Shepherd is now in control of the situation. Or so he thinks.
It appears Shepherd has no idea I'm here and probably doesn't know that Ghost is posted atop another tower across the way with his sniper scope pointed directly into the server room.
"Ghost, do you have eyes on Shepherd?" I whisper into the comms.
"Affirmative."
Then Soap has back-up from Ghost and me.
Following Shepherd's direct orders, Soap puts down his weapons and raises his hands.
"I'm empty," Soap calls out to Shepherd.
"Good." Shepherd pauses. "Now don't do anything stupid. Come in, slowly, with your arms up unless you want me to put a bullet between your eyes."
"I'm coming in." Soap pushes the door open with his foot and cautiously enters the server room.
"Damn fools. All of you. Do you truly believe you can win? That you can stop all of Shadow team? Don't be delusional," Shepherd scoffs.
Soap lets out a soft chuckle, "I managed to take out all of your lap dogs and make my way to you, didn't I?"
"And now you're here, unarmed, and looking death right in the face," Shepherd growls, annoyed with Soap's nonchalant attitude. "I know you're not alone. Where are the others?"
"Laswell and Price are locating the missile." Soap pauses. "Gaz and Ghost are clearing the bottom floors. It's just you and me in here now."
Please, please buy it.
"That's your mistake: thinking you're good enough to take me out on your own," Shepherd scoffs, his tone malicious.
"Call off your Shadows," Soap says sternly.
"You know, I don't think I will." Shepherd points his gun directly at Soap.
"Here's what's going to happen, boy. No one can know about my or the Shadow Team's connection to the missiles. So you and all the Neanderthals at the Task Force are going to have to disappear."
From where I'm hiding I can see the sinister smile on Shepherd's face.
It's the smile of a man who thinks he's won.
"That's your plan then, yeah? Kill all of the Task Force? Ha, you think your crimes will disappear that easily?" Soap shakes his head, then smirks cockily. "No matter how many Shadows you send or how many of us you kill your dirty laundry will be aired out."
"Guess we'll have to wait and see about that. But for now, I can start with you." Shepherd cocks the lever on his gun.
Soap clenches his jaw.
Shit, what do I do? Do I move in now? Do I wait for Ghost?
In a crouched position, I slowly move my way up to the door of the server room without being noticed.
"Any last words, Sergeant?" Shepherd asks arrogantly, puffing his chest.
"Yes, actually..." he pauses. "See you in Hell." Soap smiles cheekily and calls out to me, "Now, Breanna!"
A warm rush flows through my body, blood pumping, adrenaline spiking. I jolt up from my crouched position and focus my aim on Shepherd, but he's fast. Too fast.
CRACK!
Shepherd shoots Soap.
"Soap!" I scream.
I'm immediately hit with a gut-wrenching feeling and a lump in my throat.
But I cannot let that overcome me now. I cannot let 141 down. I cannot let Soap down.
As I get ready to pull the trigger the sound of glass breaking fills the room.
THUD.
Blood splatters.
W-what...
"Target neutralized," Ghost deadpans over the comms.
Blink. Blink.
Everything's happening too fast. I'm frozen in place until I hear Ghost yell over the comms, "Get your fucking ass over to MacTavish now!"
Shit. My natural reaction to freeze during a fight or flight is going to get me killed.
Or someone else.
"S-Soap!" I run over to him as he lies on the ground.
Shepherd shot him in the chest.
"S-Soap! Hey!" I try and shake him, panicked.
He's out cold.
"Fuck! Soap!" I shake him harder.
He's not waking up.
Take a deep breath, Breanna. You can't help him if you waste too much time worrying.
I start providing life support.
"I-I'm going to start CPR. G-Gaz, send a medic up here now!" I stammer through the comms, trying my best to keep a level head.
"Headed to you now, Sergeant," Gaz replies.
I grab Soap's chin, place my lips around his, and blow air in.
Next is chest compressions.
Nothing. He's still out.
No...please wake up.
"What is Soap's condition, Roberts?" Price asks, trying to stay calm but I can hear the fear in his tone.
"He's still out. I'm going to provide mouth-to-mouth again," I reply.
I plant my lips on his and blow again.
Back to chest compressions.
CRACK.
The sound of one of Soap's ribs breaking comes through.
I go back to mouth-to-mouth.
Mid blow Soap's body jolts and he begins coughing.
It's hard to describe the relief I feel right now. It's similar to when you watch a jump scare in a movie, but once you realize you're safe—that it was fake, you can calm back down.
"Oh, Soap." I lean down and hug him tightly.
"A-ah, Breanna-" Soap winces.
"Right! Sorry..." I tear up and my voice cracks. "I-I thought we lost you."
Soap chuckles softly, "It'll take more than that to kill me, darlin'."
I'm glad he's still in good spirits.
"Everyone, Soap's alright!" I relay over the comms, relief, and joy lacing my tone.
Everyone rejoices over the comms.
Soap is staring up at me as I put pressure on his wound.
"What is it?" I ask.
"Nothin'. Just looking at my guardian angel. You have my gratitude," he winks.
I immediately blush bright red. "I-I just did the basics. Nothing spe-"
Ghost's voice comes in over the comms and cuts me off mid-stammer.
"Done flirting, Johnny?" Ghost huffs. "Stop milking your injuries."
I forgot that Ghost can see us through his scope, which means he saw me give Soap CPR: a life-saving kiss.
If the team didn't already know something was going on between Ghost and me, they sure do now.
Ghost's jealousy reeks but I kinda like that...
My blush deepens.
"Ghost. Stop," I admonish, totally embarrassed.
"Alright, alright," Soap laughs. "I'm alright."
Footsteps approach us and I jerk my head back to see who's coming.
Gaz and the medic.
"Gaz," I say relieved.
The medic makes his way over to Soap to tend to his gunshot wound.
"Nice work, Sergeant." Gaz nods at me.
"Thank you." I nod back. "You too."
We stand silently and watch the medic work on Soap. After a few moments, a thought pops into my head: the missile.
"Did we locate the last missile?" I ask over the comms, holding my breath.