasp, her hands cutting off oxygen to his brain at an alarming rate.

"No..p..please...urkk!"

'Not like this! Not like this! I don't wanna die a virgin!'

Her mud-caked hair slathering onto his face as she leans forward to apply even more pressure. Her eyes were narrowed, determined. The eyes of a stone cold killer.

'Get the fuck off!'

"P...please...guys...he-help!"

She felt a little bad throttling him, he was one of them but he hasn't really hurt her or tried anything funny aside from vexing her. Yes, he was..irritating yet also, strangely patient and kind.

However, this was the price she was willing to pay to destroy Trinity. Anybody standing in her way were mere obstacles.

'An obstacle he's just an obstacle in the way,' she tells herself that and repeats it over and over as she chokes the life out of him but she ended up doubting her resolve more and more.

Muzzie's weapon was rendered moot in this engagement, Muhammad needed to throw her off, get some distance between them and then dominate the situation in his favor. He wasn't allowed to use lethal force but that didn't mean he can't kick her ass.

She doesn't go for his gun, Lara Croft means to take him down nice and silent.

There was a self-defense technique he learned back in the Infantry which serves to break an opponent's hold over you if he tries to strangle you on the neck. Of course, Muzzie's never actually been in an actual fight to test its effectiveness.

'First time for everything, this better work, goddamnit!'

His hands went for her thumbs and locked them in place. Why fight her entire arm when you could easily overwhelm the thumbs instead?

She yelps as he shifts his wrists sideways and immediately felt her thumbs stretch out of position, nerves screaming for her to get away from the hold he has on her hands.

'Yes!'

As predicted she eases up on her grip around Muzzie's throat as a short yet sharp stinging pain shoots up both her hands.

Lara was definitely not expecting him to be well versed in pressure points. What precious few seconds Muhammad bought for himself was used to great effect as he savagely bashes his forehead upwards against her face.

To her credit, she doesn't cry out in pain.

This was a minor setback, Lara could handle a little pain but his ploy did succeed in throwing the cunning little minx off him thus buying him more time to prevent her escape. And prolonging his survival. He backs up a little and drops a firing stance with the SAR MMS up, safety off. "Hands in the air!"

He can't shoot her, not without proper authorization from Walter but he can apprehend this conniving bitch. Speaking of which, he sees his boss still out. "Goddamnit Walter, wake the fuck up!" he yells in frustration.

Movement from the corner of his eye.

"Get the fuck back!" he turns and shouts once more. "On your knees!"

Lara refuses to comply as the guard barks another command.

As the two opponents size each another up, a single drop of blood runs down the rim of Lara's nose towards her lips. Muzzie smiles.

Tit-for-tat.

"Guys! Croft is loose! I need help- guhk!" he'd barely managed to get the word out into the radio when Lara suddenly bum rushes him, throwing his aim off and battering his weapon aside. He counters with a hook but Lara ducks underneath and palm strikes him in the chin, sending his world spinning.

'Whoa, so this is what getting high feels like. No, no, focus!'

There was no time to think, no strategy to plan out. Only survive long enough till backup arrives.

Muzzie throws a jab which easily catches her in the chin, his cross, however, wasn't on target as she tap blocks and counters with a flurry of hooks and uppercuts that overwhelms Muhammad, driving him back. His well-built physique doesn't faze her, she's taken down way bigger targets than him.

She had endurance and stamina on her side while he only had strength and his size to fall back on, not to mention his fighting techniques were...atrocious to say the least. His strikes had form and power yet they lacked precision and focus

He yells and swings a hook, Lara dodges then breaks into a roll right up behind him. A kick to the back of his leg knocks him down to a knee, swiftly bringing the fight into her favor. Lara growls and climbs atop his shoulders, wraps her thighs around his neck before swinging around with her entire body to pin him down in a deadly scissor lock.

Lara's history in acrobatics easily allowed her to pick up and execute the jiu-jitsu move with relative ease, in fact, it took her mere weeks to master even the most complicated of submission locks where for others it would take months.

All the more reason to not get into close combat with her unless you're absolutely positive you can take her.

But in this case, Muhammad had no choice but to fight, it was literally do-or-die.

'I got the call out, backup's coming. Just gotta hang in there.'

But now it's all falling apart. Croft has him locked between her legs. All she has to do was to use her core muscles and severe the spinal cord at the base of his neck with a single powerful jerk.

