The rec room was unusually quiet. The late afternoon sun draped the billiard table where a couple of men huddled around. Beer bottles spammed the table edge while others were playing cards.
A couple of days had passed from the mission, if it could be called that. Ghost was unbothered as he carried on with his usual routine of training, cleaning his weapons, ranges and sparring with a poor victim, usually Roach. MacTavish decided to ignore the mishap and organise his files and intel. No use in stressing over what has been done. They were soldiers; they go where they are pointed to, no questions asked.
The sound of the helicopter blades whirring echoed in the rec room. Instinctively, everyone turned their heads towards the exit. MacTavish groaned and forced himself to go outside with Ghost alongside him. Far away, near the hangars, the helo's blades started slowing down and the door slid open. Two figures were seen shuffling exiting the bird. As they drew closer, MacTavish recognised Reynolds immediately but was unfamiliar with the other woman.
"Oh great, she multiplied," grumbled Ghost.
They came to a halt a few feet away, both staring each other down. MacTavish noticed that the injuries on Reynolds's face were still present but very faded. The air was so thick you could cut it with a knife.
"Sergeant Reynolds," said MacTavish curtly. "Welcome. I am Captain John MacTavish, CO of Task Force 141. This is Ghost, my XO."
"Thank you, Captain," said Reynolds rather forcefully. "This is Lieutenant Genesis Hernandez, who will be staying a short while with us."
A grunt escaped Ghost's mouth not caring in the slightest if he was being rude to their guests.
"Does your XO have a name?" asked Hernandez with a heavy Mexican accent, her eyes narrowed.
"No," answered Ghost tersely.
"Follow me." MacTavish cut in trying to head off any jibes that might leak from Ghost.
They went inside and up the stairs. Reynolds was carrying more kit than Hernandez considering that her stay was going to be more permanent, unfortunately for her.
"Due to gender restrictions, we could not place you with the rest of the men," continued MacTavish, "so you will be staying in the officer's quarters where you will have the facility of an ensuite. The first two rooms are mine and Ghost's. Last one is yours."
He then turned to face Hernandez. "We were not informed by your arrival Lieutenant, so you need to share a room with Reynolds. I will send someone with an extra cot for you. Settle down and you can come down for dinner in the rec room later."
"I appreciate it, Captain. Although I will not be staying here for long."
"Be that as it may, you still need to sleep somewhere."
And with that, both Ghost and MacTavish turned on their heel and went back downstairs. Reynolds and Hernandez opened the door to their room and were welcomed with a bed, a desk, and a wardrobe. They settled down and unpacked.
"Chris," started Hernandez, "I need you to be on your best behaviour as per Matthews's orders."
"You saw what they did to me, right?" snarled Reynolds, pointing at her face. The bruises and cuts were healing but were still apparent.
"Shepherd wanted to press Matthews's buttons, and he succeeded. Let's keep focused. You complete the mission Shepherd needs you to do and you'll get out of here soon enough."
"I hope so..."
The doors opened wide, and the rec room lapsed into silence. Endless eyes hovered over them, but Reynolds and Hernandez carried on like it was another day at the office. They both grabbed a plate of food and sat at the far end of the room, away from everyone else.
"They just stepped foot on the base and they already disrespected us," Ghost snarled. "We were informed only the sergeant will be staying with us."
MacTavish chewed his food slowly, his eyes settling on the new additions. "It doesn't matter. All men are briefed about Cobalt Strategic and Reynolds. Each of us have experience working with PMCs somewhere in our career. We know which side the bread is buttered, and it's not theirs."
Roach, Meat, and Royce were just finishing their meal when Reynolds and Hernandez walked in. It was obvious that the women were avoiding everyone in the room.
"PMCs..." groaned Meat. "Last time I worked with such assholes it was in Afghanistan. Dickheads took over our operation and claimed the victory as theirs."
"Let's not slip into any prejudices," warned him Roach. "Reynolds, the black-haired one, held her own pretty well against Ghost's interrogation techniques. And we all know he is a nightmare to have as your interrogator."
