Ch.18

"Operation Charly, you are needed in keeping that going," the CIA agent tells me while handing me a file. 

Reading through it, I see that Operation Charly is an off-the-books covert project ordered by President Ronald Reagan to help the Contra rebels fight the Russian-backed Sandinistas in Nicaragua. Only one CIA agent, Grace Mallory, was in charge of trafficking cocaine into the US and selling the money gained to buy weapons for the Contra rebels. 

"So, what is the reason Reagan needs me to get involved?" I say after handing back the file and I can see we are headed to a military airport. 

"This is why," the CIA agent then hands me another file. 

The difference between the two files is the first one is still top secret, but this one is higher up on the list. While my secret is considered one of the most important ones. However, I can see in this new file that the US government was approached by Vought International about getting Superheroes in the military. That they will be sending 'Payback', Soldier Boy's team, to this last mission of Operation Charly for a trial run. 

"So, what? I'm there to babysit the Superheros. You should all know that Soldier Boy will recognize me," I say handing back the file he gave me. 

"We are aware of that, which is why you will wear this… Plus we want our asset, Grace Mallory to be protected, you are to ensure she stays alive," the CIA agent says and grabs a case from the front passenger seat and hands it to me. 

Inside the case I saw what looked like tactical gear for a special operations mission, however, there was also a mask inside the case. The mask looked just like the one Ghost used to wear in the Call of Duty games from my past life, except it was blood-red in color. I just chuckled at seeing this but put it back in the case. 

'Might be to resemble the blood angel unit I created,' I think see that it is a deep blood red in color. 

"Why the skull mask?" I say looking at the CIA agent. 

"No idea, I didn't suggest it," the CIA agent says shrugging his shoulders. 

We then arrive at the airport where I board an unmarked plane and make the journey to Nicaragua. The journey took several long hours, which landed me at an undisclosed location. From there I was brought to the camp through the dense jungle, though at this point I was already wearing the uniform given to me. 

Once we arrived at the site, everyone stopped to look at me, each with worried looks and confused faces. Though seeing I was with one of theirs they didn't say or do anything. I was then led to the command tent of the encampment, inside I saw a very skinny blonde woman in her early thirties. 

"Who the fuck are you?" the woman says turning to see who entered and giving me a confused look.

"You can call me Logan, I'm here on orders," I say handing her the orders given to me from CIA command. The orders tell her I was not a replacement or someone she could order around, but here on another top-secret mission along with ensuring her safety. 

"Glad they told me nothing," the woman says who I now assume to be Grace Mallory. 

"Did they tell you in a couple of days that Payback will be coming here?" I say taking a seat in the tent and lighting up a cigarette which I could smoke through the mask thankfully. 

"What?!" Grace says giving a very annoyed look. 

"What the fuck are those Super fucks coming here for?!" Grace continues very angry now and picks up a secured phone to make a call. 

I just watch her call her boss who informs her they will be coming here to assist her in her operation. That they are doing this as a trial for possibly entering the US military. Grace was becoming increasingly annoyed the more she learned. She then hangs up the phone while cursing a bunch and lighting up a cigarette now too. 

"Fucking mother fuckers! I am so close to finishing here and they throw this in my lap! Those entitled dumb fucks are going to ruin everything!" Grace says complaining to herself and venting, though now I can see she is not a fan girl of Superheros. Unlike most people from America who seem ready to kiss all the Superhero asses. 

"You are one of the few people I met who hate Superheroes… Glad to have met another one. Those bastards get too much credit and do too little," I say while thinking angry thoughts about Soldier Boy. I'm very tempted to reveal myself to him and beat the shit out of him since the more I learn about him over the years, the more I've come to hate him. 

"You can say that again," Grace says with a heavy sigh after a few moments of silence. 

"So, what's the mission you are here for?" Grace says turning to me and seems to have come to terms with the issue she will be facing in a couple of days. 

"I'm technically not supposed to say, but then again I really don't give a fuck. They asked me here to watch your back and make sure the Super dipshits don't fuck anything up," I say shrugging as Grace gives me a look over. 

"No offense but what can you do that could stop them?" Grace says fishing for information. 

"More than you know," I say not elaborating. 

"Fine, just don't get in my way and we'll be good," Grace says walking out and continuing with her plan for this Operation. 

"Aye, aye Captain," I say with a chuckle as she leaves making her grunt in annoyance at me. 

Over the next two days, I just relax while smoking the cigarettes and cigars I brought with me. Plus I shot the shit with a few of her men, while Grace was just ignoring my presence. Then as Grace was walking through the camp and I was sitting down by the camp edge, I heard a small group of very loud individuals approaching the site. 

"¡Oye! ¡La gente viene al suroeste!" (Yo! People are coming southwest!) I shout to the group who all immediately grab their weapons with Grace taking cover behind a supply crate. 

