[Sweaty Sands 1045 Hours]

Remedy is chilling in the Sofdeez Ice Cream Shop, sat down in a table that provides a nice view to the beach and the translucent waters, while eating a strawberry frozen yogurt to keep her hydrated from the hot climate. A door chime rang behind her and as she looked behind, she sees Pvt. Sokolov, wearing a hoodie, jeans, a new pair of shoes, and a baseball cap. He immediately noticed Remedy looking at him

Pvt. Sokolov: Too early or too late?

Remedy: *chuckles* I think you're good for now

Pvt. Sokolov sat down on the other seat

Remedy: Here, I bought you one, hopefully it's not too warm

Remedy gave Pvt. Sokolov a vanilla sundae with a caramel sauce and the spoon

Pvt. Sokolov: Thanks

Remedy: First time eating ice cream?

Pvt. Sokolov: No

Remedy: Huh? And what about the leg?

Pvt. Sokolov: Splendid

Remedy: *mockingly* Splendid

Pvt. Sokolov: Come on

Remedy: Okay, okay, I'll stop

Pvt. Sokolov: So, umm, what now?

Remedy: What do you mean what now?

Pvt. Sokolov: What's next? Is there anything else left?

Remedy: Well, me and Turk have been discussing this for a while

Pvt. Sokolov: Yeah?

Remedy: Word is that after Sudorov's death, the Russians' network of operations collapsed, everyone scattered. Some ran away, others formed their own little factions

Pvt. Sokolov: Thank God for that

Remedy: And for our ALTER "friends", it looks like Turk and Chaos Agent brokered a deal

Pvt. Sokolov: Well, nice seeing the two of them getting along now

Remedy: There is one problem. Someone wants Chaos Agent's throne, we heard that the guy is rounding up ALTER troops that are still loyal to him and his ideals

Pvt. Sokolov: That didn't age well

Remedy and Pvt. Sokolov both chuckled after that

Remedy: Oh, and one last thing, and I don't know about this one

Pvt. Sokolov: Go ahead

Remedy grabs her bag and pulls out a folder with an EGO logo on the front

Remedy: I want you to read that

Pvt. Sokolov grabbed the folder and slowly opened it to read what's inside and he found a couple of things

Pvt. Sokolov: What is all of this? This, agency?

Remedy: Well, after that major get-go from Sudorov's island recently, someone in the higher ranks decided to give us a promotion. Journey has already accepted it

Pvt. Sokolov: That's it?

Remedy: Well, if you're looking for a higher pay, I guess that's your best bet

Pvt. Sokolov took a second to refresh his thoughts

Remedy: Something wrong?

Pvt. Sokolov: No it's fine, I'm okay

Remedy: You don't need to hide it, just tell me, I'll keep a shut mouth

Pvt. Sokolov suspiciously looks back at her

Pvt. Sokolov: For real?

Remedy: I'll keep my mouth zipped

Pvt. Sokolov: Okay... Remember that I came from an another world, da?

Remedy: Yeah...

Pvt. Sokolov: I know, I'm not sure if I should go back there, and if I did, only hell knows what it looks like down there right now

Remedy: Hey, it's okay

Pvt. Sokolov: I don't even want to go back there, probably hunt me down for desertion

Remedy: It's your choice if you want to leave or not, what's important is that you feel comfortable with it at the end

Pvt. Sokolov takes a final look at the folder and have second thoughts of it

Remedy: So, your world or this world

Pvt. Sokolov takes one final thought and a breathe of air

Pvt. Sokolov: I think I'll stay for now, this Island is just... there's just something peaceful and relaxing about it. That is unless this is the afterlife and I'm actually dead

Remedy: *chuckles* No it's not

Pvt. Sokolov: Well, I guess now is the time to start a new life here. And this, I should take time about it

Remedy: Take all of the rest you need, I'm sure you deserve it

[Mountain Base Camp 1730 Hours]

Cameo: Guys, you came just in time

Remedy: Hello Cameo

All of EGO are setting up their campsite, with Rippley pouring ice to the coolers, Chic lighting up the campfire, Journey and 8-Ball setting up the tents. Everyone's doing their own part while Remedy and Pvt. Sokolov bought some snacks and drinks

Remedy: We stopped by at the convenience store and bought some goodies

Pvt. Sokolov: No beer sadly

Cameo: Oh thank goodness for that coz Chic forgot to bring the chips when I told her many like seven times

Chic: Hey, you kept telling me to move so I had to rush

Cameo: Nonsense luv

Remedy: Well, hopefully this is enough, right?

