"Shut the fuck up, Palomo." Tucker's voice was laced with annoyance, a soldier of tan and teal now watching me with a hopeless look.

"Normally, I do all I can to keep people happy," I started, returning my focus to the scope on my sniper, "but do us all a favor and be quiet."

"It doesn't look good, guys." Felix spoke up, breaking the tension, "They've really beefed up their security."

"I didn't see anyone of high authority." I sighed, returning my sniper rifle to my back.

"Because this could also be a response to the weapons I stole from this place, a few weeks ago."

"Geez, I wonder which one it is." Tucker and I spoke in near synchronization, are sarcasm on point. I looked over my shoulder, sadness apparent in his body expression.

"And this is why I had you bring the active camouflage." Omega spoke through the speakers of my helmet, "Can I get a thank you?"

I let a laugh escape my lips, "Hey, there's no need for you to be an ass."

"And there's no reason for you to be a bitch, but I don't see anything stopping you, there."

"Who're you calling an ass?" Tucker towered over me, sending chills down my spine.

"I-I'm sorry for speaking out of term." My voice wavered, my gut beginning to contort. I'm no longer the stronger one.

"Good," He took a step closer, I forcing myself back, "because remember what I said about staying out of trouble?" This isn't the same Tucker I once knew. This one's more frightening, and hostile, all because of one girl.

"We're going to have to go to Plan B." Felix held irritation in his voice as he dropped three weapons onto the ground.

"Fine." Tucker sneered at me, turning to face the mercenary, "What's Plan B?"

"We plant C4, we leave, and then we blow this outpost to hell."

"What?!"

"It's a standard hit and run. I've done it a million times, we'll be fine."

"There's only three weapons." I looked over the small arsenal on the floor, "There's six of us."

"It doesn't matter!" Our captain began to shout, voice cracking, "We came here to gather intelligence!"

"Shut up for a moment." I hissed, looking over the outpost at my right, "Listen, I completely understand you wanting to rescue Wash and the others-"

"We never publicly said their names." His shoulders went rigid, tone suspicious.

"Felix told me before we left." I lied, praying that if the merc was truly my friend, he'd back me up.

"Yeah." He too held suspicion in his words, "I felt that it would be better if the Private understood the situation better. She does tend to have troubles understanding the simplest of things."

"That's not-"

"Sam," He let out one of the fakes laughs I have ever heard from a human being, "come on. There's no need for you to lie, anymore. You can tell them."

"Just fuck off." I gave the mercenary the bird, my body snapping toward Tucker as I pressed my index finger hard against his chest plate, "Listen here, if you were ever a real soldier, then you'd understand that opportunities aren't just spoon fed to you," I took a deep breath, "and the outcome you want isn't always of your first try." I reached for his hand, stopping myself halfway, "I understand what it's like to lose friends." I sighed, dropping my hand to my side and balling it into a fist, "Hell, I've had to kill people close to me, and I regret every second of it, but in the last ten years, I've learned to accept that what's done is done, and I can't just go back and fix it."

"And who are you to tell me what to do?" He pushed me away, causing me to fall right onto my ass.

"You know, there used to be a day when people just like you would heed my warnings." I groaned, forcing myself back to a standing position, "The choice is up to you. I'm just a Private, in this army."

"Tucker, she has a point." Felix spoke in a more solum light, "Now, we've got one active camo unit. Tucker, that goes to you. It's a little damaged, so try not to run it constantly. Only when you need to disappear. Got it?"

"Got it." Tucker spoke with reluctance.

"As for the rest of you, that's up to your captain."


"Heeey, uhhh, what about me?" Palomo started after Cunningham and Rogers got into the suits, "Do I get a disguise?"

"No." Tucker spoke in a definite tone, "Palomo, you and Petrix will be guarding or escape route."

"Why the hell do I have to stay behind?" I spoke in an irritated tone, crossing my arms.

"It's because I don't trust either of you." Tucker turned on his active camo, him, Felix, and the disguised soldiers walking toward the outpost.

