"Hold on& I am getting a video call from Brian." Jez said as the tension had built in the air between us after his last comment. "What`s up?" Jez looked away but then took a quick glance over towards me, "Yeah he`s alright. He`s not as good as new, and he is still ugly as fuck, but he is ready to be back in the fight." I saw Jez give me a nod and then saw an incoming call from Brian appear in my HUD.

　　"B2, how are you feeling?" Brian asked as soon as his face popped into view. There was an additional box off to the right side of his. A photo of Jez`s face was displayed in the other box to indicate we were in a three-way conversation.

　　"I`m good. Just relaxing in the morning sun." I replied.

　　Brian didn`t hesitate once I confirmed my status with him. "Good, because you both need to get back into the field. We have a situation that must be addressed immediately, and you have the full authority from the exec board to do whatever means necessary to accomplish your mission."

　　The tone in Brian`s voice was firm and unwavering. He was dead serious as both Jez and I looked at each other. Jez had a face which gave me the impression he was in deep thought, he brought his arms up and crossed them as he tilted his head down to focus on what Brian said next.

　　"James, and Angie are dead. Ryan is in a medical pod now being patched up. It was a hit carried out by ANVIL, and after some digging, we discovered it was paid for by The Erothka Syndicate."

　　"Is there any specific significance to this Syndicate?" I asked.

　　Bryan`s vape cloud covered the camera temporarily while he replied. "The Erothka Syndicate was who Proporchek in Phoenix was associated with." Brian`s face came back into full view now as he continued. "The hit on Proporchek was the first time we`ve targeted them. It is interesting how ANVIL has also done a hit on the Erothka Syndicate in the past as well. Yet, here they are in bed with them. The piece of the puzzle we are really looking for now is how they got the specific information on our agents."

　　"What do you need us to do?" Jez asked.

　　"LDS, we have a vehicle on its way to your location. You`re going to fly out of Vegas and get to Spokane. We`ll take you to a safehouse where you can reload and kit up with whatever you`ll want to utilize. The individuals who took out James and Angie are currently making their way north on Interstate 15 out of Salt Lake City. The information we have is telling us that they intend to get onto Interstate 84 and head towards Boise with a final destination of Seattle." Brian paused as he looked down and away from the computer camera he had been communicating through and began typing on his digital device. He quickly returned to the video, "LDS, they will not get to Seattle. Nate will get in touch with you soon and will start getting you all lined up with the latest information as it comes in."

　　"Sounds good." Jez replied.

　　"B2& another two targets have started west on Interstate 80 leading out of Salt Lake City. There is a chance they may head south once they reach West Wendover, which would take them into Vegas, or they could continue on the 80 and make it to Reno, NV. Not much is known about these two individuals, nor do we know how much involvement they had directly in our three agents assassinations and the attempt on Ryan. Terra is working towards getting as much information as possible for you. However, the board has already confirmed you are to take all means necessary. You`ll take the MOV north on the Highway 95 and we`ll keep you posted if they`re route changes along the way."

　　"Got it." I replied.

　　Brian`s face paused as he looked at the camera for a brief moment. "B2& you good?"

　　"Ohh&I`m fucking good."

　　{&} | [:::]

　　"Be advised, targets have received a text stating they need to take exit 19 and meet up at the TA Travel Center." Terra texted me. She then sent me the pin coordination for the target. A small travel center right where Byway 659 ran along the exterior rim of Reno, Nevada.

　　"How long until they reach the destination?" I messaged back to her.

　　"Looks like approx. 21 mins."

　　I was standing just outside the Scalpel SUV in a retail store parking lot 6.2 miles south of the location my targets were headed towards. The MOV had parked itself in the parking lot and Terra had coordinated getting a less noticeable vehicle to my location. I had already refitted a new armament kit and was fully loaded with the same configuration I had when I was in Mexico.

　　I threw my armor on and secured it to my body, the magazine drive system twitched as the power connected to it and I confirmed the battery was fully charged. I jumped into the back of the automated vehicle and looked at my map display. The drive time to the Travel Center location was approximated to 14 minutes.

