Created by SHEPHERD AKARA ©
Founder of SKYBREED ENT ©
"Dispatch them!" he commanded.
The Vanishing knight's hologram acknowledged with a solemn nod before vanishing into silence.
Nano-robotically, the doors gracefully slid open, unveiling the pristine scent of a freshly minted vehicle permeating the hall.
The abode, a marvel of super labs, seamlessly blended natural and synthetic sophistication.
A holographic firmament, a symphony of colors, gracefully floated above the ceiling.
The towering figure emerged from the foggy pigments, a commanding presence seated in authority.
"Welcome, gentlemen, especially you, Procyon," intoned the Western General, his gaze piercing through the steel scientist.
General Sirius, a repository of wisdom, veiled in the stature of a middle-aged man, exuded an imposing aura.
Silver strands adorned his receding hair, his eyes cast in a shady blue, and a bright gray beard framed his countenance.
Hailing from Rochester, New York, Clarion Lancaster boasted a mind outshining the stars themselves.
Commander of a fleet mightier than the fabled Roman warriors, master of a league of super-labs brimming with nuclear codes, he possessed an invincibility anchored in his intellect.
The crew's greeting to the Xantheon's director resonated with an undercurrent of duty, a manifestation of their composed consciousness.
"How long has it been?" grinned the Vanguard Lord, a twinkle in his eyes. "Twenty years?"
"Ten, precisely, Sir," the metal scientist humbly corrected.
"Indeed. Come in, come in! No harm intended."
"No harm? Yet you dispatch the deadliest assassins to fetch me?" jested the billionaire, prompting a hearty chuckle from the general.
"How's Eve? Eva... apologies, Phoebe! Darling Phoebes... how is she? A beautiful lass," inquired General Sirius.
"As radiant as ever," stammered Jasper with a hint of shyness.
"And the kids? I hear they're crafting their own rockets already. How old are they?"
"Drones, sir! Bless them, I couldn't engineer rockets at their age. Hayden's eight, Rhonda just turned six," the billionaire genius cleared his throat.
"I must meet them. Many tales to share, Master Ford. Tales of our bravado, you and I. They must know of their great-grandpa, haha!" jested the general.
"I'll be sure to bring them across the narrow sea next time," assured the professor.
Created by SHEPHERD AKARA ©
Founder of SKYBREED ENT ©
Abruptly, formalities exchanged, futuristic projectors swiftly depicted the Citadel of Chaos's rapid construction.
A dark castle perched atop the frozen Moskva River, the lair of the mad scientist and coven to his henchmen and loyalist scientists.
"Agents, witness; V.O.R.G.!" General Sirius initiated his discourse on the malevolence of his perennial adversaries.
"The Volatile Order for Reconstructing Genetics, a corrupt entity funded by Eastern governments, is under the twisted ownership of Javan Dimitrov, a military scientist of sinister inclinations.
Javan, the last surviving heir of Devonshire, born in Moscow to Princess Nora, the Cavendish crown, and Colonel Vladimir, a descendant of Tsar Nicholas, enjoys diplomatic immunity.
However, this shield does not absolve him of the heinous crimes committed in his name.
Despite freezing his assets globally, loyalists persist in funding his lost cause.
Javan, a creator of monstrosities and abominations in the name of science, must be restrained, or he imperils the world.
In possession of Earth's most dreadful relic—the Xeno-nexus—Javan, along with his legion, razed I.O.N.I.S in Paris, reducing it to ruins.
Now, as simple as launching a nuke across the sea would be, he holds many of our brilliant minds hostage, leveraging them to fulfill his disturbing desires.
We must infiltrate, seize the cosmic sphere, and liberate our scientists.
V.O.R.G may already be manipulating the celestial orb, crafting an army of inhumane beings—Xenoids..."
"Xenoids?" inquired Norvak impolitely from behind.
The sagacious general cleared his throat with patience as the 9D holographic effects unveiled the celestial orb's beauty, a bright starlight ensconced within a nightmarish reactor.
Doom bots hovered, armed guards swarmed, and bribed scientists circled it, eyes brimming with deception.
"Xeno-humanoids," continued General Sirius. "The Xeno-nexus has the power to alter DNAs among its many functions.
The Volatile Order, driven by insatiable power lust since the Cold War, weaponizes and harvests the Xeno-nucleotide..."
"Xeno-nuclear... what now?" queried Norvak, perplexed.
"A rare and unique DNA found in one of every million people. It may sound outlandish, but there have been numerous extraterrestrial affiliations with Earth.
