----Plutea POV----
+Underground Sewers of Tyren City+
A dark and narrow tunnel stretched before us, sometimes splitting into forks. Water splashed with every step we took, as we are hoping to widen the gap between our pursuers.
The echo of our voices bounce every now and then when we speak but the loudest of what I could hear, is my own heartbeat: pulsing through every vein and artery in my body.
" Don't look back! "
" No! Aaaaaaaahh!!!! "
Something big and black dragged a soldier away with impossible strength that even I was in doubt. As such, the other rats following it, circling around the cornered soldier in hopes of tearing a peace of meat for lunch.
* bang! bang! bang! bang! bang! bang!
With adrenaline and fear, the one who got dragged by the red-eyed rodent that is as big as a dog, fired ceaselessly at the creature.
No matter how many times people encounter an event that evoke strong emotions from them, it is not something that they can decide to get used to.
In fact, such reactions act as messengers for the human body to the brain: giving people the assessment or evaluation with regards that intangible stimuli which is enough not to go unnoticed.
" hissss!!!! "
" squeek! squeek! "
" Get away from me, you rat! "
Behavior wise, the soldier appeared to be an Alpha. He refused to be subjected to such humiliation because he quickly broke free from the rat's unclasped bite.
It may sound excessive but the 3rd Division consisted only of Alpha members as I have explicitly insisted when I took over the position of Lieutenant General because the previous one died during a mission.
" I don't want any drama or embarrassing accidents between the soldiers in my division whether intentional or accidental," was what I reasoned with the General who just told me to do things as I wish.
I honestly didn't expect it to be so easy. In fact, I even listed 65 reasons why the 3rd Division should only assign Alpha members. As surprising as it may seem, I thought that perhaps [ the General merely approved because she didn't care much about things that doesn't interest her. ]
Anyway, If the rats were any ordinary urban rat, these creatures would've ran away at the very sight of humans. To our disadvantage, they are not just any ordinary rat.
We knew this from the briefing given by the General.... or should I say the Lieutenant General Athena Faris of the Military Intelligence Corps, since General Gayara Veldora who used to brighten up at the very mention of fighting, was unwillingly forced to join for the first time.
Such an unexpected reaction from the General became the gossip of the century across the 3 Divisions which formed the Black Wolf Corps.
Everyone was curious but dared not openly ask or investigate the matter. Nobody wanted to offend the Temperamental Alpha: recalling her violent tendencies gave them shivers more than any experiment subjects they have encountered.
"Ugh! I think my tibia is broken. "
Blood flowed from the soldier's gastrocnemius: red flesh glistening from the light shining from his helmet as he pressed on it.
[ An opportunity! ] I decided to be decisive instead of weighting my choices in times where every second counts.
" Go, shield him! It's time to counter-strike! "
4 soldiers ran to block the advancing rats as 2 soldiers supported the injured to the back. The soldier didn't refuse the assistance but he is still on high alert: his weapon clutched in a ready position as he kept an eye open for any flaw to be exploited.
One soldier dragged a wheeled first aid case before the injured and opened it swiftly in a manner so well-practiced and deft.
There were many things contained on it: bandages, suppressants and medicines but the other Alpha just took a mechanical syringe that read 'Anti-Rabies'.
She stuck it on the bite mark, letting the syringe operate on its own before taking it back and putting its needle in a separate compartment.
The rest of the soldiers fired at the red eyes which appeared to be floating in mid-air with a precision no one can deny the skill at which they shot. As a member of Black Wolf Corps, things such as these have been their daily living so it was normal.
" Don't waste your ammo on this creatures. They're important goods as well, so be careful not to damage it too much. Administer the M-Bomb without haste! "
" Obey! Lieutenant General Plutea Jones! "
*psssshshsh!*
+Region 1: Eldram Palace+
----Antares POV----
" Commander-in-chief, the rescue operations are going smoothly. Unfortunately, the number of casualties at the moment which we can identify in the whole of Tyren City are slowly approaching the thousands. "
A monitor hang on a wall opposite the desk where I am currently working. Even though my office is bare, it is orderly and clean of any speck of dust.
The only thing in it are my work desk, the national flag, a pine tree as tall as myself and the coffee area where my sister occasionally sits.
I can hear the voices of the soldiers speaking in the background of the video call. Lieutenant General Vincent stood there facing me with a bit of worry in his face, knowing that I can hear everything from where I am.
I can also see the City map, the red dots and the blue dots on a smaller screen of the bottom right corner of the monitor.
" Lieutenant General Vincent! The Major Generals have submitted a report. "
" The list starts with the General Gayara confronting a gigantic rooster in Melroy Street, District 9. The other contacts are the following areas: a blue hen in District 8, a nest guarded by a yellow hen in District 5, An orange hen in District 4, a green hen in District 3, a red hen in District 2 and Rats in the Sewers of Tyren City. "
I confirmed the reports through a PC on my table where live videos of the said locations are lined up.
Obviously, it is being recorded through several drones which is being transmitted by Agora to me.
Lieutenant General Vincent seems to have something to ask me but he quickly hid them behind a pair of red eyes.
" You have my permission to use the M-tanks and the M-copters. Those creatures will be an addition to the 'Garden of Eden Project'. A proper ceremony will be held to honor the dead after all experiment subjects in Tyren City are subdued. That should be done in a day, no? "
" It shall be done, Commander. "
I turned the monitor off and instead focused on the live videos Agora is sending me.