　　"Let`s go" I text Terra.

　　The vehicle initiated itself and then began to pull away from the MOV as it auto piloted itself onto the byway. Neurochip, Play "Narcissistic Cannibal and Get Up!" by Korn on repeat . I was hardly even paying attention to the landscape around me. I could feel my jaw starting to become sore as I had been grinding my teeth together sense the moment the MOV took me north out of Las Vegas. I was restless and could hardly sit still inside the vehicle the entire way. The time spent waiting to inflict my vengeance was the worst torture treatment anyone could have given me.

　　Brian had tried to check in on me throughout the trip, but I discarded his incoming call. He later text me and said, "You have everything you need? What`s your plan?"

　　I figured the answer was easy enough, but still sent my reply. "Kill them all."

　　[^] | [:::]

　　As I sat in the seat, I noticed the achievement icon in the top right corner of my view. I quickly clicked on it. The icons and achievements started to stack one on top of the other. All the items the Neurochip had progressed within me from my Mexico mission that were just waiting for me to address.

　　|||MISSION ACCOMPLISHED^|||

　　\SKILL ACHIEVED: COMMUNICATIONS - LEVEL 2/

　　\SKILL ACHIEVED: CITY MOVEMENT - LEVEL 2/

　　\SKILL ACHIEVED: SURVIVAL - LEVEL 2/

　　\SKILL ACHIEVED: CONCEALMENT - LEVEL 2/

　　>>CLOAKED ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED: HERE COMES THE BOOM - LEVEL 2<<

　　>>CLOAKED ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED: HAMMER TIME - LEVEL 2<<

　　>>CLOAKED ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED: 9 LIVES - LEVEL 2<<

　　>>CLOAKED ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED: SAVED BY AN ANGEL - LEVEL 2<<

　　I quickly glanced over them, but honestly didn`t pay any real attention to them. All they truly served within that moment was a distraction from the task at hand. My mind quickly dismissed them, and I decided I would deal with them later.

　　There was no other information on who the individuals were that I was tracking down. All Terra and her analysts had was digital fingerprints of them being at the location when our two field agents were murdered. They apparently took off with the assumption that Ryan was also dead. We were sure they wouldn`t have just left him lying there holding onto a final thread of life.

　　Terra and the other analyst tapped into traffic camera`s while our targets fled the area. She knew that the two targets were driving a white luxury sports SUV. A small vehicle which looked like it was a cross over with a sports car. The windows were slightly tinted, but we discovered upon their stop in Elko that it contained at least two male individuals. One wearing a black zip up hoodie, the other one with a dark jacket. Both individuals wore sunglasses and had scruffy black facial hair.

　　Terra nor I could determine what weapons they may or may not have on them. I didn`t give a fuck, I was given a green light to execute and that was what I was going to fucking do.

　　"2 minutes out" Terra messaged me.

　　I noticed the large Travel Center sign poke up over Interstate 80. My route of travel was just about to drive underneath the interstate. I would arrive on the other side with the travel center directly to my right once we passed the off ramp intersection.

　　"This is a really public area B2. You sure you don`t want to intercept them on a more isolated area on the Interstate?"

　　"I am doing it here." I replied.

　　"What about the potential for collateral damages?"

　　"That`s Scalpel`s problem."

　　There was a slight pause in our communications as my SUV pulled into the parking lot of the travel center. The vehicle led me into a parking spot directly next to the gas pumps and the mini mart entrance. I started to scan the area and was about to send Terra an update when she messaged me first.

　　"Your two targets just received a text saying, we`ve arrived` no idea who that is referring to or how many."

　　"Got it."

　　I had made a small variation to my ammunition load out today. I had swapped out two magazines of Armor Piercing instead of the FMJ ammo I had previously carried for my M1A carbine. My rifle was laying next to me on the seat. The windows of the SUV were fully tinted, so I wasn`t worried about anybody looking into the vehicle and seeing me waiting.

