As I make it to the landing zone, Tango hops down from one of the UM-70's. She turns my way and frowns. I wave, "Hey, how did it go?"

I smile while she marches up. "You took a job without letting your team know?" She clenches her fists, "They beat on me for three days. Three days!" She pushes me, "C'mon, say something!" I bow my head, "Imagine feeling it everyday." Garvey laughs as Tango glares, You're so terrible, she'll never trust you again.

She punches me, forcing me to the floor. The wind flies out of me as I take the flash drive and hold it up. She sobs, "I see why they hate you, Nick. Always an angle." She swipes it, she runs away crying as my arm falls. I stare up at the blue sky and the snowfall. Garvey slithers around, spreading deep into my being, You aren't even fighting me? "Just do it already, take me over." Heavy footsteps come from a distance until Zero kneels over me.

I flip him off and smirk, "Nice try with that kill box." He smiles, "What gave it away?" I close my eyes, "You're wounded, three GSW's and Peacekeeper cars chased us down." He reaches into his pocket, "Yeah, too bad they were hijacked, a perfect excuse." I point, "Don't lie now, your Bae's coming." He shoves a syringe back into his pocket as Fox trudges up. "Zero? He alright?"

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

I frown as he stands up, turning around. I yell, "I think my stitches gave!" Zero's on a deadline, huh? Well, fuck your deadline. "Yeah. Help me get him to the bay." You were ordered, weren't you? She limps over as Zero lifts me up. She grabs my legs and they walk me to a jeep.

I catch my breath outside the main building, looking at the flash drive. Why can't I hate him? I close my hand and head in. I ask one of the soldiers in the lobby, "Where's Note?" "Dunno." Zack clangs towards me. "Why?" I make sure no one's looking before quickly opening and closing my hand. "I need to view something special." He smiles, "As long as we get the right to a copy." I take a second, "Fine." "Ok, c'mon." He leads me up into a dark room, lit only by a giant computer screen. Alone, Note types away as he looks up at it. Zack calls out, "Note?"

He keeps typing until I call out, "Note?" He stops dead in his tracks and spins his chair around. "I need to see what's on here." He holds out his hand and mine pauses over it. I sigh, The devil I know. I drop it into his hand. He smiles while rapidly slipping in the drive. He gets up and pats the seat. I plop down and slap some headphones on. I click on a file.