Sand, man, I hate sand. Being sent to this bloody desert one last time is bullshit, actually beyond bullshit. I wanted to stay back in the nice air-conditioned base while waiting for the clock to strike midnight. But nooooo, Colonel Summers needed a cyber-sniper for a mission that could have been done with a simple airstrike. That's life. One day, I'm sleeping in air-conditioned bliss, and the next, I'm 40 miles deep in a desert in 120-degree heat with my trusty rifle, Entropy. Oh well, one last mission before my contract ends.
Incomming Communication ---- Colonel Dipshit ---- Accept?
Looks like they now want to talk to me now. Looking around, I activate my stealth augments and make my way to the shade. I was not going to take this call while out in the open.
"Walker! Where the hell are you!? You were supposed to check in every 10 minutes! You haven't checked in for 11 minutes!"
This motherfu-
"Well, why are you LATE?"
Taking one last breath before I type something that would have my contract extended, I send a text message stating that 'I was looking for a secure location to send message without alerting any hostiles of my location, so that I do not become swarmed from all sides and become a lability for you and the rest of the personnel on base. (~_^)'. Sending that wink was to piss off the man but just enough to not have my contract extended. After all, who would want a contract soldier who blurs the lines of professionalism and informality? Seeing his face turn redder than a tomato was more than enough for me to feel a sense of liberation from his nagging and ass kissing.
Immediately after, the link was cut off, and the classic disconnect message popped up. It looks like I can continue the mission without any interruption. Turning off the stealth augments, I began my walk to the rendezvous point with SandCrawler-07. I have to hike another 5 miles in this sand. A mile a minute should be doable.
After a solid 5 minutes had passed, I found the compound that SandCrawler-07 was supposed to... blow up, for lack of a better term. I start to set up my nest and begin my overwatch of the compound. I dig a ditch big enough for me to lay in comfortably and still have enough mobility to get up and run if needed. I begin my watch. Two hours before mission start.
The compound had an outer wall at least 8 feet high, with a large metal gate that looked as if it was meant to swing outward. There was a courtyard with a good number of people outside, and a few were in guard towers armed with heavy armaments that could easily rip through my cybernetics like butter. Just beyond the courtyard was a building that easily stood 20 feet. The building looked as if it had titanium plating on the exterior, painted to blend in with the surroundings. This was not going to be an easy mission.
Incomming Communication ---- Text only ---- Favorite White Boys and Girls ---- Accept?
- Walker! We were told our favorite bean colored man was watching over us! Or did that asshole lie to make us run our tiny asses to the location? Anyway, we are in position and waiting on your go. 5 in the front, 3 at the rear.
Man, I'm going to miss these fools when I get out at midnight. They were the only soloice I got while stuck in this desert for the last three years. Just enough nostalgia to make me almost want to extend my contract, but not enough to deal with Summers' tomfoolery.
Looking good SandCrawler-07, I count 15 in the courtyard and at least 1 inside. Do you all want some beers and grilled sandwiches when we get back? Also, I would like a ride back. There's sand between my cheeks. Both of them.
I'll ask the Lt. It will be a tight fit, and she does not like being squished while trying to navigate. We will bankrupt you before you leave. -
With that message, a smile started to form on my face. It's been too long since I smiled at something. It was almost like a goodbye, but it felt more sad.
Time to start the show. One more breath and one more kill. I start looking into the scope of my rifle and slowly mark every living person I see and send the information to SandCrawlers' Lt. They will need that if they want to get out of the with no dead men. I feel the breeze; it was calm and felt cool across my face. The sand felt course ready to shift as the breeze flew past. The trigger is begging to be released to cause carnage to all that stand in its way.
Slow is smooth. Smooth is fast.
*CRACK* -*HISS*
With that shot, one body is on the ground, lifeless and unmoving. There was now a hole the size of a golf ball on the temple of his head, skull fragments and brain matter all over the wall he was leading on with a bright blood red streak that led to the ground. Three people looked at his body, and I could see their eyes. It looks like their souls left them, and all that remained was a pale husk of what was left after witnessing this scene. There was no time to let the shock of death fade. I looked at the next poor soul who was at the end of my barrel.
