A/N: Watching TV yesterday and realised there was a FOP episode named FUTURE LOST. Well, so much for thinking this was original... XP

-Mario's story-

I don't waste time checking the body in front of me for vital signs. There is a hole three inches in diameter bored through his head. Doesn't take a genius to figure out he isn't getting up. I turn instead to Yuki and switch my channel back to my group's frequency.

"We should find cover!" 78 yells.

"No!" I respond. "We need to locate the shooter first and then we find cover. Stay calm, seem invulnerable."

78 turns to me. "He just drilled a hole through 1765's head!" he screams. "How do we seem invulnerable after that?"

I don't answer, I just face the shooter's general direction and use my thermal scan to locate him. Or her. I think. The figure is obviously female, thinner, thus harder to hit. "Cover in that building." I point to a condemned two-story building. "Snipers on top, everyone else below." A bolt hits the door of the shack just as the last man enters.

"Good call, 'Captain'" 78 sneers as he kicks a table. It falls apart like match sticks.

"Yes it was." I ignore his crude comment and direct all who have sniper-compatible weapons to the roof. This is a total of two. Just great. Everyone was hoping to be a hero on the front lines. "This won't do. Not enough fire power."

"Sure it is. It only takes one shot." I'm sensing a trend with 78.

"Yeah. Look out the window, 78. See the building the shooter is in?" He nods. "Good. Try getting a good shot up there good enough to kill."

78 submits to my logic. Smart.

"1290, you're with me."

"Of course." You can guess who muttered that.

"You want to try and sneak across the city center with all your heavy weapons? You'd make a good shield." Snickers flood the channel and 78 doesn't respond. I realize that the only way to deal with 78 is through public humiliation at least twice in one setting. Information on everyone I work with could be useful some day. The Resistance might come across this same team in the near future. Hopefully, I'll be gone by then.

"What are you thinking about, Captain?" 1290 asks me. Thanks to 78, I now have a nickname.

"How we are going to get across without loosing our heads." The two snipers know to give me and 1290 cover fire as soon as we exit the half-dead building, but it wont last long. One sniper has only one clip for her sniper rifle and the other 'sniper' isn't really a sniper, she just happens to have a scope on her pistol. Most. Ill-equipped. Attack team. EVER.

"There." I direct 1290's attention to a quartet of vases, flowerless, that line the left most street of the center's round-a-bout. "If we can get to the first one without being spotted, we will have a straight shot to the building that girl is holed up in."

"A straight shot?" 1290 asks. "That takes us around the back of the building. The opening that is most strategic to enter is the front."

A good observation, I think. Should've seen that. I mentally slap my face. "A straight shot more or less. Just follow my lead." I step out the door and a blast sizzles at the door frame. A warning shot. Hoping I go back inside. She doesn't want me dead, she wants us to feel as if we are failures. Not today. I wait a tick for the first laser from my end then 1290 and I dash to the nearby vase. "Do you have any stealth tech in your suit?" I ask.

1290 taps a code into her wrist pad and her lovely figure disappears, the only clue she is stil standing is her shadow. "Tap in this code." I tell her, "1948-c00d-10k"

She does so and asks why.

"You wont be able to see me for awhile." I smirk.

1290 doesnt' believe. "I have the best Dark Soldiers Tech has to offer. I should be able to see your shado...hey, where'd you go?"

"I had a few personal mods done to my suit to meet my standards." Thanks Law-man. (Law-man is Mario's nickname for his brother, Lawrence)

"Isn't that illegal?"

"Only if you get caught. C'mon." Even though we are basically invisible, we still keep the four vases between us and the shooter. I switch back to the group's freq. "How you guys on ammo?"

9006, the one with the sniper rifle, responds. "I'm down to my last couple rounds and 456 is recharging her pistol."

"Hang in there. We're half way to the building." I switch back.

"What did they say?" 1290 asks.

"There will be a brief moment of silence in about five seconds." Five seconds of gun fire passes, then there is silence.

