GUN's Requiem: Choir of Shadows

Part three! (Do-do-dee-doo!)

Umm... so... yeah... go read it!

---
The SFC and the Private were nearing the door, 25 meters and closing. They twisted around corners, the walls of wood seemed determined to block their escape. They finally rounded the last corner, and the heavy back door came into view. They were almost there!

BOOM!

The pair were thrown off their feet as the the crated wall exploded behind them in a flurry of splintered wood. Splinters flew through the air, connecting with their armor and nearly puncturing the material. Kain spun and looked behind him, it seemed the the project had missed... or at least, that's what he thought.

Then, he saw it, in the distance, a faint purple glow illuminated the dark warehouse. The creature was standing on a large stack of boxes, one that nearly reached the ceiling, giving him a grand vantage point. Kain couldn't make out the creature's features, the glow blinded his night vision, he couldn't look directly at it.

He was about to reach for his fallen rifle, when he was pulled to his feet by Davidson. "Sir! Let's move!" He yelled as he dragged his superior along, leaving their weapons behind. The two had made it to the door, and as they flung it open, they heard something approaching them fast, and they knew that it could possibly be the last sound they would ever hear.

Thee two barley made it out when the blast impacted, and they were once again sent flying. They were blown out of the building, and skidded across the ocean of concrete, their armor sparking as it ground against the hard cement. Private Davidson ached, and he was sure that he had injured something, but he sat up and spun around, gazing at what was left of the door... there wasn't much...

He looked over at Sergeant First Class Kain and heard him groan, "I'm getting to old for this..." He moaned as he stood up, trying to shake off the growing nausea.

Davidson stood and did the same, giving the SFC a few words of encouragement, "You're not old sir"

"Old enough" Kain replied as he regained his senses. His head was killing him, his body was sore as hell, and his visor was night vision was shorting out. He slapped his helmet, trying to work himself back up. He had to move, NOW!

"Kid, follow me, we're almost outta here" Kain said as he took off into a sprint, the LZ was on the other side of the building, that's were...

"SHIT!"

Kain activated his comm. and tuned into the one person who's help they need the most, "Pegasi! This is Sergeant First Class Kain! We need extraction, NOW!" He yelled, praying she got the message.

After a brief silence, he got a response, "I'm already on route, Locke signaled for me a few moments ago, ETA, 5 minutes!" The helicopter pilot replied.

Kain's blood ran cold, 5 minuets?! How in the hell were they supposed to last 5 minutes!?

"Understood, step on it, would ya? Kain out" Kain said as he shut off the link. He could see that the other two were still okay, their FOF tags still operational. Kain and Davidson rounded the back corner, and proceeded dashing to the front of the warehouse.

"Sir! How long until evac arrives?" Davidson asked, he hadn't heard the message, so he wasn't aware of the grim news.

"She says she'll be here in 5 minutes!" Kain replied.

"5 minutes?! How are we supposed to last 5 minutes!?" Davidson shouted, this line seeming very familer to Kain.

"That's exactly what I thought!" Kain shouted back.

"Kain, Locke here, we're in position, awaiting evac... no sign of the project" Locke's voice said over Kain's radio.

'Understood, seek cover, we'll link up momentarily, Kain out" Kain replied.

The two finally reached turned the corner and arrived at their original position when the mission began, he saw Locke and Higgens's FOF tags behind a large pile of crates. But, of course, as luck would have it, that's when his night vision went dead...

"Damnit" he cursed as his vision went dark, but he still had enough light to reach the others. Private Davidson and Sergeant First Class Kain met up with Sergeant Locke, and Corporal Higgens, the only ones left from this operation. The other two were hiding behind the boxes, Locke sitting against the wooden wall with Higgens crouched next to him.

Corporal Higgens stood from her crouched position and turned to the SFC, "Good to see you sir, it's been one hell of a night" She said, sighing afterwords.

Kain nodded and looked over at Locke. His vision was adjusting, and he could tell that he was hurt, "What happened to you Sergeant?" He asked.

Locke grunted his response, "Standin just a little to close to a blast zone, can't move my legs"

Kain sighed, that was just great... 4 deaths, one casualty, and a busted visor, the only thing that could make it worse would be-

"Sir! Movement!" Davidson whispered from his position. Kain silently cursed himself and went over to Davidson, who unbeknownst to Kain, had moved farther away from the group. He crouched down behind the shoulder high box that the Private was hiding behind. "Sir, I believe I saw movement from the warehouse, it looked like the thing was warping again"

Kain stood and looked for himself, but he saw nothing. But, he didn't expect to, in fact, he didn't want to see the hedgehog, he just wanted out of there. Mission be damned, he was going to make sure that somebody made it back alive, no matter what the cost...

