Battlefield: 2042: The Soldiers of Remnant

by Corpsman Halo

When three soldiers with no connected backstory with each other are transported to the world of Remnant, they are forced to work together to survive what this strange world has to offer. Armed only with the weapons they were transported with, the smarts (Not really, they're dumb), and a whole bunch of vodka, they brave through the world as they try to find a way back home.

1. Prologue

To enhance your experience for this hardly worked-on intro (Not really), I highly suggest you play Mokusei, made by RichaadEB (All credit is to him, I do not own the music. Please have mercy), to ensure you reach maximum satisfaction from these words painting a picture in your mind. Now, enjoy.

Note: The timestamp is corresponding with the paragraph below it. For example, The first one has no music, but the second one is the start of the intro music. Just thought it had to be known.

---

A serene morning unfolds as sunlight glistens and flowers sway, wildlife thriving in the tranquility. Yet, amidst this peace, a lone Beowolf prowls, eyeing a fawn and its mother. Its predatory gaze sharpens, preparing to strike.

00:00-00:10

The Beowolf's ears twitch as a low rumble breaks the silence. It turns around as its eyes widen in surprise before letting out a loud yelp as it attempts to flee. Only for an armored buggy to suddenly burst through the foliage, screams of excitement and terror coming from it as it crushes the Beowolf under its wheels and speeds onward. Leaving the crush corpse behind like roadkill

00:10-00:21

"Battlefield 2042: The Soldiers of Remnant!"

00:21-00:36

Semyon "Seeker" Zaytsev- Played by Author #3

Alan "Gremlin" Borowski- Played by Author #2

David "Halo" Simmons- Played by Author #1

00:31-00:47

Next, the scene cuts to Team RWBY and JNPR standing atop a pile of rubble. Battling against an endless swarm of Grimm valiantly as they fight on. But just as they are about to be overwhelmed, our heroes' vehicle soars through the air, crashing into the fray while both parties watch them crash into the horde. With David clinging to the side of the vehicle, Semyon gripping the wheel tightly with steely resolve, and Alan laughing maniacally as he unleashes a torrent of bullets from the mounted MG. Causing chaos to erupt and providing just the distraction for Team RWBY and JNPR to regroup and join the fight.

00:47-00:57

The scene shifts to a grand conference room where leaders of Remnant debate fervently over a video that shows a group of mysterious aircraft decimating a fleet of airships. As they start to shout amongst each other, an agitated Atlas councilmen demand immediate military action against these unknown attackers as one half the table echoes his call while the other half urges for diplomacy.

All while a general with graying hair watches silently, his eyes piercing through the chaos of the room as he sighs and shakes his head.

00:58-01:07

Next, we see Vale, once a jewel of Remnant, being overrun by Grimm of various types, ranging from beowolves to ursai. Huntsmen and huntresses valiantly fight everywhere from the streets to the rooftops, but are gradually pushed to the brink of defeat as they find themselves cornered, ready to make a final last stand.

Suddenly, as all hope seems lost, a sudden burst tracer fire rains from above. Mowing down the Grimm like they were blades of grass against a scythe as they fall in the dozens. Looking up, the hunters and huntresses watch as various Condors descend with soldiers from them and rappelling down into the fray.

One however, holding a large flag with red and white stripes with a blue box in the top left-hand corner with white stars, extends a hand to a fallen huntress. Offering to help her up while she stares back at him,

01:07-01-19

Suddenly, all eyes turn to a colossal Grimm, part man, part horse, roaring as more of those creatures begin to charge forth toward them. The newly arrived soldiers, noticing the new threat, quickly take positions as various vehicles on land and in the sky follow suit. Ready to provide support when needed.

The huntsmen and huntresses, recovering from the shock of what just happened, reorganize themselves as they stand alongside their new allies. Ready to once more fight this once seemingly invincible enemy.

In the midst of the formation, our three protagonists appear in the middle of the action as they are flanked by Team RWBY and JNPR. Weapons locked and loaded as they brace for the creatures. Watching as they get closer and closer before letting loose everything that they got. Causing the screen to fade into black amid smoke and gunfire, revealing the title.

"Battlefield 2042: The Soldiers of Remnant"

---

"This is L-Lieutenant *crackle* of the *crack* We've been engaged by *crackle* Requesting reinforcements at our location. Over!"

"Lieutenant, say again, you are unclear. Who are you engaged with over?"

"*crackle* I-Insurgents! I say again, we are under fire from TRP insurgents. Requesting reinforcements as soon as possible, over!"

"Affirm lieutenant. QRF en-route in T-minus forty minutes. Hold out until then, over."

"*crackle* F-Forty minutes!? We're not going to hold out for forty damn minutes! We won't even hold out for- S-Shit! INCOMI-"

*Transmission End*

- Unknown lieutenant.

---

Index

"Text" - Normal Talking

"Text" - Radio transmissions or straining on a specific word/words

"Text" - Very loud screaming, yelling, or an assortment of the two.

'Text' - Thoughts, or quotations of a certain thing/subject/person/etc

"Text (Text)" - Translated words/sentences. (Note: Some sentences will not be translated for the funny.

"Text / Text" - Multiple people saying multiple things.

---

Earth... an enigma adrift in the cosmic expanse. Once a tiny, blue marble drifting through the silent void, it has become a world teeming with life, from the shadowy depths of its oceans to the lofty peaks of its mountains. For eons, creatures roamed this planet in a delicate balance, existing in a harmonious serenity.

Then, mankind arrived.

In the beginning, humans were bewildered and vulnerable, struggling to survive in a world that seemed indifferent to their plight. They scavenged, hunted, and gathered, eking out an existence from the land. But humanity possessed a unique spark—the ability to learn, to adapt, to evolve. Primitive tools and weapons emerged from their ingenuity: spears, bows, and stone implements that signaled the dawn of a new era. Man ascended to the role of apex predator, forging tribes, societies, and empires from humble beginnings. For a fleeting moment, peace reigned.

But such tranquility was ephemeral.

As tribes expanded and nations arose, so too did borders and rivalries. Nations coveted the wealth of their neighbors, the fertility of their lands, and harbored ancient grudges. The fires of conflict ignited over resources, riches, crops, and even trivial disputes. Wars erupted, sometimes for reasons as ludicrous as a mere bucket.

Humanity, ever resourceful, grew more ingenious in the art of war. Swords and spears gave way to muskets—cumbersome yet deadly. Muskets evolved into bolt-action rifles, capable of striking from afar. And then, the advent of firearms that could unleash a hailstorm of bullets, handheld cannons capable of obliterating buildings with a single blast.

Yet the evolution of warfare did not stop at handheld weapons.

The battlefield witnessed the arrival of tanks—initially clunky, lumbering metal beasts bristling with guns, which soon transformed into swift, armored juggernauts. The skies, once the serene domain of birds and insects, were invaded by the droning menace of zeppelins and biplanes. These were replaced by the thunderous engines of monoplanes and bombers, raining destruction from above. Then came the roar of jet engines, as sleek aircraft vied for dominance in the skies.

The seas, once a haven for explorers and marine life, became arenas of naval warfare. Mighty metal ships clashed in epic battles, launching invasions and liberations, while silent submarines prowled the depths, stalking their prey with lethal intent.

And so, Earth, this once tranquil blue marble, has become a stage for the relentless march of human ambition and conflict. What mysteries and perils lie ahead, no one can say. The story of mankind is far from over, and the whispers of the past echo through the corridors of time, hinting at an uncertain and enigmatic future.

Now, let's change the scenery to a more recent event.

As the War of 2020 drew to a close, many hoped that conflict had finally been laid to rest, if only for a fleeting moment. Yet, as history has often shown, peace is but a fragile illusion.

In 2031, a decade after the War of 2020, the world was thrust into chaos once more. Rising sea levels, collapsing economies, broken alliances, and a litany of other calamities plagued the Earth. The harbinger of this new era of turmoil was Hurricane Zeta, the world's first Category 6 storm. It ravaged coastal cities, leaving a trail of devastation, claiming thousands of lives, and rendering tens of thousands homeless.

In the wake of Hurricane Zeta and other climate-induced disasters, the global economy faltered. Energy and food stocks dwindled, leading to a financial cataclysm known as the Second Great Depression. The strain was too much for the European Union, which dissolved amidst the chaos, leaving only a handful of nations intact, including the United States and the Russian Federation.

Over a billion people found themselves displaced, their homes lost, their governments powerless to protect them. These individuals, both civilians and military personnel, were forced to band together for survival. Stripped of national identities and boundaries, they were dubbed "Non-Patriated" by the media, but they adopted a name of their own—"The No-Pats."

Humanity, resilient as ever, adapted to the new world order. Advances in energy, desert irrigation, hydraulic levees, and coastal defenses helped salvage what remained of coastal cities, farmlands, and supply chains. Order slowly began to reemerge, and some nations reopened their borders to welcome back the displaced. However, the No-Pats, now a significant force in the global political landscape, refused to return to the lands that had cast them out. They elected their own leaders and forged their own identities, rallying under the slogan #WeAreNoPats.

Yet, as the world teetered on the edge of recovery, tensions between the US and Russia simmered. Surely, they wouldn't dare plunge the world into chaos again—or so it was believed. But reality has a way of shattering expectations.

Shortly after the dawn of 2040, an unexplained surge of space debris incapacitated over 70% of Earth's orbiting satellites. The resulting chaos was unprecedented. Planes lost their way, some crashing, others running out of fuel. Communications went dark, sowing confusion and disarray. Blackouts plunged thousands of cities into darkness, and the last vestiges of operational supply chains ground to a halt.

This catastrophe, known as the Blackout of 2040, claimed around 100,000 lives and crippled the world's internet, navigation, surveillance, and weather forecasting capabilities. As the world struggled to recover, mistrust and paranoia festered. The remaining superpowers, the US and Russia, along with the No-Pats, were engulfed in a web of accusations and blame. Though none were responsible for the blackout, preparations for war began in earnest.

If mankind is known for anything, it is its propensity to ignite world-ending conflicts over mere misunderstandings. And so, once again, the drums of war began to beat.

Madin Shahr, Afghanistan | 2048

The scene changes as a desert comes into view, showing nothing but barren desert wastelands underneath the scorching heat of the sun. Barely anything was alive at this point, with the living creatures taking cover underneath the shade, or taking their chances through the sun.

Nearby, a pile of burnt vehicles lined up on the side of the road. Ranging from old Soviet tanks and BMPs, to modern-day MRAPs, with some having bodies picked clean of both gear and skin, leaving only skeletons with rags that were their past uniforms.

Nearby, a relatively decent sized city shined in the background, like a piece of paradise in the scorching wasteland. Proof that even life can survive and thrive in places like this. Not even the horrors of war could reach such a beautiful place. No matter how brutal or destructive it got.

*BOOM*

OK, I lied, maybe there is a little fighting here.

The camera starts to hover over one of the entrances of the city, showing four MRAPs parked horizontally from the entrance, with soldiers using it as cover as they open fire. On the other side, an older BMP-3 with people in rags on its side stood in the middle of the street, rounds pinging off its hull as it turned its turret to one of the MRAPs, spitting out rounds as the shots slammed against the vehicle, turning it into swiss cheese as those nearby it ran for cover, just as it blew into pieces!

The turret started to turn to another MRAP right beside the one it just destroyed, the barrel letting loose a few shots before something suddenly slammed into the front of the BMP, creating a giant hole at the front as the vehicle went dead for a moment. Soon after, a hatch on top of the turret burst open, followed by a man wearing an old Russian tank uniform trying his best to get out, only to get shot in the head with his body halfway out of the hatch.

"Yeah! Nice shot Billy!" A nearby American infantryman called out as Billy pulled back behind the MRAP, reloading his M5 RPG as he leaned his back against the MRAP, "You're definitely getting that promotion now!"

"No shit eh- Hey! Second story on the left! Light it up!" Billy shouted out as he pointed in the direction he was just talking about. The turret on the top of the MRAP turned as well, letting loose five short bursts, promptly killing anyone that was unlucky enough to be standing where it hit.

"Son of a bitch, these guys are everywhere!" The gunner shouted as five shots just pinged off the armored turret, causing him to duck down as he turned the turret back at the entrance of the city, firing back at whoever shot at him first, followed by the other gunners on the remaining two MRAPs.

"Keep firing, don't let up! We can't let these bastards escape!" A nearby lieutenant shouted as he shoved a magazine up his rifle, before bringing it up against the MRAP's hood and firing, joining the chorus of gunfire as bullets flew both ways, hitting an unfortunate few on both sides of the battle.

Surely, the fighting couldn't get more chaotic like this, right?

Well, you're wrong.

Suddenly, the sound of tracks rolling against the pavement filled the air as another batch of rag-wearing soldiers joined in the fray, followed by an old T-90 MBT right behind them! The vehicle crashing against the wreckage of the BMP and pushing it to the side before taking its position in the middle of the street as well, the turret slowly turning to the side, aiming down at another MRAP as everyone seemed to freeze for a moment.

"Shit… EVERYONE TAKE COVER!" The lieutenant shouted as he grabbed two nearby soldiers by the hem of their uniforms and dragged them with him to a nearby ditch, pushing them to the ground as he dove down with them, just in time as MBT spat out an HEAT-FS shell, smacking the side of the MRAP as the vehicle burst into flames, stripping it down to its metal frame while the last two MRAPs drove back, gunners firing back as they hide behind what cover they could find.

"For fuck's sake! Can someone deal with that damn thing!?" Someone shouted just as Billy got up from the ground, fixing his helmet as he crouched down, slowly peeking his head and trusty M5 out of the ditch, taking aim, and fired, watching as the rocked zipped through the air, and slammed right onto the front of the tank turret!

