With a sharp intake of breath, I felt my body come to life. It was like a shot of adrenaline straight to the heart, an overwhelming, and unwelcome sensation that overcame me, and forced me awake. My eyes shot open wide as my head sprung up from whence I laid. In rapid motion, I looked around, confused, terrified, not knowing where I was, or what I was even doing here.

Trying to get some barrings of where I was exactly, I quickly found that I was in a room. A dark musky room where the only light source was a beam of faded sunlight that shined through a filthy window, and a faint glow from an unidentified source. I didn't pay much mind to it, as I was still freaking out. What was this room, why was I in it!?

I looked down over my body, I found that I was wearing a pair of tattered jeans and what was left of a buttoned up shirt. That was the first thing I noticed anyways, and then quickly noticed one other odd feature; one that appeared to be stuck in my leg. A hypodermic needle? Unsure of it's purpose, I quickly removed it... It hurt a lot more that it should of. To the point of me crying out in surprise of the pain, a pain that quickly crawled from my leg and into my head. What the hell!? What is this?!

Groaning, I attempted to get up from where I was, however, with the pain still overwhelming me, I merely fell over; crying with agony. When I landed, I sensed objects all around me scatter. Flying into my vision, I could see that it was various scraps of paper. I didn't know what they said, or if they said anything at all. I was too focused on the pain. Pain that was... thankfully subsiding...

The pain eventually numbed to the point where I could consider moving again. Even so, I did so hesitantly. Slowly, I got up from the pile of paper that I landed on, the feeling of fear and confusion slowly returning. Where the hell was I? I quickly made it my mission to find out.

I started by picking up the papers I was standing on, trying to see if I could gain insight from it's contents. Unfortunately, this turned out to be fruitless, as the scribbling on the paper were illegible; didn't look like it was even English. Just... strange symbols, pictures and some sort of bare legible chicken scratch. I quickly discarded the papers, and looked for the next clue I could find.

I quickly found it, in the form of a window with faded light shinning through. At as brisk a pace as I could manage, I walked up to it, and tried to see through the murky window. I didn't see much, just some silhouettes of some tall buildings that were nearby. It didn't help me at all... I was getting ready to break the window and try to get a better view of what was out there, but then I saw it. From the refection of the window, I found the second light source, the glowing light that was behind me. I turned to face it, and found something odd... something that contrasted heavily with the rest of the room. Something that clearly did not belong. A perfect, shiny oval, about the size of myself, laid on the other side of the room. The entire thing glowed eerily dark for the light it provided. It just sat there, pulsing with it's haunting glow.

Suddenly, I had the urge to approached it, and with little hesitation, not really knowing why I would dare, I did exactly that. Something inside me told me that I needed to approach it, to investigate it. Like it was somehow the answer to all my problems, the answer to where I was, and why I was here.

I stopped just a foot away from it, and stared straight into it. I could see my reflection on it's flawless surface. My disheveled form, a man void of hope or soul, seemed to stare back at me, beckoning me to come closer. I did... I'm still not quite sure why. I should be wary of this thing, yet I'm not. Maybe my own reflection was a source of pity? A man who needed help, help that I could personally supply? I don't know... It's confusing, but still draws me closer.

My reflection seemed to reach it's hand out to touch mine. Again, without any hesitation of the sort, I mimicked. I needed to hold his hand, to tell him that everything was okay... that it wasn't his fault...

...But what was his fault? Who am I talking about? Myself? What did I do wrong?

Who even am I?

At this question, as our hands were about to touch, I hesitated. What was I doing? I lowered my hand, and my reflection mimicked. He looked as confused as I was. Maybe because I stopped, maybe because I denied the comfort he beckoned me for? Perhaps, most of all, it was because he didn't understand that I couldn't help him...

T@0H@#$%I5489S M321354A54653N W^^$#%@A12#$%$%!$S A@$!#%$L@$#%$#R@!#$E@#$%A@#$@%D!@#$Y D@#$E^%^&A%#$^D

Suddenly, a sensation of panic overcame me, and I scrambled to get away from the object. I don't know what that was, but it hit me very suddenly, a loud warning that interacting with the device would be a terrible idea! A most terrible Idea!

I- I needed to get out of here! Where's the door?! I need to get out! I NEED TO GET OUT!!!

Suddenly I find myself rushing towards a door I'd hadn't seen until now. Unquestioning of how I knew where the door was, I barreled towards it and slammed into it at full force!

A cold sensation overcame me. The air chilled me to the bone, and something invaded my lungs with such toxicity that it caused me to start coughing, gasping for air. I found myself collapsed a few feet from the doorway, white clouded my vision. Struggling, I barely managed to get a hold of my hacking and get back on my feet.

