A/N: Sorry it took me so long to update. Real life issues got in the way of writing. Hopefully they'll stay away and I'll be able to update more frequently. Reviews and feedback are always welcome.

Disclaimer: see chapter one

My heart pounded in my ears, eyes focused through the scope of the sniper rifle. I gazed down at the small base far below me. The base had originally been occupied by the Royal Army, but the Golden Path had taken it over, apparently "liberating" it. I had been fighting with the Royal Army for the past number of weeks, and I was beginning to see why they shot up the bus when I first entered Kyrat. The Golden Path was a major pain in the ass. How Mom ever found it in herself to be a part of it I still didn't understand. Being sent to spy on Pagan Min was probably the best thing that happened to her.

My only regret was that I never had the chance to meet my sister. My finger tightened around the trigger prematurely, and I had to force myself to calm down. There were Royal Army soldiers somewhere in that base, and it was my job to get them out. If I went in guns blazing, I was going to get the men killed. Of all the hostage rescues I had pulled off over the course of three weeks, I never lost a single man.

And, I wasn't about to start now.

I refocused on the target before me. I followed the Golden Path rebel with the scope. When he was alone, and I was sure there were no other rebels around, I sucked in a deep breath, listened to the beat that still pulsed through my ears and pulled the trigger. The rifle barely made a noise, but the rebel was dead. I set my sights on another man off to the left. He was pacing nervously as if watching for something.

Probably waiting for the cavalry, I mused as I picked him off.

Through the scope I could see the spray of red as the bullet demolished his skull.

They're waiting for an army. They'll never expect just one person.

I stood up from my perch and made my way down to the base, being careful not to be seen. I slipped the rifle on to my back and took out my silenced pistol. I took cover behind a building, poking my head around the corner. Two rebels stood guard at the front door of the building. I narrowed my eyes, thinking. That was probably where they were keeping the soldiers.

I carefully eased my way around the corner, lifting up the pistol. I squeezed the trigger, planting a bullet in the first guy's head before putting one in the other before he had a chance to make a sound. I heard voices coming from somewhere inside the building. I stepped up to the door and listened. They sounded worried and anxious. I almost felt sorry for them...almost. If they didn't want to get hunted down, they shouldn't have taken on the Royal Army and Pagan Min.

Of course, I was still getting to know the Kyrati leader. My loyalties to him were still a bit rocky, but the fact that my father had murdered my sister in senseless rage helped to solidify my allegiance to the Royal Army. How could I ally myself with a group whose leader killed an innocent, helpless child? It was his own damn fault for sending Mom to spy on Pagan Min in the first place. What did he expect was going to happen? That she end up killing him? That was probably what he had been hoping for, but it obviously backfired in his face.

I ducked back around the corner when the door opened. A cry went out when the person found the two dead bodies outside. Working on instinct, I dashed around the corner, put the poor bastard out of his misery and swung in through the open door. The rebels had no time to act before I embedded several bullets in their chests. Their bodies crumpled to the floor, their weapons falling harmlessly to the ground.

"Ghale?" one of the soldiers breathed in shock. "Where are the others?"

I hurried over to the three men and quickly untied them. "It's just me," I replied.

"What?" the second soldier gasped.

"Just you?" the third asked in disbelief.

I nodded. "One person can move around easier than a group," I explained. I checked them over. "Still got all your parts?"

"More or less," the first soldier answered, his voice strained from fright.

I nodded again. "Alright, let's get you home."

By the time I walked out of the building with the three men, a convoy of armored trucks were pulling up front. More soldiers poured out of the trucks, running to all corners of the base. Medics hurried up to the men I had rescued, checking them over for injuries. I headed off to find the commander, letting the medics do their job. I holstered my pistol as I walked, having no need for it now with the base back under Royal Army control.

"Ajay Ghale," the commander said as I walked up. "You've done it, again."

I couldn't help but smile. "You were expecting me to fail?" I asked.

"No, no, of course not," he assured me. "You never cease to amaze, that's all."

I nodded. "Uh huh. There's one who thinks otherwise."

The commander waved his hand. "Yuma doesn't like anyone," he said.

"Except Pagan Min," I pointed out.

"Well, she has no choice, there," the commander joked.