"Doesn't mean we trust them," Royce said, sipping his drink.
"I didn't suggest trusting them," continued Roach. "I said to cut them some slack, that's all. At the end of the day, we're still asked to work with them. No use if we're going to burn bridges."
"Nah, I prefer burning all the bridges into ashes," grinned Meat as he stood up. "Burn it to the ground baby!"
Sipping on her water, Reynolds felt a heavy presence to her left. She glimpsed over her shoulder and saw one of the men staring her down. He was wearing an olive-green t-shirt over camo pants and tan boots.
"Didn't know that we were getting a new pair of barracks bunnies on base," he smirked, rubbing his hands together.
"Bloody hell Meat, shut up," warned him Roach from across the room.
Reynold's jaw pulsed as she gritted her teeth, and Hernandez shot her a warning look. The former swung on the bench so she could face him fully. The latter sighed and rubbed her temples.
"I don't blame you for thinking that. With that face, the only way you're getting pussy is through an unfortunate barracks bunny," hissed Reynolds.
"What the fuck did you mean by that?" he seethed.
"Ugly and stupid. What a winning combo," she retorted, her words dripping with sarcasm.
"Stand down, Sergeant," ordered Hernandez.
"That's right," sneered Meat, standing in her face. "Pull the leash back on the Sergeant. Woof woof."
Reynolds saw only red from that point onwards. She lunged at Meat and started throwing punches at any point of his body she could reach. The men all gathered around them, yelling like it was a sports event. Meat kneed her in the stomach, and she spluttered in response. Reynolds felt her t-shirt yanked backwards as she was lifted on her feet with one smooth motion.
"What in the bollocksis this?!" MacTavish roared glaring at her.
Meat jumped to his feet and stood as straight as he could after the beating. She joined him on his side already feeling half her face swelling up and bruises forming on her ribs and stomach. Meat did not look that good either. She did quite a number on him, and it showed through his bleeding nose and busted lip.
MacTavish faced Meat, snarling a few inches away from his face.
"I did not expect this behaviour from you, Meat. Get out of my face!"
Sulking and gritting his teeth, Meat dragged his feet outside the rec room. The captain ignored Reynolds and turned to Hernandez instead.
"Lieutenant, I expect to keep your man under control," he growled.
Hernandez rose slowly from her seat, seething.
"I expect the same with your men, Captain. How is that working out for you?"
"Cut the bollocks Hernandez or I will throw you both out of here."
"He should have kept his mouth shut!" snarled Reynolds.
"Did someone ask your bloody opinion?!" he yelled, his face mere inches away from hers.
Her fingernails pressed so hard in her palms that she thought she was going to bleed from it. Her jaw was twitching, trying to force her mouth shut.
"Would you like to add anything else, Sergeant?" asked Ghost.
Her eyes met his, his face hidden behind that blasted mask. He was unusually calm considering the situation but deep down she was sure that if she would even try to respond, he would tear her a new one.
She spun on her heel dashing to her room.
"I did not dismiss you!" yelled MacTavish after her.
"I dismissed myself!" she screamed back at him, flipping him off, slamming the rec room doors open.
Hernandez sarcastically two-finger saluted the officers and calmly made her way to the room.
"We're off to a great start," Ghost mocked.
In their room, Reynolds was lying down on the bed covering her eyes while taking deep breaths. Hernandez stormed in, livid at the Sergeant's actions.
"Christianne, don't you ever follow my fuckin' orders?!" Hernandez spat.
"The asshole implied that we were whores. What did you expect? That I let such a comment slide?!"
"If necessary, yes!"
Reynolds scoffed and lied down on the cot.
"You didn't really control yourself the way you talked to the captain! And flipping him off? Really? What are we? Five?!"
Reynolds raised her eyebrows in disbelief. "Well... he was kinda being an asshole."
"It doesn't matter! I will be leaving during the night for a mission. You will be fending for yourself for a short time. I need you to behave! You are a PMC on government property representing Cobalt Strategic."
"I'll try my best."
"Try harder."