"Cool. How'd you know?"

"My secret." We are at the back of the building and we press ourselves flat on the outer wall. I'm about to make my way to the front when 1290's hand grasps my arm. "Yes?"

"Shouldn't we wait for the bullets to start flying again?"

She's right. Make certain that the shooter is distracted. Smart girl. "Fine." We wait, wait, wait, then there is an explosion. I switch channels. "What the Fate just happend?" I hiss.

"78 threw back a grenade the shooter decided to gift us with."

"Did he make it out?"

"Not quite, his hand is kinda, um, non-exsistant I guess you could say." In the background i hear 78's yelps and screams of anguish. I switch back to the private channel and inform 1290. "78's hand is-"

"I heard. It's kaput."

I suppose 78 can be a true hero, he just has to push is over-sized ego aside.

We make our way around the side of the building and slyly enter the door. "Of course there are no stairs.." I mutter. "Grapnel gun ready?"

"Roger." There is a slight click like that of a projectile firearm as our grapnel guns release the cord held under pressure. Lucky for us, it is barely audible over the continuous gun fight. Good thing we waited. We are quietly pulled upwards and end up just behind the shooter. She still hasn't noticed us.

She has her black hair in a pony tail and two knives are sheathed on her back and...


(return to normal story)

"...and she was wearing a beanie, black, on her head. I spun her around and delivered a solid punch to her jaw. The black bangs that were combed over her right eye fell back." He looked at Molly with a sad smile. "Sorry." he apologiezed sheepishly.

"Oh my... You friggin'... that was you?" Molly wondered what to do; laugh or jump to him and sock him back. "You broke my jaw!"

Mario unconsiously inched away from the circle. "An undercover operative has to do what an undercover operative has to do."


Trixie used a stone to dig another mark in the wooden table. "Seven days." she whispered. Tim had told her that seven what his favorite number, and his lucky one. "Or was it four? Bah, doesn't matter. I'm too deep for a rescue anyhow."

"Good to see you're still sane, princess." Tommy entered the room with her first of her four daily meals. "Eat up, you'll need your strength."

"For what?"

"Your visitor. Toria has asked to see you."

"...Who?"

"Princess Toria, the Dictator's younger sibling."

"She has a sister?" Oh, my luck.

Tommy shook his head then left.

Okay, so the dick has a sister. Toria... Tootie? That Tim-obsessed chick from the alternate reality? Maybe... The door hissing open broke her thoughts. "I'm guessing you are Toria?"

The girl who walked in nodded. She looked anything but noble. Jeans and a tank top and sneakers. That was it. She also looked very different from her alternate reality version. Mainly because she had a figure. "Yes that is my name. But call me Tootie."

"Actually, I'll call you Toria. Tootie souds...disgusting. Now, why do you want to see me?"

"I dunno." Toria leaned back in her chair coolly. "I just wanted to make certian you had no plans for escape."

Trixie bit her lip. "If I had any plans for escape, why would I reliquish them to you?"

"Oh, that's a big word!" Toria clapped.

"Yeah, hope you can understand it."

"You sound bitter, maybe some news from the outside world will... lighten your mood."

Trixie raised one eyebrow.

"Timmy says 'hi.'"

Toria was not ready for what happend next. Trixie, dispite her wounds and hunger, launched herself across the table, tackling the other girl to the stone floor. "What do you mean, 'hi?'"

Tommy rushed in and ripped Trixie off of the princess. "Are you hurt, Miss?"

Toria shook her head back to her senses. "N-no, back to your post T0-3."

Tommy smartly saluted then exited the cell.

"Well, someone cares for him." Toria regained her cocky talk and wiped the blood from her jaw. "Listen to me; Timmy has a plan to break you out. I'm gonna help."

Trixie eyed the girl suspiciously. "How do I know that you are trustworthy?"

