Lou Collins: Man of WarIssue 4: Cold Call

January 10, 2012. In a remote Arctic location, Lou Collins and his aide, a Combine captain, stand next to a Combine armored personnel carrier, flanked by Overwatch troops. Collins complains that it's cold. His aide asks how he can be sure that this is even the place, to which Collins replies that they used to talk and Niko said that this is where he'd set up shop if the world went to hell. The captain notes they've had no reports of activity from that sector, then adds that it's cold there. Collins states that doesn't mean much and that the new armor they outfitted the Overwatch last month is temperature resistance, then turns to a Combine soldier and asks how he's doing in there, anyway. In a robotic voice, the Overwatch soldier states that the question is not recognized in response database and, if question is mission specific, to please restate in another form and try again. Collins states that those bio-modified units creep him out, then says let's get going. A little later, they come across something that makes Collins smile and state he's there, all right, as he pulls out a weapon. The Overwatch soldiers, in turn, go into alert level 1 mode.
In front of Lou Collins and his team are a pile of dead Combine soldiers. Collins grimly notes that that is probably why they haven't received any intel about the place. Going for his gun, the captain states that he thought Collins had said he was a friend of his. Collins confirms that he is, but that the Combine are another story. Then, a large blast door opens behind them, revealing human troops lurking within. Two more soldiers appear on the side, surrounding them, and tell them to drop their weapons and surrender. Lou Collins immediately raises his hands and tells his men to do what they say, because they're not there to start a fight. The captain asks him if they can trust them and Collins insists that yes and to drop the weapons. However, his soldiers ignore the order as it's from non-Overwatch and they're in Alpha 1 alert, so they open fire on the humans. Meanwhile, Lou Collins puts his hands behind his neck and gets on his knees, then tells his captain to drop the gun if he doesn't want to die. The captain says he guesses surrender is better than dying in the ass end of nowhere and raises his hands. The Overwatch soldiers get killed by the human grunts.
As the captain starts to ask what now, he's pushed to the ground by an enemy soldier, Lou Collins dryly noting that that is why he should have gotten on his knees. One of the human grunts declares all targets neutralized and tells his men to dispose of the bodies, then bring the VIP and guest to the boss. Later, Collins asks the guard of the base if that is how they treat all their visitors, to which the guard retorts that no, they usually end up in a pile of bodies, then tells them to come as they're expected. They're taken to an office where a man wearing a beret and blind in one eye greets Collins, who recognizes him in turn as Niko Irtonen. Collins sits down in the chair in front of Niko and tells him that, considering they were business partners for almost a decade, he expected a warmer reception. Niko retorts that he is Combine and not dead, how much warmer could he ask for. Niko stares at the gun his soldiers have put in the table and tells Collins he sees he is still using the SMG9, the gun that made them rich, but warns him not to expect to get any bonus points for bringing one. Niko tells him point-blank they're not partners anymore and he had no right to visit him there, as those aliens he works for are the enemy, if ever there was one. Collins protests it's not like that and that Breen has a position of power. He asks Niko if he remembers Breen and states that he is his employer, not the space slugs, then reveals that he is there to offer Niko a job like Breen offered him, adding that it could be like old times. Niko asks and betray the human race, then states that's not going to happen.
Niko Irtonen tells Lou Collins he sold his soul just so he could have a comfortable life again and that he may not be killing people, but he's no better than those who are. Niko notes that, from the look of the troops his men have killed recently, Collins has been scrounging off of their old research anyway. Collins' aide then complains that they didn't come there to be berated and asks if he's going to help them or if they are going to have to send a division of Overwatch troops to stomp out his sorry ass. Niko notes that's quite a mouth Collins has on his aide, then grabs a revolver as he states that the man represents the Combine idealism: if you don't submit, we'll kill you. Collins asks what Niko is doing as he lifts his gun. Niko tells him to give him one good reason not to kill the aide. Collins protests that, regardless of the uniform, he's a man, not some alien, and tells Niko he's above petty murder. Niko tells him that means so little, considering what they did before the war and what Collins is doing now. Niko states plainly that if he lets the captain live, he'll cause problems for his little hideaway, then turns to the captain and says nothing personal as he shoots, blowing the man's head clean off.
Lou Collins' ears ring from the shot that has just left his aide's head with little more than a jaw. As his hearing starts to come back, he hears Niko ordering his troops to send someone to clean this up, destroy that APC they brought and prepare their guest for his departure. Later, Lou Collins stands alone in the icy cold outside, his gun lying in the snow next to him. At the door, Niko tells him not to worry, sun-up will be in about an hour and the nearest outpost is about four kilometers from there. He explains that he's giving Collins his gun should he encounter any quote-unquote wildlife. He tells him to let this be a lesson and that next time they will kill anything that happens to be in their way, including Collins himself. Niko slams the door shut. Picking up his gun, Lou Collins states that he guesses it could have gone worse and that he just has to think of a good explanation for all this. End of issue 4.

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