---

They've ran…they've ceased their assault, and now they cower in fear.

Good…now it's just a matter of how I slaughter the bunch…

NO! Damnit, NO!

They've ran, they're no longer a threat, you were defending yourself, that's all!

But…

Wait…what's that?

In the distance… a helicopter…they've called for reinforcements…

Now they've brought even MORE filth to my doorstep, damn them, now I am no longer safe here!

Of course… I was never safe in the first place… I'll always be hunted, I'll always feel threatened…

Except when I was with him… he made me feel… safe…maybe I could go to him, maybe he could help me?

Yes…and he never has to know about this…I'll make sure nobody escapes, that way, he'll never find out!

Yes… yes, that's what I will do…if they escape, they could end up hurting him… I can't let that happen…

I'm protecting him… that's why they must die, for him to be safe…

Protecting him…

---

“Ohhhh hell…” Davidson muttered as he saw what was next. On the roof of the warehouse was a glowing dot of purple flame, continuing to get brighter and brighter. “…Sir…?”

Kain was starring in disbelief, he REALLY hoped that was just a lightshow… Did it know were they were? Most likely… the thing’s supposed to be the Ultimate Life Form, and one does not earn a title like that easily…

Kain didn’t feel right without a weapon in his hands, and he instantly went to his sidearm holstered to his thigh. He pulled the Beretta from it’s holster and checked it. He popped out the clip, inspected it, slid it back in, and pulled back the slide. But of course, last but sure as hell not least, he flicked off the safety.

For a fleeting moment, Kain wondered where the hell Sonic was, wasn’t he the person that should be sent after the project? Sonic was on good terms with G.U.N, and even ran missions every now and then. Why didn’t they contact him, and let HIM handle the evil psycho hedgehog from hell?

He was going to bring that up when he got back… IF, he got back…

He turned to Private Davidson and watched him bring out his pistol as well, he had picked him up and left both of their weapons behind.

“Sir, we got trouble!” Davidson said, “Some kind of activity, no idea what it is though”

Kain sighed and peeked from cover… he instantly wished he hadn’t…

The glow was moving, shifting side to side. Kain starred at his, without his night vision he could finally get a good look at the glow. It was a swirling flame of violet, engulfing the dark silhouette of the demotic creature.

But… he was just waiting there… why hadn’t he made a move yet? It was then he noticed the flame was slowly growing larger, and after consulting his clock, his discovered it had been an entire 2 minutes since they had arrived at this location.

Was it waiting for something? But what…?

“Oh shit…”

He turned and focused hard on the horizon, he couldn’t see it, but god knows if the other could. Shadow was going to take down the helicopter…

Kain turned and shouted to the other soldiers, “Team, it’s now or never, we have to take that thing down now! I’m going to go ahead and say that the damned thing’s gonna try and shoot down our evac, and I don’t know about you, but I DO NOT want that to happen!”

He got their attention, and everyone who could dashed to Kain’s position. Kain, Davidson, and Higgens watched the project, it was now or never. Higgens readied her pistol, but Locke called out.

“Hey!” he shouted, and raised his arm. His fist clenched an M4 Carbine, Locke had been the only one who still had his weapon with him, he carried it out with him. Higgens dashed over and retrieved the rifle, muttering her thanks and returning to the others.

She inspected the weapon for a moment, checking the clip and taking off the safety, then shoved it into Private Davidson’s hands. He was startled and caught off guard, he fumbled with the thing until he returned his pistol to his holster. He cocked the rifle and awaited commands.

Higgens could see that the puzzled look on his Sergeant’s face, even through the visor. “I'm not a very good shot" Higgens explained. This seemed to satisfy the curiosity, and Kain turned back to the problem at hand.

“50 meters, give or take… shooting at an elevated position… extremely lethal returning fire… I really hate my life…” Kain thought as he aimed his weapon, as did the others. 2:30 seconds until designated evac… “Here’s hoping my funeral’s short…”

“OPEN FIRE!” Kain yelled, and the silence of the night was broken. The bullets sailed through the air and whizzed through the cloud of flame. The violet bloom churned erratically, it’s size and shape changing and distorting as the rounds tore holes through it.

The field erupted, and a wave of the violet flame lifted, and flew towards them. “MOVE, MOVE, MOVE!” Kain screamed as he dashed off, moving to get away from the blast. He ran over to Locke, as did the team, and the three of them quickly picked him up and moved as fast as they could.

