Good Morning...2043?!

Chapter 28 - One Love [EDITED]

Jonathan POV

I opened my eyes, greeted with the familiar sight of the ceiling of my room. I glanced at the clock, seeing it was almost 0300 hours. I hopped up, quietly putting on my combat uniform, double-checking my flashlight before shouldering my rifle. I quickly scribbled down a note, before palming it and silently pulling open the door to my room, quickly shutting it behind me and tacking the note to the door.

I snuck out of the dorm, quickly reaching the hallway. I pulled out my sidearm, ensuring the special ammunition I had was in the chamber, before placing it back in its holster and continuing down the hallway at a normal walk. It was somewhat empty, apart from the night shift security and a few soldiers here and there. Passing by a board, something caught my eye and I stopped, looking back. A newspaper article had been pinned to it, and I pulled it down, reading the boldened headlines.

'UF Forces exposes FIA war crimes and regimes against human race!'

"Those bastards deserve to rot in hell." I smirked at the picture of FIA soldiers in cuffs, being led out of, presumably, a captured FIA camp. Carefully pinning the paper back to the board, I continued down the hall, finally reaching the helipads. Looking around, I discreetly pushed open the metal door, carefully shutting it behind me as to not let it slam. I tilted my helmet forward and walked as casually as possible, finally reaching the metal fence.

I grabbed a handful of chain-link fence, hoisting myself up and over the barbed wire at the top. Safely landing on the other side, I could see the three tombstones waiting for me, still as clean as they were the last time I was here, although last time I was permitted here, not like this time where I was sneaking out. "Hey guys, sorry I haven't been able to visit lately, the FIA's been collapsing like a house of cards, one after another."

I patted the rusty helmet, its red and white medic pattern still visible. "Hey Taylor, sorry I couldn't have taken better care of your helmet, against the elements and all that." I looked at the  other two helmets, the mesh netting in pretty bad condition. "Man, I know they were responsible for your death's and all that, but they're really not all that bad, just...at the time they were still under the impression that the FIA was on their side, not that they ever were."

I pulled out two 7.62 NATO rounds, still in their casings and in prime condition. "I still got the bullets you guys gave me, you know, before we left for that damn mission." I put a bullet, tip down, in front of each of the helmets. "About time I returned them to their proper owners'." I sighed and stood up.

"Maybe one day, I'll get to see you guys again." I walked back to the fence, hoisting myself up and over. Where I was greeted by a familiar sight. "Hey old girl." I approached the olive drab of my old Huey, which was looking pretty good, all things considered. "How about we go for a ride, you and me?" I pulled open the cockpit door, hoisting myself up into the leather seat, the smell of the oil, the metal, the gunpowder, sounds long ago filled my ears.

It felt as if all the guys were still right next to me, waiting for the green light to rescue soldiers, lay down fire, and all the things we usually did. I let the nostalgia wash over me, like a warm, comforting blanket, and I leaned back and closed my eyes, gripping the stick in my hands. I peeked open my eye, seeing the fuel gauge was indicating a full tank, and I smiled. "Let's ride."

Ash POV

I finished brewing the coffee, and went to sit down at the table, only to see Jonathan had left his Tac-pad on the chair. I sighed, and picked up the device, walking down the hall. "Jonathan! You left your-" I suddenly spotted a paper tacked to his door, and I ripped it off. 'Dear Team, I had some things I needed to sort out, so I left a little before light out, please don't worry. - Jonathan.' I yanked open the door, but he wasn't there, and neither was his gear. "Jonathan?!" "What's going on?" I looked back to see Todd and Tammy leaning out, albeit confused. "Jonathan's gone, I need to alert the General."