[kharak's vein mineshaft | zahara'kath desert, avana | 12.3456° N, 23.4567° E]
The jeep coughed and sputtered to a stop at the base of the abandoned mine shaft. Victoria, Dieter and Derek climbed out, their legs wobbly from the tension and the punishing ride.
Dieter took charge as he cautiously approached the gaping maw of the mine shaft, his hand hovering over the flashlight strapped to his belt. "Stay here," he said.
Minutes later, Dieter called back from the depths of the shaft. "Hold on. There's light down here... and furniture!"
Furniture? This wasn't a deserted hole in the ground; it was a place someone, or perhaps something, had called home. Maybe, just maybe, this wasn't a dead end, but a hidden refuge.
A moment later, Dieter reappeared. "There's a whole network of tunnels down there," he explained. "Looks like someone's been living here, or at least using it as a hideout."
"Let's check it out," Victoria said. "We need to rest, and this seems like the only place available."
Derek nodded in agreement. They both followed Dieter into the darkness, the faint beam of his flashlight cutting through the inky blackness like a saviour.
After what felt like an eternity, they emerged into a cavernous space surprisingly well-lit by a series of cleverly placed lamp-lights. Scattered around the room were tables, chairs, and even a ratty-looking bed. It wasn't the Ritz, but it was a far cry from the cold, unforgiving desert.
Victoria surveyed their unexpected shelter. They weren't alone, that much was clear. But whoever inhabited this place was nowhere to be seen. Perhaps they were away, or perhaps they were simply good at keeping out of sight.
"This could work," Dieter said, his voice echoing in the cavernous space. "At least for a night."
Derek scanned the room. "Do you think anyone's here now?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.
Victoria shook her head, unsure. "I don't see anyone," she replied, "But we surely need to be careful around here. This could be a potential hideout for anyone. Not necessarily friendly."
Dieter cleared his throat. "Speaking of needing things," he said, "my stomach's growling louder than those SUVs back there. I'll head back to the jeep and grab some supplies."
Victoria nodded gratefully. "Good idea. And while you're at it," she added, "can you grab that leather bag tucked under the spare tire?"
Dieter disappeared back into the darkness, leaving Victoria and Derek alone in the cavern.
"What's in the bag?", Derek asked.
"Just a few things," she said, her voice low. "Things we might need for what comes next."
"Oh, okay", he said.
Clearing her throat, Victoria asked. "Are you alright, Derek?"
"Honestly?" he started, then paused. "I don't even know how to feel. This whole thing... the chase, the guns, this hideout..." He trailed off, gesturing around the cavern.
"It's a lot to take in," Victoria admitted. The sudden reintroduction to a life he barely remembered, the revelation of a mother he considered a stranger, all thrown into the chaotic mix of their escape - it was enough to overwhelm anyone.
"But you seem..." she paused, searching for the right words, "almost prepared for it."
Derek breathed in. "Ma Amani always said I've gotta be ready for anything." He cast a rueful glance around the cavern. "Guess this qualifies as 'anything'"
"Derek," she began, her voice tight, "I mean you probably have a lot of questions right now. There's so much I need to explain from my end as well. About who I am, about why you don't remember…"
He held up a hand, his gaze unwavering. "You had my memory removed? You mentioned that. Tell you what, if you had come back, like five years ago, I would have probably not believed you, let alone listen to you in the first place.," he said, his voice surprisingly steady for someone on the brink of discovering his entire past was fabricated. "But I have seen, heard, first hand witnessed a lot here in Azoma, Victoria, and in all that I assumed I did not believe I had parents. And honestly, I did not ask too many questions neither. Having a mother seems like a reward now, a good thing that I cannot help myself but be delighted about."
Victoria flinched. It wasn't quite as simple, but the essence was there. "It's... more complicated than that," she conceded.
"Look," Derek continued, his tone surprisingly calm for his age, "I get it. There's a reason you left, a reason I don't remember obviously. But, you really gotta clear the air up for me there 'mom', I am sure you owe me that. Who are you? Why did you leave?"
She knew this moment was inevitable. Dieter then trudged back into the cavern, a backpack slung over his shoulder and Victoria's leather bag clutched in his hand. He deposited them beside Victoria with a grunt.
Derek, looking between the two bags, "Wait a minute, is he...? Is Dieter my father then?"
Victoria shook her head, her voice soft. "No, Derek, Dieter isn't your father. No, Jesus."
He eyed Dieter, then turned back to Victoria. "So," he began, his voice laced with a hint of challenge, "who is?"
"Your father," she began, her voice low, "had a car fatal accident, years ago. Six years after you were born actually," Victoria replied, her voice tight with emotion.
"So all this time," Derek continued, his voice low, "it's just been you and...?" he trailed off, gesturing towards Dieter.