Cameo: She'll do fine

Pvt. Sokolov: So, this our place?

Cameo: Yep, I know it looks bad, but the tents are quite okay

Pvt. Sokolov: No, it's okay, I like the scenery from here

Cameo: Well, I'm happy that you're okay with that, it was Journey's idea anyway

Journey: I heard that

Turk also appeared in the site, bringing his fishing rod and a cooler with him

Turk: I heard we're going camping

8-Ball: Turk, how is it?

Turk: Doing great, managed to catch myself some fresh trout and bass before the sunset

Remedy: Good to hear that

Turk noticed Pvt. Sokolov

Turk: Igor

Pvt. Sokolov: Turk

Turk: Are you feeling okay?

Pvt. Sokolov: I'm good

Turk: Your legs?

Pvt. Sokolov: I said I'm okay

Turk: Alright, alright, let's not to escalate this

Pvt. Sokolov: *chuckles* Okay

Cameo: Guys! You gonna watch the setting sun?

Turk: What'd you think?

Pvt. Sokolov: Meh, why not?

Turk and Pvt. Sokolov set their belongings aside to regroup with the others. They watch as the bright orange sun slowly sinks down within the ocean and the sky becomes a mixture of orange, reddish, and purplish colors from the sunlight. 8-Ball wrapped his right arm around Journey, Cameo taking pictures with her instant print camera, Rippley drinking soda, and Chic just admiring the view from here

Turk: Like the view?

Pvt. Sokolov: Da

Turk: Same

Remedy: Igor?

Pvt. Sokolov: Yeah?

Remedy and Pvt. Sokolov stared at each other's eyes for a moment, her brown eyes colliding with his black eyes

Remedy: Umm, nothing?

Pvt. Sokolov slowly slid his bare hand into her hand. Despite wearing gloves, she could feel the warmth from his grip

Remedy: Uhh-

Pvt. Sokolov: It's okay, we have each other's backs yes?

Remedy was a bit nervous right now but she calmed herself down

Remedy: Okay

Both chuckled after a second of awkwardness but decided to let things move on, letting each other's hands go and pretending this never happened. As Pvt. Sokolov looks at the sun slowly sinking in, he finally got the breath of fresh air he needed for a long time. He grabbed his journal from his pocket and opened it, skimming through the pages that wrote his story from start to here. He looks around at his friends, his new "family", and sheds some happiness inside him

Cameo: Well, that's it. Who's doing the barbeque?

Rippley: I'll do it

Chic: Man, I'm famished

8-Ball: Movie night? You and I

Journey: Why not? You're my boyfriend

Turk: I'll prep the fish, there's this sweet and sour trout that I wanted to try out

Everyone returned to the campsite except for Pvt. Sokolov, in which Remedy noticed

Remedy: You coming?

Pvt. Sokolov: Yeah, I'll catch up

Remedy: Okay, if you need help, I'll be here

Pvt. Sokolov smiled a bit after hearing that

Pvt. Sokolov: Okay

As Remedy returns to the campsite, Pvt. Sokolov watches the few inches of sun left in the sky. He writes some more on his journal, on his final pages. He skimmed through the pages for the final time, from a rough sketch of Sweaty Sands to a drawing of the forests to the mountain he's standing on and its sun shining its final light. He goes to walk back to the site, but before that, he looked back to watch the scenery one last time, before shutting his journal close. The chapter is over. For now