　　Though Terra was doing her job of giving me the most up to date information with what I could expect going into the situation, I honestly didn`t give a fuck. I didn`t care how many there were, I didn`t care who they were, or what they had. The only thing I cared about was that in less than a few minutes, they would all be dead.

　　"Your two targets just replied to the message saying, we`re getting off the Interstate now`, they`re contact said to proceed over towards the Burger Universe."

　　I looked at the storefront of the gas station. The far-left side had a sign with lettering plastered across the top which read, "Universe`s Greatest Hamburgers." I turned my head and looked at my rifle lying next to me on the seat. My right hand grabbed hold of the rifle and I did one final check to ensure we were ready. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

　　Though I still had my ammunition display in my HUD, the old habits die hard. I felt my right-hand wrap around the pistol grip of my rifle. I could feel my breath get heavy, my body was tense as my blood surged with intensity. My soul thirsted for the sight of death and carnage. I could feel a dark spirit awaken within me that eagerly wanted to be released from the confines of the vehicle, and instead of trying to suppress it& I welcomed it.

　　I watched as a white luxury sports SUV pulled into the parking lot and slowly drove behind my vehicle. I twisted my head back and watched it pass by. I turned back around and grabbed hold of the door handle in my left hand and opened it. I pulled a black pair of sunglasses down from where they had rested on top of my head and covered my eyes. I had found them inside the MOV on the drive up to Reno. I didn`t want to have another Mexico fiasco and get shit lodged up and into my eyes again.

　　I weaved in between multiple vehicles as I cut across the parking lot. My gaze was fixated on the white suv and I watched it pull into its` parking spot. It was in a row of parked cars one aisle across from the row that was directly across from the restaurant. The two males were still sitting in their seats and looked to be stowing some items away by the time I had walked down the center of the parking aisle. Both of the men were messaging on their phones and didn`t pay any attention to me until they heard the woman scream from behind me.

　　They both looked up at the same time and peered out the front darkened windshield of the SUV. I stood there directly in front of them. They both sat there in their seats, stunned for a half second. It was within that moment that life felt frozen in time. Their eyes began to widen behind their name branded sunglasses. The passenger`s mouth gaped open in shock and looked like he wanted to plead to me not to open fire.

　　My muzzle was already on its way up with the butt nuzzled nice and firm into the crux of my shoulder. The driver had dropped his cell phone and was trying to scramble for what I believed was his weapon. I watched his hands start to bring the pistol up and into view from behind the dashboard.

　　It was too late for him though. For my red dot was directly centered on him. I didn`t hear the rifle roar to life as I squeezed the trigger with hatred. I only saw the round rip through the windshield with ease. The glass splintered and spiderwebbed as the first round punched through him, the driver seat, the back passenger seat, and exited the vehicle.

　　The next few rounds I blasted into the driver continued to create a gushing torrent of blood splatter within the cab of the vehicle. Every new round which entered him sent spirts shooting out the other holes I had already created within his carcass. The windows now glistening their new red hue as blood began to run down in streaks.

　　The passenger was able to open his door, but my first round grazed across his back. A small puncture tore through his sweatshirt and sent him onto the pavement. His face planted onto the blacktop as his sunglasses fell halfway off his face and were distorted under the weight of the contorted mass of his body. His mouth was partially opened on the ground, and I saw the tears start to flow out of his eyes as he lay there. We locked eyes and I watched a slight twitch come over his body. His throat and mouth partially flared as it looked as if his body fought to cling onto life for a little bit longer. I unloaded the rest of the magazine and savored the sensation of the recoil, the joy of the thump that arrived within my shoulder.

　　I could feel the devilish smile appear on my face as the demonic voice within my mind cheered my efforts on towards vengeance. I mentally instructed my drive belt and it brought a FMJ magazine around to the front. A quick reload and my ears listened to the metal clang from my rifle as my bolt slammed forward.

　　My attention went back to the SUV and I double checked it for any additional targets. The entire ordeal was all done in less than a few seconds. I lowered my rifle once I saw the remainder of the vehicle was empty. As my body slowly turned around, I then began to realize I had entered a state of tunnel vision. My senses began to return to their normal state. The woman`s screams were now fading away in the distance, but the distinct snapping sound of incoming gun fire erupted directly behind me.