In layman terms, she could snap his neck with her legs and end the fight.

Muzzie, on the other hand, had other things in mind. He won't go down without a fight, by God.

Lara really wasn't prepared for the Trinity goon to suddenly take a huge chunk out of her inner thighs.

"Agh!" Lara shrieks at the unexpected feeling of human teeth sinking deep into her thighs and latching on while his hands came up and punched her sides, causing more pain in a desperate bid to force her off but she held on to him in the scissor lock regardless.

Such a move if one would even call it that, was absolutely perverse and dishonorable but survival has its own rules. Lara Richard Croft of all people should know better.

In response she uses her fists to hammer down against the sides of his head, further causing him pain and distress.

'It's not working, I need to stand up and slam her down!'

Like those MMA fights he's seen on youtube; whenever a fighter got headlocked he'd simply stand up and bash the motherfucker choking him hard into the ground.

Easier said that done. Lara was surprisingly heavy, how the fuck is she so heavy!?

Muhammad can't even get on his knees to stand with her weight adding on to his. Already his vision was starting to get a little hazy and an icy cold feeling crept up his gut.

He collapses on the ground with Croft on top, legs still wrapped 'round his neck. Exhausted, weakened and unable to breathe, this was it. Not how he planned to go, he could only imagine the irony of being killed in the midst of so many friendlies bustling about just outside the tent. Well, at least let it be said for his eulogy that Muzzie went down fighting till his last breath.

He uses what remaining strength he has to flip the bird up at her. If the situation wasn't so serious she'd actually crack a smile, he's a funny one alright.

Croft may win the battle but she'll lose the war. Any second now his guys are gonna show up and they're not going to leave anything up to chance. They'll put her down in a hail of bullet storm like the rabid animal she was.

Something metal and heavy clobbers the side of her head, knocking her out once more.

'Fucking hell, not again!' were her last thoughts before slipping back into a world of darkness.

Muzzie untangles himself from her legs and lay there pathetically, hacking and coughing. When his vision returns to normal he sees a bald, bearded guy in glasses and checkered shirt standing over at was Walter and he was wide awake. He extends a hand and promptly helps the newbie up on his feet before putting away the pistol back in its holster.

"When the Council advised me to carry a gun I was strongly against it." He starts. "Inelegant, obnoxiously loud and they give quite a terrible smell when fired. But now I'm starting to see the merits," he hums before going about the tent and stretching his legs.

Muhammad just stood there dumbfounded and hyperventilating. He nearly died not 10 seconds ago how would you feel if you were in his place?

"Sir I-"

"Save it," Walter raises a hand. "You were caught off guard. It couldn't be helped but next time you should really maintain a safer distance. You do know about the seven-meter rule right?"

"Yessir." he nods, deeply embarrassed. Then he realizes something amiss. "Wait, you were awake this whole time?"

Walter shakes his head. "I overheard laughter and saw you getting all chummy with our guest over here." he nudges her prone form with the tip of his boot. "Of course it wasn't till she began choking you out that I decided to act."

'*Nabeh chibai. This whole time he could've saved me the trouble of being choked out. *Gan Ni Na Pu Bor Kia!' But then again, 'Oh well, better late than never.'

In that exact moment, the tent flaps burst wide open and nearly half a dozen armed guys came charging in. These were the guys from Tango 2, they were the Quick Reaction Force (QRF).

'Quick reaction my lanjiao, if it weren't for Pendanski I'd be worm food by now.'

"Wot 'Appened?" asks their team leader, Logan in his thick Scottish accent as his team spread themselves around an unconscious Lara. "We 'eard ye over the radio, Mu'ammed, ye alright?"

"Bitch got free that's what happened." says the newbie angrily with his head tilted upwards and a wet wipe stuffed into his nose to stop the bleeding. "Caught me with my pants down and knocked the piss outta me."

"Christ, shifty little bugger." chuckles the Scot.

"Mohammed, I think you've done enough. Return to your team leader and take further instructions from him."

'Muhammad, ya done fucked up. Get the fuck out and fuck off back to 'Papa' Dean.'

"Yessir," he sighs before grabbing is gear and quietly heads out, ashamed he got his ass kicked by a girl. In front of his boss, no less.

"Yeah, bye Muzzie."

