In the rocky, shadowy cavern at the bottom of the sinkhole, Kage moved cautiously with Fields and Camille beside him, their silhouettes faintly illuminated by the light streaming down from the desert above. The air was damp and cold, a stark contrast to the blazing heat outside. Kage's flashlight beam cut through the darkness, illuminating the jagged, uneven walls of the cavern.
"I think I found a way through," Kage said, his voice echoing slightly off the cavern walls. His torchlight revealed a narrow passage leading deeper into the underground maze.
The three of them carefully navigated the narrow paths, the only sound being the occasional shifting of loose stones beneath their feet. After several minutes, they came across a pile of rubble—sharp, uneven rocks strewn across the cavern floor. Kage bent down, picking up a chunk of stone, examining it closely.
"They used dynamite," Kage muttered, turning the piece of rubble in his hand. He glanced at the ground, noticing the unnatural disturbance in the rocks and sediment. "Like I guessed, this used to be a riverbed."
Fields and Camille exchanged glances before following Kage as he clambered up a large slope of detonated rock. It was slow-going, the jagged stones shifting beneath their boots, but they pressed forward. Reaching the top, they stopped and stood in awe at the sight before them.
They had just climbed over a small dam wall, and beyond it, stretching far into the distance, was a vast, hidden lake of fresh water. The stillness of the water was eerie, its surface barely rippling in the cavernous space.
Kage shook his head, his suspicions confirmed. "Like I thought, Greene isn't after the oil. He wants the water. He's been backing Medrano, who will sign the land over to him. That way, Greene controls the lifeline of Bolivia."
Camille's eyes lingered on the vast lake, her expression a mix of anger and disbelief. "We can't leave it like this," she said softly, her voice hardening with resolve. "He'll choke the entire country."
Kage shook his head in agreement but added, "This is just one dam. Greene is creating an artificial drought, and there's no way this is the only one. He'll have built others, all hidden like this, spread out to control the flow."
Fields frowned, looking out over the water. "If we blow this up, Greene will know it's us. He'll tighten security, become more alert. We might lose the element of surprise."
Kage crossed his arms, thinking. "You're right. Blowing this dam won't stop him completely, and it'll put us on his radar even more than we already are." He paused, glancing back at the narrow passage they had come from. "But we can use this knowledge. We need to find the other dams, get proof of his operation, and expose him before it's too late."
Kage looked at Fields, his expression calm but commanding. "You can contact the General," he said, his voice steady. "Tell him everything we found here. Start looking for the other dams—slowly, carefully. We can't risk tipping Greene off too soon."
Fields nodded, her expression resolute. "Understood. I'll make sure we track them down quietly."
Kage then turned to Camille, his eyes meeting hers. "We're going after Greene and Medrano," he said firmly. "Together."
Camille's face was a mixture of determination and anger. "I'm with you. We can't let him continue this, not after everything he's done."
Kage gave her a curt nod, appreciating her resolve. He glanced back at Fields once more. "Let's get back. We need to move fast."
With one last look at the massive lake of water, the group began to make their way back, knowing they had uncovered the key to Greene's plan—but also realizing they were running out of time to stop it.
They returned to the safe house, where Mathis waited, standing by the entrance as the Quinjet's ramp lowered. His eyes narrowed as he watched Kage and Camille step out.
"I presume you got what you were looking for?" Mathis asked, his tone laced with curiosity.
Kage smiled confidently, a glint of satisfaction in his eyes. "Yes, we did," he replied, glancing over at Camille, who gave a subtle nod of agreement. While Kage explained the success of their mission, he added, "How about you?"
Mathis grimaced, running a hand over his stubble. "Medrano is meeting with Greene tomorrow noon at *La Perla de las Dunas* Hotel. My guess is they're finalizing the deal then. It's a one-time window."
Kage's face hardened as he processed the information. "Perfect. Camille, let's suit up," he said, his voice steely with determination. He then turned to Mathis and Fields, who was just catching up. "You two, get in contact with the General. Inform him about the dam locations and secure the perimeter."