Victoria hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. Their relationship with Dieter was complicated, a mix of loyalty, companionship, and a spark of something deeper that they both carefully kept at bay.
"Dieter," she finally said, choosing her words carefully, "is my… close friend. He's been with me through a lot for the past few years. We work together, and yes," she admitted with a faint blush, "there have been… moments. But we're not romantically involved, not now at least."
Derek absorbed this information, his expression scribbled. Dieter, sensing the tension, cleared his throat. "Let's get some food in our bellies shall we."
Victoria rummaged through the supplies, pulling out a dented metal container filled with protein bars and dehydrated rations – hardly pleasure-loving, but enough to keep them fuelled for now.
Derek reluctantly grabbed a bar. "So, who are you really? And why did you leave me here in the first place," he said, his voice quiet but insistent.
"Alright," she said, taking a bite of her bar. "Let's start from the beginning."
She chewed slowly, gathering her thoughts. "For a long time, I was… different. I served in the military, with your father by the way" she began, her voice gaining strength with each word. "It was a different life, one filled with danger and discipline. But eventually, I decided to leave that behind."
Derek's eyes widened. "The military? Like, war zones and stuff?"
Victoria nodded, avoiding the specifics. "Something like that." She forced a smile. "It wasn't all bad, though. It taught me a lot about resilience, about survival."
"Okay, and?" Derek prompted, his curiosity piqued.
"Then," Victoria continued, "I wanted to use those skills for something different. Something that could help people, not hurt them. So; I started focusing on something different, technology, and eventually I started a tech company – Global Security. Among other things, we developed security systems, software that protects people's information, their homes, it was a whole thing."
Derek scoffed. "Security systems? That sounds boring compared to chasing bad guys."
Victoria chuckled, "Maybe," she admitted. "But it was important to me, and I loved it more. To create something that made a difference, even if it wasn't as… exciting as my past life."
The truth, of course, was far more complex. Global Security wasn't just any security company. It was a front, a way to access information, to keep an eye on the shadows, all while staying under the radar. But that was a story for another time.
"Global Security," he finally mumbled, "It wasn't just security systems, was it?"
Victoria shook her head, "Initially, it was, but yeah, eventually, no," she admitted. "It started that way, a legitimate company with a noble purpose. But the skills I honed in the military, the resources I had access to… they proved too valuable to stay aboveground for long."
"So, you went underground?"
"Exactly," Victoria confirmed. "The company became a front, a way to operate in the shadows. We developed cutting-edge technology, built a network of contacts, all while flying under the radar of most governments."
She paused, taking a deep breath. "We even managed to establish a… working relationship with a faction within the United States DIA. They were interested in the kind of tech we were creating, the kind that could tip the scales in their favour."
Derek whistled, a low, impressed sound. "So, you were basically a secret tech mogul, working with politicians in the shadows?"
"I wouldn't put it like that, but yes. It came along with a lot responsibility, and a whole lot of enemies too. The technology we developed, the influence we wielded… it attracted the wrong kind of attention. Mercenaries, rival organizations, even some governments saw us as a threat. They wanted to steal our inventions, dismantle our network, take over my empire. They didn't care about the good we were doing; the lives we were protecting. They only saw power, and they were willing to do anything to get it."
"You see, Derek," she continued, her gaze pleading for understanding, "the trouble started brewing right around the time you were born. Building GS, becoming a player in the shadows – it created enemies, powerful ones. And with your arrival, the danger intensified. Having a child made me a target, a vulnerability they could exploit."
"For the first 6 years," Victoria pressed on, her voice raw with emotion, "I held on. I ran the organization, kept us safe, all while juggling the responsibility of being your mother. But then..." she choked back a sob, "your father..."
She squeezed her eyes shut, the grief of that day still fresh.
"After your father's accident," she continued, "everything became a thousand times harder. The threats escalated, and the dangers became too close for comfort. I couldn't risk them using you against me. I couldn't risk losing you too."
"That's when I made the hardest decision of my life. I sent you here in Azoma, to Amani, a woman I trust with my life. It was the only way to keep you safe, at least temporarily. I knew I needed a plan, a way to ensure our future together, but the enemies were relentless. I had your memories erased because I wanted to protect your innocence, to give you a chance at a normal life, even if it meant being apart. But things didn't go according to plan. Threats continued, and the organization... it became increasingly difficult to manage. "
She reached into the leather bag Dieter had brought and pulled out a worn file, its edges frayed and the paper tinged with a slight yellow. She opened it and pushed it across the table towards Derek.
On the first page, a bold black headline screamed: "Tech CEO Victoria Dixon Found Dead in Mysterious Fire." Below it, a grainy picture showed a woman with her back to the camera, her hair a mass of dark curls. Derek's eyes widened in disbelief. "This... this is you? You what? You died? And, wait. You faked your death?
