Ghost walked back into his tent and slid on a black long sleeved shirt, then walked outside once again and began to journey his way around camp. Ghost crossed his arms in an effort to keep himself warm as a cool breeze whipped through the camp. He passed the training area and came up to the barracks. Ghost paused at the door and glimpsed through the small square window in the middle of the door to make sure everyone was asleep. His eyes rested on Roach's empty bed for a moment and he sighed. He couldn't help but worry about him. It had been his call to let the rookie take his place but what if he wasn't ready? What if the Russians were waiting for them like last they were last time? Soap had nearly been blown to pieces by an RPG, and Ghost himself had nearly bled to death. Ghost turned away from the barracks and continued walking. How had the enemy known they would be there? It didn't make sense. And not to mention the intel had been a dud. Soap and Ghost both had nearly lost their lives for something that had no accommodating value whatsoever. Ghost looked up at the stars as he walked, enjoying the cool breeze as it flowed across his exposed face. He couldn't help but feel the whole operation had been some sort of set up…

"Enjoying your walk English?"

Ghost whipped around at the sound of Roba's accented voice, but no one was there. Ghost held his breath, his eyes darting in every direction looking for any signs of movement. Nothing stirred. Ghost sighed and rubbed his forehead. Perhaps he should get back to sleep. Slowly he made his way back to his tent hoping he wouldn't hear or see the fat fuck that had tortured him and nearly drove him insane. When he got back in his bed, Ghost slipped off his shirt and boots, and laid back in his still warm bed. He crossed his arms behind his head and looked over at the clock. 4:47am. Ghost hoped Soap and Roach were doing alright. Soap had informed him they would be returning around 9 in the morning if all went well, and Ghost hoped to God all was going well.

Kazakhstan

4:47 am

"Roach stay down," Soap whispered into his headset.

Roach instantly obeyed and kneeled down lower next to his Captain. Soap gazed out ahead. There were three guards walking around the entrance to the building, and no telling how many more inside. Plus there could be more guards stationed away from the door they were going to use. Soap opened the heartbeat sensor attached to his ACR and scanned the area. So far just the three guards.

"Alright Roach, we need to take these three muppets out and make our way to the entrance. Once inside we travel along the main hall until we reach the main office where the intel is being kept. Its early, so there shouldn't be many guards up and about inside, but we still need to keep our senses alert. Understood?"

Roach nodded quietly and looked back up at the three guards who were now standing close together, conversing among themselves.

"Take the one on the far left, these other two are lined up for me," Soap said, "On my mark, three, two, one."

The bullets gave off hardly any sound as they left their silenced weapons and buried themselves in the three men. Soap kept his gun raised and watched the three bodies fall, making sure they were all dead before he lowered his weapon and looked over at Roach.

"Well done."

Roach couldn't help but smile. Soap returned it, then lifted himself off the ground.

"Let's get moving, we don't have much time."

Roach rose and followed Soap as he sprinted across the clearing and crouched beside the side door they were to enter. Soap checked his heartbeat sensor again. No one inside near the door. This was becoming almost too easy, which in Soap's point of view, was usually a bad thing. He glanced down at his watch.

"Alright we don't have much time, let's get this thing and then get the hell out of here."

Task Force Base Camp

Ghost tossed and turned restlessly in his bed. He had this growing anxiety building up that refused to go away. His thoughts kept turning to the mission he and Soap had been on recently. The mission that had nearly killed them both. Something was wrong. Very wrong. Ghost rose out of his bed and dressed himself, this time slipping on a jacket as well. He left his tent and made his way to the main tent in the middle of the base. Silently he slid inside and walked over to the large table where the map was spread out. There was a red mark where Soap and Roach currently were. Ghost stared at it for a moment, the anxiety still growing. He then turned and sat a small desk where a radio was stationed. Ghost placed his hand on it for a moment. Should he check in on them? He glanced up at the clock sitting on a shelf above him. 5:28am. Their evac was in about half an hour. Ghost sighed then flipped the switch to the radio as he placed the headset on his head. A loud static noise filled his head as he slowly turned a knob until he reached Soap and Roach's frequency setting. The static instantly stopped.

"Soap, this is Ghost do you copy?"

Silence.

"Soap, this is Ghost, come in."

"Ghost!" Soap yelled in reply.

Ghost nearly rose from the sound of distress in Soap's voice.

"Soap, what's goin on? Can you hear me?"

