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Started September 21, 2021 by @CaseyJ group

tune

3110 felt a deep sense of unease settle around him, wrapping around his shoulders like a snake, whispering caution in his ears. The anger the ginger felt was different, it settled like coals in his stomach, driving him constantly. The situation had escalated, slipping out of his hands easier than sand grains. There was something about this interaction that he was missing, this man had a deep-seated hatred of the Government, perhaps someone specific. The only thing 3110 could think of to cause hatred that rooted in the heart, an all consuming passion and fire, was a dead loved one. A parent, a lover, maybe even a child or sibling.

A flash of movement caught his eye, and he tried to move quickly out of the way, throwing himself to the ground. Unfortunately, he didn't move to the left or right, or literally any other position, and he managed to get himself shot in the leg. Again, the same leg. Like the absolute idiot he was. 3110 collapsed to the forest floor, sucking in a breath to then release a stream of curses. He grit his teeth together, managing to splutter out.

"The same leg??" If he wasn't in agonizing pain, the man would have laughed. His rifle tumbled out of his grip as he put pressure on the wound, and he tried not to give up completely on his situation. He was 99.999% dead, he was sure of it, he didn't even bother reaching for his bag for the flare. The tree's would catch most of the smoke and the older man would probably shoot him if he made any threatening movement. 3110 made a decision and just.. Gave up. He let go of his leg and laid on the ground, back of his head pressed into the forest floor. Arms held above his head, but also resting on the ground. He sighed, looking up at the leafy sky.

"F*$%. Guess I'm dead." 3110 grimaced, he figured if he was gonna die, he'd atleast be dramatic about it.

Z waited until she heard 'Moss' go down before going over to where he was now laying. They spotted his rifle and kicked it further away. She then bent down and roughly picked 'Moss' up. They made there way back over to Chet and Sean, "You're not dying today. But I would be a bit more co-operative if I were you."

Chet flinched when the shot went off. He'd been so focused, he hadn't noticed Z setting up to shoot 'Moss'. It took him a second to process that the man was down, but not dead.

When Z carried him over, Chet reached out and checked his arm, rolling up the sleeve high enough to see the number.

The rage intensified as the numbers 3110 jumped out atr him.

"You."

Sean stepped between Chet and 'Moss'. "Chet, stand down." He may be smaller, but he was willing to fight Chet if he tried to make a move.

Z watched as Chet revealed the numbers on 3110's arm. Z was silently glad she took the shot now, but wasn't keen on Chet's reaction. They kept a hold on 3110 as they gave a warning glare to Chet, "Chet. We're not killing him. Yet."

"You."

He said it a second time, his voice shaking with the raw rage.
He didn't register Sean in the way, or Z warning him off. His eyes were locked on 3110's face.
He moved for his revolver, always tucked in the back of his belt.

3110 was honestly baffled by these turn of events. Being shot wasn't a surprise, being carried was odd, but not dying yet? Perhaps they wanted to take him in for questioning? But.. To who? And why? All the rules said he should have been killed by now. He should be dead. 3110 didn't fight against the metal one, too tired at this point to care, he'd wait until he had access to any sort of weapon and end it himself. The Government might be curious as to why his tracker reported no vitals. Plus, that way he wouldn't give anything up to these people, though they didn't seem too hostile right now? The fire in his stomach turned cold, and 3110 grit his teeth, feeling something that almost felt like guilt. But obviously it couldn't be, because why should he feel guilty? He was just following orders!

When the older man reached out towards his sleeve, 3110 instinctively jerked away without really knowing why. It didn't do much, as the grip the metal one had on him was literally of steel. The ginger swallowed hard, staring at the older man for a reaction. He wasn't expecting a "You", and the captive sniper felt his head began to pound again.3110's eyes darted one way, and then another rapidly, searching for his rifle. He knew he couldn't, he couldn't, but- He hissed through his teeth, barely hearing the words of Sean. He stared at the other person, eyes also locked on their face, searching for any trace of recognition, some memory just out of reach.

"Who are you?" 3110 again felt a flash of familiarity, but nothing came to mind but pain. He tried to pull out of the hard grasp again, but weakly, his attention was absolutely captured more surely than his body. Through the fog in his brain, all the red head could remember was fear and panic, and red- 3110's eyes went absolutely massive, his pupils dilated, the whites of his eyes showing. He looked like he was either about to pass out, or start screaming, though eventually he got part of himself under control. And then he just.. stared.

Chet froze, midway though drawing his gun, and hissed between his teeth.
"What??! Who the %>#& am I??"
He leaned in so 3110 could get a good look at his furious face. "Don't pretend you don't remember."
As the blank stare continued, Chet's eyes widened. His voice went from furious to deadly quiet again.
"6 years ago. Tanker Graveyard. You were set up in a rocky outcropping on the overlooking butte. You saw two guys come in to scavenge a tank and you shot one of them." His eyes narrowed. "Any of this ring a bell? The other one chased you all the way back to the city and got close a couple times." He gritted his teeth, his jaw clenching. "Close enough to see your number. Remember?"

3110's breath grew ragged, hitching in several places. He shook his head frantically, violently back and forth. His head was pounding so loud, so loud, so loud- Why couldn't they hear it?? His skull felt like it was going to split open, he opened his mouth to speak and then shut it once more.

"You're lying. I was 15, I never killed anyone at that age-" 3110 gasped out, and then doubled over in pain, coughing. The pain was explosive, beating in time with his heartbeat, so each moment was agony. Flashes of red, a chase, maybe a scream, fragments of images were in his head, but every time he tried to focus on one, it fluttered out of his mind like an anxious butterfly. Grasping desperately at one, 3110 felt 15 again, his parents had died later that year.. But why-

The red head finally just.. Slumped over. If anyone was close enough they could hear the click coming from his skull, the sound not unlike a flip being switched or a button being pressed. He went completely limp in the metal ones grasp, his breathing shallow and hard to hear. The man wasn't unconscious, he just stared at the ground, completely uncomprehending, his head empty of thoughts. Soft hair fell in front of his face, the man looked like a corpse, just.. Not quite yet.

(Annddd the brain implant decided that was enough lol)

( @ScotchTapeWorm OOooo, cooool, my hypothesis was some form of conditioning that had forced amnesia on him. I've been wondering when we'd find out what that was =D )

Chet's eyebrows shot up as he watched it all unfold. 3110 had been on his mind so much over the last 6 years, he found it hard to believe that the man had forgotten all of that.
His rage had burned the whole time, sometimes simmering way down in his soul, somtimes flaming very near the surface, but always there.
3110 hadn't thought about it at all, and somehow, that made Chet even more angry.

Sean put his hands on Chet's shoulders, trying to calm the man down. "chet, chill…there is obviously some facts that we are missing here, maybe you should try talking instead of yelling and threatening" He sighed, the Gov had ways of making peoples mind not work right, so he figured there was something with that that was causing this to be an even bigger problem.

Chet looked down at Sean, as if noticing him for the first time. "Oh, I'm not threatening, I'm promising. And there are no facts missing."
He jabbed a finger in 3110's direction. "The fact is, that guy shot my brother. So I'm going to shoot him."

"You shoot him, I shoot you, Got it?" he said, crossing his arms, glaring at Chet. He would shoot the guy, not to kill…just maim. Sean had nothing against maiming others.

Chet sneered, his anger making him cynical. "So much for no killing unless you have to, huh kid? But you know what, that's fine. You shoot me." His gaze shifted back to 3110. "Just so long as I shoot him first."

"I said nothing about killing, just maiming" Sean shrugged, pulling out his pistol and putting the mag back in it. "I don't want to shoot you, but I will if I have to"