"Like I said, I had enemies, Derek, well, still have enemies. People who wanted to use my technology for their own nefarious purposes, and the man who sent those guys back there, a man called Abyss is one of them. He, he has been obsessed for too long now, and he does not seem to want to relinquish the chase. " she explained.
As the credence of Victoria's revelations settled upon him, Derek's mind reeled with the enormity of what she was revealing. "How was faking your death a way of protecting your technology from people who want to use it for nefarious purposes"
"It was all about misdirection," she replied, her tone playful yet earnest. "By making everyone think I was six feet under, I threw them off the scent like a clever magician pulling off a disappearing act. It bought me the time and space I needed to safeguard my technology and my organization from prying eyes."
Derek chuckled at her analogy, the tension in the room easing as they shared a moment of levity. "So, you're like a tech-savvy Houdini, then?" he quipped.
"Well, you see, Derek," she said, her voice casual as she took a bite of her energy bar, "when you end up getting involved in underground operations, disappearing acts become somewhat of a specialty."
"Underground operations?", he asked.
Victoria nodded, "Yes, I now run various underground networking. Not only does this network generate data on classified files of governments, and high profile criminals, it has also generated billions of dollars to my wealth" she explained, her voice low but confident.
"But Victoria, if you were supposed to be dead to the world, how did this Abyss guy, or Igor I am lost at this point, manage to catch up with a dead person?" he asked.
Victoria's expression softened with understanding as she considered Derek's question. "Derek, some adversaries are relentless," she began, her voice tinged with a hint of resignation. "No matter how carefully we try to erase our past, there are those who refuse to let us escape the shadows of our history."
"We may have thought we left our enemies behind, but here they are, right back on our neck. But in all honesty, it is puzzling how it was possible that Abyss caught up with me so easily, let alone know that I still exist." Victoria continued.
Derek sighed, a tremor running through his voice. "It's a lot to take in," he admitted.
"I know," she whispered. "More than you can imagine."
Derek then pushed himself out of the rickety chair and stood before her. Victoria's breath hitched, unsure of what to expect. Then, slowly, Derek reached out and wrapped his arms around her.
The hug was unexpected, a tentative bridge across the chasm of their fractured past. Victoria stiffened for a moment, overwhelmed by the sudden gesture. Then, she slowly relaxed, her arms coming up to hold him close.
"I don't know if I can forgive everything yet," Derek mumbled into her shoulder, "But I understand… why you did what you did."
Victoria held him tighter, the dam breaking within her. Tears streamed down her face, a mixture of relief and sorrow. "Thank you, baby" she whispered. "Thank you for trying."
The hug dissolved, a tentative peace settling between them. Derek wiped a stray tear from his cheek, then faintly smiled. "Ma Amani always said something life-changing would happen to me," he said, his voice slightly hoarse. "Guess this is it."
Victoria managed a watery chuckle, wiping at her own eyes. "Quite the life change, for sure."
"Look," Derek started, his voice turning serious, "I'm not gonna lie, all this is… a lot. Super sudden, super strange, super uncomfortable too. But," he puffed out his chest slightly, "I'm not a little kid anymore. I naturally have to handle it."
Victoria reached out and squeezed his hand, her eyes filled with a newfound warmth. "I know you can, Derek. You're stronger than you think."
He was taking it all surprisingly well – the revelation, the danger, the uncertainty. "Alright," she said, her voice regaining some strength, "first thing's first. Dieter.", she said.
Dieter, who had been a silent observer during their emotional exchange, looked up. "Yeah?"
"Please grab your gear and see if you can pick up a decent signal out there." Victoria gestured towards the cavern entrance. "We need to figure out where we are, what resources we might have access to."
Hefting his bag onto his shoulder, he grabbed a flashlight and a small device that looked like a cross between a compass and an antenna.
"Be careful out there," Victoria called after him.
"I will, Vic" Dieter replied with a wink, his usual gruffness softened by the circumstances. He stepped out of the cavern entrance, the cool night air washing over him. He raised the signal-detecting device, searching for any flicker of connection. The bars remained stubbornly blank, the isolation of the cave proving to be a technological dead zone.
Suddenly, a light caught his eye in the distance. It was faint, but unmistakable – four small points of orange light, seemingly bobbing in the darkness. Those weren't stars, they were torches. And torches in the middle of nowhere usually meant one thing – trouble.
His mind raced. Could it be Igor's men. He needed to get back to Victoria, to warn her of the approaching danger. With a surge of adrenaline, Dieter tucked the device back in his bag and ran back towards the cavern entrance, the faint orange lights growing larger with every stride.
Dieter burst back through the cavern entrance, his face pale and imprinted with urgency. "Victoria!" he said, slamming the heavy stone door shut behind him with a booming thud. "Trouble!"
