Ch.9: Break their back

A.N: If you were all disappointed by the lemon, here is why. Thanks to my reviewer. I already had an idea like yours haha. So, thanks for telling me because I thought my idea was dumb which is why I cut the last chapter off when I did.

Also, to said reviewer, your reviews are awesome haha. Becket is slowly going crazy…so I am trying to show how his mind is playing tricks on him.

The Alpha 1 thing in this chapter…come on, there just has to be one Replica like him. I have a problem with getting too attached to characters, okay? Don't judge me.

Thanks to everyone reading, following, reviewing, and favoring. I appreciate it.

"Michael! Wake up! Come on wake up!" I opened my eyes to see her frantic face inches from mine.

Rage filled me and I threw her off me as I yelled, "You bitch! I knew I should not have trusted you!" She collided against the row of seats opposite of me. My joints protested as I stood and raised my pistol at her. Her child form stared in fright at my outburst.

She asked, "Why are you looking at me like that? What did I do?"

I snarled at her, "Shut the fuck up! You know exactly what you did! I should have expected that you would try something like that when I was too tired to fight back." She cocked her head to the right and, realizing what she was about to do, I said, "No, get out of my head!" It was too late and I felt her rifling through my memories.

The feeling left and she raised her left eyebrow briefly before she said calmly, "Michael, calm down."

I snapped, "Calm down? Calm down! Fuck you!" I kept my pistol aimed at her and slowly made my way towards the door. She dissolved into a cloud of ash, but I knew where she was about to re-materialize. I swiveled around to look behind me but she was already there. I backed away as I was attempting to telepathically contact Alpha 1 and Gamma 3 for backup. Just as I was able to contact them, a nauseating pain erupted in my head and I stopped. Clutching the sides of my head, I lost my footing and fell backwards onto the unforgiving metal floor of the APC. Alma rushed to be by my side and knelt down. My pain disappeared as quickly as it had afflicted me.

Alma was on the verge of crying as she said, "I'm sorry, but I can't let you do that just yet. Please, Michael just listen to me." I started to push her away but stopped when I noticed for the first time since I woke up that my gloves were still on my hands. She nodded and said, "See? That is what I have been trying to tell you. It was a dream. You fell asleep as soon as you sat down in your seat. You have been asleep for almost a day and a half. I was trying to wake you up because I was worried."

I hauled myself up to a sitting position and holstered my pistol. She wrapped her arms around my neck and gently hugged me. As I tried to make sense of what had happened, I remembered Keegan and it all made sense. The man was suffering from Alma's presence before I was due to his close attunement with Alma's signature. His mental instability did the rest and I ended up having to mercy kill him when Alma trapped me in her world while she was raping me.

Still shaken, I asked her, "How long do I have? I am not going to let myself become Keegan." She looked at me for a moment and started to say something but was interrupted when Manny opened the hatch. His usual lighthearted demeanor was replaced by worry and panic. I stood and asked, "What is it? What happened?"

He said, "Becket, we are in serious shit right now. Come look."

He motioned for me to follow him and walked away. Concerned, I exited the APC. Everyone, including the F.E.A.R. team, was looking up at the large monitor. He pointed up at the screen and I looked up at it. On the screen, a news report was broadcasting. ATC guards at what appeared to be the harbor of the city surrounded a middle-aged blonde woman in formal attire.

She spoke into her microphone as she pointed behind her. "…so far no information about the identities of the individuals responsible for the murder of Armacham Technology Corporation's Chief of Operations has been disclosed. However, a high-ranking ATC soldier commented that it is likely that they are members of the terrorist organization that is occupying the city. This organization has been credited with the devastating explosion that occurred a few days ago. As well as the disappearance of Armacham's President Genevieve Aristide and the massacring of innocent civilians. How the explosion was done has yet to be revealed and is anyone's guess at this point."

A man asked the woman from off-screen, "Now there are reports that National Guard troops were deployed to the area as part of a disaster relief operation. What can you tell us about that?"

The woman nodded her head before she said, "Yes, National Guard troops were deployed and they set up evacuation centers at various locations around the city. However, they pulled out when ATC officials alerted them that the explosion quote: contaminated the city. However, they did not elaborate on what exactly the explosion did."

Behind her, an APC drove past presumably headed towards the main gate. The same man asked, "We are receiving unconfirmed reports that the U.S. Military is somehow involved with the situation and may even have various Special Forces operating inside the quarantine zone. Do you know anything about that Melissa?"