Some humans trace their origins to alien parentage, a gene dormant until activated by the cosmic sphere.
This is why V.O.R.G is culpable for abducting children worldwide.
Hiring terrorists globally, they kidnap potential carriers of this Xeno-nucleotide.
Only one percent survive this lethal experiment."
"And... the others?" inquired Billionaire Ford.
"Waste! Common lab-rats, cast into utter darkness," sighed the General with a melancholic depression. "We must act swiftly to rescue what remains.
Be prepared for Xeno-human attacks; they are a paranormal lot.
Dimitrov has twisted their minds, bending their wills to his. Do not expect a mere fistfight; they will stop at nothing to bring you down. You must all be prepared!"
An inkling of threat rekindled within the billionaire genius's troubled heart, and he sighed before posing a critical question:
"The mission is in your hands, sir. When Dimitrov is in sight, how should we act? Do we strike him, ending this once and for all, or do we take him captive?"
General Sirius responded with a stoic silence, a countenance marked by strength.
"I need you to do what is necessary! Javan is a master of trickery, but I trust you to improvise, to be creative.
Frankly, he is more valuable alive. However, do not sacrifice more lives trying to salvage him.
Focus on your mission—to restore the cosmic sphere, unravel its mysteries, and prevent its detonation.
Trust the Shadowborne Vanguard for matters of combat.
Agent Aleksandrova will handle rescues, and Captain Knox will lead this expedition.
Any questions?"
A wave of silence, laden with comprehension, enveloped the vicinity.
Created by SHEPHERD AKARA ©
Founder of SKYBREED ENT ©
"Excellent! Now we must select aliases for Mission Moskva," declared the Western General with playful discernment, his brows arched, forehead creased.
"Names of continents, or... what shall we use this time?" mused Norvak.
"Stars would be more precise," suggested Knox.
"But we've used stars before! Hell, we've used entire constellations nine times over!" protested Norvak vehemently.
"If you do the math—seven continents, seventy thousand soldiers—you might as well name an entire squadron Antarctica," mocked the British commando.
"Since we're using star names, I'd like to be called Cepheus," entreated 'Robo-head,' removing his helmet.
"Naah, 'Robo-head' is more accurate," Yeva teased the young Hebrew vanguard.
"I'm going by the name.. Procyon!" Jasper Ford declared with conviction.
"Preceding the dog, Sirius. Pretty accurate too," Knox smiled.
"Yeah, whatever! What's yours?" the metal scientist asked defiantly.
"Lynx sounds catchy," the sniper nodded confidently.
"Impressive! What about you, Yeva?"
"I think I'd go with.. Vylara," she smiled graciously.
The rest of the crew were specific in deciding their alter egos.
"Alright, Procyon, team's ready. Be stronger than lions, wiser than serpents. Dismissed!"
Created by SHEPHERD AKARA ©
Founder of SKYBREED ENT ©
….
The mass exodus gave rise to a minor congestion at the exit points.
"Procyon, Lynx, Vylara, remain!" General Sirius commanded, imposing his will on the trio until the entire hall was evacuated.
A subtle trickling sound diverted his attention.
"Why are you still here?" The Xantheon Commander turned to Zara, now Chara, her new alias, the dedicated secretary pouring them some coffee.
"I was contemplating..."
"Contemplating if coffee's superior to tea?" he sarcastically inquired.
"Well, tea is everyone's favorite," she blushed, offering a goofy smile.
"Of course, coffee is superior! Damn Brits even colonized the food!"
Lynx gulped, absorbing the general's mockery of his tradition and culture.
"Mind games, Chara! Better get used to it! Now, leave us," Sirius commanded.
The black beauty bowed and exited with humility.
General Sirius cleared his throat, returning to the business at hand.
"You must understand why F.O.R.N.A.X must retaliate, don't you?"
"V.O.R.G has wreaked havoc globally. Striking back is a necessity," Aleksandrova responded eagerly, her voice resonating with determination.
"Indeed, a necessity," the general concurred.
"These Xenoids... they're acting against their own will. Can't blame them, can you?" the metal scientist pondered.
"No, they cannot be blamed for their actions," Sirius affirmed. "But their powers pose a threat to our very existence."
"They're just kids! You said it yourself. Going to war... fighting against innocent children... is not a worthy battle," Procyon peacefully protested.
"Of course, the words of a father. Instinctive affection, a strong bond with the young. But you must understand the regrets in turning a blind eye," General Sirius mourned passionately…
Created by SHEPHERD AKARA ©
Founder of SKYBREED ENT ©