The cloud of white... or whatever that was... still lingered around me, suffocating me with it's presence. I was quick to try to get away from it, move to somewhere it was clear out. However, with a few steps forward, I felt my foot touch air as I stepped off a ledge.

With a yelp of surprise, I fell forward, falling for an unknown distance, before I fell straight on my back. Whatever I landed on was hard and rigid, and it knocked the air right out of me. Once again, I was surrounded by the white suffocating presence, and I knew if I didn't recover now, It would be my death. Instead of standing up, I rolled over and attempted to crawl away from the white cloud. I was successful in a sense, the cloud was still present, however thinner. Thin enough to the breath and see again, if only barely. I took a moment to get my barrings, taking a series of quick breaths in vain attempt to not breath the cloud in. After I felt that I wasn't about to die of suffocation, I began to look around. Though the fogginess clouding my vision was no help, I was quick to see that something wasn't right here.

It seemed that I had landed on the street. The fog was everywhere, and the substance causing it falling slowly and steadily from the sky. It was putting a thick layer of it on everything. It wasn't only the substance that caught my eye though... It was also the fact that everything around me seemed to be... destroyed. Windows shattered, cars turned over and thrown about... Buildings falling apart... No people anywhere...

What is going on? What happened here?!

I got up, quickly, taking in my environment more. All around me was destruction. A city in ruins, and no one there but me to see it. Where was everyone? What was this?

What the hell is going on?!

I turn to look down the street, to see if I could find anything or anyone of any sort... Then I saw it... Chills ran down my spine.

Before me, probably several miles off, I could see it. A cloud, bigger and thicker than anything that could be seen here. It stretched far into the sky, mushrooming as it hit it's limit. It loomed over me like some sort of harbinger ready to smite me with my upcoming fate... The blue glow within an evil eye locking on to it's prey... I took a step back... Then Another... Then I turned around and started running. Running for my life. Running from the monster that slowly but surely loomed ever closer to me, seeking to consume me.

I would not allow it! I would keep running! No matter what! This monster will not claim me today!

I checked various upright cars that I crossed, looking to see if any were operable. They either weren't operational, or the skeletal occupants of their previous owners scared me off in my panic. More and more cars I came across, the more death and misery I found. Soon, I began to realize that the skeletal corpses lined the streets as well, all in poses of agony, all running in the same direction as I! It was becoming clear what had happened to the people here. They were running from this harbinger too! They failed to escape their fate... but not me! I'm going to make it! This monster won't catch me!

Several cars later, I came across a pickup that looked promising. I ran up to it and yanked the door opened. No previous occupants glared at me with their hollowed eyes, so I checked if there were any keys. With luck, I found they were in the ignition. I turned the key and to my glee it started up immediately. Closing the door and stepping on the gas, I sped away from my impending doom.

Looking back at the luminous monster behind me, I knew inside that this would not be the last I saw of it, but I knew that I would keep running, for as long as it takes.

For as long as it takes...

'For as long as it takes...' So much for that...

It's funny that I remember this now, on the brink of death. I didn't before, all I really remembered before was that I woke up, and I was running from the ash. That was it, that was the most I could remember before waking up in the bunker. However, this memory was much more clear... Vivid even, as if I had just experienced it. Perhaps this is my life flashing before my eyes? Isn't that what happens before... well, you know.

Not that it matters much now, but I kinda wish I would have remembered what happened before waking up; answer the everlasting question I made my way out here for. Who I was, what I was doing before the blast, such things as that. This memory... doesn't answer any of those questions, it just confuses me more. Most of it didn't even seem real. It was like a dream, but at the same time a vivid memory? What was I doing in that room? What happened to me? What was that thing in the room with me? Why was I...

...I suppose it doesn't matter now. Close you eyes, prepare to die, pray for paradise on the other side.

"John!" I heard Anabel whispered from behind me.

My eyes snapped opened as I was pulled from my trance. Turning my attention to Anabel, I noticed that she was cautiously peeking out the window. What was once fear in her eyes turned to recognition, then determination. What was she looking at to inspire such hope?

"What is it?" I asked quietly, walking towards the window she was at, curious of what she was seeing.

"It's a transport! Not a bomber! They are going to come in and handle this personally! We got a chance!" Anabel whispered excitedly.

What? Transport? Why the hell would they send a transport? They have us dead to rights, what are they stalling for?

I peeked out the window to confirm her observation. Just like that, she was correct. Above us, hovering about one-hundred feet from our windows, was what I recognized to be an alien transport vessel. I've only seen one once before, but they were easily recognizable. If you were to imagine a shiny, metal, flying rectangle with blaring lights on all sides of it, you would be imagining the perfect description of the vehicle. Creative design? Probably not, but it doesn't take a great design to be a terror. One of these fuckers can carry forty aliens inside.