Victoria, startled by his sudden reappearance, shot to her feet. "What is it?".
"Lights," Dieter panted, gulping in air. "Four torches, out in the distance. Moving this way."
The colour drained from Victoria's face.
"Shit, that is Igor, or his men. Either ways, we can't stay here," she declared, her voice leaving no room for argument. "They'll smoke us out."
Derek, who had been watching the exchange with wide eyes, finally found his voice. "Smoke us out?"
"There's something I need to show you, Derek," she said, her voice low and urgent. "Something I haven't had a chance to explain."
She reached down and unlatched the worn leather bag Dieter had brought for her earlier. She unzipped it open, revealing a briefcase within. She urgently entered a code and the lid of the briefcase popped right open.
"Baby, I need to introduce Haras-o8, my life's work"
"What do you mean? What is that?" Derek asked.
With a determined set to her jaw, Victoria took a deep breath, steeling herself for what she was about to reveal. "Okay baby I am going to need you to understand and trust me here, we do not have time. There are approaching possible armed men, ones you outdrove earlier." she replied, her voice well-founded.
She takes a deep breath and sits across Derek and prompts for his courtesy as she takes out a strange looking syringe with colourless fluid. "Derek, listen carefully..., inside this syringe is a fluid blend, that I have developed at the convergence of nanotechnology and biopharmaceutical novelty. This fluid contains nano-scopic particles that I engineered to interact with YOUR specific DNA. I am going to have to inject this into you, and these particles will navigate the knotty pathways of your biological systems, to seek out and bind to individual DNA strands, establishing a comprehensive network that spans the entirety of cellular architecture. Once tethered to DNA, these nanoparticles will orchestrate a symphony of molecular interactions. Through biochemical signalling and computational processes, they will modulate genetic expression, fine-tuning and enhancing cellular functions with remarkable specificity. This will fortify your cellular resilience, and will augment your cognitive and physical capabilities, with more"
"Yeah what the heck? I only got like 20% of that." Derek's voice shilly-shallied considerably, showing the inner turmoil swirling within him. He shifted uncomfortably.
"Derek," Victoria's voice vibrated with insistence, her eyes locking onto her son's with a stern intensity. "You're my son, and your safety has always been my top priority, above everything, and I mean everything else on this planet. You are the most important thing in my life."
Her words carried the weight of a mother's affection and determination, each syllable laced with a sense of rush. Derek's expression shifted, his features distorting with concern as he absorbed her words.
"But I can't keep shielding you," Victoria pressed on, her voice tinged with desperation. "I can't always be there to protect you, not forever. I cannot keep hiding you away. It's time I help you defend yourself against the dangers you were unfortunately born into."
With a trembling hand, Victoria reached for the syringe, her fingers wrapping around it tightly as she held it out to Derek. "Haras-08, an invention I have developed for the past several years going to help you do just that," she explained, her tone urgent. "You're on the brink of something extraordinary, Derek, and you need to trust me."
Time was running out, and they couldn't afford to hesitate any longer.
"We have no time," she implored, her voice rising with desperation. "I believe in you, baby."
"This sounds like a BAD idea. What if something goes wrong?" Derek's voice resonated with a tremor. "What if I'm not ready for this?"
The mother's expression unstiffened, a beacon of empathy amidst the storm of dread. "That is not going to happen Derek, I have exercised accuracy and put my literal all in Haras-08, you are not going to have anything go wrong beyond a small sting from this syringe. I promise."
Derek extended his trembling arm, offering silent consent. As the needle pierced his skin and the fluid surged into his veins, a kaleidoscope of emotions washed over him—a tumultuous blend of fear and exhilaration, uncertainty and anticipation. As the Haras-08 nanofluid coursed through Derek's veins, a seismic shift rippled through every fibre of his being.
Initially, discomfort troubled at the edges of his consciousness. Yet, as the transformative wave surged, discomfort gave way to an electrifying change.
Internally, a veritable revolution unfolded, as if a dormant powerhouse had been ignited with the feeling of a supernova. Metabolic pathways blazed with pristine intensity, similar to a raging inferno consuming all in its path.
His neurons crackled with vitality, forging neural pathways with the ferocity of a lightning storm, illuminating the recesses of Derek's mind with unparalleled clarity and insight.
Physically, subtle changes rippled across Derek's form, like the gentle stirrings of a dormant titan awakening from sleep. Muscles, once resigned to the limitations of human physiology, thrummed with strength and resilience, each fibre pulsating with life.
His senses, sharpened to a keen edge, perceived the world with heightened alertness, each sight, sound, and sensation rendered with startling clarity.
Victoria's eyes, pools of anticipation, bore into Derek's as if searching for the secrets of the universe within his very being.