The woman replied, "Well Tom, I have heard some of the men here talking amongst each other about something called F.E.A.R. but when I approached them with questions, they refused to talk about it. In addition, I keep hearing the words Delta Force, but again, no one has agreed to talk about it. Military liaisons have adamantly denied any active involvement. However, they have reported that the U.S. Military has agreed to a partnership with ATC to resolve this crisis."

The man asked, "ATC has reported that they have deployed a new wave of reinforcements to aid the struggling units that they deployed earlier this week. Have you seen any of those yet?"

After waiting for yet another APC to pass, the woman replied, "Yes…" She paused and addressed her either her camera operator or someone else, "Do we still have the footage?" Someone said something but the camera's microphone could not pick up what exactly it was. She nodded and said, "Well play it." She looked back at the camera and said into her microphone, "Earlier this morning, we were flying above the harbor and spotted several large ships in the mouth of the channel…"

The screen changed to a recorded video. I was shocked by what I saw. The woman continued as the video played, "What appear to be a full sized nuclear aircraft carrier, at least five supporting frigates, and possibly a nuclear submarine have taken position in the harbor." The screen went back to a live broadcast of the woman.

She continued, "The frigates have offloaded at least six battalions of their troops and numerous pieces of equipment with around five battalions on standby. ATC officials announced that they want to assure everyone that the aircraft carrier is simply here to establish air superiority and the submarine is only going to be used as a last resort. They said that this display of power is hopefully going to persuade the terrorists to surrender peacefully and that further bloodshed can be avoided."

The woman paused and then said, "I will update as I learn more. Back to you Tom." The image on the screen became a middle-aged Caucasian man sitting behind a desk at a major news agency.

He said, "That was Melissa King reporting live from the city of Fairport. The nation is still reeling from what has been dubbed the Fairport Crisis and we will continue to bring you updates as soon as we get them. In related news, President…"

I turned away from the screen and thought through our options. Aloud, I said, "Shit, shit, shit. No fucking way the Replicas can stand up to that large of a force in a straight up fight. I can't believe that ATC rallied that quickly." I paused and turned back to see that everyone was looking at me. I looked at them for a moment before asking, "What?"

Holiday replied, "So Mr. Super Soldier, what brilliant plan do you have for this?"

Stunned, I replied, "Wait, you are all expecting me to know what to do? Geez people, I am only a foot soldier. I have been making shit up as I go. Jin, Point Man, you two are the specialists here. Why don't you come up with something?" As usual, Point Man remained silent as he looked at me.

Jin shook her head and then said, "I am just a technical officer. I don't have much combat experience."

I said, "Right…hmm." I thought about what to do. At first, I felt overwhelmed but then I remembered what my Delta Force mentor had told me repeatedly. I said aloud, "React, adapt, and overcome. The difference between a professional and an amateur is their proficiency with those three things."

I paced as I thought to myself and said aloud, "Step 1: Get the Replicas out of the meat grinder. Step 2: Neutralize ATC's new advantage. Step 3: Break ATC's spine." I looked at Alpha 1 and said, "Alpha 1, contact the Replica commanders. Tell them to regroup their men and to prepare for guerrilla style warfare. If they have to, I want them to retreat underground. Also, once they have their men rounded up, I want them to standby with GPS markers and turn them on only when I tell them." He nodded and started to relay my orders to his brethren. I turned to Morales and asked, "Manny, do you have a location on the submarine?" He looked at me for a moment before smiling and sat down in front of the laptop.

He shook his head humorously and remarked, "Becket, you are a sick motherfucker."

Confused, Holiday asked, "What the Hell are we doing?"

I looked at him with a sadistic smile and replied, "Something completely underhanded."

Morales said, "Becket, got it. Oh and we are in luck, the Chief of Legal Affairs and the Chief of Public Relations are onboard the carrier." He smirked as he handed me the GPS coordinates. I smirked back as I took the coordinates.

I asked him, "Where are the wet suits?" He nodded towards the APC and I walked inside of it. I returned with a large container about the size of footlocker. I lowered it to the ground and opened it. Holiday examined the contents and gave me a confused look. I remarked, "Gamma 3, Alpha 1, Holiday, Morales, and Point Man. I hope you guys are up to date on your SCUBA and Combat Swimming training. We are about to get wet."

Just as night was setting in, we emerged from our concealed observation spot along an abandoned section of the harbor. We would have entered the water earlier, but the near constant patrols by ATC helicopters based from the aircraft carrier prevented us from covertly approaching the submerged submarine.

