A/N: Rare before chapter note. This chapter was one I had the most fun with since it showcases the relationship of the "Three Musketeers" when on the job. Personally, the dialogue between Nico and Ghost is fun and hilarious. Enjoy the chapter from one of my favorite missions.
Chapter 15
The streets of Las Almas were dark, lit only by the streetlamps and any outdoor lights as Soap stumbled into the city. He could hear the shouts of the people screaming. He crept down an alley, pausing when he heard Shadows talking. He could feel his adrenaline start to due and he squatted against the wall of the building he was leaning against. He was in the blind and needed to find out what was going on.
Wincing in pain from his arm, he reached over and turned on his radio to test the channels. He gave a slight shuddered from the pouring rain as he switched to the first channel.
Sending transpo to your location for all prisoners, stand by for…
… need reinforcements in the North Plaza, now.
Got a teammate bleeding out its… oh god…
Soap sighed wearily as he tried one more channel. There no sounds of Shadow. It was a risk, but he needed to reach out to Ghost. He had to know if the man made it out too. He grabbed his comm and radioed, "This is Bravo 7-1, in the blind… How copy?"
He paused and heard nothing. He tried again, "Ghost, this is 7-1, do you copy?"
Again, there was nothing. Hell, he would have killed to hear Nicolette come on the comm and swear at him. He winced at the thought of what Graves would do to her. She had never liked working with the Shadows, but she played the game. She told him it was because she didn't trust most people anyway. Sighing in defeat, he released his radio and muttered, "Fuck… Where are you, Ghost? Did you even get out Nico?"
He never doubted her abilities. Yet, she was careful to say that she wasn't invincible. The last few days proved that and the times that she had been seriously sick or hurt proved that. He was certain though that because of Alejandro trusting her like he did, she was given access and used it to protect herself. She was like Ghost in a lot of ways and while it sounded strange, he was happy to call her his girlfriend. As he mentioned, he might be stupid, but he was still there.
Knowing he had to keep moving, he got to his feet. He winced, feeling every ache from the escape in his body, especially his arm. He took a few steps before his legs gave out and he fell to the ground. He grunted, feeling a little stupid that he fell like he did. He looked up at the car that had been left there and the dead body against the building and slowly pushed himself up.
Soap, this is Ghost. How copy?
Johnny?
Soap was glad to hear Ghost's voice, though he would have been happier to hear hers. He pushed himself so he was on his knees. He checked his person and noticed the blood on his gloves. Some of it was probably his own and some was from on the streets. He got to his feet.
Johnny, how copy?
Taking a breath, Soap replied, "Solid." He stumbled to his feet.
Though we lost you.
Soap stood up wincing. He glanced at his arm and took a few steps forward. He heard some Shadows talking, "Commander Graves…"
"2-0… Your men cordon this area… yeah? If Soap, Ghost, or Hassan's here, let's keep 'em contained… yeah?"
Soap took a few steps forward. He limped a bit as he tried to force his stubborn body to move. He was not going to get caught again.
You injured?
Soap knew he was injured. He had to get out so what was the point? He replied, "What's the difference?"
Life or death. Keep your blood in, you'll need every drop.
"Thanks for the tip," Soap grumbled as he made his way forward. "Where are you?"
There's a church. I'm heading to it. Let's RV there. You'll need to improvise to survive.
Soap kind of figured that. He recalled when they were making their way out when Nicolette had been sick with pneumonia. They broke her out of the hospital since she was being targeted and they had to improvise to get out. He could also recall when she was showing him a few things…
Sometimes the environment is the best weapon, Soap. Blind corners and alleys if you know your way. Using what you can find and a good knowledge of basic chemistry.
She had mentioned that since she knew he was a demolitions expert. He made a slight smile as he peered down an alley he could go. He just had to wait for the Shadows to clear out. "Graves and Shadow are on a killing spree."
Looking for Hassan.
"Hassan and us," Soap corrected. He inched his way forward. He could hear the Shadows ordering the sicarios to turn around. He made it to a parked car that was blocking the way and hid behind it and watched as Shadow executed the sicarios. "Fucking hell."
He made his way into a building and tried a door, "No joy. Door's locked."
Look for supplies, things you can make tools with. Welcome to guerilla warfare…
Soap made a slight face as he opened another door. It opened and he walked in. He found a narco that had been tied up and killed. "Creeping Jesus. Poor bastard." He took the rope and stashed it. "Found a rope."
That's a start. Keep looking.
Soap looked around until he came across a fan, one of those metal ones. He examined it and reached in and broke off one of the blades. "Broke off a fan blade."
Tie off the blade with the rope and pry open a door.
"Sounds like you've done this before."
Years of practice.
Soap made his tool and went back to the locked door. He wedged the blade in and pried it open. "Busted the fan blade."
