Ralph's POV:

My body quivered with pain, and my vision blurred. I was lying on something rough, the ground, I think. The world tilted and swayed around me as I tried to focus. My mind was foggy, and I couldn't remember what had happened or how I got here.

Anya…where is she? Is she okay? What could she be up to? I hope its not her usual shenanigans.

I tried to recall her face, but it was all hazy. Where was i? What had happened? My mind raced, trying to piece together the events of the past few hours.

I stared dead at the leaves above, the moon light filtering through, creating shadows that danced on me. The cold damp earth pressed against my back making my attire feel uncomfortable, and I could taste the metallic tang of blood in my mouth. I spat out to my side and immediately reached for the buckles of my helmet. Struggling against the intense pain and exhaustion, I managed to unfasten the straps, hands trembling. I yanked it off with a final, desperate heave, relief washing over me.

The cold ground feels much better now. What a feeling…that's much better.

It bit at my skin, but instead of discomfort, I welcomed it--the way it seemed to strip away the noise of everything else. Every breath was a sting of life, each ache a reminder that I was still here, still enduring. There was a strange peace in it all. The pain was there, undeniable, but in the cold, I found something better than comfort: clarity.

Kind of reminds me of simpler times…

I crossed my legs and rested my head on my hand as I watched the leaves dance gracefully with the gentle, chilly breeze.

I could lie here all my life without any complaints. Can't wait to spend time with the guys over here. Maybe I'll bring Anya too.

Yes! Yes! Yes! I'll use the trip as a bribe to get her to behave. God, what is it that she even calls this? Ah yes, W parenting! Nice one, Ralph.

Suddenly, a wave of clarity washed over me.

Me bring my daughter here? Where even is this place?

Oh no, no, no.

I jolted upright, the sudden movement causing a sharp pain to shoot through my body. I completely ignored it and sat on my ass, my heart pounding hard in my chest. A cold dread settled in my stomach, followed by a burning rage that eclipsed the pain pulsing through my system. I shouldn't be here…

That wave of clarity washed over me again in that instant, the memories flooding back in a rush. The events of the past few hours replayed in my mind like a broken record. The chaos, the gunfire…the fucking traitors. And then… the fall. Fortunately, the branches had abated my fall, but the impact was still brutal.

Blade, you fucking pussy. I can still feel the sting of the bullet.

I forced myself to my feet as my body protested with every movement. The pain pounded through my limbs like never before, while I pushed through, gritting through it and refusing to give in. I then surveyed the damage; a deep laceration on my thigh, a gash on my cheek, a large contusion and bullet's graze on my shoulder, and countless abrasions covering my arms and legs. My uniform was torn and dirty and its fabric ripped and frayed in several places.

Without wasting any more time, I keyed my radio then called out. "Ghost, this is The Ace. Come in, over."

The radio only crackled with static, there no response as I repeatedly called out, trying to reach out.

"Ghost, this is The Ace. Respond immediately."

My frustration kept growing with each futile call. There was no reply, still. How could I have been so stupid? I couldn't hate myself more right now. I swear to God if they're dead… Nothing on the face of this planet will prepare Viper for my response.

My mind raced with grim possibilities as I gazed at the static radio, my heart pounding like a drumbeat. My fingers hovered over its controls, uncertainty about the state of my team casting a long shadow over my thoughts. The urge to dwell on anger was strong, but I knew better. The situation is delicate and requires levelheadedness. Negative emotions will take me places, only, behind decimal points.

I took a deep breath to calm myself, then switched frequencies. If anyone will survive, its definitely him. "Mamba, this is your Captain. Come in, over."

"Black Mamba, this is your Captain," I called out again, my voice was strained but controlled. I paused, listening intently for any response amidst the crackling static. I was greeted once more by the irritating silence, broken only by the radio's static and distant gunshots that suddenly echoed through the air.

"Come in, dammit!" My voice cracked with urgency, punctuated by the continuous distant resonances of gunshots.

My heart sank instantly and I dropped to my knees. I felt suffocated and powerless, as if the weight of the world was crushing me.I know my team and they know me. They're never going to follow Viper, unless I do or order them to.