I chuckled. "True," I agreed.

"Anyway, now that I have you here," the commander said, putting his hand on my back and guiding me over to a table. "I do have orders from Pagan Min for you."

"What orders?" I asked.

The commander pulled out a map and spread it out on the table. He pointed to an area circled in red. I leaned on the table, studying the map as he spoke.

"Golden Path rebels have taken over one of our command towers," the commander explained.

"And you want me to take it back," I surmised.

"If it's not too much trouble," the commander said.

I looked up at him and could see the humor shining in his dark eyes. I smirked. "Leave it me."

He clapped me on the shoulder. "You have been a God send to us, Ghale," he said. "Good luck."

He folded up the map again and walked off, barking out orders to his men. I headed back inside the bunker and found a stock pile of ammo. After filling up, I went outside and asked one of the men if I could borrow their truck. He handed me the keys and I climbed in behind the wheel. I pulled out into the road and began driving. The map unfolded in my mind's eye. For once, my eidetic memory was coming in handy.

My journey ended at the base of a high cliff. I parked the truck and got out, grabbing my rifle from the passenger's seat. Looping the strap over my shoulder, I took out my binoculars and surveyed the area. I could only see three or four rebels. Humming, I guessed if there were anymore of them, they would be inside the tower. Placing the binoculars back in their case on my left side, I looked around to see if there was another way inside the tower from where I was. Seeing none, I began walking, making my way up the side of the cliff, being careful to stay out of sight.

I propped the sniper rifle up on a rock, gazing through the scope. It was no trouble picking off the rebel guards, however, I found the challenge in scaling the tower. My trusty grappling hook saved my ass more than once when a rebel got the bright idea of trying to push me over the edge. I made quick work of getting rid of the remaining rebels, making it up top to where the radio equipment was still located.

"Did they honestly think we wouldn't notice?" I asked myself as I turned the radio back on.

Propaganda notices started playing over the loud speakers. I brushed my gloved hands together.

"All in a day's work," I said, turning towards the zip-line.

I used the zip-line to get back down to ground level. I landed with a jolt. I sighed tiredly and headed back towards where I had left the truck. I was about to get in when I heard voices coming from somewhere behind me. I turned and looked around. They were angry, yelling. One was distinctly female. Shouldering my rifle and taking out my pistol, I hurried towards where the voices were coming from. The female voice was begging, pleading.

I rushed through the trees, sliding down hills and dancing around tree roots. The air suddenly rang with a gunshot and the female voice screamed. I broke into a run. I burst through the trees, coming upon a group of rebels who were holding a young woman and her father at gunpoint.

"Royal Army scum!" one of the rebels shouted. "Where is Pagan Min?"

"I told you, I don't know. We don't work for the Royal Army," the woman cried.

The rebel pointed his gun at her, making her sob even harder. I raised my pistol and open fired. In a few quick pulls of the trigger, all the rebels were dead. The woman and her father stood in stunned, horrified shock. I kept my distance as I addressed them.

"Are you two okay?" I asked.

The woman looked over at me, her eyes wide. "Was that...did you...?"

"Are you hurt?" I asked.

The woman shook her head. "No. We're unharmed."

"Thank you, young man," her father breathed. "You saved our lives."

"Anything I can do to help," I replied.

The man came over to me, holding out his hand. I politely took it. "I am Seval, and this is my daughter, Nikita. We are forever in your debt."

"You don't have to," I started.

"I insist," Seval cut in. "You saved us, the least we can do is assist you in some small way. We are humble merchants, but we have quality stock. Anytime you need something, we will be there."

I smiled and nodded. "Thank you, sir."

"No. Thank you," Seval said. He shook my hand one final time before letting go and walking back towards Nikita. "Come. We must depart from here before more rebels show up. And you, young man. You must be off, too."

I watched as Seval and Nikita gathered their things and disappeared into the trees. I turned and headed back towards my truck. I opened the driver's side door and climbed in behind the wheel, placing my rifle on the passenger's seat. I sat for a moment, thinking about what had just happened. For the first time since arriving, I felt as though I had just made my first two real friends.

A small smile touched my lips as I turned the key in the ignition. I put the truck in gear and drove off, leaving the tower and dead bodies behind in the dust.