Get you through the door?
Affirmative.
Good. Stay on the hunt. There'll be more where that came from.
Soap nodded and inched his way slowly into the house. He could hear voices on the other side of the door to his far left. He shook his head and went to the one in front of him. He couldn't help but ask, "Think she made it out?"
Ryan?
"Affirmative."
What do you think? Let's worry about you Johnny. If she did make it out, she'd be in the same position we are.
Soap knew he had to continue on. He scavenged the bathroom and then carefully made his way upstairs. He came across some more narcos dead and cursed. "Fucking hell."
What do you see?
"A bloodbath."
Watch your arse. You got exactly zero allies down there.
Soap plundered a headlamp and attached it. He would have to use it sparingly since it could reveal where he was if he wasn't careful. "We're friends, no?"
We're teammates. Friendship's not in the field manual, Johnny.
Now that is a fucking lie, asshole.
Soap couldn't help but smile, "Is that you, Ryan?"
Copy. Live and well. Waiting on you two assholes to catch up.
You injured?
Fuck off, Simon. Get your ass to the church and get Soap there.
Soap chuckled at that. He knew she was alright. More likely she injured Shadows to a severe case of dead. "Good to hear from you."
And you'll hear more if you don't get your ass moving.
Soap knew better than to argue. He continued to move and scavenge things he could use. He winced when his arm ached and glanced at it. It looked bad, but probably was that look worse than it was deal. He kept up a flow of chatter more for peace of mind and to relay what he was seeing. He was used to taking orders and following them. It was a bit disconcerting to be on his own and having to improvise. He made a comment that he trusted Price.
Be careful who you trust, Sergeant. People you know can hurt you the most.
Sage advice, asshole. What does that say about us?
Fuck off, Ryan.
Knew you loved me.
Soap chuckled. He knew that Nicolette thought the same way. She was more willing to give a little. Of course, her fallout with Ghost seemed to change things. Yet, there was no one he'd rather have at his back than those two. "Good advice Lt. I wanna be like you when I grow up."
You wanna be better than me, Johnny.
"Maybe I already am."
Why don't you both prove it?
"Think I'll live that long?"
Probably not.
I like the odds already. And I always hedge my bets.
Soap could almost see her giving that smirk she gave when she had a trick up her sleeve. No doubt she probably did make it possible. He chuckled and continued making his way to the church. He managed to get back outside after leaping down. That wasn't fun.
You might get a brag rag for this.
"A medal?"
Chest candy.
"Rubbish," Soap muttered as he turned to gain his bearings.
You said you wanted a win. Congratulations, you're a winner.
Soap couldn't resist, "Away n' bile yer heid."
English, MacTavish.
Soap rolled his eyes when both Nicolette and Ghost told him that. "Sorry sir, let me translate. Go fuck yourself."
Better.
Soap grumbled. He was certain he heard Nicolette laughing at him. He pushed forward and managed to find black powder. That would make things interesting. He noticed that there were some dead Shadows, one had one of Ghost's knives in it. The other had something that he was certain was Nicolette's doing. For no reason, he picked it up and stowed it away. He did grumble at Ghost leaving him behind.
Trying to keep you alive and get you here in one piece. One of us needs to survive to tell the tale.
And you know that is bullshit. Oh, by the way Soap. Be careful. I left a couple of surprises in a few alleyways. The same punishment to that pinche colonel.
"That's a relief," Soap replied. Now he had another obstacle to worry about. He paused when he heard an explosion. "Sweet fucking, Jesus, Ryan."
Told you. Surprises.
"Taken a shine to me then?"
Not in the slightest.
Fuck no.
Still got a lot of ground to cover.
Even better was when he was able to secure a Shadow pistol and a shotgun. He muttered, "My kingdom for a suppressor."
Be smart with what you've got. That's the trick.
And you're a domkoff forgetting what I told you.
Not really the time, Ryan.
Try telling that to Echo. Saved his ass.
Soap knew what she was getting at. He had seen cars parked around. He could snag the oil filter, but he was concerned with the noise while trying to yank it out. He had seen her do it and she was quiet about it with minimal noise. She had shown the 141 how to do it. Probably Ghost was the only one who practiced that. "Point taken," he said to stop the potential argument that could start. This was probably the strangest conversation ever, but it kept him awake and pushing forward. He managed to make it to the coffee shop and Ghost had to make a joke about tea. He sighed and decided to tease, "You're gonna owe me for this."
Why?
"We're fixing each other's problems."
What's my problem?
"The mask… Take it off," Soap said, pushing his luck. It was no secret that people had been trying to get Ghost to remove his mask.
Show my face?
"Yes, sir."
Negative.
Soap grinned as he asked, "Are you ugly?"
