Cliff Mason
Accept call.


  Major Mercy
Sergeant Mason, report in. This is--

  Cliff Mason
I'm here, Mercy.

  Major Mercy
Right.
I'm calling you now to brief you on tomorrow's mission.

  Cliff Mason
Hit me.

  Major Mercy
You'll be performing an assault on an Avean comms relay.
The position is fortified, so you'll need to be prepared for heavy enemy resistance.
There are five comms towers that will need to be deactivated...

  Cliff Mason
Mercy... can I speak plainly with you?

  Major Mercy
...What's the situation, Mason?

  Cliff Mason
I'm tired, Mercy.

  Cliff Mason
We've been out here, so long, and it's... it's breaking me down.

  Major Mercy
Cumulative injuries? The medical bay in your pod should--

  Cliff Mason
Hahaa, nothing like that. God, physically I'm at the peak of my game, never been better.
It's just...



  Cliff Mason
I miss my wife.
I miss my mom.
I miss watching old episodes of Bluey with my son, I miss game night, I miss the gym, I miss getting into arguments at Thanksgiving--
I miss people!

  Major Mercy
Cliff...

  Cliff Mason
I know, I know, it's my duty to be out here, but. God almighty, every day it gets a little harder.
And, I don't know, it's...

  Major Mercy
Cliff, I know what it's like.



  Major Mercy
I'm stuck out here. The same as you.
I know how hard it can be. Our burden isn't easy to bear, but it's ours.

  Cliff Mason
It's been years, Mercy! Years. With zero contact.

  Major Mercy
We're deep behind enemy lines.
Any communications beyond what's strictly necessary for the mission risks revealing ourselves to the enemy.
You know this.

  Cliff Mason
...Don't you miss them? Your own family?

  Major Mercy
My family...
My family is why what we're doing out here is so important.
Everything we do, every sacrifice we make, every ounce we bleed, is for them.
And that's why. No matter what happens. No matter how many times they cut us down.
We keep moving.

  Cliff Mason
...Right.

  Major Mercy
Stay strong, Cliff. For the ones back home.
Good night, Mason.


The call ends.





















Cliff takes out his handheld game console.









CRASH BANDICOOT 3: WARPED. NEW GAME.
























Crash Bandicoot opens his eyes. He is sprinting though the level Bone Yard with a great fervor.