8:30 p.m.
California
JESSICA
After G.A.L.A.X.Y hands over Olivia Martinez—and after I, reluctantly, surrender myself to them—Matthew Lee takes me as his prisoner through Skull's base in Puerto Rico. They're trying to drill into the city, but Lee makes it clear he isn't loyal to S.K.U.L.L. He's here to fulfill a promise.
"Where are you taking me?" I ask, my voice low and wary.
Lee's eyes narrow, but his tone remains even. "There's someone you need to see."
He pulls a knife from his back pocket, cutting my bonds before unlocking a heavy door. I brace myself, but nothing can prepare me for what I see.
A massive figure turns to face me—a face I never thought I'd see again. My blood runs cold, my body frozen for a moment. The man standing in front of me is my father—Ethan Brown. The man who killed countless people. The man who works for S.K.U.L.L.
My fist clenches until my knuckles turn white.
"What the hell is he doing here?!" I demand, my voice shaking with anger.
Lee doesn't flinch. "What does it look like I'm doing? Giving you time alone."
The words don't make sense. I spin toward my father, fury building in my chest.
"You're a murderer!" I spit, my voice rising.
"Calm down," my father says, his grin more unsettling than comforting. "It's been a long time, Jessica."
I take a step back. "You have no right to speak to me," I say, my voice cold, but it trembles despite my efforts.
"Listen," he says, holding his hands up in a mock gesture of peace. "I know you don't understand, but I didn't want this. S.K.U.L.L gave me the means to find you again."
"A liar," I say, refusing to believe a word of it.
He steps closer, his tone softening. "I didn't have a choice, Jessica. They promised they'd reunite us, but only if I worked with them."
I recoil, wanting nothing more than to leave. "I won't stay with a murderer."
"You have to," he urges, his voice laced with desperation. "This is where you need to be. To fulfill your fate."
"You're insane," I snap. "I will never be part of this."
His eyes soften. "Your mother... Jessica, I'm sorry. She's gone. She was killed by Dr. Jackson Wright."
My heart stops for a moment. I've known, somehow, but hearing it makes it real. "No," I whisper, the word coming out ragged. "What did you do to her?"
Ethan looks away, his voice breaking as he speaks. "There's nothing I could have done. She was butchered, Jessica. But I swear, I will make it right. I will avenge her."
I shake my head, disbelief and rage burning in my chest. "I don't believe you. I will never believe anything you say."
Lee reenters the room at that moment, and the door opens. A few steps away, Dr. Wright walks in, his eyes scanning the room as if nothing had happened.
"What's going on here?" Dr. Wright asks, his voice clipped. "Why is Jessica still here?"
"I—" Lee hesitates. "I had to bring her. Ethan insisted."
"I don't care about your personal problems," Dr. Wright snaps. "Take them both to the next room."
Lee doesn't argue. As we're moved into a new space, a dozen S.K.U.L.L agents stand guard, weapons raised. Dr. Wright's voice cuts through the air.
"I need Jessica to touch the Chronic cube," he orders.
"Don't make me do this," I mutter under my breath, but Lee's hand on my arm stops me from moving.
He guides me toward the cube, and I pick it up. The moment my hand makes contact, the cube lights up, glowing just like it did when Olivia held it earlier. In a burst of defiance, I slam it into the nearest guard's head. The force sends him stumbling back.
Ethan and Lee draw their guns, and chaos erupts.
"We can't win this," Lee says, desperation edging his voice. "We're outnumbered."
Dr. Wright storms into the room, his eyes flashing with fury. "Tie them up, Lee. Now."
Seconds later, both Lee and I are bound, and I can feel the cold weight of a shock collar snap around Ethan's neck.
"Lee, please!" He struggles, but Dr. Wright doesn't care.
"Agent 35, you have to let me go," Lee pleads. "We've worked together for years. Don't forget that."
"I haven't forgotten," Agent 35 replies coldly. "But you're a traitor now, Lee. You abandoned us."
