Word had spread quickly, reaching Paragon's higher ups in just two days. He had gotten their attention, but he wasn't sure if it that was good or bad.

At least now they were a little more willing to listen, to see. He had spoken with every General and three of four Admirals were on his side.

Hopefully that would be enough to settle this matter, for them to be able to trust one another. Desertfox and the other medics had moved all the wounded they could, trying to get the medical tents clear for the next round of wounded and, potentially, make room for Paragon medics, equipment and wounded.

Hope was peeking through again, this time Mirage hoped for good.

He looked up as someone entered the warehouse, seeing Desertfox come in to the light.

"Everyone we could move has been, they're being taken to our base in the Cliffs. Paragon is being more helpful than they were before."

"That would be my fault," said Mirage, "I've been talking with the Generals and it appears as though we may have their support sometime soon. We might finally be able to put an end to this war."

"Did they hear about the victory in Maklava?" He asked, walking over to the table that now had a map of Maklava spread across it. The Underground had been taken back in just under three days of intense fighting.

Mirage nodded.

"They also know that we took several high-ranking officers as prisoners and intend to gain as much information from them as possible. We're slowly gaining ground, but we still need help here. If Hyperion falls this war is over."

Desertfox nodded, looking up at where Mirage stood studying the map.

"They see how you lead," he said, "they're beginning to see how you fight."

"Basilisk knew you could lead them before you even realized it yourself. She made the right decision."

Mirage stood with a sigh.

"Sometimes I wonder if she truly made the right decision, and I think to myself why choose me out of all the people she could have chosen? Out of all the people far more qualified then me, she chose the Captain who had never commanded more than thirty men at a time."

"She saw something in you the rest of us didn't." Said Desertfox.

"She saw the General in the Captain, she just needed to draw him out."

Mirage let his words sink in. He had known deep inside him Basilisk had seen in him a leader. She had seen within him the strength needed to be entrusted with the lives of thousands of men, to be entrusted with the survival of a planet.

Here and now he was showing that strength, making decisions he never would have thought he would ever be making.

This war had changed him, had changed the way people looked at him. They no longer saw the young Captain he had been.

He was the General he needed to be now.

War had shown him how to make hard decisions, how to balance the sacrifice of a few for the survival of many more. It had shown him how to give hope when there was none to be found.

It had showed him how to stand his ground and stick to what he thought was right.

Suddenly panicked voices shouted from outside, the sound of many sets of footsteps on concrete greeting his ears.

Through the shouting they heard gunshots, knowing immediately Necron was here.

Desertfox shot him a quick glance, both reaching for the rifles they had left leaning against the table. Mirage slipped his helmet on, flipping to the COM channel he used to communicate with his pilots.

"The command post has been compromised, requesting evac at Rally Points Wildfire and Nightfall. Wildfire is of utmost importance, get them out first."

Mirage heard footsteps as the pilot acknowledged the request, finger sliding to the trigger.

Nova appeared in front of them, several other men with her. Mirage dropped from the COM channel, lowering the rifle but keeping it ready.

"They found us?" He asked, gathering the maps that were laid out on the table.

Nova nodded, signaling for the squad to watch the rows of crates for enemies.

"Hundreds of them, they surprised us, catching the guards by surprise. They've pushed passed our outer defenses. They're coming for you."

Mirage nodded, taking the maps and setting fire to their plans, making sure that Necron wouldn't get their hands on the valuable information.

He dropped the maps to the floor to burn, following Nova out into the misty morning light. They checked every corner, Mirage using the ability of his armor to stay out of sight.

Suddenly out of nowhere one of the soldiers let out a strangled cry, falling back. Nova ushered them back behind the warehouse.

"Circle behind them." She said.

Mirage watched Desertfox check the soldier's pulse and shake his head, standing.

Together the group of eight moved towards the Rally Point where transports were waiting. Mirage had formed a plan incase this happened, knowing that at some point it was bound to.

His goal was to get as many of the important people out as fast as possible so there would be minimal prisoners to capture for information.

Rally Point Nightfall was a group of buildings with an ideal area for transports to land further into the city. Rally Point Wildfire was a clearing in the forest where the most important people evacuated too. Wildfire was closer and away from the city, putting Commanders, Platoon Leaders and Advisers as far from danger as possible.

Right now they was being pushed towards Nightfall. Mirage heard gunshots behind him and flinched, knowing his enemies couldn't see him but still shocked at the closeness of the shots.

They quickly crossed between buildings, Necron at their heels. Gradually more of their fellow allies joined them, all heading towards Nightfall.

Nova glanced at where he was, making sure he was still with them. Mirage watched as men went down like felled trees, the cries of wounded piercing the air.

Suddenly from behind him Mirage heard Desertfox cry out land turned, seeing him stumble. He dropped to one knee, rising quickly.

