Flag was frothing at the bit, anxious to get started. He would never admit it, but he wanted to get this over and done with as much as we did. We were fighting a war, too.

He knew he would do anything to save this city. Including, I realized, sending all these people- Seals and criminals – to their painful deaths, if it meant the city would survive.

I shuddered at that thought.

Hayes had said Flag and I weren't that different. When it came right down to it, we both would kill anything that stood in our way, if it meant obtaining the objective.

Maybe he wasn't wrong.

Flag looked at the others, far enough down the block that they couldn't hear him, and he whispered to me. "Thanks," he hissed. "For what you're doing. They would have up-and-left by now."

"They would have sooner if you told them the truth," I replied.

The Squad acted as if they were oblivious to the madness that surrounded them, laughing and telling stories as if they hadn't a care in the world.

I assumed they were working out the details of abandoning their posts, or leaving Flag and I to fend for ourselves.

Damn, I hated them. Then I cursed. I was used to soldiers who snapped to attention and saluted crisply when a Colonel entered the room, not bottom-feeders and scum like this damn squad.

They made it abundantly clear that they didn't want to be here, didn't intend to put their own lives on the line, and frankly, couldn't care less who died as long as it wasn't them.

At least they were true to themselves. They knew exactly what they were, and they weren't running from it.

But Flag stuck them in this no-win scenario, and despite all the voices in my head warning me otherwise, accepted the job, too.

Now that I ass-deep into it, someone had to show these bastards what it meant to play the hand your dealt with, whether they wanted to or not.

Because I really had no choice in the matter, I decided that might as well be me.

We all sat down on any debris we found, and checked our weapons and ammo supply.

Some of the Seals took a swig from their water canisters, and gazed at the surrounding devastation.

Indistinct chatter came from the comm, and I ignored it, watching the faces of the Seals around me.

I checked my mag was fresh, and sighed.

Flag sat beside me, and looked up at the sky. "Whatever happens tonight, I hope it's not for nothing."

"Do you know what we're up against?" I asked.

"You remember the witch?" Flag mumbled, checking to see if anyone was listening.

I nodded. "That girl in the bathtub? She got away from Waller?"

Flag swallowed hard. "Yeah. She's trying to take over the world now. So I need everyone's head on a swivel."

I gave him a reassuring nod. "We got this, right?"

"You and me?" He grinned.

I smiled back. "Yeah. You and me against the world… and these idiots." I pointed at the Squad.

Flag chuckled. "Next time Deadshot tries something? Drop him."

"Yessir." I grinned. Permission granted.

"Get up, we're moving." Flag stood up and waved at the others.

I got to my feet, and looked around. No one budged.

Flag looked at them, angrily.

I rolled my eyes. "The Colonel said get up," I commanded. "Now. We're moving out."

Hayes yawned, stood and stretched sensuously. "Yeah, yeah, whatever."

Reluctantly, they all got to their feet, not nearly ready enough to move. Hell came to them first.

Suddenly EAs were everywhere. Dozens appeared, streaming up from the sewers, doorways and alleys. They darted across the street, and they were fast. Inhumanely fast.

"Goddamn it," Flag shouted. "Frag 'em!"

I fell back, firing like a machine, shooting and reloading as fast as my weapons allowed. Black shards burst from the creatures with each impact, as if they were made of obsidian or coal. Every shot struck home, but nothing stopped them.

"I'm tagging headshots," I shouted, "but they aren't dropping!"

The squad kept shooting, Hayes fired two weapons at once, a glock and a SIG Sauer. He clocked two-dozen hits, but the things were still coming at him. He turned and ran, ducking behind Taylor.

Flag led the soldiers back to a series of waist-high concrete barricades, originally set up to route traffic to a different street. He hoped they'd be useful cover for us.

"Single shots aren't doing squat," he barked. "Let's see what it takes to knock off one of those bastards off its feet."

An EA was closing in faster than the others and Flag pointed to its head. "That's our crosshairs. Let's see what it takes to shred it."

The Seals hunkered behind the barricades and concentrated their firepower on the one EA, targeting its head and ignoring everything else. A hundred rounds hit the things face, exploding chunks of black crust from it, grinding it. Flag ordered them not to stop.

