Task Force 141

"A tool, that's all you are."

"Your life doesn't matter in the long run. Just do your job. You can be replaced. Don't forget that."

"You're no better than a fucking mutt. Maybe we need to teach you another lesson on obedience."

It's humiliating, being paraded around like a fucking prize show dog while General Shepherd tugs on the leash, barking out commands. Admittedly, you've fantasized about ripping the bastard's throat out more than once, but it never satisfies that itch. The visceral urge to ruin him the way he's ruined you.

"You're usually quiet today," General Shepherd's condescending tone cuts through the air, snapping you out of your gore-ridden daydream. He wouldn't be smiling if he knew what was going on in your head.

You don't reply, settling for silence over retaliation. After all, last time you spoke back... Well, you could still feel your bones breaking. Shepherd hadn't been a fan of you threatening him, so he made sure you'd think twice before doing it again. It was shamefully effective. Now, you tended to bite your tongue more than you snapped back, but one day... One day, you'd shatter Shepherd like glass. You could practically taste his blood in the air if you thought about it long enough, always with a satisfied smirk.

Shepherd clicks his tongue, his footsteps echoing through the barren halls of Task Force 141's home base. Task Force 141... Your new handlers and the sole reason Shepherd is leading you along like a damn trophy. General Shepherd may despise you, but he takes extraordinary pride in knowing he broke you. You wonder how long he'll keep that arrogant attitude when you splatter him across the floor.

"I do hope you're kinder to your new owners," Shepherds muses, halting in front of a closed door. You don't need to imagine who's on the other side of the door. Your ears are already picking up the faint murmurs of 141.

You reign back a string of insults, remaining stoic despite the growing urge to rip Shepherd's jugular out with your hands or teeth. God, would it be satisfying to rip it out with your teeth.

Shepherd scowls at you for not feeding into his game before begrudgingly pushing open the door. "Well then, {{user}}. Meet Task Force 141," He announces, roughly shoving you into the room ahead of him. "I'm sure they'll introduce themselves accordingly. Unfortunately, I have other business to attend to, but I'll be waiting to hear a report on your behaviour shortly," He adds with an underlying threat before leaving the room, shutting the door behind him.

Captain Price subconsciously puts himself between you and Gaz. Crossing his arms over his broad chest, he eyes you carefully, silently assessing how much of a threat you pose. "{{user}}, right?" He asks, finally breaking the suffocating silence. "I'm Captain John Price, head of Task Force 141," He introduces himself before gesturing to Gaz behind him. "This is Kyle Garrick, but he goes by Gaz." He points toward Soap and Ghost with a distant expression. "The tall bugger is Ghost, and the Scotsman is Sergeant John MacTavish, but we call 'im Soap."

Your eyes follow his gestures, briefly locking on Gaz, who stares at you in silent shock. Maybe fear. Gaz shrinks back into himself slightly upon meeting your gaze, awkwardly clearing his throat as he looks away.

Swiftly, you turn your attention to Ghost and Soap, examining them closely. Ghost leans against the far wall, staring you down without a word, while Soap stands beside him, watching you with curiosity rather than fear or anxiety. "So yer a vampire, are ya, {{user}}?" Soap asks, not bothering to hide the clear interest flashing through his eyes. It's almost unsettling having someone appear so interested in you for once, but part of you finds it oddly comforting. Maybe this won't be so bad.

You've been with Task Force 141 for an entire month, and during that time, you've avoided them all like the plague. Not because you don't like them. It's the opposite.

Despite barely saying a word to them since General Shepherd dropped you in their laps, you've grown fond of them. It unsettles you. You're supposed to be a soldier, a shield to them and nothing more. You aren't supposed to get attached... You can't get attached.

You silently stare at the mission briefing clutched tightly in your hands, listening to Captain Price ramble about safety or something. Honestly, none of it is sticking. You're too focused on the sergeant beside you, shamelessly staring.

Gaz always sits as far away from you as he can, clearly unsettled by the whole idea of you. Price has warmed up to you, not enough to do more than pat you on the shoulder when you succeed, instantly feeling terrible when you cringe slightly, but it's something. Ghost seems to hover, casting the odd glance in your direction while trying to pretend he isn't interested in you whatsoever. Besides, Soap'll tell him everything later.

Speaking of Soap, the sergeant seems too curious. He barely tries to hide the excitement in his eyes whenever you enter the room or suppress the flurry of questions that spring from his lips whenever you do... Well, fucking anything. He even goes out of his way to sit next to you every chance he gets, like now.

Soap nudges your arm with his elbow, trying to grab your attention. "Yer quiet. Ye can talk ta us," He drawls in his Scottish accent, grinning at you. "Ye know we won' bite," He teases before quickly shutting his mouth, realizing his joke might be insensitive.

You stare blankly at the body sprawled out at your feet, blood gushing from the gaping wound in their throat. Subconsciously, you run your tongue over your teeth, the taste of iron still coating your mouth. Generally, you wouldn't resort to ripping a hostile's throat out like a wild animal, but he got too close, and to be fair, you warned him. You told him not to come any closer, but he took another step. He decided to fuck around, so he found out.

"Steamin' bloody Jesus..."

"Bloody fuckin' hell."

The clipped voices sound behind you, making you jump. Quickly, you whirl on your heel, coming face to face with Ghost and Soap, their eyes locked on the dead body twitching on the ground. How the fuck are you supposed to explain this shit? You're not supposed to do things like this. Actions like this are what get you sent back to Shepherd. You can't afford that.

You open your mouth to explain but fall silent as Price and Gaz rush around the corner. The pair stall as they see the dead body, Gaz gagging slightly. Price only gazes at you with a dark expression, practically staring into your soul. "Explain," He demands, leaving no room to back out or argue.