It was quietly making it's decent to the ground and I pulled my head back to avoid getting seen.

This confused me greatly. Nearly one-hundred percent of the time, whenever aliens would pick up on a scouting party, whether they'd be out in the open or hunkered down somewhere, they'd bomb the shit out of them until there was no one left. The aliens did not fuck around when it came to trying to put us down; always low risk with these guys. It was rare that they'd ever send troops to engage us directly. That only happened when we were dug in too deep for bombs to be effective, which certainly wasn't the case here, or there was something of value they wanted from us. Why would they-

Suddenly it hit me. I looked back at the team of scared and confused aliens, more pointedly at Twilight who still hid the reason these fuckers found us behind her back. The answer then was obvious... the crystal. The signal it's transmitting is likely alien even to them, and I'm sure they'd want to investigate it instead of blowing it sky high. So, that explains the transport.

However, despite this stroke of 'luck', this transport fared us no better. Forty aliens was FAR too much for us to take on. It's bad enough that I don't have enough ammo for this, but even worse when you consider that even alien ground troops were no joke. They would consist mostly of, if not all faceless, the main alien ground troops.

Faceless are peculiar bunch; not to mention unsettling. They look like humans, they behave like humans when it comes to movement, and they are as skilled as any veteran we have. The one key difference is the fact they have no face. Well... at least that's what is rumored. We never really see their faces, they are always covered with masks, and their bodies always entirely disintegrate upon death. The rumor and their name supposedly comes from what you see when they do disintegrate. If you watch their face directly, supposedly you can see a glimpse of what lied under the masks. What you would supposedly see before they disintegrate was men without faces. No nose, no mouth, no eyes... just nothing.

We don't know why or how the faceless are as they are, we think that they are simply clones, pumped out of the alien's great war machine, and designed to flush us out of whichever hole the aliens cant reach with their bombs. They were very good at it, we could only barely hold them back if they sent them in into a heavily fortified location; like a bunker for example. There would always be casualties... Safe to say, once they engaged us here, we were good as dead. Fighting this transport off was a hope in a million, with our current numbers it was outright suicide.

"Don't get your hopes up, There's going to be forty of them in there we can't fight them." I stated.

Anabel didn't seem to like this response, apparently taking restraint and reason as 'giving up' given her reply.

"Like hell we're not! What do you expect us to do, go out without a fight?" Anabel argued.

"We're not giving up yet. Yes, now there's a chance, but it won't be by fighting them." I replied.

"Then what are we doing, John? We can't run, they'll gun us down! We can't hide, they know we're here! So, what choice do we have!? Enlighten me!"

I thought about it for a moment. They were here after the signal, as it was apparently worth investigating. Given this information, they probably have no clue what it is, or what was causing it...

...That could mean that they don't know we are actually here! All they know is that something is transmitting from this position!

We can hide, they'll come, investigate, and leave. We can survive this!

The one hiccup in the plan, though, lies in that crystal, and those too stubborn to give it up. It's just a matter of fact, we can hide all we want, but if that crystal is with us they will find us. So that left us with two options. Anabel and I go hide and leave the aliens to their fate, or we convince them to be rid of the crystal. My survival instinct was etching more towards option one... If we just both disappeared now, telling the aliens that were where going to look for a better position, they wouldn't suspect a thing. We could easily survive this and, as a bonus, we could get rid of the throne in my side...

But that wasn't right. Deep inside I knew that wasn't right. Once again, it all comes down to what kind of man that would make me. Would it make me any better than the cannibals outside in their icy graves? Better than those would leave their friends to die just to save themselves? I know that they've been an inconvenience for the most part, but they've also stuck with me this entire time, like any team would. Whatever their reasons didn't matter... Out here, they were my only allies, I wasn't going to just leave them to die.

So, In that case, I had to at least try...

"They don't know we're here." I responded, knowing full well I was committed.

Anabel, and the team of aliens looked at me confused, very curious of what I was talking about. To them, and most apparently to Anabel, it was very clear that they knew we were here.

"I think the alien ship landing outside is contradicting your statement there, John." Anabel replied.

"Then why didn't they just blow us up, Anabel? Why waste the effort getting into a firefight with us when they could just nuke us? If they knew we were in here, in terrible cover, why not just kill us?" I replied back.

Anabel seemed to think about this for a moment, but after a few second, her face lit up with realization as she got what I was getting at.

"The signal is alien to them, they're here to investigate!" Anabel concluded, stepping away from the window, no longer willing to risk getting spotted.