SandCrawler made their move. The large metal gates that stood as an immovable force were blown inwards faster than you could say 'mission start'. Soon, gunfire was heard throughout the compound, but only from one side. SandCrawler was fast- stupid fast. The courtyard was filled with blood, caseings, and bullet holes. Screams could be heard, and attempts to rally were made, but it was too little too late.
Seeing how SandCrawler was taking care of the courtyard. I set my sights on the guard towers and began to pick off the guards before they could react. Eight shots rang through the sky, and eight heads were liberated from bodies. Taking no chances, I activate my thermal vision to see if any of the bodies had some cybernetic backup that allowed them to continue to fight without heads. Thankfully, there were none, and all egigt were sill without a single twitch.
By this point, the battle had ended. There were bodies everywhere, and not a single surface was unstained with blood. In an operation that lasted no more than three minutes, it's no wonder cyber-soldiers were both feared and respected. Without missing a beat, SandCrawler stacked on the door that led into the building itself.
Favorite White Boys and Girls are sending a video link ---- Accept?
- Sending video link, can't have you bored while we clear the building. Want to join in on the fun?
Can't I need to make sure you don't get sunck up on. I will take that video link, though. -
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
- Okie :(
The text channel had closed, and a video link was established. To quite literally not block my vision, I minimized the video to show in the top left corner of my eye and had it cycle between the seven of them when bullets start flying.
"Video link established. Lt. Walker can see us and enjoy the show."
Looking through the video link from the comms sergeant, I can see the Lt in all of her armor and cybernetics smile. At that moment, I felt a shiver down my spine as she looked at the video link. That smile set off my nerves; she was the only one to do that to me.
"Good, and Walker, if you want a ride, I'll have to sit on your lap while navigating."
She then licks her lips as if to mark her territory so no one can take her prey. Another shiver goes down my spine, and this one feels tenser and scarier.
"OK, breach!"
By her command, the frontmost soldier ripped the door off its hinges. Digging his metal fingers into the door, he gripped it, slammed it, and ran straight through it until he hit a wall. Bullets were being stopped by his armor and augmented skin, falling to the floor in a bit of a pancake formation. A low laugh escaped his mouth, and he tossed the door at the nearest person, cleaving the person in two. The person couldn't scream; their eyes rolled back and their soul left their body.
Besides that, nothing interesting happened while I was watching, other than the occasional knife stabbing I saw from the Lt's perspective. The way she stabs the poor souls is not quick. She intentionally draws it out to maximize the pain they will feel. It would have been bone-chilling if it was not for the fact that she was gathering information from them.
Incomming Communication ---- Coloenl Dipshit ---- Accept?
Just as the SandCrawlers were going to begin sweeping the basement, this absolute fool of a commander wanted to yell my ear off. But fuck it we ball
"Walker! Why are you not going into the building!? The faster this gets done, the faster I can send the report to the general!"
Does he not know basic security?
As I am opening my mouth to say the most basic of basic information
ALERT ---- VIDEO LINK LOST ---- ALERT
ATTEMPTING TO RESTABLISH LINK
ALERT ---- LINK COULD NOT BE ESTABLISHED ---- ALERT
Oh shit............. OH SHIT! THAT'S NOT GOOD
Jumping to my feet, I run and I run. They need my help. I will not let them die. I will get them out of there. Summers be damned I need to get there. Sliding down the dune from where I was perched, I left a visual trail behind me. I was already compromised, stealth was no longer an option. In my ear, I can hear the fools screaming, the sounds of gunfire, and something else. Something or someone is letting out a guttural roar. It sounded as if reality was bending to its will, demanding that whatever it was, was being accommodated.
"Walker! Why are you moving!? You should not be moving without telling me! This is a blatant disregard of orders! I will extend your contract!"
HEY DIPSHIT! I do not give two FUCKS right now SandCrawler-07 is in trouble! -
"OH? Now we are cursing at command? Congratulations, Walker, your contract WILL be extended now! AND speak to ME when I address you! None of this text only bullshit!