　　The windows of parked cars directly near me began to shatter and launched their glass particles all around me. The immediate pelting of metal intensified as I continued my full rotation around and found the source of the incoming fire. Target 3 had a dark blue long-sleeved shirt and jogging pants. He was peaking out from another SUV as he stood at the end of the parking lot. He was at the furthest portion of the parking spaces and away from the restaurant. My legs kicked into gear as I instantly sprinted forward. I ducked into the row of vehicles in the aisle adjacent to the restaurant. The parked vehicles in between us gave me a buffer from my new nemesis. The incoming fire continued to crack towards me and the rounds ricocheted off the black top and all throughout the area.

　　I ducked behind a truck and utilized it as cover as I lunged forward. My body passed the front hood and then turned left and moved towards the target`s location. I hastily walking down the back side of the parking lot. My rifle muzzle was up as I continued to work to flank the rear side of my new target. I was halfway down the aisle when I saw Target 4 appear off to my left, directly in-between a white pickup truck and a blue sedan. He had a silver pistol pointed straight at me and started to fire.

　　I adjusted my muzzle to engage him. His first two shots cracked past me, off to my right side. His third round hit dead center on my armor plating. I was unaffected as the round hit, not even feeling the impact, only hearing the firm audible knock from the protective plating taking the round.

　　The only thing my body felt was the recoil of my rifle. I watched the four rounds tear into his face and upper torso. His left ear was blown clean off and spun in the air a few times from the round`s velocity. The white pick up truck received a partial paint job as his blood sprayed across the truck`s side.

　　Target 3 heard me engage his counterpart and immediately poked around the back side of a white van. His MP7 clutched tightly against his side started to erupt and sputtered to life. The rounds slammed into my right leg and danced up and off to the side. The mother fucker lost all control of his aim from the recoil the weapon was producing. My rifle rounds, however, ripped into him as his stomach and chest were turned into Swiss cheese instantly. His body dropped to the ground and his weapon slapped upon the pavement.

　　I spun around and began to get myself into a slight jog to head back towards my vehicle when I heard tires screech behind me. A vehicle engine roared from the accelerator being slammed down. The shocks and struts of another luxury sports SUV swayed to life as it came into the parking lot. The vehicle ran over Target 3`s body in the process as it lay lifeless on the pavement.

　　I had made it only five feet back towards the restaurant when two new targets popped out of the driver and passenger side of the SUV. The driver pulled a black pistol out and rested his arms in between the front driver A-pillar and the frame of the driver door. Target 5 used the vehicle as a brace and we both started to exchange rounds.

　　My shots missed just slightly over top of the Target 5`s head, but then ducted back in between the pickup truck I had already used once for cover. I prepared myself to surge back around the front hood of the truck. My efforts were then prevented, as rounds cracked over my head and all across the front area I was just about to enter. The distinct sound of shattered glass rang out and I could hear terrified screams of others mixed with it. I was now taking fire from both sides. The left side came from the Target`s 5 and 6 at the SUV. The right side now coming from what appeared to be the restaurant itself.

　　My ammo belt rotated around as I decided to utilize my toys. I was about to turn someone`s lunch into a happy Bloodbath meal. I grabbed my first frag grenade, pulled the pin and launched it up and down the parking lot towards the SUV. In rapid succession I grabbed one of my stun grenades and pulled the pin. I leaned back and was able to get a glimpse through the shattered windows of the vehicle. The truck kept me slightly concealed from the gunfire that I narrowed down to the far-left corner of the burger shop.

　　I planted my right leg and chucked the stun grenade through the shattered window of the diner better than a Justin Herbert touchdown pass. In perfect timing the frag grenade erupted while the stun grenade released its` concussive blast. Vehicle alarms were now blaring out through the area. Screams and cries of others were still echoing as people tried their best to hunker down in the chaos of war.

