The Day Before We Met

Demons

"I knew I should've parted from them when we even talked about agreeing to babysit." I grunted as I ripped a high value target's head off of his shoulders. "We went from killing on a weekly basis to watching a fucking civilian run around and sing."

As I walked up the staircase to get to the roof, the Marians stood against the walls with hopes I wouldn't do anything to them.

I pulled a minor explosive off of my chest and tossed it over my shoulder before exiting through the rooftop access.

"He said fifteen minutes. Where is he?" I looked up and around the sky to see where the fuck my pilot was.

I checked my timer to see five seconds remaining.

"That's why." I sighed as the shuttle broke through the atmosphere and slowed down to touchdown on the roof.

"Welcome back, Sentinel Black. If you want another mission, one is ready for you." My pilot looked over his shoulder before closing the hatch behind me.

I grabbed the tablet from my seat and stayed seated till we got into orbit around Mars at a safe, but close distance.

"There are two available. One is recommended as a solo and one is recommended for a team." The pilot got up from his seat after putting the shuttle in auto-orbit to do whatever.

With me being me, I clicked the one that was recommended for a team.

A Marian commander is in a base at the given location. Eliminate anyone in your way in and way out to get to him. You will have up to one hour. A team of four is recommended. Do not pursue alone.

Eh, fuck it. I'll do it solo. It's not like it'll matter if I die.

"Yo pilot, lets go." I swiped up on the tablet to sync the location to the shuttle.

"You'll have to drop above atmosphere for that one. I can't get that close without anyone else on board to help me." The pilot sat back down and took the shuttle out of auto-orbit.

"That's fine. I like dropping. It's not like anyone is here to tell me to be safe about it." I'd choose dropping over landing any day of the week. Ajax isn't here to say 'it isn't safe to drop from that high. We will overheat' yeah, okay Ajax.

I will never take another order again. Recommendations maybe, but no orders.

The pilot flew in silence while I looked around at the other Earth shuttles. Most are there to prevent any Marian attacks, but some are there for restocks or are medical shuttles. Despite how badly I've wanted to blow Marian medical shuttles, it's a war crime and I could be put to death depending on the severity.

"We will be in position in sixty seconds. Go out the side pressure hatch so I don't die please."

I patted the pilots shoulder as I passed him on my way to the side hatch.

The first door rose and closed behind me, and the second opened up as I waited for the green light.

"Drop!"

I jumped off of the shuttle and my visor locked onto my target zone.

My drop speed kept rising more and more. I wonder how high it can go before my suit makes me flip.

"Drop speed too high. Reduce speed or flip immediately." My suit's alert system went off as I hit the seventy thousand feet mark.

I glanced up at my speed to see it gauging 667 mph. Damn, that's a new record.

"Temperature too high. Involuntary flip engaged."

I groaned as my system made me flip and slow down with my boosters. Damn party pooper.