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• There's going to be parts to this chapter

• Each part has around- or should eventually average out to- a little less than pages!

• Hopefully this makes up for my hiatus? ^-^b *crosses fingers*

3 years later.

Present time

_

The clock ticks it's large hand 'round one complete rotation. An hour had subconsciously passed and my lower abdominal region was gradually beginning to numb out, my fingers crisping as they contract and tense around the pistol grip of my sniper rifle. I kept my breath steady and reserved my heat the best I could, frequently eyeing the area below every 3 seconds or so.

We stationed ourselves in Beta Formation, a name for something our team leader assigned us to. Beta Formation consisted of 4 positions: FL, SV, BU, and SS.

FL- Front Line

SV- Safe View

BU- Back Up

SS- Surveillance Spotting

FL was Chestin. The man was from the Special Force Assault Division, SFAD, and did the dirty work for us without complaining. SV was Axel. He's always positioned in a separate building, away from the soon-to-come chaos, and exposes our enemy's weakness. BU was Helene and little Kora. Kora was a junior in training, and this would be the first mission she was assigned to test her teamwork abilities. And SS was me, the girl who'd been punishing her body for the last 3,600 seconds. Speaking of formations and my team, the suckers had been too quiet these past 15 minutes.

"... Y'all aren't sleeping on me are you," I breathed out silently, diverting my attention away from the scope for a moment to watch my own breath condense in the chilly air.

"It's been an hour," Chestin's voice broke through our earpiece, "they haven't come yet."

"Helene, status check," I murmured, repositioning my earpiece a bit after staying stationary for an hour.

"The two we killed earlier were dragged away," she responded after a series of crackling from the earpiece were heard as she connected, "The blood dried up a bit here. It won't be noticeable in the dark."

"And Axel?" I questioned.

"Here James," His deep voice chimed in and sent warm shivers throughout my frozen body, "Keep warm, you're the only one so high up."

I smiled and reached up to my earpiece to disconnect it with the others. I reconnected it to the R.U.'s channel, more specifically our team leader's communication system.

"Agent W," My team leader's voice came after a few seconds, "Is something wrong?"

I frowned as I surveyed the buildings 8 stories below and mentally envisioned where my teammates hid waiting.

"More like nothing's wrong," I replied matter-of-factly, "Can you check the movement of the Trackers? It's been a little over an hour and there hasn't been any signs or sightings of them. You don't think we've been mislead right?"

"Send an agent in the building," he said, "Try to find-"

There was a cackling noise that surprised me momentarily before Helene's voice broke through our connection.

"Chestin left his station," she informed us. I heard her staggered breathing and quiet footsteps through the earpiece, "He didn't answer when I connected to him either."

"I guess our conversation cuts short here," I bid goodbye to our team leader, "See you back at the quarter, Jay."

I disconnected from the agency and focused back on the current situation. Connecting my own earpiece to Chestin's, I began speaking as soon as I heard the soft connection spark.

"Chestin, come in."

Silence.

Suddenly, from the corners of my vision, I saw shadows shifting on the ground. It gradually became more noticeable when I took up my former position and readied myself.

They were here and they were on the move. The others heard me inform them on our enemy and they shifted in alert.

"It's too obvious in the front," I murmured. I was letting the others know where our enemy would enter.

Helene came in afterwards, "The back as well."

"There's a security camera hanging on the roof in the east alley," Axel chimed in, "'Course I have access to it now."

"I'm in-"

A deafening bullet shot through the air and pierced right through an oblivious male figure lurking in the West alley. I'd say I at least struck the abdominal region, if not the heart, and any miss-shot would be due to my numb fingers.

"Chestin," Helene cried through the earpiece at the person who had just spoken up earlier, "Where have you-" I heard a series of punches and a snap of a neck bone, "-been."

"They- [spark... crackle] Kora- [crack]" came Chestin's voice again.

"Goddamn Axel!" I whisper-yelled, "Fix his damn connection."