Beside me, Alma asked, "Why is their submarine submerged? Are they expecting some type of attack?"

I shrugged and with my voice distorted by the recently dawned rebreahter, I said, "Not quite sure. My plan should still work though."

She nodded and then said, "I hope this works."

I sighed and remarked, "Yeah, me too." I turned to the men behind me and asked, "Green?" They all gave a thumbs up in confirmation. I rallied my nerves and silently prayed that I would live to see the next sunrise. Then, I raised my right hand. We all lined up by the water's edge. I lowered my hand and we all simultaneously entered the water.

The water of the harbor was inky black and strewn with debris. Multiple times, we were nearly shredded by a patrol boat's whirling propeller but an unnaturally thick citywide fog, curtsey of Alma, reduced the visibility on the surface to near zero. This was mainly to help the Replicas, who were purposely made immune to the fog, evade the much larger ATC force as they performed hit and run assaults against the disorientated mercenaries. The tactic was ancient but still effective at harassing the larger force and keeping the men on edge as they tried to guess where the next attack was coming from.

I had also received reports from various Replica soldiers about encounters with strange people that were described as tribal and zombie like. Alma described them as being "enlightened" by her influence but I could not understand what she meant. Whoever they were, they seemed to want to aid the Replicas and joined them in harassing the ATC soldiers. They were reportedly fierce and relentless fighters. However, their religious devotion to Alma unnerved me, as I would suffer the same fate if I could not find a more effective means to resist her cannibalistic influence.

While the bulk of the new reinforcements were combing through the city in a largely futile attempt to hunt down and kill the "terrorists", we were going to sneak into their backyard and give them a rude awakening. Now, with the cloak of the fog and moonless night, we were indeed right under their noses as we swam towards the stationary submarine. Finally, after what seemed like ages, a large black shape was revealed in the narrow beam of our flashlights. Holiday and Point Man went to the forward hatch, Morales and Gamma 3 went to the coning tower, and Alpha 1 and I went to the aft hatch. After we all got into position, we waited for Gamma 3 to activate the jammer.

After a minute of waiting, Gamma 3 reported, "Jammer in position sir."

I said to all of them via com link, "You heard the man people. If she squawks, no one will hear her. Morales, Gamma 3, secure the control room to keep her from blowing her tanks. It is vital that no one on the surface suspects anything."

Morales replied, "Relax Becket, it is me man. Besides, I have always wanted my own submarine."

I replied sarcastically, "You can't keep her."

He laughed and said, "Watch me."

I sighed before I said, "Ready…" Alpha 1 gripped the circular lever while I hovered close by. It was now or never. I said calmly, "Breach." With his inhuman strength, Alpha 1 opened the hatch. The suction force alone was enough to allow us entrance into the vessel. After we entered the flooding compartment, Alpha 1 and I overpowered the force of the water and sealed the hatch. The automated pumping system dealt with the invading volume of water.

Three unarmed ATC sailors stared in shock at our sudden and rude appearance. I raised my assault rifle and dropped the first two. Alpha 1 shot the third in the back with his shotgun as the man tried to flee the compartment. In the brief moment we had before continuing our bloody trek through the vessel, I unstrapped the restrictive gear covering my face.

I remarked, "Huh, she reminds me of an Ohio-class. Damn, this ship alone probably costs about $2 billion. Man, inhumane business practices sure does pay. I can barely afford my little apartment…not that I am ever really there. Still…" I paused as a new, horrifying thought occurred to me. Alma materialized before me and smiled until she saw my concerned expression.

She asked, "What? What is it? Is something wrong?"

In a shaking tone, I explained, "The Ohio-class subs are called boomers. They carry Tridents…fucking nuclear warheads."

Alma seemed confused and asked, "So…?"

I shook my head and scowled at her before I snapped, "No Alma. Don't you dare even go there. Even you…"

She interrupted me by saying, "Relax Michael. I only want revenge on those who hurt me. I am not that twisted."

I smiled before I remarked, "Look at you. So, there are some things that you know are wrong."

She countered, "You mean like you and that little wet dream about me?"

My posture stiffened briefly before I walked past her and said bitterly, "Fuck you."

As I reached the bulkhead, she said, "You liked it."

I shook my head, but that only caused her to laugh. She appeared beside me leaning against the bulkhead on the opposite side of the doorway with her arms crossed. I sighed and asked, "What do you want from me?"