Everyone slowly took a peak out of the ditch as well, holding their breath as they waited for smoke and dust to clear. Soon enough, both started to settle as the MBT was still standing there. Undamaged. It quickly turned its turret back at Billy, the barrel aimed directly at him as it fired once more.

Quick enough, the lieutenant quickly grabbed them and dragged him back down, just in time as another HEAT-FS shell smacked right by the ditch, forcing everyone back down, giving the tank the chance to reposition itself behind the BMP wreckage as it fired it's coaxial in an attempt to further suppress them.

Back at the ditches, the lieutenant was, to put it lightly, running as fast as he fucking could through the line, ducking every once in a while as either a hail of bullets whizzed past his head or as another explosion detonated nearby. He ducked down back onto the ground, tapping a fellow lieutenant on the shoulder as he got their attention.

"Not the time Cole! A little fucking busy right now!"

"That's not why I'm fucking here Morgon!" The first lieutenant, now known as Cole, shouted as another explosion rang out, causing the two to duck back down against the sand and dirt. "Where the hell is Anderson!? He should have reported back to me about our QRF five minutes ago!"

"Anderson's by one of the remaining MRAPs." Morgan shouted, peaking right back up and firing a few shots, killing one of the ragged soldiers, "Saw him messing with the new radio thingamajig."

"Goddammit- Thanks!" Cole shouted as he patted Morgan's shoulder, before leaving and making his way through the ditch before coming across the MRAP, finding Anderson crouching down on the ground, talking on an old-style themed radio as he covered his ears from the firefight happening right behind him.

"Anderson!" Cole shouted, just barely able to get his voice over the sound of bullets whizzing by to get Anderson's attention. "What's the damn sit-rep on that QRF!? I called them ten minutes ago!"

"QRF is still thirty minutes out sir!" Anderson replied, ducking down as another explosion rang out, followed by screaming and cries of pain. "They said their original route was blocked by some debris left on the road here and they're trying to carefully clear it up and check for traps!"

"Thirty minutes!? God damn it! We don't have thirty minutes! We don't even have five-"

*BOOM*

Another explosion rang out, followed by the sand and dirt erupting from the ground, causing the two of them to duck back down as Cole turned toward Anderson.

"How about air support! How long until they can get us that!?"

"Already tried sir! The city is way too crowded and they said we'll be risking civilians getting caught in the crossfire. They're sending a recon drone to help us out but that's about it!"

"Shit…" He cursed. Looking back he saw everyone else fighting, ducking and dodging bullets as they fired back. Another *BOOM* rang out, followed by another explosion of dust and dirt shooting up into the air as people hit the ground once more.

'We're not going to last long if we don't do something.' Thought Cole as he looked at the ground, trying to think of something, anything, until finally.

He ran back into the ditch, staying low as he ran back to Morgan's side, who was shouting orders until Cole tapped them on the shoulder. "Morgan, how many AT gunners did we got!?"

"About three of them, why?"

"OK, good, have them get ready to move out! We're pushing these bastards back before they have the chance to bug out like in Siberia!"

"... I'm hoping it's not another one of your 'genius' plans Cole."

"Hey! My plans worked in the past. Why do you have to doubt me now?"

"Mainly because the last time you had a plan, we had to drive off a building in an ATV while it was collapsing."

"So? We're alive, right?"

Morgan opened his mouth to argue, but all that came out was a grumble as he pressed a finger on his earpiece, talking into it while Cole ran back to Anderson.

"Anderson, gear up! Tell our boys to get ready to push these bastards back! We're moving out!"

"W-We are!?" Anderson shouted, confused and bewildered as Cole looked at them unamused.

"Yes, private, we are. You got a problem with that?"

"I… N-No sir!"

"Good." He said, "Contact our boys on the other side of the city as well. Tell them we're boxing these bastards in ten."

Anderson nodded as he put his attention back to the radio, shouting over the sound of gunfire and the occasional explosion while Morgan quickly zipped away from the battle and to Cole's side. "I really hope you know what the hell you're doing."

"Don't worry." Cole assured, not even turning toward them as he loaded a fresh mag into his rifle, "Plan's going to work. Plus, with that UAV coming, we'll be holding all the cards."

"Hope so," Morgan remarked as his eyes wandered back to Anderson, "Think our boys are doing well?"

"I'm sure they're fine Morgan, they got Smith with them. I bet he's pushing them back as we speak!"

…

30mm rounds flew through the air as a small line of troopers wearing US standard desert camo uniforms ran through the street. One by one, they made their way behind the building walls, encouraging the next person and the next as they joined them behind the safety of the still standing concrete walls.

"Cmon! Cmon!"

"Run faster you bastard! Move it!"

"Go! Go Go!"

"For fucks sake! This is what you get for eating all those MREs!"

They shouted as they waved and motioned to one last soldier running through the streets, dodging bullets of various calibers as he ducked from cover to cover. He peaked over a broken down car, watching as the turret of another BMP in the middle of the road turned the other way.

Taking advantage of this, he quickly got up and started sprinting through the road once more. Just a few more strides. Just ten more steps. Just-

Suddenly, he couldn't feel his legs as the world around him felt dull and numb. Soon enough, he fell to the ground, crashing against the dusty concrete road. His eyes slowly looked down as he felt something wet growing by his waist. Only to find out that his legs were reduced to stumps and were bleeding profusely.

'Welp, that's going to be a problem' Were his last thoughts, before he finally passed out from blood loss, his body going limp as it just lay there on the pavement.

Everyone else who was watching the unfortunate soldier was in silence as they saw him squirm and writhe for a moment. Perhaps in pain or wondering where the hell his legs went, before going limp. One of them, perhaps a close friend of his, started to shake softly as he mumbled to himself. Although, no one could ask him to stop as another one of them suddenly burst through them all. Running across the street, grabbing them by the shoulders, and dragging them back into cover. All the while being under fire.

Of course, no one had any chance to congratulate them as another explosion suddenly rang out, followed by a small but sizable chunk of a building starting to fall to the ground, causing the rest of them, except the shaking one, to start running back into the fight.

Meanwhile, the man who saved the other started to rummage through a desert-camouflage satchel with a small but noticeable red cross on it. Pulling out a roll of gauze, some tourniquets, and some syringes.

Immediately going to work, he grabbed the syringes and injected one per leg- what was left of their leg-and then grabbed the tourniquets, quickly wrapping them over the remains, promptly slowing the bleeding down as he started wrapping the roll of gauze over the wounds.

As he worked on them, he noticed the shaking soldier, still standing there, watching over them with worry and unease. At first, he paid no attention to them, just his job, before finally, they asked.

"I-Is he going to make it?" He said, a little shaken and worried as he watched them finish wrapping the bandage.

The man stopped for a moment, looking at the blood already over his hands and uniform before letting out a sigh and said. "Well… I stopped the bleeding and did what I could to help with the pain. Thankfully, he already passed out so that's a relief." He joked, causing the two to chuckle for a bit before he looked back at them, "But we're going to need to evac him as fast as possible, or else he's going to die of blood loss." He said, digging through the top of their uniform before finding their dog tags and reading them.

"B+..." He mumbled as he rummaged into his bag again, pulling out a bag of blood and plasma and laying them against a small pile of brick and debris, attaching the tubes and syringes together as he looked back at them.

"So, how did you guys meet? College? Grad school?" He asked,not even looking back at them as he slowly inserted the syringes into their arms. Watching as both the blood and plasma start trickling through the tubes and into their bloodstream.

"W-We've been friends s-since pre-k s-sir."

"Wow, that long?" He remarked, before getting back up, packing what supplies he didn't use into his satchel, and went up to them and looked them in the eyes while patting them on the shoulder as he said. "Anyways, I need you to stay with your friend here, alright?"

"W-Where are you going!? Y-You can't just leave him! He'll die if y-you do! P-Please-" He argued, almost shouting as he grabbed them before the other grabbed them by the shoulders, making them look at each other face to face before he softly said.

"Look… I've already stabilized him long enough for a while until backup arrives. Just let him rest and he'll be ready for evac the moment our boys get here. Now all I need you is to watch over him. We got some personnel here that are medically trained and they'll be glad to help you out. Just give them a holler and they'll be running to you. Got it?"

They only gave a meek nod.

"Good, no-"

"David!"

The medic, now known as David, stopped what he was saying as he turned around to see another soldier run to him, staying low as he ran through the alleyway, ducking now and then as bullets and explosions followed suit.

"Mendez? What the hell are you doing? Weren't you and your guys defending the market just now?"

"Yeah, sorry that I didn't grab anything for you. They didn't have any rice for you back there." He joked, making the two chuckle before another explosion rocked the place, "And as much as I'd love to stick and chat, Sarge wants your sorry ass to meet up with him and a few others."

"What? Why?"

"I dunno, Sarge just said that LT has an idea on how to take these guys out. Something about encircling them or something like that. I don't know man, I was just told to get your ass to Sarge, ASAP."

"I…"

Another explosion rocked the city once more as the sound of a nearby building collapsing filled the air. The three looked up to see a small but rising pillar of smoke and dust go through the air, reminding them that a battle was still going on.

"Shit… Look, I got to go. Just meet Sarge and the rest of the boys at the garage near the market. He'll tell you what to do."

"B-But!"

David didn't have time to argue as Mendez had already left the scene, ducking through the alleyways and turning the corner disappearing into the warzone once more.

"Fuck me. OK, kid," David asked, turning his attention to the shaken soldier, "Just stay here, QRF's on the way and they'll be able to properly help your friend. Just make sure these," He said, pointing to the blood and plasma bag, "Aren't moved, got it?"

"G-Got it, sir."

"Good." He mumbled, just as another explosion rang out, causing the shaking soldier to duck onto the ground by his friend while David remained unfazed. Grabbing a P90 laying against the wall as he started making his way through the maze of alleyways. He sprinted through fellow soldiers trying to engage the insurgents, until he finally came across what seemed to be the supposed meeting point as a group of four infantrymen were guarding the place.

"Hey!" Called out one of the guarding soldiers, motioning for David to come toward them as the rest of them kept watch., "Sarge is waiting for you inside. Don't keep him waiting, LT wants us ready to move out in five."

David nodded in response as he went inside, walking through the garage which seemed to have been thrown around then cleaned up as piles of tools and car parts were put to the side.

Ehh, it's fine, the new UN guys can handle the angry locals. At least these ones would actually do some of their own dirty work instead of watching..

Pushing the thought aside, he walked into an office adjoining the garage. Finding an officer, who he recognized as Smith, as well as five more infantrymen and two AT gunners, gathered around a table with a small map on it.

"You called sir?" David asked as he walked up to them, standing in attention and saluting them.

"At ease kid," Smith said, saluting them back before motioning them to relax. "And with all that we've been through, I think we're past the whole 'stand and salute' thing, aren't we?"

"Just muscle memory sir," David said as he joined them at the table, looking at it with some confusion before he turned back to them, asking, "Mind telling me what we're all here for sir?"

"We'll get to that soon. We just need-"

He didn't finish what he said as the office doors opened once more, followed by three sets of footsteps as Mendez with two more infantrymen behind him walked in. The three saluted the sergeant, who saluted them back

"At ease." He said as the new arrivals walked into the office, closing the office door behind them as they gathered around the table. Smith looked at them all, mentally counting how many of them there were before finally, "Well, looks like we're all here. Might as well start."

"This is us," Smith explained, pointing to two pieces of tailpipe on the edges of the city confines. "And these pieces, are the bastards we're trying to fuck up." He continued, pointing at two small gas caps near the two tailpipes. "QRF is about thirty minutes from us," He said, putting a piece of gum on the far side of the map. "But LT doesn't want to risk these bastards any means of escape before reinforcements arrive."

"So, what's the plan, sir?" Mendez asked.

Smith fished around in his pockets before pulling out two pieces of candy, and placing them beside the tailpipes. "Here's the plan. While our boys are dealing with insurgents here and here, two teams will flank their positions." He explained, putting the pieces of candy on the flanks of the gas caps. "Once we get the jump on them, we'll start to push them into the city square here. Encircling them where we can hold them off until reinforcements arrive. Any questions?"

"Uh, yeah, I do sir," One of the infantrymen asked, raising his hand, "What do we do if the Ruskies got more vehicles in the area? We've already lost a few MRAPs to a few hidden BMPs and our boys on the other side are dealing with a tank."

"That's where we come in" Another voice perked up, causing them to look at one of the AT gunners patting his M5 as he looked back at them. While the one on his side just nodded.

"Gentlemen," Smith began, motioning to the two, "Meet Specialist Alan Borowski and Antoni Nowak. They're a part of the Polish attachment that joined us for this mission and will be providing AT cover should the time come. Anything else?"

"No sir!" Everyone replied, followed by the sergeant nodding in response.

"Good, now pack up your stuff, we're moving out in five."

…

The sound of gunfire and the occasional explosion continued to play in the background as they navigated through the alleyways and small streets. Sticking to the shadows, they came across another empty street, littered with abandoned market stalls, cars, and personal items that people had left a long time ago, probably because the insurgents forced them into their homes.

They also found the remains of a small UN humanitarian convoy, with bodies scattered around three trucks and a half-finished food stall. Vultures pecked at the bodies and tore into them before they fled.

"Damn, that's the fifth one this month." One of the infantrymen remarked as the group made their way across the street, sticking to the walls before diving into another alleyway.

"Damn Ruskies are getting desperate now, aren't they?" Another said, "First, it was military convoys, now humanitarian aid?" He shook his head, "They don't spare anyone..."

"Can it you two," Smith mumbled, snapping his head back at the two and glaring at them, "We can discuss morality later. Right now, focus on the mission, understand?"

The two infantrymen nodded as they came around another corner. The sergeant threw his fist up, balling it up as they took positions beside the walls. Slowly, he grabbed a mirror and peaked it out of the alleyway, eying the mirror and watching whatever was being shown on it before pulling it back in quickly.

