I struggled with the Marine; he knew who I was--or was meant to be--but without Menshikov’s memories I had no chance of guessing who was wearing this Dupe. He grinned and twisted my arm. I flinched and grunted through gritted teeth. A smile twitched across his face, and he pulled harder. My tendons burned, and I drew a breath, hissing a cuss. That's all he was going to get, I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of hearing me beg to stop.
A shout echoed from the end of the alley, we both looked. It was Schulz’s platoon, calling him back. He licked his lips. “I’d break you now, but I don’t want to break my cover.” He released his grip and pushed me away. Tipping his head, he flexed. “Gotta love the pump, and this fucker has shit loads.” I watched him jog back to the rest of the men, as I rubbed my shoulder. It sickened me; good soldiers, replaced by Erko’s men.
I waited for a few minutes, nursing my shoulder then continued back to the gym Menshikov had made his base. The aching had subsided by the time I arrived, thankfully the suit had taken the brunt of the attack.
Inside I could see Ivan working out. He’s a giant of a man, or would be if he wasn’t an advanced IA-suit. He was a mobile holding cell. His prisoner was the real Menshikov, the man I’d replaced. I was wearing his body-suit now, even though it’s too small and pinched in all the wrong places.
A shout echoed from the end of the alley, we both looked. It was Schulz’s platoon, calling him back. He licked his lips. “I’d break you now, but I don’t want to break my cover.” He released his grip and pushed me away. Tipping his head, he flexed. “Gotta love the pump, and this fucker has shit loads.” I watched him jog back to the rest of the men, as I rubbed my shoulder. It sickened me; good soldiers, replaced by Erko’s men.
I waited for a few minutes, nursing my shoulder then continued back to the gym Menshikov had made his base. The aching had subsided by the time I arrived, thankfully the suit had taken the brunt of the attack.
Inside I could see Ivan working out. He’s a giant of a man, or would be if he wasn’t an advanced IA-suit. He was a mobile holding cell. His prisoner was the real Menshikov, the man I’d replaced. I was wearing his body-suit now, even though it’s too small and pinched in all the wrong places.

