"How are you feeling?" Her voice, a melody of curiosity and concern yet at ease, floated through the air like a whisper carried on the wind.
"I feel..." His voice, a symphony of revelation and transformation, resonated with a resonance previously unknown. Each word dripped with the essence of enlightenment, infused with the weight of a thousand discoveries waiting to be unfolded. "Sharper," he breathed, his words hanging in the air like the final notes of a melody. "Like everything just clicked into place. I do not feel like a regular me."
"That is great, that is phenomenal. I told you, no more regular Derek I guess." Victoria aforesaid as she reached towards briefcase resting on the table's edge.
From within the depths of the case emerged a singular object- wristband, vivacious with an otherworldly luminescence that seemed to signal Derek with a siren's call. It sparkled with the afterglow of distant galaxies.
"This," Victoria intoned, her voice a humble undertone that rang with the weight of revelation, "is going to complete the new transformation and connect you to the digital world more easily, but of course, right now, it will be of no use."
Derek extended his hand to receive the artefact. The wristband, cool to the touch, seemed to hum with a concealed energy—a silent indication to the symbiotic bond that awaited its activation.
"Now you are going to be co-existing with your new companion—Haras-08," Victoria continued, as she gently guided Derek's hand towards the awaiting device.
As the wristband encircled Derek's left wrist, a surge of energy coursed through his veins, intertwining his essence with that of the nano-particle fluid injected in him- introducing him to Haras-08!
"I've installed two programs in that wristband," she explained, her voice taking on a motivational tone. "These programmes are AeroSpecter and Sky Sentinel. AeroSpecter embodies the cutting-edge fusion of advanced algorithms and neural networks, and I crafted these to optimize Haras-08's capabilities in aerial combat scenarios. This means your body will harness real-time data streams from your very eyes and other external sources on your body, processing vast volumes of information with lightning speed to provide unparalleled situational awareness and tactical insights. Sky Sentinel, on the other hand, symbolizes the vigilant guardian overseeing Haras-08's aerial domain. This program integrates predictive modelling and threat analysis, leveraging your entire body to adapt and anticipate evolving combat scenarios. By seamlessly integrating with Haras-08's systems, SS empowers the unit with a strategic edge, enabling swift decision-making and precise execution in high-stakes engagements. I know you understood that"
Derek nodded. "That is again, is a lot; but I got all of it this time, I got it." he replied.
Victoria directed Derek to hurry to a small hidden cave the on the other hand of the shaft, to hide. A hideout within a hideout.
Igor and his men stormed into the mine shaft room. Before Victoria and Dieter could react, chaos erupted as one of the henchmen lobbed a military-grade grenade into the midst of the room.
Victoria and Dieter dove in opposite directions, their bodies slamming against the floor just moments before the grenade detonated with a loud BLAST!
The shockwave from the explosion sent shrapnel flying in all directions, furniture splintering. Victoria felt herself being hurled across the room, her ears ringing and vision obscured by smoke and debris.
Victoria's consciousness flickered like a dying light in the aftermath of the explosion. For what felt like an eternity, she was enveloped in darkness, her senses dulled by the ringing in her ears and the haze of smoke.
As awareness slowly returned, so did the harsh reality of the battle raging around her. The pungent scent of gunpowder filled her nostrils, and the distant echoes of gunfire reverberated in her throbbing head.
Struggling to move, Victoria's hand grazed something glossy and warm—a pool of her own blood seeping from a gunshot wound in her right shoulder. The searing pain jerked her fully awake, her eyes snapping open to find Igor's men closing in!
Instinct took over as Victoria rolled behind a nearby wooden box, narrowly avoiding another barrage of bullets that tore through the air where she had been moments before. Adrenaline surged through her veins, sharpening her focus despite the agony radiating from her wounded shoulder.
She surveyed her surroundings for any sign of an escape route. The room was a battlefield strewn with overturned furniture and shattered debris.
With gunfire ringing in her ears, Victoria's mind raced with desperate calculations. She needed to buy time, to find a way out of this deadly trap. But with each passing moment, the walls seemed to close in, the weight of imminent danger pressing down upon her.
Right at that moment, Victoria's heart sank like a stone as she caught sight of Dieter being dragged out of the room by Igor himself, his grey silhouette framed against the chaos of the area outside the room. Before she could react, the harsh crack of gunfire shattered the air.
Tears blurred Victoria's vision as she clung to the floor behind the overturned wooden box, her body trembling with a mixture of pain and anguish. She felt a surge of helplessness, the realization of losing a beloved alley threatening to overwhelm her.
Igor and his men were up for a violent encounter. In that moment of harrowing loss, Victoria's tenacity hardened like tempered steel. With Derek's safety now her sole purpose, she knew that they must escape at any cost — before they too fell victim to the merciless onslaught of Igor's forces.