Mendez slowly ran up to their side, crouching right beside them as Smith stuffed the mirror into his pocket before whispering to them. "Counting about forty enemy hostiles as well as the BMP from earlier. There's also a few AT gunners supported by two LMGs."

Mendez quickly moved up, taking a peak before ducking back and looking back at Smith. "They're pulling back, probably to the square," Mendez said, before his eyes wandered to a nearby apartment complex, "If we can get some guys in there," He began, grabbing Smith's attention as he pointed to the complex, "We can surprise a good amount of them."

"Hmmm… I don't know. There's only ten of us… And we're already outnumbered by a damn lot."

"I know, I know, but look." Mendez said as the two took another peak, watching as the insurgents cleared a path on the road ahead, before a BMP started rolling through and disappearing as it took a turn.

The two pulled back behind the corner, with Mendez and Smith looking at each other before Mendez said, "See what I mean? Our boys are pushing them back and they're scrambling to set up what defense they can. If we take advantage of this, it'll really mess them up."

"..." Smith looked up at the, rubbing his chin and chin hairs before letting out a sigh, "How much time do you need?"

"About… Four minutes?"

"Well you got three. And that's all you get. If you can't get there in time, you regroup with us. Got it?"

Mendez nodded.

"Good, now, grab who you need and move out. LT's going to start shit soon and I don't want to bring you back in a damn body bag. Understood?"

"Yes sir!" He said, before going back and looking at their little merry band of soldiers before pointing to three of them. "David, Charles and uhhh… Uhhh… What was your name again?"

"Alan Borow-"

"Yeah yeah, no need for all of that. Can you handle that RPG of yours?"

"RPG? You mean Abbadon?" Alan asked, putting up the RPG for them to see while Mendez just stared at them, confused.

"... I'll take that as a yes." He said, turning back toward Smith, looking at them and giving them a nod, before looking at the other and motioning them to follow. Quickly ducking and sprinting across the street, before making their way to the entrance, gently kicking down the door and bursting their way in. Disappearing back into the shadows.

"Alright boys, now's our que." Smith said, about to run out there as well until.

"Ummm… Sir?"

"... What is it Bob?"

"You forgot to tell them about the signal."

"Like hell I forgot to-... I forgot to tell them about the signal…"

"Oh shit."

…

"What do you mean you forgot to ask them about the signal!?" David silently screamed as he and Mendez took point through the building, quickly but carefully moving hallways. Clearing room by room until they finally came across another alleyway

"Look, I know I… Kinda messed up with that."

"You think?"

"OK, I get it, I messed up big time." He said, receiving an annoyed look, and they were wearing a bloody face mask, "But we got this, alright? All we need to do is catch them while their pants are down, then hold out until our boys arrive. It's that easy.

David just looked at them, muttering "Bobo" under his breath as he switched his FN P90 to fully auto. "Then tell me Mendez, how the hell are we supposed to know when they started the damn attack? For all we know, we can be fighting them all alone while LT is probably fighting with command about this entire-"

David never finished his sentence as a giant explosion suddenly rang out, rocking the ground slightly as everyone hugged the wall, trying to steady themselves as the shaking slowly subsided.

"What the hell was that!?" David exclaimed, only to be answered as a voice rang out on their earpieces, shouting out.

"All units, the tank is down. I repeat, the tank is down. All forces are to start converging upon insurgent positions and commence attacking immediately. Godspeed."

"That, my Asian friend," Mendez said, looking back at them with a smirk on his face. "Was what we're waiting for."

David only gave them a glare before turning back to the gate, pulling out a shotgun from his hip, aiming it at the lock as he waited.

"On, three, ready?"

Everyone nodded.

"One…"

Time seemed to slow down as the four of them prepared to rush out. Charles, a vet of the Third World War, gripped his rifle tightly as they counted down.

"Two…"

Alan did the same, fixing the M5 strapped on his back as he tightened the strap. Holding up his rifle as he got ready to run out.

"Three!"

The blast from the shotgun filled the air, followed by the clank of dented metal hitting the floor as David and Alan burst through the door. Finding themselves in the city square, completely empty, aside from a few ammo crates and crudely made MG nests and barricades.

"Clear!" The two called out as Mendez and Charles followed suit, slowly moving the square. Mendez surveyed the area, until his eyes rested on a nearby apartment building overlooking the square and two of the main roads. The perfect place to set up an ambush.

"David! Charles! Get on the third floor of that building over there!" He said, pointing to the building, "Alan and I will set up shop down here!

David and Charles nodded in response and ran toward the building, lining up beside the door, and executing the same breaching procedure. Kicking the door down and swiftly moving in, leaving Alan and Mendez alone in the square as they started to prepare to say hello to some guests.

"So," Mendez said, inspecting his M5A1 as he took another look at the city square. Before turning his head to Alan "You're the new addition to our team?"

"Tak. I was sent here a few weeks ago." He responded, in a thick, Polish accent.

"Huh, well, welcome to the shitbucket known as Afghanistan, Alan. Hope the weather ain't too hot for you." Mendez said as the two chuckled, relieving the tension of the ongoing battle.

For a few seconds until their earpieces crackled back to life.

"All units, all units, be advised, insurgents are pulling back further into the city. Continue to advance forth until you have reached point Gamma. Recon has also arrived on the scene. Visuals will be provided soon, standby."

As the message wrapped up, the two of them watched as a small square on their visors started to light up, at first being nothing but a mesh of pixels which soon turned to a clear overview map of the user and their surrounding area, connecting to either the smallest nearby drone or the most expensive satellite that NASA had to offer to Uncle Sam. It was practically like a video game that cost trillions of dollars.

And right now, that trillion dollar budget was paying off as red dots started to approach them. Making their way slowly to the city square, as if they were expecting something.

Hopefully they weren't.

"David, Charles, what's your status over there?" Mendez asked, looking at the building as he and Alan started to take positions behind a few abandoned market stalls near the side of the city square as the radio crackled.

"Charles here. Building's secure, save for a few civies hiding on the first floor."

"Can you move them away to a more secure location?"

"Negative sir. They seem adamant to stay where they are. We can try, but we'll need more time."

"Time that we don't have…" Mendez mumbled, rubbing the back of his head as he sighed, "... How secure are they?"

"They're located in some sort of supply closet in the back building sir. With all the concrete located between them and the city square, they can tank a good amount of small arms fire."

"That'll have to do, I guess." Mendez said, looking back at his mini-map as the dots started to get closer and closer. "Be advised, recon says you guys got less than a minute left before company arrives."

"Don't worry, we're ready. Good luck down there."

"You too," Mendez said before ending the call, ducking back down behind his stall. Looking at his rifle and switching it to full-auto as he and Alan waited for their esteemed guests to make their entrance.

Thankfully, they didn't have to wait long as the sound of shouting and tracks rolling across the streets started getting louder and louder. Mendez peaked out once more, seeing two groups of insurgents, one retreating with the BMP, the other meeting up with the survivors and a supply truck, stopping in the middle of the city square, oblivious to the presence of Mendez and his men as they started setting up more defenses around the area.

"I count at least twenty-five hostiles, including one enemy BMP and a supply truck in the middle square." Mendez said, before more soldiers started climbing out the back of the supply truck. "Scratch that, make that thirty-five hostiles."

"Got eyes on what seems to be an insurgent officer. Definitely the asshole who's running the entire show."

"How can you tell?"

"Mainly because he's as panicked as a chicken without a head." Charles quipped as the officer started to climb onto the top of the BMP. Well, key word, tried to, as he had to be helped up.

"You got a shot on them?"

"Affirmative, got the bastard right in my sights. Just give me the all clear and the town's getting a new paint job free of charge."

"Roger that. Get ready to fire on my mark." Mendez said, gripping his rifle once more as he took another peak, watching as the officer finally got up onto the BMP, shouting as he gathered all his men around for what seems to be a debrief of the situation. "Actually.. Hold on. Don't engage until I give the signal."

"Copy- Wait, what signal?"

"Uhh… You'll know when you find out." Mendez said, not even bothering to explain any later as he looked back at Alan, who was holding his M5, ready to open fire the moment the opportunity presented itself.

"Psst, Alan!" Mendez whispered, catching their attention as the AT gunner replied with a short "Tak?"

"You got a shot on that BMP over there?" Mendez asked as Alan slowly peaked out of the stall. Noticing the small but decently spread out crowd surrounding one side of the BMP. "No shot." He said, shaking his head as he ducked back down, "Too many infantry surrounding the damn thing."

"... So?"

"... So… Won't that be a waste of resources?"

"... Can the rocket go through one of them if it hits them?"

"Well… Yes, but-"

"So that shouldn't be a problem, right?"

"... Prawo (Right)..." Alan said, slowly nodded his head.

"So, why are we even having this discussion then?"

Alan just stared at them for a moment, just standing there before he started to chuckle. Shaking his head as he looked at them said, "Oh thank god, I thought you were going to yell at me for 'wasting ammunition' on infantry or some shit." He said, trying to keep himself from laughing out loud as the enemy was literally right there.

"I… Look, can you hit it or not?"

Alan cleared his throat as he nodded. "Yes, I can hit, no problem."

"Good." He said before he looked back at the building that Charles and David just went into across the street. "Charles, David, do you guys have a shot over there as well?"

"Affirm sir. We got these guys in one hell of a killzone. Just give us the order to light these bastards up."

"Right. Alright, everyone pick your targets, we do this right, and we're going back home before Christmas."

"Which Christmas?" David asked on comms.

"This Christmas." He said as he slowly brought up his rifle, taking aim. He looked to his side, watching as Alan did the same, lining the M5 right at the BMP, finger on the trigger as he slowly pressed down on it.

…

Semyon watched as the back doors on the BMP burst open, letting in rays of sunlight as he and the rest of his comrades immediately started making their way out of the vehicle, immediately running around to take defensive positions or make their way to the nearby supply truck. He himself made his way to the truck as well, merging into a small mosh pit as fellow soldiers started dispersing ammunition to the recent arrivals. The sound of shouting, boots clicking against the ground, and treads filled the air as fellow soldiers tried their best to prepare for the impending attack.

His attention was pulled once more as the two soldiers handed a large crate from the truck, passing it down as another mosh pit formed around the crate. Soldiers grabing fistfuls of firearm rounds that could be used with their own weapons. Semyon did the same, grabbing handfuls and stuffing them into his pockets before running out and going to a nearby stall, setting down his newly acquired ammo as he started to insert them into a few recently emptied magazines.

"Давай! Давай! Шевелись! Шевелись! Эти чертовы ублюдки приближаются, и мы должны задержать их как можно дольше! Вперед! Вперед! Вперед! (Cmon! Cmon! Move it! Move it! Those damn bastards are coming and we need to hold them off as long as we can! Go! Go! Go!)" The sergeant cried out as he stood beside the now parked BMP, shouting over the sound of distant fighting as he tried to coordinate everyone before the Americans and the rest of their friends arrived.

Semyon just ignored it as he continued to load round after round into an empty magazine, finishing one before placing it into an empty pocket on his vest before he grabbed another empty magazine and started loading it as well.

"Привет (Hey)!" A voice called out as Seymon stopped loading a magazine and turned around, smiling underneath his facemask as he saw who called out to him.

"Эй, Viktoriya, у тебя все в порядке? (Hey Viktoriya, you doing alright?)"

"У меня все хорошо (I'm doing fine)," Viktoriya said, about to hug him before another explosion rang out in the air, making everyone duck down on instinct before they looked at the direction of the explosion, noticing the new plume of smoke rising in the distance.

"Ну... как бы вы ни понимали, что такое хорошо в нашей нынешней хреновой ситуации. (Well... however you can define fine in our current fucked up situation.)" She said as she joined them. Laying out a few handfuls of rifle rounds and loading them into empty mags.

"Наши ребята уже придумали, как выбраться отсюда? (Have our guys figured out a way to get out of here yet?)

"Один из наших парней на днях обнаружил вход в старую сеть туннелей, которую повстанцы использовали до войны, когда здесь находились американцы. Мы отправили туда разведгруппу, чтобы убедиться, что там безопасно, но пока ждем от них отчета (One of our guys the other day found the entrance to an old tunnel network that insurgents before the war used during the U.S's time here. We sent a scouting party down to make sure that it's safe but we're still waiting for them to report back.)" Semyon said as he finished with another magazine, placing it into a pouch on his vest before moving to another magazine.

"Ну что ж, это радует (Well that's a relief)," She said as she looked back up, eying the growing plume of smoke with a hint of worry in her voice. "Я просто надеюсь, что они дадут нам зеленый свет достаточно скоро, чтобы мы убрались отсюда… (I just hope they give us the green light soon enough to get us the hell out of here…)"

Viktoriya said before looking back at him, her eyes softening underneath the visor as he continued to load magazine after magazine, staring blankly into a void of nothingness. She sighed as she reached out and put her hand on his shoulder, taking him out of whatever trance he was stuck in.

"Мы сделаем это, Семен. (We'll make it Semyon)." She said as Semyon looked back at her, nodding in response.

"Я знаю Viktoriya(I know Viktoriya)" he muttered, turning his attention back to the plumes of smoke rising off in the distance. "Я знаю (I know)..."

The two were silent for a while, with only the sound of gunfire and fellow soldiers walking about until Viktoriya suddenly punched Semyon on the shoulder. Causing the latter to yelp as he rubbed his arm, looking at them as he shouted "Ой! Что это было? (Ow! What the hell was that for!?")

"Что? Я не могу допустить, чтобы ты начал проявлять ко мне нежность! (What? I can't have you start going soft on me!)" She said, chuckling a bit as she watched them rub their arms.

"Это все еще больно… (It still hurt…) He mumbled, about to say something until.

