Chapter 1 - For Hire
Cold air hummed through the metal hallway.Red emergency lights flashed overhead.Boots slammed against the floor as guards rushed past.“Sector 3 lockdown initiated.”“Do NOT let the targets escape.”Deep inside the facility—Chains rattled softly.Z sat motionless in a reinforced chair.Heavy restraints wrapped around his arms, legs, chest—even his neck.Metal dug into his skin every time he shifted.A thick glass wall separated him from the rest of the room.Two guards stood outside it, tense and restless.“…why’s he so calm?” one muttered.“Don’t talk to him,” the other replied quickly. “They said he wiped out an entire squad.”Z sighed.“You know I can hear you, right?”Silence.Neither guard responded.The lights flickered once.Both guards immediately stiffened.Then—BOOM.An explosion shook the hallway outside.Alarms screamed louder.“What the hell was that?!”Gunfire erupted in the distance.A voice blasted through the intercom:“Unauthorized breach detected!”“Multiple intruders inside the facility!”Z slowly lifted his head.A small smile formed.“…they actually came.”BreachThe hallway doors exploded inward.Rave was the first through, slamming a guard into the wall hard enough to crack it.Mox followed close behind, ducking a swing and shoving another guard back.“Z!” Mox shouted.Rave’s eyes locked on him instantly.“…why do they have you chained up like a damn monster?”Z gave a weak grin.“…good question.”More footsteps thundered closer.Guards flooded the corridor.Weapons raised.“DON’T LET THEM FREE HIM!”Every gun turned toward Z.Not Rave.Not Mox.Him.Z stared at the restraints.Then, he exhaled slowly.“…alright.”The chains creaked.“…now the party can start.”CRACK.The restraints shattered.A shockwave burst outward, throwing nearby guards back.Rave froze.“…why did we even come here?”“Emotional support,” Z said immediately.The guards opened fire.Too late.Z moved.A black blade formed in his hand mid-swing.One motion.Three guards dropped before their bodies hit the floor.Silence followed.One guard slowly lowered his weapon.“…nope.”He dropped it instantly.“I’m becoming a family man.”Everyone turned toward him.“I’m buying a farm.”Then he ran.Fast.“GARRY!” another guard shouted. “DON’T LEAVE US HERE—”Z glanced at the bodies.“…finally.”He stretched his shoulder.“That felt nice.”Rave looked disturbed.“…you seriously need therapy.”Something WatchingA slow clap echoed down the hallway.“Well,” a voice said.“I’m impressed.”A figure stepped through the smoke.Z tilted his head.“…who are you supposed to be?”The figure smiled.Z lifted Rave’s dropped gun.“…yeah, I’m not waiting for this.”BANG.BANG. BANG.The figure dropped.Z lowered the weapon.“…perfect.”Rave stared at him.“…what is WRONG with you?”Z handed the gun back.“Honestly?”He shrugged.“…not sure anymore.”The Real Threat ArrivesSirens intensified.More footsteps approached.Mox stepped backward nervously.“Guys… I think it’s time to go.”The skull-faced woman slowly raised the dart rifle.The hallway lights flickered red across the polished floor.Z cracked his neck slightly.“…nonsense.”Rave immediately looked at him.“Z—”“They’ve got dart guns,” he said confidently. “How dangerous could they b—”THWIP.A dart struck the wall inches from his face.Z blinked slowly.“…okay. Little rude.”More guards suddenly flooded into the hallway behind the skull-faced woman.Weapons raised.Mox grabbed Rave’s arm tightly.“We seriously need to leave!”Z summoned his sword instantly, black energy crawling across the blade.“Oh come on,” he said with a grin. “One more fight.”“NO,” Rave snapped.Too late.Z lunged forward.The hallway erupted into chaos.Gunfire flashed.Metal screamed.Z spun through two guards in a blur, his blade cutting clean through their weapons before they even hit the floor.“See?!” Z yelled. “I totally still have this under contr—”THWIP.A dart slammed into his neck.Z froze mid-sentence.“…oh.”Rave stared at him.“…you absolute idiot.”Z ripped the dart out instantly.“I’m fine.”THWIP.Another dart hit his shoulder.“…okay maybe slightly less fine.”His vision doubled immediately.The sword flickered out of existence.The hallway tilted sideways.Mox rushed toward him.“Z!”“I got it,” he slurred weakly.Then he collapsed face-first onto the floor.Silence.Rave pinched the bridge of her nose aggressively.“Unbelievable.”She grabbed Z by the legs and started dragging him down the hallway.Z weakly lifted one hand from the ground.“…still had it under control…”“SHUT UP,” Rave yelled.THWIP.A dart struck Rave’s shoulder.She stumbled instantly.Another dart hit Mox seconds later.Mox barely managed two steps before collapsing beside her.The skull-faced woman calmly walked toward them as the hallway fell silent again.Z’s blurry vision barely caught the sound of footsteps approaching.Everything faded into darkness.Cold.Still.Z groaned softly as consciousness returned.Bright white lights burned into his eyes.Heavy restraints wrapped around his arms, chest, and legs.A figure stood motionless in front of him.Z stared for a moment.“…you know what,” he said quietly.“I preferred the mystery version.”No reaction.Only silence.Then—“We’ve been watching you.”“What’s inside you… isn’t normal.”“It isn’t human.”Z leaned back slightly.“…okay, that’s just nasty.”“I represent ATTD.”“Anomaly Tracking & Tactical Division.”“We deal with people like you.”Z exhaled.“…cool. So what do you want?”A pause.Then—“We’re offering you a position.”“…doing what?”“Eliminating threats.”“Destroying targets.”Z’s eyes flickered.Then he shook his head.“Yeah… I’m gonna pass.”“You kidnapped me. You look like a skeleton, and I don’t know where my sisters are.”Silence.“I was hoping you’d say that,” she replied.Z frowned.“…why is that never good news for me?”Two guards dragged Rave and Mox into view.Unconscious.Z’s tone changed instantly.“Let them go.”She pulled out a gun.Slowly loading it.“Agree to join ATTD… and they live.”“Refuse… and they don’t.”“You have six seconds.”Z stared.“…five…”His hands tightened.“…four…”“Wait—”Silence.“…I’ll do it.”The gun lowered.“Good.”She stepped forward and cut his restraints.Then, she extended her hand.Z hesitated.Then shook it.A low hum filled the transport ship.Z sat across from Rave and Mox.Still unconscious.“…I didn’t have a choice,” he muttered.The engines roared louder.Metal groaned as the ship ascended.