"So... what does that mean? We just hide?" Twilight asked, she and the rest of the team still very confused and scared about the situation.

Anabel gave me a sort of look as Twilight asked this. It was a sort of look that seemed to be asking me something. I... think I had a good idea about what she was trying to ask me. Probably about the same thing I was thinking about earlier. 'Do we leave them out here to die?'

I realize that Anabel is still untrusting of these aliens, rightfully so given our current living situation. So, I don't blame her for that. Still, I hope she isn't going to start giving me a problem for choosing the solution that she's probably not going to like.

"Not exactly that simple, it doesn't matter where we hide if that crystal is with us. You're going to have to destroy it." I said.

As predicted, no one was a fan of this idea. Anabel for different reasons obviously, but she was going to have to suck it up. The aliens of course were quick to challenge my suggestion.

"No way in Tartarus are we doing that John!" Sky immediately spoke up keeping her stance between John and Twilight.

"That will be a no." Iron said after, staying his position as well.

"John! No! Can you please take a moment to stop being absolutely psycho! I came up to request your help, not to let you come down here and make things worse!" Daring said, finally being able to get around Anabel to take her own position between me and Twilight, probably figuring I was going to try something again.

Every one else seemed to agree to this sentiment, remaining defiant of my demands.

"John, no! We can't do that! Destroying this crystal means we lose our only way home! You honestly can't expect us to do that!" Twilight replied.

Yeah, I expected as much from them. However, I know they really don't understand the situation right now. How dead or worse they were going to be if they didn't give up the crystal. I had to make them understand, I had to at least try... For my own sake now. We were committed to plan A, no chance to go back to plan B. If they found us, they'd be finding all of us.

"I don't think you quite understand, Twilight. Those things out there, getting ready to raid this building, we cannot fight them, and they are going to kill all of you if you keep that crystal. Even if they don't kill you, they won't be keeping you alive for anything good. Trust me when I say, losing your way home is far less severe than what they things will do to you. Not the mention what they will learn from that crystal..." I informed her.

Though, they seemed very bothered by what I said at first, it seemed that I stuck them hard with my last statement. They were practically frozen as they processed what I was implying. That was good, I was getting to them.

"W-what do you mean what they will learn?" Lyra asked with a shaken voice.

I was quick to continue. We didn't have much time left, if the look on Anabel's face was anything to judge by as she kept watch on our enemy drifting from the sky. Now was the time to convince them, before the faceless came flooding in.

"I think you know... and what do you think they'll do once they do find out where your little home is? Do you think they'll show you as much mercy as they've shown us? Seriously, what do you think? Is your ticket home worth what it will cost you if you don't destroy it now." I stated

The entire team was silent at this, rendered speechless as they seemed to contemplate between possibly never seeing home again, or seeing that same home being destroyed by the same forces seeking the destruction of this world. Both choices were horrible for sure, but which one was worse to them? The entire team seemed conflicted with the answer, all unsure of what to do...

"N-no... They couldn't possibly-" Twilight began to say, but I was quick to cut her off. There was no time for them to make up their own minds; they will find us by then. I had to hasten the process.

"They could possibly, if not definitely use your device to find your home. If they can jam it, and track it to this exact location, then they can definitely find a way to trace it back to your world. If you don't destroy it now, they will not only find us, but they will find your world. Who knows where they go from there. You need to destroy that crystal, for all our sakes." I quickly responded.

If what I said had any effect on their thoughts, I couldn't tell immediately. For the most part, they still seemed very conflicted. It was understandable, if not deadly to all of us. I have to say, if the situations were swapped, if it was my world that was that I was going to lose one way or another, it wouldn't be a choice I'd make lightly, let alone in under a minute. However, it was a choice they would have to make in time, or all our lives were forfeit.

"John! The transport has landed! Give me a gun! I'm not going to die standing around for these alien fucks to get us all killed!" Anabel demanded, getting increasingly aggravated as our time came ever closer to running out.

I ignored her, I'd give her a gun when our time was up for sure, but for now I wasn't going to risk her giving our position away when we still had a chance.

Thankfully, and in perfect timing, my patience was rewarded. Most of the team was still contemplating the choice of survival versus exile when one had finally made up her mind.

"John... You don't know what you ask of-" Shining started to argue, right before his reason for arguing made a bone chilling sound.

A sudden and loud *CRACK* broke the silence, and everyone in the room snapped towards the noise. All except me, of course... as I was watching her.

Everyone from the team looked on in shock and disbelief as Twilight held the crystal front of her, her eyes glazed over as what was once a flawless crystal floated in two in front of her; its light slowly fading away. In shock, Lyra was the first to voice her panic.