Victoria's hands moved quickly as she loaded the gun tucked at the back of her jeans, her focus solid amidst the relentless barrage of gunfire. Bullets whizzed through the air, spitting sparks as they struck the stone walls and furniture around her.
With a quick look around the room, Victoria spotted another cover nearby. She leaped from her weakening and closed in cover behind the overturned couch, her body moving gracefully despite the searing pain in her wounded shoulder.
She leaped towards her next hiding spot like a canon fired and spotted a hanging lamplight looming above. With a split-second decision, she aimed her gun upwards, her finger tightening on the trigger.
With one single shot, Victoria's tore through the delicate chains holding the lamplight in place. Time seemed to slow as the fixture plummeted from above, the crystal ruins catching the light in a magnificent display of destruction.
Igor's men scrambled to evade the deadly cascade. One of the 3 henchman was not fast enough — a direct hit from the plummeting fixture holding the lamplight crushed him beneath its weight, killing him right away.
With her wounded shoulder throbbing more from the leap, Victoria tore a strip of fabric from her shirt and swiftly tied it around the injury, gritting her teeth against the pain. She scanned the room for remaining threats.
In the chaos, her eyes locked onto two of Igor's men who had managed to evade the falling lamp light unharmed. Without hesitation, she raised her gun, her hands steady despite the agonising pain in her right shoulder.
Victoria squeezed the trigger, her aim polished by years of military experience as well as being settings as deadly as this one.
One of the men staggered back, blood spurting from a fatal wound to his throat. His eyes widened in shock as he clutched at the gushing wound with both his hands, blood staining his hands and spilling onto the floor.
The last man turned towards his fallen comrade in horror, momentarily distracted by the gruesome scene unfolding before him. Big mistake! Victoria's pistol clicked empty just as she lined up her shot the last man.
With no time to spare, she ran towards him, and seized a broken chair leg from the debris-strewn floor, her fingers from her left hand wrapping around the sturdy wood. The man lunged towards her, she sidestepped his attack with smooth poise, using the chair leg as an extension of her own lethal intent.
She drove the improvised weapon into the henchman's knee with bone-crushing force, producing a pained grunt as he stumbled back, momentarily off balance.
Victoria disarmed her now-weakened adversary and swiftly followed up with a series of strikes to vital points — a precise left jab to the solar plexus, a powerful knee to the groin, and a final, decisive blow to the head that rendered the last of the men unconscious.
Breathing heavily, Victoria stood over her dead bodies, her chest heaving with the exertion of battle and her shirt bloody. The taste of victory was bittersweet, overshadowed by the ominous presence she felt behind her. Igor had returned, and he was holding Derek at gunpoint.
A cold sweat broke out on Victoria's face as she slowly turned to face him. She locked eyes with Igor, who wore a sinister smirk, the barrel of his gun pressed against Derek's head.
Victoria's eyes locked onto Derek's, a silent exchange of understanding passing between them amidst the tense standoff with Igor.
"Derek," Victoria spoke with steady composure, her voice carrying a blend of reassurance and determination. "I am sure you know what do."
He nodded slowly, a glimmer of trust in his mother's words.
"Oh no Victoria, you are not getting out of this one. Not again..." he yelled, with frustration. "Abyss is going to rejoice when I bring him the heads of both of you"
Victoria ignored Igor's threats gaze remained fixed on Derek. "Baby, take a crack at it..."
Igor's expression darkened with anger. "Shut up!" he spat, his grip tightening on the gun. "One more word and I blow his head off his neck"
Victoria raised her hands in a gesture of calm defiance. "You are here to kill us Igor, I know that. So cut the bullshit. Look Igor, man, I have always been a step ahead of your boss Abyss, and with you, his bitch; I am like a hundred ahead."
Igor's face contorted with fury, his control slipping. "It is dangerous to talk shit at such situations, especially with a gun this twat's head" he growled, his eyes darting between Victoria and Derek.
She remained unfazed. "Ah, but danger is my middle name. I've danced with death more times than a woman has ever looked your direction. That includes your mother too" she countered, her voice carrying a quiet confidence that immediately upset Igor more.
Her words struck a nerve, and Igor's grip on the gun tightened. "You're playing a dangerous game," he warned.
She smiled, faintly. "Oh, I love games. And just like these bloody pawns scattered around us," she gestured towards the defeated adversaries on the floor, "this is checkmate for you too mate."
As Igor's frustration boiled over, he turned the gun away from Derek's head towards Victoria's direction, his expression twisted with rage and malice. Before he could pull the trigger, Derek seized Igor's, a surge of Haras-08-enhanced strength coursing through him. There was a sickening crack as Derek expertly applied pressure, breaking Igor's arm and causing him to cry out in agony as he broke free. He took Igor's gun and emptied capably it, scattering bullets in the magazine all over the floor.
