Fan Casting Swordsmoke: The Fall

Marc, Bo, Strider, Sasha, Ellie, Norman, Grace, Bao, Link, and Tommy awaken in a warehouse. Gunn drags a frail Jack across the floor. Behind him, Sgt. Rain—cold and silent—aims a gun at them all. Then Shane Jarvis enters, smiling. “No more games,” he says. Norman begs to rejoin Mercenary. Shane answers with a strike across his eye, leaving a bloody gash. “Eleven of you now,” Shane says. “Only six walk out.” Marc pleads to be the one to die, to spare the others. Rain silences him with a rag shoved in his mouth. Shane eyes Link. “He hit Gunn. He’s first.” A shot rings out—Link falls. Strider struggles against his restraints, but Rain slams him down. Tommy is next. Thrown to the ground, he doesn’t even scream as Shane shoots him. Two gone. Ghost Squad nearly wiped out—only Marc and Strider remain. Bo begs Shane to stop. Instead, Shane slices Bao’s throat. Marc thrashes in silence, watching Bao bleed out. Shane considers Ellie, then pivots, stabbing Grace in the chest. Jack howls in horror. Gunn slams him down. Bo whispers to be the last. Shane smirks. “You don’t get that choice.” He shoots Sasha in the head. Shane, Gunn, and Rain leave. “Merkov prevails,” Shane says. Bo removes Marc’s gag. They kneel among the bodies. Marc stands. “It ends tomorrow.” Bo asks if he really thinks he can win. Marc stares forward. “There’s no war without loss.” Strider moves to comfort Jack. Jack shoves him off. Strider chuckles bitterly. Bo warns him to show respect. Strider brushes past.