I closed my eyes, trying to calm my racing heart and steady my breathing. I needed to think clearly, to find a way out of this situation.

A distant crack of another set of gunfire snapped me out of my spiral. I winced, the sting of my injuries cutting through the haze. My team was out there, fighting for their lives. I couldn't afford to lose myself now. Not when they needed me the most.

There's no way I'm succumbing to despair when my team is out there risking their lives for a decision I made.

"We don't go down easy," I vowed in a whisper, "and we will overcome."

I could feel a wave of hope and confidence the more I heard the sound of guns blazing. However, a feeling in my gut to reach out again was as persistent as gnat, so I tried once more, just to be safe. I switched the frequency again, this time to all the team, including Viper. Just so I can fuck with her.

"Team, this is your Captain," My voice was calm and measured. "If anyone's listening, I'm completely fine," I said, my voice steady. "Just a few bumps and bruises, nothing serious. Keep your minds at ease and focus on the mission. I'll join the fray soon."

I paused, allowing my words to sink in. "We'll not only give them the war they want, we'll also take out the fucking base while we're at it."

I made sure to maintain a high level of composure and nonchalance as I spoke, hoping the enemy was listening in too.

If I can just get to them, we can clear that damn base out. That base held the key to everything. If we failed, it wouldn't just be my team's lives on the line--it would be countless others.

Well, fuck it all! Might as well just scoot on over there.

Letting out a frustrated grunt, I put the radio back in its place then got up to my feet. My attention shifted to the pain all over my body, especially the stinging pain in shoulder from the bullet graze earlier. I'd been so consumed by the safety of my team, that I'd completely overlooked my own injuries.

Without wasting any more time, I reached into my tactical vest and pulled out my medical kit. The sting of the gash on my cheek throbbed, and I wiped away the blood with the back of my hand, feeling the small mole on my face as I did. My fingers brushed across my brow--the thick, furrowed lines that always made me look angrier than I actually felt. Right now, though, it fit.

. .

I patched up the surface wounds and reached for a vial of PFX, the powerful painkiller I'd been issued. As I administered it, a cool, welcome relief spread through my battered body. Almost immediately, the pain dulled, but the exhaustion remained, settling into my bones like a weight I couldn't shake. My limbs felt sluggish, the fog lifting only slightly. I had to keep moving--there was no other choice. I took a moment to stretch out a bit and savor the slight and temporary reprieve from the intense discomfort.

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"Oh crap," I muttered, a wave of annoyance washing over me as I realized my rifle was gone. I scanned the terrain frantically, my eyes darting from rock to bush in a desperate search for my weapon.

"Fuck me!" I cursed out. "I must've dropped it when I got shot off the freaking cliff. Got to make due now I guess."

With a sigh of resignation, I reached for my sidearm, the silenced piece holstered at my hip, my fingers traced the familiar contours of the grip. I drew it and inspected it carefully, ensuring the fall did little to no damage and that it was ready for use. And I did the same for the other one.

I slid them back as soon as I was satisfied next, I reached down for my helmet and examined the visor for any cracks or damage. Satisfied with its condition, I turned my attention to the night vision goggles on it. After making sure it was okay too, I checked the power indicator, which showed a full charge. I placed it on my head, adjusting the straps to ensure a snug fit. I then located the button for the night vision goggles, with a flick of my thumb, I activated it, and the world around me was bathed in an eerie green glow. Next I reached for the radio and put it back in it's place too.

"Now how I get back up there?"

If I was going to do what i intended, I'd definitely need to go back up the cliff and retrieve my rifle, that's assuming Viper and her goons left it there, which is highly unlikely. How convenient it would be for me if they were still up there too. Anyway, Viper or not, I need to get up there so I can assess the situation firsthand.

I stared at the cliff that loomed above, jagged rocks like teeth cutting into the night sky. Below, a maze of uneven terrain--dense undergrowth and shallow ravines-- spread out before me. I scanned for a path up, eyes searching for footholds, anything to give me an edge. Will be much easier and faster to climb back up rather than circling all the way back.