Round after round. I kept shooting at the one beast until it finally collapsed into a pile of fragments.

"We did it!" Boomerang yelled.

I glared at him. "Took almost all of our ammo. We had enough to take down a small country. No way we'll have enough to deal with all of them."

"What are those things made of?" Diablo asked.

"Guys," Harley looked closer at the shattered EA.

The others were so busy discussing the end of the world to notice her.

"Guys," She might as well be invisible as well.

I took my gun and shot it into the air. They turned toward me, startled. "Better."

She was grinning while staring at the EA corpse, pointing. "Guys, look real careful. Under all that gook, I think there's a real head. And a face. And maybe some good parts too."

Deadshot scowled at Harley. "So?"

Flag raised his head and looked at her.

"So, I don't think those EAs are like superman. You know, a strange visitor from another world, and all that."

Flag sniffed. "What are you saying?"

"I think they used to be people."

The creatures looked alike, part of a set. Whatever differences there were between them were nominal, but beneath the crust actual faces could be seen. They looked like cops and Seals who had been killed in the creature's last attack.

"She's right, God, why didn't I see it before, but that's… that was Donovan." Perry said.

"Behind us!" Boomerang shouted suddenly.

Dozens of the things charged. Cop, firemen, Seals- locals who had lived or worked in the area. Now they were all monsters. Unstoppable. Un-killable. Things.

Flag called to his men. "Fall back. Keep shooting. Do whatever you have to. Save yourselves."

Deadshot laughed.

They were all afraid, and they didn't care who knew it. Their enemy was something nobody had ever seen before. Nobody had ever imagined before, and they had no idea how powerful the EAs truly were.

A cop EA leapt on the back of William's back. It grabbed his rifle, flipped it around and shot the Seal in the face.

The thing tried to stand up, but it fell back down into a pile a crumbled chunks of black crust as I grabbed my dagger and stabbed it in the head.

EA's ran in from all directions. Ravenous, they leaped over debris that was blocking their way and propelled themselves fifteen feet or more into the air before landing on the other side. Dozens of bullets slammed into them. The defenders torn apart a few, but they were still unable to stop them.

I lodged the dagger in a thick bone and it stuck. I tried to pull it free, but it was wedged in tight.

The EA grabbed my throat and squeezed. I raised my legs, knees to my chest, then jackhammered my feet into the things center. I did it again. My third kick sent the thing toppling back, off balance, but the EA still held onto me.

Desperate, I tried to use my legs as leverage to pull the dagger free, but I was losing strength.

I felt my breath giving out, but then I saw Flag standing beside the creature, his .45 just inches from its ear. He squeezed the trigger, and a second later its head shattered. The thing crumpled into broken bits of thick black crust and collapsed to the ground, dead.

I put my leg on the fallen EA's chest and used it to gain leverage. The dagger slid out without any further problem.

An EA grabbed Flag by the leg and dragged him across the ground.

I heard myself screaming out as stone and debris cut through Flag's uniform and ripped his back. Warm blood spread over the gouges. He struggled to reach his mag, still in its holster. After several failed attempts, his fingers found it. He pulled out and emptied a full round magazine into the face of the thing that was pulling him. Click!

He grabbed a second mag, slammed it into the gun, and fired point-blank into the creatures head.

It screamed and fell, releasing its grip.

The EA, its face blown open and leaking flesh and crust, stood up on its feet and staggered toward him, weak, but refusing to die.

Oh damn!

Flag fired the last of the mag into the thing, but it wouldn't stop. He wouldn't let his enemy kill him, though.

I picked up two abandoned assault rifles, nearly the same size as me and I kept firing, no longer concerned with dying.

Perhaps I even welcomed it, at least as long as I took down nearly everything else that moved.

One of the EA's carried a rifle, military grade, designed for maximum damage.

I ignored it and charged at the EA pulling Flag. Even as the bullets impacted my body armour, but it didn't pierce it. It hurt like all kinds of hell, but I didn't even care.

"Keep running 'til you're dead," I yelled at it, as it began to falter. "Then run some more for the hell of it!"

The thing careened back and fell. Flag stood up and over it as it squirmed on the ground. He fired two more shots into its brain. The thing stopped twitching.

I didn't understand how, but I had saved him.