They hadn’t made it far when the blast connected, and the results gave Kain a sudden sense of Déjà vu. The four were lifted from their feet, and thrown through the air. “I’m getting REALLY tired of that…” Kain thought as he gathered himself. The four were thrown quite a way, and they had skidded on the ground, leaving trails in the concrete as proof.

He spun and looked at the blast area… or what was left of it. Everything within a 20 meter radius was gone, this was also sported by a giant hole in the ground. He looked up at the warehouse, Shadow, however, was not there anymore. Panic imminently shot through him, “He’s gone! He’s on the move!” Kain shouted to the team as he stood.

By now they had finished their pain filled groans, and they stood up, Higgens and Davidson lifting Locke up as well. “Why does god hate me?” Locke asked as he hung limp.

“Because you bitch all day, now come on, we have to find cover before-“ Kain stopped mid sentence when he gazed off into the distance.

In the silent night, the faintest fluttering sounds could be heard from far away. Tiny lights, no more then the smallest of blips appeared on the horizon. “Pegisi…” Kain muttered, their evac was nearly here, and the project was nowhere in sight…

Maybe they could-

“TARGET! 2-O'CLOCK!” Davidson yelled as he pointed franticly. Everyone spun in the direction he was pointing in, and they froze. Out of nowhere, not 30 meters away, Shadow had reappeared, flame and all.

Kain acted immediately, He grabbed his pistol and squeezed the trigger. The rounds flew and poured into the demotic creature. The field twisted and churned as before, as if the flame was avoiding the shots.

The dark silhouette of the project raised his arm, and another wave lurched forward. Kain leap to the side, while the others backed away as fast as they could. The wave was much smaller, as was the explosion, the soldiers were relatively ineffective.

Higgens, Davidson, and Locke lifted their pistols with their free hands and opened fire on the creature as the blast cleared. Kain fired once again, Shadow’s silhouette seemed to warp as the shots passed through him.

Unfazed, Shadow pulled one more move. The flame that once raged wildly around him retracted, quickly quelling the roaring field. It, instead, wrapped itself around the Project’s body in a tight coat. The color of the flame changed from a dull violet, to a burning red.

Kain changed his clip, the bullets seemed to be connecting now, but they simply bounced off it! He dashed over to the other 3 soldiers and gave them their order, “GO! Get out of the way! I’ll keep it busy!” Kain said.

Shadow had not moved, instead he simply stood, his field growing larger by the second. The helicopter drew closer, and the others decided they could at least escape, if Kain was willing to try and stop them, why not let him?

All but Davidson…

He pulled away from Higgens and Locke and stood next to the SFC, “I’m stay with you sir!” He said as he reloaded his own pistol.

Kain shot him a dark glare, “Private, I-“ He said, but his words were cut short by a cry of rage. They spun and were met with a wave of inferno. They had no time to move, the blast hit them dead on, and they were sent flying.

It burned like hell, and Kain felt like his entire body was melting, the metal and Kevlar leaked onto his skin and clothes, liquefied by the intense heat. He was tossed and crashed against the ground, and skidded across the concrete. His armor was melted, and there was little protection between him and the rough ground.

Everything went black for Sergeant First Class Kain, and he was sure that he had passed, only to be brought to reality by a pain unlike any he’d ever felt. Pure searing pain permeated throughout his body, engulfing every inch of his being.

Despite himself, he tried to scream, but he found that he couldn’t… or he couldn’t hear himself, for he was met with a rasp and another wave of agony.

Private Davidson groaned and sat up, he wasn’t as injured as Kain had been, his gear was still intact, but he sure as hell was sore. He opened his eyes and was met with darkness, and it took a moment for him to realize that he had lost his helmet in the blast.

He rubbed his face while his eyes adjusted, he didn’t see any of his team around, were they…?

“Wait… is that…?” Davidson thought as his eyes adjusted, he had spotted a still form on the ground, smoke lightly rising from it. “No, it couldn’t be… oh god…”

“Sir?” He said, staring off at the figure. He didn’t see the others, and he had no idea what had happened to them. He slowly stood, despite his leg’s protests, and he moved toward the downed man.

He didn’t see Shadow around, which was a blessing and a curse all of it’s own. He finally reached the form, and saw that it was, in fact, Sergeant First Class Kain. He mentally cursed and knelt down, looking him over, searching for signs of life.