Black Wolf Corps can of course complete such tasks in time as long as I say so. After all, the M-weapons work faster and safer than using explosives or bullets.
M-weapons are identical weapons in the military but different in ammunition. Instead of canons and bombs, mechanical syringes containing M-particles in different sizes serve as ammunition.
M-weapons don't explode because the purpose is to inject concentrated M-particles into the system of its targets. They're safe to use but requires great precision: one thing the soldiers in Black Wolf Corps pride in and brag about.
That's right, they can even shoot without looking and they're absolutely sure to get a bullseye. Moving targets, positioning or footing poses least to no impact on their performance because that is how they were trained.
M-particle is a substance that triggers sleep and relaxes muscles which is tantamount to the vulnerability and or docility of the target.
As long as the M-weapons can penetrate the skins of its target, there's no need to resort to violence: one thing my nephew doesn't seem to be able to let go.
That's right, Gayara isn't any patriotic soldier nor is he willing to work for me because of the sense of duty. The child completely lacks empathy and the only reason why he became the youngest General in history is because of his accomplishments.
Speaking of that child, little sister came to pester me again and I know why. I can practically hear her bulldozing her way to my office without shame. She used to be such an elegant lady admired by many but now? She's totally enjoying her career of parenting.
*sigh*
" Wait! you can't just walk in like that!! "
*bang!!*
The door to my office opened with a loud bang, probably disturbing the other government employees next door.
" Isn't Gayara retiring, sister?! Why is he still in Tyren City?! "
A security guard followed after her, apologizing to me for his negligence. Unfortunately for him, my little sister does not like being interrupted.
*bang!*
The door closed on his face as Almirah roughly forced me to stand up from my seat by pulling on my collar.
" How can my plan succeed if he's not home all the time? Antares, answer me! "
" Is this how you treat your older sister after using her as your eyes and ears to spy on your child? "
" Don't change the subject! "
Her pacing around the room is already irritating enough, pushing and pulling me like I'm some pushover didn't help me from snapping back at her. Even if I am a beta, it's not like I would willingly let anyone order me around: especially for someone asking for favors.
" You are so uncivilized now, little sister. Missing out on your kid's childhood must have really made that great of an impact to change you as a person. "
Almirah kept on worrying about her kid who never asked her for anything save for the permission to do things. Not knowing how to deal with Gayara, my sister ended up acting like some toxic kind of fan: spying on the child 24/7.
Almirah dragged me behind the worktable, pulling at me with a grip I could not shake. Honestly, she is out of control.
*sigh*
" You're hurting me, little sister. "
There isn't any excitement or any sort of emotion in my voice and I Know it. People always take it as me being indifferent but they're totally wrong. You just can't judge people's emotions through their voices!
Almirah finally noticed my wrist in her strong grip. Although she let go, she didn't even apologize to me.
[ My gentle sister is gone. Am I gonna be her thought bin again? I still have work to do. ]
" Actually, Gayara can't retire fully as long as the voting for the position of General is not over yet. "
" Ugh! Can't you just do it now? I'm begging you. Styx Organization is willing do the Central Government a favor as long as Gayara will completely be free after this. "
" That's difficult but...if your Organization can help me every now and then, I'll agree. "
"You really don't show me any mercy, Antares."
" What are you in a rush for anyway? Isn't it that they're going to get married in the end?"
" I know, it's just. He should be developing his relationship with my daughter in law.
They only have one year until there wedding
What if some stinky thief snatches her away while Gayara is busy? "
" If she got hooked away by some random stranger just like that, then good riddance. You don't want your child to be stuck with someone who doesn't love him back, do you?"
" Hey! My goddaughter is perfect in any way. Her only flaw is her hemophobia. "
+Sewers of Tyren City+
----Plutea POV----
Smoke filled the tunnel in a few seconds, rendering the rats immobile. They struggled to move but helplessy fell flat on the flowing water.
The M-Bomb didn't disappoint us because it was developed by the Styx Organization which secretly supply the Military with their inventions. It may be unofficial but it's legal despite not being taxed because the two worked well together like black and white, maintaining the stability and prosperity of Eldram country: one bound by duty while the other being extremely territorial.
Of course, such partnership is impossible without the marriage between the Veldora Family and the Lacaille Family.
There was disagreement on it at first by the public because they thought that the Veldora Family are the rulers of Styx Organization: something ignorant civilians thought of as unlawful and barbaric.
Despite all the objections, even from the Lacaille Family relatives, but the two Alphas involved had already made it obvious that nobody had any voice in their plans of marriage.
Anyway, the M-Bomb or the Maleficent Bomb is distinct by its function of weakening the muscles like a fire that can't burn wood: it relaxes the muscles, making them ignore all attempts at contracting.
" Remember the command, don't kill them. We'll bring these new subjects to Region 14 for the 'Garden of Eden Project'."
" Affirmative, Lieutenant General! "
In a few minutes, all the rats were muzzled and bound by chains on top of wheeled-cages being pushed towards cargo trucks. I am no longer trapped by that stinky sewer, filled with massive rats that may transform at anytime into something we might not be able to handle.
A lot of the experiment subjects that we have subdued in the past were like that. For a few days or even months, they just look like the oversized version of their species. But then, they eventually evolve into something more ferocious and wild animal with little to no resemblance from their previous forms.
[ So these rats were really injected with a revived T-Rex genes? ]