"Swamp… all this place is, is a swamp…" he's said as he wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Yeah youre totally fine wearing that body armor it won't affect performance MY. ASS." James said as he paced around the front of the control point. James disliked these humid dc summers, especially the mosquitoes. "Another eight hours of this hell is there no way out of-"
"Incoming message" isaac said aloud out of blur.
"Agent James Scott, Manny here I need you to report to the Base asap." Manny finished. An incredibly short message compared to the usual thesis statement.
"OH THANK GOD IM SAVED" James shouted with glee. "SO LONG BOYS!" He added as he took off.
"Hey get back! ah shit he's gone…" a JTF member replied too little to late.
It would be another hour or so of jogging, accounting for the totally not out of shape just catching his breath breaks in-between sprints. James did think for a second, it was weird and a little off the Manny would request him so urgently, did something happen? Is something going to happen? Oh a squirrel, is he in trouble?
Night shifts were the worst, especially when the weather was what it was in the area. Humid and nasty, her hair became fuzzy and a pain to deal with. Alix huffed as she walked along the perimeter. As much as she complained about night shifts, she hated when day shifts cause then it was dealing with the sun and humidity.
She looked down as an incoming message was announced and sighed as she was told to walk back to base. She was silently relieved that she got to leave the weather behind, besides, she was curious as to why she was called. She stuffed her hands in her pockets and started heading back, not wanting to waste any time meddling longer. It would take her about an hour to get there, so she lights jogging on the way there.
She waved and smiled as she passed others, her aura nice and light as it always was. She enjoyed the company, so patrolling alone always dampened her mood quite a bit.
"Oh.. oh thank god I made it… whoo this sucks…" James said as he entered the parameter gates of the white house. That running through the humidity was hell but worth it for the ability to sit in the air controlled comfort of the base. He greeted the guards who made remarks about how he sounded like a broken steam engine but they don't know anything.
He entered.the white house and took a deep breath, it felt so much nicer. He checked his weapons at the armory, put his gear in a box waiting room and walked up the stairs to Manny. Greetings others along the way. "Manny!" James said as he went to his war room, more of a war desk but he thought it there. "How's it going? What's it going? Did I mess something up? What's with the call?" James asked question after question. It was weird to him still that he was called back to the Base like this, it made him worried in a way.
"Agent I'm glad you made it. I know you've got a lot of questions about why you're here but they will be answered. We just gotta wait for your new partner." Manny replied as he sat back in a chair.
"New partner? Manny I don't know if you remember most people don't like working with me due to my 'brash decisions' and 'headstrong' BS. Don't you think it's just gonna happen again?" James replied with air quotes with his unassured tone.
"I think this will be a great opportunity for the both of you. In Fact I'd go as far to say you two are perfect for the job." Manny replied
Alix sighed as she entered the building. The air was breathable inside at least. She checked in and turned in her weapons before she headed for Many's offices. She greeted and smiled at the people as she went along until finally arriving at the door. The woman opens the door and slips inside and spots Manny and another guy.
"You called, sir?" She walked further in and sat down next to the man. Alix smiled at the man and nodded in greeting, "Alix Frejya. Scout. Nice to meet you"
"Ah agent Alix I'm glad you made it. James this is your new partner." Manny said as he waved his hand in a sign of introduction.
"Howdy, names James nice to meet ya." James replied as he gave the new found partner a thumbs up.
"Agents, I'm not gonna lie, this is an important task at hand. We are losing mysteriously losing agents without so much as a crumb of information on where they went. I need you two to find out what happened. We believe it has something to do with being underground that's causing a strange interference with isaacs programming but it's still not adding up." Manny said.
"Alix I chose you specifically with this mission for your great information collection and observation capability. Don't think I didn't forget about that hyena hideout you found on 64th and birch st." Manny added.
"Oh wow that was you? Sweet!" James said with a pat on her back.
"And James unlocked you for your ability to stay extremely calm under pressure, and your tenacity to never give up. I believe you two with your shared readiness to dive into the unknown are perfect for finding out what's going on and getting to the bottom of it." Manny told the pair.
"Our last piece of intel was we had an agent go dark near the north west metro entrance. She was just on a standard patrol duty when we lost all contact. If you find any evidence or anything of value please inform me right away. Dismissed and good luck agents" Manny finished as he gave a salute.
"Well so Alix let's grab our gear and go. I think the sooner we head out the better." James said as he headed back downstairs.
"Nice to mee you too" Alix grinned and returned the thumb up before turning back to Manny and nodding.
