Sorry for the long wait, but this is just hard for me to work on, hope you can understand and sorry again if this is below my usual standards.


Insane...Maybe

Three Weeks Later

"I got to say, you Yanks do love to make a beautiful mess," Price says as he observes the baseball field before him. They are all back in the same booth where they went over the details for the upcoming mission in Canada.

"Look who's talking," Jacob started from his seat, but is quieted by Senior who places a hand on his shoulder and squeezes.

The young Ghost looks up at the veteran soldier who leans down and whispers, "Careful kid," he nods towards Price's turned back as he returns to looking out towards the field, "this dude started and ended wars, and he has developed resentment towards the American people if you get my meaning."

Jacob is a Ghost, a Special Forces commando trained by the best his nation could offer, but even he could not suppress the expression of nervousness and slight fear in his eyes.

Damon couldn't help but shake his head as he silently eats the food from his K-rations. The sandwich's bread is hard and the meat is bone dry, but it sure beat whatever it was that the Koreans fed to him. Ash seems to agree as she pushes her finished can ration aside and grabs another un-open pack and digs in again. A single day on that prison did more harm than good in his opinion.

He glances towards the corner of the room where Cote is looking over some important papers while his hand twitches ever so slightly. Now with Price here, they can start discussing…whatever it is they are going to be doing in Canada. In Jasper Park.

Damon quickly covers his mouth with a hand to smother the chortle of giddiness that threaten to break out, but was unsuccessful.

Ash has her attention on her meal, but before bites she says, "You're laughing like a maniac again."

Damon removes his mouth, now no longer trying to hide his grin.

"Maybe I am a maniac," he says, feeling cheerful for reasons beyond him.

The room suddenly goes silent and it isn't long before Damon realizes he said something he probably shouldn't have said. His entire squad assembled around the long rectangular table is now eyeing him with worry, even Cote stopped reading and now is observing the Sergeant Major. Price remains where he is, but Damon can just make out the former Captain's eye as it flicks towards his direction.

The quite lasts for a few more seconds until Jacob says, "That was creepy bro."

Damon didn't say anything. Instead he looks down at his lap and retreats within himself. This has never happened before. In all his time with team Crusader, they never once openly showed any concerns about his well-being, or to be more specific, his sanity. They of course have heard the rumors of him being crazy, yet despite that they did not let such minor prejudice to stand in their way of trusting Damon's leadership. Now, with them staring at him as if he is indeed insane suddenly makes him horrible, they don't say it, but he knows now that their trust has wavered within him.

Before anything more could be said though, the door opens and Merrick walks in with a folder in one hand and a small Styrofoam cup of coffee in the other.

"Alright," he announces as he places the items in his hands on the table, "let's huddle up ladies."

Ash pauses in her eating to look up and says, "I hope that's a complement cap'."

Merrick chuckles before saying, "then it's a complement." He looks up in time to see Price walking towards him.

"Good to see you again Price," Merrick says as he nods to the indicated man.

Price pauses, analyses Merrick's face for a bit before saying, "Sorry mate, but my memory is a bit foggy at the moment."

"You probably don't remember me," admits Merrick, "but I was an infantry man who made it as a candidate for Task Force one-four-one…before it got disavowed that is."

Price scuttled Merrick's face again before saying, "ah, right, yeah, you were one of the tough Yanks that we met after I got sprung from prison...you had hair then."

Merrick sighs and rubs his head, "thanks for reminding me," he grumbles, earning a chuckle from Price.

The Captain returns his attention to the rest of the soldiers now crowding around him, all waiting to hear what has to be said, what's going to happen next.

"Alright," Merrick begins as he opens his folder and starts pulling papers out, "Operation Phantom Guard is ready to commence."

He opens the folder and passes a piece of paper to Price, who it looks over.

"Long story short Price," Merrick starts, "there is an abnormal heat blur in Canada."

"Yes, so there is," Price comments as he holds up the infrared image.

"In the previous year we sent a Ghost team in to eradicate a secret contingency of Federation troopers planning on striking the U.S and Canada with a single blow." He sighs, "the mission was completed but at a high cost," he gestures towards Damon, "Sergeant Major Joyce there was the only one to make it out of there…not in one piece mind you."

