For the first time in my memory, my feet dragged. I was tired – exhausted, even. My head was starting to feel woozy, and the sky was populated by swimming black dots. Much more of this and I would certainly pass out. According to my HUD, target location was only another two-hundred meters out. My whole body longed for rest, a chance to plop down and empty my canteen. Once this stupid objective was complete, my contractors would supply me with everything I needed. Up ahead, what looked like a stony outcropping in the wind-blown sand came into view, only it wasn’t stone. It was a metal building. [i]The[/i] building. I turned. “What’s up, Grinch?” I heard the voice crackle through my radio. It belonged to Dave, the new black-op sniper standing behind me with his team. “This doesn’t look like a tango to me. Ain’t nothin’ here but us and dirt.” “They’ll be here,” I promised, struggling to keep my voice steady. If he even [i]detected[/i] a lie… “I’ll set up on top of this hill,” Dave decided. “If anything moves, it’ll be dead before it can say ‘ouch!’” Before I could respond, he disappeared up the sandy slope. The rest of the warriors shifted awkwardly. “I guess we’ll load up,” said one, cocking his rifle. “No,” I said firmly. “Wait.” Echoing footsteps rung out as Dave mounted the metal structure. His eyes were already darting around the vast landscape like a hawk’s, sniper at the ready. I held my breath. Seconds passed. “I see movement!” he cried. “Get ready!” Three shadowy figures emerged from behind a dune close by. Straight away, one looked right at me and nodded, as eerily and deliberately as a ghost. The signal. Without hesitation, I drew my pistol at Dave and pulled the trigger.