"Seeya guys,"

"Take care lad,"

"Thanks, Bear, you too." Logan was like a demigod amongst men, like what the Greeks made Hercules out to be. The Scott was tall, big, buff and sported a large beard. Hence earning the nickname, 'Bear' from the guys. For Muhammad, he was the very definition of manliness the rookie merc' had been pining for throughout his adult life.

"Logan," says Walter. "Let's get some groundwork done. Wake her up,"

"Aye, with pleasure sir,"

As Muzzie leaves the tent, he hears the splash of water followed by a loud feminine gasp. He hears the taunts and laughter coming from Team 2. He hears her cries of pain as they beat her into a living pulp.

He stops and looks back into the tent, the men inside cheering and laughing as they took turns hurting Lara.

'Can't be helped, she's brought this on herself.'

As he trudges back to regroup with the rest of Team 1, the pained screams emanating from the tent hound his every step.

It was shortly after midday when the order came to gather up around the temple entrance. Operation Sweepstake was commencing in thirty minutes. Muzzie fell in step behind Tyoma as they made their way towards the giant hole.

Dean and the rest of the team were already there waiting for the Russian and the Singaporean to link up back to full strength. As they walk past Walter's tent, he sees Croft inside strapped down to a field chair with her head down. 2 of Logan's boys stood guard beside her on watch duty.

She looks worse for wear but somehow she still had his Goretex draped over her.

'Damn, they messed her up real good.'

"Hey Muzzie, where are you going?" asks the Russian. He stops and turns, trying to think of an excuse. "To the tent, ah...I left something inside. You go on ahead, I'll catchup."

"Fuck that man, we gotta go!"

"5 minutes, I just need 5 minutes Artyom," says the newbie using the Russian' pet name.

"Fine but hurry up or you're gonna get skull-fucked."

"Just tell em I'm taking a piss or something."

"Da, da, now hurry up!"

"Spasiba, Tyoma!"

Nearing the tent, Muzzie immediately began having second thoughts. 'Oh, fuck me. This is a bad idea.' Before he could even enter, the guards block his path to send him away.

"C'mon Muzzie, you know the rules, no unauthorized personnel inside."

"I know, I know. I'm just here to..." his voice trails off as his gaze settles on Lara's broken form. "...to...uh...well,"

The lead guard, Hendricks glances at Croft before breaking into a knowing grin. "No need to explain bro, I know why you're here."

"You do?" he panics. 'Oh shit, looks like I can forget about that performance bonus.'

"Of course, man!" Hendricks slaps a hand on his shoulder. "You want some payback after she pulled that prison break shit on you."

"Uhm...yeah," Muhammad nods. "Been meaning to give her some after what she did. Fucking bitch." He cracks his knuckles.

"Hey no problem, I totally understand. Hell, I'd be fucking pissed too. Don't take too long! Ops Sweepstake's starting in three-zero mikes! We'll be right outside," he chuckles and nods his partner over to the entrance.

"Hey, hey, what the fuck Hendricks?" protests the second guard. "Walter said-"

"Walter ain't charge of the girl, alright Fitz? I am." chides Hendricks. "We'll be right outside anyways what are you so worried about?"

The second watchman, Fitz grumbles about Croft pulling off a second escape attempt as he makes his way out after Hendricks.

As soon as they were alone, Muzzie saunters up to Lara, stopping just shy of her broken form.

For a moment, neither of them spoke a word.

As the saying goes, 'credit is where credit is due' and Croft was definitely deserving of it. Even in the face of adversity, her spirit remained steadfast and strong.

And then she looks up. Definitely seen better days.

Despite the bruises on her face, Lara glares defiantly back at him, her bright hazel orbs burning its way through his skull, challenging him to do his worst.

Muzzie lets out a deep breath. 'Where do I even begin?'

"You fucked up big time, you know that right?" he backslings his carbine and squats until they were eye level.

She says nothing, her angry eyes doing the talking for her instead. He scoffs at the pathetic sight.

"You know Lara, once all this is done and we have the ruby, you're to be executed on sight. Pendanski's orders. He thinks you're too dangerous,"

He lets that piece of information sink into her skull before continuing. "Your corpse is to be brought back to be displayed in front of the High Council. Proof of the kill, or some shit, I dunno."

