Walking through the pitch black tunnel was a fair bit harder now that they had to carry the remainder of the gear they had, as well as the stretcher with Erynn’s unconscious body on it. Thankfully, Lucas was on point as he had marked out all the trap wires with luminous strings that were easily seen with the groups NVG’s. All in all, it took mere moments for the group to reach the light at the end of the tunnel, walking once more into the underground city that still sent a shiver of excitement down each of the misfits spins whenever they saw the ruins.
“Man… this place is still awestriking, no matter how many times I see it,” William commented as he pulled off his NVG’s with the others.
Dylan nodded in agreement as he and the others began to slowly carry Erynn down the long stairway leading into the town entrance. “Same here bro, though it’s still not as awe inspiring as Andre actually cleaning.”
Andre grunted as he adjusted the weight around in his gloved hand before he brought up his now free hand and gave Dylan the bird, “Fuck you too Shorty.” He retorted with a grin. “At least my skin is clean and not covered in a permanent layer of oil.”
Bull just waved his hand in thanks, the weight of Erynn essentially nothing to the man whose arms were the size of one’s thighs, “That’s a compliment to someone who works on cars for a living Tyrone. Proves how much more of a man I am in comparison.”
“Oh? I didn’t know men screamed like little girls when they were angry.” Andre retorted quickly.
“ONE-time man, ONE TIME… stubbed my toe…”
The others laughed, while Doctors, Knight and Linville looked towards them with curious eyes. “I’m curious, I’ve been meaning to ask for a while now, but it’s always been on my mind since we arrived here. Just how long have you gentlemen known each other? You seem to act like men who’ve been together longer than a mere few years.” Jourdain observed, curious to know the story behind the five men.
William shrugged lightly, “your observation is correct Doctor.”
“Been friends since we were kids, through middle school to the military.” Lucas chimed in with a small yawn as he kept on point ahead of the group.
“You’ve known each other for that long?” Knight asked, her own curiosity getting the best of her.
“Yuppers~, been a curse and a blessing having these glorious bastards around throughout my life,” Dylan said.
“Pfft, I don’t know about you guys, but I mean I’m the sexy bastard there.” Andre joked, a small chuckle soon following.
The group joined in the laughter, before Dylan followed up with, “Once you go black, you never go back.”
“Damn straight.”
William, shaking his head lightly as his own laughter died down, turned towards the doctors, “In truth, we’re all the reason we joined the military as well.”
“Oh? You guys managed to talk one another into joining the army?” Linville asked.
“Yup, though in the case of me and Andre, we went through to get our education paid for.” Will replied.
“But I thought Mr. Richards was a Sergeant?”
“I was,” Andre said quickly before anyone else.
“You dropped out of college then I take it?”
“Negative, got my degree just like Will over there. The only difference being I loved being a grunt and he hated it, so he took his commission and I stuck with these guys in the field.”
“Hey! I’ve been in the field with you guys every step of the way.” William corrected in mock insult.
“That’s only because you know no other officer could stand us.” Evan joked, finally speaking up once more.
Jourdain raised a brow intrigued to learn more about the group and their origins. “Forgive me if I overstep the line here, but I’m curious… what was your first tour of duty like?”
Lucas was the first to reply, “Fucked…”
The lot all frowned slightly.
Jourdain looked at the men with a slight tinge of regret spread across his aging features. “I take it you lost a lot of people over there?” He followed up.
Lucas shook his head, “Nope, just super fucking boring.”
The old man looked flabbergasted for a moment, nearly tripping over his own two feet if not for Knight who quickly grabbed him by the arm. Pulling him up, Knight looked at the group, curious to know why they sounded so sour about a boring tour.
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“So, why did you lead with that?” She asked confused.
William was the first to speak up, a grin on his face as they reached the center of the ghost town. “Boring doesn’t suit us, we’re the type that like action and excitement. Adventure and all that.”
Both archeologists looked shocked at such an admittance, “wait, so you guys wanted to see combat?” Jourdain asked surprised.
“Maybe these crazy assholes did, but I for one was quite happy back at base fixing whatever came into my garage.” Dylan chimed.