"Wha- OH, NONONONONO!!! Twilight!!! What have you done!" Lyra near shouted.

The rest of the team looked on in frozen silence, the color of their faces drained as they look upon the grim reality that they had just been forced into. A mixture of shock and resentment towards Twilight was on full display by the team. However, at the moment, Twilight didn't seem to care. Her face was simply blank of emotion, either unable or unwilling to recognize what she had done, just simply that she had to do it.

"They... they can never be allowed to-" Twilight began to utter.

Our time was up, the transport had to have started unloading by now. So, I was quick to cut her off. The deed was done, and we need to move, before the faceless made their way in...

"Enough! Leave the remains for them to find. We need to hide, now! Follow me!" I ordered, making my way to the exit the opposite side of the building where the transport was landing.

Anabel followed suit without question. The aliens, however, hesitated. Their gaze upon their one ticket home and the one who ripped it in half to save them all. However, it was clear that none of them really saw it that way. At the moment, I can imagine that they thought they were staring at the one who had doomed them. Maybe she did, but that didn't matter now. They'd be alive for the moment, and as a bonus their own world would be safe. I've satisfied my conscience...

...or at least only one part of it if they didn't start moving.

"Now, before they come." I warned one last time before exiting the building.

They seemed to get the message, if only barely. They lingered a while longer before they followed me out. Twilight was the last one out, her head hung low as she hurried to catch up. I waved them over, signaling them to hurry up. I didn't know how close they were to being inside the building, or securing the surroundings. We could be spotted at any moment. We REALLY needed to hurry.

They began to pick up their pace, and we all began to quickly make our way up the slope. Soon enough we reached the top and I began to make my way over...

...Only be be completely caught off guard with a barrel of a rifle in my face.

"What the FUCK!!!" I heard the owner of the gun shout at me.

I immediately raised my hands, quite shocked at the sudden contact.

After a panicked moment, I finally got a decent look at the obstacle in front of me. I was quick to realize it was another human, and he was currently pointing a rifle of some sort at my face. A bolt action 308. if I were to guess... I don't know where the fuck he came from, but I knew for a fact that this was about to get awkward. Looking around, it was clear that no one else was with him at the current moment, otherwise I'd already notice them. Was this a stray from the cannibal party? Was this someone else entirely? If so, who was he with?

Regardless, I needed to deal with this before the aliens got up the hill. Something tells me that their sudden appearance would end with a sudden bullet to my face. Unfortunately, I can't do anything when he has a gun pointed at me with his finger on the trigger.

Suddenly, though, he eased up, taking his finger off the trigger and lowered the barrel to my chest, looking at me curiously. Then, in a sudden realization, he lowered his weapon entirely.

"FUCKING HELL!!! I almost shot your ass! You the one they're after I take it? Anyone else with you?" He asked, his guard down.

"Yeah..." I answered carefully, Looking briefly behind me to make sure no one else made it over with me; more pointedly the aliens. Thankfully, Anabel and the team were frozen in place, out of sight of the armed man. They must have heard the commotion...

He seemed to notice I was a little more than tense, so he holstered his weapon on his back as what I could assume was a gesture of good faith. He must be a younger man, anyone with experience wouldn't have took his gun off me, let alone holster it. Lucky me, I ran into the rookie who is far too trusting.

"Hey! Chill, We're good people, I didn't mean to scare you. My scouting party and I just saw that transport fly over us and towards your position. It didn't attack us, so we assumed it had a different target in mind. Figured we would come over to take it out before it could complete it's mission and get back to us. We're ambushing it soon, so if you want to join in we wouldn't mind the extra guns!"

Well, he seems friendly enough, unfortunately... Sorry you were the one who ran into us buddy, can't take any chance that you or the rest of you party will be as understanding as I am with my current company.

Taking advantage of his complete lack of concern, I was quick to draw Lisa on him, barrel directly to his forehead and pulling back the hammer.

"WHOA! WHOA!! HEY!!! Hold on a second! There's no need for that! We're good people! I swear!!!" The man yelled, caught completely by surprise.

"Shut the fuck up, lay down, face forward, spread eagle!!!! NOW!!!" I shouted at the man.

"ALRIGHT!!! ALRIGHT!!! Shit! You got me! Don't shoot! FUCK!" The man said, panicking and assuming the position.

As soon as he hit the floor, I was quick to disarm him, taking his hunting rifle and holstering it on my back. Keeping my revolver at the back of the man's skull, I signaled the team and Anabel to come back from over the hill. They were quick to come over and hide behind the slope from the building. The man, who's face was thankfully facing the opposite direction of our alien friends, was still trying to reason with me.