A gunshot rings through the air, the deafening sound forcing everyone to look around. Agent 35 leaves her post for a moment, giving us an opening.
I can't help but taunt Lee, my words sharper than I intended. "Thought you were going to make it out of here scot-free after betraying G.A.L.X.Y?"
He winces. "I never thought it would come to this."
The new guard standing beside us looks between us, wary. "I'm doing this because I have no choice."
I raise an eyebrow. "And you think Dr. Wright will keep his word?"
The guard's eyes drop. "I don't know. But he has my family, and I can't risk them."
Just then, Ethan lunges at the guard, the two of them grappling in a flurry of punches. The guard fights back, but Ethan is relentless, overpowering him with ease. A final chokehold silences him.
"Thank God," Lee mutters, but Ethan just looks at him, his face unreadable.
"I can't stay," Ethan says, his voice firm as he turns to leave.
"What?" Lee gasps. "You're just going to leave us here?"
"I have to," Ethan says. "I can't risk you anymore."
I stand there, speechless, as the situation spirals further out of control. We're on the edge of something bigger—something we can't yet understand.
Antonov An-225
"Thank you for assisting us, but why?" Mr. Smith asks, his brow furrowed in curiosity.
"Because I need you all to listen to what I have to say. Be attentive," the formidable man replies, his voice steady, commanding.
"We're all ears," Agent Alexander responds, leaning forward with a mix of curiosity and caution.
"The first Apocalypse is upon us. The moment is coming when Earth and Gavaria will be engulfed in chaos. While our planet remains calm for now, external forces are determined to push us toward war. If we win this battle, we will silence their intentions. But the most important thing is this: Jessica, you've been chosen to guide Earth through this. You are one of the few who can stop the war."
Sophia speaks up, her tone laced with uncertainty. "What is Gavaria? Is it a kingdom?"
"And who chose me?" Jessica asks, her voice steady despite the growing tension. "You said I've been chosen to fight for Earth, but who exactly chose me?"
"I chose you," Path Finder replies simply, his gaze unwavering.
"Why me?" Jessica questions, crossing her arms in defiance.
"Because you're experienced. And because your service will change the course of your life," Path Finder says, his tone serious, almost pleading.
Jessica's face hardens. "I'm not interested. I'm sorry to disappoint you, but this isn't my fight."
She turns to leave, but Mr. Smith's voice stops her. "Jessica, please."
She pauses, her back still turned. "I don't want to leave California. I have responsibilities here, to G.A.L.A.X.Y... to my life."
"But we need you," Mr. Smith insists, stepping closer. "You've seen the stakes. You've helped us before. Earth needs you now more than ever."
Jessica looks away, her voice tinged with frustration. "I can't just walk away from everything—everything I've worked for. I'm not some superhero."
Mr. Smith sighs, understanding her hesitation. "I'm not asking you to abandon your life. I'm asking you to help us stop this war. Malacoda, his armies... they'll strike Montana City in a matter of days. He wants to enslave humanity, and we can't let that happen."
Jessica turns to face him, shaking her head. "I don't care. You've got the wrong person for this."
"Jessica," Mr. Smith says, his voice softening. "I've known you for a long time. You have the strength to do this. The world needs you."
The words linger in the air, heavy and uncertain. She hesitates, torn between the pull of her life in California and the weight of the world resting on her shoulders.
"Please, Jessica. If not for yourself, then for everyone else," Mr. Smith adds, his voice almost pleading now.
Jessica's gaze falters. She feels the crushing responsibility, but her feet are rooted to the floor, unwilling to make the leap.
After a long pause, she nods reluctantly. "I'll help. But only if it doesn't mean abandoning everything here."
Mr. Smith places a hand on her shoulder, giving her a small, understanding smile. "I knew you'd come around."
She turns back to Path Finder, feeling the weight of her decision. "I'm in."
Path Finder smiles faintly and hands her a small card with a phone number and an address. "This is where you can reach me. We don't have much time."
Jessica stares at the card, the gravity of her choice settling in her chest. A part of her still wants to turn back, but another part knows that this is where she's needed.