He stepped back and looked around. Haras-08 is in full effect!
Derek walked forward towards Igor, flipping a heavy table toward the man. The crude barricade crashed into Igor, knocking him off balance.
Managing to recover quickly, on his good arm, Igor took a gun from his jacket, swinging it toward Derek. With precision timing, Derek grabbed Igor's wrist and twisted it, forcing him to drop the weapon. Igor sneered in pain, his broken arm unable to provide any challenge.
Derek didn't hesitate. He delivered a powerful punch to Igor's stomach, causing him to stagger backwards.
Despite being injured and beat up, Igor lunged at Derek with surprising ferocity. Derek sidestepped the attack, his heightened reflexes allowing him to effortlessly evade Igor's clumsy assault.
With a controlled sweep of his leg, Derek knocked Igor off balance again, sending him crashing to the ground this time. Igor struggled to regain his footing, but Derek was relentless!
Derek grabbed Igor's throat with both his hands, pinning him against the wall. Igor's eyes widened in fear for the first time in his life, as he realized he was completely at Derek's mercy.
"Listen here you big bag of shit" Derek said firmly, his voice commanding. "I am not a killer, so please do not force my hand. Go and tell your boss to leave Victoria alone. Either that or I am coming to cripple him myself!"
Derek then mercilessly dropped him on the floor.
After Derek's impressive display of ass-whooping, Victoria approached him with pride stamped on her face.
"Well, that was remarkable," Victoria said, her voice soft yet filled with admiration. "That was beyond amazing for a first time."
Derek, still catching his breath, looked at his mother. "Yeah, I didn't know I could do that. This is actually very frightening" he admitted, his voice tinged with wonder.
Victoria placed a hand on Derek's shoulder, her touch gentle despite the lingering pain in her wounded arm. "That is just the mere tip of the ice bag sweetheart," she explained. "Haras-08 has a lot more to offer. As I told you earlier, you are experience something extraordinary"
Derek nodded solemnly, "I understand" he replied, his voice filled with determination.
Turning her attention back to Igor, who lay defeated on the floor, Victoria's expression softened slightly. "Igor," she addressed him firmly, "go back to Russia or NYC or wherever the fuck Abyss sent you from, and tell him to back off, for good!"
Igor looked up at Victoria with defiance. "You think you are steps ahead of Abyss. You are mistaken. He is coming to take everything from you, everything in your life, and you will not even see it coming." he said bitterly.
"I do not fancy repeating myself, so accept my politeness to let see you another sunrise. Consider my warning," she replied, her tone stanch.
As Igor lay defeated on the floor, with a cruel smile, he reached into his jacket and; in his hand, a small, metallic device blinked with an accusing red light. A timer. Thirty seconds.
"You may have won the battle, Vic," Igor rasped, "but you'll lose the war."
Victoria's vision swam. Thirty seconds. An eternity and a mere heartbeat all at once.
"Derek!" she screamed, her voice echoing off the cave walls. "Get back!"
The timer on the device pulsed, mockingly counting down the final seconds.
"Run!" Victoria screamed again. "Let's get out of here, it's a bomb!"
They scrambled back toward the rear of the cavern, their legs pumping against the uneven ground. Victoria, turned towards the sealed entrance on the far end. It seemed rocks had closed off the entrance from the earlier explosion.
Victoria grabbed Derek's hand, pulling her through the narrow, jagged passageways, an alternative route out, possibly.
The bomb's timer, ticked uncompromisingly:
29...
28...
27...
Victoria stumbled, her ankle turning painfully on the uneven ground. Derek caught her, his grip firm and reassuring. "Come on, Mom. Let's keep moving!"
The darkness seemed to close in around them, and the mine shaft transformed into a foreboding maze. Victoria pulled up a flashlight; casting erratic beams that barely perforated the darkness ahead. The walls felt like they were closing in again, the ceiling lowering, suffocating them.
22...
21...
They rounded a corner, only to be met with a dead end. The realization hit them.
Derek cussed out loud, his mind racing. "Shit! There has to be another way," he said, turning back. "We can make it."
15...
14...
Victoria's legs burned with exertion, "Derek baby, I can't," she panted, her voice barely a whisper. "I can't go any further."
"You can, and you will," Derek snapped. He pulled her up, practically dragging her now. "I will not leave you! Let's keep going."
9...
8...
The air grew colder, the darkness thicker. The flashlight finally gave out, plunging them into pitch blackness!
5...
4...
They stumbled into an open chamber, the faintest glimmer of moonlight filtering in from a small opening far above. Their salvation was just out of reach. Derek hoisted Victoria up, his muscles straining with the effort. "Climb, Mom! Climb!"