Damon swallows hard but tries his best to keep his gaze steady. Price looks up at him and they lock eyes for a moment, the old veteran's eyes are still filled with fire and determination, but they soften for once as he says, "My respects," and ends with a nod. Damon could nod back in return, looks like there is one thing that connects them; they both know what it's like to lose a close comrade at arms.

"That image was taken nearly a month ago," continues Merrick, "and we believe it may be remnants of the Federation forces," here he passes Price another image, this one of the mountain that was shown to the Ghost team in the first briefing, "we believe they are regrouping at Mount Hardisty, a rather dominate piece of landscape where there are no doubt caves and the likes they could hide in."

Price looks this all over before looking up, "You're sending us all in just to do a sweep up job?"

"We sent in a Special Forces squad first," Cote interrupts, "they were led by a good lieutenant and were some of the best men we could offer, they are now missing and all we have left is their gear, it's as if whoever it was that ambushed them is mocking us."

"I've never fought these 'Feds,'" Price says carefully, "I don't really know anything much about them except for the few comments I caught while in prison," he looks at Merrick, "why am I here exactly?"

Merrick steadies his gaze, "you know why Price, you always do."

Price snorts lightly but smiles, "Nice to know somebody has some idea on how I work."

"So…" Jacob starts out awkwardly, "why is he here?"

"Your Captain here," Price waves at Merrick, "believes that there is a chance that these boys are part what is left of the Ultranationalists," he looks back to the Ghost Commander, "And I'll probably get return to my previous rank as a Captain so I can get access to certain assets, right?"

Merrick nods, "that is correct."

"Wait, what?" Ash asks as she leans forward, "You're talking about the Ultranationalists? The lunatics who started the world war three? And whose leader you hung from the ramparts?"

"Not before blowing the arm off their original head lunatic, yes," answers Price with a wicked grin.

"That's impossible," Cote cuts in, "there is no way my government would allow terrorists to infiltrate our country without us knowing, especially terrorists this dangerous."

"Dude," Jacobs says again, "you were almost invaded right under your nose last year…" he falls silent when Cote gives him a hard stare.

"He does have a point LT," states Senior, "I mean, back in World War Two there were a lot of Nazi officers who escaped to South America, who knows, since the Ultranationalists are mostly Russians, maybe they find the winter north homey."

"The north is barely charted as is," Merrick adds, "the last frontier mind you; there are a lot of things that could be living in those woods."

Isn't that the truth, Damon thinks to himself with a grin.

"So when do we leave?" Price asks.

"In a few hours," answers Merrick.

"What!" Jacobs explodes, but just as suddenly he falls silent and looks down with his arms close to his side as he mutters, "sorry sir."

"It's alright kid, I understand," Merrick states, "I'm the one who should be apologizing, but with the world pretty much mobilizing for war again we need to make sure all of our corners are in check, including Canada's."

He looks around at them one more time before saying, "you have an hour to yourselves before you get your stuff together, than meet on the airfield, commencing now."


"…I don't get-argghh" Jacob moans when his girlfriend, Anita, elbows him hard in the ribs.

"Won't you shut up," she breathes out as she nestles against him. She is leaning on his chest as they sit on the ground within the massive movie tent where other workers and soldiers are watching a quick flick before getting back to work. The room is partially dark as sunlight breaks through the black covering, but there is still enough shade for the movie to be projected against one side of the wall.

"Sorry," murmurs Jacob sarcastically, "but it makes no sense, why is the dude always saying 'to be…or not to be…' honestly who talks like that anymore? Better yet, how could anyone today understand it?"

Anita merely rolls her eyes and bites her lip, trying to look annoyed.

Originally Jacob didn't plan on them watching a movie, he would much rather have a conversation, especially with a mission coming up and he is unsure how long it will be until he sees his girlfriend next. However when he just came out of the blue and told her he was leaving that very day, she went into a rage, which is usual whenever he gets called away for important assignments. He couldn't help but admit the brunet woman is kind of hot when she is angry, but he keeps that to himself, fearing that would earn him another punch.