She said, "Nothing that you don't want to give to me. I am only saying that the urges are going to get worse. Better that you relieve yourself by venting inside of my insidey parts, or even perhaps…my mouth and throat or…" She gave me a suggestive smile and I felt my member throb. She continued, "Than say, by killing that young brunette just because she said some things that you didn't like."

Trying to ignore her, I reeled in my hormones before I moved into the next compartment and killed the five sailors inside of it. As I moved into the next compartment, I said in a smartass tone, "Yeah I bet you are good with your mouth when you aren't talking so damn much. I should ram it down your throat just to shut you up."

She smiled as she liquefied a fleeing sailor a few inches in front of me and remarked with a tone that had a seductive edge to it, "Yes, you would like that wouldn't you? Treat the bitch that killed your friends like a worthless little slut by forcing her onto her knees and gagging her until you cum down her throat while she cries and begs you to stop."

I purposely missed her head by inches as I killed an armed mercenary running up behind her. The bullets I fired passed by the right side of her face so closely that her hair fluttered like it was in a breeze. She raised her left eyebrow as her lips formed an amused grin. As I walked passed her while I was reloading my rifle, she playfully remarked, "Okay, okay. I'll stop. You are too uptight Michael. Whenever you want, my tight little orifices are all yours."

Much to my frustration, the throbbing had returned with increased intensity. As I finished reloading my weapon, a man rushed at me from the dead end side passage to my left with a small knife. Seizing the opportunity, I vented my building frustration on the man with a single, powerful psychic blast. He screamed in agony as his body started to convulse before my eyes. I watched horrified yet fascinated as his flesh dissolved and only a bloody skeleton was left lying in a large pool of blood.

Alpha 1 killed the remaining men in the compartment as I stared at the remains for a moment. My little mentor studied my recent handiwork as if she was a teacher grading a test. She smiled up at me proudly and remarked encouragingly, "Excellent. You are learning very quickly. It took me years to learn how to do that. I knew you could do it if you were pushed a little."

I looked at her and said, "What the Hell little game are you…" I paused as I realized what she had been doing the past few minutes and why.

Sheepishly, I stated what I hoped sounded like an apology, "Thank you."

She nodded but warned, "It is very draining on your mental stamina. So don't get trigger happy until you get used to it." I nodded and turned to leave, but she held her left hand out to stop me. Puzzled, I glanced down at her. She said in a serious tone, "I am serious about those urges. They will get worse. Please, just let me help you. Trust me, you don't want to end up like me. You think I like being who I am? To be a walking scourge released upon mankind because of something I had no control over? I hate being who I am."

Stunned by her statements, I started to say, "Alma…"

However, I was interrupted by Morales reporting, "Becket, the control room and midsection have been secured. Holiday and Point Man are on their way to the control room. Looks like most of the ATC marines are ashore. I am ready whenever you are to bring her up to launch depth."

I replied, "Copy, standby."

I looked back down at her and for the second time, I could see how vulnerable and fragile she could be. I wanted to console her, but I had a mission to complete. Timidly, I said, "Alma, we have to…" She nodded and smiled bravely. I nodded and turned to face Alpha 1 at the opposite bulkhead.

I made my way towards him and when I reached him, I said, "This should be the room." I entered the next compartment and saw that it was indeed the missile control room. Six armed ATC soldiers were inside and I activated my reflexes. I systematically sent a burst from my assault rifle into their heads before they even had time to raise their weapons.

I deactivated my reflexes but realized too late that a Phase Commander was waiting just to the right of me. With a strong kick, he sent me backwards onto the floor. I rolled just as he shot a burst from his penetrator. Quickly standing, I raised my rifle and was about to unload on his head.

However, before I could fire, from behind, Alpha 1 jumped onto his back. As the tin soldier flailed about trying to shake off the Replica, Alpha 1 grasped the back of the cyborg's head with his left hand and his chin, or close enough, with his right. With seemingly impossible strength, Alpha 1 performed a neck breaker. The Phase Commander fell forward onto the floor. Alpha 1 stood and stomped down on the still twitching tin soldier with his left boot.

Holding his automatic shotgun with only his right hand, he held the end of the shotgun's barrel against the Phase Commander's head. He unloaded his entire clip into the barely alive cyborg's armored skull. With the final shot, the Commander stopped twitching. The brute must have been paralyzed by the neck breaker because he did not self-destruct like he normally would have. Amazed and a little bit disturbed by the display of brutality, I exclaimed, "Damn Alpha! Holy shit, where did that come from?"

