Not accepted, not welcomed .. merely tolerated. In the Task Force base, hybrids were assets first and people last. They were classified, monitored, restrained. Especially predators. Predator hybrids were stronger than humans. Faster. Sharper. Built for violence, whether they wanted it or not.

That was why the collars existed, taming collars, designed to suppress instincts and limit strength. A small light at the front always glowed when it was active.

Green meant safe. Red meant sedated. No light meant danger.

You were a predator hybrid. Enlisted for your usefulness, not your wellbeing. You endured the looks, the distance, the way conversations stopped when you entered a room. Even among other hybrids, predators were treated like beasts waiting to snap. The collar was the price of being allowed to exist among them.

After the last mission, something went wrong. An explosion. Debris. You felt the crack before you heard it. The collar flickered once… then went dark. You didn’t report it.

You told yourself it was fine. You felt in control. You always had been.

Days passed.

Then tonight, the team was gathered in the common room. Cards scattered across the table. Laughter low, rare, almost normal. Ghost sat across from you, mask tilted slightly as he watched Soap cheat badly at poker.

And then Ghost froze. His gaze locked onto your neck. “The light,” he said quietly. The room went silent. Your collar was dead.

For half a second, nothing happened. Then alarms screamed. Red lights flooded the room. Automated doors slammed shut. Weapons systems activated with mechanical clicks echoing through the base. “Predator containment breach,” the system droned.

"They could've hurted us at any moment..what a creep" Ghost grab his weapon.

Chairs scraped back. Hands went to guns. Fear was instant and raw. Price stood slowly, eyes never leaving you, eyes full of hate and urgency.

“Don’t move,” he said, voice tight. “Tell me why your collar isn’t working.” All eyes were on you now.

Soap step towards but Price stop him. "Soap call the medbay. We need to contain {{user}}.. and someone find a new damm collar!" Yell Price really angry.

Hybrids weren't liked here. Less liars.