In a way to ease her anger tantrum, he promises to do whatever she wanted to do for the next hour. That just happened to be watch a movie where they can't talk, a fact that she knows annoys him. Why does she do this? He would have thought she would take advantage of this time and spend some loving moments with him, considering there may be a chance he won't come back. However she proves to be as stubborn as she always has been, causing him to wonder what kind of a soldier she would have made if she joined the armed forces.

He decides to heed her words and shuts up as he watches the Shakespeare movie with her. This lasts only another minute before he starts talking again.

"So what's up with the lady becoming a lunatic?" he finally asks.

Anita growls irritably, "Her lover died."

"…so if I ever die are you saying you're going to-erggh!" he groans when Anita elbows her hard.

"You want to stay alive?" she questions, "Then shut up."

Jacob only rolls his eyes, "This Shakespeare guy is a lunatic anyway, I mean, who makes up two characters who don't know who they are?"

"I think they're the comic relief," grumbles Anita as she tries to make herself more comfortable against Jacob's body.

"That ain't no comic relief," comments Jacob, "Now Bugs Bunny, now that there was a real comic-

He is interrupted when he feels a firm hand clamp shut on his arm.

"Mr. Alcaraz," a deep and stern voice says.

Jacob looks up and groans when he sees two MP's on either side of him and Anita, who looks startled at the military officers' appearance.

"Not again," Jacob mumbles into Anita's ear before speaking more broadly, "Easy fellas, this time I have my ID-"

"Shhh!" a half dozen people says as they glare at the disturbance intruding the movie.

Jacob was going to make a smart remark when the guard says, "This has nothing to do with your ID soldier, come with us."

"But I-" the guard holding his arm squeezes.

"Now," the man simply says.

He gulps when he glances to Anita before he kisses her cheek and says, "Don't worry babe, I'll be back."

That doesn't squash the look of worry and fear that clouds the girl's eyes as she watches her boyfriend being escorted out of the tent.


"What are we doing here?" Jacob asks as they approach the baseball stadium and started walking up the stairs.

"We don't ask, we don't tell," is all that the guard says.

Jacob gives him a look, "I hope you know what those terms mean in military talk, no offense or anything, but I already have a girl-."

"We're here," interrupts the second soldier and before Jacob could ask, he opens a door on the side and shoves him inside.

The door slams shut when Jacob looks up. He is inside a supply room of some kind where foam fingers, mini bats and colorful penates are poking out from various moldy boxes stacked all around. There is a dimly lit room that clearly illuminates the dust in the room as well as the few occupants that are sitting around a table in the center.

"What did they get you for?" Senior questions from where he is seated.

Jacob looks around the room, seeing his whole team has been assembled including Price and Cote.

"Uh…" Jacob says dumbly, "what's up?"

Price shrugs, "No one keeps secrets better than you Yanks."

"For the love of-" before Ash could finish though, the door open and in walked Merrick with a large file under his arm.

"Hey Ghosts," he says, "sorry for bringing you in here like this."

"Oh no please," Jacob says while he rolls his eyes, "I wished you had pulled out all the stops, including hog tying us and tossing us in the trunk of a car."

"Whatever man," Merrick says with a shake of his head.

"Sir is this about the mission?" Senior asks, more serious now than before.

"Yeah," replies the Captain as he puts the file on the table and starts looking through it.

"Well I hate to break this to you sir," continues Senior, "but we're missing a man, Sergeant Joyce isn't-"

"Unfortunately" breathes out Merrick heavily, "Joyce is the whole reason we're here."

Cote frowns as he leans forward, "Has he injured himself?"

"You can bet your sorry bum he is," everyone looks up at Price as he fiddles with a lighter in his hand, "trauma if I have to guess."

There is silence before Cote says, "How could you-"

"If what his file says about him is true," continues Price, "then he's shooked up. A man whose only friends are in the military, where he was forced to watch them die and spend months on end in hostile territory? Even something inside me will crack."

"Like that says a lot," whispers Jacob to Ash, but she ignores him.

"Price…a single word cannot describe you," Merrick says with a shake of his head.

The Captain simply smiles at him.

