BTSU Base of Operations
D.C. Tidal Basin
Two Weeks Later…
"Ugh. Do I really have to wear this?" I ask Dorothy Kayhill, a Black Tusk lieutenant, and one of the few acquaintances who didn't share mutual mistrust with me. The two of us stand before a mirror, which shows my reflection boasting a Black Tusk 'Civilian' uniform. It consists of a gray zip-up hoodie, black shemagh, blue jeans and black boots. I've been allowed to include my hat and shades, but there was a disagreement on my Smart Watch, which still glows red. I won the argument, stating that, 'Even if I'm helping a sworn enemy, I'm still an Agent.'.
"It's so bland and angsty." I continue, twisting to see how my backside looks. "It makes me look like a Rioter, from back in New York."
'Dot', as she's insisted to be called, stands in the doorway, leaning against the frame with a casual smirk on her face. Her helmet and chest rig are off, dirty blonde hair in a tight bun.
"Yes, you do." She insists. "It's so people don't immediately recognize you."
"Won't my weapon choices be a dead giveaway?" I ask, looking at her in the mirror.
"Depends on what you carry."
"M249 SAW, M870 shotty and M1911?"
Her face twists into a slight grimace. "In that case, probably. You're supposed to look like an Average Joe civilian who prefers living on the outside, pulling strings and clapping fools from the shadows."
"So what does that entail?"
Dot shrugs. "Small, concealable stuff, like an Uzi, or P90 as the primary. Secondary would have to be something a scavver might have…"
"My crossbow?"
"Yeah, that'll work. Sidearm can be whatever you want."
"Works for me." I say casually, looking myself over once again. "I can get my regular gear back once I get back to the White House."
Out of view, Dot looks down at her boots. "Yeah...back to the White House...sure thing."
I look up at her. "So, are you just here for the show, or did you come bearing gifts as well?" I nod to the small tablet device in my friend's hand. She enters the room, holding out the tablet.
"Civilian Militia target." Dot begins. I cringe internally at the thought of my first mission. "There's a JTF officer with them, and they've been harassing our patrols in the area. Typical guerilla style hit and run crap, but each time they get a little better. Do a little more damage, hurt and kill a few more men. They've holed up at the Washington Monument. Our forces are too spread out, so we can't spare anyone."
"Except me, I take it?"
"Consider this your official test. Complete it, and it'll earn you a lot of points with the Top Brass."
I look Dot over for a moment. "What about you?"
"Well, I understand what you're going through. Doing something you've sworn against just to help someone you love...I get it."
"That sounds like a story." I gently pry. "Feel like sharing?"
"Maybe. One day."
I nod in understanding, looking down the hall in the direction of the Armory.
"So you've got your orders, Agent." Dot takes the tablet away, slowly stepping towards the door. "Let's see what you've got."
Stomach in knots, I look up into the mirror again, tugging my sleeve down to cover my Watch.
"This is going to take all the strength I have, isn't it?" I ask myself. "These people want me...to kill civilians?"
Meanwhile…
Militia Settlement: THEATER
"I've called in every favor I could, Dima." Odessa says in a frustrated tone, setting down her glass of whiskey. "Every scouting party I can spare has been combing the city for the last two weeks, all the while avoiding the remnant factions and these new Black Tusk people, just to find one Agent. I'm sorry, but there's nothing else I can do."
"What about your Field Commander connections with SHD?" I persist, grasping at straws to find even a glimmer of hope of finding Sarah.
"Gone. After I left. But even while I was fully active, my access was rather limited. At this point, I'm just Manny with fancier shoes." The veteran Agent looks down for a moment. "Well, a fancy shoe, anyway." She corrects herself.
"She's out there somewher-"
"We've been over this how many times now?" Odessa cuts in. "I get it! Sarah's gone, and y'all want her back. I know how many favors you personally did for me, and this settlement, and I could repay you nearly any other way. But finding your friend? If Black Tusk has her, you're looking for a needle in a haystack the size of the whole damn city."
"We think we've narrowed down Sarah's location." Faye pipes up behind me, closing Odessa's office door behind her. "We've cleared Roosevelt Island, and she's either in the Potomac Event Center, or the Tidal Basin...or somewhere in that vicinity."
Odessa picks up her glass again and takes a long sip, letting out a sharp breath as the burn of alcohol goes down.
"That's halfway across the city. Isn't this something you should be asking Henry?"
"The Campus is under nearly constant attack from Black Tusk and stragglers from the Outcasts." My companion replies. "We can't get close enough to ask, and they likely can't spare the manpower."
"And neither can I. Not from here."
"From where, then?" I demand, not taking 'No.' for an answer. Odessa looks down for a long moment.
"I know some people at one of the Control Points in that direction." She says finally. "I'll send word that you're coming."
"You're looking better." Roxwell comments as we wander the rooftop of the Theater. I can't help but smile at the compliment, despite the emptiness inside that Sarah had once filled. Working without her has been hard, but doable with all the support from Roxwell, Kelly and the others.