"I'll prove it, just give me some time." Toria then hugged Trixie, "Believe me, you don't want Crocker to interrogate you. He will break you... and beware of Tommy." Then she left.


-last night-

Tim stood beneath the thrid lamp post from the left of the Castle. In his right hand was the handkerchief that Toria had handed to him in the Castle. "Vero could kill me for this..." Tim whispered to himself. He nervously rubbed the fine linen against his still-numb lips. He had been a fool for believeing Veronik would actually let him leave. "Stupid, stupid, stupid,"

"Who, me?"

Tim looked to see the princess emerge from the darkness. "Here, your highness." He said with a half-sneer.

Toria ignored his slight remark and reached to retrive her handkerchief. "What happened to your lips?" she asked. "They look blueish."

"It's nothing,"

"She doesn't believe I can help her."

"No surprise there," Tim reponded. "She and I are very much alike."

Toria bit her lip to hide jealousy. "What is that suposed to mean?"

Tim smiled and replied. "Do you really believe that I trust you? You have a direct link to Victoria. Do you really belive that I trust you?"

"You said that twice." She noted.

"Only way for it to sink in." Tim responded.

"Okay, I see your point, however, you do trust me to some extent"

"And you say this because?"

"You are here, aren't you?"

The rich girl was right, his knowledge of her from his other life had suboconciously led him to trust her. Damn it. I hate that! "Fine, your're right, unfortunatly. So why do you want to help me?"

"It's the only way for me to get what I want."

"And that is?"

"My freedom."


Shane and Chloe spat snow and dirt from their mouths. "So, so, so wrong." Chloe struggled to stand but her bones and muscles ached so much that she ended up collapsing in the knee-deep snow. "Shane? Shane... Groan if you're not dead."

"Ugh."

"Cool."

"Good to see you both survived." Mr. Blue stood over the two teens, his tattoos still glowing. "That jump rendered you both unconscious. YOu've been lying here for two and a half hours." He went back to the fire and stirred the ashes to stimulate the flames. "I almost thought you were dead."

"Well, that's just peachy!" Shane exploded from his spot in the snow and rushed at Mr. Blue, arms forward and fists clenched. "You could have tried to revive us, if you realy thought we were dead!"

"I know."

Shane tried not to explode his fist into the mysterious man's face, but the urge was too strong. First one fist flew, then the other. Both knocked the man from his stoop and into the snow. "How do you like that?"

Mr. Blue rubbed his jaw. "Don't tempt me, boy." he warned.

"Just shut up," Shane shouted, "and tell us where we are going next, old man."

Mr. Blue stood and pointed to the left. "You," he said, "are to walk that way for another day, starting now. You should reach Vicksdale city limits by time."

Chloe caught the fact the enigmatic man said 'you' and not 'we.' "Wait, what about you?"

"Me? Don't worry about me, girl." he smiled then pointed to the sky. "this is where I leave you." His face shifted to resemble a man in a red face mask with an enormous chin covered in a red sock.

Before Chloe or Shane could comment on the odd transformation, the whirring of helicpoters came into hearing. "Go, quickly!" the man usered them towards the snow-covered forest between Blightsdale and Vicksdale. "When you reach Vicksdale, you will see a wand-shaped monument. Tell it the Crimson Chin sent you!"

They did as they were told and bolted for the woods.

"I'm right here!" Shouted Mr. Blue, er, Crimson Chin. "I am ready to accept my fate only if you are willing to accept your date," The blue tattoos were glowing harsher than ever then, in a flash of red and blue light, he exploded. What was left was a buscle-bound man in red and gray military fatigues. His fae was covered with a red hood and his enormous chin covered by a red sock still, but sewn into the hood. "WITH JUSTICE!"

"Weird." Chloe breathed.

"Quite."

The Crimson Chin flung himself upon the nearest helicopter with so much force that the air vehicle lurched to one side, its rotors digging into another chopper.

"We'd better let him do his thing..." Shane remarked nd the two made their way through the wood to Vicksdale.