Chestin's urgent voice kept trying to reach our pieces, "-They... [spark]"

We heard our technician silently curse for the first time today due to some issues.

"They got into my system," Axel mumbled, "One moment."

I saw Helene appear from around the corner, walking into the dark alley lit up only partially by a worn down street lamp that was years old. She was on alert and held her handgun in front of her cautiously. A woman snuck up behind her and held behind her small frame a much larger, deadly gun which she aimed at Helene's head. Two men crept around behind a crate on either sides of the alley.

"Helene," I warned calmly, putting my right eye back on the scope. A moment later I heard her little "tsk" and took that as a sign to begin counting down.

"3... 2... 1... now."

She spun around at the speed of light and jumped to the side, pulling the trigger at the woman behind. The woman was cut off guard and shot her own weapon without aim, getting hit in the waist from Helene's bullet. I heard groans and swift movement as my team member reloaded and guessed the precise location of one man on the side and swung her fists to the side to knock him out. The other one came for her fast from behind and held a large dagger behind her neck, hissing in her ear.

"Hey pretty lady," the voice cooed and breathed out steadily, "What's a woman like you doing here at a place like this? How about we put down that gun, and do something better, huh?"

"Don't move," I warned in a murmur. A split second later my sniping skills went into action and I aimed the bullet at the blade of the dagger, violently knocking it out of the man's hand. His split moment of confusion was just enough for Helene to jab him in the stomach and place a lethal punch against his strong jaw. The woman from before managed to push herself up into a standing position. I raised my eyebrows when she tried to aim her gun at me, although there was no way she could see me even with perfect vision.

My location was known, that was one downside to sniping. It gave away the location of the sniper if the target was not taken care of that instant, and the enemy knew, as so do we, that I couldn't just pack up my stuff and reposition in a matter of seconds.

"Got it," Axel came back in, just in time for our missing team member to inform us for the 186th time, "They've got Kora."

My breath hitched and I hesitated a bit before finishing my business, pulling that damn trigger on the damn woman before she even attempted to shoot me, which she couldn't. Her gun was no match for a sniping gun when it came to distance. By the time her bullet reached me, if it could reach me, I would've gone on a picnic and came back by Spring.

I had held back from asking Helene any questions earlier when she was being cornered by three Trackers, but now I was free to question, "Helene, why wasn't Kora with you?"

"She said she'd seen Chestin and ran off," Helene breathed out unsteadily and I heard her start jogging to a new location," I ordered her back but our guests came."

"Axel," Chestin's voice came in clearer for the first time today, "Who on their team was wearing a green logo on their black suit? There was five in all, and one of them took Kora while I was preoccupied."

"Elite group?" Axel came in, "Does it matter? They're heading to the third floor, as expected. Helene."

"On it," she informed him. I watched her tiny figure silently move into the building as I kept watch on the area below. Anyone that came to the West Alley was taken care of, Chestin and Helene held their grounds below and were dealing with the intruders inside the cursed building. If they hurt Kora, I was going to take up the assault division position and throw some punches.

Let's hope it doesn't get to that.

_

My attention was caught when a flashing green light began to beep somewhere from below. I stared at its faint glow and wondered if it was just my eye fatigue that was causing the illusion, or-

"Jamie," Axel called from the earpiece.

"Yeah?"

"They're planning to release a bomb."

I frowned, "A bomb? Who would-"

Silence fell over me as my attention snapped back to the green light. It wasn't green anymore. It was bright, sickening red, rapidly pulsing like a heartbeat.

"Shit, I think I found him," I murmured as my eyes glared daggers into the dead man.

"What?" Axel asked.

"The guy Helene fought earlier, he's a suicide bomber," I informed everyone, "It's been flashing for a while now I suggest y'all climb that building fast and find Kora."

There wasn't any talking from Chestin or Helene. I was getting a little worried, although I keep assuming they were busy.