Blood trickled down his armor from a gunshot wound to the shoulder. Desertfox continued to push forward with grim determination, hand to his bleeding shoulder.

The enemy was now going for their medics.

"Are you okay?" He asked Desertfox over the COM.

"Yeah," he answered, his voice strained.

A cry of shock was torn from his lips as a bullet grazed the back of his neck below his helmet, damaging the mechanism that controlled his camouflage ability.

He came into view as it failed, the marking on his helmet visible to their enemies. Several shots hit close and he cursed his bad luck.

He saw their refuge coming up, another warehouse where they could make a stand if they needed to. There they would have the cover to have a fighting chance until the transports showed up.

Come on. He thought as they neared the building.

They were almost there when he heard Desertfox call his name.

"Mirage!"

Before he could react Desertfox had put himself between him and an enemy soldier, taking the bullet meant for Mirage. Deawrtfox collapsed to the concrete, hand pressed to his side.

Mirage killed the soldier that had hit Desertfox, kneeling beside Desertfox. He carefully slid his arms underneath him, picking him up gently.

Mirage followed the rest of his men into the safety of one of the others warehouses, looking at where Desertfox's head rested against his shoulder, watching his shallow breathing.

Blood had begun to stain Mirage's armor, leaving streaks of red across tan. The bullet had hit Desertfox in the upper abdomen under his arm, the same side as his injured shoulder.

Once they were safely inside the building he gently got to his knees, sliding off Desertfox's helmet. Mirage heard him struggling to breath through the blood collecting in the back of his throat, knew the wound he had sustained was severe.

"Medic!" he called desperately, materializing in the dim light. "Someone!"

Mirage slipped off his helmet and looked for the entrance wound, finding it below his right arm. He pressed his hand to the wound, hoping to slow the bleeding. Mirage held Desertfox gently in his arms, doing everything he could to keep him alive.

He watched helplessly as Desertfox coughed up blood, crimson running from the corner of his mouth.

"Mirage," he gasped, his breathing ragged.

He saw Desertfox reach for his hand and took it, holding it tight.

"Mirage I promised her..." he whispered, his voice catching in his throat as he struggled to breath, blood tracing his jaw.

"Promised who?" Asked Mirage, his voice soft.

"Oracle... I promised I would come back to her..."

Desertfox coughed again, taking in halting, pained breaths.

"...I broke my promise."

Mirage shook his head. "You don't know that."

"I do," Desertfox said, his voice a hoarse whisper, "and you do too."

"You can't die." Mirage said, trying to convince himself more than anyone.

"I need you."

Mirage saw deep sadness shining bright in Desertfox's eyes, saw the agony reflected in their brown depths.

"I'm sorry..." Desertfox gasped, tears sliding down his face, "I'm so sorry..."

In that moment he saw a scared nineteen year old boy, the boy he had met and taken under his wing. The boy he treated like a brother, one who didn't deserve to die, that didn't deserve to suffer like he was.

"You have nothing to apologize for Elijah," he said quietly, tears coming to his eyes. "You did more than anyone asked of you, you have saved countless lives. You made mine better. But now... now it's time for you to rest."

The words were hard to say, but he knew Desertfox needed every bit of comfort he could give him. Mirage reached out, wiping away his tears, smiling sadly.

"I'm proud of you." He said softly.

Desertfox smiled faintly, his breathing growing shallower and shallower.

"Thank you for everything you've done for me..." he whispered, his gaze drifting.

"Thank you..."

Mirage watched as his eyes closed, felt his hand slip from his. The ache in Mirage's chest grew stronger as tears began to fall, one right after the other, bitter sadness tearing his heart apart.

A thousand emotions warred within him, he wanted to cry out, let the world hear his grief, hear the anguish roiling within him like a storm-torn ocean.

He had lost Basilisk, then Moonshine, faced the possibility of losing the one he loved and had now lost Desertfox. None of them had deserved to die, to suffer like they had.

But Elijah had chosen to save one last life, his life, and he was going to make sure he carried on no matter how hard it was to move forward.

He would make sure Basilisk hadn't died for a rebellion that was subdued in the end.

He would make sure Moonshine had the freedom she had fought for.

He would make sure Oracle came back to him alive.

He would make sure Elijah hadn't died in vain, that his one last sacrifice meant something in the end.

Mirage took in a shaky breath, the grief he felt still raw. He laid Desertfox on the ground, pausing for a moment before standing, saying goodbye to a friend and brother.

As he grabbed his helmet from beside Desertfox he took a moment to look at the reflection staring back at him, at the symbol on the helmet.

He donned his helmet, grabbing his rifle, preparing himself to push forward.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ack this chapter was hard to write... *sniffs*. Hope ya'll enjoyed (or not?) the chapter, I hope it was written well and pulled at your heart.

~~Nightfury107

🤎🤍🤎 Rest in Peace Elijah