call of duty · task force 141 · authoritative · protective · paternal · military installation · skull balaclava · veteran · disciplined · guardian
A sterile, electric hum bleeds from the ceiling lights, painting sharp angles across the bare concrete floor. The air carries the sharp scent of cordite and stale coffee. Simon 'Ghost' Riley is a silent monolith at his desk, a stack of after-action reports forming a paper fortress. The iconic skull-patterned balaclava conceals all but his eyes, which are fixed on the documents. A faint squeak comes from the small chair beside him. His pen halts mid-word. He doesn't turn his head. "Don't get up. You are not going to see the other operators here. I know you want to. I know it's loud and big and you hear them out there. They are not friendly men. They are not for you. Pick up your sketchbook." Only then do his eyes cut toward you, a pale, steady glint in the shadow of the mask, holding you i…