"So what?" Cote demands, "Does he need to be switched out or what?"

Merrick is silent for a moment. He grabs onto an empty chair and leans on it while he stares down at the floor, clearly in deep thought. Cote seems annoyed at this but he doesn't say a thing and neither does Team Crusader.

"Damon Joyce is a good man," Merrick finally says, "reliable, independent and solely devoted to God and country. His team was his life and its still is," he looks each member in the face when he says this, "I would personally trust him with my life, the fact that I let him into open combat speaks volume."

There is something in his voice. It sounds like he is solemn, sad even. An emotion that the Ghost hasn't seen in their commander yet, even Price and Cote seems to sense the tension in the air.

Merrick then passes out stapled papers and says, "This is Joyce's full report on the incident, I'll let you all decide whether or not if you want him on the op."

Ghost team Crusader hesitates as they take the papers into their hands and stares at the front page briefly. Damon was always scared at what they would think of him if they ever find out what the details of his disastrous mission, but they always reassured him that no matter what happened, they'll be there for him. Now here they are with the truth in their hands, they couldn't help but feel that they are violating their Sergeant's privacy or something. If it were up to them, they would go in regardless of Damon's condition, but if Merrick believes there's a security risk…Slowly, one by one, each man open the dossier and starts reading.

Merrick counts off ten minutes have passed since they first started reading before they all placed the reports down, with stun looks on their face, except for Price who is frowning slightly.

"So," the Ghost Captain says, "what do you-"

"I want him off the mission," Cote interrupts as he swings his head around to scowl at Merrick, "How could you let this guy be in combat? He's a liability and a threat, to not only himself, but also to his fellow soldiers."

"Now hang on there," Jacob says, "I don't care what this says," he waves the papers around in his hand for clarification, "but Sergeant Joyce has been leading us for nearly a year now and he has done his job well and has kept us alive, not a lot of commanding officers can say that."

"So he just got lucky," Cote argues, "you can let a lunatic with a gun run through a wasteland for all I care, but I will not allow this man to be operating in my country, not where innocent lives are at stake."

"He saved your people before," counters Ash, "This is nothing than what he did before."

"Before he had a sane mind," Cote looks back at the records and reads off, "Talking wolves, fully sentinel, understanding and can understand a joke," he looks up, "these are your Sergeant's exact words, and you just suspect him of having TBI?"

"Even the docs are baffled," everyone turns to Merrick, "he may have had illusions when he was there, but it doesn't explain how he completed the mission, killed all but one Fed, and has been successfully leading black operations in sensitive portions of South America for the past few months."

"Again, luck," insists Cote.

"You really believe he made it through all of that just by luck?" demands Senior.

"TBI rattles the brain to the point where the body can barely function and it's hard for them to think," Price puts in, "he would have been ben ridden if he has TBI and he would have needed someone to care for him and coach him through the basic body movements, he would have been lucky just to be walking." He glances up at them, "there's no way he could have survived out there alone without some sort of help."

"Are you actually saying you believe this?" Cote asks in exasperation.

"I'm not saying anything," Price shoots back; "I'm just laying down the facts."

"Being delusional and having memory lost is also a side effect," puts in Merrick, "another theory is that he could have gotten help but due to his trauma he may have manipulated his mind into believing that his saviors were wolves."

"So…his dream?" Jacob voices.

Price, Merrick and Cote looks at him in confusion, however Crusader team looks like they understand completely.

"Could it be?" Ash asks.

"He did say he has it almost every night," recounts Senior.

Finally having enough, Cote breaks in, "What are you taking about now?"

The three Ghosts looks among themselves before Ash clears her throat and shifts in her seat, looking uncomfortable, "Well you see…Sergeant Joyce tells us about his dreams, and in it he is always back in that forest, facing some kind of monster while his team members, Ghost Team Comanche to be exact, transforms into wolves and they work together and basically spend time with one another…"

"He told you all of this and you didn't contain him?" asks a disbelieving Cote.

"I once had a nightmare of my grandfather screaming at me in Italian while he was riding on a shark under the sea;" comments Jacob, "as far as dreams go, his wasn't that bad."

