We Who Serve

Chapter Nine

Grimes's heart felt light as she fell through the air. She kept her weapon close to her chest as she waited for impact. A rush of cold water embraced her as she felt herself come to a stop. It was peaceful for a moment; it reminded her of her younger years of cliff-jumping to scare her mum. Grimes didn't move, even when she heard another impact from under the water. A few seconds passed before she felt a hand grab her upper right arm and pull her to the surface.

"Grimes snap out of it. No time for daydreaming." Ghost yelled as she broke the surface. She pulled in a deep breath, being pulled back to the present. It's the first time since she was shot that she has had a moment like that, where she is lost in her memories. Maybe being around 141 has triggered it again. But she was pulled from her thoughts when rounds hit the water around her.

"Use the rocks for cover!" Alejandro yelled out as he finally got through to someone on the radio.

"They sound American." Ghost called out as the radio continued to give broken feedback of a voice.

"Here they come! Weapons free! " Alejandro called out as the enemy unleashed their bullets on them. Grimes pulled in a deep breath and dived down to swim to cover as unseen as possible. She resurfaced next to Alejandro, who was laying down his own fire. Everyone continued to fire round at the Mexican army on the ground while trying to keep their footing in the fast-flowing river.

"Vehicles on the bridge!" Ghost yelled out as Grimes grabbed hold of a rock to try and stop herself.

"Not ours!" Grimes yelled as she was the closest to them. The river became shallow enough to walk on as they ducked behind rocks. There must have been machine guns on the back of the trucks because there was no break for them to return fire. They were pinned.

"This is shadow-1. Engaging the bridge north of your position, danger close." An American voice called over the radio.

"Who the hell is that?" Grimes asked out as she managed to find a moment to return fire without being hit.

"Commander Graves, Shadow company. They are with us." Ghost explained.

"Mercenaries. Since when did you start dealing with they assholes?" Grimes yelled at him. Just then, a large explosion began on the bridge from above, taking out all the trucks. Ghost called down the radio to them, letting them know they had hit their target. Then the bridge collapsed into the river.

"All stations, no enemy movement detected. You're clear." Graves called out over the radio. "Good to see you boys,"

"Likewise, mate." Ghost called back as they made their way out of the water. Grimes located a vehicle just up from them as they all piled in. Graves explained that Hassan had been spotted not far from where they were, and Alejandro knew exactly where that was, so he took the wheel.

"Of all people, Graves?" Grimes sighed angrily from the front passenger seat.

"We didn't have a choice; Shepherd pulled him in." Soap explained.

"He just saved our asses back there." Ghost growled at her.

"Because it suited him." Grimes explained, "Don't trust him. Commander Graves is not who you think he is."

"We would be dead if it weren't for him." Alejandro agreed with the men in the back.

"Yeah, and hundreds of innocent women would still be alive if it weren't for him!" Grimes yelled in retaliation. "He's been on the Creed's watch list for a while. We don't have the right proof to pin him."

"This list? Who else is on it?" Soap asked as Grimes just looked forward, not wanting to answer his question. "Grimes, I asked you a question."

"Many people." She answered him with a sigh,

"Not what he was asking," Ghost spoke out as his eyes were glued to Grimes.

"Task force 141," Grimes spoke out, "All of you are on a list. But not the one that Graves is on."

"Then what list?" Ghost asked her to continue.

"The DID list, dangerous if defected," Grimes explained to them as the truck bounced about on the dirt road. "It's a list that keeps track of all highly skilled personnel on it, that if they defect, they will be too dangerous to leave."

"Why didn't you tell us?" Soap asked. You could tell by his voice he wasn't sure how to react. On one side, he was proud that the team's skill was considered so high, but at the same time, they were being watched.

"Because I know for a fact that would never happen," Grimes explained as they fell silent. "I am on it too, as are a few assassins."

"So, how long have you been track Graves?" Ghost asked curiously.

"Around two years. He first appeared in Thailand when fifteen young girls went missing." Grimes explained, "After that, a few more instances where girls disappeared, and he happened to be in the country."

"It doesn't take a genius to put two and two together." Soap nodded out.

"But we never had concrete proof. He is very clever."

"Or he has friends in high places," Alejandro answered back. At the same time, he was giving her a side eye while driving.

"I'm just waiting; he will slip up. And when he does, I'll be there." Grimes muttered under her breath. Her frustration was getting the better of her as she balled her hands into fists. Her jaw clenched under her mask as her nostrils flared.

"The cartel building is just up ahead. We will pull in here. Go the rest on foot," Alejandro said as he pulled to a stop next to a house and applied the handbrake. Everyone jumped out of the truck and closed the doors. Grimes scanned the area, as no doubt there was cartel everywhere. Graves's voice sounded over the radio, saying he was above them, ready to give them air support.

"Shadow 1, Bravo 0-7, we'll mark our position with IR laser. Over." Ghost called down the comms.

"Rodger that 0-7." Graves called out over the comms. The ghost then instructed Soap to signal their location with the IR laser. At the same time, Grimes pointed her weapon to scan the area with her sight system.

"Four Tangos, 130 mikes front of building, left of truck." Grimes called out as Ghost found them easily with her indication.

"Copy." He called as she turned to look around them.

"Keep an eye open for snipers. We already went up against some. We are stupid to think they don't have more." Grimes muttered as they were given the signal by Graves above you to be ready for the attack.