"Эй! (Oi!) Another voice rang out as the two turned around to see another one of their own walking toward. "Сержант хочет, чтобы мы собрались для чего-то. (Sarge wants us to gather' round for something.)"

"Что? Почему? (What? Why?)"

"Похоже, что я знаю? (Does it look like I fucking know)" They said as he looked back at BMP then back at them, "Может, подвести итоги того, что мы собираемся делать? Может, произнесет еще одну свою дурацкую речь? (Maybe a debrief of what we're going to do? Maybe give another one of his dumbass speeches?)"

"Да... Не то чтобы это нам чертовски помогло. (Yeah... Not like it's going to fucking help us.)" Semyon mumbled as he and Viktoriya turned around and started walking back to the middle of the city square, joining the small crowd that semi-surrounded the idle BMP as the sergeant climbed atop it, struggling at first until someone came from underneath them and pushed them up by the ass.

The sergeant glared slightly at the person who helped them, who just shrugged and returned back into the crowd, before standing upright and facing the crowd. Coughing and clearing his throat, grabbing their attention as he said.

"Великие воины истинно русской народной армии! (Great soldiers of the True Russian's People's Army!)" He began. "Сегодня наши враги снова у нашего порога. Они сражаются как звери, желая уничтожить нас, как уничтожили наших товарищей по оружию! (Today, our enemies are at our doorstep once again. Fighting like the animals they are as they wish to destroy us just as they have destroyed our fellow comrades in arms!)"

"Однако (However!)" He quickly said, "У нас есть план! (We have a plan!)"

Наши войска обнаружили ряд туннелей, проходящих под городом. Мы уверены, что они приведут нас к спасению от этих свиней, которые осмелились напасть на нас в самом слабом месте! (Our forces have discovered a series of tunnels that lie underneath the city. We're sure it'll lead us to salvation away from these pigs that dare try to attack us at our weakest point!)

He cried as they started to lean in, almost pulled in by what he was saying as more started listening in from their posts, looking away from the roads and flanks as the sergeant continued on.

Well, almost all of them.

Он изрыгает чушь, как некий немецкий лидер… (He spews bullshit like a certain German leader…) Semyon remarked, pushing his visor up from his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose as he shook his head. "А эти ребята просто объедаются. (And these guys are just eating it up.)"

"Если честно, мы тоже так думали.(To be fair, so did we)" Viktoriya said, making Semyon glare at her for a moment, who returned the favor before he backed down, mumbling underneath his breath "True" as he crossed his arms and looked back at the babbling sergeant

"-И мы никогда не сдадимся! (-And we shall never surrender!)" He concluded, receiving a few claps and cheers from everyone. Which he was obviously enjoying as he looked at them all, smiling like a child who was praised for doing something correct.

Они могут нанести нам удар сверху! Они могут окружить нас по всей земле этого жалкого мира! Они могут даже попытаться помешать нам бежать по морям! Но разве мы будем лежать и умирать? (They may strike us from above! They may surround us all across the lands of this wretched world! They may even try to stop us from escaping by the seas! But will we lay down and die!?)"

"NO!" They cried, shaking their heads as he smiled even more.

"Позволим ли мы им помыкать нами и указывать, что нам делать? (Will we let them push us around and tell us what to do!?)"

"NO!" They cried again, their grip on their weapons tightening as they started to slowly get more riled up.

Неужели мы позволим им заковать нас в цепи своих западных идеалов, как рабов? (Will we let them shackle us with the chains of their western ideals like slaves!?)"

"NO!" They shouted at the top of their lungs, shaking their heads as their eyes started to fill with a deep-burning rage that replaced the hopelessness in their eyes just a few minutes ago.

Запомните мои слова, товарищи. Пока что они могут претендовать на победу над нами. Но мы, как феникс, восстанем из пепла и вернем себе то, что принадлежит нам по праву! (Mark my words my comrades. They may claim victory over us for now. But like a phoenix, we shall rise from the ashes and reclaim what was rightfully ours!)

Прямо как французы! Как и немцы! А теперь еще и как эти свинособачьи ублюдки из НАТО! Мы победим еще раз! Как наши отцы! И отцы наших отцов! И их отцы до них! Мы! Должны! Защитим! Наш! Родину! (Just like the French! Just like the Germans! And now, just like those pig NATO bastards! We shall prevail once more! Just like our fathers! And our father's fathers! And their fathers before them! We! Shall! Defend! Our! Motherland!"

Everyone suddenly burst out into a cheering frenzy as the sergeant raised his hands in the air like a conductor motioning an orchestra. Watching as they raised their fists to the air again and again, chanting "T.R.P." over and over that he was sure that their throats would become dry just from how much they were shouting.

"Да здравствует Россия! (Long live Russia!)" He shouted, causing them to erupt into a cheering frenzy once more.

"Да здравствует Россия! (Long live Russia!)" They responded, raising their fists into the air again.

"Да здравствует T.R- (Long live the T.R)-"

Sadly, the poor bastard never had a chance to finish his chant as a rocket suddenly flew through the air, piercing through the sides of three unlucky infantrymen who were standing in its way. Cutting through skin, bone, and muscle like it was nothing before slamming against the side of the BMP, penetrating the vehicle's armor like a hot knife through butter before combusting, cooking off the ammunition as it turned into a giant ball of fire!

The sergeant didn't even know he died as the explosion blew him to pieces, burning what remained of him into a crispy piece of jerky, as well as a few other unlucky troopers as the explosion engulfed them, killing them instantly as they joined the sergeant's fate.

But they were the lucky ones.

Those who weren't immediately killed by the blast soon fell victim to the intense heat and flames, setting fire to their clothing and burning their skin, causing second and third-degree burns as they suffered from the scorching heat. And that was if they didn't pass out from the pain.

And then, there were those who were lucky and not lucky at the same time.

Semyon and Viktoriya however, were one of those very few.

Acting on instinct, he grabbed Viktoriya and pushed the both of them to the ground, throwing her underneath himself as a deafening boom filled the air, followed by the feeling of gravel, dirt, and debris falling on top of them as the smoke started to clear.

As the two started to come to and get up from the ground, they looked at the aftermath of the explosion, watching as their comrades were either running all over the place or sprawled on the floor as they tried to recover from the chaos..

"S-Semyon…" Viktoriya groaned as he turned his head back to her, noticing the position they both were in as he felt a warmness flush up to his cheeks as he looked back at himself then at her.

"Простите! (Sorry!)" He yelped as he got off of her. Grabbing her hand and helping her up as well as he started chanting a mental prayer, thanking God that he had a mask

"Ты в порядке? (Are you alright?)" He asked, helping them dust off until she gently smacked his hand away, causing him to pull it back as he mumbled out "Ow" as he nursed his hand.

"Я в порядке, идиот! (I'm fine you idiot!)" She hissed as she started dusting herself off. She started looking around as soldiers started running left and right, trying to make sense of the confusion happening around them. "Что, черт возьми, произошло? Они, блядь, нанесли по нам удар с беспилотника!? (What the hell happened? Did they fucking drone strike us!?)"

"Я не знаю… (I don't know)" Semyon said as he looked up to the sky, trying to find any sign of an airstrike but he couldn't. There were no smoke trails, there were no aircraft circling in the sky. Maybe it was one of those annoying UAV drones. They were always so hard to find and so annoying. He pushed the thought aside as someone accidentally ran into him, causing him to look at the carnage happening all around him as he shouted "Но мы должны, блядь, сдвинуть его с места!(But we need to fucking move it!)"

"Куда, блядь, двигаться? (Move fucking where!?)" She shouted back as the two started moving around with the rest,

He didn't have time to answer as someone in front of them suddenly went limp. They stopped for a few moments, putting their hand to their head, before falling onto the ground with a gaping hole on the top of their helmet. Blood slowly pooled around their head as it stained the dust with red.

Everyone stopped what they were doing, diverting their attention to the now dead man in the middle of the square as a few dropped crates of ammo, fuel cans, their weapons, but thankfully not explosives as they slowly realized what happened.

"КОНТАКТ! КОНТАКТ! МЫ ПОЛУЧИЛИ КОН- AGH! (CONTACT! CONTACT! WE GOT CON-)" Someone shouted out before taking three bullets, two to the chest and one to the face as he fell to the ground. Causing everyone to panic as some started to run for cover while others aimed their rifles all over the place. Trying to find the perpetrators and shooting at shadows as more bullets responded to their shot, killing more of them as they started to fall one by one.

Semyon and Viktoriya quickly made their way toward the fountain in the middle of the city square. Bullets whizzed from both sides as they ducked and dodged, barely making it as pieces of the fountain exploded, just barely protecting them from the unknown attackers.

"Где, черт возьми, эти парни!? (Where the hell are these guys!?)" Viktoriya shouted as she brought up her rifle while taking a peak from the fountain, only to be forced back as a round just barely took off her head!

"Работаем над этим! (I'm working on it!)" Semyon shouted as he tried to get visual as well. Only to be forced back as well. He cursed under his breath as he noticed three more of their own just a few meters from them, firing in the same direction as they possibly knew where the attackers were.

"Эй! (Hey!)" He called out, getting the attention of one of them as they ducked back down behind the stall, "Где, черт возьми, эти парни!? (Where the hell are these guys!?)"

"Киоски у здания на шесть! (Stalls by the building on your six!)" He replied as another burst of gunfire slammed against the stall, surprising the both of them at how sturdy this was.

Whoever made this stall must've thought about the possibility of firefights happening when he made it. Clever.

"Сколько их? (How many are there?)" Semyon asked as he brought up his rifle. Getting ready to get up and engage them as well.

"Только два проклятых ублюдка. Но мы не можем попасть в т (Only two of the damn bastards, but we can't get a shot on t-)" He said before his head jerked for a moment and he fell flat on the floor. A pool of blood forming where his head laid, eyes open as they were filled with shock.

The two of them turned their heads to see their dead comrade, shocked that they had died as they started looking around, trying to find the shooter. They never did as one of them got shot in the head as well by the unknown shooter while the other was torn to shreds by the shooters by the stalls. Joining the small pile of bodies and blood as they fell to the ground.

Semyon turned his head as a nearby apartment complex caught his eye. Looking at every open window and porch until he settled on the third story. Seeing muzzle flashes light up the darkness of the rooms, just barely revealing the shooters.

Обращайтесь! Три часа! Враги на третьем этаже в этом жилом комплексе. (Contact three o'clock! Hostiles on the third floor in that apartment complex!)" He shouted as he took aim and started firing back, bullets flying into the windows as the shooters took cover. One of them shouting something back before firing blindly, bullets whizzing by as Semyon grabbed Viktoriya by the hand, dragging her with him as they ran to a group of stalls with a hail of bullets following close behind, almost hitting them before they dove for the nearest one.

"Эй! Предупреждение, блядь, не помешало бы! (Hey! A fucking warning would have been nice y'know!)" Viktoriya exclaimed as she pulled away from their grip, grabbing her rifle and providing suppressive fire on the building as one of their own was pulling a wounded soldier into cover.

О! Прости, что спас твою задницу от превращения в швейцарский сыр! (Oh! Sorry for saving your ass from becoming swissed cheese!)" Semyon shouted as he joined her, firing his weapon at the window just as Viktoriya ran dry. Making her pull back behind the stall as she fished for another magazine.

Ты знаешь, сколько их там, блядь!? (You know how fucking many are up there!?)

"Нет! (No!)" He shouted as his rifle clicked empty as well. Just as another hail of bullets flew all around him, forcing him back to cover.

"Есть предположения? (Got a guess?)"

"Не знаю! Около пяти, наверное? Не могу сказать без четкого обзора! (I dunno! Around five of them maybe? Can't tell without a clear view!)" He said, peaking out once more before being forced back as another hair of bullets started peppering the stalls.

У кого-нибудь есть чертовы гранаты? Они бы сейчас очень пригодились! (Does anyone have any fucking grenades!? Some of those would be very helpful right now!)"

"У нас есть немного в грузовике! (We've got some in the truck!)" Someone shouted as the two looked at the infantry man who said that. Who was taking cover behind a few abandoned cars near the truck.

"Вы справитесь? (Can you make it?)"

The soldier looked at them, hesitance all over his face as he looked at the truck, then the mayhem all around him before looking back at them, determination replacing the hesitance as he nodded.

"Хорошо! Мы вас прикроем! Просто бегите и хватайте как можно больше! (Good, we'll cover you! Just run and grab as many as you can!)" Semyon said as they nodded in response, looking around before setting his eyes on a few more of their comrades.

"Pssst!" He half-whispered half-shouted, catching their attention as he gave them a few hand signals, before they caught on and nodded, taking cover behind whatever they were as they waited.

Back to the coupl- I mean Semon and Viktoriya, the two gripped their rifles tightly watching as bullets continued to fly both ways almost non-stop until finally.

Поджигайте этого ублюдка! (Light that fucker up!)" Semyon shouted as everyone got out of their hiding places, definitely suppressing those in the apartment complex as glass that somehow hasn't shattered and pieces of the building started to chip off.

Meanwhile, the soldier from earlier got up from the cars and started sprinting as fast as he could for the supply truck, moving like a track star as he ran past bodies, dropped crates of ammunition, and jumped over stalls as he was about to reach the vehicle!

*WOOOOOSH!*

*BOOM!*

Until a rocket slammed onto the side truck, causing it to burst into flames as all the ammunition inside went off and become one big explosion the size of your mothe-

The soldier who was just running toward watched in horror as the truck exploded, but he didn't have time to realize how bad it was as he was suddenly thrown into the air. The shockwave threw him into the air, arms and legs flailing like he was trying to fly as he screamed at the top of his lungs. Before crashing into a nearby watermelon stall (That had somehow been there due to Afghanistan's environment) with a sickening thud.

"... По крайней мере, он приземлился в арбузном ларьке... (At least he landed in a watermelon stand...)"