I took a few steps forward, Omega turning on my camouflage.

"Think before you do this." Palomo started, making me stop, "You're just about to go against a higher up's orders."

"No shit, really?" I continued to move, sarcasm weighing heavy in my voice, "I'll be back alive, don't get your panties in a wad." I went into a full sprint.

"Hey guys," Palomo started over the radio, "Petrix's following you."

"Don't let her!" Tucker spoke in an enraged tone.

"But I can't see her."

"God damn, you guys act like it's a big deal." I laughed, "I'm just surveying the area for threats. They won't know I'm here."

"Just. Don't. Get. In. The. Way." Our captain spoke in a staccato manner, probably seething in anger.


"Petrix. What's your status?" Felix spoke over the radio.

"Um..." I looked around, eyes drifting toward the lab, "I don't see anyone significantly threatening."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Considering that I have been a soldier for probably twenty years..." Ten of which I have been out of duty, "I think I know weak when I see it."

"Alright." He sighed, "Tucker, what about you?"

I noticed a reflective light making its way for the lab.

"Good. good." Tucker spoke over the channel, "Aaalmost done."

I stopped, one of the C4 inches away from my foot, "Hey Felix?" I took a step back, eyes glancing back at the lab. I had just investigated it, but I have a sudden urge to return, "How powerful is C4, again?"

"Very." He spoke in a cold tone, "Like there'd be nothing left of you, if you're close enough."

"Alright." I sighed, going to a full sprint to the laboratory. It's completely against the mission, but I just need to find out, "I was just curious, is all."

"Captain," Rogers took his turn at the radio, "we're almost done. Where are you?"

"I'm in the lab." Tucker spoke in a more eager tone, "Give me a sec."

"You're what!?" Felix shouted, voice raising an octave and hurting my ears.

"Dude, chill out. I got this."

I took slower steps once I was in the middle of a room, monitors everywhere.

"Are you fucking kidding me?!" The mercenary was absolutely enraged by our leader's stupidity, "I specifically told you not to do that!"

Tucker didn't respond, saying something about a mute button.

I leaned against the control panel, watching the man in aqua. I knew him, but I didn't... and unlike Felix, I knew the old him better.

"Alright." The Fed spoke in a somewhat horrified tone, "The data is copying over onto a flash drive."

"Sweet." That was all the captain said, before knocking the man unconscious.

Of course, it's not because of one lost girl why he's changed. Carolina and Epsilon abandoned them at Crash Site Alpha, after that did I die, and now he's lost Wash. His whole world is falling apart underneath his feet.

"I gathered all the data, for you." Omega spoke in a more vacant tone.

"Good," My voice was hallow, "because I am about to do something really stupid." I watched the doorway, Cunningham entering the room.

"I surrender!" Tucker began to panic, watching the man disguised in Federal armor.

I watched them talk for a few seconds before looking between the flash drive and the back exit.

"Tucker!" I quickly turned off the enhancement, rushing to the drive and pulling it out, "We have to hurry the fuck up. Come on!

"What the hell did you do?!" He screeched.

I quickly turned the camo back on, rushing to the opposite wall, pressing my back against it.

Tucker watched the exit for a moment. He moved back to the control panel, quickly typing in a bunch of commands, "Shit! I am going to fucking kill her!" He turned his active camo on, rushing out the door.

I let out a slow, relaxed breath before hearing a loud gunshot. I looked over at the main entrance, a man in steel and green armor standing tall with a shotgun in hand. I pushed myself off of the wall, careful to not make a sound as I held my pistol in front of me, ready to shoot.

"We've been infiltrated." The man spoke in a deep voice, irritation evident in him, "Sound the alarm."

I pulled back on the hammer of my gun, but I couldn't shoot. This was the enemy, standing right in front of me... and I can't kill him. He knows Felix. According to Felix, I know him, and he probably knows more about me than I know of myself. Perhaps he even understands what the hell's happening to me.

I couldn't fire, so I ran. Everything after that? Well, let's just say I didn't get to safety in time.