The Final Hour

“Tempes, we’ve lost both Pebble and Critical. What are your orders?”

Tempes stood with arms crossed, a grim look shadowing his big frame as he absorbed the news. He gazed down at the Fallo soldier before him.

“Is it possible to recover their bodies?”

The soldier blinked, confusion flashing across his face.

“I—I don’t know, sir. Maybe… but why?”

Tempes let out a slow breath.

“Listen, Bait. Even if those lunatic lab freaks and most other units don’t give a damn about you, know that some of us do. I’d like to say a final goodbye to my comrades.”

Relief softened Bait’s features. He gave a small nod before hurrying off to inform Target.

Just then, the radio on Tempes’ belt crackled to life.

“Tempes, do you copy?”

He unclipped it and pressed the button.

“Tempes here. Loud and clear. Are we getting new orders?”

“Yes. And… I’m sorry to say it, but we’re launching an all-out assault.”

Tempes’ eyes narrowed.

“Havoc, what kind of plan is that? It’ll be a slaughter for the Fallo units—and even us.”

“It’s Sear’s call. And I’m afraid not even you can change it, Tempes. Especially since you only volunteered for this mission.”

Tempes bit his lip hard enough to draw a faint line of blood.

“…Understood. I’ll inform my squad. But someone needs to check on the front line—I haven’t heard from them in a while.”

“Copy. I’ll handle it myself.”

“Thank you, Havoc. Over and out.”

Tempes lowered the radio, gripping it tight for a moment. He shut his eyes before strapping it back to his belt.

“Damn it…” he muttered under his breath, as he took a step towards his two remaining friends to deliver the orders.

“Havoc, have you gotten in contact with Tempes?”

Sear’s voice rang out behind Havoc and Raven, who were hunched over the radio.

“Yes. He’s been informed,” Havoc replied. Then he glanced at Raven. “Keep an ear on this, will you?”

Sear’s brow creased. “And where exactly are you going?”

“Tempes was worried about his men at the front. I’m going to check on them—and pass along the assault orders.”

Sear watched as Havoc strode off. He then turned to Raven and Blackout.

“Any word on the front?”

Blackout adjusted his position on the rock, mechanical eye whirring as it clicked against his sniper scope.

Raven answered first. “I’m not sure, Sear. But I did hear an explosion.”

Sear gave a small nod, waiting for Blackout’s assessment.

“All i spy with my little eye fire and bodies,” Blackout said finally, lifting his eye from the lens. A smirk twitched at the corner of his mouth. “Hey shorty, turns out you were right. Big boom.”

Raven rolled her eyes at the jab.

“We’ll see if anyone’s still breathing when Havoc gets back,” Sear muttered.

When Havoc reached the charred remains of the fallen tree, the scene was grisly. Spare’s corpse burned alongside the trunk, his flesh blackened and smoking. Nearby, Chain lay dead, a bullet hole through his scorched skull.

Havoc scanned the ground, catching sight of faint drag marks leading toward a thicket.

He drew his pistol and aimed it at the bushes.

“Whoever’s in there, identify yourself!”

A faint, strained voice answered. “Havoc… is that you?”

At the sound of his name, Havoc holstered his weapon and pushed into the brush, tearing aside branches until he found Tace cradling an unconscious Fascia.

“You two alright?” Havoc asked.

“I’m fine… not sure about her,” Tace replied. Fascia’s head rested limply in his hand, while his other arm held her close around the waist to keep her upright.

“I’ll carry her. Come on—we can asses her condition safer over at the radio.”

Havoc slipped his mechanical arm under Fascia, lifting her effortlessly over his shoulder. As they started back toward their makeshift base, he noticed Tace favoring one leg, a slight limp betraying the pain he tried to hide.

“Hey, Havoc’s got some people with him,” Blackout said, peering through his scope.

“One of them’s limping pretty bad though. Should I take a shot—maybe it’ll speed him up or—”

“Blackout, behave,” Pulse snapped, glaring at him.

“Yes, mother,” Blackout rolled his eyes. As petty protest, he set his rifle down and rested his head on it like it was a pillow.

Havoc finally arrived, carefully lowering Fascia onto the ground.

“Havoc, these the only ones left?” Sear asked, his tone hard.

“Yeah. The rest are dead. This one’s badly hurt—internal bleeding in her back.”

