Flirting With Death

“Ah, the not-so-bright night sky feels nice, doesn’t it, guys?” Blackout said, resting his sniper rifle casually over his shoulder, his gaze flickering up toward the stars. The slight chill of the evening air was a welcome change from the heat of the day.

“Yep, indeed. I love the night’s chilly breeze,” Pulse chimed in, her voice light and easy as she walked along beside him stretched her arms out wide, a contented smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “There’s just something about it—so calming, you know?” she said as she lowered her arms back to her sides

Up ahead, Sear and Havoc were walking in near silence. Sear was slightly ahead, his posture straight and purposeful, while Havoc trailed behind, his heavy boots crunching quietly against the ground. The two were a striking contrast—Sear’s controlled movements and sharp focus against Havoc’s more laid-back, yet still vigilant, stride. Their usual team was joined by the Fallo units now—mostly new faces, not many familiar from the past. The Fallo commander, along with two others, remained from previous missions, but the rest of the squad were fresh recruits. And, as expected, they weren’t shy about striking up conversations.

“Whoa, what kind of sniper is that?” one of the Fallo units called out, his voice filled with genuine curiosity as he gestured toward Blackout’s weapon. “It almost looks too small to be a sniper. Doesn’t look like it’d pack much of a punch.”

Blackout’s lips curled into a sly grin as he met the man’s eyes. “Hey now, size isn’t everything,” he shot back, his voice teasing but lighthearted. He gave the sniper a little shake for effect, making it look even more compact. as Blackout looked at the guy he saw his much larger sniper “Just because you feel the need to compensate doesn’t mean I do.”

The Fallo unit’s eyes widened, and his face flushed slightly. “Oh, no, I didn’t mean any disrespect, mister,” he said quickly, bowing his head, his hand coming up in a gesture of apology. “I was just curious.”

Blackout let out a short laugh, shaking his head with a shrug. “Hey, I’m just messing with you, kid,” he said, his tone softening as he slapped him lightly on the back. “I’m Blackout. And you are?”

“Oh, I’m SharpShot,” the Fallo unit replied, standing up straighter, a little more at ease now. “I’ll be joining you for sniping.”

“SharpShot, huh? Nice,” Blackout said, giving him a quick once-over before giving him a sly wink. “Well, looks like we’re gonna get along just fine.”

Meanwhile, Raven (Rey) had already struck up a conversation with Fallow, the Fallo commander, as well as her two bodyguards, Slick and Blip. These were the only three familiar faces from previous missions, and surprisingly, Raven had formed a solid friendship with Fallow during their time on the field together. The two shared laughing and funny stories from past assignments, their voices low but filled with camaraderie.

Elsewhere, one other Fallo recruits were more than eager to mingle with Pulse.

a young man with a mischievous smile, approached Pulse with a soft chuckle. “Hey, miss, I have to say… you’ve got beautiful hair,” he said, his voice sincere but carrying a hint of playful admiration.

Pulse’s smile brightened at the compliment, and she gave a little shrug. “Well, thank you,” she said with a light laugh. “I’ve been told that before. I guess it’s just my luck.” She gave her hair a little flick, more for fun than anything, and then looked up, her eyes twinkling. “What’s your name, by the way?”

“I’m Stinger,” he replied, extending his hand to shake hers. “Nice to meet you,”

“Nice to meet you as well, Stinger i am Pulse,” she said, taking his hand and shaking it firmly, her smile warm and welcoming.

As the two exchanged pleasantries, they remained oblivious to the fact that Sear, still walking ahead of them, had been glancing back over his shoulder. His eyes narrowed slightly as he watched the interaction. There is something about the way Stinger is smiling that doesn’t fit right with me, i cant really explain it tho. Despite this the feeling gnawed at him. His jaw clenched, and his eyes flicked away almost immediately, refocusing on the road ahead—but the tension was still there, simmering just below the surface.

Soon after, a Fallo girl and boy approached Sear and Havoc. The girl waved her hand enthusiastically while looking up at Havoc, who was considerably taller than her.

“Hey there!” she said, smiling brightly. havoc raised his metal arm and waved back matching her smile as he spoke“Nice to see you guys up here. It was getting a bit quiet.”

Havoc gave a genuine smile. “No problem, dudes. Always nice to chat before a mission, right?”

The boy, standing beside her, leaned forward a bit as he spoke, eyeing Havoc’s metal arm with curiosity. “So, I can see what your enhancements are, big guy. That metal arm definitely looks like it comes in handy.”

Havoc shrugged, looking at his arm and flexing it slightly. “I guess so,” he said casually, clenching his fist with a soft metallic hum.