Lara gave a smug grin in reply. So a Trinity agent wants her dead, what's new?

'La di da, skip to the juicy part already.'

"You're smiling?" he recoils, slowly shaking his head. God have mercy, this woman's insane! "Well, you won't be after I tell you this."

'Oh?'

"Before putting you down, Pendanski's gonna turn you over to Joshua and his boys. You burned half his team to death, d'ya know that? One of their own, Lang, He survived but he didn't make it past the night. I heard them planning to make you suffer real slowly for that and for all those good men you wasted last night."

At the mention of the word good Lara broke into fits of pained laughter.

"What's so funny?" he crosses his arms with a frown.

Throughout her entire confrontation with Trinity, there hasn't been and probably never will be a Trinity member noteworthy to be judged as good in her books.

Orchestrating wars and tragedies throughout the world from the shadows. Manipulating, murdering, plotting and conspiring to enslave and remake mankind in their image. Nothing more than a hidden cancer. A dark stain from ancient times that's managed to survive into this century.

Their hired guns were no different, including this one before her. He may be new but it won't be long before he gets with the program; To murder. To loot. To rape. To destroy.

Anything to please their sadistic masters who sign their paychecks each month.

"Those bastards outside whom you work with?" She snorts, "Oh please, they're anything but good people."

"Why so?" Muzzie crosses his arms, a frown on his face.

"Let's see," she chews on her lips. "They kill people for money, hardly the paragon example of a decent human being now wouldn't you agree?"

"You're one to talk to about killing," he stabs an accusing finger at her. "D'you have any idea just how many lives have you ended as of this moment? Hmm?"

She grew silent at that. She'd stopped keeping track, mainly because it made her feel sick. Her last count was 45 and that was almost 5 years ago on Yamatai. Lord knows how many people she's killed over the years just to stay alive. But she doesn't regret an ounce in taking their lives. Yes, they were people too, could there have been a better way instead of resorting to killing? Perhaps. Yes it made her feel disgusted but all of those deaths were warranted.

"What's the matter? You were so smug a few moments ago, why the silence? You know what? You're nothing more than a fucking self-righteous hypocrite-"

"How dare you!" She snarls, all fire and wrath. "How fucking dare you judge me! Those people were monsters, murderers, rapists. I've done the world a favor by getting rid of them. Don't you ever presume to know anything about me, you bastard!"

"Eh fuck you, understand! Of course I fucking dare! You know why? Because a couple of hours ago, you were trying to kill me! Hell, I treated you well! I treated you like another human being! Did that not mean anything to you?"

"You pissed me off."

"Oh, I pissed you off? When it was you who started it in the fucking first place?" His voice rose a few octaves. Seeing as Lara didn't respond to his accusation, Muhammad continues his tirade. "You were the one who started these...these mind games to fuck with my head. You wanted me to get close to the point of physical contact so you could try to overpower me and free yourself. Tell me if I'm wrong?"

She looks away. He's right. About everything.

"I treated you like a human being. You think the others here would have done the same?"

No response.

"Eh answer la, I talking to the wall is it?"

She shakes her head, eyes glued to the floor.

"Chao Chibai, I treated you nicely. I gave you water and you repaid me by - aiya, fuck this la, you know what?" he shakes his head, a loud sigh escaping his chest. "I have a feeling this will get us nowhere. I didn't come all the way here to gloat or launch myself into an angry-"

"No," she cuts him off. "You're here to beat the living shit out of me. I heard your conversation with those two twatheads."

"Well if that's what you think." he shrugs.

"Just get it over with!" she snaps and looks away, steeling herself for another round of beating. Any moment now a fist was going to come crashing into her.

She gasps as a soft wet wipe began dabbing gently against her face. Turning back, she sees the hired gun slowly wiping away flaky bits of dried blood and mud off her cheek.

"What are you-"

"Shh, don't move." he clicks his tongue as he took away more dried blood on her forehead before rubbing the wipe down the sides of her jawline. "I lied," he says quietly as he continues with his work. "I saw you banged up, looking like shit and well, I felt really bad for you. Even though you fucked up and tried to kill me. People say I'm too nice, perhaps that is my weakness. Maybe that explains why I'm here, cleaning you up."

"Could you blame me? I wasn't going to sit there and wait to be slaughtered. And I certainly don't need your pity," she hisses in pain as he dabs a sensitive spot.