"Thanks," he said. Flag was human this time. The usual soldierly hardness had gone from his eyes. I liked this version. I felt butterflies form in my stomach as he smiled kindly.

"No targets in the vicinity." He looked around. "Cease firing. Conserve all the ammo you can. Pick up any you can find."

I dropped myself down on a pile of smashed concrete, my chest heaving with exhaustion. At my feet were eleven dead creatures.

I looked up at the Seals to see how many had survived. Not many. But most of them were staring at me, eyes wide and mouths open.

A Seal named Ramer walked over, and he stuck out his hand. "I'll fight alongside you any day," he said, "Good job, Major."

Ramer was new to the second squad, but I had worked with him before. He was arrogant and didn't really want to be a Navy Seal at all. He was short and muscular- he reminded me of a cowboy.

Flag stared at him, eyebrows raised and stunned. This was the first civil thing anyone had said since first arriving on the mission.

I looked up and refused to shake the Seals hand. Flag watched from a across the way.

"I didn't see any of you stop to help Flag. He dies, you die. Don't forget, he's saved your ass when you needed him."

I ignored Ramer's hand completely and strode over to where Flag was doubled over.

"Come on, Colonel. Let's take a look at the damage."

Flag didn't argue, he must have been in a bit of pain. He looked at me, one eye brow arched.

"What?" I snapped.

Flag gave me a tight-lipped smiled, and turned around, facing away from me.

I carefully helped him take off his jacket and shirt, but blood and dirt clung to his bare skin, making it difficult to remove. Finally, the fabric was moved enough to clear the bloody gashes up his back.

"You in pain, Rick?"

I asked, taking a medical kit from my vest.

"A little,"

The other Seals dropped down and decided to rest, not interested in Flag's injuries at all.

The Seals on second squad weren't impressed with a lot of things about this regiment.

Ramer and others in his unit had complained to GQ, the unit commander about Flag's readiness. They had gotten nowhere.

Flag had his way of doing things, and that was the traditional SOG (Special Operations Group) way.

Ramer found the spit-and-polish Colonel to be an arrogant and incompetent buffoon.

Flag noticed this and heaved a sigh. "Just don't."

"What's that?"

"Don't try reasoning with them. Seals never change their ways."

I laughed half-heartedly. "You talk like you know." I paused, waiting for a reply that never came. "I have to clean this to prevent infection."

Flag grunted his permission. "Thank you. I mean it. I'd be dead if it weren't for you."

"Just returning the favour."

He winced as I poured alcohol disinfectant over the wound.

The thick blood seeped out and down his back, revealing a large scrape, but not deep enough for too much damage. I placed a pad over it and used the medic tape to stick it to his skin.

"Okay, done." I stood back and watched Flag struggle to pull down his shirt and jacket.

Letting out an irritated scowl, Flag couldn't reach far enough to pull it over his wound.

"Can you uh…" he mumbled.

I pulled the rest of the clothing down as far as it would go, trying not to disturb the bandage.

He turned slowly, and looked down at me appreciatively. "I can't thank you enough." He said softly, buckling up his vest.

We looked at each other for what seemed like a long time. He just looked at me, eyes full of some emotion I couldn't comprehend.

He opened his mouth to speak, he kept his voice low, too, and looked at me curiously, his head cocked to the side. "How bad is it?"

"You'll need to tend to that once you're back at base. It's not looking good." I replied, looking back at him carefully, assessing. I kept my eyes on his, and watched as the excitement in them faded and gentled.

Then he smiled a surprisingly impish grin.

"Thank you," he said, obviously pleased with himself.

"Well you have already thanked me, so cut it out." I scoffed.

Flag wiped the sweat from his forehead. "I'm glad you're here, Major."

His eyes were gloriously intense as he uttered that last sentence, his voice smouldering.

"Huh?" I mumbled.

"The General told me he wants to promote you if you can show me that you can take charge. But I don't want you to."

I cocked one eye brow and forgot all about resetting my weapons, which is what I'd usually do when someone tried to talk to me. "Why don't you want me to succeed, Rick? It's all I ever dreamed. I want to make a difference. A real difference. Save people and maybe the men I work with. My aim is preserve human life, why on earth would you not want me to?

"Not like that. I do want what you want, but-"

"But what then? Spit it out."

