Good Luck, Alpha Team

CASTYR'S POV

"Glad to see you're alive," Ilios greets.

I salute my commanding officer before reporting my unfruitful search.

"Don't worry. You can go out again after your mission."

I nod in thanks.

"Debrief's in three hours. Wash up and get some sleep."

"Yes, sir," I salute before exiting the tent.

I set my rifle on the weapon rack in my tent before sitting on the make-shift cot. I slip the backpack off my shoulders and lie down, heaving a breath and rolling onto my side before closing my eyes and falling asleep.

The beeping of my wrist device wakes me. I look at the time and rush out of my tent. After quickly washing up, I slip into a new pair of black cargo pants and a black shirt. I let my hair air-dry as I put on my belt and equipment.

After tying my shoes, I slip on my jacket and run through the tents to one of the skyscrapers surrounding our base. I run up the stairs to the third floor and enter the still functional conference room. Once inside the rectangular room, I walk over to my team and slip into my empty chair.

"Where've you been?" Major Azyr asks as I sit down.

"On a search," I answer as I catch my breath.

"For what, a girlfriend?" Lieutenant Destil teases.

"I don't have a girlfriend," I growl.

"Oh, so you're looking for your boyfriend!"

I shoot Destil a look that could kill as a pain strikes my heart. He closes his mouth and looks at me sheepishly.

"Sorry," the frightened squirrel apologizes.

I turn to face the conference room door as Colonel Ilios walks in accompanied by a general and two majors. We stand in salute as the officers walk to the head of the table. The general sits at the end with Ilios at his right. The rest of us sit after the officers take their seats.

The general opens the meeting by greeting, "Tonight will determine when we get to go home as the assignment is to secure the Transport Tower. If we succeed, we will be one step closer to defeating Hades, so let's do our best."

Colonel Ilios begins the briefing once the general concludes his opening.

"Beta Team will be stationed around the tower and attack at midnight. Delta Team will back up Beta Team while Alpha Team infiltrates the tower." Ilios continues, "Beta Sniper Jaemyn will be on the City Cultural Center a block from the tower. Sniper Mino from Delta Team will back-up his team from the Bank of Harlim. And Alpha Sniper Castyr will be stationed on the roof of the Transport Tower."

From here, Ilios turns and addresses me, "Lieutenant, you will be dropped from a passing craft onto the tower's roof. From there, you will cover Alpha Team as they near and enter the tower. You will lay low until they reach the transport where you will cover them as they secure the floor."

"Yes, sir," I accept the command.

The colonel then informs each team and sniper of their individual missions. The general approves the mission, and we are dispersed to prepare. We have to be at our position one hour before midnight, so I return to my tent to take a nap.

TIME SKIP: 6 HOURS

A nudge in the arm wakes me. I open my eyes and look up to see Azyr standing over me.

"It's nineteen hundred (7pm). Let's grab some food."

I blink sleepily and sit up. After slipping on a jacket, I follow the major to the food hall. We enter the first level of a building around the camp and get in the line of hungry soldiers. Some stand with sleep in their eyes and messy hair while others have their weapons prepped and ready. I guess you could say I am in between the two extremes. I have my weapons, but I certainly have sleep in my eyes. I thank the chefs for the meal and find my teammates at a table towards the back of the room.

"Get some good sleep?" Destil asks as I set my tray on the table.

"Mmm." I sit down and scoop up some food. I stop chewing as I feel eyes on me. I look up to see Destil staring at me. "What?"

"Oh, nothing. It's just...I've never seen someone with eyes like yours." He continues looking at me.

"Why? Do you see stars?"

"Pfff, no! Why would I see stars?"

Memories of Kilo staring into my star-filled eyes flash through my head, and I travel back to that time on the Atlas when I could gaze into those intoxicating purple eyes without a care in the world as my angel held me.

"They're just a pretty color," Destil's mumbling brings me out of my trance.

"Then are you flirting with me, Squirrel?" I tease.

"What?! No! I gave a girlfriend!"

"Ok. I just thought it was strange that a man was checking out another man's eyes."

"Can I not appreciate beauty?"

"Destil, that's enough. Leave Castyr alone," Sinjae, one of the two majors of our team, intervenes.

Destil droops his head and continues eating quietly. The sun is almost set as we exit the food hall. We file back to our section of the base and begin preparing for the mission. Twenty hundred (10pm) comes, and we report to Colonel Ilios at the center of base.

"Good luck, Alpha Team," Ilios encourages us. "Will you be alright going back there?" Ilios quietly asks me on the side after addressing the team.

I swallow before nodding. I will have to be.

"Okay. That's good," he squeezes my shoulder before leaving to check on the other teams.

"Let's go, people. Move out!" Major Azyr signals.

I split from my team and join the other snipers at a hover craft in a nearby square.

"Hey, Castyr," Mino, a fellow lieutenant sniper greets me. He extends his hand and we go in for a quick hug with a slap on the back. "How's it? Nervous?"

"A little," I answer truthfully.

Mino nods before patting me on the back. "You'll do fine," he encourages.

I nod in thanks before turning towards the craft where I spy the quiet man leaning against the craft. "Jaemyn," I nod at the captain sniper from Beta Team. The white-haired angel nods back silently as our pilot joins us.

"Hey, lads," the pilot greets.

"Aki," Mino and I greet nearly in unison.

We follow Aki into the craft and take our seats. After checking the craft, the pilot powers the engines and slowly lifts from the ground. Aki puts the craft in stealth mode as soon as we fly above the skyscrapers, and the craft becomes veiled.

Mino gets ready as we fly over the five miles between the base and the tower. The craft's hatch lowers as we hover above the bank. Mino grabs hold of the rope anchored to the craft and walks to the edge of the hatch.

"Stay alive," I call.

Mino playfully salutes me with a wink as he slides down the rope and onto the bank's roof. The craft retracts the rope as Mino lands safely. I see him wave as the hatch closes, and the craft continues on.

Next is Beta Team. Jaemyn stands and prepares his gear as we near the cultural center.

"Good luck, Castyr," Jaemyn says with his usual, cool expression as the hatch lowers. He walks to the edge and prepares for his jump.

"Stay safe, Jaemyn. Let's have a shoot-off when we get back?"

Jaemyn looks up and nods before exiting the craft. Our pilot moves on once the rope is retracted. The hum of the engines becomes almost nonexistent as the craft slows as we reach the tower.

I grab onto the rope as the hatch lowers. Making sure my equipment is secure, I walk to the edge.

"Good luck out there, Lieutenant," Aki bids.

I nod at him before sliding down the rope. I tighten my hold on the rope and stop half-way. A demon sniper is perched on the west side of the roof. I hold onto the rope with one hand while I slowly draw my handgun with the other. I aim at the demon and fire two shots to the neck. He drops dead, and I holster my gun. My grip tightens to slow my descent as I near the tower. I let go of the rope as I reach the roof. The rope is retracted, and the invisible craft leaves the tower.

As soon as I land, I silently move to the east side of the roof. I set up my rifle and scope out the area. I look down at the device on my wrist. The attack should begin in about an hour. I run the plan through my head over and over as I wait in silence.