"The shock's going to only affect the areas around the main building," I continued trying to inform my team even if they weren't listening, "As long as you get up high enough, you'll manage somehow if the building does happen to collapse. Keep your suits close-"

The heat reached even my location and I had to cover my face with my suit sleeve. Thousands of broken metal, dust, steel, paper, anything at all, it all expanded and exploded. The impact was violent to the point where I saw every dead body spring up like dandelions from below, and the building seemed to have swayed a bit. It was damaged alright. Our connection became weaker and all I could hear was a loud static that irritated my ears.

My eyes widened when the smell of... smoke... rose up to greet me. The heat. It didn't create a fire did it? I leaned forward from the edge of the building I was on and my expression turned dark.

"Shit."

No one knew there was a fire, but it was spreading fast and ruthlessly, entering the building whose structure had been holed and punched. My team didn't know there was a fire, and no matter how much I tried for the connections to spark up, it simply just didn't.

"AXEL," I yelled, "AXEL!"

"I'm getting the security footage," he came in shortly, "What's going on? Why are you so panicked?"

"There's a fire and all three of them are inside that damned building," I shouted in frustration, "I'm leaving SS Beta formation. New plans."

"Wait Jamie," Axel exclaimed, "Jamie, come in!"

I pushed myself up and used the time that I was adjusting to stand up to pull out a rather long zip-line and threw it with all my might across to the main building. With the help of technology, it did manage to clasp onto the roof top of the burning building and I took a moment to load my hand guns. Taking a look at my sniping gun and backpack, I concluded that I was going to have to destroy them. Evidence was evidence. I didn't need them doing some freaky shit with my fingerprints or DNA.

I kicked my equipments into the far corner of the top of the building, stood far opposite of it, and loaded my primary gun. Moments later I shot and destroyed my sniping gun, along with my bag and the debris fell off the building. It was time to join the action below.

_

As soon as my feet touched the hard ground I saw fire spewing threateningly across the ground in every direction. I had to force myself to adjust to the pressure and atmosphere below. It was way harsher than just simply laying around on an eight story building. My whole body had been numb just minutes before, but now every muscle and nerve was on alert, and I was sweating immensely.

Even if I had tried to connect my earpiece with the rest of my team, I would not be able to hear a single sound. The night was quiet, yet louder than loud. If that made sense.

I dodged falling metal and whips of flame daring to come my way. Entering the building took more effort than I could manage. I had to shoot down a door that had been blown from the hallway to the entrance to even be able to enter the first floor.

"Damn it," I cursed, taking extra caution making my way around the scene at the center. The walls were scorching hot too. I made my way to two choices: the stairs or the elevator. Not the latter.

But just as I had thought picking the stairs was a good option, a dark figure came running down and collided into my body, sending the both of us flying back down to the ground. Luckily, the burning debris were a few feet away from our landing.

The guns were quicker to come out than the human's five senses. My eyes still could not adjust to whoever it was on top of me, but my ears were able to pick up it was the breathing of a man, although it was hard to make anything out considering they were blocked. I sensed the body above me was a man's as well- broad shoulders, thick thighs, strong arms, messy short hair, and low breathing. Definitely male.

I was starting to get irritated at the gun positioned at my throat. It was already hard to breathe, so pressing the nuzzle at my voice-box wasn't helping.

"Move," my own voice came out hoarse, yet clear, "Or I'll shoot. I'm not like you people. I will shoot."

"Likewise," came a rather young man's voice, raspy and tired, "I still bite after my first shot, you know."

I frowned and let out an inaudible gasp as I felt a painstakingly wound that was nonexistent before the fall. Liquid oozed out of me, and I could only lay there thinking of what had caused me to bleed so quickly.

I silently cursed before there was silence from the man opposite me as well.

"Jamie?"

My eyes widened carefully as my ears became more adjusted to the sound around me. The smoke was temporarily going to clear from the area we were at, just enough so that I could make out who was on top of me.