The girl suddenly interrupted, her eyes wide. “Oh, wait! We forgot to introduce ourselves!”

“Right, sorry, misters,” the boy added, looking a little sheepish.

Havoc chuckled, waving it off. “No problem.”

“I’m Clue,” the boy said, offering a friendly nod. “Nice to meet you.”

“And I’m Flame,” the girl chimed in, her voice light and warm. “Nice to meet you”

“Nice to meet you both as well,” Havoc said, his smile growing a bit wider. “Clue, huh? Seems fitting. And Flame… well, you know, my friend here is actually called Sear.”

He placed a hand casually on Sear’s shoulder, but Sear didn’t react—he didn’t even flinch.

“Sear, uh… nice to meet you,” Flame said, stepping a little closer to him, intrigued. She paused, waiting for any response, but Sear’s attention remained fixed ahead, his cold silence lingering in the air.

Flame’s smile faltered just slightly before she took a step back, returning to the group. Her voice dropped a little in volume. “Guess he’s not much of a talker, huh?”

The boy, Clue, shrugged as he kept up the conversation with Havoc, clearly more comfortable in the social dynamic. “No worries, Sear’s probably just a little… focused, right?”

Havoc nodded, still relaxed. “Yeah, that’s Sear for you. No small talk.”

The group lingered for a moment, the easy conversation continuing with Clue and Havoc while Flame stood by, still glancing curiously at Sear.

Sear, for his part, seemed lost in thought, observing the other Fallo recruits. Most of them were equipped with AK-5 and wore matching camo outfits. Some wore helmets, while others preferred to go without—seemingly a personal choice. A new batch a new death march, how nice. a slight smile appeared as Sears though ran in his head

At the edge of a cliff, overlooking a sprawling valley, Sear’s sharp eyes land on the warehouse they are about to strike. He pulls a small pair of binoculars from his tool belt and raises them to his eyes. The rest of the team follows suit, though Blackout and Sharpshot used their snipers instead.

Raven, however, didn’t need binoculars—her enhanced vision allows her to see through the walls of the warehouse and track the heat signatures of everyone inside. She kneels beside Sear, her gaze intense as she scans the building.

“What do you see?” Sear asks, his voice low and focused.

Raven taps a finger against her temple, processing the data. “Fifteen heat signatures. Eight men, seven women. A mix of ages—some older, some younger.”

Fallow, crouching on the other side of Raven, furrows her brow. “Any of them worth targeting for the lab coats?”

Raven pauses for a moment, her mind sifting through the heat patterns. “Possibly. No standard enhancements, but there are a few with possibility for robotic modifications.”

Flame, who had been watching with curiosity, can’t contain her excitement. “Wait, you can tell all that just by looking? That’s incredible!” she exclaims, her voice rising a little too loudly.

Sear shoots her a sharp glance, his expression unreadable. “Flame, we try to keep it quiet on a mission,” he says in a quiet, but firm tone.

Flame’s face flushes slightly. “Right, sorry,” she mutters, feeling the sting of her own mistake.

Meanwhile, Blackout and Sharpshot are scouting potential sniper positions, each of them eager to claim the best spot.

“Found one,” Sharpshot says, a grin spreading across his face. “There’s a cliff right over there—perfect angle to shoot straight into the warehouse door.”

Blackout smirks, adjusting his sniper rifle on his shoulder. “Nice, but I’ve got one better. There’s a vantage point at the back of the building—good for taking care of anyone trying to escape.”

Sharpshot looks over at Blackout, eyes narrowed in playful competition. “I’m calling dibs on the cliff,” he says confidently.

Blackout chuckles, clearly enjoying the banter. “Fine. How about a little competition? We’ll see who does more for the team from their sniping spot. Whoever gets more shots in or takes out more targets wins and gets to dare the looser.”

“Oh, you’re on,” Sharpshot says with a grin before turning on his heel and heading for his spot.

Blackout follows suit, both of them eager for the challenge, as the rest of the team continues their preparations for the assault.

“They sure seem eager, don’t they?” Stinger comments with a small grin, his eyes flicking to the others.

“Well, their personalities do seem to fit each other pretty well,” Pulse adds, a teasing smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

“Yeah, I think you’re right, Pulse,” Stinger says, nodding, his gaze lingering on her just a moment too long, his smile warm and easy. as he looked away he looked towards Fallow next.

Sear watches Stinger, his face twisting into an expression of clear disdain. He flicks his gaze away sharply, eyes narrowing as his focus shifts back to the task at hand.

