It was hours before the sun would come up...

"This might be the most frightening thing I've done in a while." she said to the Commander. He knew, coming from her, that was saying something.

It was hours before the sun would come up, and all they could think about was the this last step in the year long mission they were about to complete. Years of planning, recon, more planning, practice, thinking about contingencies. All of that had come down to the next few hours for the two of them.

It seemed like they were just working on reflex at this point. They had been thinking about this moment, the moment they were going to push the button, for the last eight months. Once they found this last person, they could push the button and be whisked off to their homes. It almost seemed surreal for the both of them.

They were trying to stay focused on the moment, but they both knew that the other was thinking about what would happen after. The awards, the thanks, the rest. She felt more tired than she ever had before, and she could see the same feeling on the face of the commander. All they had to do was tag the last one, push the button, and it would all be over.

Amazingly, he walked out of the building by himself. No guards, no protection, no knowledge of what was about to happen to him. The Commander tapped her on the shoulder and whispered, "Now. Let's go."

They started to move around the berm they had been perched on, and behind the house next to their target. It seemed almost too easy. They both had a sense of urgency in their steps as they approached him. They moved quickly and quietly, and just before they reached him, he turned towards them.


Prompt provided by http://www.thinkingten.com/