"We- pinned down- Roach-down-nowhere-go-surrounded!" Soap's voice replied. His headset must have been damaged, "Can't get in touch-chopper. Roach!"

Roach was down. Soap was surrounded. He couldn't get in touch with chopper which meant it could possibly be down as well. Ghost leaped to his feet.

"Soap hang in there! I'm on my way!"

There was no reply.

"Soap!" Ghost yelled desperately. He knew that the ride to Kazakhstan was about three hours and there was a very slim chance they could hold out that long, but he had to try. Ghost grabbed one of the headsets he always wore that was hanging nearby. He turned it to Soap's frequency as he sprinted out of the main tent and to the barracks to wake one of the 141's pilots. Why the hell hadn't the Task Force been informed that Roach and Soap were in danger?

"Soap can you hear me?" Ghost yelled as he ran.

"Ghost-I'm hit-closing in-no time-Roach-dead."

Ghost's heart dropped. Roach was dead? Ghost literally kicked the barracks door open.

"I need a pilot now!" he yelled

Everyone came awake and one pilot Ghost recognized sat up in his bed, half asleep and extremely confused. Ghost ran up to him and grabbed his arm, lifting the man to his feet.

"Hurry up and get ready we need to head out now!"

As the pilot scrambled to get himself dressed, Ghost turned away and began walking out the barracks to where the helicopters were sitting. The Task Force got out of bed and began getting ready as well, chatting among themselves with worry and confusion.

"Soap I'm on my way. Do you copy? I'm on my way. I need you to hold out as long as possible." Ghost said desperately as he approached one of the helicopters and turned around to see the pilot running towards him. There was no response.

"Soap! Say something! Can you hear me?"

"They're dead Riley."

Ghost whipped around at the sound of Shephard's voice. But it wasn't Shephard who was behind him, it was Major Vernon. The major's face was decomposed and his bottom jaw was missing. Ghost froze in fear and shock and with inhuman like strength and speed, Vernon grabbed Ghost by the neck and slammed him hard into the helicopter behind him.

"They're all dead," Shephard's voice whispered to him, "and your next."

Ghost didn't see the gun he just heard the gunshot and felt as it ripped into him, shattering one of his ribs and grazing the side of his right lung. Ghost gasped for breath as he watched in shock as Vernon's face suddenly became Shephard's before everything went black.

Ghost nearly leaped out of his bed as a hand touched his shoulder. He looked over wide eyed at Soap who was watching him concerned.

"Soap?" Ghost said breathlessly not sure what was real anymore.

"Yeah mate it's me," Soap replied, "Didn't mean to scare you."

Ghost shook his head to clear it. Another nightmare. Shakily he turned and glanced at the clock. 10:15am. Soap followed his eyes.

"We've been back for over an hour", he said, "the boy's were up and about when me and Roach returned. None of em had seen you so I came in here to check on you."

Ghost looked up at him.

"Roach. Is he alright?"

Soap nodded.

"He's fine. He did a good job out there too. We found the intel without any problems, it was almost too easy."

When Ghost didn't reply Soap slightly turned his head and looked over him carefully. He was shaken up and had obviously suffered another nightmare. Ghost was staring down at his blankets, his eyes distant.

"Wanna talk about it?" Soap asked softly.

Ghost looked up at him, snapping out of his reverie.

"It was just a dream," he said, "a very realistic one but a dream nonetheless."

"What about?"

Ghost shook his head.

"Nothing to be concerned about I'm sure," he replied as he rose from bed, "Now how about we grab some breakfast and you tell me what happened out there. I'm curious to know how Roach did."

Soap gave him a small smile.

"Alright. I'll meet you at the dining hall."

As Soap left, Ghost reached for the shirt he had worn in his dream and looked it over half expecting to see it ripped up from when he was attacked, but it was perfectly fine. He slipped it on and felt slightly guilty about his lie to Soap. He was extremely concerned about his dream and felt it held some vital importance, but he put aside these thoughts for now and just let himself sink into the relief that Soap and Roach had returned unscathed. Ghost reached for his skull balaclava and looked at it for a moment, taking in that skull face image. He remembered how Roba used to paint his face like that, and how his father had as well. The two most evil people Ghost had ever known carried that same image and it almost felt like it was more than just a coincidence. Especially since Ghost had painted his face the same way the night he and his team tried to take out Roba. Ghost sighed as he laid the mask back down on his small dresser. He turned and stepped out of his tent and into the sunlight, then made his way to the dining hall where Soap awaited him.