She took her seat and listened to Manny explain the situation. She shifted in her seat as he mentioned the hyena hideout and blushed at the praise. "Thanks" She murmured. Normally, she worked alone. Mapping territory and gathering information, just like Manny stated. She got along with people, but a scout's job was to be fast and swift. So, this time would be her first working with someone. She hoped he would make a good partner as Manny explained a bit about James.
Alix salutes back and follows James out the door. "Sounds good to me. A storm is coming, so we should cover as much ground as we can."
They made it to the bottom and the scout started gathering her equipment. She made sure to have her maps and books to cover the new territory with plenty of tools for it. Even if she didn't need them, they were useful at times.
James Pumped his shot gon and put it on his backpack and grabbed his machine gun.
"I didn't know a storm was coming, that's a good call." He replied to his new partner. A scout, that was a new one for him. He's worked with other rifleman, medics, techies, hell even a scavenger before but never a scout, especially a sniper. Maybe that would be an advantage! Or slow him down, only one way to find out for sure.
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"Alright that's one shipment of food and two shipments of water to the campus. I'm sorry guys you won't be able to have any agent backups on this delivery we're a little tight right now but there's been low activity on the main path." The supply depot director told the JTF soldiers, much to their discontent.
"Shit man I don't know that sounds shady." One said.
"Well the director said it's clear. We are probably gonna be find." The other said. --------------------
James over heard the conversation as he strapped on his ballistic helmet. "Hey Alix did you hear that? Those jtf guys need an escort to the campus. Should we help them? It may be out of our way and it'll take a bit extra but they could use the back up. Or we could just head out like Manny said and beat the storm. And be there way quicker, What do you think?" James asked as he finished readying up.
Alix nodded, "Yeah. From the speed of the wind and the humility, we probably have a few hours." She made sure everything was ready. For a scout, she was the only one that used a sniper as her main weapon. However, the weapon has saved her more times than she could count, especially on the tricky territory. She had worked with almost all branches of the army, so she hoped this guy was efficient at his job.
She looked up at him as the other addressed her about the men in the room. She thought about it with a hum as she finished getting ready. She weighed the pros and cons before sighing, "Let me check the map" The campus and the surrounding area were something that was mapped out by her and the satellites. She reviews the route and where their missing was in contrast to the campus before nodding, "There is a path from the campus to the area where we need to go. It is more open with less inclined terrain, so it will be better if the storm caught us before we made it to some refuge."
The scout folded it up and tucked it into her back again before straightening again, "So, we can if you want"
James said with a confident tone, "I think we should help, we're division agents after all, that's what we're supposed to do is help." James said as he walked up to the JTF soldiers. "Howdy, I'm squirrel and this is rune. And we are your impromptu security escort, we were heading out that way anyway." James said as he turned back to Alix. "I hope you're not afraid of getting wet." James finished.
"Oh thank god we got back up!" One soldier said with relief.
"What do you mean thank god, these guys are bullet magnets!" Another replied. "Just don't get us freaking caught up in your gadget bullshit!" He added. ---------------------------
"We've been out here an hour and it feels like an eternity." James said as he viciously fought the sweat off of his face. "At this rate I'm praying it's a monsoon at least it'll be tolerable." James ended with a pant like a dog.
"Aw mista division agent ain't so super human after all." A soldier shot back.
Alix stayed behind checking her equipment and maps over making sure she marked the right spot for their own mission before following behind James. She waved and smiled at the introductions before inwardly chuckling at the comment from one of the agents. After all, magnets was pretty accurate for them.
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The scout laughed and shaked her head, "If you didn't talk as much as you have, you could be conserving energy." Alix chuckled and shaked her head as she kept walking forward. She was also sweaty and dreaded the humidity with a passion, however, unlike her partner, she was more prepared for it.
She turned back towards one of the soldiers and rolled her eyes, "Maybe not, but watch your words cause we cans still kick your ass" She smiled and speed up to scout out the area ahead of them.
James turned back and pointed at the soldier, "if I wasn't such a nice guy I'd have rune hand you your own ass." James looked at his watch. "Only a couple of clicks away I can get some cold water then. Then I'll be fine…" he said to himself wiping the sweat from his brow. -----------------------
The shuffling sounds of people preparing sounded through the apartment.
"What do we got?" The man asked the woman with the binoculars.
"We've got a small convoy, three, and two guards." She replied. "Get ready with the gun. Once they get to that ice cream truck let em have it." She added.
The guy racked a shot. "Oh these fuckers are gonna get it."
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James kept a steady pace with the caravan leader. "Hey is that guy always an asshole?" He asked.
"Nah Todd's pretty alright once he knows you. I guess some people tried fucking him over disguised as agents, he hasn't seen them in the same light since." The leader told James.
