When Maya returned, Zara, Cass, Darius, and Nadia were back at the base attempting to gather their thoughts and determine what to do next. She had gone to find them an apartment, but she could feel the tension in the room the moment she stepped inside.
"What's going on?" Maya questioned, her concern evident, her comrades' sense of haste and terror flowing outward.
Zara turned to Maya, her expression grim. "Maya, it's Melton. He's been kidnapped."
"What?" Maya's eyes widened in shock. "How? When did this happen?"
Cass stepped forward, her voice trembling slightly. "It all happened so fast. One moment we were preparing to move out, and the next, Melton was hit with a blast of water. Before we could react, two people appeared out of nowhere. One had electric abilities, and the other could manipulate metal. They took Melton and we couldn't do anything to stop them."
With a look of frustration on his face, Darius clinched his fists. "They moved too quickly. We were not going to win." Nadia nodded, concern shining in her eyes.
"Despite our best efforts, it seemed like they were constantly one step ahead of us. Melton was beaten until he passed out and then taken away in a metal cage."
Maya took a deep breath, trying to process the information. "Did you see where they went? Do we have any leads?"
Zara shook her head. "No. It was so sudden, and they disappeared as quickly as they came. But we need to find him. We can't just leave him out there."
"Agreed," Maya said, her voice firm. "But we need a plan. First, I just secured an apartment we could use as our base of operations and I bought rune stones so it'll be hard for them to find us this time. We need to stay together and be ready for anything."
The team nodded in agreement, their determination renewed. They quickly gathered their belongings and followed Maya to the apartment she had secured.
Maya managed to acquire an apartment in a remote neighborhood. It appeared from the outside to be a dump where mechanical waste was disposed of. The surrounds were cluttered with piles of metal trash, abandoned machinery, and rusted pieces.
Glancing at each other in confusion, the other members of the squad trailed behind Maya into the cramped passageways. Maya snapped her hand in the glove she was wearing when they came to what seemed to be a dead end. To their astonishment, a secret entry was revealed via a tiny doorway that appeared in the rubbish wall. Maya said, "Follow me," as she stepped through the threshold.
As soon as the last person entered, the door closed seamlessly behind them, blending back into the wall of trash. Inside, the contrast was striking. The hidden apartment was sleek and high-tech, with polished surfaces and advanced equipment. The team barely had time to take in the surprising change before they focused back on the task at hand: finding Melton.
"Welcome to our temporary base," Maya said, leading them to the central command area. "We have all the resources we need here to locate Melton and plan our next move."
Zara, Cass, Darius, and Nadia quickly set to work. The urgency of their mission overshadowed their amazement at the hidden apartment.
Darius pulled up a map of the city on a large holo-screen. "We need to figure out where they took him. I'll start by checking for any reports of unusual activity in the area around the time Melton was taken."
Nadia set up her laptop and began scanning local networks. "I'll look for any digital traces they might have left. If they used any tech, there might be a trail we can follow."
Cass and Zara examined the list of suppliers and recent transactions Nexus had compiled earlier. "Maybe there's a clue in here," Cass said. "Something that ties back to the people who took Melton."
Maya, meanwhile, contacted her network of informants. "I'll reach out to our contacts. Someone must have seen or heard something."
As the team worked tirelessly, the apartment buzzed with activity. Holo-screens displayed data streams, maps, and communication feeds. The advanced tech in the apartment proved invaluable as they cross-referenced information and narrowed down potential leads.
After what felt like hours, Darius called out, "I've got something. A report of a high-energy discharge in an industrial sector not far from here. It matches the timeframe of Melton's abduction."
"Good catch," Maya said. "Nadia, can you pinpoint the exact location?"
Nadia's fingers flew across the keyboard. "Got it. It's an abandoned factory complex. Looks like it's been off the grid for years."
Zara looked at the map. "That could be where they're holding him. It's isolated and big enough to hide a captive."
Cass nodded. "We need to move fast. If they realize we're onto them, they might relocate or worse."
Maya stood up, her expression resolute. "Let's gear up. We have to be ready for anything. Remember, our priority is to get Melton out safely."
Melton's predicament consumed them as they got ready for the rescue operation. Despite being aware of the dangers, they were steadfast in their resolve to help their comrade.
"Melton, hold on," Zara whispered, her eyes filled with resolve. "We're coming for you."
Thirty minutes later, Darius, Cass, Zara, Nadia, and Maya arrived to the abandoned factory complex. The area was desolate and eerily quiet, with broken windows and rusty machinery everywhere.
The team cautiously made their way around, searching for any signs of life. "Are we sure this is the right place?" With his eyes darting all over, Darius murmured.
"It has to be," Nadia replied, her voice tense. "The energy readings were off the charts here."
A shot suddenly boomed out and flew past Cass's head. She instinctively dodged, letting the bullet pass just inches from her.
"Ambush!" Maya shouted, drawing her weapon.
Four figures appeared out of the shadows, each with a unique talent. A tall female with a self-assured smirk took the lead and moved forward. Her eyes shone with a frightening intellect, and her hair was a brilliant silver. She uttered the words,
"You guys were so predictable," in a sarcastic tone. "We knew you'd come."
The team tensed, readying themselves for a fight. "Who are you?" Zara demanded.
The girl chuckled. "I'm Myne, and these are my associates. We work for the Central City Tactical Division, and we have a special interest in your friend, Melton."
Darius clenched his fists, electricity crackling around his knuckles. "Where is he?"
Myne shrugged. "Safe, for now. But that depends on your cooperation."
Maya stepped forward, her eyes narrowing. "What do you want from us?"
Myne's smirk widened. "Simple. Hand over any data and tech you have related to the legendary chimera. Melton stumbled onto something far bigger than he realized, and we intend to control it."
"Never," Cass said, her voice defiant.
Myne let out a dramatic sigh. "I thought you would say that. Let's investigate your capabilities." With a snap of her fingers, her allies got to work. One of them sprang toward Darius, a huge man with extraordinary power. Another lunged at Cass, a slender woman gifted with the ability to control shadows. The third, a young guy capable of creating force fields, confronted Nadia and Zara.
There was a noticeable tension between Maya and Myne as they faced each other. Maya calmly stated, "You're making a big mistake," in spite of the commotion all around them.
Myne raised an eyebrow. "We'll see about that."
The battle erupted in a flurry of motion and energy. Darius dodged the powerful blows of his opponent, retaliating with electrical blasts. Cass used her agility to evade the shadow manipulator's attacks, striking back with precise force. Zara and Nadia worked together to break through the force fields, their combined efforts relentless.
Maya and Myne circled each other, their eyes locked in a deadly dance. "You're outnumbered and outmatched," Myne taunted.
"Maybe," Maya replied, "but we have something you don't—loyalty and a reason to fight."
With a fierce battle cry, Maya launched herself at Myne, their clash sending shockwaves through the abandoned factory.
The team's unwavering resolve to save Melton drove them on as the battle raged. Together, they had hope even though they were aware of the enormous stakes.