Success of the Broken Banner

Chapter 18: War Criminal

"Today's the day!" Kilo's voice boomed through the mess hall, his fist punching the air with a triumphant whoop. I couldn't help but shake my head, a smirk twitching at the corner of my mouth as I dove my spoon into the jar of creamy peanut butter I'd discovered in the kitchen. I was perched on top of a rickety mess hall table, the wooden surface worn smooth by years of use, and Echo had claimed the chair beside me. He was silently communing with the spoonful of peanut butter I'd handed him, his eyes closed in rapture.

"Thank god," I muttered, the words semi-sarcastic. I'd been ready for this moment, for this fight, since the day they'd dragged me from that crumbling gas station, my life bleeding out onto the oil-stained concrete. "I've been ready for this since you guys kidnapped me." The correction was intentional, a small barb aimed at Echo.

Echo's gaze flickered open, a knowing glint in his eye. "I think you mean saved you," he retorted, his voice laced with amusement. "It's not kidnapping when you're on the brink of death." His lips curled into a small smile, one I have loved since I first saw it. I nudged him with my leg, a playful gesture, and was rewarded with a quiet laugh.

Kilo, ever the pragmatist, cut in. "We still have a waiting game to play," he reminded us, his large frame sinking into the chair across from Echo. I shifted, my legs crossing in a criss-cross as I turned to face them, my position on the table granting me a view of both my teammates. "We'll leave here at dusk. The darkness will be our friend for this mission."

I nodded, the motion accompanied by a thoughtful hum. Another spoonful of peanut butter found its way into my mouth, the rich flavor exploding on my tongue. "Where did you find this anyway?" Kilo asked, curiosity getting the better of him as he indicated the jar.

"The kitchen," I mumbled through a mouthful of peanut butter, daring him with a grin. "Want some?"

"A goddamn miracle worker," he muttered, snatching the jar from my outstretched hand.

I shrugged, a warmth of belonging spreading through me. "It's no five-star resort, but it's a hell of an upgrade from cold rations."

"What's the plan while we wait?" Echo tapped his fingers impatiently against the table, his body thrumming with coiled energy. "I didn't wake up this morning to sit around twiddling my thumbs."

"We sit tight," Kilo said, his focus fixed intently on the peanut butter as if it held the secrets of the universe. "Like I said, it's a waiting game. Explore the base, get in some target practice, go indulge in whatever weird bonding rituals you two have when no one's looking, I don't give a damn."

"Suits me," I said, swinging my legs over the edge of the table and hopping down. "I'm always up for a little exploring."

The hollow thud of my boots reverberated through the mess hall, each echo punctuating my solitude as the heavy metal doors clanged shut behind me. The unexpected crackle of Echo's and Kilo's voices as they sprang into casual conversation made me pause, but only for a heartbeat. My gaze was already locked on the admin building, standing like an island of authority amidst the base's emptiness. A sly smile spread across my face as I sprinted towards it, slamming through the doors with a satisfying crash.

The admin building's sterile interior seemed to hum with the weight of secrets and bureaucracy. My eyes darted down the maze of hallways, my curiosity piqued. One in particular drew me in, promising to unearth the heart of the building's mysteries. It ended in a closed door – an office. My heart quickened as I turned the cool metal knob and stepped inside. The room's centerpiece immediately commanded my attention: a massive, imposing desk.

I circled it, feeling a thrill of trespass as I dropped into the high-backed leather chair. My gaze slid to the filing cabinet looming beside the desk, its blank metal face a challenge. I yanked the handle, a dagger of disappointment piercing me as it refused to budge. Locked. My attention snapped to the desk drawers, my fingers rifling through their contents in search of keys. That was when I spotted it – a glint of metal buried in the depths of a drawer.