Walking out of the forest is Payback, led by Soldier Boy. The team consists of Crimson Countess, Soldier Boy's supposed Girlfriend, a fairly attractive redheaded woman wearing a very revealing red leather costume. Gunpowder, Soldier Boy's sidekick, and a young teen wearing a similar outfit to Soldier Boy's costume. Black Noir who appeared to be an average-looking Black man, wearing a skin-tight black costume. 

There was also Mindstorm, an average-looking white guy wearing a black three-piece suit. Swatto is a Hispanic man with a pair of wings like a Fly's wings and a costume made to look like a Fly. And finally, the TNT Twins, who were wearing matching costumes. Plus the group had another Black man among them, who I assume was Vought's representative. The man looked like a much younger Giancarlo Esposito from my past life. 

I just watch from a distance as the man who looks like a younger Giancarlo Esposito walks to Grace speaking with her. The Superheroes are showing off for the men on site as they all look at them with excited expressions. I go back to smoking and ignoring the new group of idiots who appeared. Not even an hour after they arrived, Swatto flew into the air showing off his Flying capabilities. 

"Get the fuck down!! Now!!!" Grace yells at Swatto who comes down as Grace looks ready to smack him. 

"Calm down lady," Swatto says giving her a disinterested look. Seeing Grace becoming more upset, I walk over silently in case something goes down. 

"Get your fucking people under control! This dumbass will give our position away and he might have already done!" Grace says turning to Soldier Boy, as the Giancarlo Esposito 

Lookalike is somewhere else. 

"Swatto don't fly unless I tell you to," Soldier Boy says as Swatto just nods his head walking away. 

"Listen I get you want to be that 'Strong and Independent' woman who 'needs no man', but you should relax some. Plus I can help you relax if you want," Soldier Boy says to Grace and smirks at the end. I roll my eyes, just watching since I won't act unless needed. 

"The fuck did you call me? Listen here you dumb fucker, unlike you, I have real responsibilities and a job. Plus I'm not interested in a fake macho man," Grace says to him making Soldier Boy's face turn to a scowl quickly. I chuckle hearing this but move closer in case he tries to hit her. 

"Listen here you bitch! I'm not even interested in you, I was just offering you a good time! I've fucked so many different celebrities, you couldn't even compare to!" Soldier Boy says trying to defend his dignity. Before Grace can continue to verbally fight him back, Swatto flies back up and even higher this time. 

"You stupid mother–" Grace starts to say but then an Anti Air rocket comes flying over exploding and killing Swatto in an instant. 

A second later, Russian soldiers along with Sandinista soldiers, who begin shooting at anyone and everyone. I grab Grace and pull her away as a machine gun unloads on the spot where she is just standing. Soldier Boy uses his shield to block the bullets. I bring us behind the cover near the command area. 

She looks over and I take out a rifle and start shooting back at the enemies. However, as I start to shoot back Gunpowder, Crimson Countess, and The TNT Twins all fight back, but instead of killing the enemies. They targeted our allies killing them, with Gunpowder gunning them down using the 50cal machine gun. As Crimson Countess used her red balls of energy to explode people, along with the TNT Twins electrocuting people. 

"You are killing my men!!" Grace shouts seeing the dumbass Superheroes killing our allies. 

Though the TNT Twins get taken down, a bullet finds the brother's arm, making him fall down crying out. His sister then drags him behind cover, while Crimson Countess runs off to where ever, with Gunpowder jumping off the jeep which explodes from a rocket a second later. The jeep causes the explosion to be even bigger as some of the ammo nearby explodes. 

I grab Grace covering her with my body as the explosion engulfs the area shredding my back and taking out the command area. I grunt in pain and then we both flew a few feet as I used my body to shield her. My ears were ringing from the explosion though I looked down to see Grace was fine just a few bruises and a small cut on her forehead. 

"What… You're hurt," Grace says while looking at the chaos before turning to me. 

I look down and see a large, maybe foot and half long, shrapnel from the jeep embedded in my stomach. With a grunt, I rip it out making more blood pour out, which then quickly stops as the wound heals. Grace just stares at me processing the scene. 

"You can ask later, just stay down. I'm gonna go make sure the area is secure," I say standing up and moving toward the sound of fighting which is getting further from the site north of it.

"Wait!" Grace says following after me, though I move faster than here. 

I move past the site which is now littered with dead and a hundred feet from the site, I see Soldier Boy fighting his team. Which is desperately trying to beat him, as Soviet Soldiers are standing by waiting for something. Then somehow, Crimson Countess got the jump as Soldier Boy was bashing Black Noir's head in with his shield. Crimson Countess knocked Soldier Boy down as the Soviets threw some gas which knocked out Soldier Boy.

'Do I let them take him or not…' I think since that was not in my orders.