"How did you kno-"

The smoke gave way to a bright face, smothered with ash and debris, dampened dirty blonde hair and dark viridescent eyes. His impressive figure hovered over my woman-like features and I began to become uncomfortable.

"Chestin," I breathed out in shock, closing my mouth when a nearby, small gust of wind blew smoke into my mouth.

"What the hell are you doing here," He exclaimed. Most people would've thought the man was being rude, but I knew I would've said the same thing to him if I spotted him on top of an eight story building with me as well.

"Can you get off of me, commander," I tried to joke, although I found my situation becoming worser each second.

"What ever happened to Beta Formation," he spat forcibly, still trapping me under his stare.

"Don't 'Beta Formation' me, Chestin," I immediately snapped back up at him in a serious, warning tone, "at least I was at my station." That got him to shut his trap alright.

"Enough," I huffed a bit, trying to move my arms, "Would you get off me? I don't like being straddled."

Rolling his eyes as if on instinct with my responses, my partner stood up and dusted himself off, only to look back down with concern when I couldn't.

I bit the inside of my mouth as I pushed myself up. Apparently, a piece of metal found its way through my arm and there was no way to take it out without going through immense pain.

"What's wrong," Chestin came in, "Let me see your ar-"

More of the building collapsed. I felt arms wrap around my shoulders as it pulled me away from part of the ceiling dangerously dropping down. Still trying to maintain my breathing, I look back up at Chestin and ask, "What's wrong with the stairs? Why'd you come running down?"

"It's completely blocked," he seemed to answer dazed, "We have to use the elevator."

I raised my eyebrows as a single strand of sweat dripped down the side of my face, "... Chestin, that screams 'danger' in every sense possible."

A small smirk played on his lips as he grabbed my wrists and pulled me along quickly and carefully from the fire. "Danger's my middle name."

I coughed, "Last time I checked your middle name was Hansley-"

"Shut it, Lennon."

We both managed to cram ourselves into the elevator and press the button for the doors to close. I was surprised the elevator could still even operate under the heat and impact of the bomb's shocks. The wonders of human technology sometimes, you gotta admit humans are crazy, whether that be a good or bad reference.

_

Everything became quiet for a while after I punched in the number five for the fifth floor. Assuming the fire reached the second or third floor already, the fourth floor, if anyone was still there, they would've tried evacuating, so the fifth floor would be an accurate guess of where lifeforms would be.

"Your arm," Chestin's voice breaks through my train of thought, "Let me see it."

I looked sideways at the man and shook my head firmly. "There's nothing you can do. I'm afraid trying to take it out will leave me with no energy. Just leave it."

"Jamie."

"..." I couldn't fight him. If there was one other person I could not argue with when it came to orders besides our team leader Jay, it was my partner Chestin.

I hated listening to him, because that would've meant I lost- something about my pride made me annoyed- but overall I knew Chestin was assigned my partner these past three years for a reason.

"I'm pulling it out," the man declared all of a sudden.

My eyes widened in terror, "No."

"Three... two..."

"Jesus fucking Christ why does no one ever listen to me-"

"-one."

The inside of my mouth was probably bleeding as well due to the about of force I had to apply to it to keep my mouth shut. The pain was overwhelming and I resorted to clenching my teeth tightly against each other. Only a groan escaped my lips, but for the most part it was a struggle with myself to keep the noise down.

"You okay," my partner asked, tossing the metal piece to the corner firmly.

"Great," I sneered forcibly, "Just wonderful."

"Deal with it a little longer," Chestin reassured, "You're strong, Jamie. A little blood lost won't knock you out." He ripped a section of his shirt and used it to wrap my arm to slow down the bleeding.

"I don't know if I should be thankful for the praises," I started, keeping my breath steady, "or knock you out for not listening to me, partner."

"Geez," he commented lightly, running a hand through his dirty blonde hair. I watched my partner in silence, a frown forming on my face out of view. That... reminded me of something- the gesture- but, what?