"Are you ready for the next part of the story?" Molly asked.

Mario looked up at her. "If you promise not to hit me again..."

She laughed. "I promise. Swear on my mother's head."

"Okay, I didn't need THAT much but, I accept." The two made their way back to the small story room and Mario began to tell his tale within minutes. "This is about three days after I broke Molly's jaw. Yuki and I were good friends by now. 78 was still a pain in the ass, but he had his moments of care so he was also a friend. The others didn't matter much to me. I just made a list of their weaknesses and moved on. recruits like me were always reasigned around until we found the perfect fit. I was already fit with 1290, happily for me. Also because I was the only soldier who could deal with is attitude, 78 was also paired with me. We ended up becoming like brothers. Brothers in arms, you could say. But I'm getting ahead of myself. This next story, like I said, is three days later. My platoon was stationed for an offensive only in the desert of Vickstralia near Ayer's Rock. A group of rebels were reported stationed there," Mario nodded to Lawrence. "I was told we would take out their leader. I didn't want to and knew just how to de-rail the mission..."


I sigh deeply as I look out the window of my platoon's 4-wheel vehicle. Two fragile killer hands press against my back. It's Yuki. Yes!

"What's wrong?" she asks me.

I shrug. "Nothing to worry you." I re-adjust my light rifle's scope. The blasted thing has a tendency to veer to the left. I don't like killing rebels, but I HATE missing my target.

"Well, if there is anything you need, I'm sure I could be a great stress reliever at base." She whispers into my ear.

I know exactly what she means and thank Fate that we are about to be deployed into a offensive position to take my mind off her alluring- "Stop it."

"Hmm?"

I curse myself for saying that out loud. "Sorry, voices in my head.... I think I'm crazy."

Yuki smiles and sits down behind me knowing full well the thoughts I was trying to kick out of my head. "Well, you might want them out, we're about to be deployed."

"Hey, 84!" That is 78's voice. He is like a brother. The person I hate and like at the same time. No offense, Law-man. "You're first to step out!"

I don't know how, but somehow I am always squad leader. "Right." I take my place at the back of the half-tank vehicle and when it stops, I jump down and pull my helmet over my head. "Squad members! Check in!"

"1290, here."

"78, here."

"T-5, here."

"2323, here."

In my squad there is only one medic, T-5. Any Dark Soldier with a letter before his or her number is a medic. THe closer to 'Z' the letter is, the lower the rank. I'm so luck to have a 'T.' (note the sarcasm) This means that He just finished learning how to amputate a the thrill of learning how to amputate, every 'T' is hacksaw- and anesthisia-happy. There are stories of 'T's amputating for various unnecessary events, such as a splinter, frostbite, a missing finger, and even a stubbed toe. Damn my luck.

2323 is a marial arts and close-combat expert. His only long-range weapon; a high-powered blow gun. Whoopiee. His close-range weapons range from knives and katanas to a hatchet and a laser sword. Rare weapons, laser swords. Only the best of the best use them. They are rumored to even deflect laser fire. How they match up against projectiles, well we just might find out.

"Let's go." My team move at a moderate pace, not bothering to find cover and move stealthily. There is no need to try to hide in broad daylight when you wear black on a brown back ground. Using our stealth units would also be unwise because they take so long to recharge.

We are walking in two lines; I'm in front with 1290, of course. 2323 and T-5 are together. 78 brings up the rear with his heavy weapontry. The kid even brought a small hoverboard he made in work shop at base. It communicates through his belt and can transform into a TV with tendrils and a tank. Useful.

"According to the map, the rebels are on the top of Ayer's Rock!" 2323 reports. "THat means they have the high ground! We are doomed!"

Of course he is worried. He will be scaling a rock with no cover and they will be shooting at him. Unlike the rest of us, he won't be able to shoot back. I supress a chuckle. "That also means they have no where to run. The platoon can surround them."

