FALLEN STAR | OLD VERSION | BL ✔

「 27 | I FOUND YOU... 」

CASTYR'S POV

"Glad to see you're alive," Ilios greets.

I salute my commanding officer before reporting my unfruitful search.

"Don't worry. You can go out again after your mission."

I nod in thanks.

"Debrief's in three hours. Wash up and get some sleep."

"Yes, sir," I salute before exiting the tent.

I set my rifle on the weapon rack in my tent before sitting on the make-shift cot. I slip the backpack off my shoulders and lie down, heaving a breath and rolling onto my side before closing my eyes and falling asleep.

The beeping of my wrist device wakes me. I look at the time and rush out of my tent. After quickly washing up, I slip into a new pair of black cargo pants and a black shirt. I let my hair air-dry as I put on my belt and equipment.

After tying my shoes, I slip on my jacket and run through the tents to one of the skyscrapers surrounding our base. I run up the stairs to the third floor and enter the still functional conference room. Once inside the rectangular room, I walk over to my team and slip into my empty chair.

"Where've you been?" Major Azyr asks as I sit down.

"On a search," I answer as I catch my breath.

"For what, a girlfriend?" Lieutenant Destil teases.

"I don't have a girlfriend," I growl.

"Oh, so you're looking for your boyfriend!"

I shoot Destil a look that could kill as a pain strikes my heart. He closes his mouth and looks at me sheepishly.

"Sorry," the frightened squirrel apologizes.

I turn to face the conference room door as Colonel Ilios walks in accompanied by a general and two majors. We stand in salute as the officers walk to the head of the table. The general sits at the end with Ilios at his right. The rest of us sit after the officers take their seats.

The general opens the meeting by greeting, "Tonight will determine when we get to go home as the assignment is to secure the Transport Tower. If we succeed, we will be one step closer to defeating Hades, so let's do our best."

Colonel Ilios begins the briefing once the general concludes his opening.

"Beta Team will be stationed around the tower and attack at midnight. Delta Team will back up Beta Team while Alpha Team infiltrates the tower." Ilios continues, "Beta Sniper Jaemyn will be on the City Cultural Center a block from the tower. Sniper Mino from Delta Team will back-up his team from the Bank of Harlim. And Alpha Sniper Castyr will be stationed on the roof of the Transport Tower."

From here, Ilios turns and addresses me, "Lieutenant, you will be dropped from a passing craft onto the tower's roof. From there, you will cover Alpha Team as they near and enter the tower. You will lay low until they reach the transport where you will cover them as they secure the floor."

"Yes, sir," I accept the command.

The colonel then informs each team and sniper of their individual missions. The general approves the mission, and we are dispersed to prepare. We have to be at our position one hour before midnight, so I return to my tent to take a nap.

TIME SKIP: 6 HOURS

A nudge in the arm wakes me. I open my eyes and look up to see Azyr standing over me.

"It's nineteen hundred (7pm). Let's grab some food."

I blink sleepily and sit up. After slipping on a jacket, I follow the major to the food hall. We enter the first level of a building around the camp and get in the line of hungry soldiers. Some stand with sleep in their eyes and messy hair while others have their weapons prepped and ready. I guess you could say I am in between the two extremes. I have my weapons, but I certainly have sleep in my eyes. I thank the chefs for the meal and find my teammates at a table towards the back of the room.