Family on the edge of collapse

The situation at Lookout Point was grim. They were outnumbered, pinned down, and running out of options.

“We need to get out of here,” Slick said, his voice edged with frustration. His leg bounced anxiously against the dirt, fingers tightening around his rifle.

Blip let out a weak chuckle, knocking on the rock that barely kept him upright. “Easier said than done, brother. You guys could, though. I mean, I got my nice rock here, don’t I?” His tone was calm—too calm for the chaos surrounding them.

“Stop joking, Blip. We’re not leaving you,” Fallow snapped, her voice sharp with worry.

Before anyone could respond, the radio crackled to life, static distorting the signal before stabilizing. Fallow quickly adjusted the channel.

“Hello, Lookout, do you hear me? It’s Sharpshot.”

Fallow’s heart skipped. Relief flooded her. “Yes, Sharpshot! I hear you loud and clear.”

“Great. Sear sent me over—said you guys were in a bit of trouble.”

Fallow exhaled, but the tension in her chest didn’t fade. “Yeah, you could say that. The UAF found us. We’re pinned behind a rock. Blip’s wounded, Raven’s unconscious. It’s just me and Slick left fighting.”

A short silence. Then—

“Yeah… that sounds like big trouble.”

Sharpshot hesitated a second too long. His fingers clenched the radio a little tighter. Raven’s unconscious. That means she didn’t see what Sear did. Had he planned it this way? Or was it just an accident? Had he always intended to take out Stinger, or had he improvised?

The thoughts spiraled, gnawing at him. Why am I even thinking about this right now?

A sharp snap out of it echoed in his own mind. He grit his teeth and tapped the side of his head lightly, forcing himself to focus.

“Listen,” he said, his voice steadier now. “If you guys make a run for it, I can lay down cover fire.”

It was a desperate plan. But it was their only shot.

Fallow exchanged glances with Slick, then looked at Blip.

“Yeah… we can try that.”

After wiping his knife clean and sliding it back into its holster, Sear glanced at the other, now-empty one.

“Oh right, you still have that one, don’t you?” he muttered to himself, just as he dodged a heavy punch from the Exo suit. Another punch came right after, but he weaved out of the way effortlessly.

He jumped back, now standing in the opening of the warehouse. The pilot followed, locking eyes with him from across the space, her stance aggressive and ready.

She launched another few strikes in his direction, and Sear, ever confident, grinned. “This is a good warm-up, not gonna lie.”

“What, can’t do anything but dodge, you little cockroach?” the pilot sneered, her voice dripping with venom.

Sear smirked. He took another step back and re-equipped his dagger, reflecting the moonlight with it, flashing it at the pilot. “You know, if you were better at aiming, maybe I wouldn’t be dodging so easily.” He was still clearly enjoying himself.

“If you’re weak, just say so, dude.”

The pilot launched a forward strike. Sear was ready. He caught the Exo suit’s right arm with both hands, muscles straining under the pressure.

“Still think I’m weak, girly?” he gritted through his teeth, fighting against the suit’s raw strength.

“Yeah—and stupid.” She drove her left fist into his ribs, sending him skidding across the floor backwards towards the right. He came to a halt right next to the lifeless body of the man he had killed earlier.

Sear exhaled sharply. “Oh, nice to see you again… You know, you were a lot more fun before you died.”

As he pushed himself up, a sharp pain flared in his right side. He winced. “Well, something’s off there.”

The pilot advanced, but she hesitated when she saw his smile. It was cold, mocking, like he wasn’t even phased by the fight.

“What now?” she asked, irritation creeping into her voice.

“Oh, nothing. Just that it looks like you’re the last one standing. Impressive for an under-average pilot.”

Her expression faltered. She scanned the room, then turned just in time to see Havoc finally rip the other Exo suit to pieces with his mechanical arm. Her confidence cracked, fear creeping in.

She backed up slightly, her breath coming faster, then suddenly sprinted toward Sear.

“DIE YOU DAMM MANIAC” she roared.

Sear stood still, smiling. As she lunged, Havoc grabbed her arm with a swift motion, spun her halfway around, and shoved her aside with brutal efficiency.

Sear chuckled. “Hey, have you met my friend? He just tore your buddy into tiny pieces.” a weird smile appeared on Sear’s face as he smiled with his entire mouth

Havoc shot a concerned look at him. “You good, Sear?”