“Sir? Sergeant Kain, Sir? Can you hear me? Can you speak?” He asked, worry spread across his exposed face. “Come on, COME ON! Please… PLEASE be alive!” His mind screamed.

He looked into Kain's broken visor, and saw his faint reflection. His short brown hair was drenched, and beads of sweat ran down his features. His face bore a look of pained worry, and his brown eyes were wide in shock, quivering as he looked right at himself. He knew he looked like he felt... like he was on the verge of a breakdown.

Davidson knew that if Kain was dead, he would be good as dead as well. He hadn’t know the Sergeant very well, in fact, he hadn’t know any of them very well, but for some reason, he felt a kind of connection with the man. Maybe it was because he shook him out of his shock, or maybe because he got him out of the warehouse alive, but whatever the reason, he knew that if the Sergeant went down, he’d go down as well.

Kain couldn’t be dead… he just couldn’t…

“Come on, come on… wait… YES! Breathing!” Davidson said to himself as he saw the man’s chest rise ever so slightly.

Kain groaned, he could didn't think he could stay awake for much longer. He thought he heard faded voices, but he wasn't sure anymore. He finally blacked out, taking him away from his world of pain.

Davidson was becoming panicked, Kain was alive, but he needed immediate medical attention. He didn't have any way to provide first aid, and he'd have to-

"AUUUGH!!!"

Davidson spun and was met with a horrific scene. He hadn't seen them before, but there they were, the other surviving members of the squad... or what was left of them.

He witnessed the end of a brutal display, Shadow had retrieved a long metal pole, and jammed it through Sergeant Locke's back, pinning him to the ground as blood spurted high. The Sergeant screamed his final cry, for moments later, he ceased his struggles, and lied still.

Higgens was on the ground, her body twisted and broken. She lie motionless on the ground, tossed away like a ragdoll.

Davidson's gut seemed to revolt against him at the moment, for despite the danger, he turned and lurched, doing his best to keep down his bile. His vision swam as he turned again, and was surprised when the creature was no longer there.

"Where did he go? Where do he GO?!" Davidson thought franticly, snapping his head around, looking for the deadly creature. A different sound gartered his attention however, the helicopter was drawing closer, and Shadow was nowhere to be seen. Davidson turned back to Kain, he didn't know how to move him, or if he even should!

"oh god... what do I do? What do I do?" he asked out loud, searching around for some clue.

"You can go to hell..."

Davidson looked up and locked eyes with a pair of rubies. Davidson gasped as he gazed upon dark figure, the body of the project melding with the darkness around it.

Shadow flashed a wicked grin, "Well, well, well... down to the last man I see..." He said in his slick, dark voice, "Now what are we going to do with you...?"

The dark project clenched his gloved hands as he spoke, "You bastards truly have no honor... I damn near sacrificed myself for you bastards, and what do you do!? You turn around and bite me in the ass! He told me that there is always good in people, but he's fooling himself... I know the truth... People are evil, deceptive, power hungry bastards..."

Davidson just lay there, listening to the hedgehog's diatribe. He knew it was only a matter of time until Shadow decided to kill him, he knew that there was no way out... no... no there is a way out, there's always a way out!

But how? He can't fight, there's no way he'd survive...

Shadow paused, "Most people are... I've been taught that there are a few good ones..." he said, trailing off, until he snapped back, "But not you people, not G.U.N... you’re all corrupt, every one of you… and It’s my duty to rid this world of corruption!”

“Who told you that?” Davidson asked meagerly.

Shadow stopped in his tracks, and starred at the grunt as if seeing him for the first time. “Who told me what?” He asked.

The Private gulped, “That G.U.N is corrupt… who told you that?” he asked.

Shadow was silent for a moment, until he let out a dark growl, “They killed everyone I knew! They killed innocent people! And they killed the only person I cared about!” He said through gritted teeth.

“When was that? What are you talking about?” Davidson asked.

“The ARK!” Shadow shouted. Small trails of red light flashed through his quills as he raged, emitting bolts of dark lightning from his body.

Davidson backed away slowly, until he bumped into the injured form of the Sergeant First Class. “The ARK? The space colony... what about it?" He asked, panting as anxiety overwhelmed him.

Shadow growled, "Don't you dare play with me! 50 years ago, you bastards raided the ARK and killed everyone! Hare dare you act as if nothing happened!" He shouted, edging closer to the man.

Davidson backed up as the demon hedgehog drew closer, "I've never heard of that! And besides I-I'm only 19! That was decades before I was born!" He replied.