“So, Sear, what’s the plan?” Havoc and Fallow ask in unison, their voices coming together effortlessly, a synchronized rhythm that commands attention.

“Right.” Sear responds, his tone clipped, clearly irritated by the momentary distraction. He turns his attention to the group, his eyes steely. “Stinger, Clue, you’re with me. Havoc, you take Flame and Pulse to the other side.”

“Uh, maybe we could switch up the teams a bit?” Stinger suggests, but Sear expression was unwavering as he kept talking..

“We’ll attack from different directions. My group will hit the front, and Havoc will tear down a wall so you can hit from the side.” Sear’s voice is brisk and commanding, not leaving any room for further discussion.

He taps his earpiece. “Blackout, Sharpshot, you focus on taking out any escapees and anyone we can’t see from our positions.”

“Copy.” Both Blackout and Sharpshot reply promptly, their voices synchronized, a clear indication of their readiness.

“As for Raven and Fallow,” Sear continues, turning his attention back to the two. “You’ll stay here with the other Fallo units. Guard the lookout, and if we need backup, you rush in.” His eyes flick over the group to ensure they’re all locked in.

“also make sure none gets seen by the UAF. Everyone got that?” His voice is firm, laced with a hint of impatience, as he takes one last scan of the team.

The others nod in unison, their expressions determined and ready.

“Everyone, get your climbing hooks ready,” Sear ordered, securing his hook into the rooky surface near the cliff’s edge. He tugged on the rope to check its stability before starting the descent, as he did Fallow waved towards him she did however not get a response as he started descending the rope, his boots skidding slightly on the rock face as he dropped swiftly.

Stinger and Clue followed close behind.

“See you later, I guess,” Clue said with a grin, receiving a quick hug from Flame before zipping down the line.

“Stay sharp, gang. And see you soon, Pulse,” Stinger added, tossing her a casual wink as he followed after.

Havoc, Pulse, and Flame prepared their ropes next.

“If anything goes wrong, don’t hesitate to call for backup,” Havoc said, his voice calm yet authoritative as he directed the command at Fallow. “Copy that, Captain.”

Havoc glanced at Raven, still vigilant at her post.

“Hey, see you soon, okay?” he said, his tone softening just a little as he moved to her side.

Raven paused her watch, her eyes meeting his for a brief moment before she nodded.

“See you soon, Henry,” she replied, her smile faint but genuine.

As Flame and Pulse began their descent, Havoc’s gaze lingered on Raven for a moment longer.

“Keep Raven safe. And make sure you’re safe too,” he added to Slick and Blip, his words steady, but the concern clear in his eyes.

Slick responded with a silent nod, his expression solemn. Blip gave a small salute before turning his attention back to the lookout. A small thud echoed when Sear’s feet hit the ground, followed by two more as Stinger and Clue landed beside him.

“Where to, Commander?” Stinger asked, his voice laced with a hint of cockiness.

Sear glanced over his shoulder, his expression unwavering cold. “What, already forgotten where the warehouse is? Or maybe you didn’t listen to the plan? maybe to busy looking at other people then listening to commands” His tone was calm, but there was an underlying edge to it.

Stinger raised an eyebrow, but before he could reply, Clue jumped in, sensing the tension. “I’m sure Stinger just asked that out of reflex, Sear. I am sure he means no disrespect,” Clue said, trying to lighten the mood.

Sear didn’t respond. Instead, he started walking, gesturing with his arm to indicate the direction.

Stinger, his voice quieter now, leaned in toward Clue. “Hey, was he like this when you spoke to him and Havoc before?” he whispered.

Clue gave a small shrug, looking slightly surprised. “Honestly, no. He didn’t say much back then. Apart from the mission briefing, this is the first time I’ve really heard him speak,”

After walking for a few minutes, they arrived at a spot near the large, open sliding doors of the warehouse— their entry point. Sear kept a sharp eye on the door while Clue and Stinger double-checked their gear. They waited for Havoc’s group to get into position.

“So, Clue, you and Flame, huh?” Stinger asked with a teasing tone.

“What about me and Flame?” Clue responded, sounding genuinely clueless.

“Really? Damn, your name should be clueless, that would be more fitting”. Stinger placed a hand over his face quickly, he then lowered it as he started speaking again. “Are you two a thing or something?” Stinger asked, a slight annoyance creeping into his voice, though his tone still held a teasing edge.

“Oh no, we’re close, but nothing like that,” Clue replied, loading his gun with a casual movement.

“Well, that’s boring i was expected something a bit more juice”. Singer leaned back and closed his eyes “I’m actually thinking of making a move on Pulse,” Stinger said with a grin, causing Sear’s ears to perk up. Not at the potential threat from the enemy, but from his teammates’ conversation.

