Episode5: R for Reznov

Mike walked, deep in thought about his confrontation with Reznov back at the facility. Had he been too harsh? After all, Reznov had saved his life at the hotel. Sure, the man was secretive, but so far, he hadn't done anything suspicious—at least, not yet.

"No... I still can't trust him. But if Carlina were here, she'd know what to do."

Shaking his head, Mike pushed the thought aside. There was no time for doubt—only moving forward.

He barely noticed when Reznov and Natasha came to a sudden stop. Mike looked up—they had arrived at the airfield.

A cold wind howled across the tarmac, and the broken floodlights cast faint, flickering shadows. In the distance, the rhythmic chopping of helicopter blades echoed through the night.

Exhausted, Mike laid the half-conscious Dmitry onto a stretcher. The man groaned under his breath.

"Just... get us somewhere safe..."

Something felt off. Carlina wasn't there. The area had been completely cleared, yet there was no sign of her.

Natasha removed her helmet and stood next to Reznov.

"How many do we have left?"

Reznov, still gazing at the horizon, replied calmly.

"Just four… out of twelve."

Mike clenched his jaw.

"And you still think it was worth it?"

Reznov's voice was steady but distant.

"Someday, you'll understand."

Natasha knelt beside Dmitry, tending to his wounds. Mike observed her closely. Not only was she a skilled demolitions expert, but she also knew battlefield medicine. No wonder this team had survived so long.

Well… except for this mission.

Mike felt a pang of regret for Andrei and Ivan. He hadn't known them well, but fighting alongside someone always forged a bond—whether you wanted it or not.

The low hum of the helicopter snapped him out of his thoughts. The aircraft descended, kicking up dust as it neared the landing zone. Mike shielded his face with his hand and stepped forward, expecting Carlina to emerge.

But instead, it was Jake.

Stunned, Mike ran forward and pulled him into a tight embrace.

"I thought I lost you too... Why didn't you answer?!"

Jake, caught off guard, patted Mike's back.

"Hey, man, calm down—I'm fine."

He hesitated before adding, "They found our position. I was too busy escaping to grab the damn radio. I'm sorry, Mike. I couldn't get reinforcements to you... Their chopper got shot down mid-air."

Then, he turned toward Reznov and his team.

"Who are they? They don't look like your men."

Mike quickly composed himself.

"They're not. At first, I thought they were reinforcements, but... we just happened to be on the same path. Still, without them, we wouldn't have made it."

Jake nodded and turned to the group.

"Well, good to meet you guys."

The others responded with brief nods, keeping their distance.

Then, a distant rumble cut through the night. Headlights flickered on the horizon.

"They found us," Mike muttered.

Without hesitation, he and Jake climbed aboard the helicopter. It was time to leave.

As the aircraft lifted off, Mike looked down at Reznov.

"You're not coming?"

Reznov unslung his rifle from his back.

"Someone has to stay behind. We'll hold them off."

Mike frowned.

"Why? Is this just an excuse? Or am I about to see you pull something suspicious again?"

Reznov was silent for a moment before responding in a low, serious tone.

"Mike... my work here isn't finished. You need to go. This mission is bigger than you realize. That facility... it was more than just a nuclear site."

Mike clenched his fists.

"And now you decide to tell me? What changed? Suddenly, you trust me?"

Lighting a cigarette, Reznov exhaled slowly.

"Maybe because I won't be seeing you again."

He gave a bitter smile.

"And to be honest... I'm fine with that."

Mike's expression hardened.

"Yeah... same here."

Despite his distrust, he couldn't deny the truth—this man had helped them survive up to this point. Maybe, just maybe, he wasn't the enemy.

The headlights of enemy vehicles drew closer.

Reznov turned to Mike.

"Go, now. They're coming. Natasha, Dmitry, and I are staying behind. Your mission is over, but ours isn't."

Mike hesitated at the helicopter's door.

"Dmitry, come with us. With that wound, you—"

Dmitry cut him off.

"Thanks, but no. We're a team. We stay together."

Mike clenched his jaw, then gave a brief nod. For the last time, he looked at Reznov.

The doors shut, and the helicopter lifted into the night sky.

For the first time in a long while, Mike felt his mind settle—but only briefly.

He turned to Jake.

"Have you heard from Carlina? I'm worried about her."

Jake shook his head.

"Last time she checked in was thirty minutes ago. Said her whole team was wiped out and she was trapped. For now, relax, Mike. Carlina knows how to handle herself."

Then, he smirked.

"She was your superior officer, after all."

Suddenly, the radio crackled to life. Carlina's voice came through, but it was distorted.

"Ma... Mike... r... at... conn..."

Mike slammed the side of the radio.

"Damn it, what's wrong with this thing?"

Despite the interference, one thing was clear—Carlina was still alive.

Meanwhile…

Gunfire echoed through the scrapyard of abandoned aircraft. Bullets ricocheted off rusted metal, creating a deafening symphony of chaos.

Natasha, ducking behind cover, yelled, "We're running out of ammo! Get to Dmitry and get him ready to move!"

Reznov remained still.

"I have something to do first. Hold them off a little longer."

Moving swiftly through the wreckage, he crouched near a patch of dirt and began digging. Within seconds, his hands found a buried metal crate.

Natasha's voice cut through the chaos.

"Reznov! Where the hell are you?! I can't hold them off much longer!"

A few seconds later, Reznov stood tall. A small launcher rested on his shoulder.

Natasha, still dragging Dmitry to safety, turned and gasped.

"Wait! What the hell are you doing?!"

She dropped Dmitry and sprinted toward Reznov—but it was too late.

Reznov aimed the launcher at the helicopter.

"Forgive me, Mike..."

The missile streaked through the night.

Inside the cockpit, Mike, still adjusting the faulty radio, noticed the flash.

"Jake—Incoming missile!"

The cabin alarms blared, red warning lights flashing.

Mike braced himself as he watched the missile streak toward them like a dragon roaring through the sky.

"Evasive maneuvers—NOW!"

But it was too late.

The explosion consumed the helicopter mid-air. Flames painted the sky in hues of orange and red, casting shadows over the airfield.

Reznov's expression remained unreadable as he watched the wreckage fall.