“Pfft, bitch you know you were bored as fuck doing that shit.” Andre retorted with a grin.
Dylan snapped his fingers, “Damn, you caught me, I love being in the heat of combat… not… Tyrone, you know me, man, I’m the one who didn’t want to join the army in the first place.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“So, how did you join, and why?” Knight asked brow raised.
Dylan looked over at the archeologist, “These asshats.”
She looked confused for a moment before remembering what had been said earlier about how they had always been together. “So, I take it they somehow or another talked you into joining?”
“In a manner of speaking, yes… though in truth it was mainly pressure from that guy over there.” Bull then pointed over towards Evan who with the others, laid Erynn down on a nearby low stone wall.
Evan grinned, shaking his head, “Seemed like the best way to get you into your, ‘dream job’.” He replied wryly.
Andre and the others just chuckled as they all regrouped around the small wall. “Pretty much did it to all of us. Gave us the papers, and bam! We’re all going Ranger, no questions asked.”
“Some of us took to the military pretty quick, while others *cough*Bull*cough* did not. Though, that’s not to say he doesn’t enjoy a good fight.” Lucas joined.
William nodded in agreement, “There’s a reason we call him Bull you know. He may say and act like the action isn’t his thing, but when it comes down to it… God help whoever’s shooting at us.”
Dylan waved his right hand as if to symbolize him being bashful, “Oh, you guys.”
The Misfits just shook their heads laughing. “Fuckin’ guy,” Lucas said.
“Well… that doesn’t really answer my question as to how he got you to join.” Knight spoke up in the middle of the laughter. “All I got from that is the quiet one there is persuasive, but not how you actually stayed or why, more so if you hated it.”
“Guilt.” William answered honestly, “Guilt is what kept him in.”
The two academics just looked at the former officer, but they understood what he meant. Given how long Dylan had known the other Rangers, it wasn’t surprising that he would stay to protect those he called his brothers. Knight got her answer though however, no matter how small it was, it was still a valid answer to her question regarding why he remained.
“By the way, how did you get that scar on your neck, Mr. Anderson?” Jourdain asked this time.
The former Ranger captain paused a moment, bringing his gloved hand up to his neck, rubbing the old war wound before peering over towards the older gentleman. “Got shot by a rather unhappy local back in Afghanistan.” He answered with a small smile. “But! Enough questions, we gotta get to work on that tomb over there. We’re running short on time to get Katy and the rest of the team back if we don’t get whatever’s in that temple.”
The researchers nodded in agreement, “Agreed. Anderson, if you’d lead the way.”
William nodded, before patting Andre’s shoulder as he walked past, letting him know to follow up the team.
“We’re mobile bro’s,” Andre called out, motioning for the others to follow them in.
Lucas looked down at their employer, “What about Collier here?”
“You can look after her then while we’re away,” Evan replied.
Shrugged lightly before he let out a small sigh in defeat. “I’ll just wait here then. I’ll regroup with you guys when the boss lady’s up and mobile again.”
“And dressed,” Dylan added.
The scout stood there, watching as his friends and brothers walked away, each giving him a small wave, or nod before they rounded the corner and headed towards the temple. With a small sigh, the lone misfit looked about, trying to find a place to sit and wait. After finding a place to sit, he sighed lightly, knowing full well he had a lot of time to kill, all while hoping his brothers would come back in one piece if he didn’t get to rejoin them in time. With a small shake of his head though, he did his utmost to dismiss any thoughts of doubt and worry from his mind before turning his attention towards the entrance to the underground city.
--
Back in the temple, the team all stood in the dark entryway leading into the structure. William noted the sight of darts that littered the floor. Turning to look at his brother, the blonde haired man wondered just what it was they did here to set off so many traps, and how they managed to get out unharmed, but knowing his brother and Lucas, luck was something they seemed to have excess amounts of.
“I see you set off the first set of traps huh?” William observed with a grin.
“Meh, wasn’t hard.” Evan shrugged as he took point, walking ahead of a stunned Andre.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa! I’m point man, I get to discover the cool shit first Twitch.”