Semyon snapped his head to them, about to say something until the same soldier popped out of the pile of debris, covered in watermelon pieces as he called out. "Я в порядке! (I'm OK!)" Giving a thumbs up before another nearby soldier came along and quickly dragged them to cover.

"... Ну, эта идея разгорелась, в буквальном смысле. (... Well, that idea went up into flames, literally.)" Semyon remarked as he looked at the burning wreckage that was the supply truck, before receiving an elbow nudge from Viktoriya, making him wince in pain as he looked at her. "Эй! Значит, тебе можно шутить, а мне, блядь, нет? Лицемер! (Hey! So you can make quirky jokes but I fucking can't!? Hypocrite!)"

Viktoriya just looked at them annoyed (Even with her mask and visor), before letting out an exasperated sigh as she looked at the now flaming wreckage that was the truck. "Ну, грузовик уехал, и что теперь? (Well, truck's gone, so what now?)"

"Я не знаю. (I don't know)" Semyon said, "Мы ничего не можем сделать, не рискуя получить пулю в спину. Если мы не получим подкрепления, то останемся здесь в роли уток! (There's nothing we can do without risking ourselves getting shot in the back. Unless we get reinforcements, we're sitting ducks over here!)"

"Hmmmm…" Viktoriya hummed as she took another peak, "Привет, Semyon! (Hey, Semyon!)"

"Да?"

"Ты все такой же быстрый, как в школе? (You still as fast as you were in highschool?)" She asked, placing a new mag in her rifle while Semyon looked at them, chuckling as he did the same.

"Зависит от того, сколько вы хотите поставить? (Depends, how much do you want to bet?)"

She shook her head as the two lined up against the stall, listening to the staccato of gunfire continue on. Just waiting until the time was right.

*CLICK*

"Reloading!"

"Сейчас! (Now!)"

She shouted as she started firing wildly at the building, screaming every Russian curse and slur she could that I can't add here because not even I can tell what she was saying, all while Semyon started sprinting toward the building as fast as he could. Bullets whizzed past him as he ducked and dodged, not stopping until he finally reached the doors, slamming his shoulder into the door and crashing into the building, falling onto the floor face first before he quickly got up. He checked his surroundings and saw that he was in the clear, before looking at the supposed locked/blocked door.

Man, he was expecting it to be locked now, wasn't he?

He pushed those thoughts aside as gunfire rang out above him, making his way through the building until he found the stairway and slowly made his way up. Carefully but with haste, he quietly went up the steps, his rifle trained at every corner, but no one was there as he slowly made it to the third floor. Hearing voices coming from a nearby room, he quickly made his way to them. About to enter and dispatch the attackers, he heard one of the angrily shout.

"DAVID! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU AIMING!?"

Man, and he thought he had anger issues.

…

Mendez ran as fast as he could through a line of stalls, firing wildly at five other Russian soldiers who fired back, forcing him to dive behind one of the stalls. He crawled up to his feet and leaned against the wood of the stall, catching his breath as he loaded another magazine into his rifle, but the mask made it slightly hard to breathe, especially in places like this.

God, these masks are both blessings and curses sometimes.

He peaked once more and aimed his rifle, firing three bursts as two Russian soldiers went down, their bodies going limp as the other three fired back angrily, forcing him back behind the stall as they continued their assault.

"Alan!" He called out as he pressed the side of the earpiece, "How you doing over there!?"

"I-... Well-... G-Give me a moment!" He replied as the radio went silent for a moment, followed by the sound of three consecutive shots and two screams of pain as the radio crackled to life once more. "I'm doing well, got a few of the bastards. Probably going to get a promotion, especially with that BMP. Maybe even impress the ladies if you get what I mean."

"Amen to that!" He called out, chuckling as he peaked once more, seeing the last one just firing back at Alan, forgetting about him completely as Mendez took aim and let off one shot. The bullet found its mark on their head as they went limp. Falling to the ground as they were motionless.

"How you doing with ammo over there?"

"Not that well!" He said, "I'm down to just three mags left over here! How much longer until our boys get over here to join the fun?"

"They're coming, they're coming! We just got to give them some time, that's all!" Mendez replied as he took a few more potshots, almost hitting a female attacker before one of their own quickly grabbed them and pulled them to cover. "So in the meantime, I suggest you get comfy because we're going to be here a while."

"... You bring any marshmallows? I got the chocolate and crackers." Alan quipped up as the two chuckled, easing the tension of the battle for a moment until suddenly.

"СМОТРИТЕ, УРОДЫ! ЖАЛКИЕ СУЧКИ! ВЫХОДИТЕ СЮДА, ЧТОБЫ Я МОГ ОТОРВАТЬ ВАШИ ЯЙЦА, ЗАСУНУТЬ ИХ ВАМ В ГЛОТКУ И ПОСМОТРЕТЬ, КАК ВЫ БУДЕТЕ ЕСТЬ ИХ, КАК ФРИКАДЕЛЬКИ! (CMON YOU BASTARDS! YOU SORRY BITCHES! COME OUT HERE SO I CAN RIP YOUR BALLS OFF AND SHOVE THEM DOWN YOUR THROAT AND WATCH YOU EAT THEM LIKE MEATBALLS!)

A voice, definitely female, screamed as Mendez turned his head to the shouting bit- I mean… person, seeing the same female soldier from earlier firing wildly where Charles and David had taken position, suppressing them as bullets whizzed all around them.

Mendez took aim at the woman, finger on the trigger as he slowly pressed down on it.

Wait, what the hell was that?

He saw a lone soldier suddenly make a run for it, running as fast as they could toward the apartment building. He turned his rifle at them instead, firing round after round as he cursed with each miss. He tried to adjust his aim, but they kept ducking and dodging, eventually reaching their destination as he watched the person crash through the door and into the building.

"Shit," Mendez cursed as he ducked back down, pressing his earpiece once more as he screamed into it.

"Charles! David!? For fuck's sake, can one of you hear me? He cried as there was silence, with only static to fill the empty void until the radio crackled.

"Hey Mendez, how's it going?"

"Huh? David? I- Never mind, where the hell is Charles!?"

"Charles is uhhh, a bit… Um… Occupied right now so-"

"Agh! F-Fuck! David! I t-think the bullet just went fucking deeper!"

"What do you me- Just k-keep applying pressure to the wound and- Fuck! J-Just a moment!" David shouted, followed by the sound of gunfire and Charles shouting "DAVID, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU AIMING AT!?"

If he had to guess, he'd say that they missed again.

"David? David!? What the hell is going on over there!?"

"C-Charles got shot, sir, lower abdomen, possible major internal bleeding. I did what I could but I don't know how long he's going to last. He needs medical attention, ASAP."

"... I'll see what I can do, but we'll have to put a plug on that for now."

"Huh!? S-Sir, Charles' been hit! I-I get that we're in the middle of a firefight bu-"

"That's not what I meant, David," Mendez said, interrupting them as they stopped talking. "One of the bastards found your position and made a dash for it. I tried to to stop them but-"

"W-Woah, woah, woah! H-Hold on!" David exclaimed, his voice becoming soft S-Someone's fucking inside!?" David quietly shouted before the sound of a door behind kicked down could be heard in the background, followed by shouting in Russian saying, "РУКИ ВВЕРХ! СЕЙЧАС! (HANDS IN THE AIR! NOW!)"

"MOTHERFUCKER" A voice, presumably Charles' shouted out before the line cut out abruptly. Possibly that David had cut the call to engage the unknown attacker. Or he got fucking shot.

"David!? Charles!? Do you copy!? Goddamnit!? Do you guys fucking read me!?" Mendez shouted as a look of horror slowly washed all over his face (I know he has a mask, but you get the idea). He turned his attention back to the apartment building, watching as two individuals, presumably David and Charles, fought against a third individual through the window, with one of them getting back up and charging the third while another was on their back.

Sadly, they were clearly losing as the third kicked the charging one in the balls, followed by a howl of pain as the third then turned his attention to the man on his back, backing up and crashing them into wall after wall before getting them off, forcing the two to fight on equal terms as they threw a few punches at each other until one of them grabbed the other and threw them across the room.

"Shit!" He shouted as he ran out of the stalls, trying to make a run for the building as well, but a sudden spray of gunfire flew all around him, causing him to curse as he turned back and dove for the ground and behind the bullet-ridden stall. Catching his breath as he took another peak at the building, watching as more fighting happened inside.

'Shit. What do I do? Charles is fucking wounded and David.. Yeah, David's fucking dead.' He thought as he took another peak, only to be met with a bullet ricocheting off the stall as he pulled back. Trying to think of something as he held his rifle up.

"So… You mind telling me what the hell all of that was about?" The radio crackled as Mendez looked to the side, seeing Alan hiding behind cover as well as he waved hi at them. "Because you're either crazy, suicidal, or trying to get somewhere so hard that you try to run out there as a whole bunch of angry people try shooting at you that you just realized were there.

"David and Charles got a guest up there." He began, looking back at the building as one of them just gut punched them, "And decided to welcome them with a quick wrestling match."

"Are they winning?"

"Well… Charles got shot in the stomach and knowing David… Yeah, they're fucked."

"Is he really that bad at hand-to-hand combat?"

"The worst. I don't even know how he passed training." Mendez remarked, remembering when the medic somehow punched himself but shook his head to clear his head from any distractions. "But that doesn't matter. Point is, they're losing and I don't want to be responsible for losing our guys and the team medic."

"Can you make it to them?"

Mendez slowly moved to the side of the stall, about to peak until a gunshot rang out, followed by the stall taking another hit, forcing him back to cover. "No. How about you? Got an opening on your side?"

There was silence for a moment as Alan slowly peaked out as well. Before looking back at them and giving them a thumbs up as he said "Affirmative. Looks like they forgot about me… Well… The ones that survived of course. I think I can sneak past them, but you're going to have to draw their fire."

"Got it, plus, I think I already got their attention." He said as he gripped his rifle tightly, looking back at Alan as they had already started making their move. Sneaking through the stalls without any problem.

And with a deep breath, he got up, and opened fire.

…

A few minutes ago.

David wasn't really a bad shot. Honest.

Sure, he was one of the worst shots in his regiment (Or the worst in general), but he could hit a target in front of him. That is, if it was close enough. Besides, he was a medic, he didn't really do a lot of shooting. Just a lot of running, dodging, and stopping people from dying.

Which is why he loved the FN P90. Although a little outdated, later variants like the P50 would make him fall head over heels for the gun all over again. It was perfect for engaging enemy troops from close proximity up to two hundred meters at least. Plus, it was lightweight and had one hell of a magazine, perfect for his usual routine of running around like a chicken while forgetting to reload.

Well, at least he could get in some practice now, especially since there were a lot of angry Russians down there who were pretty pissed about him and Charles killing some of their friends.

Well, technically, Charles did most of the killing. David wounded most of the people he targeted with a few kills here and there. But still, Charles did most of the killing.

But considering Charles' current state, it would probably be best to not say that.

"How are you doing back there Charles? You still with me?" David called out as he ducked down, barely dodging another barrage of bullets as he took a quick glance at them, leaning against the wall near a closet by the entrance as they lay there.

"I-I'm not d-d-dead yet, a-am I?" Charles stuttered out as he pressed a piece of white gauze against his chest. A small trickle of blood spilling out of his mouth while the gauze in his hand gradually started turning red itself. "H-How are you doing o-over there? You k-kicking ass?"

David bit his lip as he took another peak out the edge of the window. But another series of shots went off, hitting the brick and concrete walls near him as he ducked down.

"Uhh… I'm doing my best?"

"You're fucking up, a-aren't you?"

"Big time." David said as he put his P90 up onto the window, blindly firing back, unsure if he was even close to hitting anyone but it was more of suppressive than actually trying to hit something. "S-So, how's your day going?"

"Terrific. J-Just laying down here, b-bleeding out." Charles mumbled as he slightly lifted the cloth from his wound. Looking at the gaping hole in his uniform and chest as it spurt out blood, prompting him to press the cloth against his wound immediately. "Fuck, I-I think it hit something important."

"I think the giant pool of blood says so as well." David mumbled underneath his breath as he continued to fire blindly at them until he heard an empty click.

"Fuck- Reloading!" He shouted out instinctively, pulling back his hand and working to replace the now empty magazine just as another barrage followed by a feminine voice shouting enough Russian swear words to make the devil blush started pelting him physically and emotionally

Now David remembered why he was afraid of women. Just how many creative insults could she cook up!?

"Char- *Crackle* Charles, do you copy!?" His earpiece crackled, catching them off guard as he pressed a finger on it. "Hey Mendez, how's it going?"

"Huh? David? I- Never mind, where the hell is Charles!?"

"Charles is uhh…" He muttered, watching as they wiped a stream of blood from their mouth as another started to form, "A bit… Um… Occupied right now so-"

"Agh! F-Fuck!" Charles suddenly screamed, looking down as the cloth started to leak red. "David! I t-think the bullet just went fucking deeper!"

"Shit! K-Keep applying pressure to the wound and-" He shouted, about to get up before a bullet just grazed his helmet, causing him to tip forward before he fell back, crawling back to safety. "Fuck! J-Just a moment!" He shouted before he threw his hand holding his P90 at the window, firing wildly for a good ten seconds before noticing that he was firing at the foundation.

And apparently, Charles could see that as well.

"DAVID! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU AIMING AT!?"

Before he could answer the very angry and irritated Charles about his horrid shooting skills, the radio crackled once more, forcing him back down, "David! David!? What the hell is going over there!?"

"C-Charles got shot sir!" He said, reloading his magazine, not even bothering to check how much he had left in the previous one. "Lower abdomen, possible major internal bleeding. I did what I could but I don't know how long he's going to last. He needs medical attention, ASAP."

