All For Family

(Hunter's POV)

"Why did the little house go off?" I asked about the explosion.

"Long story, get your ass here Bamf, I will tell you all there is to know." Pita said through the radio.

I turned away from the house that blew to a million pieces and continued running as fast as I could.

After a few of passing some trees I saw a watch tower.

"Climb up." Said Pita.

I directed myself towards the tower and went up as blood drops left a red trail behind me. My wound was open and I could feel my shirt was soaking wet in blood.

I opened the tower's door to see the two beautiful faces I was expecting.

"Tom, you are an asshole. Kross, you are a life saver." I said

"Get over here you little twat, I missed you." Tom said as he hugged me tightly

I felt my wound fire up in pain and I screamed at Tom.

"My wound you dumbass." I said angrily.

"I'm so sorry. I just missed you partner." Tom said as a genuine smile lit up on his face.

"I missed you too Tom." I said as I went in for a soft hug.

I flinched at the pain from the hug but it was worth it.

"I expect you will be ready by tomorrow." Said Dr. Kross as he extended his arm for a handshake.

"But I just got here doctor." I said as I extended my arm and shook his hand.

"I know, too much to explain, Pita here will help you process what has been going on while you were in there." He said referring to Tom.

"Wait so who's X?" I asked.

"Me obviously." Said Dr. Kross

"And I'm Pita." Tom added.

"I know dumbass, you were a pain in the ass since day one but I never thought you'd take it as your name." I said as we laughed a bit.

"You already figured that out?" Tom said after laughing.

"It isn't a riddle." I said with a wink.

"Now we wait for the report and then we can move out the dome." Dr. Kross said "And I'm going to explain what's going on overtime because Tom is a bit of an idiot sometimes."

I laughed at that as Tom stood in shock. He laughed it off as well because there was no coming back from that

Just as he said that his radio made a static.

"X, this is H reporting, the target is eliminated alongside his family. Can you please tell him I love him? Please. Over." A voice said over Dr. Kross' radio

"Exceptional work H, I will tell him as well. Thank you, old friend. Farewell. Over and out." Dr. Kross said.

"Roger that. Farewell. Over and out old friend." H said over the radio.

Dr. Kross lowered his radio and placed it on a nearby table. He sat on a chair close to the table and started crying silently. This was the first time I saw Kross this emotional, hell it was the first time he was emotional at all.

"You good doc?" I asked.

Kross immediately wiped his tears and regained his composure like nothing happened. He stood in front of me.

"Henry said he loves you Hunter. He was the one on the radio. He was the one who told us what was going on. He told us that he would do what he did to you to buy us time, so we can come and escort you out of Ben's reach. He sacrificed himself for you Hunter." Kross explained.

"That's why we need to get out of here now. They caught him and they will know we are here as well." Tom said as he went for the door.

"He is not dead yet, so we should try to save him, please." I said.

"We can't afford the risk. He is dear to me as much as he is to you. He is the oldest friend I have." Dr. Kross explained.

"He is the only family I have left doc." I said.

"I know how hard that must be, but he ordered us himself to escort you out of the dome. We can't go against that because we promised him." Tom said.

"But, Tom...… I can't leave him behind. He saved my life." I said.

"It's what he wanted." Tom looked at me dead in the eye "Now let's go before they find us too."

Tom went behind the table and grabbed two rifles, he handed one to Dr. Kross and one to me. It was an M16

"War?" I asked.

"It's been on partner, you were just asleep." Tom said as he went out the door.

"Now before we go let me bandage you up a bit, so that wound of yours doesn't open up again." Dr. Kross said.

"Okay, but be quick."

I sat on the chair and took off my shirt as Kross bandaged me upper body apart from my arms. It felt oddly calming after being patched up.

'Now I run without getting my shirt wet.' I thought.

"Take this shirt, that one has a huge mark on its back saying I'm Hunter Smith." Dr. Kross said referring to the blood on the shirt from my wound.

I took the black shirt and put it on quickly then grabbed my backpack alongside my rifle and then followed Kross out of the watch tower.

We climbed down the stairs hastily as Tom brought the buggy close to us.

"Cloaked?" I asked.

"Made it two days ago." Dr. Kross said.

He finally figured out how to cloak the buggy. That was very good for some things that needed to be done.

"Where to now?" I said as I got in.

"Out the tunnel system we dug." Tom said as he started driving.

I tried to rest a bit because I was exhausted. I needed a lot of rest but there was little time for it.

"So who blew up in that house? There was a little kid inside, you know?" I said.

"That house belonged to Ben Hughes. He is no more." Said Dr. Kross.

"Damn you just killed Daniel's brother." I said.

"We did him a favor." Tom said.

"What about his family. Why them as well? You could've taken him out somewhere else." I said.

"His wife and kid are more manipulative than him. I saw it with my own eyes. Best not to talk about it." Said Dr. Kross.

'Huh, I guess maybe they are right.' I thought to myself.

We went through the field I ran in. I saw glimpses of the trail of blood I had left behind me. I cringed a bit at the sight.

After about ten minutes of going full speed in the field we reached an end of the dome.

"Take a look partner, the tunnel I dug. Just like the ones we used to dig together." Tom said.

We went underground all of a sudden, through a tunnel. Like the ones we used to dig together.

"So many memories, aye?" I said.

"Good ones." Tom replied.

A few moments later we came out of the tunnel and out of the dome.

I saw a lot of dead bodies so I knew what went down here. They came to dig the tunnel but the guards tried to stop them, and they met their end.

"Tidy work partner." I said jokingly.

"We didn't have time to hide the bodies." Tom justified.

"Sure." I said with a giggle.

"Whatever dude."

"So where now, doc?" I asked.

"To find Daniel, in Manchester." Dr. Kross said.

'Thank you uncle Henry. And hang on Daniel.' I said inside as I looked at the dawn's sky.