　　I dropped my rifle and swung it behind me as I drew my pistol and sprinted around the backside of the pickup truck. I peeled to my left and headed straight into the restaurant. My body bolted to my left as soon as I did. Target`s 7, 8, and 9 were standing up in the back corner of the room, with Target 10 still seated in the booth they had been at. I squeezed back on my trigger and moved in a fluid motion from right to left.

　　I had chosen to start my pistol with a hollow point magazine. My eyes joyfully watching as each of the fat fuckers were slowly sprayed upon the back wall. The hollow points spread apart into the flowery hot led formation as they collapsed inside the bodies. They ripped out the back side of the targets and peppered the wall with red speckles of blood, pink pieces of muscle fibers and white fatty blubber which were now scattered like fucking pizza toppings.

　　My eyes stayed focused on the death buffet at the end of the room as I began to perform a quick reload. My hand slammed another hollow point magazine inside the well and watched the upper receiver punch forward. I started to weave my way back towards the front door of the restaurant to exit. But then saw two new targets begin to approach through the walkway which connected the truck stop mini mart to the restaurant.

　　Target 11 had started firing the initial exchange of gunfire as their pistol rounds snapped by my face, just off to the right. Target 12 was retrieving their weapon from behind their back as it appeared to be tucked in the waistline of their pants. I ducted back and behind the service counter passthrough of the classic dinner countertop.

　　Patrons remained huddled down and laid out upon the floor as best as they could. I leaned out to the right enough to peer around the corner of the counter. I raised my pistol out and started to unload rounds towards Target 11. He had taken cover behind the wall of the pass through. The more I fired and watched the rounds slam into the wall, the more I noticed they did not appear to be punching all the way through to the other side.

　　Target`s 11 and 12 started to return fire and I took a few rounds to my right side as I was still slightly exposed. My armor and dragonskin received the rounds and I was grateful to notice no discoloration appear in my health icon. The part that did hurt was when one of their rounds went high and just enough to the left that it shattered the coffee pot which had been sitting on the countertop just above me. The coffee splattering down and landing on the left half of my head, face, and neck.

　　The scolding hot liquid on my skin caused me to cry out over the sound of the gunfire. I reached and grabbed hold of a different magazine off my drive belt. I swapped out my ammo for FMJ rounds. I quickly stood up from my half-covered position and began throwing led directly towards the edge of the wall where Target 11 was.

　　My volley of FMJ rounds started to punch through the barrier and a cloud of dust began to loft around the passageway. Dry wall debris started to crumble, crack, and disintegrate from the impacts. Directly past Target 11 was an aisle of 2 liter bottles of soft drinks and bags of chips. A few of the rounds continued their path past the wall and sliced right through the snack containers. My rounds created a carbonated fountain display as if we were back in Vegas. I could actively hear one of them start coughing behind their covered position and I did another quick reload with a FMJ magazine.

　　Target 12 on the left side of the passthrough barrier, simply leaned his left arm around and began openly firing. He did not even aim, or look to see where I was. I`m not sure how many guests of the restaurant were hit by his blind gunfire, but I did my best to block out the pleads for mercy and bellowing cries of anguish which were becoming ever more present.

　　I was about to stand and reengage both targets when I took a quick glance behind me. An individual I categorized as hostile now approached the restaurant. It wasn`t the driver of the SUV who had gotten out and shot at me with his pistol. This fuck stick was caring an M4 rifle. I guessed off his appearance that he had been near my frag grenade when it detonated. He had two large tares ripped across his blue jeans and sweatshirt. A small portion of blood running down the side of his face with a bloody lip to match. I turned around with a quick twist and fired a few rounds in his direction. My shots caused him to duck and take cover from my incoming fire.

　　In a stupid move, which is never a good idea , I turned back towards the pass through of the restaurant and sprinted ahead as fast as I could. It was roughly 4 ft from the mouth of the break in the wall that I went into a baseball slide. I was grateful for the fresh, high polished floor, which aided me in sliding my fat ass across it. My momentum carried me the distance I needed.

