The cigarette man barely managed to remember how to drive, when that embodiment of a force of nature sat him by the wheel. He heard shots and a few grunts behind his back. He didn't dare to turn his head. The Asset showed next to him like a ghost, tore out something under the dashboard. After two seconds the car started.

„Drive. Straight. Lights off!" Ordered the soldier. His voice sounded so… harsh and mighty.

He disappeared to the back again when Steve managed to force his shaky body to obey. The lights inside of the van exploded. The outside became more visible.

The other five vehicles were parked more or less in a circle around them. Their lights were flickering, or maybe that was a consequence of a shock. The new driver stayed praying that no one would try to shoot him, thinking that the Asset took the wheel. ( ;) )

A few bullets hit the sides with unpleasant, metallic clinks.

"Jesus!" Moaned the driver. He hoped that the Asset fell out. "They don't care anymore about their investment?!"

"Faster. Drive to avoid collision with them until you can't."

BANG!

Startled and terrified civilian squinted. A horrible ringing in his right ear almost made him hit a car closing in on them. Inside of a black Mercedes he saw a blink of an angry face. One of the "shareholders". His mercenary was dead.

The soldier crouched next to him, where the other chair used to be.

"I just saved your life." Said the Asset with dry voice.

Steve couldn't overcome the shock, he just gasped, frantically focusing on his way.

"Drive and you'll be safe, Steve. You want to be safe." This was just too much. Words like that from a man who bit off an ear and tossed another guy like a doll. With one arm… A man who breaks metal like glass. While wearing only his underwear.

The driver hoped that his friend is still alive, passed out somewhere on the floor. But the soldier cared only about the driver.

Where were they now? Quite close to the complex, it seemed! A place like million others, a plain near a forest, with some nameless dirt road.

"Sharp left!" The soldier blasted from his side. Steve listened. He held on, as the battered van almost lost its traction. The ground was slightly muddy. Another shot. Steve stopped thinking about it. A small cloud of dust flew into the car. He coughed but focused on speeding up even more. This babe had some hidden power in its engine!

He heard the sliding door opening and a long burst of shots. A car hitting another car. He checked a side mirror. Two jeeps crashing into each other.

He saw a clearing between the trees. Now harder to see in the dusk. But there was a suggestion of lights on the other side.

Steve couldn't see or hear any more cars too close. They passed the clearing in a full speed.

"Who are you?" Asset's voice froze his heart.

"I-I… I'm just a fool who agreed to take part in this circus!"

Silence. The van kept on going.

"I stopped or damaged all five cars. Slow down a bit. Stop when I tell you."

"O-Okay..."

Then they heard a helicopter.

The Asset raised his head like a dog sensing a prey.

"Holy Mother of God..." Muttered Steve, realizing again what kind of shit he stepped into.

He looked up. The chopper's searchlights were relentless.

"Look… I don't know what you did… But I just... I should've never listen to my military buddy with connections! Am I dead already?! Who do you work for?!" The driver lashed out and turned. And froze.

The Asset was sitting on the floor. Next to the other two bodies. Blood smears barely visible in the twilight. Steven could sense that something was wrong.

"Hey… You!" He asked with shaky voice.

Awful hum of the machine in the sky seemed to be moving away. For now. He swallowed and directed the car into the thickest greenery he could still see. They gained a little bit of camouflage.

"Soldier..."

He got up and slowly walked to the door. Glass and debris quietly crunching under his boots, but the Asset never moved. Was he even breathing?

Trying not to breath, Steve reached for a lost gun lying the closest. He wouldn't dare to get closer to the Asset. His hands were still a bit shaky and knees felt like fiberglass, but that seemed to be his only chance. He slid the door and steeped into the cool and fresh air of the night.

He would start a run… but then a thought hit him. Without his dear military buddy at his side, the rest of the guys might as well kick his ass. He sent a look of dread at the helicopter in the distance. It had this strange shape…. He squinted. On the black, metallic surface, he could barely notice a symbol.

His mouth opened.

That wasn't THEIR symbol.