Suddenly, the radio crackled to life, snapping me out of my focus on finding a way up the cliff. I snatched it up quickly, a tiny flicker of hope igniting within me. It could anyone, from my team to Viper and Blade. And I honestly couldn't care less if it was the latter. I just wanted to speak to someone.

"Team, for fuck's sake come in, over," I shouted into the radio. The static on the airwaves began to clear intermittently. I quickly adjusted the frequency, my eyes scanning the dial, eagerly awaiting a response.

The radio's static continued crackling while I adjusted the frequency further and kept speaking into it. That was when it occurred to me that this was definitely someone from my team. We are on Viper's territory, I refuse to believe reaching out to me will be hard for her.

As I kept trying, a voice finally came through the radio, slightly distorted but recognizable. "PG to TAOS, come in sir." The voice called out. My frown instantly turned into a smile and a feeling of relief washed over me at the sound of Ghost's voice.

"Ghost. Status report." I growled into the radio, barely keeping my voice steady.

"Thank God, Captain. You gave us a scare back there. The situation's really bad, sir." Ghost replied immediately, his tone hurried and in clear distress.

My heart plummeted as soon as Ghost's words hit me, my tone completely shifting to a somber one instantaneously. I gripped the radio tighter, my throat dry. "Ghost," I rasped, dread curling in my gut. "How bad is it?"

There was a brief moment of silence on the other end -- no, of hesitation before his reply came, heavy with the weight of the truth.

"They're gone, Captain." His voice, emotional and broken crackled through the radio. "Saber, Doc…everyone. The entire team, along with Razor and the SEALs, they're all gone, executed mercilessly, just like that. It's just me, May, and Mamba now." My vision swam for a moment. Gone. My team--gone. I forced the bile down, clenching my jaw so hard it ached.

Never in my life did I imagine it was possible to feel this worthless. My heart sank with with combined forces of the sun and a black hole as I processed the news. Hearing Ghost confirm my worst fears, sorrow, and disbelief gripped me, and a deep sense of loss weighed heavily on my shoulders.

It was a real struggle, to push back the flood of emotions that threatened to overwhelm me. These guys..yes they were my comrades, however, I am their superior. I am responsible for them. I am responsible for their lives. When a small minority of them decide to go against me, then murders their comrades for sticking with me, my ideals and principles, how am I supposed to go about that?

It does not bother me in the slightest to have opposing views -- in fact, I had always encouraged people around me to speak their minds, to challenge the status quo. But had I been to quick to judge those who disagreed with me? Had I been too arrogant, too convinced of my own righteousness?

The more I thought about it, the more I realized that we were all trapped in our own little worlds, our own subjective realities. We believe our truths were absolute, but in reality, they were just fleeting glimpses of a much larger picture.

Those who cling to rigid beliefs, refusing to stay open to any other new belief system or perspective and indeed not wanting to go beyond the mine of the belief system they already have, remain prisoners. They reduce their options in terms of understanding and possible new ideas; and so may stagnate, fight -- kill even. I have my truths and they have theirs. And without these opposing -- subjective and opinionated ideologies, we'd still be uncivilized savages. There's just no 'right' way see this world.

Viper's hunger for power blinds her. We were comrades--hell, we were much more than that…I trusted her. And now she's willing to sacrifice everything we fought for just to one-up me. But she's not ready for that. All she can do is, be in for a rude, humbling awakening.

The more I listened to him continue relaying, the deeper my hatred for Viper and Blade grew. "The hive, Captain, our target, is the most dangerous part of the base. It's swarming with tons of enemies, including the traitor." My jaw clenched at the mention of the traitor, veins nearly popping out of my head.

"We're outnumbered five to one. Mother May and I are barricaded and holding our ground. Posted up by the west perimeter, opposite The hive. But listen up, sir. Mamba's out there, flying solo against a whole army. He's freaking crazy. He's pushing hard towards The hive, and if I know Viper, he's walking into a trap. You've got to back him up, stat!" He concluded his report hurriedly, over the sound of gunshots in the background.