A moment of silence followed for a moment, probably because Mendez was comprehending that Charles got shot, but the radio crackled to life once more. "I'll see what I can do, but we're going to have to put a plug in that for now."

"Huh!? S-Sir, Charles' been hit! I-I get that we're in the middle of a firefight bu-"

"That's not what I meant, David," Mendez interrupted, "One of the bastards found your position and made a dash for it. I tried to stop them bu-"

"W-Woah, woah, woah! H-Hold on. S-Someone's fucking inside!?" David quietly shouted as he kept looking at the door then back at his weapon, trying to fit the damn magazine but for some reason it wouldn't fit! Maybe it was because he was nervous and his hands were shaking? Was it damage? Just what was it's bloody fucking problem-

Oh, it was upside-down.

But too bad it was too late when he realized that.

"РУКИ ВВЕРХ! СЕЙЧАС! (HANDS IN THE AIR! NOW!)" A voice shouted out as David looked back up at the door, his eye's widening in surprise and horror underneath his visor as he saw a Russian soldier rush in. Noticing David was on the floor, he took aim at them.

Time seemed to slow down as he tried to bring up his SMG as well, but he was too slow as they were faster than he was. Mentally, he began praying as fast as he could, hoping that his vest might be enough to stop the rounds from piercing into his skin. And if not, then he hoped that the rounds wouldn't damage anything important. And if not…

Well, he really hoped there was a place up there for him with the rest of those he lost and not down there.

"MOTHERFUCKER!" Charles roared, jolting David from his mental prayers. Charles sprang to his feet, charging at the enemy soldier. The soldier turned, trying to bring his rifle to bear, but Charles was already upon him, slamming him against the wall. Charles unleashed a barrage of punches to the soldier's gut, screaming with each strike.

The soldier, grimacing, caught Charles's fist mid-swing, their eyes locking in a deadly stare. With a grunt, the soldier shoved Charles's fist aside and, with a swift headbutt, sent Charles reeling. The soldier advanced, a menacing figure in the dim light.

Charles, shaking his head to clear the stars, roared again and charged. He swung wildly, but the soldier deftly dodged each blow, weaving like a seasoned fighter. Ducking under Charles's final punch, the soldier drove his fist into Charles's wound. Charles gasped in agony, stumbling back as blood poured from his reopened wound.

The soldier moved in, sensing victory. But Charles, desperation flashing in his eyes, drew his sidearm. The shot rang out, and the soldier staggered, a look of shock crossing his face. He touched his chest, feeling for the wound, then stuck his finger into the hole.

No blood.

He reached into his vest and pulled out a book, the bullet lodged in its pages. For a moment, he stared at the book, his hand trembling. Slowly, his gaze lifted to Charles, eyes now blazing with fury. His grip tightened on the book, knuckles white with rage.

Charles now had shortened his life expectancy…

"Ummm… C-Can we talk about t-this?" Charles meekly asked as the soldier continued to stare them down. Suddenly, he threw the book at them, pages and photos flying in the air as it connected with their face. Disorienting them for a few seconds, but it was a few seconds too many as the soldier lunged at them, tackling them to the ground as he pinned them to floor, punching the fuck out of them relentlessly, showing no mercy as each swing sent their head one way or the other.

"H-Hey! Asshole!" A voice shouted, making them hold out a punch as they turned around. Only to be met with David aiming their P90 at them. Finger itching to pull the trigger as he cried. "E-Eat lead!"

If they didn't have that visor on their face, David was sure he'd see their eyes full of shock and terror. But bodily language would suffice as he watched them get off Charles and put their hands in front of them. Trying to stop them with a calming gesture or to at least

*CLICK*

Only to be greeted by an all too familiar clicking sound

"W-What the!?" David exclaimed as he pulled on the trigger a few more times, only getting a *CLICK* every time he did so. As he tried to pull out the magazine, the soldier slowly lowered their guard as well, watching them as he pulled it out and looked at the inside of it.

Empty.

David really should have checked the ammo first.

David slowly looked back up at them, then back at his now empty P90, then back at them. Who for some reason were looking at them like a disappointed parent as he crossed his arms. He gulped in response, his body tensing up and gripping his now empty weapon and magazine tighter as he said.

"... Mind if I reload this mate."

Of course, they did mind.

With no choice, he threw his empty weapon, then the magazine, at them as he reached for his good old M1911 on his holster. Trying to undo the strap on it but he was too slow as they were suddenly upon them. Delivering one hell of a kick as their boot was suddenly on their chest. Kicking them down as David crashed onto the floor, rubbing his head as he looked back at them as they started to make their way to him as well. Causing the medic to desperately crawl away in a vain attempt to escape them.

However, salvation soon arrived as Charles joined in on the fray. Coming up behind them in an attempt to choke them out as he jumped on their back and wrapped their arms around their neck. Taking advantage of this, David quickly got off from the floor, pulling out his combat knife instead as he charged at them, about to bring the knife down on their chest.

*CRACK*

Only to receive a boot to the balls, causing them to let out a high-pitched scream of pain and suffering as they dropped the knife and fell to the floor on their knees. Hands on their balls as he looked up at them, who seemingly was just as surprised as they were if they weren't in such excruciating pain.

"Why…" David mumbled as he fell back onto the floor, writhing back and forth as pained moans escaped his mouth. All while Charles and the soldier looked down at them, unsure of what to do.

"Man… How hard did you kick them?" Charles asked, a little worried as he pressed his legs together.

"... Honestly, I don't even know…" The soldier replied as they looked at each other for a moment, before resuming to juke it out.

Meanwhile, David was still writhing on the floor as he groaned softly in pain. His legs clamped together tightly over his hands as he tried to nurse his probably shattered privates. The pain pulsing through his body but gradually getting duller as time went on, hopefully meaning it wasn't permanent damage.

Hopefully.

"Welp, l-looks like I'm not having children anytime soon…" David mumbled as he started to get back up, getting up to his knees just as a scream rang out, causing him to look up just in time to see Charles get flung over a kitchen counter, flying in the air before crashing into a wooden table. Remaining motionless as the dust slowly settled, revealing a knocked out Charles as he lay there on top of the rubble.

He quickly got back up, looking back at the soldier, who was dusting off his hands as he looked at his handiwork. Then at David as if he just noticed he was there, like he forgot about him like a piece of trash you forgot to pick up while your mother is yelling at you for some reason.

Without thought, he reached for his sidearm once again, successfully pulling it out of his holster as he took aim at them. But they were faster, pulling out an M95 like a cowboy from the old west and firing off a few shots, causing the medic to yelp out loud as he ducked and dodged before diving in the air and behind a couch, just as the soldier's M95 clicked empty as well, forcing him behind the counter as he took cover.

"Y'know!" The soldier shouted as he started to reload his sidearm, "All of this can be avoided if you just surrender!"

"... You speak English?" David asked, a hint of surprise lacing his world as he called out, "And fluently?"

"Да. I studied English for a master's degree before… All of this." He said, trailing off the last part as he finished up with reloading the sidearm. "Name's Semyon. Semyon Zaytsev."

"Sem… Semen?"

"It's Semyon! Not fucking Semen Ты, тупая американская свинья!" He shouted angrily as he got up and fired a few shots at the couch, causing David to wince as bullets flew once more.

"O-OK! OK! Jeez! I-I'm sorry! I'm fucking sorry alright!?" David exclaimed as Semyon continued to fire, only stopping as his sidearm went dry once more, forcing him back behind cover as he started reloading once more, angrily grumbling in Russian as he did so.

"Stupid American! Do you just go around making fun of random people's names!? God, you Americans are always so insufferable!"

"It's not my damn fault that your mother decided to fucking name you that!"

"W-Well! What's your fucking name then!?"

"Ummm… D-David… David Simmons?"

"... Haha!"

"Hey! At least it's better than yours!"

"Yeah! If you want your first initials to out spell deez nu-"

"Oh shut up!"

David shouted as he grabbed a nearby broken off piece of wood, chucking it over his head and behind the counter as it landed with a muffled thud, followed by Semyon yelping in pain and the clatter of wood on the floor.

"Ow! What the hell was that!?"

"Payback." David responded, chuckling like a bloody child before something flew through the air and landed on his helmet with a heavy thud. Causing him to rub his head (Helmet) as he looked at the object, only to find out it was a grenade. His eyes widened underneath his visor as he quickly reached out for it and threw it out a window.

Just in time as it went off the moment it went out.

David quickly dove for the ground just as the blast pushed him back. Causing him to hit his head hard on the floor, dropping his sidearm in the process as he blacked out for a moment. As he came to, his ears were ringing and felt dull as he tried to recover from the blast. His eyesight was fuzzy and hazed as he tried to move, crawling on all fours as felt around for it.

And after a while of crawling around and searching for it, he found it.

And immediately afterward, his hand was suddenly stepped on. Causing him to grit his teeth in pain as he slowly looked back up,

The next thing he knew, all we saw was total darkness.

Semyon stood over the American medic's body, pistol in hand as he just delivered one hell of a pistol whip to their face. He sighed as he shook his head, before looking back outside and placing a finger to his ear.

"Виктория. Статус? (Viktoriya. Status?)"

"О? Теперь ты наконец-то решил поговорить со мной после всего того дерьма, которое ты устроил, да? (Oh? Now you finally decide to talk to me after all that shit you pulled off huh!?)" An angry female voice responded.

"О чем ты только думал, бросая туда эту чертову гранату? Я бы беспокоился о том, что тебя разорвет шрапнелью. Но вместо этого я больше волнуюсь о том, что все эти гребаные вещи, которые ты бросаешь, будут отправлены обратно ко мне! (Just what the fuck were you thinking about throwing a damn grenade in there!? I would've been worried about you getting torn up by fucking shrapnel. But instead, I'm more worried about the fucking stuff you throw being sent back to me!)"

"Эй! Я не виноват, что гребаный враг теперь может внезапно думать двумя клетками мозга. (Hey! It's not my fault that the fucking enemy can now suddenly think with two brain cells)" He countered, about to say something else before taking another deep breath and letting out a sigh as he lifted his visor off his face and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Просто... Дай мне посидеть. (Just… Give me a sit-rep.)"

"Ну... Вам нужны хорошие или плохие новости? (Well... Do you want the good news or the bad news?)"

"... Vicky…"

"Не называй меня так! (Don't call me that name!)"

"Тогда скажи мне, что, блядь, пошло не так! (Then tell me what the fuck went wrong!)"

"Ничего не пошло не так! (Nothing went wrong)!"

"... Правда? (Really?)" Semyon said in a sarcastic tone as Viktoriya let out a dramatic sigh.

"Я серьезно. Мы оттеснили тех засадников... Так они называются? Засадники? Неважно. Мы оттеснили их и оцепили территорию. (I'm serious. We pushed back those ambushers... Is that what they're called? Ambushers? Nevermind. We pushed them back and secured the area.)"

"... Продолжайте… (Go on…)"

"Ну... Хотя нам и удалось их оттеснить… (Well... While we did manage to push them off…)" She said before suddenly a boom roared throughout the city, followed by more panicked shouting as Semyon looked outside to see more columns of smoke rising in the air.

"У нас есть компания. (We got company)"

"Да, я заметил. (Yeah, I noticed)" Semyon said as he went back inside of the room, grabbing his rifle off the ground and dusting it off. "Мы отступаем? (Are we pulling back?)"

"Нет. (Nope)" Viktoriya said, "Разведгруппа, о которой говорил этот ублюдок-офицер, только что вернулась и сообщила, что туннели чисты. Мы уже уходим, и я предлагаю вам сделать то же самое. (That scouting party that the bastard of an officer said from earlier just came back and reported the tunnels are clear. We're already bugging out, so I suggest you do the same.)"

"Я так и сделаю, а пока сосредоточься на себе и убирайся отсюда. (I will, but for now, focus on yourself and get the hell out of here.)" Seeker said as he loaded another magazine into his rifle, "Я встречусь с вами в ближайшее время. Просто иди, сейчас же! (I'll meet up with you shortly. Just go, now!)"

There was a long silence afterward as gunfire and explosions slowly got closer and closer. Finally, after seemingly forever, the radio crackled again with a very hesitant sigh of acceptance.

"Понятно. Мы встретимся с вами позже. Удачи. (Understood. We'll meet up with you later. Good luck.)

"Ты тоже. (You too.)" He said, ending the transmission as the line went dead.

As he looked out the window once more, his mind slowly started to wonder what it'd be like if he didn't join the sad excuse that was now the TRP.

Maybe he would've died somehow during the war.

Maybe he would have survived and had a happy life.

He remembered what he told the American medic earlier about his English major. He was doing so well in it. Shame the war and his younger fanatical self had other plans. Maybe he would've met the medic later and they would've been great friends.

One could wonder.

However, wonder would have to wait as a pained groan suddenly took him out of his train of thought. His head turning in the direction of the sound, looking back at the supposedly knocked out David, his head slightly turning every now and then, slowly coming too.

Semyon sighed as he shouldered his rifle and pulled out his sidearm one last time. Making sure that it was loaded as he pulled out the magazine (It was) and slid it back in. Slowly taking aim at the medic's head. Finger on the trigger as he slowly pulled down on it.

*BANG*

A single gunshot rang out as a brief flash of light suddenly filled the room, followed by complete silence for a few seconds, with only the sound of fighting in the background to fill in the void. Blood started to slowly pool onto the ground, staining the tile floor as it bled into the cracks until finally.

"AGH! БЛЯДЬ! МОЯ ГРЕБАНАЯ РУКА! (FUCK! MY FUCKING ARM!)" Semyon screamed as he fell to the ground. Dropping his sidearm while clutching his arm. Trying his best not to scream out in pain as blood spurted out his shoulder.

Another shot rang out as a bullet hole formed right beside him, making him curse as they rolled across the floor to the end of the couch, curling into a ball as more bullets flew right past him with a few just barely missing him.

