The Team decide to move north. They had no idea what to expect in this new threat they found in Badger, especially Dryce. Dryce was trying to rationalize in his mind why Badger didn’t try to make contact with him sooner, knowing now that he is alive. That night at the extraction zone heist he swore he saw those other agents take Badger’s life. Dryce felt guilty of his friend’s death for a long time. It’s part of the reason that made him decide to help his new friends in their quest to find Aaron Keener. He wondered in his mind over and over again, how things could have gone differently that night. Wondering if he did all he could to try to save Badger, wondering if his aim could have been a little better to not miss that shot. Eventually he came to the conclusion that nothing else matters except the success of the mission at hand. He wondered if Badger would join them in this quest if he had the chance to talk to him and tell him what was going on. Until that day comes, Dryce will just have to prepare himself for anything. The team approached a Landmark affectionately known as “The Pit”. This area happened to be patrolled frequently by the worst group of rogue soldiers in the DZ. It didn’t help that the LMB group liked to hang around here as well which made it even more problematic for anyone trying to get around it. Fortunately, Dryce knew the area well and lead everyone through some underground alley ways to evade detection. As they were crossing a section leading down the stairs, Dryce noticed some trip wire at the very last step. He signaled for everyone to stop moving. Something wasn’t right, he had a sick feeling in his stomach that they were walking into an elaborate trap. Dryce carefully steps over the wire and investigates. He see’s an explosive device attached to both ends of the wire. He slowly guides everyone across the wire, as they start making their way to the tunnels Phoenix notices that the gates are all locked up leading down. A Shot rings out, before anyone can move a bullet goes right through Moose’s head, she drops instantly to the ground everyone scrambles to find cover, Knuckles screaming at the sudden loss of his friend can’t seem to control himself any longer. The team was trapped. The tunnels were purposely blocked off and the stairs leading out was laced with explosives. The Sniper finally had the upper hand. Knuckles now enraged tells Phoenix he is going to buy them some time to escape. Phoenix pleads “Don’t Knuckles, stop whatever it is you think you are going to do”. “It’s the only way” screams Knuckles and without hesitation Knuckles jumps up and starts running for the stairs, just before he gets to them another shot rings out and hits him right in the shoulder. The impact of the shot knocks him off balance, he tries to gather a few more steps before he leaps and falls right on to the trip wire. BOOM! The explosion from the trip wire bombs rock the whole area, debris and dust fill the Pit to where the sniper losses sight of his targets. He switches over to his LMG and starts firing blindly into the cloud of dust. EO yells “He can’t see us let’s move!” They all start running for the stairs, back up to the top and go in the opposite direction of the gun fire. As they turn down the street trying to put some distance between them and the sniper a huge Pulse signal permeates the air around them. Torex sees a figure standing inside a building signaling them to come inside. As they approach the stranger, Torex points to the sky and asks “Was that your doing?” He answers, “Yeah that was a scrambler pulse, you are shielded now against whoever is after you. But it won’t last forever so you better keep moving, follow me it can get a little tricky to navigate around here without GPS coordinates.” Phoenix extends his hand to show his gratitude “I’m Phoenix, thanks a lot for saving our asses out there”. “You can just call me Dead” Replies their new friend. “So, Dead” inquires EO “What compelled you to help us out here in the DZ? How do we know this isn’t part of the trap?” Dead turned to EO “I saw how your friend gave up his life for you guys. I was caught in a similar situation when all HELL broke loose in this area last year. I wish I had the opportunity to save my friends as he did for you. So everyday I try to make up for it by helping as many people as I can.” As they briskly walk through the dilapidated buildings Dryce turns around and stares out past all the smoke and fog. Phoenix asks “What’s going on Dryce? Let’s move.” “No” said Dryce in a calm voice. “I need to see him, I need to know if it’s really him, because if it is no amount of smoke and mirrors is going to stop him for very long. Let me talk to him, see if I can convince him to stop this hunt”. “Damnit Dryce, look what he did to Moose and Knuckles, do you really think he is in the talkative mood?”. “I don’t know, but I have to try”. Phoenix lowers his head “We lost some good people today. Trust me, It is taking everything I have not to go back there for my friends. But if we don’t move on, they will have died for nothing.” Dryce standing firm in his decision did not even warrant Phoenix’s presence with an answer. So, the team parted ways with Dryce and continued to follow their new ally in the DZ. As they walked off, Dryce faded away into the smoke and fog checking his weapons and gear, making sure he had everything covered for the meeting of two lost friends.
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