[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