"Damn it," I cursed under my breath. "Do me quick favor. I need the shortest route to the base, from the cliff, over."

Forgive me for asking this of you, when you're fighting for you life.

"Give me a sec." His voice strained over the gunfire.

Noah why have you gotta be so darn reckless? There's no way you can destroy that building alone. Going on the offensive to protect the ones sure to stay on the defensive is solid but too reckless. To what end? You're bound to run of juice. What happens then?

"Head northeast from your current position," His voice crackled urgently, each of his words punctuated by the sound of bullets whizzing past. "Follow the narrow path that winds through the rocky terrain. It's a long haul, approximately 4 kilometers to the base. Be cautious, Captain. We're counting on you!"

"Understood, Ghost. You're showing true grit out there, holding your ground despite the odds."

"I'll personally provide support for Mamba," I conveyed with confidence and assurance. "Then, we'll extract you guys. For now, I want you to park the hell out of that bus, and don't give in to Viper's threats, it's an order!. We're in this together and we'll be there soon. Stay vigilant, stay sharp and stay safe. Over."

"Roger that, sir," He replied firmly. "Good luck. Over and out."

I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding as I toggled the radio to standby mode, grateful for the chance to save the remainder of my team. Thank you for staying alive guys.

Now to get back up there…

My pulse quickened as I began following Ghost's directions. The distant rumble of an approaching off-road vehicle catching my attention, sending a shiver of excitement down my spine. I couldn't help but grin, a small, confident smile creeping across my lips. "At last," I murmured.

I moved swiftly and with purpose, while scanning my surrounding for optimal cover. I quickly identified a cluster of dense underbrush several meters away, a perfect spot to blend into the foliage and maneuvered towards it without hesitation.

I ducked low, my body disappearing into the thick tangle of branches and leaves. I positioned myself carefully, ensuring I had a clear line of sight on the approaching threat while remaining concealed from view.

From this vantage point, nestled within the natural camouflage of the bushes, I maintained a vigilant watch. With my pistol at the ready, I focused my senses, prepared to gather intel without compromising my position prematurely.

The vehicle neared, my adrenaline spiking, senses high in anticipation. I cocked my pistol gently and kept my eyes trained on their truck. Suddenly, a gust of wind whipped through the underbrush, sending leaves and twigs around me and compromising my camouflage.

Reacting instinctively, I rolled to the side, deep in the bushes. The wind howled around me, but the world remained me, but the world remained clear through my visor. I could see the vehicle approaching, its headlights cutting through the darkness.

Once the wind had subsided, I assessed my situation. The vehicle rolled to a stop just a few meters away, its engine ticking in the howl of the wind. Every sound felt magnified--the soft rustle of leaves, the distant hum of the engine. I was exposed, every inch of my body itching to move, but I couldn't risk it yet. One wrong step, one stray noise, and they'd be on me.

I had to find a way to move laterally away from the vehicle. Cautiously, I began to shift my body sideways, feeling my way along the ground.

The terrain was uneven, and the undergrowth was thick, making it difficult to move without making noise. I pressed my body flat against the ground to minimize my profile.

I was moving slowly, but I was making progress. Soon my fingers brushed against a large rock, providing a potential hiding place. Just behind it was a small crevice, but it was big enough for me to squeeze into. I crawled inside and pressed myself against the cool, hard wall.

It is not as ideal as my former cover, but it was good enough for me to draw them in without detection. However it was not possible to keep an eye on them without exposing myself, so I strained to listen for any sounds. For a moment, the only sound was the distant rumble of the engine and occasional rustle of leaves. Then came the sound of footsteps.

With baited breath, I strained to hear the footsteps approaching, as each second brought them closer. I shut my eyes momentarily and honed in on the approaching footsteps. The heavy thuds reverberated through the undergrowth, signaling the presence of grown men…but there was a distinct one that got my attention, it was familiar. Way too familiar.

"That's Blade!" My jaw tightened, muscles coiled with tension as I recognized the familiar footfall. "You son of an inbred bitch!" I howled through gritted teeth.