Эй! Дружественный огонь! Дружественный огонь, черт возьми! (Hey! Friendly fire! Friendly fire god damn it!)" He shouted, waving his hand out to try and motion to them, only to receive more bullets and some angry Polish words back, causing him to curse whatever force that has decided to unfavor him as he dove back to cover.

Единственный раз, когда это не дружественный огонь... (The one time it isn't friendly fire...)" He grumbled as he pressed his ear, trying to contact Viktoriya to come to his aid, but to his surprise, all he felt was the soft tissue of his inner ear. And not the cold (Sometimes warm) plastic that was his standard issued comm device

"Ну и дерьмо (Well shit)" He mumbled as another volley of rounds pelted the couch, causing him to wince and pull back his arms and legs, trying to deny the attacker any potential targets that could end up with a bullet anywhere in his body.

"Come out now!" A voice, potentially the attacker, called out as the bullets seemed to come to a halt. "The rest of your friends have already left the area. And our boys are already here. Just surrender now and make things easier for us."

"Отвали, натовская свинья! (Fuck off you NATO pig)" Semyon shouted as he peaked his rifle out the side of the couch, firing wildly as bullets whizzed all around the doorway. Unsure if they hit or not as he pulled his rifle back. "Я не сдамся вам, ребята! Не сейчас! И никогда! (I'm not surrendering to you guys! Not now! Not ever!)"

"… You're going to have to speak English man because I have no idea what the hell you just said."

"Screw you!"

"I- Hey! That's rude!"

"That's the damn point you dumbass!"

"No need for name calling tyłek!" The attacker said, soundly somewhat hurt either in a genuine or mocking way. He couldn't tell. "How about we exchange some fun facts about ourselves? Hi! I'm Alan, and I like it when people like you just fucking give up and surrender."

"Yeah, and I'm Semyon, and I like it if you would just fuck off- Wait… Oh Kurwa…" He groaned as he realized what he just said. Slamming the back of his head against the couch, mentally beating himself up over what he just said until he started to hear some snickering from the doorway.

"Hey! Hey!" He called out, "What the fuck is so funny over there!?"

"W-Why do you ask?" The attacker, now known as Alan, asked.

"You're fucking giggling like a child over there."

"N-No I'm n-not." They said, snickering some more as he started to softly chuckle.

"Yes you are! I can fucking hear you from over here! I'm not deaf you Сука!"

"It's just…" They began, before bursting out into a laugh, trying their best to control themselves as they slammed a fist to the wall. "Is your name r-really Semyon?"

"... Yes, so what…"

"I-It's just… It really sounds like… I-It sounds like your name is se-"

РАДИ ВСЕГО СВЯТОГО! МОЖЕТ, ЛЮДИ ПЕРЕСТАНУТ ГОВОРИТЬ, ЧТО МЕНЯ ЗОВУТ СПЕРМА, БЛЯДЬ!? (FOR FUCK'S SAKE! CAN PEOPLE STOP SAYING MY NAME IS MOTHERFUCKING SEMEN!?)" Semyon screamed as he slammed his head against the couch one last time. All while Alan burst out laughing once more, enjoying the Russian's dilemma of poor name choice like it was one of those funny cat videos.

Semyon took another quick peek from the side of the couch as they continued to laugh and laugh, not seeing them anywhere near the doorway as their laughter continued on. Taking this opportunity, he slowly got up, trying his best not to make too much sound, before finally making a dash for the kitchen.

But Alan was ready.

Looking from a mirror that he placed and angled to look inside the room during their discussion, he quickly moved and peaked into the room, rifle in hand as he pulled the trigger. Firing at him as he tried to make a run for it, bullets whizzing past them, with a few just barely grazing their body and cutting their uniform.

But in the end, they were too fast as they dove behind the kitchen counter, much to Alan's dismay as he cursed underneath his breath and pulled back behind the doorway, replacing the used magazine as he kept an eye on the well-placed mirror.

Meanwhile, Semyon sat down on the kitchen floor as he groaned in pain. He looked down on himself, noticing a few new holes in his already worn out uniform with some grazes here and there. He then looked back at his shoulder, a big, red patch of blood surrounding where the bullet went.

He winced as he used his other hand and reached into a pocket on his vest. Pulling out one little roll- No, it's not even a roll, it was more of a strip of gauze- and pressed it against his wound, wincing and biting his lip as the strip started to already be stained with red with a hint of brown, which he was really hoping was some sand or dirt that had gotten into his vest.

Yeah, the TRP didn't have the best healthcare in the world.

He gritted his teeth together as he tied the strip of gauze around his wound, tying it tightly into a knot before flexing his arm a bit, seemingly stopping the bleeding for now. He nodded in satisfaction before looking at the edge of the counter, slowly edging toward it and peaking out, only to be met with same doorway with no Alan in sight

"Где, черт возьми, этот ублюдок? (Where the hell is that bastard?)" Semyon grumbled as he looked at his rifle, changing it to semi-auto as he slowly peaked it out the side, aiming it at the doorway. His gaze was trained on it, not risking the slip up of looking away just to be caught off guard and killed.

And thankfully, it paid off.

For a split-second, a hand popped out and threw something into the room. The object flew through the air for a second, before landing right beside them. Semyon's eyes widened in surprise as he saw that it was a grenade!

Thinking quickly, he reached out and grabbed it, chucking it out of the same window David threw his grenade out earlier. He turned around and pressed himself against the floor, just in the nick of time as it went off, the boom shaking the entire building as dust and debris shot into the air.

But sadly, Semyon didn't have much time to sit there and recover. Immediately afterward, Alan burst into the building, rifle trained at the kitchen counter top as he slowly approached them waiting for a moment before he rounded the corner, rifle ready to open fire.

Only to find no one there. Just a small puddle of blood and some bloody footsteps.

'Wait, bloody footsteps?'

He got his answer when Semyon burst onto the scene, swinging the butt of his rifle with brutal precision, knocking the enemy soldier to the ground. The rifle clattered away as Alan quickly shook off the daze, only to find himself staring down the barrel of another rifle aimed squarely at his head.

Thinking fast, Alan kicked the rifle aside with a powerful thrust of his leg, then spun around and landed a solid kick to Semyon's chest, sending him stumbling back. Alan sprang to his feet, fists raised, eyes locked on his opponent. He extended a hand, motioning for Semyon to come at him.

Semyon cracked his knuckles and neck, then closed the distance in a flash. He threw a flurry of punches, two of which Alan blocked. The two were soon locked in a fierce exchange, each blocking and countering with brutal efficiency. Every punch landed with a bone-crunching impact, the fight a blur of motion and raw power.

Semyon blocked three of Alan's punches, dodged the fourth, and launched a devastating counter-attack. Two punches to Alan's gut followed by a flawless uppercut sent Alan staggering back.

But Alan was no stranger to pain. He quickly regained his balance and charged, roaring with fury. He grabbed Semyon by the waist and drove him into a nearby wall, slamming him against it with all his might. Alan's fists pounded Semyon's gut repeatedly until Semyon, reaching his limit, caught Alan's fist with both hands.

Their eyes met in a deadly stare, each trying to overpower the other. The tension crackled between them until, in a sudden, unspoken agreement, they both leaned back and headbutted each other with brutal force.

The world went dark.

…

David's world was completely black.

I mean, that was the only way to describe as he floated within a seemingly endless black void. He wondered how the hell he got there in the first place. All he remembered was being shown the bottom of Semyon's pistol and bam, he was here.

Wherever here apparently here was.

He tried to scream, to shout, to make any noise for anyone to hear. But he just couldn't. And although he couldn't see anything, he could hear something going on just in the distance. Barely audible conversations happening in the background, though, he couldn't make out what they were saying.

Maybe he was dead?

Perhaps those were past conversations with loved ones or people he once knew before they died.

Maybe unless alternate universes where his life could've went right? Like where that stupid draft never happened. Or where he got injured and got to go back home early. Or where he even got to finish highschool

Maybe one where he became a doctor. His parents would've definitly loved that.

Well, all of those theories would sadly have to be put on hold for now as the black void that he found himself in suddenly vanished as a loud boom rocked his small, black world. Followed by a sudden flash of light as it engulfed him, causing him to slowly wake up.

And finds himself staring at the top of a very, poorly made ceiling.

"Fuck…" He mumbled as he felt a throbbing pain all over his head. Causing him to groan in pain as he turned to his side, slowly getting onto his knees as he tried to shake off the pain but to no avail.

He fell onto his back as he fished through his satchel, rummaging through it before finally he pulled out a small, worn out plastic bottle. He popped open the cap of the bottle and pulled down his mask. Dumping down only two white tablets into his mouth, swallowing them as the pain already started to subside. Relieving his head of the throbbing sensation.

'Thank God for Advil.' He thought as he leaned to his side, slowly getting back up just as a loud thud caught his attention. Causing him to see Alan and Semyon duking it out in a fist fight like it was the fight of the ages.

David watched as Semyon skillfully dodged a series of Alan's punches, before executing a few well placed punches. Sending them staggering back. However, they quickly recovered (Which greatly surprised David. He could barely take a punch to the face) and let out a terrifying war cry. Before they charged at them. Catching them off-guard as they wrapped their arms around their waist and pushed them back. Not giving them any chance to escape before crashing them onto a wall.

He just stood there as Alan started to punch them in the gut again and again. Mentally guessing that there would be at least some internal damage and be rendered unconscious. But alas, the Russian surprised him as they suddenly grabbed the fist Alan was using to punch them. Slowly pushing it back as they fought in a struggle to overpower the other.

Then, the unexpected happened.

Either it was a last-ditch effort to ensure that they did some damage to the other, the effects of blood-loss, a concussion, or just plain stupidity, David watched as the two leaned their heads back and suddenly headbutt each other at the same time. Causing Alan to look his grip around them completely as the two started to stand still for a moment. Alan slowly stepped to one side while Semyon slowly walked to the other. Before finally.

*THUD*

The two fell to their knees, muttering something in their native language before falling face first onto the floor. Leaving only a very confused David the last one standing as he just looked at them with one thing on his mind.

"What the fuck did I just witness?" He asked no one in particular as he slowly approached Semyon's unconscious body. Pressing a finger against their neck as he let out a sigh of relief.

"Well. At least they're alive." He hummed as he walked up to Alan's body neck. Doing the same and finding the same result thankfully.

Then he saw Charles…

They were still sprawled all over the floor like the first time David saw them when they were flung across the room. A large puddle of blood underneath and around their body. With the borders of it already starting to harden. Without a second thought, he quickly ran to their side. Getting on his knees and pressing his finger against their neck. Not minding the blood soaking around his lower pant legs as shook his head in dissatisfaction.

"Cmon! Cmon! Don't you die on me you fucking bastard." David mumbled as he placed his hands on their chest and started doing CPR. Pressing on their chest again and again. He checked their pulse, still given the same results as he shook his head and continued with CPR. Mumbling something along the lines of "I swear, if I got to give mouth to mouth" before finally Charles suddenly came to. Gasping for air as blood shot out of his wound. Spraying David all over their face but wasn't affected by it due to his mask and visor as he immediately went to work.

"C-Charles!" David exclaimed as he pulled out a knife. Carefully cutting away at their uniform and ripping it to the side as he set the weapon down and reached for something else.

"A-Are you alright? Does anything hurt- That's dumb to ask, everything hurts. H-How many fingers am I holding up right now-

"T-The… Asshole…" He interrupted, stopping their blubbering mess. "D-Did we… Get him?"

"Ummm…" David hummed as he looked back at Semyon's unconscious body.

"Y-Yeah, yeah, we got him." He said, pulling out some more gauze and cleaning alcohol as he looked at them. "We got him real good."

"W-Wait, huh?" He asked, looking at them confused and bewildered for a moment. "H-How!?"

"Oh, cmon, is it really that hard to believe that I handl-"

"Yes."

"You're right, I was knocked out right after you got manhandled. However, our new Polish friend here handled them quite well." David quickly said as he motioned to them as Charles turned to see a knocked out Alan lying just a few feet from him.

"What h-happened t-to him?"

"He headbutted the Russian as the Russian headbutted them at the same time.."

"I… W-Wait, what?" Charles asked as he looked back at them. Just the distraction that David needed as he quickly undid the cap of the cleaning alcohol bottle and slowly poured it onto their wound. Causing them scream loudly as they looked back at them in horror as he could watch as they poured the liquid atop their open wound.

"Easy buddy. Easy… J-Just breath OK? Breath. Breath in. Then out. Breath in. Th-"

"THAT'S EASY FOR YOU TO SAY!" Charles hissed as he reached out and tightly grabbed their arms. Gripping them tightly, making David wince a little in pain before he pulled the bottle away. Immediately grabbing the gauze and tearing off a piece with his teeth and placing it against their wound.

"C-Could you have a-at least w-warned me f-first!?"

"That would've ruined the point."

"T-The fucking point of what!?"

"You being distracted."

"B-But-"

"Just shut up." David said as he pulled out another syringe and injected it into their chest. They gasped in surprise, before suddenly sighing in relief as they leaned their head back. "T-There. How does that feel now?"

It f-feels… N-Numb…" He mumbled as he looked back at his chest. Watching as they start to tape the gauze to their chest. "W-What did you inject me with?"

"Oh, just normal morphine. Though, I will admit, I should've injected it before I splashed the alcohol on your wound."

"Y-You couldn't have d-done that f-first!?" He asked, his words starting to slur a bit as his head fell back to the floor. Almost in a drunken state as David noticed and dropped another roll of gauze.

"Hmmmm… I think I used a little bit too much morphine…" He mumbled to himself as he watched them start to mumble nonsense again. "... Yep, way too much morphine…"

Just before he could do anything else. Another groan of pain suddenly caught his ear. He looked up from Charles and looked at Semyon, their hands slowly twitching and moving as another pained groan came from them.