Quite the opposite.
"I doubt that."
That is a truth.
"You telling me you've seen it?"
No. I can read body language. I can even tell when he's pissed at me.
Fuck off, Ryan.
After you.
Soap was certain there was more to that. He shook his head and continued to move forward. He managed to make a smoke bomb and use it to sneak by three Shadows. He had to leap over a balcony to get to the street below and hid while he heard the Shadow's cursing, "It's pishin' it doon out here."
Speak English.
"It's raining fucking hard," Soap retorted more in annoyance.
That's good. It will cover your tracks, Soap. The bad news that it will cover theirs.
"Aren't you a ray of sunshine," Soap retorted as he rummaged through a crate. He found a med kit and took a shot of adrenaline before grabbing the block of explosives.
As I say, I'm a fucking pragmatist while Ghost is a doomsday sayer.
Piss on yourself.
It's true. Look. If you're where I am sure you are at, you are not that much farther from the church. Keep heading north. The city is full of tunnels, some below the city. You can bypass most Shadows by using them.
"Knew there was a reason we kept you," Soap teased her.
Of course. I'm the prettiest of all you lot. I make you look good.
And you'll have to prove it when we get out of this.
Throwing knives? Or the usual? Cause you know I play to win.
Look forward to it.
Soap looked forward to that as well. He pushed forward and made it to the bar. He had to endure more of Ghost's bad jokes and threw in a couple of his own. It passed the time and lowered the anxiety a notch. He could hear the Shadows talking about him. It was apparent that they were worried and had every right. Mostly because they pissed off his girl, though he would jump in and defend her with everything in the arsenal. He made it to the tunnels and started navigating them.
He wasn't home free though. He encountered a few wearing body armor. That meant he had to get up close and personal. That also meant he had to time take downs accordingly because once he went loud, then the game changed. He had clear sight of the church but the path there was blocked off.
Try cutting through the shops. Once you link up with Ghost and RV, you can find a vehicle to blow it down.
"Copy," Soap muttered as he made his way through the shops to get to the other side of the barbed wire. He managed to find a way through a shop and came across a locked door. He made his tool to pry it open. What he didn't expect was a Shadow to be there. "Fuck!"
The Shadow was fast and gave him a hard knock to the head. He was flat on his back and would have faced the business end of the gun. He could even hear Graves give the order to kill him until the Shadow went down. Soap could see the church in the background. No doubt it was Ghost.
Johnny, got company in the church, and they're not here for forgiveness.
Soap was on his feet and double timed it to the church, taking out any Shadows that crossed his path. They knew they were there. No point in hiding anymore. He managed to make it to the steps, and he saw Ghost through the gate, "Ghost!"
"Soap!" Ghost vaulted over the gate. He gestured for Soap to follow. "We need a vehicle. On me!"
Stay sharp you two. They know you're there and it's you. They'll send more.
Soap followed and it was firefight with the Shadows. He heard and explosion occur on the other side of the church plaza. "Fucking hell, Nico." He focused in front of him, "Contact ahead!"
"I see 'em."
They managed to clear the plaza. Ghost spotted the vehicle first, "Soap, pickup truck ahead. Lights on."
Soap ran to the passenger side and got in while Ghost pulled the dead narco out of the driver's side. He took a breath even though they weren't completely out of it yet. He looked at Ghost, "We made it Lt."
Not yet you idiots. Get out of the city first. Then we celebrate.
No sooner had Nicolette spoken then shots came from behind. Soap fired out the back while Ghost threw the truck into reverse and gave the Shadows and nice run down. He spotted another and fired out the side window at the Shadow that would have aimed at Ghost's head. Soap said, "Drive, I'll cover."
Ghost drove and radioed, "Secured exfil, Ryan."
Good. Once you blow the barricade, take the southernmost road to the crossroads. I'll meet you there.
It was better to not ask, and Ghost followed the instructions. He didn't like it that the crossroads were almost in the open save for a few trees and bushes. He pulled up off to the side of the road. He looked around for any sign of Nicolette. "Where the bloody fucking hell are you?" His hands gripped the steering wheel tightly.
Soap looked around too. He didn't see anything. He didn't want to think the worst that she made her exfil and was caught, or even worse, Graves was using her to get to them. "Come on Nico," he whispered. "Where the bloody hell are you?" He looked around as the crickets made their music in the night.
A rustle caught their attention. Soap had his pistol out, ready to fire. Ghost nudged him, "Hold on."
Out from behind the tree stepped Nicolette. She was soaking wet from the rain and her hair was stringy despite the hoodie she was wearing. She stepped forward so they could both see her. She had her hands up to show she wasn't going to try anything. "Took the scenic route, eh Ghost?" She gave a smile at the pair.