"Look man, you really don't want to do this. If you kill me they are going to hunt you down, and I swear you won't survive it! Please! Let's just chalk this up to a misunderstanding, Yeah!? I mean, come on man! I'm not your enem-" He tried reasoning with me.

"Shut up! The only thing I want to hear come out of your mouth next is where the rest of your team is! Are they anywhere nearby!? Answer quickly or they'll be quick to find your corpse when this bullet rips through your head!" I demanded.

"NONONONO, HEY!!! Come on! We aren't out here to hurt anyone! We're here to help you dense motherfucker!" The man said, clearly not enjoying our conversation.

"Where is the rest of your group!? I'm not going to ask you again! Where the fuck are they!?" I demanded once again, forcing the barrel harder against his head.

Suddenly, the man went silent, as if to think for a moment or to calm himself, he was practically hyperventilating at this point. He was making vain attempts to control his breathing. I was about to snap at him again, but the man spoke up before I had the chance.

"T-they're on the other side. They sent me here to snipe any faceless who fled back here. If you let me go, we can still-" The man started to say.

"Shut up, keep your face in the snow and don't move a muscle!" I ordered.

The man promptly shut his mouth, deciding that following my orders was the best course of action at this point. He was very much correct. Removing the barrel of the gun from his head, I stood back up and backed off a ways, keeping Lisa trained on him.

Taking a brief glance over to the aliens and Anabel, I noticed that pretty much all of them look scared. Anabel looked more concerned than scared, but that was besides the point. Of what they were sacred of I wasn't quite certain. Of me? Of the sudden appearance of the man? Or just this fucked up situation in general. All I knew at this point was that none of them were making any effort to do anything to prepare to get the fuck out of here. I needed to get their ass in gear and prepare to run, and none of that was possible if they stood there like statues.

"What the fuck are you all waiting for!? Run! That way! I'll catch up to you!" I shouted at them, pointing a random direction away from the current danger.

This seemed to snap them all out of their panic, and they began to run in the direction I pointed them in. Anabel hesitated for a moment, probably not liking the idea of escaping with who she still perceived to be the enemy, but a stern glare from myself got her to move. With my allies escaping, it left me to do what I needed to do.

"Now, listen carefully, you are going to stay perfectly still. When your team finds you and asks you what happen, you're not going to say anything about this. You didn't see us, we don't exist, you don't look for us. If you value any of the lives of your team, you will make sure that you just forget about us. Leave us be, and we'll leave you be, got it?" I said to my current prisoner.

"Yeah! Yeah, man, I got you! Whatever you say!" The man agreed immediately.

Unlikely, he will probably tell the rest of this team the moment I let him go. But still, there was hoping, and not much other choice. If I killed him, they would definitely come after us; assuming they survived the encounter with the transport. If I left him here alive, there was a chance that they would decide it's not worth pursuing us. The was the little chance I was hoping for here.

Still, either way, I'd like a head start. Unfortunately for this guy, that did not involve him being conscious.

"Alright, time to go nite-nite." I said as I flipped my revolver to pistol whip him.

"Wait, wha- NO!" The man just barely shouted as I raised my revolver.

*BANG* *BANG*

Before I could complete the deed. I felt two shots nail me directly in my right side, the pain and force causing me to stumble and loose my grip on Lisa; which fell somewhere behind me. I all but barely managed to avoid falling to the ground. Looking to my left, I immediately saw the shooter responsible. Another human, with a pistol trained right on me.

Well, guess he wasn't entirely alone.

Within the split few seconds I possibly had to live, I raced to figure out how I should react. I still had a gun, but it was on my back, and this guy had me dead to rights. If I tried anything, they would likely kill me for sure. Then again, if I just surrendered here and now, would they kill me anyways? Did they see my company? Did they already decide to kill me; for one reason or the other? Which chance do I take? Fuck me, I don't even know if I'm not already dead from the two bullets in my side, and these were just my fleeting moments.

It seemed that no matter the choice I made, I was fucked either way. So, I decided I was simply tired of this shit. Why put in the effort for reaching my gun? Just let things work out as they will. One thing was for sure at this point, I've been had.

Clutching my wounds, I raised my free hand and began backing away, one misstep later I fell flat on my back. I didn't bother to get back up, I just sat up slightly, hand still raised in hope that my passive gesture would not reward me with a finishing bullet to the skull.

To my luck, they decided not to finished me off; yet. The man I held captive was still on the ground, seemingly frozen from shock for a few moments before the situation caught right back up with him. He quickly got up, found Lisa a few feet behind him. He proceeded to grab it and quickly approach me. I could only assume what he was going to do with it.

I closed my eyes, preparing for a sudden end by my own weapon. The last thing I could hear was the start of a gun fight before I felt Lisa connect with my skull.

