• Deuce made a subtle movement with his thumb to wipe the sweat from his brow. He had spent two days in his current location, patiently scanning the landscape through his scope. His barrel barely poked out of a semi-collapsed buildings second-story window. He looked out on the remains of a once great city. But now buildings were in ruin, some only rubble. Cars lay abandoned in the streets. Nature had already begun to reclaim the landscape, grass and small trees poked through the asphalt, while vines slowly worked their way up buildings. An occasional deer, stray dog or various other animals would occasionally catch his eye, distracting him momentarily. In his sentries Deuce had seen many things, animals, humans, both COG and stranded, and countless Locust. No matter how many times he saw a member of the Locust Horde, they always gave him the chills, still, he preferred killing them to humans. He had shot both, and killing Locust felt more like hunting than killing. This was his job. Long periods of boring observation, time for quiet reflection on the sins and salvation's of his past, followed by that shock that shot through your body when the unnatural form a drone entered your scope. Deuce knew those moments well, the concentration that then followed as he studied his preys movements and numbers. The anticipation before the trigger was pulled, the anxiety you felt as it cut through the air, and the jubilation as a spray of blood confirmed your marksmanship. But for now, all lay quiet. Birds chirped in the afternoon sun, unaware of the struggle humanity faced on the ground, unsympathetic to their plight. Had the threat of death not been hanging over his head, Deuce would have enjoyed the beautiful day, and allowed himself to rest, but he could not allow himself that luxury, not now.Deuce slowly lowered his his head, yawning into the scuffed ground he was laying on. He slowly returned his face to the cheek guard of his weapon. He resumed his old task of surveying the landscape. It didn't take Deuce long to note a difference in the landscape. Although the sun still shone, the cheery mood that had resonated through the ruined city was no more. The chirping of birds that once was had faded away. Deuce's hair stood on the back of his neck, his senses heightened. Every small noise caused his eyes to investigate its source. A deep, low, primal howl echoed across the city block, Deuce no longer had to guess at the source of the disturbance, drones. It was a short interval before a single member of the Locust Horde stalked into his view. Deuce knew that it wasn't alone, drones never travel alone. It didn't take Deuce long to decide on his course of action. He would pull one of the oldest plays from the snipers playbook. It was one of the reasons that snipers were so hated on the battlefield. It played on the courage and nobility of his enemies, punishing them for their heroics. Deuce sucked in a deep breath, and held it. A familiar tunnel vision of sorts fell over his mind. The only thing that existed to Deuce was his mark, and the six city blocks worth of obstacles that lie in his way. A familiar, single boom exploded from the end of his barrel, rebounding off the destroyed buildings and returning to his ears. A sray of blood confirmed Deuce's shot, dead accurate. His bullet hit about six inches above the groin, and dead center on the chests x-axis. The Drone howled as his legs gave out beneath him, and he slumped onto the ground. Now Deuce waited, for although he hated the Locust, he could not deny them their title as noble, intelligent warriors. They made complete use of their resources. Deuce knew from personal experience that there were a number of jobs in the hollow that even a crippled Locust such as this one could perform, so he would not be left behind...not yet at least. A second drone cautiously ventured into view, scanning the landscape for the bullets source. Deuce waited, the last thing he wanted to do was give away his location. The locust crouched to pick his fallen comrade up, but slumped onto the ground as a spray of blood exploded from the center of his upper back. Two Locusts now squirmed on the ground, struggling to escape. A third drone appeared almost immediately. Deuce cringed, drones were stupid, but not that stupid. There was obviously another sniper out there, stalking him. A long, anxious minute passed, Deuce made very slow, precise movements as he searched for the locust sniper. A bullet streaked through the air, the Locust bait looked questioningly into the sky, unsure of the direction in which the bullet had traveled. His question was answered as a second bullet turned his head into a bloody soup.