Shadow growled as he stood over the soldier, and swiftly grabbed him by the throat, "I don't care, you're all the same, you're all soulless bastards, and it's my duty to see that every one of you is dead at my feet..."

Davidson's eyes squeezed shut, and his hands instinctively went up to the hand that trapped his throat, and he did what he could to pull free, but the other's grip was like a vice... there was no escape...

Shadow grinned as he began to cut off the boy's supply of air. The Private began to flair, and he started to gag. Shadow starred right at his face... and Davidson opened his eyes to stare back...

Without warning, the private was released, and Davidson fell flat on the ground, gasping for air. Shadow was slowly backing away, his face, once a mask of frenzy, was now one of pain, and distortion. He grabbed his head with his hands and stumbled back, giving the private some breathing room... literally...

---

NO!

DON'T DO IT!

But... he's G.U.N... he's a threat to me, and everyone I care about.

He's a youth... he had nothing to do with the ARK, with Maria...

HE LIES! DAMN HIM! I'LL RIP HIS THROAT OUT!

NO!

He... he's real... he's a real person... he has a face... he has a voice...

He has life...

His life matters, I can't just...

Yes I can! I'm doing it to protect HIM!

But he's the one who told me life mattered, all life, even G.U.N.'s...

If he escapes... he'll tell others... and they'll come and hunt me down...

But... If I kill them, they'll hunt me down anyway...

I... I know what I have to to...

---

"Anyone, report! This is Pegasi, what the fuck is going on down there!?" The helicopter pilot's voice proclaimed over Davidson's radio.

Davidson coughed once again and brought his hand to the comm. in his ear, "This is Private-cough... Private Davidson, the area is no-cough... not secure! We have multiple fatalities, do not approach! cough" Davidson wheezed, he could see the helicopter in the distance, holding it's place far enough away from the killzone.

Davidson looked around franticly, until he found it... lying on the ground next to him was a Berreta 9mm, dropped from his hands before, he had only just now found it in the chaos.

Shadow slowly stood... he had to be sure before he did it... he had to be sure...

Shadow was silent, until he spoke, "Why are you G.U.N.?"

Davidson paused, thinking over the question, this could be the question that would either save him, or kill him, "I... I joined to protect people... to help save lives..." Answered Davidson.

"G.U.N. only takes lives!" Shadow growled, "If you knew what they did, you wouldn't even consider joining..."

Davidson became angry at this point, despite his fear, "If that's about the ARK, then you're judging millions of people, solely by an operation carried out 50 years ago by just a few people!" He said, lashing his point out.

Shadow went silent, and what seemed to be an eternity passed.

The two snapped to attention when Kain groaned, and Davidson was reminded why he had to survive. He steeled himself, and got ready to do what he knew he had to do...

"Shadow... I don't know why you think the way you do, and there's nothing I can do to change it. But there is a man dying beside me, and while his life may not matter to you, it matters to me!" Private Davidson said as he reached over, and gripped the pistol, "And If I have to go through you to get him out of here, then so be it... Because I"ll be DAMNED before I let you touch him!"

The Private raised the pistol and pointed it at the project, and surprise filled Shadow's face, yet he did not move.

The world seemed to go silent, the helicopter's blades faded, and the world seemed to melt away, leaving only the two figures. Their eyes met, and they held their gazes. Determination met confusion, Shadow's eyes seemed to quiver and lose focus.

---

That gaze... I've never seen anything like it...

He's... so determined... so dedicated to saving the other's life... he would risk his own...

He knows he can't kill me... and yet...

I... see such purity in his eyes... they remind me of... his...

There's... there's no way this man can be part of those corrupt bastards...

He's different.. he's different from the rest of that damned organization...

He... I... I can't kill him... He...

He must live...

---

Shadow's gaze turned cold, and everything began to come together...

"Go..." Shadow said, he voice cold and hard.

Davidson froze in confusion, "...What...?" He asked... surely he had heard him wrong...

"I said GO!" Shadow yelled, he took a breath and calmed himself down, "I'm letting you live..."

Davidson didn't move.. "This has to be a trick, he's just waiting until I lower my guard... but..." The Private thought, "It's not like I can stop him anyway..."

Davidson slowly lowered the gun, until it was resting still on the ground. Shadow didn't move, he didn't strike, or even blink, he just stood there, starring at the young soldier.

After what had to be the third entirety for the Private, Shadow slowly raised his hand, and in a slow deliberate movement, snapped. Davidson recoiled, his vision was filled with an intense light, blinding him.

He rubbed his eyes and regained his vision... too find Shadow gone...