Fallow didn’t wait; she pushed past Sear, dropping to her knees by Fascia’s side.

“Fascia?” she whispered, pressing her ear to her chest.

“She’s alive Fallow, don’t worry,” Havoc assured her.

Tace limped up behind, gripping Havoc’s shoulder to keep himself upright.

“Well, now what?” he managed, his breath ragged.

Havoc slipped an arm under Tace’s to steady him. Sear’s gaze flicked over to Tace, unimpressed.

“Now nothing. We move forward with the plan as intended,” Sear said coldly, then gestured dismissively at Fascia.

“We don’t have time for this.”

“The hell does that mean?” Tace growled. He shoved off Havoc, surprisingly hard, making the giant nearly lose his balance. Limping forward, he jabbed a finger at Sear.

“The hell you mean by this?”

Sear’s eyes narrowed. As Tace swung a sloppy right hook, Sear easily ducked it, slipping in close and slamming one hand to Tace’s throat and taking a hold of it, the other gripping his left shoulder form behind.

“I may’ve said that wrong,” Sear muttered, tightening his hold.

“I meant we don’t have the equipment for this.”

Tace, choking, still managed to yank his elbow back, smashing it into Sear’s jaw. Sear stumbled, letting go as he clutched his face.

Tace turned, hands raised, defiant.

Is this really a Fallo unit? Sear thought, studying him.

He locked eyes with Pulse, who gave a small nod and moved quietly around Tace’s flank.

Sear took a step back as Tace advanced.

“Listen, we can try one thing, but the chances of it working are extremely slim.”

“Then we do it.” Tace’s tone was edged with desperation.

“Even if the odds are—”

“How about you calm down first?” Sear interrupted.

Just then, Pulse shot forward, sliding her arms under Tace’s and locking her hands behind his head in a tight hold.

“Now then, are you calm?” Sear asked coolly.

Tace struggled, finally nodding. Pulse lowered him, and he collapsed to his knees.

“Good. Your friend’s going to die, sad to say, but that’s the truth.” Sear turned to Havoc.

“You alright?”

“Yeah, just lost my balance.”

Fallow was still by Fascia’s side, Raven now beside her, a reassuring hand on her back. From atop the rock, Blackout’s gentle snoring drifted over the tense silence.

After a few seconds, Sear nodded at Pulse. She released Tace, who stayed kneeling.

“There really no way to help her?” Tace croaked.

Sear drew a long breath.

“I said there is a way, but the odds are low—I’m warning you.”

“Well, we have to try. Even if the odds are—”

Sear raised a hand to cut him off.

“First. What’s her blood type?”

Tace blinked.

“Uh… O-.”

Sear’s eyes lit up.

“That’s good. Hey, that’s good. Means step one is done.”

He pulled an Invicta injector from his pocket.

“She can take this—same as I do. But the dose might kill her outright, and I can’t just pour out half.”

“Then take half yourself.” Tace’s tone was blunt.

Sear snorted.

“I’ve already had nine doses. I’m saving the last for when I really need it. Not gonna half-dose now just to have Raven and Havoc scrape me off the ground later. not to mention the time it would take to hack two injectors”

He twirled the injector in his fingers as he stepped toward Fascia.

“Wait!” Tace called out. Sear paused.

“Give me half of it.”

An amused smile spread over Sear’s face.

“Did you not hear the ‘potentially deadly’ part?”

Tace thought back to when he first picked up Fascia’s gun when he thought she was dead.

“Yeah, I heard it. But I also heard you say that half a dose would give better odds right?, and I’ve got O- too. So give it to me.”

Pride sparked in Sear’s eyes.

That’s the kind of loyalty I want in a soldier.

“Yes,” he nodded, pointing at Tace.

“Yes, we’ll do that. Havoc, Raven, help them out.”

He tossed the injector to Raven.

“Pulse, Fallow—let’s go. We’re heading to the front. C’mon.”

Fallow reached over and yanked Blackout’s leg.

“Uh, please… just five more minutes…” he mumbled.

Fallow’s right eye twitched. She yanked harder, dragging him off the rock.

“Woah—aa—!” Dunk.

Raven and Fallow fist-bumped as Blackout scrambled to his feat, then finally followed Pulse, Fallow and Sear toward the defensive line.