“Oh, really? She caught your eye quick, huh?” Clue continued, humor in his voice as he kept the teasing going.

“Yeah, I mean she ain’t no Fallow but she seems more interested or at least pulls her own weight in conversations” Clue blinked in confusion at Stingers words all while Sear started to look actually mad. “you know i have tried to make a move on Fallow for awhile now but she acts like shes not even interested so id go for Pulse instead” Stinger looked smug as he spoke about it like he weren’t openly objectifying people. “well i guess mechanical legs are a bit weird, you know? But damn, that body… I saw her in the catalogs—she’s like an athlete. But honestly, I could’ve guessed that without the catalog. Good thing her mechanical legs only go up to her knees, if you know what I mean,” Stinger said, his voice taking on an insinuating tone that made it clear he was hinting at something more crude. “but hey if she wont work id just go back to the boring and stale hottie Fallow”

Sear, hearing this, rolled his eyes and let out an almost imperceptible sigh of annoyance.

“You know, I don’t think you should say stuff like that so casually, Stinger,” Clue chimed in, trying to bring the conversation back on track, though his tone was still light.

“Oh, come on, it’s just us guys here. You can’t deny Pulse is hot, right? and Fallow walking around with her Fallo overall tied around her waist, I mean, what I’d do if we were alone? Probably something I shouldn’t say in this company, but still,” Stinger said with a shrug, as if he hadn’t said anything out of line.

“You sound more then a little creepy, you know,” Clue remarked, his expression blank but with an air of confusion, not fully understanding the impact of Stinger’s words.

Meanwhile, Sear shot Stinger a disgusted look, his patience clearly wearing thin.

Soon after, they received word from Havoc.

“We’re almost in position.”

“Good to hear, Havoc,” Sear responded, his tone steady.

Havoc’s group had circled around the warehouse, making their way to the other side where they would breach through the wall. They reached their destination, positioning themselves for the next move.

“So, you guys ready?” Havoc asked, glancing back at his team. “If anyone’s worried about the others, or anything, now’s the time to say it. Let’s go in with a clear head.”

“Well, I guess I’m a little worried about Clue,” Flame admitted, fidgeting with her gear.

“Aww, don’t worry. I’m sure your boyfriend will be fine,” Pulse teased, placing a hand on Flame’s shoulder.

“Oh, no! We’re not like that yet—uh, I mean we’re not—uh…” Flame’s voice trailed off, clearly flustered.

“Okay, girl,” Pulse said with a sly grin.

“Aren’t you worried about Stinger?” Flame asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Not really. We’ve only just met, and he’s with Sear, so they’ll be fine as long as Sear wants them to be,” Pulse replied confidently.

“Okay, do you like Stinger?” Flame asked curiously, her eyes narrowing slightly.

Pulse chuckled softly, shaking her head. “No. He clearly only finds me attractive, and nothing more.” Her lips curled into a sad smile. Havoc listened to his team’s thoughts, waiting until they were done talking before activating his earpiece. “Havoc team in position.”

“Sniper team in position,” Blackout reported.

“Lookout in position,” Fallow added.

“Alright, everyone is in position. We begin the assault now,” as Sear said that, the operation started swiftly. Sharpshot eliminated two guards standing outside the warehouse, clearing the way for Sear’s group to advance. Clue and Stinger had their rifles ready, moving carefully behind Sear. Though Sear carried less gear than them, he led the way with one of his two daggers drawn, his movements silent and precise. They reached the sliding door, pressing their backs against it.

“Is it clear?” Sear asked through the radio.

“Sharpshot here. Wait four seconds, if i dont say anything else then move left and take cover behind the crates.”

“Copy,” Sear responded. I’m starting to think that Fallo unit might actually be competent. They waited for the right moment, then slipped inside undetected, quickly finding cover.

“We’re inside. No hostiles spotted us yet,” Sear reported over comms while Clue and Stinger scanned the room carefully, making sure they remained unseen. them staying unseen is important, they took out two people alredy leaving 13 more compared to their group on the ground of just 6. Just as things seemed to be going smoothly, Stinger stiffened.

“Uh… guys, I think we’ve got a problem.”

Sear turned to him, his voice cold and controlled. “What is it now?” Stinger didn’t answer right away. Instead, he slowly sank down next to Sear, his expression hollow and his body rigid with fear. His usual cocky demeanor was gone, replaced by something unsettling. Finally, he swallowed hard and whispered, “They have Exo-Suits.”