"Shit, sorry." He made light taps on said spot instead. "Better?"

She nods.

"Anyways, back to what you were saying. I'm not giving you pity, dumb ass. I'm giving you help."

"If you want to help then let me go,"

"Let you go, are you crazy?" he chuckles as he takes out another fresh piece. "If I let you go you'll just go back to being a nuisance to my bosses and killing my co-workers. Can't have you doing that."

"Please, you don't understand. Trinity has to be stopped. You're new, it's still not too late to walk away from all of this." she pleads.

"Walk away? When I'm bonded to a legal contract? What drugs have you been taking?" he sighs as he began working on her neck. "Tilt your head up,"

She does and he worked his way from below the chin down to her collarbone. "And we're done. Nice." He tosses the wipe away. "Look, I believe in the cause Trinity's trying to do. They're trying to make things better for all of us. Sometimes, you gotta make the hard choices if it means the best for everyone else you know? I thought you of all people should know that."

"But not at the cost of manipulating and murdering hundreds of innocent people! I've seen what your people are capable of. What they can and are willing to do. They're not going to stop-"

"Hey, Muzzie!" Hendricks shout from the tent's open flap. "Ya done in there?"

"Yeah, come on in!" Looking back towards Lara he sighs and shakes his head. "Wish I could have met you under different circumstances. All the best for what lies ahead. By the way, can I have my jacket back?"

"This is yours?" She asks, shimmying her body sideways and letting the jacket fall off.

"Yeah, you were shivering from the rain last night so I put it on you. I'm surprised you're still wearing this." He rolls the jacket up before stuffing it into a pouch.

"That's..." Lara opens her mouth to say something but found she couldn't.

'Really kind of you.'

At that moment Hendricks and Fitz came swaggering in. Muzzie gently grabs Lara by the hair but made no effort to yank on it, he simply needed to make it look like he was hurting her and yells at the top of his voice, "Fuck you and everyone who lives in your house!" before letting go. Croft went back to keeping her head low lest they see her wounds all cleaned up.

"Whoa, chill man." Fitz says as he sees the way Muhammad grabs her hair and screams in her face. "You good?"

Letting out an exhale, Muzzie nods. "Yeah, feels real good lettin' it all out. Know what I'm saying?" he gave both the guards a handshake.

"Ditto to that brother," grins Hendricks. "Anyways, we've got orders to bring Croft to the entrance as well."

"She coming along?"

"Yep,"

"Sweet. I gotta run, Dean's gonna bust my nuts."

"A'ight, you take care now." smiles Hendricks as he and his partner began forcefully hauling Lara to her feet.

Team 1 was in the midst of going through their last-minute equipment check when Muhammad finally rejoins them.

"Nice of you to join us, cheese dick. Where have you been?" grunts Dean as he slams a fresh clip home into his VICAR MK II assault rifle.

"Didn't Artyom tell you?" he nods over to the Russian counting the number of spare mags for his AK-74.

"He did but he didn't say you'd take 15 goddamn minutes to take a piss. Tell me the truth, Muzzie."

"I went for a smoke afterward, Dean. I fucked up, I know. Won't happen again."

"See that it doesn't and next time," Dean taps his watch. "Try to keep track of time before wandering off like an asshole. Got it?"

"Got it,"

"Alright, equipment check and sound off if anything's missing. Briefing's starting soon."

While going through his kit, Muzzie sees Croft being led towards Walter Pendanski flanked by Hendricks and Fitz. She turns her head and for a moment their eyes locked if only for a short, sharp second before she turns away.

With a sigh, Muhammad continues taking stock of his ammo, food and water count.

Meanwhile, Dean stands behind him wondering what just happened. No doubt Muzzie's made some sort of connection with Croft but what? This will require further investigation.

He'll get to the bottom of this.


AN:

Well, that's the end of the chapter. This has been re-edited as of 05/10/2018. Hope you enjoyed it and if you did, like, follow and review. Heck, drop a PM! I'll respond to it as soon as I can :)

Glossary:

Nabeh chibai = Motherfucker in Hokkien

Gan Ni Na Pu Bor Kia = Fuck your mother you useless child in Hokkien

Lanjiao = Penis / Bullshit in Hokkien

Spasiba = Thanks in Russian

Sukka = Bitch in Russian