<span style="font-size: 115%; line-height: 116%;">It felt like sunlight wasn't as warm as it used to be. Shaking his head, the gunner crouched down on the roof of a small convenience store, perfectly positioned at the entrance to town. It was probably just his imagination, still, he was glad for the jacket he'd thrown over the resistance uniform. There was a name stitched into jacket, 'Reed', which wasn't actually his. Neither was the jacket, really, but he didn't figure anyone was missing it. These days there was more junk lying around than free people to use it. His hands were trembling lightly from the cold as he unpacked and assembled the rifle. It was a beat-up thing, probably in need of repair and definitely adjustment, but he never had the time. Anyway he was used to the peculiarities of its aim, so unless it jammed he would make the shots he had to and the team would get out before anything went wrong.<br/><br/>It was evening, and the deserted town was windy. Leaning up over the edge of the building, 'Reed' counted his people. Another gunner inside the motel, a demolitions soldier with a grenade launcher (in case they failed to stop the convoy here), and a driver laying low in the jeep they'd be making an escape with. He could keep track of this team, they'd done this before. Take out high-profile targets, sabotage the convoy to prevent pursuit, and escape. This had become pretty routine. Well, as routine as it could be when the enemy might be able to teleport, or fly, or breathe fire. Or God only knew what else.<br/><br/>Spotting something glinting far down the highway, Reed reviewed the priority targets that had been listed. Two demons, one male and likely to be inside of an armored truck, yellow hair and heavy build. Called 'Kott.' The other was female, alias unknown. Few details about her, which meant they were just supposed to take out the demon woman who looked like she was in charge. Fine, his people could handle it.<br/><br/>When he looked through the scope he saw her face. <span style="color: #008040">"What?"</span> Reed felt sick suddenly, shock and bitterness mixing within his stomach. <span style="color: #008040">"Why you?"</span> He hesitated, unwilling to fire - and in that second the other gunner fired, taking the driver of the armored truck out. Not her, thank goodness. Wasting no time he fired on the gunner mounted on the jeep beside the truck, killing him. He grabbed for the radio beside him, shouting his instructions into it. <span style="color: #008040">"Do not fire on female officer! Repeat, do not fire on her!"</span> Then he raised his rifle and took another shot at the jeep.<br/><br/>When the motel's third floor exploded, Reed realized that they'd already lost. At first he thought one of the jeeps must have had a rocketeer inside, but then he realized that the shot had come from their own grenadier. In the mere seconds they could have seen him, one of the demons had possessed him and now had a puppet armed to the teeth. It must have been Kott, no wonder he'd been a high-profile target. Maybe command could have mentioned that if he saw you he could make you a mindless automaton in about as long as it takes to sneeze. Cursing his luck, Reed ran away from the highway-side of the convenience store, leaping off the roof a few seconds before it too was blown apart. By now the convoy had stopped, and demons would be spreading through the ghost town looking for him, and probably discovering the driver as well.<br/><br/>Reed was smiling, albeit bitterly. Well, he thought, at least she was safe. His former friend turned enemy of the human race was going to be okay. It was hilarious. He ran past a few buildings before sliding into what had been a small bar, hopping over the bar and planting his back to it. He'd left the rifle on the roof, and so drew his handgun, trying to breathe as quietly as possible.<br/><br/>Lucas. That had been his name before this nonsense, back when the world was green and warm. And she had been a friend, you know the kind. The one you always hope something more happens with but you don't say it because you don't want to lose the friendship. The girl you never get over. And then she was a demon and the world crumbled around him...</span>