Alpha 1 looked up at me and remarked about the Phase Commanders with a noticeable grudge, "All talk and flash. They treat all the Replicas, but especially the Heavy Troopers, like garbage sir. One slowly tortured one of my Heavy Trooper brothers to death when we were captured. I escaped but not before he made me watch him torture my brother to death."

He looked back down at his slain enemy and said with a snarl, "Talk down to me now asshole!" He kicked the armored corpse with his right boot before he roared, "Yeah, how does it feel to be treated like nothing? Like it? Huh? Pathetic piece of shit!" His tone turned to one of concern as he looked back up at me and asked, "You okay sir?"

Amazed, I stammered, "Ye…yeah, I'm fine. Outstanding work soldier." I added in a compassionate tone, "I'm sorry about your brother."

He replied, "Thank you sir."

Still stunned, I sat down in front of the launch panel. I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw that the bays did not contain any ballistic missiles. I spoke into my com link, "Manny, I am in position."

He replied, "Roger, I am bringing her up. Holiday and Point Man have just arrived."

Over the com link, Holiday asked, "Okay, so we took over their submarine. We are moving onto the next ship right?" I did not reply and started the launch sequence.

I said to Alpha 1, "Tell the commanders to activate their GPS markers now." He relayed the order and almost immediately, I could see their locations on the target screen. After I selected the targets, I advanced the sequence.

Over the com link, Holiday said in a worried tone, "Becket, do you copy? The missile bay hatches are opening." I still did not reply and as I finished the sequence, I laughed sadistically. Holiday said frantically, "Becket! The missiles are launching! What the fuck are you doing?"

I finally replied by saying, "Breaking their spine."

I leaned back and closed my eyes as I waited for the carnage to unfold. Shattering the calm of the harbor, the one hundred and fifty four Tomahawk cruise missiles launched. I could only imagine the view from outside. The first thirty missiles roared into the night sky before targeting the aircraft carrier. As they hit the floating runway going about five hundred and fifty miles per hour, they unleashed their thousand-pound warheads on the unprepared vessel.

Each of the frigates were hit by ten missiles. Even from the inside of the submarine, I could hear the vibrations traveling through the water. The remaining missiles unleashed their payloads on the city. Every major command post, every major transportation pipeline, and every last one of the marked ATC troop locations was leveled by a barrage of missiles. Only my Replicas and the main ATC port were spared.

Finally, in a cue de grace, the last five missiles targeted the bleeding black heart of ATC's presence in the city. The dilapidated ATC headquarters had been gutted by the Origin Explosion but like the company it represented, its towering skeleton still loomed over the city. The monument of inhumane experiments and cruelty was erased from the face of the Earth by its creator's own equipment.

Minutes later, I observed the burning hulk of the aircraft carrier from the surfaced submarine's coning tower. As I watched the vessel slowly sink beneath the surface of the water, I wondered how far I was willing to go in order to take down the corporation. The thing about getting revenge is that one can easily be led astray. Before you knew it, you had lost sight of the reasons why you had set out in the first place. I had to remember who my real enemies were or I would end up like Fettel. "He was good once." I turned to see Alma looking at the burning city with her back towards me. I walked up and stood beside her.

I said, "He isn't your son anymore."

She turned her head and looked at me with a sad expression. She remarked in almost a whisper, "He really did want to help me at first because I was his mother. Then, he started to change in front of my eyes."

I put my right hand on her left shoulder. She gave me a brief smile to show her gratitude. With the low illumination provided by the fires, her pale skin was luminescent and her glowing eyes stood out against our dark surroundings. It was times like this that I remembered that she was not a mortal creature of flesh and bone but the vengeful spirit of a neglected woman who had died around twenty years prior.

I asked her something that had been nagging me for a while. "Alma, why did you let me live?"

Puzzled, she asked, "What do you mean?"

I explained, "You got what you needed from me so I was a loose end after that. You killed or absorbed everyone else you have come across except for your sons. So why did you let me live? Especially when you had a new child? Did you really expect me to just forgive you and be a father or something?"

She smiled awkwardly for a moment as if she was embarrassed before she replied in a sheepish tone, "I don't really know why to be honest." She tried to explain, "I was drawn to you even before they did those awful things to you. When I first felt you enter the city, I was curious because your signature was strong for being unenhanced or artificial. In the penthouse, I studied you and I liked you for some reason. Even now, there is something about you that seems familiar. Did you live here before?"

