INFERNAL WORLD » kyle GAZ garrick

53 - ghost-like comfort

Elena awoke to the low hum of the plane's engines, her head heavy and her lungs still burning from the remnants of the gas. Her eyes fluttered open, and she took in her surroundings. She was lying on a makeshift bed in the plane's cargo hold, with Gaz sitting directly across from her, his eyes full of concern. Ghost was seated beside her, his stoic mask giving nothing away, but she could feel the tension in the air.

"Elena," Gaz's voice broke through the haze, soft yet filled with worry. "How are you?"

She exhaled slowly, nodding as much as her weakened state would allow. Her eyes observed the Captain sitting, still asleep, across from her next to Gaz.

"Yeah... Thanks for taking care of me," she managed to say, her voice still hoarse.

Ghost responded with a simple, "Of course," his tone was gruff and businesslike.

Elena's lips curled into a small smile

Before she could say more, a sudden gasp from across the plane drew everyone's attention. Price stirred, his body stiff from the ordeal, as he groggily came to.

"Mornin', sir," Soap greeted, leaning forward with a grin that couldn't hide his relief.

Gaz handed Price a headset, which he took without hesitation, though his laboured breathing made it clear he was still feeling the effects of the gas.

"Take it easy, Cap," Gaz advised, his voice calm but firm. "You beat the gas, but you still need some time to recover."

"I'm fine," Price rasped, trying to sit up straighter, though the effort clearly cost him.

"Got a headache? Nausea?" Gaz asked, eyeing him closely.

Price let out a weary chuckle.

"Always,"

Gaz turned to Soap and Ghost, nodding slightly.

"He's good," Gaz joked.

"Was worried your face was gonna melt off like those other poor bastards,'' Soap added.

"If you ask me, it'd be an improvement," Ghost added in a deadpan tone.

A faint chuckle escaped Price, despite the situation. But reality quickly set back in as Price's mind shifted.

"Konni got away with the chemicals?"

"Affirmative," Ghost confirmed.

"Makarov has been out of prison for six hours, and he's already ahead of us," Price sighed.

"The fuck is in that gas?" Soap asked, the concern in his voice mirroring what they were all thinking.

"Remnants of Barkov's program," Gaz explained.

"Sarin?" Soap guessed, his expression darkening.

"Highly concentrated... Far more lethal," Ghost interjected.

"One pod contaminated the whole area," Gaz added.

"They made off with enough to kill a whole country," Soap muttered.

Price, regaining some of his composure, looked around at his team, his resolve hardening.

"Right now, it's in Farah's backyard... We've gotta find her," he said, turning his head to Elena. ''How are you holding up?''

''I'm alive,'' Elena replied and shrugged, although she barely felt so.

''Good. Let's keep it that way for all of us,'' Price replied and looked over his team.

The plane continued its steady flight, but the urgency of their mission hung heavy in the air. There was no time to waste—Makarov had to be stopped, and they were the only ones who could do it.