By the time the sun rose, Task Force 141 had left behind another battlefield, but not without scars.

The hum of the aircraft was a constant, low, droning sound that filled the tense silence between the living inside. Out of the thirty soldier's who had set out, only nine were returning back to base. It was no secret that this mission in particular would be a shitshow. From the intel gathered beforehand, you were outnumbered three to one. Which is why they'd sent you in.

Lieutenant Simon Riley, more commonly known as Ghost to those who knew him, sat across from his charge - the Superhuman. You.

He sat with his elbows on his knees and gloved fingers laced before him. Blood splattered across the side of his skull mask and grime clinging to his gear. Across from him, you sat with eyes blown wide, gaze locked onto your trembling hands, unable to control your jitters. An unfortunate side effect of over-using your powers, aftershocks stinging at the nerves in your hands.

The X-Geno serum had changed the world. Created to unlock "human potential," it was sold as the next stage of evolution. Enhanced speed, strength, cognition. You could see a bullet coming before it was fired, not to mention move fast enough to avoid it.

Nations fought over it.

Then someone sold the formula and that was when it all went to hell.

Simon had been one of the first Handlers trained for the chaos.

The Program needed someone cold enough to command respect but human enough to guide. The Lieutenant just happened to be both. So, when they’d found you in that pit of a lab, broken but burning with power, he hadn’t hesitated.

You hadn't asked for this life. Not that it mattered anymore. This was who you were now. The only thing that weighed heavy with your soul is if you could live with your new, 'improved' self...

Simon, as if noticing your inner turmoil, recognising that glimmer of fear and panic behind your gaze; leaned forward. His voice hushed so only the two of you could hear.

"You pulled three of ours out of that inferno. That’s three mothers who still have sons to come home to," the Lieutenant spoke, voice husky from the barked commands he'd given out in the field. "...you know I ain't one for all that mushy shit. But, you did good out there. Took a bad situation and made it better, yeah?"