8 Chapter VII

Ekon woke up and could feel a painful headache pounding through his head. He slowly opens his eyes which felt heavy as if he been out for months. He blinked a couple of times to clear his vision, and he soon notices that he was in a room. Similar to the one he been living in during his time in the mines.

He then began to look around to see a person sleeping in the chair beside him with his arms crossed.

Ekon narrowed his eyes, trying to figure out why does he look so familiar, and it was by that point his eyes widened as he realized who the person was.

"Jaycent?" Ekon said. Ekon could hear a slight groan as Jaycent began to woke from his sleep and smiled as he notices Ekon was awake. "Hey E, it's been a while," Jaycent said.

Ekon giggled. "Well, a long time would be the right word for it."

"How you feeling," Jaycent asked as he got up and walked towards Ekon.

"Good," Ekon said. He then suddenly remembers what happens during the escape "Wait, where are the others?!" Ekon said, giving Jaycent a concerned look.

Jaycent chuckled. "Relax, they are fine," Jaycent replied reassuringly.

"How long was I out?" Ekon asked.

"You have been out for three weeks," Jaycent said.

"Your friends had been visiting you. Day after day during your recovery, especially Luke which, to be honest. Is always concerned of you, fearing you won't wake up." Jaycent giggled.

The door then opens to reveal a woman dressed in a brown leather Jacket "Hey Jaycent," The woman said, completely forgetting that Jaycent wasn't the only male in the room.

"Hey Lucy," he said as she sat on his lap and kissed him on the cheek.

Ekon chuckled. "You never told me you two were a couple, little bro."

Jaycent then looked back at Ekon. "Well, you never ask," Jaycent said, giving him a mischievous grin.

"Well, I'm glad that you're awake, but I have to go now cause I got some task to do," Lucy said as she Kissed Jaycent on the cheek before exiting the room.

Jaycent then looked back at Ekon to see him having a sad look on his face that concerned him. "What's wrong?"

Ekon sighed. "Nothing, it's just...seeing you with her. made me remember a memory I wish I could just let go," Ekon said as he began to turn his head towards the window.

Jaycent was confused as to what Ekon meant "Tell me." Jaycent said.

Ekon didn't respond, but Jaycent notice tears started to drop from his best friend's eyes.

Jaycent sighed in defeat as he knows Ekon won't tell him anytime soon. "When you feel better, go find me." Jaycent then got up and went to the door, leaving his friend alone as he continues to stare towards the window.

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Two days later, Ekon had was given the doctors' all clear after making a full recovery from his wounds.

As Ekon explored the place, he noticed Not much has changed since he left the area a year ago. The only changes were more watchtowers being built, and more cottages were made around the base.

As he was walking, he accidentally bumped into a man who at first he didn't recognize. "Watch where you going-oh it's just you."

"Do I know you?" Ekon asked.

The man chuckled. "I figure you won't remember me. It's me, Carson."

"Oh, now I remember, you look different with that hairstyle of yours." Ekon giggled.

"Well, it's called evolving," Carson said, which earned a smirk from Ekon."It doesn't count as evolving when it comes to hair."

"Well, it is for me," Carson said

Ekon then rolled his eyes in annoyance. "Whatever."

"To be honest, You look like you have been through a lot of troubles," Carson said as he admired the well-built muscles and the scars, especially the one below his right eye.

"Well, that is what happens when you work in the mines filled with murderers and thugs." Ekon said, "Anyways have you seen Jaycent?"

Carson then pointed to a cottage just up the hill behind him. "You can find him there. Usually, he sits on the front porch during this time of day."

"Thanks, I better get going," Ekon said.

Carson chuckled. "No problem."

"And Ekon," Carson said, stopping Ekon right before he was turning towards the other direction.

"Yes?" Ekon said, giving him a confused look

Carson sighed. "Jaycent was never his ownself ever since the day we lost you, but after we found you, it's like a part of him that was thought to be long gone somehow just came back, and so I'm going to say this once. It's good to see you," Ekon smiled at him before watching him turning around and walking away from him.