"I feel better." I say as we pass Odessa Sawyer's office again. It's lap four, and there's no sign of the meeting ending anytime soon. "It feels good to be out here doing something for a change." I glance up at the sky, which slowly darken as a thunderstorm crawls closer. Inwardly, I hope we finish our mission before it arrives, but the chances of that dwindle with each passing minute. I pause for a moment, working my injured leg. My limp is gone, but soreness and sporadic shooting pains are still somewhat common. Roxwell stops a few paces later and watches.
"I suppose he's my protector as well Kelly's now."
"It seems not all of you agrees." He says with a chuckle. "You sure you're up for this, Jay? I'd hate to see anything happen, especially if any of those wounds opens up again."
"I have to." I say, brushing off his concerns and giving my leg one last shake before catching up to him. "For her. Sarah is really the only thing keeping me going right now."
"The bond of love is powerful." Roxwell comments. "One that can't be broken, even by spending a long time apart."
I nod at his point as I try to fight back the urge to cry again.
"I hope Sarah knows just how much I love her. I hope she knows I'm coming for her. That we are coming for her."
"Jay! Roxwell!" Faye's voice snaps me out of my thoughts. The two of us turn to see her and Dima leaving Odessa's office. "Find Kelly and meet us at street level. We've got help."
"Where are they?" Roxwell asks.
"The Washington Monument."
West Potomac Park
One Hour Later…
Rain begins to soak into my hoodie as I quietly position myself to attack the once friendly Control Point. Every moral fiber in my body demands that I stop this immediately and simply turn myself in, but with Black Tusk watching me so closely, I'd be signing my own death warrant. I try to distract myself from my thoughts by looking over my new arm again, flexing the fingers and wrist. The attempt is largely unsuccessful.
A flash of lightning reveals several Militia members roaming the area around the Monument. Some patrol around the Jersey barriers, a few are on the catwalks above, but most are inside the Monument itself, either resting or seeking cover from the weather.
Despite what some might call a 'target rich environment', ISAC can't find my main target, the leader of the Militia team. A JTF second lieutenant by the name of O'Connor. I stick to the shadows offered by the high grasses and shrubbery, flanking around to the northern side of the Control Point.
The rain begins to pick up following a loud thunderclap. Using the tail end of the sound for cover, I run across an open area to more grassland. Pausing, I take a moment to ensure I wasn't seen, poking my head up out of the grass and looking through the scope of my crossbow.
One lone Militia fighter stands at the top level of the catwalks, looking down on everyone else as well as what little he can see through the rain.
"As soon as I make a sound, he'll be all over me."
I quietly load an arrow, taking advantage of the raindrops rattling off a nearby car hood. Taking aim again, I find my target, still fighting with myself about having to kill these people in order to save my own life. The 'Rogue' part of me eventually prevails. Squeezing the trigger, the arrow silently flies through the air. Another lightning bolt bathes the man in light as my arrow skewers him in the throat. Stunned, he wordlessly claws at the thin fiberglass shaft for a moment, dropping to his knees, then onto his back, lifeless.
"I've just killed a civilian." I desperately fight the urge to throw up, sucking in a deep breath and busying myself by loading another arrow.
"The first of many, I'm sure." My mind says grimly.
Nobody inside the camp seems to have noticed the watchman fall, so I look for another target, finding one on the catwalks a few levels below. She seems to have heard a sound, but can't find the source.
"Just shrug it off!" I want to yell at her. "Don't go towards the stairs!"
Her friends stay behind and watch as the teenage Militia fighter moves towards the stairs to investigate the sound.
"...fuck."
The Militia girl climbs to the next level, going in the opposite direction of the source.
"She'll find him eventually..."
"No Sarah! Don't!" Says a voice in my head that sounds very familiar. Don't do these awful things just for me!"
I silently watch the teen girl wander the catwalk, squinting through the rain to find where the sound came from.
"I have to….I'm sorry, kid."
*KTHIK!*
An arrow flies, hitting the girl in the center of her back. She reaches back in confusion, before collapsing.
Five Minutes Later
Washington Monument
Northeast side…
"Huh. Never seen this place up close." Kelly remarks as we arrive. She looks up at the towering Monument, quickly looking down again as rainwater fills her eyes.
"It's much more impressive when there isn't a war going on around it." Roxwell says over his shoulder, waving to the Militia guard as we approach.
"You must be the folks Odessa mentioned." The young man says. "The El Tee is up there, in the office." He gestures to the metal building that has popped up around the base of the Monument. Faye nods and turns to us.
"Roxwell, Dima, you're with me. Jay, Kelly, help bolster the perimeter a bit. Who knows? Maybe one of these guys has seen signs of Sarah."
In any other situation, that probably would've sounded like an insult, or a twisted joke. But in this case, Kelly and I split up. She goes left, while I go right. Strangely, after nearly a minute of walking, I haven't found any Militia members.
