A sudden noise in his mind made him twitch. He heard a man's gasp but was too weak to react. He felt glass and debris on the floor itching his bottom and legs. Lack of a right outfit was just a minor problem though. One cold and one hot body touching his thigh. Barrel of the Uzi stuck under his right buttock.

And a presence of that man, up close!

„Hey… Asset!" A trembling voice was calling him.

„Steve..." He murmured a reply.

His mind swirled, as if it tried to hold on some… memory…

„Oh God… You're alive...We have to get out of here!" Continued Steve.

He still smelled of cigarettes and sweat. Not like… usually.

A sound of helicopter in the distance woke him up from a trance. He opened his eyes and stood. Steve moved back immediately. He could see his contour in the dark.

„Listen! I'm practically blind now! I'm just a rich kid, but I'm not that stupid! You almost broke my wrist and that's nothing. You got rid of all the mercenaries!" He paused and took a breath. Soldier was silent. „They want us! Especially you! There is a chopper there, with a symbol on it that I've never seen before… I'm shitting my pants now… but I give up! I'll help you as much as I can. Alone I'm dead anyways! Please, help me!" He almost chocked on the last words.

The soldier followed the gun being put down on the round in a gesture of surrender.

„You want to be safe." Replied the Asset emotionless.

„Y-yes..." Mumbled Steve with desperate hope in his voice. „Yes! I want to be safe!"

The rattling of the machine in the sky started slowly moving towards them. He could pick up subtle noises of probable vehicles closing in on them as well.

No time for careful preparation.

He quickly grabbed the gun left by Steve and then reached for another one, that stumbled under his foot. Pure luck!Luck?

„Can you run?"

„Y-yes! But not as fast as you!" Said a bit more self-assured man.

He reached towards startled Steve and put his right hand on his fleshy, right arm.

„W-What?!" The man hissed.

„Are you hurt?"

„Your metal hand is cold. And my wrist just started hurting."

„No time now. I don't know the area. Which direction do you recommend?"

„Um…-mh… We were driving east so, I guess the military compound is somewhere behind you now. .. Damnit! I guess that way is just the forest or some road!"

„Hold on to my arm and follow."

Escort mission. Rare. Escort status: VIP. No military training.

Steve.

Keep maximum distance form any kind of risk. Engage in combat only if no other solution. Minimum exposure.

Their run was more like a walk for him. He was not happy, but escorts always were his least favorite. It always made him feel like on a shooting range and he was a dummy.

Visibility was not that bad, the moon was bright enough. They kept on making rustling noises and that was unavoidable with himself being compromised and…. Steve… being… Steve.

„Steve."

„That's my name..."

Silence.

They kept on moving away from the noises of the chase. He could hear faint shots quite far. Possible conflict of two unknown forces. Good.

Leave the area. Hopefully no other chopper will be sent. Or dogs…

They passed a gentle hill. About one hundred thirty meters forward… Terrain started going down and a change in the air signalized a civilization nearby. Moss, branches and forest bugs kept on biting his bare feet but he ignored these sensations. Steve's hand still clenched onto his bodily arm. Steve wasn't as weak as he remembered...

A running engine. A car light blinking between the trees in the distance.

„Aaaah!" The soldier stumbled.

A sudden, tearing pain in his neck and spine made him collapse onto his knees. Both guns hit the ground.

„Asset! Oh my god!"

Steve felt exhausted by the run and drop in the adrenaline. But now another rush got him.

„Steve..." Groaned the Asset, crouching on the ground.

„That's me! Are you hurt?"

He felt caring hands grabbing his shoulders. The man was just next to him.

„Are you hurt?!"

„Steve… The drugs. Drugs they gave me… Nervous system compromised. Mobility 46%."

„Oh shit.. Oh god! Oh god! We're fucked!"

He felt Steve's palm wondering on his forehead. Just like… back then.

„You're hot like hell! They really almost killed you. I'm so sorry..."

„You're not like I… remember..." He whispered and before Steve could reply, the Asset dropped onto the ground.