Sear grinned, the smile curling up only on one side of his face now as he tilted his head. “Yeah, all good.”

The pilot’s breathing grew unsteady as she took in the battlefield. The menacing figure of Sear and the towering presence of Havoc’s calm demeanor made her feel small, trapped. Bodies of dead rebels littered the floor. Across the room, Pulse sat atop one of them, arms resting on her knees, head cradled in her hands, silently watching. When their eyes met, Pulse waved at the pilot.

On the other side of the room, Clue and Flame leaned casually against some crates, chatting as though this was any other day. Their guns rested beside them.

The pilot looked at them, the casualness of their demeanor cutting through her panic. How could they be so calm after all this?

Sear had a mockingly smile that was never fading. “Yeah… this really ain’t your day, huh?”

She whipped her head around, desperately searching for an exit, like a caged animal. There. The hole in the wall. It had to be her way out.

She bolted toward it.

Sear lifted his radio. “Hey, Blackout. Exo suit’s leaving from the left side of the building. Disable it—but leave the pilot. I want to deal with them myself.”

A short pause.

“Oh, come on, I’ll lose my bet just let me kill them.” Blackout’s voice carried a touch of disappointment.

Sear sighed, rolling his eyes. “Blackout, taking out an Exo suit gets you ten points, okay?”

“Hmm… well, you’re the boss.”

Gunfire rang out as Blackout fired precise shots into the Exo suit’s energy core, reducing it to a lifeless heap of metal. The pilot barely managed to scramble out before it shut down completely.

She looked up—only to see Sear standing in the warehouse opening, one daggers in hand.

Instinct kicked in. She turned and ran.

Sear watched her flee, his cold, menacing gaze locked onto her retreating form.

“Great. Just as predicted.”

He turned back toward the others, his voice steady but serious. “I’ll be back soon. Make sure the Lookout group is fine, okay?”

“Wait—something happened to them?” Havoc called after him.

Sear didn’t answer. He was already gone, sprinting and grabbing his second dagger from the gun on the back of the exo suit as he ran past it into the forest.

“Do we have a plan yet?” Blip asks, his voice heavy as he rests his eyes, trying to steady his breath.

“Yeah, I think we do.” Slick replies, the doubt in his voice very clear as he bit off his nail. “We’ll descend on the same ropes the team used earlier.”

“But as soon as they see us, they’ll probably just go up and cut the ropes.” Fallow counters, her voice filled with skepticism.

“It’s the best shot we’ve got,” Slick says, turning toward Blip. “Who’s carrying Raven?”

Blip’s look didn’t target Slicks but landed on Raven—something Slick immediately notices. as his worry deepens.

“Fallow will take Raven, and I’ll take you,” Slick says decisively, locking eyes with Blip. The seriousness in his gaze is unmistakable.

“Okay, thanks,” Blip responds, his voice genuine despite the gravity of the situation.

“Alright, Sharpshot, you start firing. We’ll head for the ropes,” Fallow orders, her tone carrying a hint of regret.

“Copy that, Commander,” Sharpshot replies, his voice steady as he positions himself behind his scope.

The sounds of UAF troops screaming and randomly shooting into the forest echos as Sharpshot’s sniper fire begins. The air is soon filled with the constant crackle of gun fire, the field behind the ropes becoming a deadly backdrop. Fallow moves quickly, lifting Raven and securing herself to the rope, beginning the descent. at the sight of Fallow moving down the ropes he looks at Blip.

“Our turn, brother,” Slick says as he grips Blip’s shoulders. They move over the open field slick basically drag Blip with him by his side as his legs struggles to keep up, but as Slick tosses his rifle to the ground and gets strapped into the rope, the radio crackles to life.

“Guys, I’ve been spotted… I can’t—I’m sorry, I need to reposition before I can shoot again. I’m so sorry,” Sharpshot’s voice crackles, desperation bleeding into each word. as concentrated gunfire is constantly being shot at his last location, he ran towards the clif The absence of his fire signals danger, and Blip realizes they won’t make it down before the ropes are cut.

“Come on, let’s go, Blip!” Slick urges, his voice quick and strained.

To slicks surprise he gets shoved off the edge, sending him gliding down the rope.

“See you on the other side, brother. Tell Havoc I kept my promise.” Blip salutes, with a pained smile crossing his face. His eyes stay locked on Slick as he descends. “Brother, no…!” Slick’s voice cracks, his hand grasping at empty air as he falls As Blip hears the laughter and movement from the UAF approaching he picks up Slick’s abandoned rifle from the ground. The only sound that follows is the sharp crack of his AK-5 firing, echoing through the air.