I nodded and said, "Yeah, when I lived with my parents. I left when I was old enough to join the military. I never stepped foot in this place again until that mission. I definitely don't remember you if that is what you are asking. I never saw you before that mission."

She raised her right eyebrow briefly but did not say anything until she said, "Anyway after those things they did to you, I could not help myself. The others I wanted out of the way so I could finally get you alone." She noticed my expression and merely shrugged before she said, "I have never claimed to not be cruel when I want to be. I am a negative psionic after all." I nodded and she continued, "When you were finally vulnerable when you were in the chair, I couldn't stand waiting any longer. I didn't really think about how you would react. Afterwards, you were mean to me but I still couldn't bring myself to kill you. You are special to me. If you weren't, I really would have absorbed you. I am glad that you agreed to help me like this. Even though you are doing this mostly to avenge your brethren, it is still more than anyone else has ever done for me."

I asked, "Well, to be honest, you are growing on me. Wait, what about what Fettel did?"

She shook her head before she explained, "I linked my mind with his. He was going to help me one way or another."

I wondered aloud, "I wonder where he is."

She sighed before she answered, "Looking for his brother so they can find me."

Puzzled, I asked, "Why?"

She narrowed her eyes and replied, "He wants to absorb me. If he finds out that I am pregnant, there is no telling what he will do to her."

I shivered and assured her, "Don't worry, I will kill him if I have too."

She warned, "Don't underestimate him. Fighting another psychic is not a physical challenge but a mental challenge."

I was about to reply, but Alpha 1 climbed up the ladder that led below and reported, "Charges are set and armed sir."

I replied, "Outstanding." Seeing the approaching dinghies and patrol boats, I added, "Not a moment too soon. Let's get the Hell out of here." Minutes later, we were all observing the boarded submarine from the deserted street that ran along the shoreline. I held the detonator in my left hand as I waited for all of the search parties to go inside of the submarine. I decided that it was time and went to detonate the charges.

However, Holiday stopped me by saying, "I am the demolition expert here. So, I should do it. You know, for safety concerns."

I had to suppress my laughter and replied, "Alright you nut, here." I handed him the detonator, which he took with noticeable enthusiasm. He activated the detonator and the submarine shuttered as massive explosions compromised her hull. Bubbles surrounded her rapidly sinking hulk. The Armacham logo on her coning tower was the last thing we saw of her before she disappeared below the surface of the water. We turned around and started making our way back to the safe house under the cover of the fog.

As we started walking, Morales said, "You guys suck man. I had named her and everything."

I slapped his right shoulder with my left hand and said, "Oh cheer up man. Tell you what, the next billion dollar submarine we hijack will be all yours."

He laughed quietly before he remarked, "Fuck you man." With the exception of Point Man and Gamma 3, everyone, even Alpha 1 with his distorted voice, laughed quietly at his attitude. However, even Point Man noticeably shook his head briefly.

After we had walked in silence for several minutes, I finally could not stand it anymore. His laugh had been the last straw. I said to my wingman, "Alpha 1, you are not like your brothers. You seem…human."

He replied, "I am an inferior specimen sir. When I was created, they were going to destroy me because I have some traces of free will and emotion. It is a rare defect in the manufacturing process and the other defective units were destroyed. The lead scientist overseeing my creation made an exception and labeled me as an experiment."

I remarked, "Inferior? Bullshit inferior. You kick serious ass."

Rubbing his neck, Holiday remarked, "Tell me about it. It still hurts to breathe."

I said to Alpha 1, "You are not inferior. Fuck, you just killed a Phase Commander by snapping its neck with your bare hands and then repeatedly firing your shotgun into its skull at point blank range while you held it down with your left foot. You have my respect and trust. You wouldn't be my wingman if you didn't."

He replied, "Copy that sir. Permission to speak freely sir?"

I said, "Granted."

He remarked, "I would only be following your orders because of my programing if I did not respect and trust you sir. You don't think of me as expendable. You treat me as if I were a real person. I will gladly follow you into battle anytime."

I replied in a somewhat stunned tone, "Thanks trooper. As far as I am concerned, you are a human being."

Morales cut in, "This is getting a little weird man. You aren't getting soft on us are you?"

I shot back, "Hell no! I can kick your ass anytime." He shook his head and we continued to jab at each other as we made our way to the garage.