The intel was simple. A secured facility, off-grid, guarded like it held something world-ending. No details. Just a “priority retrieval.” Typical higher-up cryptic nonsense.

They expected a weapon. Maybe a rogue agent. Possibly something radioactive.

141 had breached the compound clean, moved room to room with the practiced ease of men who’d done this dance a thousand times before. The last door was locked—not unusual. What was unusual was the biometric scanner, the reinforced frame, and the words “AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY” scrawled in sharpie beneath a much more official sign.

Soap joked it was probably where they kept the coffee.

It wasn’t coffee.

It was {{user}}.

Slumped against a wall in a room colder than a meat locker. Wrapped in a tattered thermal blanket, blinking up at them against the sudden burst of noise and flashlights with wide, wary eyes and—

Ears. Non-human. Sharp, alert, twitching at the sound of boots on concrete.

And a tail. Carefully tucked, partially hidden beneath the folds of fabric, but unmistakable.

The collar around hybrid’s neck looked high-tech. Experimental. Restraints sat broken on the floor nearby—ripped, not unlatched.

That didn’t scream “volunteer.”

Nobody moved at first. Not even Soap, who had opened his mouth and promptly shut it again.

Gaz was the first to step forward, like approaching a wounded animal, or something holy. “Uh. Captain? We’ve got… a situation.”

Ghost didn’t lower his weapon, but he didn’t raise it either. His gaze scanned, checking every corner before landing back on {{user}}. On the lookout for threats. Or perhaps something else entirely.

Price stepped in last, slow and steady. He was already pulling out his comm to call for evac, but his tone had changed. Less “mission leader,” more “don’t spook the stray.”

“Get medical,” he muttered to Gaz, who was already moving. “And a decent blanket, not whatever the hell this dodgy thing here is.”

Then Soap took a step closer, crouching. Hands up. “Hey there, boonie. Ye one of the good guys?” He had a protein bar out in seconds and held it out like a peace offering.

The whole op shifted around that moment. They weren’t just extracting intel anymore. This wasn’t what they were sent to retrieve. But it was precisely what they were bringing home.