As Blip holds off the UAF, Sharpshot reposition, moving closer to the edge getting a clear view. From his new vantage point, he watches Blip shoot as he was in a hurry to empty his magazine. Blip’s legs were already unsteady from the previews wounds, but now the UAF targets him again. Blip gets hit in his left shoulder and left leg and drops to his knee, his rifle making the clear click sound, he dropped it beside himself “empty and useless piece of metal”

Sharpshot, now all set up, activates his earpiece and connects to Blip. His voice trembles with urgency. “Sorry for the wait… I’ll lay down covering fire soon.” the sound of him reloading his gun was clear thru the mic

Blip’s weak voice crackles through the earpiece, each word laborious. “Don’t…”

Sharpshot’s heart drops as he hears Blip speak. “Don’t do it” Sharpshot puts his eye on the lens his finger shakes he he places it on the trigger “Blip. I can’t leave you out there. I’ll—”

Blip cuts him off with a strained laugh. “You’ll be spotted too quickly, kid. You can shoot a few, but it won’t matter. I’m already out of time.” His voice falters, growing weaker.

“But… but I can’t just leave you here,” Sharpshot pleads, his throat tightening as tears well in his eyes.

Blip’s words come slowly but with resolve. “Don’t cry for me. You won’t leave me. I made this choice. This way, I won’t go out empty… or useless.” His gaze drifts to the rifle on the ground.

Sharpshot swallows hard, the weight of Blip’s words sinking in. “No… but I—”

“No buts,” Blip interrupts, his tone firm despite his fading strength. “You can, however, send a message for me. I didn’t get to say it before…”

“Anything. Just tell me,” Sharpshot says, voice steady but shaking with emotion.

Blip smiles faintly, his voice barely above a whisper. “Tell my brother… that I love him.”

Sharpshot’s fingers shake on his rifle, tears threatening to blur his vision completely. The weight of Blip’s request presses on him like a physical force. “I will. I’ll tell him.”

Blip’s smile lingers as he takes a deep breath, his eyes falling to the UAF soldiers closing in. One of them locks eyes with him and speaks, his voice cold and calculating. “What type of soldier are you?”

Blip’s voice remains weak, despite the blood dripping from his wounds as he reaches into both of his pockets. Blip raised his head and looked dead in the UAF soldiers eyes. “Shoot me.”

The UAF soldier leans down, a sneer spreading across his face. “You think you’re in any position to give orders or requests? We need answers, and you’re our best chance.”

Blip’s response is sharp, final—the last words he’ll ever speak. “I wasn’t talking to you.” He looks the soldier in the eyes, his slight smile lingering.

Sharpshot’s hand tightens around the rifle as he takes aim. His heart pounds. The shot rings out, echoing through the stillness of the field, a solitary crack that seals Blip’s fate.

As Blips body falls to the ground smoke erupts from his pockets and out falls two smoke grenades covering up any chances for them to spot from where the shot came from.

“Sharpshot, was that you?” A voice crackled through his radio, interrupting the panic that had gripped him.

Sharpshot’s breath hitched as he quickly picked up his rifle and headed deeper into the forest, gripping his radio tightly. “What did you say?” he asked, his voice unsteady.

“Was it you that fired?” Fallow’s voice came in clearer now, her tone sharp with urgency.

“Yes… it was me.”

Fallow lowered the radio, staring at it as if hoping she had misheard. Before she could speak, Slick snatched it from her hands.

“Why did you only fire once? What happened to Blip?” His voice was thick with desperation and anger.

Sharpshot hesitated, his heart pounding. “I’m sorry… I truly am. If it were Blackout instead of me, maybe he could have done something.”

Silence hung between them. Slick looked down at the radio in his hand, his grip tightening as despair crept over his face. He inhaled sharply before speaking again.

“What were his last words?” His voice was quieter now, as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

Sharpshot swallowed hard. “There were a few, but the one I think you’d want to hear… He wanted you to know that he loved you.”

Slick stood frozen, his gaze empty. Slowly, he placed the radio back in Fallow’s hands, his movements mechanical, distant.

Then, without a word, he turned toward the warehouse. The sound of gunfire had faded—one battle had ended. But another had just begun.