Lost Lifes

Gunfire and explosions echoed in the distance. Raven and Fallow sat by the radio, listening to the chaos in the distance.

“It feels so wrong to just sit here and do nothing,” Raven said quietly.

Fallow laid an arm around her shoulders. “I know what you mean. But since you’re too afraid to fight, it’s better you stay here where it’s safe.”

Raven hugged her around the waist. “I know…”

“And for me, this is where I’m needed—at least according to Sear,” Fallow said, glancing down at the radio.

On the right flank, Tempes led his team forward, taking bullets head-on to shield Bait and Target, who stood behind him, firing back.

“You good, sir?” Bait called.

“Don’t you worry about me, Bait.”

“Copy that, sir.”

Bang.

A shot ripped clean through Tempes’ arm. “Damn it—” He shoved Bait and Target behind a tree just as another round struck his side. He stumbled, then ducked in after them.

“Call for backup. We’ve got an exo suit out there,” Tempes growled.

Bait and Target exchanged a worried look. Bait picked up the radio.

“This is Bait—anyone available?”

Fallow snatched up her mic. “This is Fallow. What is it?”

“We’re pinned down, Tempes is shot. There’s an exo suit waiting for us to peek.”

“Copy that. I’ll get you help—trust me. Fallow out.” She set the radio down. “Raven, get me Sear’s channel.”

Raven twisted the dial. Nothing. She tried again. Still dead air. “Uh… we’re not getting a signal back.”

Fallow sighed, then stood and grabbed her rifle. “I guess I’m heading to them myself. I’ll be back soon.”

Raven gave her a small wave. “Be careful.”

At the defense line, the situation was grim. They had already fallen back from their earlier gains. A thin line of sandbags and dirt was all that held the overwhelming enemy at bay.

Sear stood firing his twin pistols, moving left as he unloaded round after round.

Fallow reached speaking range. “Sear!”

He turned at her voice—two bullets slammed into his shoulder. “Shit!”

“Get down, you idiot!” Havoc yanked him into cover. He popped open a hatch in his mechanical arm and stabbed Sear with a small injector. Sear’s eyes fluttered; he stretched his neck and grinned weakly. “Aaaw, that’s the shit…”

Fallow slid down into the trench beside them. Sear and Havoc both stared at her.

“Fallow, didn’t I tell you to stay back?”

“Well, Tempes’s group is being overrun—and the radio doesn’t work.”

Sear and Havoc exchanged a worried look. “Sorry, Sear, but it’s time for a retreat.”

“No, we can still—”

“SF, please. We need to move. With Tempes pinned down, we gotta pull back, or else we will all die here.”

Sear looked into Fallow’s pleading eyes. He exhaled. “Fine. Let’s head back to the radio.”

Havoc nodded. “Everyone, RETREAT!”

The line began to fall back, firing as they went.

Back at their original position, Havoc helped Raven pack up the radio. “Everyone grab what you can—we’re leaving this shit hole soon!”

Tace knelt by Fascia, still asleep. “She’s not waking up… I think she’s getting worse.”

Sear threw on another pack. “Great. Then you won’t have a problem moving on.”

“Raven—anything from Tempes before you packed up?” Sear barked.

She shook her head.

“Perfect. Looks like we’re leaving four behind.”

Slick, Blip, and Halfy shouldered their bags. Only Tace’s were left.

“I’ll get his,” Havoc said, slinging on even more gear as Tace lifted Fascia onto his back, tying her wrists so he could support her legs.

Raven walked up next to Havoc “i hope he wont lose her, i don’t think he could take that” Havoc nodded in agreement

“Alright, let’s move!” Havoc took point, Tace followed, Fallow and Sear brought up the rear.

They trudged through thick forest until it broke at a cliff. Havoc led them along the edge. A cold wind bit at their faces, flashlights from pursuing UAF soldiers slicing through the dark behind them.

“We gotta go faster,” Havoc urged, shifting to a jog despite carrying twice as much as the rest.

Shots rang out. A bullet splintered a tree right next to Halfy’s face—he stumbled, one foot slipped over the edge.

Fallow lunged, grabbing him. But she started sliding too. Sear caught her by the ankle—only for his heavy pack to pull him off balance and off the edge along with Fallow and Halfy. Together, the three of them fell off the cliff, crashing through branches and sliding down the rocky slope.

Slick spun around. “Guys—they fell!”

“We gotta MOVE! We will get them alter” Havoc barked. More bullets whistled by, forcing Slick to obey.

They finally reached an old warehouse. A hidden scanner triggered—ground panels slid open, revealing an entrance to the lab below. Down sterile corridors they went, until they were met by a cluster of Overseers and a lab coat.

“H2-EU,” the lab coat said coolly, “was the mission a success?”

No one answered. The silence stretched.

“I see you’re missing S2-SF and T3-EU. You’ve also brought a wounded Fallo. We’ll discard her shortly.” He motioned two Overseers forward.

Tace stepped back. “Stop. Stay back.”

The Overseers drew their tasers. “Fallo unit—stand down.”

Tace placed Fascia on the ground

“I am Tace of the Wrath Watch. I request Mimic’s presence.”

“Hold,” the lab coat said. “Let him have his way. The rest of you—follow me.”

They were led deeper into the facility. Equipment was stripped away, Fallo units and Unit Two separated. Slick and Blip were marched off toward Fallo 51 quarters, while the rest went the opposite direction.

Only Tace remained outside in the white corridor, two Overseers standing watch, as he held Fascia close, her limp body pressing weakly against his chest.

A woman stepped into the corridor, her heels echoing sharply on the sterile floor.

“So, Tace… you requested me? you know i don’t like to be requested”

Tace looked up, clutching Fascia tightly in his arms. “Yes. Please—I beg of you. Save her.”

Mimic’s eyes drifted down to Fascia, then back to Tace with a look of disappointment. “And why, exactly, would I do that?”

“Because…” Tace swallowed hard. “Until she is well, my life will belong to you. And to the Wrath Watch.”

A slow, sickening smile spread across Mimic’s face. Tace lowered his head, bowing before her.

“Very good,” she purred. Then, turning slightly, “Overseer—this woman is under my protection now. Place her under Doctor Carol’s care.”

The two Overseers stepped forward, pried Fascia from Tace’s arms, and carried her away down the corridor.

As Tace straightened, Mimic slipped an arm around his. “Welcome back to the team, Tacey.”

Something in Tace’s eyes changed at that moment. What had once been warm and soft turned cold—dead, even—as if a switch had been flipped inside him.