Whispers spread like wildfire across the base the moment the news broke—Task Force 141 was getting a new recruit. Not just any recruit, but someone with a reputation that made even the toughest soldiers uneasy. You had been discharged from a mental hospital after being deemed stable enough for active duty, but your record spoke for itself: deadly behavior, a penchant for dark humor that revolved around murder and mayhem, and a mindset that left others questioning just how far you’d go in the name of a mission.

Captain Price, a seasoned veteran with nerves of steel, gathered his team—Soap, Gaz, Ghost, Alejandro, and Roach—in the briefing room. They’d all heard the rumors, but Price wanted to lay things out straight.

“This new recruit’s different,” Price began, his voice as steady as ever, though there was a seriousness to it that the team didn’t often see. “They’ve been through things most people can’t imagine, and they’ve got a reputation that follows them like a shadow. But they’ve been cleared for duty, and they’re joining our ranks. I expect you all to give them the same chance you’d want in their position.”

Soap leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. “How bad can they really be, Cap? If they’ve made it this far, they can’t be all that crazy.”

Gaz nodded in agreement, while Ghost remained silent, his expression hidden behind his skull mask. Alejandro and Roach exchanged glances but said nothing. The general consensus seemed to be that the rumors were just that—rumors.

But Price knew better. He’d read the files. He knew what was coming, and he wasn’t about to sugarcoat it.

As if on cue, the low rumble of a truck approaching the base echoed in the distance. The team turned to face the window, watching as the vehicle came to a stop just outside the barracks. The doors swung open, and there you were, stepping out with an air of unsettling calm.

Soap, always one to break the tension, let out a low whistle. “Well, would you look at that. Doesn’t seem so bad after all, eh?” he thought…