That is, until I find one with an arrow in the side of his head.
In shock, but trying not to panic, I calmly key my radio.
"Faye...we have a problem. I just found a member of the Militia...dead."
"Strange. I was about to tell you the same thing." Faye replies with a worried tone. "Our JTF contact is wasted. Arrow. Yours?"
"Same. You thinking The Underground?"
"Maybe. Sweep the perimeter. Dima just found two more. The arrows seem to be coming from the same direction. Search the northwest corner."
With a nod, I ready my weapon and approach a grassy area in the direction Faye indicated. Behind me, the Militia scrambles at the news of the attack. Almost immediately after entering the area, I find a likely suspect. Hooded sweatshirt, crossbow, small backpack. Not moving, just watching the activity at the Control Point, likely looking for another target. He seems unaware of me, so I decide on the surprise approach, only to be taken by surprise myself as the figure quickly spins around, knife ready. He quickly and silently tackles me to the ground, weapon knocked away, one foot planted on my wrist, knife to my throat. He seems ready for the kill, but suddenly stops.
"Faye! Hel-mmph!" My attacker clamps a hand tightly over my mouth, lifting the knife hand and putting a finger to his lips, trying to quiet me. In confusion, I nod in obligation. The figure slowly sits up and pulls his face covering down. In what little light there is, I make out the features of a woman, not a man.
A very familiar woman.
"...Sarah?" I whisper.
"...Jay?" The woman asks.
I sit up, her still on top of me. I cautiously remove the hood of her sweatshirt, and reveal the face of the woman I love. The woman I thought I might never see again.
The face of Sarah.
We pull each other into a soggy, squishy hug, still being pelted by the rain. Wordlessly, we hold each other tightly for what feels like an hour. I pull away in disbelief, looking her over again. She seems to do the same, and we search each other's faces for clues. In the hopes of receiving further confirmation, I pull her in for a quick kiss.
That was all I needed.
Sarah pulls me back for a deeper, longer kiss. One full to the brim with emotions. Love, relief, passion, but also sadness and desperation.
"I can't believe it!" I nearly shout as we separate. "You're alive, baby! I saw the camera feed from the shootout!"
"I thought you were gone too!" My companion says. "I...I don't know what to say. I-"
"Wait a minute." Jay says, looking around. At my 'uniform'. My crossbow. The quiver of arrows over my shoulder. The Militia bodies behind me.
My red SmartWatch.
"You...you're Rogue?" She asks in a fearful voice.
"It was only to find you!" I quickly insist. "Black Tusk took me. Said they'd kill me if I didn't play along-"
"You killed these Militia members?!" Jay quickly pushes me off of her, scrambling to her feet. "How could you?"
"It was only to find out what happened to you! How could I live with myself if I had gotten you killed? How could I find you if I was killed?"
"I don't fucking believe this." Jay continues, beginning to step back away from me.
"No, no! Jay! Wait!" I quickly pop up and grab her arm. "Please let me explain!"
"You better talk fast, Sarah." She pulls out her .44 and aims it directly at me.
"After the shootout, I was taken to the Tidal Basin, the Black Tusk H.Q.? Ellis forced me at gunpoint to join his cause. He said if I did, I had a chance of seeing you again, but if I didn't, he'd kill me and order an all-out assault on the White House. This outfit, these weapons, this senseless killing? You know me, Jay!"
A flash of lightning across the sky reveals the pained expression on my companion's face.
I catch a glimpse of Sarah's expression in the light. A mix of fear, guilt, sorrow, and desperate hope. She's right. I do know her. There's not a snowball's chance in Hell that she did all of this willingly. After a long moment, my hand drops, and my head hands with it.
"She did all of this...just to find me?"
I look up again and stow my sidearm.
"I do know you." I say finally.
Sarah sighs with relief, but just before I hug her again, my radio interrupts.
"What's the word, Jay?" Faye asks. "Find anything?"
Sarah shakes her head at me. "I'm not here." She whispers. In a brief moment, I come up with a white lie.
"Whoever this was is probably gone." I reply. "I haven't seen anyone."
"Copy that. Kel? How about you?"
I turn my radio down, looking up as Sarah quickly rummages through her small backpack.
"Here." She says, passing a laptop and a thick folder to me. "I stole a bunch of stuff from the BT. Think you guys can use it?"
I push the items back. "Just come with us!"
"Trust me, I want nothing more. But I can't. I have to play along for as long as I can, find the right time to cut loose." She gives the laptop and folder to me again, the latter quickly becoming soaked from the rain. "Take these, give them to Manny. Don't tell anyone that I was here."
I push the intel items into my bag, quickly strapping it on again and bringing Sarah in for another hug.
"I love you, Jay." She says quietly, before pulling away, taking her weapons and vanishing into the night.
"I love you too."
"Everyone regroup inside the Monument." Faye orders. "We'll wait for a break in the weather, then head back to base. This mission is bust now."