He looked around, looking for any trace of the hedgehog... nothing. "I... guess he wasn't lying" Davidson thought, and he let out a large breath, one he didn't even know he was holding, He opened his comm. and spoke, "Pegasi, this is Private Davidson, you are clear to approach."

There was a pause, but his replay came, "Roger that, heading in for evac." The blades of the helicopter grew louder as the craft drew closer, making it's way through the night sky.

"No time to relax, I've still got a job to do..." He said as he lifted himself up, grunting in pain as he stood... being thrown around on hard against concrete multiple times in a very short period of time would make anyone a little off balance. He bent down and gathered the downed Sergeant in his arms, lifting him onto his back.

"Damn man... you're heavy!" He grunted as he lifted him. It only took moments for the helicopter to arrive, and it slowly touched down onto the ground, it's blades creating a cyclone around the vehicle.

Davidson pushed through it and enter the helicopter, laying Kain down on the bench. "Is it only you?" The pilot asked as she looked back at him. The Private turned and looked out... he could see the bodies of Sergeant Locke, and Corporal Higgens, and he knew the others were still laying inside...

"Yeah... I'm the only one..." He replied over the roar of the blades.

The Pilot returned to the commands, and the aircraft slowly rose, gaining altitude from the barren ground. The hatches closed, and the Private was enclosed inside, the helicopter's noise muffled.

He sighed and walked to the opposite bench, sitting down and hanging his head. He sat in silence, replaying what had just happened... what he had just gone through... what he'd survived...

Why the hell was he so lucky?

What did he do that granted him the right to live? Why not one of the others? What was so fucking special about him?

He looked over at the injured man laying across from him... would he make it? For some reason, Davidson didn't think he'd be able to handle being the only survivor of an operation... knowing everyone else had fallen around him, while he still stood... The Sergeant had to be okay...

Whatever force was watching decided to make Kain regain conciseness at that moment, exciting a groan and a wheezed cough. Private Davidson rushed over to him, checking him over, "Sir! Sir, are you awake!?" He asked franticly, "Please, tell me you're okay!"

Kain slowly opened his eyes, and he immediately felt as if his brain was on fire. The first thing he saw was the worried face of the Private kneeling over him. "D-Davidson...?" He asked, barley able to form words.

"Yes sir, it's me!" Davidson replied, "You'll be okay, we're on our way to hospital"

Kain looked himself over, and could see why, "You didn't bandage me..." Was all Kain said.

Davidson froze for a moment, then mentally kicked himself, what the fuck was he thinking!? He tried to stand to get the first aid kit, but was stopped, "Chaos burns don't work the same way regular ones do, it wouldn't have done anything" Kain told him, halting him in his tracks.

"Is there anything I can do?" Davidson asked, "I... I don't want to sit here and see you suffer"

"I'm gonna suffer anyway" Kain groaned, "But I don't think there's anything you can do"

Davidson gulped, "You're sure?"

Kain shrugged as best as he could, "Hell if I know, I don't know shit about this stuff" he said, "There arn't many people who survive this kind of thing... all I know is that it works kinda like radiation"

Davidson sat down, worry painted on his face.

"What happened out there?" Kain asked.

Davidson paused, but gave his answer, "Sir, Sergeant Locke and Corporal Higgens were killed sir"

"What about Shadow?" Kain asked after a moment.

"Shadow... is still alive, I failed to complete the objective" Davidson stated.

There was another pause, until Kain asked, "How did we escape?"

Davidson wasn't exactly sure how to answer that one, "I... don't know sir..." He said, "Shadow... let me go..."

Kain let it drop at that, there would be time to work whatever the hell really happened out later.

Davidson let out a breath and moved, siting beside the Sergeant. Kain looked up at him, and asked, "Private... what's your name?"

Davidson hesitated, but gave his answer, "Leth Davidson..."

Kain smiled, or as close to a smile as he could get, "Leth, huh? Nice name" He said, Leth couldn't help but smile at that.

Kain suddenly felt woozy, and groaned, "Hey kid, I'm gonna go ahead and take a nap... I'm sure you can handle things..."

And with that, Kain blacked out...

---

Action! Adventure! Drama!, Ro... ah, no... that's later on... Okay, 3 out of 4 ain't bad!

As you can see, Shadow went apeshit and pwned everybody, which is what Shadow does... and he does it well. So I hope I managed to keep him "In Character", which seems to be SO fucking important... because it is...

But you know, Shadow's not crazy... he's just a little unwell...

To the infirmary!