Flag met my eyes for a second, and then looked away quickly toward the buildings. It almost looked like he was blushing, but it was hard to tell with the darkness surrounding us.

I started gnawing on my lip.

"Look," Flag said. "I was planning to do this a little bit differently." He laughed, and it sounded like he was laughing at himself. "Smoother," he added. "I was going to work up to it, but-" he looked up at the clouds.

"What are you talking about?" I demanded.

He took a deep breath. "I want to tell you something. And you already know it . . . but I think I should say it out loud anyway. Just so there's never any confusion on the subject."

I planted my feet, and he came to a stop. I folded my arms across my chest. I was suddenly sure that I didn't want to know what he was building up to.

Flag's eyebrows pulled down, throwing his deep-set eyes into shadow. They were pitch black as they bored into mine. "What I'm about to say is the most selfish thing I've ever said in my life."

"Don't go there," I whispered.

'But you need to hear it. I'm in love with you, Jaz," Flag said in a strong, sure voice. "Trig, I love you. And I want you to pick me. I know you don't feel that way, but I need the truth out there so that you know your options. I wouldn't want a miscommunication to stand in our way."

I stared at him for a long minute, speechless. I could not think of one thing to say to him.

As he watched my dumbfounded expression, the seriousness left his face.

"Okay," he said, grinning. "That's all."

"Flag -" It felt like there was something big sticking in my throat. I tried to clear the obstruction. "I can't - I mean I don't . . . I have to go."

I turned, but he grabbed my shoulders and spun me around.

"No, wait. I know that, Trig. But, look, answer me this, all right? Do you want me to go away and never see you again? Be honest."

It was hard to concentrate on his question, so it took a minute to answer. "No, I don't want that," I finally admitted.

Flag grinned again. "See."

"You're a glutton for punishment," I grumbled.

"Yep." He stroked the tips of his fingers across my right cheek. I slapped his hand away.

"Do you think you could behave yourself a little better, at least?" I was irritated as I scanned the others to see if they were looking.

"No, I don't. You decide, Jaz. You can have me the way I am - bad behaviour included - or not at all."

I stared at him, frustrated. "That's mean."

"So are you."

That pulled me up short, and I took an involuntary step back. He was right. If I wasn't mean - and greedy, too - I would tell him I didn't want to be friends and walk away. It was wrong to try to keep him as a friend when that would hurt him. I didn't know what I was doing here, but I was suddenly sure that it wasn't good.

"You're right," I whispered.

He laughed. "I forgive you. Just try not to get too mad at me. Because I recently decided that I'm not giving up. There really is something irresistible about a lost cause."

I shook my head. "You're impossible."

Suddenly, he was serious. He took my chin in his hand, holding it firmly so that I couldn't look away from his intent gaze. "I'll be here. Don't forget that you have options."

"I don't want options," I disagreed, trying to yank my chin free unsuccessfully. "The time for options is almost gone."

His eyes narrowed. "All the more reason to fight - fight harder now, while I can," he whispered. He still had my chin - his fingers holding too tight, till it hurt - and I saw the resolve form abruptly in his eyes.

"N -" I started to object, but it was too late.

He crushed his lips on mine.

I shoved against his chest with all my strength, but he didn't even seem to notice. His mouth was soft, his lips molding to mine in a warm, strange way.

His hands were soft on my face and his warm lips were gentle, unexpectedly hesitant. It was brief, and very, very sweet.

Flags lips were still before mine were. I opened my eyes and he was staring at me with Surprise and delight.

Finally, he let go of my face and leaned away, staring at me with his olive eyes wide and earnest. "You have feelings for me, you just won't admit it,"

That struck a chord. He was right. I was attracted to him. His tall, strong build, protruding muscles, and soft lips, green eyes and his mysterious demeanor…. I shook my head to clear my thoughts,

"Why are you doing this now?" I argued. I did feel something for the Colonel. Butterflies began to flutter madly inside my stomach.

"I know how I make you feel. Physically."

"This can't happen, Flag. Not in the middle of a mission, not in front of the team."

"We may not get out of this alive, Major. I couldn't forgive myself if anything happened to you. Even if I had to die first."

I stopped to think to myself. "You really do care about me?"

Flag laughed nervously. "We make a great team."

