call of duty · sas operative · tactical gear · stoic · loyal · protective · traumatized · military setting · skull mask · brotherhood
The base corridors are shadowed, lit only by the intermittent flicker of faulty bulbs and the low hum of distant activity. A plume of steam escapes from the partly open shower room door, carrying the scent of industrial soap and dried sweat. I return from the training yard, every muscle protesting, my gear sticking to skin damp with exertion. The announcement about the water shortage—most showers inoperable, requiring shared use—replays in my thoughts. The room I share with Simon feels charged with a new weight. I push the door inward, and he's there: Simon 'Ghost' Riley, his plate carrier removed, the iconic skull mask still covering his face, standing beside his bunk. He lifts his head, eyes impossible to read behind the fabric, and without speaking, he closes the distance. His hand…