Shadows

Calling it night would have been a stretch, since the light of the moon was shining so bright, labeling it a dim day would have seemed more accurate. Nevertheless, two shadowy figures, dressed head to toe in black, dashed from a tree, to a rock, then towards the wreck of a certain combat vehicle. Only the sound of crunching snow beneath their feet would have given them away, if anyone had been listening.

The two phantoms took refuge in the narrow space provided between the hulk and a large boulder. One of them reached out with a hand, putting it inside the hole punched into the dead machine.

"Remarkable," the first figure said, in a surprised, mid toned voice, "the interior paint layers is all that saved her." Just behind the many years of built up, Soviet paint lay the ammo storage rack, only millimeters of unintentional protection that prevented a fatal disaster. Their friend was looking around, nervously. Brown, darting around eyes could have been seen through the exposed part of their balaclava, if there was anybody around to see them. The first figure pulled their hand back from the hole and faced Brown eyes, the dim light exposing blue eyes.

"Relax," Blue eyes said, "the patrol won't be back for a while yet." Brown eyes shot Blue a disapproving look and replied in a high, shaky whisper, "You got the footage from the drone, I still don't see why we have to be here in person." With a quick shaking of the head, the response was, "I am making this personal." Brown eyes let out a sigh.

The two figures slowly creep towards the front of the vehicle. "Boost me up," Blue said. Brown dropped his hands to his waist, turned them palms up and interlaced the fingers. Blue lifted his left foot and stepped up into the hands. Once the sole had landed, Brown lifted him up, propelling them to the top of the BMD-1.

Blue poked his head through the open commanders hatch and produced a red lens penlight from a breast pocket. It took him two visual sweeps to locate what he was looking for, a small black box, about the size of a deck of cards, with wiring plugged in. He unplugged the wiring and retrieved the box, putting it and the turned off penlight into the same pocket.

Brown was waiting, crouched beside the blown off track at the front of the vehicle. A quiet whistle drew his attention, looking up. Swinging legs could be seen over the side of the machine, Brown recreated the hand-step below.

With Blue back on the ground, Brown asked, "Okay, can we go now?" A glare was thrown, "Seriously, and miss out on all the fun?" Brown scowled. The two figures began their dash out of the area, using the trees and rocks to cover their exit. Brown couldn't help but ask, "What makes you think they will leave the old man?" The response was, "Simple, the old man is cheap and will hold her responsible for the loss. He will throw the bill for it in her face and she'll walk."

If Blue wasn't wearing a balaclava, one would see a wide Cheshire smile, "And, if she walks, they will follow."