Fields and Mathis nodded, their expressions grim as they headed to make the call. Camille followed Kage into the armory of the safe house. The room was filled wall-to-wall with an array of weapons—everything from high-tech rifles to hand grenades, along with shelves stocked with tactical gear. The sheer volume and variety of it left Camille slightly awestruck.
As she surveyed the weaponry, Kage moved with precision, knowing exactly what he was after. He pulled two items from the rack: the first was a black, sleek body armor suit with protective padding on the knees and elbows. It had a close-fitting design, optimized for both agility and protection. The tall heeled boots and the holster strapped to the thigh completed the look, giving it a practical yet intimidating edge.
"The suit," Kage began as he placed it on the table, "is top-tier. Flexible, bulletproof, and designed to give you full mobility. The padding can absorb impact, while those boots provide additional strength when needed." He motioned toward the boots before moving on to the second item: a pair of black gauntlets with faint, circuit-like blue lines running through them.
"And these," Kage said, laying the gauntlets beside the suit, "are Widow's Bites. Electroshock weapons, designed to incapacitate targets or disrupt electronic devices. They work like shaped bracelets, delivering focused electrical discharges. Long or short range—it'll knock anyone out cold or fry any tech standing in your way."
Camille stared at the gauntlets in awe. The sleek black design was beautiful but lethal, the glowing blue lines suggesting the power hidden beneath their surface. Her fingers twitched, itching to try them on.
"These are incredible," Camille whispered, still processing the level of tech in front of her. She reached for the gauntlets, feeling the cool metal in her hands.
"They'll take some getting used to," Kage warned, watching as she slipped the gauntlets over her wrists. "But with these, you'll have an edge over anyone who gets in your way."
Camille smiled faintly as she picked up the left gauntlet first, the material cool and surprisingly light in her hand. The black segments shifted slightly as she slid her hand inside, forming snugly around her wrist and forearm. A faint hum of energy pulsed from within, and the blue lines flickered to life, tracing an intricate path from her wrist to her knuckles. The glow was subtle, yet powerful, like lightning contained beneath the skin.
Kage glanced at her, satisfied with her progress. "Get used to them. We've got a long night ahead. And tomorrow… well, let's just say Medrano and Greene aren't going to know what hit them."
Camille nodded, already mentally gearing up for the mission. "Let's make it count."
Camille flexed her fingers, watching the gauntlet adjust to her movements. The two circular emitters on the back of her hand caught her attention.
"Alright," she muttered to herself, "how hard can this be?"
Kage watched Camille get used ot it, she lifted her right hand, feeling the slight weight of the gauntlet, she clenched her fist. A soft crackle of electricity sparked at the edges of the gauntlet, making her wince. It wasn't much, but it was there.
"Okay, more juice," she said, concentrating.
She focused, tapping into the controls within the gauntlet. Her fingers brushed a small, concealed switch near her wrist. A sudden surge of power shot through the gauntlet, and the blue lines brightened, flaring with energy. The emitters on her knuckles now glowed with an intense, pulsating light.
"Whoa!" Camille exclaimed, stumbling back a step. She held up her hand, watching the electric current ripple along the surface.
Taking a deep breath, she raised her arm, aiming toward a training dummy set up in the corner of the room. "Here goes nothing."
With a swift flick of her wrist, she unleashed the energy. A crackling arc of electricity shot from her gauntlet, striking the dummy dead center. It sparked and sizzled, a faint trail of smoke rising from the charred spot.
Kage smiled and said."Told you it is really powerful."
Camille's eyes widened. She hadn't expected it to be that powerful.
Camille practiced a few times, but aiming is slightly tough. But it is easier if the target is closer.
"Okay, maybe it's not so easy," she muttered to herself, glancing at the faint trail of smoke coming off the dummy.
With a newfound respect for the Widow's Bite, Camille stood up, dusting herself off. There was a lot to learn—control, precision, and restraint. But the raw power? That, she could get used to.
Smirking, she adjusted the gauntlet on her arm. "Round two."