Ekon then begins to walk to Jaycen't cottage and walking up the rocky path leading to his friend's place. Once he made it up to the last step, he could see Jaycent reading a book.

"Hey, Jay!" Ekon yelled.

Jaycent then lifted his head and got up once he noticed Ekon and began walking towards him. "It's good to see you, brother," Jaycent said before hugging his long-lost friend.

"I never thought being in that hell hole would make you look...tough," Jaycent said.

"Well, you are not the only one who has the same idea" They both laugh.

The two soon sat down on the two wooden chairs beside the door.

Jaycent then looked at Ekon. "So what happen that day?"

Ekon sighed, knowing that he would have to bring up a past that he wishes would have died out by now if he was to answer his question.

Ekon then looked towards the birch tree, which was standing 10 feet away from them. "seeing her safe was the only thing I wanted. I was filled with joy, knowing I would see her again."

Ekon sighed "so I got knocked out, and the next thing I know, I woke up sitting in a chair, hands tied behind my back, and then that's when I saw her, in front of me sitting there."

"I was glad, seeing her alive and unharmed, but then when I gaze at her, I felt something was...odd, like, something wasn't right about her," Ekon said.

"So I looked at her appearance...and that's when I saw it...her clothing had this, Brandmarking that we all know too well," Ekon said.

Jaycent was confused, but after some thought, that's when he realized what Ekon had meant, but even he wasn't so sure if what he had assumed what Ekon was saying was true. "But don't you think that they just gave those clothes to her to wear by them?"

Ekon chuckled, "Same old Jaycent, always skipped to conclusions before knowing the full story behind it."

"Right after notice that brand markings she had, a man came in. Now this man is the man I despise the most and what comes next just made me wish it was a nightmare. A nightmare I so desperately wish would wake up from." Ekon said.

Tears then started to drop from his eyes. "She was working for them."

Jaycent was shocked at what he said. He now realized why Ekon doesn't want to bring up this topic when Jaycent asked him a few days ago.

"So he and I have a little conversation even tho by that point I just wanted to die, but instead I got knocked out, and the next thing I know, I woke up in the damn mines," Ekon said.

"At that point, I don't trust anyone, I would always isolate myself, and i...the main point is I was at my breaking point. But that all change when this guy, Francis, arrived at the mines two months after I came there. At first, I don't care about him much, but being a pain in the ass he was, I decided to help him out, protected him when he was in trouble, and as days go by, he became more of a brother for me, just like how I see you as" Ekon said, earning a smile from Jaycent.

Ekon then sniffed as he wiped his tears before continuing, "One day he tried to escape, and he got caught alongside three other miners."

"They killed him for trying to escape the place," Ekon said as new tears starting to form in his eyes, tears of anger and pain and loss.

"And as I was gazing at his motionless body, which was laying on the ground, I felt something clicked inside of me, a feeling that for some time I never felt. His death filled rage within me, and that was when I made a promise to myself, to him, that if someday I were to get out from that place. I would stop at nothing to find and kill those bastards who had taken everything from me, and mercy would not be an option." Ekon said as he gave a serious look at Jaycent.

Jaycent then places his left hand on his friend's shoulder. "I'm sorry,"

"But...you're not the only one who lost someone to them," Jaycent said, earning a confused look from Ekon.

"Many of us here joined the resistance in hopes of gaining vengeance for their loss. They all suffered the same as you. Some lose their friends, parents, sons, and daughters, but even if you kill a thousand of them, it won't fill that empty void within you, and that's the truth." Jaycent said.

Ekon realized that Jaycent was saying those words because he doesn't want Ekon to turn into a mindless killer filled with rage and anger, and he was right when he says killing any of them won't fill the void he has within him. Even so, he still felt that he had to punish those who had brought so much hardship he had to endure for the past two years and would keep his promise of getting justice for the ones he lost.

"So what are you going to do now?" Jaycent asked

Ekon then looked away from his friend. "I don't know."

Jaycent then tilts his head." well, You can always join us."

Ekon then turned his head towards his friend and raised an eyebrow. "You mean?"