"Well, that was unnecessary Daniel. I got him good, you might have fucking killed him. You sure you should of hit him so hard?" Jen said, giving Daniel a concerned look. He hit that guy with the revolver so hard that he might have gave him brain damage.

Daniel didn't seem to care for that. All he seemed really concerned with was trying to grab his bolt action rifle off the back of the unconscious, but likely dead man. He managed to get it loose, along with another weapon. AK-47 as far as Jen could tell.

"Well that motherfucker just tried to kill me. I think we're even in that regard. Thanks by the way, for showing up a minute late! Some fucking back up you are..." Daniel replied, getting up.

Jen shook her head at Daniel's antics. This has been the fifth time in a week that she's had to save Daniel's dumb ass. First a gobber, second a mutant wolf, third a trap house, forth another trap house, and now this. She'd think that this dense motherfucker would have some better words of gratitude to say. She just might let his dumb ass die next time. If only she could...

"You know, if your mother wasn't our team leader, I'd let him shoot you." Jen replied, starting to approach Daniel.

"That's what you say every time... Here, use this, we need to start covering the back. The assault has already begun without us." Daniel said, throwing her the AK-47 and readying his own weapon.

Jen caught the weapon, holstering her own. Quickly, she checked the gun for ammo; the clip was about a fifth empty. It would do for the moment. This would be over soon enough. She quickly joined with her partner at the top of the slope, and took aim at the building, ready to kill retreating faceless.

Gunfire continued to escalate, the soft piffs of Alien plasma and compression rifle fire being overwhelmed by the sheer punctuation of gunpowder bullets. It almost gave the illusion that humanity had the superior firepower; Jen only wished that were true. She knew on the inside that by the end of this her squad will become just that much smaller. In her mind, she wondered who would make it through this fight. How many more of her friends were going to die today, and if they would have enough numbers for the next fight.

The answer was uncertain for sure, yet, she wasn't really scared. Most aren't, because the whole point of this fight was to give the aliens hell. It wasn't to win, because they were not going to win. Jen, and most others, have accepted that fact. If she were to die today or tomorrow didn't bother her. She was going to live life in the moment, and die knowing she didn't just lay down and accepted her fate. She was going to die fighting, and she was happy for that last bit of freedom from her inevitable fate.

A sudden explosion rang out from behind the building. Jen knew that they had just successfully destroyed the transport. They were winning, now it was time to do their part, take out the retreating forces.

The first one made it's appearance directly from the back exit. It was a cloaking variant, it's armor was trying to camouflage to the snow as it exited. The humanoid quickly spotted them and raised it's rifle to fire with lighting quick reactions; such are the faceless.

*BANG*

Unfortunately for it, Daniel was already on it. The round from his rifle hit center mass, penetrating the cloaker's thin armor and putting it down immediately. It didn't get the chance to fall to it's knees before it disintegrated.

As Daniel loaded another bullet into the chamber, another came storming out of the exit. This one was a soldier variant, equipped with heavy armor that was difficult to get through. Thankfully, the armor never could hold it's endurance against constant fire. So, as such, as the soldier tried to raise it's weapon...

*BANG* *BANG* *BANG* *BANG* *BANG*

*BANG*

Jen fired five rounds at the soldier. The first three rounds hit directly, two glanced off. This staggered the soldier, and weakened its armor significantly, allowing Daniel to pull of a kill shot, once again center mass.

Once again, as Daniel locked another bullet in, two more faceless charged out at once. Both soldiers, and both were ready for Jen and Daniel at the top of the slope; firing at them immediately.

Both ducked to be narrowly missed by plasma fire and quickly scattered to re-position. When faceless were locked onto you, it was near impossible to continue fighting from the same cover without getting your head blown off. Faceless were deadly accurate if you gave them the chance.

Jen made her way further left while Daniel made his way right. Jen, when she felt she had gone far enough picked up some snow, made a snowball and tossed it far to her right. Her hope was that the noise from the snowball would prevent the faceless from accurately predicting her movement. As soon as the snowball hit the ground, she quickly took aim over the edge.

Her gamble paid off the faceless trying to predict her movement was thrown off by the noise, allowing her to take aim. The faceless quickly noticed it's error and tried to quickly correct it's aim, but it was too late.

*BANG* *BANG* *BANG* *BANG*

All bullets hit its intended target. Three scoring directly center mass while the final one pierced through entirely. The last faceless noticed the fall of it's ally and was quick to aim for Jen's position.

*BANG*

Before it could fire, it was struck in the back of the neck by Daniel's bullet. It disintegrated instantly.