Cote stares at Jacob before turning on Merrick, "this is the best special forces team you have at the moment?"

Merrick smirks a little, "the only ones that are available."

"Whatever," seethes Cote, "the point is, I will not allow Sergeant Joyce to accompany us on this mission."

"That's like the Lonesome Ranger taking off into Indian country without Teto," Jacob says.

"Don't you mean Tonto?" Senior asks the youngest teammate.

"Wasn't that Michael Jackson's brother?"

"For the love of…" Cote moans into his hands as all falls silent as they wait for Cote's decision.

Price however clears his throat, "You guys think your Sergeant is crazy?"

"Well look at what he wrote for the after action report," Cote points out.

"I'm sure half the things I've written are crazier," Price leans towards the Canadian, "you may find this hard to believe, but compared to me, Damon is sane, so if you leave him here, but take me, then that's not going to make much sense, especially since we're going to be short on hands and he has valuable intel about roughing it in the outdoors, especially in that neck of the woods."

"Maybe I'll just leave the two of you behind then," Cote says, "I will not allow a bunch of nut cases with weapons run amuck in my country."

"Who's crazy?" question Price, "there's no such thing as a crazy soldier, there's only the soldier who does what's necessary, and gets the job done," he leans closer to Cote, "those are the most valuable type of warriors any nation would desire; he ones who gets results."

Cote grunts but he falls silent. On one hand he doesn't what to put his nation at risk. On the other that would mean trusting two possibly insane men with weapons to lead the charge and eventually the squad and getting the mission completed. That's all that he wants, but will it succeed, will they even make it out alive?

Everyone is watching with anxiety and curiosity on their faces as they wait for Cote's decision.

He sucks in a large breath of air before standing and says, "If any of you present a threat to my nation's security, I'll blow you all away."

#

"Well that was comforting," Jacob says as Team Crusader walks away from the stadium.

"I still can't believe it," Ash says with her arms folded in front of her chest, "how could-why-I can't even think of the right words to say."

"Talking wolves," Senior finally speaks, "teaching wolves, playing with wolves and celebrating with wolves…I don't know what to make of this guy, in all my years I've never heard of anything like this."

"Well maybe he made it all up," suggest Jacob, "that is the number one possibility."

"But it's so complex for it to be daydream," points out Ash, "it's so elaborate and well thought out it's almost like a story map or something. If he was having an illusion for months on end, while combating Federation troops, let alone the Diablo Regiment, it's short of it being a miracle that he even survived."

"…There's also the possibility that he has been lying," Senior finally voices.

"Why would he lie though?" questions Ash, "especially on a battle report?"

"Maybe he saw something he wasn't supposed to see and was told to keep it a secret," Jacob suggests, "maybe he stumbled onto the Canuck's version of Area 51."

The other two Ghosts give the third an odd look before Senior says, "I knew them comic books weren't good for you."

"They're graphic novels!" explodes Jacob, "for crying out loud man, there's a large difference."

"Such as?" questions Senior.

"About a buck forty five," responds Jacob.

Ash rolls her eyes before checking her watch, "We only have an hour before launch, we should get ready."

The graphic novel zealous sighs heavily as he rubs the back of his head, "I guess this means my date with Anita is a bust."

"Come on bud," Seniors says as he wraps an arm around the young Ghost's shoulders, "there's still enough time for you to spend together…considering if you spent enough time with her to so much as cuddle."

"Drop dead Senior," Jacob says as they reach the Ghost barracks and enter.

They stepped passed the threshold before coming to a halt. Sitting in front of his rack is Damon, packing his bag while surrounded by a whole bunch of nonregulated items that seems to be spilling out of his trunk.

He pauses in what he is doing as he looks up and gives his team a wide grin.

"Hey guys," he says cheerfully, "one hour before go time, so you better get ready."

Cautiously, Ash approaches and looks down at what's Damon is doing, "what are you packing Sarge?"

"Well I got some graphic novels, a small flag, an extra Ghost mask, and now I'm trying to figure out which would be more interesting," he pauses as he holds up two objects in each hand, "which ones? A old MP3 player with some songs on it, or a book of world records."