3...
2...
Victoria scrambled, her fingers bleeding as they clawed at the rough rock. Derek followed, pushing her upwards, using every ounce of his strength.
1...
The world seemed to hold its breath!
0...
Then BOOM!
Dust and wreckages of rocks rained down, filling the air with choking clouds. The explosion's shockwave blasted through the tunnels, a monstrous force of nature.
Silence...
The mine settled, the echoes of the blast fading into an eerie stillness. Rocks shifted.
Minutes passed, each one an agonizing stretch of ambiguity.
Then, from the rubble near the opening, a hand emerged, covered in dirt but unmistakably alive. It is Victoria, gasping for air, her body trembling with exhaustion.
She looked around frantically. "Derek! Derek!"
A low groan answered her. Derek, bruised and battered, pulled himself free from the rocks and dust. His face was smeared with dirt, but his eyes shone with triumph. "We're okay, Mom. We made it."
Tears streamed down Victoria's face as she embraced her son, their hearts beating wildly with the rush of life. Against all odds, they had escaped!
Victoria, her body a sore map of pain, leaned heavily against Derek for support. Her shoulder, a fiery inferno wrapped in ripped cloth, as well as her broken ankle, screamed with every tentative step. Derek, his own clothes torn and singed, held her close.
The dust had settled, a swirling grey shroud clinging to the devastation.
"We need to get out of here," she said, her voice weak.
Derek, his own body battered but adrenaline, as well as Haras-08 still coursing through him, nodded grimly. They took a tentative step forward, then another, picking their way through the loose gravel at the foot of the collapse.
As they rounded the base of the mountain, they saw the miraculously untouched Jeep by the cave-in, stood their trusty jeep.
With slow, deliberate movements, they reached the vehicle. Derek, circled it, checking for any damage. Relief flooded his face when he found none. "It seems like our lucky day," he said.
Victoria managed a weak chuckle, the sound raspy and painful. "Lucky might be pushing it," she replied. Still, seeing the jeep intact instilled a much-needed spark of hope.
They clambered into the vehicle, Derek carefully helping his mother into the passenger seat. Derek started the engine.
A scan of the dashboard revealed a miracle – a cell phone wedged beneath the passenger seat. With trembling fingers, she powered it on. To her immense surprise, the screen lit, a single bar of signal displayed in the corner.
She dialled a familiar number, the one coded into her memory for emergencies. It was the direct line to her pilot, a loyal confidant and skilled aviator who would know where they were supposed to be.
The phone is picked up. "Victoria? Where are you? Everything alright?"
Victoria's voice was a hoarse rasp. "We're alive, Asher," she said, "but barely. We need extraction. We're at 12.3456° N, 23.4567° E " she rattled off the numbers displayed on the car's GPS. "The old mineshaft, near the abandoned mining town."
Asher's voice became serious. "Understood," he replied. "Stay put. I'm on my way. I'll get you out of there."
She hung up, a wave of exhaustion washing over her. As they slowly drove, the loss of Dieter started to kick in, suffusing the interior with an air of sombreness. Victoria leaned back in the seat, closing her eyes for a moment, her eyes focused on the road ahead but her mind drifting back to the devastation of the loss of her partner, Dieter. Oh he was gone! Derek sat beside her, his gaze fixed on the passing scenery, his thoughts a tumultuous sea of grief for Dieter too.
The sun began its ascend. Victoria looked up, a silver jet, a silver bird of salvation, emerged from the horizon, its belly reflecting the golden light of dawn. It landed about 500 metres at an open space. The jeep was greeted by the embrace of a majestic BBJ 777X Boeing Jet, primed to carry them homeward to the United States.
A new chapter seemed to be unfurling, painting the skies with hues of hope and streaks of uncertainty. Yet beneath the surface of departure, a whispered question hung like a haunting refrain: had their story truly begun, or was this merely the overture to an unfathomable odyssey, where destinies would intertwine in a dance orchestrated by fate? As the jet's engines thundered to life, Victoria's gaze was fixed on the distant horizon. She sought solace in the unknown, her heart brimming with a curious blend of anticipation and trepidation. The mystery that lay beyond the clouds called to her, a siren song promising adventures untold and secrets yet to be uncovered. Every beat of the engines was a drumroll, heralding the start of an epic journey that would challenge her courage, test her resolve, and perhaps, redefine her very existence. This was not just a flight; it was the beginning of a voyage into the vast expanse of possibility, where each moment held the potential for discovery, transformation, and the unravelling of life's intricate tapestry.
As the plane ascended, leaving the familiar behind, Victoria embraced the uncertainty with a resolute spirit, ready to face whatever the future had in store. For in the dance of fate, it is often the steps we cannot predict that lead us to our truest destinations.