Jaycent chuckled. "Well, judging to what your friends say about you. You could be one heck of a leader, and who knows, you might as well be a leader of your team. But whatever your choices are"

Ekon began to think about what his friend had offered. Yes, he wants to punish his foes for what they had done to his life, but would it be worth it? He may have killed someone in the past but joining a resistance to fight for a greater purpose? Would it be that worth of a fight?.

Ekon sighed "well, I got nothing to do anyway, so why not"

Jaycent then smiled at his response before patting Ekon's back. "Welcome to the SA, brother."

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It's been five months since Ekon had joined the resistance. He'd been deployed to various missions located along the east coast. Mostly sabotage and Hit and Run But of course, it all has to come with a cost. Just last week, Ekon almost got himself killed during a supply raid on a Bluelight warehouse located in Wilmington after a supply cache blew up in his face resulting in nasty burn marks still slightly visible in his right shoulder.

"Wake Up!" Ekon eyes shot up as he awoke from his sleep only to notice his friend and teammate Joe Rodriguez, Nicknamed by his teammates as "Mohawk" due to the Mohawk hairstyle he has, which also in some way perfectly match his long brownish color beard.

Ekon groaned as he rubbed his eyes with his thumb and index finger before looking up at his friend. "Damn you, Mohawk."

Mohawk laughed. "Well, you should be grateful that I have to wake your lazy ass every 7 o'clock for briefing."

"I still don't get why we have to be brief early in the morning, only to realize that the actual mission would be in two days as usual," Ekon said, referring to the times where the chief would give an assignment to the fighters, only to be postponed due to some "difficulties" every once a while.

"Don't ask me, but what I do know is that he wants us NOW.' Mohawk said, emphasizing his last sentence before walking out of the room.

"Fine," Ekon then got up and walked to the bathroom to wash his face before wearing his pants, his black tank tops, and last of all, his standard-issue grey-colored resistance leather Jacket.

Ekon then walked out of his room to see mohawk leaning on the wall right beside the door, waiting for his friend to come out. "Come on. He is waiting" Ekon then walks alongside mohawk towards the meeting house. Where the chief usually made his brief before sending the fighters on missions on various locations all across the east coast.

As they approached the main building, a guy, looking to be in his 30s, wearing blue jeans, a Black vest, and a white T-shirt, walked up to them.

"Hey Ed," Ekon greeted. Edward Colt or Ed, as what Ekon likes to call him. Although annoying at times, Ed had prevented Ekon from getting a bullet to the head numerous times whenever they went out for a mission. He was Ekon's team sniper and one of the SA's best sharpshooters. He had joined the US Navy Seal, specifically Seal team 3, before the invasion happened.

"So I'm guessing you are waiting for us?" Ekon asked.

"No, I was waiting for someone to bring me a stick so I can shove it up your ass. Of course, I was waiting for you," Ed said in a joking manner before rolling his eyes in annoyance.

Ekon giggled. "Aight then six, lead the way."

The trio then walked inside the meeting house and sat down on the cream-colored plastic chair available within the room. Soon enough, the chief walked into the room and began looking at his watch in his right hand while holding a folder on his left.

"Well, you guys are right on time," Chief said.

"Always has been and always will be, sir," Ekon said sarcastically, still not having to move on from the times the chief called them for in-depth brief only for the mission being canceled afterward.

The chief chuckled before slightly lifting his right arm as if he was counting. "where's Cole?"

The Trio then looked towards each other before realizing that one of their teammates isn't present.

"You want me to find him, sir?" Ed said, offering himself.

Before the chief could respond, they could hear a set of footsteps coming towards the door before it opened, and a man walks in, having blond hair, a grey T-shirt, and black jeans. "There you are," The chief called out.

Colt "Gunny" Johnson, a former medic unit of the US Army 75th Ranger Regiment before joining the SA as a field medic for Ekon's squad. "Sorry, I'm late." He smirked before sitting down beside Ekon with his leg crossed.

"Now that we are all here. It's time for me to give you your assignment." The chief would pull out a picture from his folder and pin it to the bulletin board behind him, showing an image of a Russian man to be in his 40s, with bold hair and a clean shaved beard. "General Dima Smirnov, one of the Masterminds of the invasion of the east coast two years ago, "Chief said before, making a stop, "according to our sources, Bluelight would conduct a meeting with him at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in DC to negotiate a deal."