At that point there was a sudden silence, nothing but the wind and rustling fire from beyond the building could be heard. Jen didn't let her guard down though. For all she knew, there was one more waiting to spring out. So, she waited.

...And waited.

...and... waited.

Soon enough, Jen heard a voice in the distance, saying the best thing she was likely to hear all day.

"All clear people! We just wiped them the fuck out!" Someone yelled.

With this Jen let out a massive sigh of relief. They had survived yet another fight. Who exactly survived this fight was another question entirely, but at the moment, all she cared about was the fact the team would live to fight another day.

"And that is what I'm FUCKING talking about! Fuck yes! WOOOOOO!" Jen heard Daniel cheering in the distance.

Shaking her head, she began to make her way back around to meet with her charge. She had to make sure he didn't accidentally shoot himself or something. Of course, there was also the matter of the stranger. She was curious if he was still alive after that club to the head.

Soon enough, she saw Daniel in the distance. Apparently he had the same idea, as he was currently checking the man's vitals, making sure he was still breathing and such.

"So, how is he?" Jen asked curiously.

Daniel shook his head, with a shrug. Apparently he didn't quite know.

"He's still breathing, but I don't know if that means anything... I hit him way too hard... Fuck man, why the fuck did you have to attack me. What were you so fucking afraid of... had my weapon down and everything... We could have helped you..." Daniel said with a sigh, seeming a bit down. Jen assumed he was feeling a bit guilty.

Finally reaching him, Jen put her hand on Daniels shoulder, in a way to sort of trying to comfort him. He may be a dumb motherfucker who gratitude was practically non existent, that didn't mean she didn't care for him at least a little bit. This would be his first human kill, Jen knew that would take a toll on him no matter who it was, but she was going to at least try to make him feel better about it.

"Hey, no need to shed tears for this bastard, he got what was coming to him. Motherfucker tried to kill you, remember." Jen reminded him.

This didn't seem to make him feel any better. Daniel Just shook his head again, continuing to sigh. Apparently he didn't actually think that was the case.

"I'm not so sure... I don't think he was going to kill me, I might have exaggerated there. I think he was just going to knock me out. The last thing he told me was to forget about him, right after he told who he was with to run. I have a feeling he was just trying to protect his group, that none of them were armed, and that he was their only protection." Daniel replied.

The fact that the stranger wasn't alone was news to Jen, it almost made her a little paranoid. Of course, Jen reassured herself if there was anyone who was going to kill them, they'd already do it. Still, Jen was skeptical of Daniels theory. Who in their right mind would travel in a group with only one guy with a gun. Didn't make much sense.

"What makes you say that?" Jen asked.

"The fact there was no one watching his back. No one left to shoot you." Daniel replied.

"Good point..." Jen replied back, seeing his point.

Of course, in Jen's mind, that didn't rule out the theory that the rest of his group were unarmed. Maybe they just didn't like him... But Jen decided to keep this theory to herself. She know about as much about this as Daniel did.

Given all this new information, Jen began to think. The possibility of a group out there that wasn't particularly friendly was dangerous, it was something that she was going to have to bring up to Alisa when she got the opportunity. Still, if what Daniel said is true, they might not be as dangerous as the stranger had already demonstrated himself to be. It a possibility if they could find this group, they could replenish their numbers, making it all them more likely they'll survive the next encounter.

Maybe, just maybe they'll be able to last till New York...

Still first thing was first. They needed to see if this guy could be saved, then they'll determine from there whether this group were possible recruits or something to be put down. The sooner the better, Jen didn't like the idea of sleep when there were possible enemies nearby.

"Well, if there's anyone out there, I'm sure Alisa will make it our priority to find them. For the moment, let's see if we can save this dumb bastard. Help me drag him, and we'll see if the doc is still alive." Jen suggested

Yeah... Let's do that." Daniel agreed.

With that, Jen and Daniel grabbed an arm each and proceeded to drag him towards the rest of the group. Along the way, Jen reflected on how the day has gone so far, and how much worse it was going to get. In the end, she decided that it didn't matter, even if today was bad, tomorrow was surely going to be worse. So, all in all...

"Just another day in this shit hole." Jen said to no one in particular.

Author's Notes:

So, I might be back?

Maybe, possibly?

Probably not...

BUT HEY!!! New chapter! That's good right!?

Right?

Jokes aside, this chapter was going to be longer. However, I figure it's been awhile, might as well post something. Does this mean I'm back? Probably, but the updates are going to be about as random as before. You might see me update the next day, the next month, or couple of months. It really depends on when I have time to write. I have a 40+ hour a week job now, so we'll see.

Anyhow, I hope you guys enjoy the chapter. Hopefully it won't be forever till the next.