I let out a quick breath.

Flag took two steps closer, and looked down at me. Beads of sweat was dripping down the side of his face, but I could still smell him. "And you could love me too."

I had no reply. No smart mouthed or crude remark to spit back. I knew he was right. I knew I couldn't hold this off forever. What if I gave in to the temptation? I hadn't made that decision yet.

At least I was comfortable around him, and that was a start.

We stared at each other for a long moment. His hand smouldered against my skin. In my face, I knew there was nothing but wistful sadness.

Keeping his eyes on mine, Flag began to bend his face toward me. And I was still absolutely undecided.

His eyes did not free mine as his soft lips ever so lightly brushed mine.

I froze.

He felt me stiffen and released me automatically.

Wait, I wanted to say. Just a minute. But I was still locked in place, listening to the echo of Flag's voice in my head. And you could love me too….

Fourteen years, I was sick of soldiers coming onto me. Normally, I would sucker-punch them, or flip them over my shoulder in defense, but I gave up fighting with Flag. Maybe he was right. I like the way he kissed me, Flag was different. He had a respect the other men didn't show. I looked around, frantic, hoping no one saw what had just happened. No one was staring though, so it was possible they were distracted, or they didn't even care.

"I have giving up trying to be good. I'm just going to do what I want now, and let things happen." His smile faded as he explained, and a hard edge crept into

his voice.

"You lost me."

The breath-taking crooked smile reappeared.

"You're infatuated, that's all." I grumbled trying to avoid his eye contact by looking down at my boot.

Flag sighed, and rested his hands on this hips. "Well, that's what I thought at first, but it's more than that."

"Give it time," I grinned, walking away. For once, butterflies churned in my stomach. This was a seasoned soldier, who genuinely respected me. Not one of the younger and greener soldiers who thought I was a piece of meat. Flag was a gentleman.

Two Seals from the second squad strolled over to us. They looked rough, tired and beaten. But they still stood strong, ready for more. I gave Flag a nod, and joined his Squad.

Harley was gnawing on her chewing gum ravenously, looking at Katana who kneeling over her sword.

Boomerang polished his weapons as the others reloaded rifles and pistols, Croc and Diablo merely watched.

"You lost, Sweetheart?" Boomerang chimed as I paced around them.

I shook my head. "Not at all."

He turned to me, smiling sweetly. "You know, you're actually a nice person in the quiet."

I scoffed. "And you're a nice person pretending to be a knob."

Croc and Harley burst into laughter, Taylor doubled over.

I frowned, not sure why they reacted like that.

Deadshot laughed, abruptly lightening the mood. "Nice one, G.I Jane."

GQ, Wallis a few other Seals joined us as we passed the next intersection.

"Where's the rest of you?" I asked Wallis, who had been on the Bravo Team for several years.

"We got separated in an attack. They should be at the rendezvous."

I fit a new clip into my gun as I stared at Flag. "We pissed away a ton of ammo," I said.

"And for what?" Hayes finished.

"Hold on, Colonel," GQ shouted as he ran up from behind. "We need to talk."

"We?" Flag repeated without looking. "I think by we, you mean you need to talk. Because I sure don't need to say anything to you except keep killing those bastards until they stay dead."

Flag had nothing but contempt for these recruits, almost as if they were criminals. Flag was also very black and white. Either you fought for good, or fought for evil. And he was married to this life even though he knows it was breaking him down.

GQ grabbed him by the shoulder.

Flag glowered at him, but GQ wouldn't let go.

"Colonel, I lost ten men," he said. "Ten good men. I don't know if they've been killed or what, but they're gone."

"What do you expect me to do about that? I lost men too." Flag tried to keep the emotion out of his tone.

GQ pulled back, still angry. "Yeah. I know, but the question is why. The briefing we got said terrorists were attacking Midway City. Unless the enemy started recruiting monsters, those things are definitely not terrorists."

Flag rested his hand on GQ's, then slowly lifted it off his shoulder. "Don't," he warned. "I might forget we're friends."

GQ pulled his hand back, but otherwise he didn't move.

"I'm waiting, Flag. My men-the ones who've survived this far, and your survivors too- they deserve the truth."

