Hotel Six: A Call of Duty Fanfiction

Chapter 50: Eye for an Eye

Soap groaned as he checked the weapons in the back of the plane. "We've got one good UMP... They've got a thousand," he said in dismay. "We don't even know if Makarov's intel is any good." His blue eyes raised up to the senior Captain staring out the window. "Price?" There was no response and he stepped closer. "... Price?"

"The healthy human mind doesn't wake up in the morning thinking this is its last day on earth," said Price, a dark, undaunted tone in his voice. "But I think that's a luxury, not a curse. To know you're close to the end is a kind of freedom; a good time to take... inventory." He slid the bolt back on his rifle and released it with a sharp snap. "Outgunned. Outnumbered. Out of our minds on a suicide mission. But the sand and rocks here, stained with thousands of years of warfare... They will remember us for this." He turned fully to Soap and took a step closer, and Jessica watched him with a worried expression as she noticed the shadow over his eyes again. "Because out of our vast array of nightmares, this is the one we choose for ourselves. We go forward, like a breath exhaled from the Earth, with vigor in our hearts and one goal in sight: We. Will. Kill him."

She shifted and strode between him and Soap. "We appreciate the pep talk, sir," she said. "But I, for one, take Patton's quote to heart: the goal isn't to die for your country, it's to make the other poor, dumb bastard die for his."

"You can't honestly think we're makin' it outta this one, Lone?" asked Soap.

Gal turned around and cocked a brow. "So what if I do?"

Price's hand passed over her ears and she growled, pulling away. "We may be among the best soldiers on the globe, but even the best can't take out a whole army. We will, indeed, take Shepherd's life, but not without answering for it."

She set her brows but remained otherwise unmoving. "Die if you want, but know it'll only be over my dead body," she said.

Both men smiled and Soap reached out to pat her head. "You've been good to us, Gal. If you come outta this, don't change."

"Hadn't planned on it."

The plane touched down, and already there was a swift breeze, thickening the air with sand. "I'll wait for you at the exfil point. Three hours," said Nikolai.

Price shook his head. "Don't bother. This was a one-way trip, mate."

Nikolai's expression turned somber. "... Then good luck, my friends," he said, nodding to each one as they went out the door. "Слава Бого."

Before Jessica stepped out, she held his gaze. "... Meet us at that exfil point."

"What?"

"They think we're going to die, but... I just know we're not, so don't leave us hanging. We're going to need you when this is all over."

Nikolai grinned. "Copy, ma'am. Keep them alive until then for me, da?"

"Done and done," she replied, giving him a salute and bailing out the door.

They stalked through the brewing sand storm, coming to a stop at a small ridge. "I'm getting a thermal reading up ahead of us," said Price. "This must be it... Looks like Makarov's intel was solid."

"If he's not anything else, at least he's helpful sometimes," muttered Gal. She looked over the edge and saw a patrol. "They're splitting up."

Price nodded and then looked down at his radio. "This encryption code better be worth the price we paid..." 

Gal's ears pricked at the sound of American voices. "Go ahead, Alpha?"

"It worked..." She smiled, revealing her curved fangs. The patrol chattered back and forth about the sand storm and no sign of disturbance, and soon the group had dispersed.