The parachute hit the ground behind him as Kaden unhooked it smoothly, his movements automatic and precise. He crouched for a moment, taking in the chaotic scene around him. They had landed in enemy territory, the others already scattered, and the tension was palpable. But Kaden’s focus was razor-sharp. This was just another situation to manage.
Then, Dior’s voice cut through the static in his comms, louder than necessary and laced with irritation:
"Fuck you!"Kaden blinked, the outburst catching him off-guard for a split second. Not the cursing — he couldn’t care less about that — but the timing. They had barely landed, and already Dior was throwing unnecessary chaos into an already delicate situation. Not ideal.
He ducked into cover behind a section of collapsed wall, eyes scanning the surroundings as he quickly regained focus. The mission came first; distractions like Dior’s antics had no place here.
“Great,” Kaden muttered under his breath, his voice low but steady. It didn’t rattle him, but it did make him question how things were going to unfold. Dior was volatile, but that wasn’t new information.
Keeping his breathing steady, Kaden keyed his comms. His voice was calm, measured — as if they were in the middle of a briefing rather than deep in enemy territory.
“Dior, stick to the plan,” Kaden said, tone even.
“Let’s get this done.”Whatever games Dior was playing didn’t matter. Kaden had his priorities straight. The mission was everything right now.
The faint crackle of gunfire in the distance reached his ears, growing closer with each passing moment. Kaden stayed low, moving carefully from one bit of cover to the next, eyes sharp and focused on any potential threats. The terrain was unfamiliar, but his mind worked through it like a puzzle, each step deliberate.
“Stay sharp,” he reminded himself as he tightened his grip on his Noble Arm. His senses were alert, tuned to every shift in the environment. He could feel the tension in the air, the weight of the moment settling over him, but he wasn’t about to let it throw him off.
Somewhere ahead, the Cambodian forces had set up their defenses, likely preparing for their arrival. The odds weren’t in their favor, but Kaden wasn’t concerned about that. It wasn’t the first time he’d been in a tight spot.
No escape but forward. No way out but through.
Kaden’s heartbeat remained steady, his mind locked onto the task at hand. He didn’t need to think twice. He was here to complete the mission, and that was exactly what he was going to do.
“Focus,” he thought, pushing away any distractions.
“We get through this. No matter what.”