Thaurex jolted awake, his heart racing from the remnants of a nightmare. He gasped for breath, the vivid images still lingering in his mind. Ruco and the rest of the squad turned to him, concern etched on their faces. "ETA 5 minutes and counting!" the pilot's voice crackled through the radio, snapping Thaurex back to the present.
"Alright, you heard the man, boys! Let's prepare for drop-off!" Thaurex commanded, shaking off the lingering shadows of his dream. The squad sprang into action, checking their weapons and securing their gear.
The ship hovered ominously over the ruins of an old abandoned village. Tiny houses lay in disrepair, skeletal structures surrounded by a sea of trees. The engines roared, pushing away the dry, brittle grass, while the cloudy white sky loomed overhead, holding the sun captive. Today, the clouds had triumphed, leaving no chance for life to flourish amidst the battlefield.
Thaurex stood at the open door, poised to descend, but his gaze drifted. The broken village house below bore an uncanny resemblance to a larger version of Falethier's playhouse. The echoes of her laughter filled his mind, the memory of their shared moments drawing him deeper into nostalgia and disconnecting him from the chaos around him.
A hand rested on Thaurex's shoulder, pulling him back to reality. It was the General, a reassuring presence amid the tension. "Just wanted to say thank you for this," he said, sincerity in his voice.
"It's not for you. It's for my daughter," Thaurex replied, his voice low but steady as he stepped off the ship, setting foot in the haunted remnants of a past he wished to protect. The others followed, their determination mingling with the weight of their mission.
The rushing sounds of metal boots crunching through the dry grass mingled with the restless rustle of the trees. Thaurex led the squad as they cautiously approached the opening of the cave.
"Look at that opening," Jackson stated, eyeing the darkness that loomed ahead.
"We suspect it should be there," the General responded over the radio.
"Copy that," Thaurex acknowledged.
As they passed a dilapidated village house, Thaurex felt an unsettling sense of foreboding wash over him. "Brooks, take point," he commanded.
Brooks turned the corner, weapon raised. Suddenly, BOOOOOOM! The house Thaurex had just observed erupted in a fiery explosion, sending the squad diving for cover. Their ears rang, heads rattling from the force of the blast.
"Status check!" Thaurex shouted, quickly assessing his teammates sprawled on the ground.
"Check!" Ruco responded, followed closely by Jackson and Brooks.
"What the hell was that?" Thaurex questioned, still catching his breath.
"Think it was meant for us," Brooks replied, scanning for any signs of movement.
"CONTACT!" Jackson screamed, spotting the enemy emerging from the shadows.
Just as the squad regained their footing, lasers began to zip through the air, and the squad sprang into action. They ducked behind walls and trees as a fierce firefight erupted.
"Status check!" the General barked again.
"Currently under heavy fire from some resistance," Thaurex reported, his eyes locked on Jackson. With a determined nod, Jackson understood the plan.
"Changing poles!" Ruco called out as he crouched beside Jackson, tapping his shoulder. Jackson stood up, swapping his futuristic mag poles while moving forward.
The squad continued to advance, forming an arc that allowed them to engage the enemy from multiple angles. Jackson laid down heavy fire, giving Thaurex, Ruco, and Brooks the cover they needed to push closer.
In a calculated move, Jackson threw a flash grenade, the metal ball opening and exploding into a blinding light that illuminated the chaos.
Seizing the moment, the squad surged out of cover, using their tactical advantage to eliminate enemy forces one by one. The teamwork and precision of their military training shone through as they methodically took down each opponent.
As the last shot rang out, the trees stood still, the wind quieted, and the smoke of battle hung in the air.
"Clear?" Thaurex asked, scanning the surroundings for any lingering threats.
"Looks like it," Jackson replied, catching his breath.
"THAUREX, GIVE ME A STATUS CHECK NOW!" Mr. Zaulkom shouted in Thaurex's ear, causing him to flinch.
"Entering the cave now," Thaurex responded, annoyance creeping into his tone as he ripped off the earpiece and crushed it underfoot.
"Just like the old days, am I right?" Ruco quipped as they entered the cave, the darkness swallowing them whole.
"Stay sharp," Thaurex whispered, his voice steady but brimming with anticipation. Brooks took the lead, scanning the shadows for any signs of movement. The walls of the cave were covered in strange symbols and faded, smeared handprints, remnants of those who had come before.
The squad's flashlights illuminated the narrow path, and soon they came upon something unexpected—a concealed metal door embedded into the stone. Ruco crouched beside it, examining what looked like an old keycard slot and a faded emblem, barely visible: a black mamba coiled around a vial.
"This has to be it," Ruco muttered, his fingers tracing the symbol. Brooks nodded, preparing his scanner.
As they opened the door, a sterile lab was revealed, contrasting sharply with the rugged cave. Empty vials and scattered papers covered the metal desks, with diagrams and notes about genetic mutations, chemical formulas, and "Operation: Black Mamba" stamped across the documents.
Thaurex picked up one of the documents, scanning it intently. "Any actual signs of Black Mamba?" he asked, sounding impatient.
"Nope, just papers that mention Black Mamba but nothing concrete," Jackson reported, flipping through a few files scattered on a nearby table. Thaurex set the paper down and took another careful look around the lab. One particular room caught his attention—it was enclosed with transparent, reinforced glass, almost like a cage. The space inside was stark and sterile, designed to contain something—or someone. "Maybe Black Mamba was meant to be kept in here," he murmured, moving closer to press his hand against the bulletproof glass.
"Hey, Thaurex, you really might wanna see this," Ruco called out, rushing over with a weathered book clutched in his hand. Thaurex took it, flipping through the pages quickly, looking for anything relevant. "What exactly am I looking at here?" he asked, still rifling through.
Ruco reached over and stopped him at a specific page, pressing his finger down on a single word. Thaurex's expression changed immediately; his eyes widened as he took in what he was seeing. He dropped the book without a second thought and turned, heading straight for the exit of the cave.
"Woah, are we bailing already?" Brooks asked, clearly thrown off.
"Grab everything you can from here. Leave that book with me," Thaurex ordered, his voice laced with urgency. He grabbed Ruco's radio, tuning it swiftly. "We're going back home."