E.C.H.O.

Stage 12 "Team RDT"

Lucas hesitated. A part of him urged him to go ahead with the mission at any cost possible, and yet there was another feeling. With surprise he realized that he actually felt eager to play, and not just to play, but to go for the win.

His feet made the decision for him as they headed over to where Nathan was still waiting. An electric tingle of excitement rushed up and down Lucas' back. He had never had this feeling before and he had to admit...he liked it.

"Let's go!" Nathan told Lucas as soon as he was in ear shot.

Lucas found himself following the flow of boys headed to dorm three's lounge. There was yelling the whole way, the noise getting louder as they got closer to where the equipment was waiting for them. When they entered their lounge they found guys on tables handing out an assortment of paintball guns, masks, and gloves.

"Epic," Nathan exclaimed as he took a paintball gun that bore a similar resemblance to a shot gun.

Lucas went for one that looked more like a Glock 9MM police were usually issued with. The smaller size will make it easier to move. Lucas noted as he weighed the gun. His fingers curled around it, feeling the familiar grip. It was almost like a real gun, except not as heavy.

Someone handed him a pile of red strips of cloth. Lucas took one before passing them off to Nathan. He looked around to see guys tying the cloth in various visible places. Dorm colors, Lucas realized. He tried his own around his upper arm, carful to not make it too tight as not to cause discomfort. He saw Nathan tying his around his upped right leg.

"Here."

Lucas looked up just in time to catch the mask that was tossed at him.

Brian stood there, his own mask and gloves in one hand and a gun, which looked similar to Lucas', in the other. Tucked under one arm there were three sheets of paper.

'Alright!" Nathan exclaimed. "Looks like the crew is all here."

Brian nodded to the papers under his arm. "Help?"

Nathan responded by grabbing them. Seeing that they were blank, he looked at Brian expectantly.

"I brought the paper, someone else should get the pen," Brian told him.

Just then, Lucas saw another guy finishing up with a sharpie. He reached out and snagged it from him before any of the other guys could. He had barely turned when Nathan already took it from his fingers.

Nathan looked around the crowded room. Shaking his head he turned to Lucas. "Turn around." He motioned with his hands.

Lucas paused before doing as he was told. Seconds later he felt Nathan press the paper on his back. "Alright, shall we go with code names?" he asked.

"Is that even allowed?" Lucas couldn't help but wonder.

"Didn't say it wasn't," Nathan replied as he began to write away. "Alright, Brian will be the Reaper."

"Who told you to call me that?"

Nathan ignored him as he finished writing. He handed the sheet to Brian who, after hesitating for a moment, snatched it from him.

"Doomsday for Lucas," Nathan continued to use Lucas' back as his table.

"Doomsday?" Lucas asked. Someone bumped into him while rushing past with a paper held high.

"Strikes fear into the heart, right?" Nathan replied.

Lucas heard Brian snort.

"Then that leaves Terminator for me," Nathan finished.