Dylan smirked before walking and pushing past his African-American friend. “Not today Tyrone, not today.”
Andre looked hurt for a second, giving the look of a man who just got his face slapped. “Aww… but, I wanna be the first man in.”
Patting his friend on the shoulder, William shook his head sympathetically. “Sorry man… but, if it makes you feel any better, I’m in the same boat.”
“That doesn’t help man, you’re always last one in anyways,” Andre noted with a frown, but none the less, he just shrugged it off before he walked behind Dylan.
“What do you mean? I’m not last… not always.”
“Well, shall we go then gentlemen?” Jourdain asked, the look of excitement clearly spread across his aged features.
William watched as Linville walked past him, before he eventually shook his head, and followed close behind the experienced professor, who was soon also followed by Knight, who gave a small smile directed at the former captain as she too walked past as if enjoying the comedy and chemistry of the group. Rolling his eyes, the Ranger soon followed behind her.
As the group walked through the first half, they noticed how there were more bones and Spanish armour lying about the narrow hallway. Eying the remains, the group couldn’t help but feel a little unsure of what lies ahead of them. Thankfully though, the group noted the darts as well, that told them that the trap had already been sprung by Evan and Lucas some time ago.
“Well, good thing you and Boerhave managed to set off these traps. Would’ve befallen the same fate as these poor buggers here.” Dylan noted, his eyes still scanning the remains of the Spanish.
Finally, the group reached the end as the hallway twisted around the right, leading to another stone staircase that was virtually spotless save one sword that rested near the top. With Evan on point, he raised his right hand up in a fist letting everyone know to halt before he eventually peered back from his shoulder.
“Could be booby-trapped, what’d you think guys, spring the trap?”
The others paused a moment to think before a mischievous grin appeared on all the Misfit's faces. “Yes.” Came a reply in unison.
Evan couldn’t help but shake his head with a chuckle. “Alright, if you say so.”
Though right before he raised his foot to step on the stone stairway, he was halted by Doctor Linville who pulled him back. “Hold a moment. Give me time to fully read the warnings written here on the wall.”
Evan starred at the University professor for a moment before shrugging, “You’re the expert.”
Dylan walked up behind, curious to know what was happening before he took a knee. “Well? What does it say?”
Jourdain quickly shushed any further questions or words as he brought his finger to his lips. Pulling out his flashlight the old man quickly began to scan the wall. It was weird to see a warning actually written about on the wall, and it seemed as though the people who built the city were looking to make a sort competition; old tomb vs. the grave robbers. Needless to say, Jourdain was not at all thrilled upon what he was reading.
“Apparently, the moment you set foot down that stairway, an array of traps will be activated starting a sort of timed game. It also goes on to say that anyone who makes it through will be rewarded with a sight only the gods and their vessel on earth have had the privilege to see.” As he read aloud, the team all knew what was going to be coming next.
This wasn’t going to be as easy as the series of trip wires or elementary traps… no, this was going to be a deadly race against time while they try to dodge and weave their way through a series of complex and well thought of surprises. But, they had a job to do, and they were determined to see it through to the end. Plus they had the lives of Katie and the rest of their team depending on them.
“Alright, so from what you just read... we’re going full on Indiana Jones on this?” Andre chimed in, slightly nervous at the prospect of facing something he can’t fight.
Nodding, Linville turned back to face the team. “Correct. We’ll have to rely on your teamwork, skill, and speed to get us through there gentlemen… this is what Mr. Collier had hired you for, but I and Ms. Knight will do our utmost to keep up with you step by step, leap for leap.”
“Sounds good sir, but, once we’re down there, you listen to us. We say stop, you stop, we say go, you go. If you see something that looks unnatural or sparks your expert sense, you tell us. Don’t keep shit to yourselves. That goes for all of you.” William briefed the men and woman present.
The group nodded in unison, before Evan took a deep breath in, a lump forming in his throat as his nerves began to get the best of him. “Fuck it…” He breathed before his jungle boots touched the first step, starting the game…