1290 agrees with me. "Yep, just make certain we get gizmo to stay infrom of us with a heavy weapon and that floating shield."

"Hey!" 78 yells into the com. "This 'floating shield' is my friend and pet! Besides if i stay behind, I'll be able to launch mortars bringing the rain of fire on their camp, thus killing all of them!" Someone sounds happy. Good thing he won't get the chance to. I already have a plan o how to halt the attack without being discovered. Yay.

"I doubt that they will be able to cover the entire top of the rock. If we get up high enough, they will retreat further in to prepare for a fair fight. That is when we will blast them." And by 'blast them,' I mean rig his mortar to explode. And if Law-man got my package, that explosion should set of the others that will send Ayer's Rock crumbpling to the ground, letting the rebels escape. How I'm going to escape...well, I'll think about that later.

We start up the side of the rock and a movement cathces my eye. Instict tells me to shoot, and I listen. The rebel rolls down the rock, a hole burned through her left breast and out her back. She is dead. I think nothing of it. Hurrah for no feelings.

"Nice shot!"2323 comments. "If I had seen her, I would've unleashed my bladed fury."

"After she got two shots at you and missed?" 78 snorts.

"Bah, haven't you heard? Laser Swords deflect laser fire."

"And if she didn't have a laser gun?"

"..."

"Yeah, that is why I wouldn't even leave remains!" 78 then launches into a boast about his abilities to snipe with a rocket launcher. Gruesome but cool.

"Can it, 78." 1290 says shortly. "We are near their range."

She is right. We can see the muzzles of their anti-armor weapons and the outlines of people can be seen walking about. A warning shot is fired at us. The laser burns harmlessly into the ground. Another flies to us. The work of a sharp shooter, a soldier I wish I had. Then somehting amazing happens, 2323 activates his laser sword and deflects the laser, but with determination and accuracy. The beam of amplified light flies straight up and within seconds a body rolls down the rock. It was the sniper. the body reaches us in minutes, the laser went straight through the heart. "Darn good 'shot.'" 1290 comments.

"I know." 2323's face is beaming thorugh his helmet. "I told you."

I push the swordsman upfront. "You're in front from now on."


Tim was in bed. I just made a deal with the devil's little sister. He thought. As he drifted to sleep, figures danced in his head as if they were trying to wake him. One was a man with green hair and hte other, his wife apparently, a woman with pink hair. All he heard was 'Timmy remember your heat vision!' and 'Is that Timmy, you're talking to? Tell him Cosmo says 'hi!''Tim tried to shake the thoughts from his head, but couldn't. In frustration his opened his eyes and a searing feeling seemed to erupt from his sockets. The med room turned red and there was a muffled explosion. He closed his eyes for a second then opened them and gasped. The ceiling was gone. Heat vision? Naw.. maybe...Crap. How am I going to explain this?


A/N: Finally done. this is 4011 words. So tensions have not been explored between Dwight and Mario yet but they will rise. Also yes Cosmo and the faries are comming back. This story is about, um, 3/5 done. Mario's story is really cool. Lets me explore the 1st person writing style and also lets me explore the military more, what with the guns and all. Yes Mario and Yuki will be a couple in the near future. btw Tim is about 15 going on 16 now. Um, anything else i need to explain? 78 will not get a name because he is just a supporting char. Ah, the Chin! I just had to put him in somewhere. He might show up again, im not sure. Law-man is mario's bro's nick name. Tootie doesn't want her sister to be dethroned or anything, she just wants to be able to see the world as it really is. I don't know if that was clear from the story. Also it is summer with means up dates more frequently. If I don't update it is because of one of two reasons; brainstorming, or a long chapter like this one. Also Officially Dragonka has put me incharge or redoing his stories because he is no longer inspired to write *sniff* so check out my other stories. And if Badkidoh is reading this, Anarchy Teens is not dead, just need to get around to restarting it in my own way. Crap this A/N might as well be another chapter.... Anyway, till the next up date Onar out!

P.S please review