Decode | "Alex"

Part VI

"My brother always wanted to fight without rules..." Farah paused as Kyle handed her a cup of coffee. She gladly took it, thanking him for being so kind. "Now he's broken all of them."

"Hadir went North. He was picked up by AQ fighters in the foothills." Laswell began, standing before the group in front of the projector.

"Voluntarily or by force?" Price inquired.

"We don't know." She sighed.

"I'm sorry, Farah." Alex offered kindly. She didn't look over at him. Instead, she remained silent. Gabby was silent, too, thinking about so many things. Like what Alex was talking about a little while ago. She'd managed to dig out his files. There wasn't much about him for him to be around so long. That didn't even matter, the military was very particular when it comes to their people. They keep tabs on them, their family, their family's families. All there was was a picture, a birthplace, birthdate, and one name. "Alex". She trusted him. She had to. He was right when he said she knew him for him. He was the sweetest guy she'd ever met and he was an excellent soldier. He tried to brush it off, but he was. He hardly ever got injured and he always had an eye for things. Now, she didn't even know who he was. It was apparent Alex wasn't his actual name. So, who is he? She couldn't help but feel like she doesn't truly know him. That didn't change the fact that she loved him.

"Your brother," Laswell began, and Farah cut her off.

"Is a terrorist."

"Is an American asset, who is either with or in terrorist hands." Laswell eyed her. Alex stood up, speaking for Farah because he knew how much of a toll this was taking on her. Gabby felt ashamed she wasn't focused on the task at hand.

"Hadir's fight is not with us. Now, he could have killed everyone when he stole the gas, but he chose not to."

"How do you know this?" Farah asked, looking up at him.

He let out a sigh. All he did was lie it felt like, or withhold the full truth. "I was there, trying to stop it."

She stood, then, to face him. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"We believed it was Al-Qatala. We didn't know it was him." He said, giving her an apologetic look. The tension in the room was high between everyone. Gabby rubbed her hands across her face, letting out a breath.

"We know now. We're going after him tonight." Laswell said, being as genuine as she can bring herself to be.

"I'll come with you." Farah decided. That's how they knew she was fighting this war on the good side.

"You'll be hunting your own brother." Kyle commented.

"He is not my brother. Not anymore." She shook her head. Laswell and Price stepped away from the group for a moment.

"Barkov's going to put a bounty on his head."

"Alright, well, let's get him first." Price decided, but Laswell stopped him.

"Any further complications and we're at war with Russia."

"Well, then, don't complicate it." He said, giving her that smile he does where his eyes crinkle up at the corners. That and his British charm are what makes people not be able to say no to him.

Alex stepped over and nudged Farah, lowering his voice. Gabby listened to them since she was right next to them. Kyle did the same. "This is a bad idea, Farah."

"We take care of our own here." Farah replied. Kyle decided to give input.

"Not usually what that means..." He commented. Gabby stood up when Price approached them.