Communication Terminated ---- Contact Blocked
I can not deal with this now, and they need my help. I'm stumbling through the sand, trying to steady my footing with every step. I make an indent in the sand so defined that the type of shoes I wear can be identified. My cybernetics were burning hot trying to keep up with what I demanded from them. I wouldn't have been surprised if there were small chunks of sand attached to my legs from all the sand that was being kicked up.
Standing in front of the door with Entropy raised at the ready, I can smell the carnage left behind SandCrawlers' wake. The bodies the lt stabbed to gather information were still dripping and pooling blood below them. The severed man that had a door in his adomen now was face first on said door with his blood starting to dry up. Cybernetics was everywhere. While not as good as mine, they were some top-shelf stuff.
Making my way to the basement, I can smell blood and lubrication. Shit. I slowly move down the stairs with small, quiet movements. The smell of blood was getting stronger, dangerously stronger. I decided to activate my stealth augment, melding into the background with only a quiet shimmering, revealing my location when activated. My left eye was tuned to thermal imagining while I set my right eye to night vision. Whatever had happened here, all the lights were short-circuited.
Slow is smooth, smooth is fast, and as God is my witness, please be fast.
Creeping up to the battle, I see them... five of them. Two of them had their limbs ripped off and were left to bleed out. It looked as if their legs were the first to go, probably to prevent them from running, then their arms were pulled off from the shoulder. Three had their heads ripped off. Taking a closer look, I can see their spines had also been ripped out from what looked like an upward motion. I got close to the bodies and looked for identifiers on who they were.
PVT. Patel - SandCrawler - Riflemen
PVT. Winters - SandCrawler - Riflemen
LCpl. Hog - SandCrawler - Lt. Machine gunner
LCpl. Owans - Sand Crawler - Riflewoman
SGT. Giggles - SandCrawler - Communication
I look at their bodies, remembering all the missions I had gone on with these five, some longer and some shorter. I remember their voices, their laughs, their hopes and dreams. Each of them had a dream they wanted to accomplish, but I can't remember what they were. Looking at their bodies makes my mind go blank. All I see are their hollow faces and lifeless bodies.
ALERT ---- FINAL MOMENTS CAN NOT BE FOUND ---- ALERT
PLEASE FIND HARD LINK
May your souls find solace in me
Snapping out of my stupor, I continue to move, my movements still slow, quiet. Their deaths will not be in vain. Should this be my last mission, I will die happy if I kill the thing that did this to them. Death is my mistress, and she is unforgiving.
As I approach the door farther down the hall, I see the big guy who ripped the door out. He looked primarily intact. However, his hands were gone, and it looked as if he was electrictued to death. There was a significant discharge mark where his hands were, an almost pure black that went all the way to his elbows. The thermal readings I was getting off him were significantly hotter than the environment.
CPL. Qinn - SandCrawler - Doorkicker
I read the same message I got from the other five; I could not view his last moments. I am still in the dark about what happened to them. I wanted to scream; I wanted whatever it was to come after me so I could face it.
Was this a testing ground? What did this to them? What will I find? Will I be able to kill it? These questions, and maybe more, were running through my mind as if on repeat. Slowly, I went to the next room and immediately went blind in both eyes. Thermal and night vision immediately turned off as a safety procedure, allowing me to see the room.
LT. Davis - SandCrawler - Platoon Commander
There I saw the lt lying on her back with her knife in her chest, directly in her heart. Around her, a pool of blood was formed, but it allowed a pattern in the crevaces of the floor, creating some circles with intricate markings that my translator could not identify what language it was. Looking around, I see the markings are glowing blue. Blue? Shouldn't it glow red because of the blood?
*STAB*
I feel a pain as some blade pierces my back into my chest. Looking down, I see it was around a foot sticking out—a silver blade . As quickly as the blade went in, it started to glow blue.
ALERT --- CYFSD&*^$&4 _ CON$%#@$ LO^% --- ALERT
DEATH I9M=N%NT
Fuck