Then, they started to get up.

"S-Shit!" David whispered as he quickly grabbed Charles by the legs and quickly and quietly dragged them by their feet across the floor. Hitting a few corners here and there before he dragged them behind the kitchen counter. Sitting them against the counter wall as he kept looking back and forth from them then back at the slowly rising Russian.

"Crap, crap, crap, crap-" David repeated over and over as he watched as they slowly rose back up from the ground. Slowly looking around the place before setting his eyes around the kitchen counter. Just in time as David came back behind it, narrowly escaping their eyes before they noticed Alan's unconscious body and started making their way toward them.

David watched as they slowly made their way toward Alan's side. Gently kicking their leg to see their response. Which was nothing as they remained motionless much to Semyon's satisfaction and David's dismay.

David pulled back behind the counter as he took a few deep breaths as he tried to calm himself down. Looking back at Charles, who was now in a drug-induced sleep, adding more to his dismay as he took another deep breath before mentally analyzing the situation.

First, he had a few bruises here and there around his body from the fighting from earlier and a possible concussion from the pistol whip the Semyon had gifted him.

Charles was now rendered unconscious due to profuse blood loss and a little bit of a morphine overdose. Probably not David's most proud moment but thankfully not his worst.

Alan was knocked out as well, and in immediate danger. Semyon might be injured and probably a little dazed from the headbutt from earlier. But he was still deadly and very experienced. Something David found out the hard way.

His only weapon right now was his standard issue combat knife while the rest of his weapons were scattered across the room. Although he couldn't locate where he threw his trusty P90 or think why the hell he thought throwing it was a good idea. He saw that his M1911 was still in the same place it was when he tried to grab it. All he had to do was sneakily make his way to it and then he could-

"Черт! Блядь! Блядь! Блядь! Блядь! Блядь! Блядь!"

A voice cursed as David was brought out of his train of thought. Curious, he took another peak from the counter. Only to find Semyon pulling- Or, trying to pull the slide back on his sidearm as he stood over Alan's body.

Then, he watched as they pulled it back fully and mumbled something in his native language before aiming it at the back of Alan's head. Only for it to click empty again as he cursed again.

"Это последний раз, когда я использую гребаный набор для чистки оружия от UN! (This is the last time I use a fucking UN gun cleaning kit!)" He cursed as he went back to trying to pull the slide back.

David seized the moment, his mind racing to formulate a plan. He wasn't the best strategist—some of his ideas were outright ridiculous, including a fantasy where he was an anime hero. But a few options stood out as feasible.

Option A: Wait for reinforcements. They were already en route and would arrive in a few minutes. Together, they could storm the place and neutralize the threat. However, those few minutes could be an eternity. Semyon, struggling to unjam his weapon with a relic of an old UN gun cleaning kit, would soon be ready to fire. It wouldn't take long before he fixed the problem and put a bullet in the back of their heads.

David and Charles might not have those precious minutes.

Option B: Reveal himself and confront Semyon directly. He could try to talk him down, stall for time, or engage him in combat. Surrender was unlikely; Semyon would probably shoot the moment David uttered a word. Fighting him was a desperate gamble. David knew Semyon was a better fighter, and the odds were not in his favor.

But it was the only choice if he wanted to buy time for help to arrive.

David took a deep breath, the weight of his decision pressing down on him. He could wait and hope—or act and risk everything.

And of course, his dumbass takes plan B.

With determination in his eyes, he slowly walked around the counter. Approaching the corner slowly and steadily as he took another peak. Watching as Semyon had finally pulled the slide back, unjamming it and taking aim once more at Alan's head.

He wasn't going to kill them, not if he had anything to do with it.

David took a deep breath, closing his eyes as he tried to visualize how he'd take them down.

First, he'll run toward the couch, jumping up into the air and jumping off the top of it. Using the momentum to his advantage as he punched them hard across the face. Stunning them as he struck them down onto the floor.

And, while they're down, he'll bring down his knife upon them. Stabbing them until they're dead or he fucks everything up and gets bitch-slapped to the side like trash.

Otherwise, it was a solid plan. And with that in mind. He let out a war cry (More like a scream of terror) as he got out from his hiding place. Knife in hand as he charged toward them as fast as he could.

Semyon, about to pull the trigger, turned around to see an approaching American medic with a knife in their hand. Watching as they jumped in the air and against the side of the couch. Using the momentum to boost them as a fist closed the distance between itself and Semyon's face.

However, instead of making contact with their face. Semyon just quickly dodged to the side. Making David's eyes widen in shock as he landed on the ground, stumbling as he tried to catch himself only to trip over Alan's unconscious body and fell onto the ground with a heavy thud.

Quickly getting back up, David turned to them and swung his knife at them. But they jumped back every time. Just barely dodging their blade before catching their arm and slamming his fist in the middle of it. Causing the medic to cry out in pain as it was dislocated before he punched them in the face. Sending them stumbling backward as they were dazzled.

"Stand down American. I don't want to shoot you." Semyon warned as he aimed his pistol at them. Expecting them to drop the knife and surrender.

However, they didn't.

David tightened his grip on his knife, despite the agony of his dislocated arm. He took a fighting stance, ready to lunge. With a sigh, Semyon aimed at David's other arm and fired, hoping to incapacitate him.

He didn't expect David to dodge the bullet.

Semyon's eyes widened in surprise as David sidestepped just enough for the bullet to whiz past, embedding itself in the wall beside Alan's head. Semyon couldn't believe their luck, but he quickly refocused, firing again. David dodged once more, moving ever closer.

Another shot. Another dodge. David was closing the distance.

Desperation tinged Semyon's aim as he fired yet again, but David weaved aside, closing in and bringing his knife down in a fierce strike. Semyon's instincts kicked in, and he caught David's arm just inches from his visor.

A fierce struggle ensued, each man straining against the other, muscles trembling with exertion. Semyon started to gain the upper hand, slowly pushing David back. Just as he thought he had him, David reared back and delivered a brutal headbutt.

Jesus, how many times are these guys going to headbutt each other? They're going to lose brain cells at this rate.

Stunned, Semyon stumbled back. David seized the moment, knife gripped tightly in his hand, and charged again, intent on ending this once and for all. With a roar, he brought the knife down, ready to deliver the final blow.

*BANG*

One, singular gunshot rang out across the room as a knife clattered to the ground, followed by a curse as David's body collapsed to the floor. Clutching his leg as a gapping bullet wound started soaking his pants with red crimson blood.

"Agh! M-Motherfucker!" He cried out as he placed his hands over the wound. Not doing much to stop the bleeding but doing what he could as blood started to slowly leak between his hands and fingers.

Semyon, taking breath after breath after his close encounter with death, kept his pistol trained on them as they writhed in pain. He watched as they leaned to the side, trying their best to stop the bleeding before they reached for their satchel. Acting quickly, he walked up to then, kicking them

David reached for his satchel, trying to fish out something to help with the bleeding only to be interrupted as Semyon took a step toward them and kicked their hand away. Forcing them to look up at them as the pistol was now aimed at his head.

"Don't…" He warned, finger slightly pressing down on the trigger. Validating his threat as David nodded and putting his hands up as far as he could.

"... Just what the hell were you thinking?" Semyon asked as David looked at them. Pondering his answer for a moment, then at the couch, then at the floor, then back at them.

"To be honest…" He said, wincing a bit as his wound spurt out a little more blood before he continued. "... I don't know."

Semyon sighed as he did a facepalm, shaking his head and muttering in his native language as crouched down to their level and were at eye level before he said.

"Look here American." He started, "I'll be honest, I was going to leave you guys by yourself while I get the hell out o-"

"Bullshit! You were trying to kill him just a few minutes ago!" David said as he pointed at Alan's still body. Before glaring back at them as they let out a heavy sigh.

"... OK yes, I was going to shoot near him to check if he was awake or not. I was just making sure-

"When did you start talking all fancy?' David suddenly said, interrupting them mid sentence as he sighed again. Trying to calm down by taking deep breaths but instead, it wasn't going to work this time.

"I- For fuck's sake!" Semyon exclaimed as he got back up, aiming the pistol at their head as he angrily shouted. "That's it! I have had it with you two-"

"Three, you forgot Charles-"

"Three! Two! Whatever!" He screamed, taking a few deep breaths as he tried to recover from his rant before continuing on. "Point is, I never had to deal with such idiotic people during my entire service in this damned war until now!"

"So this is what is going to happen. You're going to give me everything. Ammo, weapons, medical supplies. Everything. Give them to me, and I'll think about letting you guys go."

"... And if I don't take your offer?"

"Then." He said, pointing his pistol at Alan. "I'll kill him, then your friend Charlie or Charleston or whatever his name is." Before turning his pistol back at them. "Then, I'll kill you. You understand me, American?"

"I-I…" David mumbled as he mentally cursed at himself. Without much of a choice, he'll have to hand them what they demanded. But even then, who knows if they'll keep their end of the bargain. He had no idea if they would spare them or not.

Sadly, he'll have to take a gamble. Not like he had a choice.

"... Alright, you win." David said as he reached for the latch of his satchel. Semyon watched their movement carefully as they were about to unlatch it

"David!" A voice suddenly called out, drawing David's and Semyon's attention as the two saw a slightly awake Charles peeking from the counter. Much to David's happiness and dismay, as well as Semyon's confusion.

"Catch!" He shouted, lazily throwing something into the air but just powerful enough for it to properly fly through the air. Without much thought, David reached out and grabbed it as it flew over his head. Before turning back at Semyon, who was just watching, a little stunned to realize what was happening.

"Hey! Don't you-"

Semyon screamed just a little too late as David reeled his hand back and threw whatever Charles had at them. Causing Semyon to fire off a shot in a panic at them!

As the bullet flew out the barrel and flew through the air, the object that David threw revealed itself to be… A necklace with a large, white crystal on it? Nevertheless, the two objects slowly closed the distance and collided with each other. Causing the crystal to explode into billions of white particles, covering most of the room, as well as David and Semyon as the dust covered the front half of their bodies.

They just stood there, unsure of what to do after what just happened.

Semyon, with shaking hands, slowly brought up his hand and wiped the dust off his visor. Inspecting the fine dust for a moment, running it against his fingers before he shook it off his hand.

And quickly turned toward Charles, letting off a shot as the bullet cleanly went through their shoulder. Making them cry out in pain as they fell to the ground, coughing up blood as he laid there motionless.

"C-Charles!" David exclaimed as he tried to get up, only for Semyon to suddenly kick them down to the floor. Placing their foot on his chest, making it hard to move and breathe. David tried to free himself, struggling the best he could. But it was no use.

Eventually, David just watched as Semyon brought his sidearm back at them as he closed his eyes and looked away. Counting down the seconds he had until his death. He wondered what getting shot in the head would feel like? Long and painful? Or short and getting it over with. Whatever the case would be, he would soon find out as he waited for the finishing blow.

But it never came.

Slowly, he opened his eyes and looked back at them. But instead of being met with a pistol to the head. He was met with… A pistol to the head, but it was glowing, that is what was different from the last time.

Definitely not the main author running out of words to say.

"Moja pieprzona głowa… (My fucking head)," a voice groaned. Alan slowly got to his feet, shaking his head to clear the fog. As he glanced at his hand, he noticed something strange—a tiny speck of dust began to glow, growing brighter with each passing second.

Panicked, Alan tried to scratch it off, but it clung stubbornly to his skin. He scratched harder and faster, but it only spread, like water seeping over his hand and up his arm. He watched in horror, the light intensifying, engulfing his entire body in a brilliant white glow.

"H-Hey, what's going on?" he exclaimed, his voice trembling. The light enveloped him completely, flashing so brightly that Semyon and David had to shield their eyes. When the light faded, all that remained was a thin mist of white dust, slowly drifting to the floor before vanishing.

Semyon, eyes wide with shock, saw the dust on him beginning to react the same way. It moved faster, spreading like wildfire across his body. He cursed, desperately trying to scratch it off, but it was futile. His eyes met David's, confusion and fear evident, before he too was consumed by the dust, lighting up the room and then disappearing into a white mist.

David, paralyzed with terror, watched as his comrade and former enemy vanished into thin air. He tried to escape, hoping that he could still save himself. But the dust had already begun its relentless advance on him. He scratched and clawed at his skin, but it was useless. The dust crept up his neck, encircling his head.

Desperate, his eyes darted around the room, seeking anything that could help. Everything touched by the dust met the same fate, exploding into a cascade of white particles. His gaze locked onto Charles, who had managed to sit against the kitchen counter. Despite the fear in his eyes, Charles offered a soft, reassuring smile, as if he had expected this all along.

"Don't worry," Charles whispered, his voice calm despite the chaos. "You'll be safe… And you're going to save us all…"

David could only stare, his body now fully engulfed by the glowing dust. The surrounding debris, weapons, and objects were consumed as well, filling the room with a blinding light. Charles closed his eyes, waiting for the light to fade. When he opened them, the room was empty. Everything was gone.

"Good luck, kid… You and the rest of t-those guys are going to n-need it," Charles mumbled, his strength fading. His vision blurred, darkness creeping in as his body grew heavy and limp. The last thing he remembered was the sound of footsteps approaching, voices calling his name, before he finally blacked out.

---

Hello there, Corpsman Halo here. Welp, I hope you like this rewritten version of the first three chapters. To be honest, this is better than what I've first written in it's place. And although it's longer than what I planned (By 5k words), it's still one of my best works and it's only to get better from there!

And although it'll take some time before I fully rewrite all of this and start going back to writing new chapters for both this book and my RvB one. It'll be worth it in the long run, I promise all of you that.

Anyways, I must leave you all alone once more. Enjoy your day, Corpsman Halo out.