Team Crusader stares at the smiling Ghost Commander with concern as Jacob leans towards Senior and asks, "Is this a good idea?"

#

They have been flying on the Hercules for hours on end, but if their watches are correct than they are close to their destination.

Everyone is now decked out in black. They are wearing web-gear that is loaded up with grenades, magazines, rappelling equipment, explosives and short wave radios. They have boots laced up, dark cargo pants, grip gloves and (in the Ghost's case) their masks. They also had bags full of MREs, some radio equipment, extra weapons and scientific machinery for recon purposes.

There is a whole lot more stuff here that the team has used before, but it was all due to Damon's instance. Despite his giddiness of being on their way, he made sure everyone had extra ammunition, extra explosives and extra batteries for the radios. They have enough gear to wage war now; they can only hope that the Sergeant's paranoia will get them through this alive.

Price is sporting a boonie hat and has a Remington Assault rifle with a silencer, Forward grip under the barrel and a long range scope on top; it has also been sprayed painted in forest camouflage colors.

Senior has a Remington as well, but it doesn't have a silencer and instead of a forward grip he has a M203 grenade launcher attached along with a scope. He also has a MK32 grenade launcher on his back as well.

Jacob is carrying a LSAT machine gun in his hand with an attached red dot scope, and has two pairs of M9A1s strapped to his body.

Ash has a MK 14 for her primary weapon with a scope and has a FP6 shotgun on her back.

Cote has a ARX 160 with a red dot and a Honey Badger for his secondary weapon.

Damon has favored a MR28 rifle over his usual load out. He has switched out the scope with a red dot and a laser, it's a semi-automatic weapon, but he figures he could use the extra range provided for the outside and if not he has a Vector submachine gun for close range action.

Normally the back of the plane would be quiet as everyone try to psych themselves up for the coming battle while trying to joke with one another to try and lessen the their nervousness about their next mission.

However on this flight, Damon is far from being nervous. He is practically jumping in his seat in eager anticipation until the call is finally given.

The red light switches on and the pilot says, "thirty seconds."

Without a word, the team stands and walks in front of the launch doors when they are lowered and the darken world is revealed to them. The moon is high and bright while black clouds rolls across the skies.

Everybody jumps when Damon releases a wild whooped and he started hoping up and down while saying, "Get ready to jump!"

Team Crusader looks amongst each other in concern. Have they made a mistake in bringing Damon along?

A moment later, the light turns green and they all jumped out and into the darkening world.

#

The team landed closed together and were converging with one another. They have landed in a relatively clear space where the trees are well spread apart and they are on a large slab of stone that is protruding from the ground. The forest is a shadowy world that spreads out like a flower of darkness. The Ghosts are forced to place on their night vision goggles, but even then the dark was still present and still hard to drive away.

"Are we at the right place?" Senior finally whispers, "Where are we?"

"We're at Rabbit Poo Mountain."

Slowly, everyone turns to look at Damon. He is crouched low, but his foot is tapping and he is looking all around him in open wonder and amazement. Before anyone knew what was happening, Damon props his rifle against his knee, cups his hands together and howled.

Everyone cursed and held up their weapons as they glance around. There is no sign of enemy combatants yet, but still, that call was louder than anyone could have ever expected.

The howl lasts for a full minute as it echoes across the lands before it finally dies down. Only then does Cote turns to Damon and was about to ask what had happened when Jacobs says, "Contacts."

There is movement in the tree and they are closing in fast, but before anyone could fire, Damon stands and walks towards the approaching figures.

"Damon, what-"

He is interrupted by a feminine voice that shouts, "Damon!"

The shadows melt away and out jumps a wolf that leaps upwards and tackles the Ghost to the floor. However, the giant creature started nuzzling the Sergeant and soon, more wolves burst from the forest and all of them started jumping around Damon all the while voices fills the air.

"You're back!"

"You're here!"

"Welcome home!"

All the while, the rest of the team looks on, stun, even Price looks surprised at what he is seeing befoe him.

"Ok…" Jacob finally says, "Is that TBI thing contagious?"

Next update may take a while, I'm having a hard time getting back into this story and I hope you understand. Thanks for helping and I hope you enjoyed.