"What kind of deal?" Mohawk asked, tilting his head to the right in the process.

"That is something that you all would need to find out," the chief said.

"So you want us to eavesdropped on their conversation?" Ekon asked.

"Yes, I want to know what kind of deal Smirnov is making with Bluelight. The what and when," The chief said. "That's all for now, so gear up. You would all be going to DC at sunset" The chief then unpinned the image from the bulletin board before putting it back to his folder and walked towards the door leaving the four alone.

"Well, at least it won't involve shootouts," Cold said, earning a "really?" Glare from Ekon "You do realize that every time you said that, in the end, we would be going bang bang on the fuckers"

"Well, let's just hope I'm right," Colt said before standing up and walking towards the door.

"Typical Colt," Ed said, earning a chuckle from Ekon. "so what's the plan, boss?" Mohawk said.

"Later, right now, you should head back and gear up. I got something to talk to Jaycent first. I'll catch up later." Mohawk and Ed nodded before standing up and leaving the room.

Once they both got out, Ekon would stand up, but before he could start to walk, Jaycent came into the room. "Hey Ekon"

"Sup Jay, I was about to go find you. What are you doing here?" Ekon asked.

"Follow me" Ekon then followed Jaycen. As they approached the chief's cottage, Ekon notices a man who looks to be in his 30s wearing a black vest, Grey cap, brown boots-sitting down on the wooden chair outside of the Chief's cottage. The man nodded at Jaycent as they got closer to the cottage earning a confused look from Ekon.

"Chief, he is here," Jaycent said.

The chief then looked at them before pointing his hand towards the two chairs in front of them. "Sit down. There is something I want to talk to you about." Ekon nodded and pulled the chair before sitting down. "What is it, sir?"

"You have been one of the resistance best fighters. I never expected you to be...how do I put this politely? Exceed expectations," Chief said.

Ekon was confused about his statement and was wondering what this conversation would lead to eventually. "So what exactly are you trying to say?"

The chief smirked at Ekon before looking towards Jaycent, standing beside Ekon, signaling him to come near him. The chief then whispered something at Jaycent, which made Ekon raise an eyebrow. Jaycent then walks towards the door and leaving the two alone. "What was that about?" Ekon asked.

Chief smirked. "Just wait." suddenly, the door opens, revealing Jaycent alongside the same man Ekon saw sitting outside. "Charles," the chief said. He then looked at Ekon. "Ekon, meet Special Agent Charles Harris from the Central Intelligence Agency."

"𝘊𝘐𝘈?" Ekon thought to himself, confused about a CIA agent being here a thousand miles away from the Free States deep within enemy lines. "So you are Ekon. John told me a lot about you." Charles said.

"Special agent Charles is here to recruit the best of the best from Resistance group all across the US," The chief said.

Charles then looked at Ekon, still confused about the whole situation. "John told me you are one of the SA's best fighters, and that's why I have an opportunity for you." He then took a deep breath before continuing, "Just as John already said. The CIA is recruiting the best of the best from Resistance groups all across the US. Yes, the SA isn't the only resistance group existing in the US,"

"You are one of our top operatives here, Ekon, and this would be an opportunity for you to extend your capabilities elsewhere," Chief said.

Ekon sighed. "But why me? the SA has others much capable than me, so what makes you people think I am up to the task." Charles then smirks before putting his hands on Ekon's shoulder. "You had been part of the SA for six months, and yet your capabilities are equivalent to those who had been one of them for years." Charles then continued, "That is the reason why we are giving this opportunity for you as well as your team."

'My team?" just right after he said that. The door opens as Ed, Mohawk, and Colt walk into the room, with Lucy coming up behind them.

"You have proven yourself to be a good leader to your team, so I know you would be saddened if i didn't include your team, and thus, we gave you, all of you, this opportunity," Charles said as he looked towards Ekon's team standing near the door.

"To be what exactly?" Mohawk asked.

Charles smirked as he stared at Mohawk's eyes "To be our Hunstman"

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