"Making A Deal"
Day 8 - 12:45:32
SSG. Mike 'Archer' Wallace
Ex. Task Force 141/unassigned
Train/on route to Moscow.
Archer sat across from Toad. They had changed out of their ghillie suits and were now wearing Russian fatigues. Hopefully no one would talk to them because their Russian was terrible. Scarecrow was the real master of Russian but he was dead now. "Almost home mate" Said Toad. "lets not count our chickens before they hatch" Archer turned to stare at the passing countryside. He had been thinking of his family. Ghost and Roach dying had brought up tender subjects he had buried years ago. It was 8 years ago he divorced Bella and left Simon behind. He was 16 now. The last time he saw him it was a brief exchange before he had to ship out. He was going to take him to a movie then maybe the batting cages. But McTavish called an Emergency deployment and he had to leave. "when will I see you again Daddy" his son asked. "soon buddy soon" Eight damn years I wonder if he even cares about me anymore Archer thought. His mother couldn't cope with the rough and tumble lifestyle of a wife of a spec ops soldier. The long times of loneliness not knowing if her husband was alive or dead. Then brief stints of visiting time, it definitely wasn't a family Job. Most soldiers in the 141 were either single or divorced. "hey sarge" Archer turned to Toad. "how old are you". Archer smiled "do you really want to know". Toad looked unsure then nodded. "I'm 36 mate" Toad looked shocked. 36 wasn't really old but it was ages in special forces years. "Jesus you've been around more than the Captain" Toad said Archer smiled "I've been around the block a few times". Toad laughed " I never would have guessed mate" Archer kept smiling "yeah they still card me when I try to buy alcohol".
Archer quickly put his sidearm back into his shoulder holster as a knock sounded on their compartment door. He opened it and a burly Russian wearing a dark suit looked him in the eyes. He spoke something in Russian and Archer only understood half of it. He started to open his mouth but the Russian silenced him I know your Russian is horrible. At this Toad stood up ready to assist. Da and probably has a tinge of British in it too. The Russian put his hand in his jacket and Archers instincts went into effect he drew his sidearm and pushed it tight into the mans chest and fired three times his body dampening the sound of the shots. The mans eyes rolled back in his head and the gun he was reaching for clattered to the floor. "Toad throw me my duffel!" He caught his duffel bag and they ran out into the open hallway between the compartments of the train. They had to get to the back so they could get off this train. He went to open the door leading to the next train car but it was slammed open and knocked him straight on his ass. Toad brought up his own pistol and put 2 shots into the agents chest. "come on Archer" Toad helped him up. Archer grunted but got back on his feet and continued running. A waiter pushing a food cart got in his way and he pushed it over sidestepping the confused waiter. Yelling sounded behind them and Archer turned Toad pressed himself against a wall as he emptied his clip causing the kgb agents to jump into compartments to escape the hail of gunfire. "lets get the hell outta here!" Archer yelled letting Toad go in front of him. Toad opened another door and the rapidly moving earth greeted them. "Jump" Archer said "Ive never jumped off a train before" Toad grasped the railing his knuckles white. "Theres a first time for everything" Archer grabbed Toad by his combat harness and threw him off the side of the train. With one last look back he jumped without a second thought.
Archer stood in a smoke filled building. He looked around there was an altar and pews. He walked to the front and sat down. He looked up at a Statue of Jesus on the cross. "Lord you have to forgive me, ive killed and killed". "I just don't know why I am not dead yet, all my friends are dropping like flies". He lowered his head. He was wearing the dungarees of a British royal marine., dpm camouflage. With a quick jerk of his head he saw a row of burnt corpses lining the right side of the church. He was back in Bosnia." Daddy…" He turned a burnt corpse stood up it was wearing a smoldering Winston prep academy uniform. Archer stood up "Simon…son what are you doing here". The corpse walked towards him "I'm taking you home Daddy" With difficulty Archer grasped his burnt sons hand. The room changed and he was walking on a dock his vision obscured by thick fog. A old rowboat was moored to the end. His son let go of his hand and stepped onto the boat. A robed figure held out a hand as to offer Archer on board. The hand however was not human it was skeletal with pieces of flesh still clinging to the bone. A man wearing tactical gear Patted his son on the head. "Ghost" he asked cautiously. "Dying isn't all that bad mate". "Roach" he looked at another figure sitting on another seat. "we got one more spot, you coming" The robed figure still held out his hand. "no…no im not ready" Archer pulled away. Ghost nodded "goodbye mate".
"Archer!" He opened his eyes to Toads screaming face. "Jesus man you've taken a nasty blow, been out for hours". Archer reached up to his face and it came away sticky with blood. "were are we" Archer said. "a village near Moscow" Toad replied "well at least were alright now" Archer looked around , Toad groaned in pain" not quite mate" He was holding his side when he took it away blood could be seen soaked through his jacket. " Oh shit" Toad looked at him his face contorted in pain. "We got to find you a doctor" said Archer Toad nodded. Archer got up his head pounding and helped his friend up. Toad was a wiry guy so he had no difficulty slinging him over his shoulder as he started walking out of the brush they had fallen in. They emerged onto a shabby little Neighborhood "Archer im not feeling too great mate". "you'll be okay hold tight" Archer said as he scanned for a doctor." Doctor!…God dammit I need a doctor!" A walked up to him he was wearing a pair of glasses and had a dirty shopkeepers apron on. "are you British" he asked. Archer nodded "yeah what of it" The man turned to see if anyone was looking" I will take you to Alexi, he is the militia's surgeon" Archer kept a close eye on his surroundings but followed the man. He knocked on the door to a large apartment complex. It opened a hair and the man whispered to the person on the other side of the door in Russian. The door opened and a man in jeans and a t-shirt carrying a AK slung over his shoulder motioned them forward. "Alexi is in here" he said with a deep Russian accent. Archer carried Toad into a brightly lit room. "on the table" a voice said in surprisingly good English. Archer turned to a blood spattered table. Toad looked at the table then back at Archer "I cant catch any breaks" he managed to gasp out. His face was white, Archer turned to the surgeon "can you save him". " Possibly I need some time you may leave now I will take care of your friend" Archer turned and walked out the man that walked him there was waiting." The Captain wants to speak to you" Archer followed the Russian into a lobby filled with decaying wooden furniture and ripped up couches. A man flanked by two bodyguards that was wearing a wrinkled dress uniform of the Russian navy. "Sit down my British friend the man said". archer sat down on a dirty recliner. The man pulled up a chair and sat in front of him." you need not worry Alexi is an excellent surgeon". "Many thanks for helping my friend" Archer said. "Well there is a cost" The Captain said to Archer
"And what would this cost be" The captain looked at Archer "you are a sniper no?"…"Well we have certain Loyalist officer who lives in the military encampment just off this village" "Extremely well guarded you cant get within a mile of the place". "So what does this mean for me" Archer said. "You must kill him" The Captain said. "And if I refuse" Archer stared down the man testing his boundaries. "We will kill him and send you on your way"…"however if you accept we know of a American listening outpost a few miles away, my men will give you safe passage" Archer nodded "fine I accept but I don't have anything capable of shooting a man form a mile" He gestured to his M-22 EBR sniper.
The captain smiled " Im afraid you wont have to worry about that my friend, we will get you to a location and supply the munitions just give me your word" He eld out his hand. Archer looked around realizing he had no other choice he grasped the Russians hand and shook it. "Good, you will not regret your decision"