Time for me to butt in and put an end to GQ's whining. Flag looked like he wasn't winning. Waller had obviously told him to keep his mouth shut about the truth. And frankly, I wasn't sure I even wanted to know that those things were and what they wanted from the human race.

"You joined to serve at the pleasure of your president," I responded. "Wherever the hell he decides to send you. I don't recall seeing a contract that said you could pick and choose what you will do or not do."

"I didn't say we wouldn't follow orders. I said we deserve the truth about what we are fighting." Edwards stood his ground. "Those were not terrorists, and some of them were our people. Only changed. Like I said, Sir, we deserve the truth. What are those things?"

Flag looked away. "I don't know," he mumbled the words, as if he didn't want to state what was becoming quickly obvious. "I don't think Waller knows, either. I'm not sure anyone but the enemy knows and surprise, surprise, they're not talking." Flag said before turning back to the Seals. "Okay, look. We don't know a lot of how's and who's, but you've seen what we're up against, so you know the kind of job we've got to do. We're linking up with second squad. GQ, you're Tail-End Charlie. C'mon, people. We're moving out. Now."

Edwards didn't say anything, but he moved. Alpha Dogs peeled off like a formation of jet-fighters.

Bravo Team reluctantly followed suit.

Deadshot hung back with him and waited for the others to get out of earshot, probably forgetting I even existed. But I could still hear.

The Colonel shot him a look.

"What's with the frown, Flag? You wanna say something to me?"

"Yeah," Flag growled. "You will never good enough for my team. We follow orders. You bastards are cowards."

"That's exactly what we are, Flag; bastards," Deadshot replied. "That's exactly why you and Waller wanted us. You weren't looking for gentleman soldiers. You were buying killers, and you got exactly what you paid for. Don't go regretting what you asked for."

"Deadshot, the goddamn world's at stake here, and last time I looked, you live on this planet too."

"We fought just as hard as you did. So give the cranky-old-guy bit a rest."

Flag didn't reply. He strode past to join the others.

Deadshot stood back, smiling. He held up his pistol and pointed it at the man in front of him.

Instinct and training took over, and my rifle was in my grip, aimed at Deadshot's hand. I pulled the trigger without thinking, and the bullet ricocheted off his piece.

Deadshot dropped the gun and looked at me, stunned. "Oh, no you didn't!"

Flag turned around, naturally, aiming his gun in my direction not fully aware of who was against who.

I angrily stomped over to Deadshot and punched his face as hard as I could, not caring how much my hand would hurt afterwards. "I've had enough of you! Get up!" I shouted as he fell to the ground.

Flag bolted towards us, guns rattling as he slipped his handgun into his holster.

I towered over Deadshot, as he put his hand to his cheek where I'd hit him. He stared back at me, rage and confusion set deep in his dark eyes.

Just then my air choked off - Flag grabbed me up in a bear hug too tight to breathe and swung me around in a circle, dragged me to the other side of the street while I tried, with all my strength to get back at Deadshot.

"Everybody calm down!" Flag shouted loud enough for all to hear. He glanced down at me before looking back at Lawton.

"Deadshot, get back in line before I blow your head off. I'd like the mission to end with the same number of holes I had when it started."

"Good luck to the rest of you," Deadshot said to the Seals, snatching his pistol off the ground and joining the other inmates. "Flag and his human Pitbull will get rid of you, too, if you don't play their game!"

Hayes laughed and made an inaudible comment under his breath.

GQ tried to contain his laughter, but failed. "Human Pitbull?"

Flag turned me around as I struggled against him, and put his hands around my face. "Calm down."

I broke free of his grip and looked up at his serious face. "He was going to frag you, Rick." I decided to walk away. I needed space.

Flag grunted and ran to catch up with me, loping at my side. "Why didn't you kill him? You have the authority to put down conspirators. Call it an accidental discharge."

"I missed."

"A sniper doesn't miss-" he paused in thought. "You didn't want to kill him, did you?"

I grit my teeth and focused on ignoring a burning pain in my leg. "I didn't need to. I knew he wanted to leave, he just needed a palpable reason."

Flag laughed. "That's why I like you. And I need you to keep this up. Hell, you might even take my job someday."

"I thought you said you didn't want me too?"

"You're already thinking like a leader. Our country needs you. And I need you too. More than ever. Who am I to hold you back?"