　　My weapon was raised up at a 45-degree angle as I blew the nut sack literally off Target 11. He immediately dropped down to the floor. A quick twist around and onto my left side. My finger squeezed back on the trigger as I pelted Target 12`s brains onto the ceiling tiles above him. I smiled and felt good about forcing his family to have a closed casket funeral.

　　My feet kicked me into a quick spin. The slick surface of my back armor like a turtle shell rotating me around. My two knees slightly bent upwards as I punched my pistol out and started firing in between my legs. The fucker at the front of the restaurant had tried to pop back up and fire at me. My suppressive fire kept him down as I made my way back up to my feet. My ammunition display told me I was low, so I did a quick reload with another FMJ magazine.

　　I used the same wall that Target 11 had utilized for cover. My body now straddled over his corpse. I turned around and grabbed a 2 liter of soda which had survived my aggressive volley of fire from before. As I stood over Target 11, I noticed a slight movement from his body. I decided to gift him an up close round directly to the back of his neck. " Die you limp dick mother fucker ." I muttered.

　　I leaned closer to the edge of the wall and put my pistol in my left hand for a brief moment. My right hand was holding the neck of the soda bottle. A quick sidestep out from the safety of my cover. I heaved the bottle up and as far into the restaurant as I could. The bottle soared across the room at just the right trajectory I needed. My hands brought my pistol up. The red dot of my handgun drifted over the bottle as it began its downwards arc, and I fired a round off.

　　The bottle erupted in midair right as Target 13 began to rise up from his cover. His face now covered in the carbonated substance and his vision impaired just the way I had hoped. I had cut the distance in half by the time he recovered. The round ripped through his forehead and I was sure his eyes didn`t even registered what the flash from the muzzle truly was.

　　The area was a mixture of scattered glass, shattered ceramic coffee cups and brass casings. My feet sifted through it all as I made my way towards the front door. I walked through the door frame as the glass was now in ten thousand pieces at my feet. As soon as I began to crest around the pillar of the entry way, I was greeted by semi-automatic rifle fire.

　　My left side almost took multiple rounds. I reared backwards and was able to stay behind the cover of the bricks, just in time. I looked at the white pickup truck I had previously hidden behind. The reflection from the sole remaining back passenger window provided enough of an angle for me to see. A new SUV had arrived and was now parked between me and my getaway vehicle.

　　I quickly rotated my drive belt around to retrieve my second fragmentation grenade. I pulled the safety pin and let the spoon fling off. I counted for half a second and then sent it bouncing across the black top. The grenade took a slight rolling turn to the left, and towards rear of the hostile vehicle. The fragmentation that tore out from the grenades explosion caused the gas tank to rupture. A secondary blast erupted out soon after which blasted out the windows of the vehicle. The vehicle ignited and launched a massive fireball and billowing black smoke up and into the air. The gunfire which had been previously pointed towards me had now ended. I holstered my pistol and calmly turned the corner with my rifle in hand.

　　I made my way around the front side of the ingulfed family sized SUV. I took notice of the three individuals lying on the ground. All three were on the driver`s side of the vehicle, where they appeared to have taken cover. Two of the three were women that looked like they had just come from the gym. Their compressed leggings and tank tops now covered in scorched marks from the flames of the vehicle. They looked as if they were ready to take 300 social media photos inside the gym, rather than be in a gunfight. To each their own, I thought. I took notice as two of the three targets began to slowly regain their awareness of their situation. They struggled to work their way up and off the ground. I was happy to intervene and placed two 7.62 mm rounds inside each one as I walked past them.

　　I slowly wove my way through the rest of the parking lot. Sirens were in the background and began to home in on our location. I arrived back at the scalpel SUV and glanced behind me and over the area. It now looked like a fucking ghost town. My vehicle was already running and before I had the back passenger door closed it was in drive and rolled away from the trail of bodies.

　　I checked over my icons and noticed that I had come out with only a few knicks and scratches. My armor had done its` job in shielding me from the rounds I had taken. A message from Terra popped into my view as the SUV turned onto the byway to take me back to the MOV.

　　"You okay?." She asked.

　　To which I only replied, "Never better."

　　|||MISSION ACCOMPLISHED^|||