"Yeah I guess that would fuck you up… Ah man I would fucking kill someone for some ice cream right about now, I betcha that thing has been looted six ways from Sunday." James finished as he pointed out the well run down truck amongst the stalled and forgotten cars.
Alix grinned as James spoke and threaten the soldier as she walked away. She was a few paces in front of them as she looked around the area. She frowned as she spotted an unfamiliar landmark and took out her map. She glanced around the area again and her frowned deepened. "Hey, Squirrel! Hold up a second" She glanced behind her at her partner. "let's be careful here! It seems that the other post made some changes in the layout of the area"
She had seen the changes in the terrain and found it unsettling. However, sometimes the same soldiers moved some things around to gain better access to certain areas. But that can make the area unpredictable and dangerous. She sighed and kept closer to the group than before as they came up to the ice cream truck on the road.
James and the other three soldiers slowly approached Alix, "I don't see problem with a change of scenery, hell if I was in charge of an out post I'd try my hardest to clean it up too." James as he continued. "Besides Rune, HQ said this stretch of road is one of the safest in dc. I don't think there's anything to worry about." He said with a laugh. The JTF soldiers themselves in the convoy passed the two. "Come on no time to stop and chit chat we need to keep moving." The grouchy one said. --------------------------------------
"Hey boss the two guards stopped movin' can I get em?" The man said aiming his machine gun at the group.
"Yeah on five drop that bastard infront, he's got a box… Five… Four… Three…" the woman was cut off by the outcast heavy gunner.
"GET SOME YOU FUCKERS!" The heavy gunner said as he unloaded his machine at the group. When the machine gun fire started two three other men ran outside the apartment, blindly firing their rifles as the ran to cover behind some cars.
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Once the machine gun fire started james pushed Alix rather abruptly as he dove behind another car. The JTF soldier infront wasn't so lucky catching three rounds, one to the leg and two to the chest. The other JTF soldiers managed to get behind cover before getting nailed. The injured soldier laid in the street rolling back and forth in pain.
"Fucking damnit!" James yelled. As he readied his shield. "Rune can you get a shot one that that machine gun!?! I gotta save him!" He yelled again.
Alix was uneasy but she blamed it on the fact that she was unfamiliar with the new setup. She glared at them as she put her map back in her bag and sighed. She hated when anyone changed her routes, it rather unsettled her in a very bad way. She was about to start walking again when she was shoved to the side just as bullets started raining down on the group. She cursed silently as she got her pistol out. "Squirrel! Don't do anything stupid"
She peeked over the car and looked around. She spotted the building and the setup ran through her mind. "Thirty seconds, Squirrel. You have thirty seconds. Starting Now!" She pointed and shot the gun at the man with the heavy gun. She needed him gone first. She didn't want to risk grenades at this moment in time, so she just stuck with her gun and aim. "HURRY UP!"
"FUCK!" The heavy gunner yelled as fell back pulling the gun up and away from the group. "One of those ducks shot me in the ear! Who are these assholes! I thought you said they were guards!?!" The man yelled rolling as he slowly got back up to mount the gun.
"Oh no fucking way they're division agents!" The scout said as she continued to watch the Caravan group down the road. ------------------------------------- After the gunshot James stood up. "That's all I need!" James said as he readied himself. He set his machine gun on his back and slid out his shield. He walked out from behind a car, bullets bouncing off his equipment like runner balls to concrete and he slowly walked his way back towards the wounded JTF soldier. When James got up to him he grabbed the back of the soldier's chest rig. "I got you!" He said as he dragged the soldier back.
He could hear yelling between the heavy amounts of fire but as soon as it came he could see the two outcasts that came out of the building backed their way to it.
"Oh thank God a break." He said to himself.
-----------------------
"GET BACK! GET BACK THEIR AGENTS!" The outcast yelled from their machine gun nest. "We'll get them from here! they'll eat you alive out there!". She yelled again as she ran away from the machine gunner. She went further into the building and approached another outcast, a much less friendly one. "Roy it's your time to shine! Remember eveline is proud of you and your bravery. Sneak out the back and blow those fuckers to hell." She said.
The man armed each of the bombs on his chest. "Oh don't worry I'm gonna give them the BIGGEST of Hugs!" He said in a deranged manner, running towards the back doors.
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As James dragged the soldier back to the group he pulled him aside to cover. "Hey you guys take care of him! Rune and I gotta clear that building!" James said as he positioned himself closer to get cover. "Rune I'll give you cover as we walk up with my shield but I need to drop whatever yellow freak shows their ugly face got it!?! We need to clear that building." James said forcefully.