[dcs_p]Using his legs to push himself backwards, he slowly moved away from the most
dangerous area. Unfortunately he panicked as a result of his wounds, and moved
his knee up too far in his attempt to escape. He was peppered again with
automatic weapons fire, this time reducing his left leg to a paralyzed dead weight
that throbbed with pain. Mark screamed out in pain and lay back. He looked to
the ceiling for help but knew there would be none arriving soon enough. He
hoped to take at least one of them with him.[/dcs_p]
[dcs_p]As emergency alarms resounded all across the base, Mike Strider got out of
bed. He grabbed his pants and began putting them on.
“Blake’s blood. What the hell is it this time?” He’d seen plenty of tragedies as of
late, including a nuclear attack on his unit and the discovery of a Marik spy on-
base. This could not be good.[/dcs_p]
[dcs_p]“Stay in here for now.” Jasmine swallowed nervously. “We don’t know the
situation or where its located. I’ll get Ryan on the horn.”
“You know I always take your advice seriously, but I’ve seen too many of our
own fall this past month. I need a shot at these guys. My soul needs some kind
of reversal to happen. I can’t just keep watching this.” His eyes looked around
the room desperately. “Its got to be the Blakists.” Mike slid on his boots. His
overcoat lie on the chair next to Jasmine’s desk. He reached for it, drawing out
his gripper gloves and a small slugthrower pistol.[/dcs_p]
[dcs_p]“I know you have a lot of experience with this kind of combat, but please wait for
some kind of word. For all we know they are waiting for you in your room.”
Jasmine pleaded. She was already mostly dressed, pulling her own needler
pistol from its holster as she pressed a coded transmission into her emergency
transceiver with her other hand. “Give me two minutes and then we move
together.”[/dcs_p]
[dcs_p]”I’m sorry Jasmine. I gotta do this. Stay here and I’ll signal you when I’ve got
something. Promise.” Again his eyes seemed desperate, but the sincerity was
clear to Jasmine and she doubted there’d be any stopping him this time. She had
seen the weight of command destroy her previous boss, and now she was forced
to watch it destroy her lover.[/dcs_p]
[dcs_p]Jasmine grabbed his right hand in hers. She spoke quieter this time. “Let me get
the Longinus guys over here and we all go together.” She paused. “Mark’s
transmission says infiltration.” She swallowed again, praying he would listen to
her.[/dcs_p]
[dcs_p]Mike waved off her warning again, but touched her hand affectionately with his. “I’
ll be here. Just hold tight, Jaz. Don’t you go out there. That’s an order.”
“Damn you and your orders, Mike.” Jasmine turned away from him and began
punching in code to the transceiver again. She needed to know more in order to
warn the others. As nasty as it was, her responsibility to the entire team was
more important than her feelings for him.[/dcs_p]
[dcs_p]He looked at her and then to the ground. He pushed open the wooden door and
stepped into the corridor. He spun around and stuck his head back in the door
after several seconds.
“Love you, Jaz. Just hold tight, okay?” Mike pressed.[/dcs_p]