The FOB's gates open, then we enter the metropolis and begin the route. Tango gets her headphones on and I take out the first turn, "So what got you into this lifestyle, Zero?" "My dad had me join before this whole mess, US National Guard."

Zero waits for me to share, the less you all know, the better. Tango shouts from the back, "Theft a block over!" I quickly make a left, "What they look like?" She shakes her head, "Male, teenager, grey hoodie, sneakers." "Thank you."

A few streets later, me and a teen lock eyes before he runs off.

Without hesitation, I brake and hop out as Tango yells, "Your guns!" "Only take a second!" Petty theft? Why not? The kid turns a corner, a second later, I do the same and trip on my own foot.

I catch myself and jog to catch up. I yank him back by his shirt, "Please don't hurt me!" "Why'd you run?" He stops struggling, "I only took the purse for my mom. She's sick." Shitty clothes, sandals.

I grab the purse, pull out half of the woman's bills and drop it in the boy's hands, "You better not be lying, kid." He sprints out the alley as Tango catches her breath, "That was sweet of you." "I just know how it feels. Zero?" She hands me my pistols, "On the radio." My hand touches hers. She looks like-

"Your ex-wife?" Not again. He smiles and disappears, then my radio goes off, *Guys! Get back here, now!*

I jog to the car, "Shit, lets go." "Hey, wait up!" Zero pulls up just out the alley and we practically fly into the car's sliding back door.

"What's it now?" "Some guys broke into some lab. I get up into the front, "Don't they have security?" Tango clenches her rifle, "I guess they want backup."

I squint at her, "Why so tense?" Zero laughs, "She hasn't popped her first cherry!" Her face lights up and the grip on her gun lessens, "Who was your first cherry, Bolt?" I grin, "Allison Butcher." She frowns and I groan, "Fine,

some fire cultist, duh."

Zero shouts, "Almost there guys!" She grins at me, "You ready?" I shrug at her, "Is anyone?" We stop and I crack

crack my neck twice, then hop out, pistols drawn. We move up through the glass windows, security guards line the floor.

Tango checks them while Zero and I clear ahead, "Dead!" She snaps their dogtags- "They have tags?" A trained group? I put my pistols away and take out the rifle while Zero grabs his radio, "Requesting backup at Genesis Research Center."

The gunshots lead us to the group, *Two teams in the area coming in five.* I peer around the corner and a man fixes his gun on me, "Shit!" I quickly turn back and the bullet breaks a window. The man yells, "Hurry up G!"

I do a lttle war cry in my head and turn the corner again and shoot him until he goes down. We creep up and the man

pulls his revolver on Tango. A bullet hits his forehead before I can pull the trigger.

I look back and Zero nods at me. I turn, Tango's frozen. "Hey! You're fine! C'mon!" She snaps out of it and two more come out. Zero shouts and they take aim, "Body armor!" We dive down.