"Shoot him!"
Cassian's voice sliced through the cold air, crisp and commanding, as the operatives moved silently through the woods toward the warehouse. Their every step was calculated, the quiet crunch of leaves and branches betraying none of their approach.
Behind Finn and Julia, the mysterious man stood with a pistol pointed directly at them, his arms steady and unshaken. Both of their arms were raised in surrender, their bodies rigid with the threat of the weapon aimed at their chests.
"Finn…" The man's voice was low, rich with mocking calm. "You should thank your fellow operatives. They've come to save you."
Finn's body was taut with tension, but he forced out the question that burned in his mind. "Who… are you?"
Julia's heart raced, her arms trembling under the pressure of her raised stance. Her fear felt almost suffocating, but she held herself still, desperate to stay alive.
In a flash, the mysterious man vanished into the shadows, as silently as he'd appeared. Finn and Julia hadn't even seen him leave, caught up in the whirlwind of fear and confusion. It wasn't until Kai's voice broke the tense silence that they realized the man was gone.
"He's gone."
Kai stood just a few paces away, his gun lowered, his posture as calm and controlled as ever. Behind him, the operatives emerged, their faces hidden in the low light, moving swiftly to surround Finn and Julia.
Cassian stepped forward, his black hair styled into a sharp kinpi mullet, his eyes dark and unblinking as they swept over the scene. He lowered his gun with the same fluid precision that characterized all of his movements, slipping it back inside his coat with an air of practiced ease. His gaze remained unwavering, assessing the situation with a knowing calm that was both intimidating and confident.
Julia lowered her arms in a slow, hesitant motion, exhaling the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. Finn, still tense and wary, shifted his eyes from the empty space where the man had stood to the ground, his body poised like a coiled spring. The cold night air seemed to press in on them, thick with unsaid words.
Meanwhile, Kai, ever the picture of stoic composure, tucked his pistol into his coat, his eyes scanning their surroundings. No hint of relief crossed his features. He knew better than to let his guard down.
Finn and Julia, after a long, uneasy pause, bent down to retrieve their own weapons. Finn's hand closed around his pistol, fingers brushing against the cool metal as he swiftly slid it into the waistband of his trouser. His other hand went to his knife, picking it up from the ground with a smooth, deliberate motion. Julia did the same, picking up her pistol and tucking it into her coat, her movements quicker now, more instinctive.
The silence stretched for a moment longer before Cassian spoke, his voice as cold as the air around them.
"Not bad," he muttered, his eyes flicking between Finn and Julia. "You're lucky to be alive. But now… tell me—what happened here?"
The question lingered, but Cassian wasn't in a hurry to hear the answer. His smirk remained, faint but palpable, as he studied the pair. Whoever the mysterious man was, Cassian had already made his judgment—he was no ordinary threat.
Kai's eyes scanned Finn's injured thigh, the blood soaking through his torn trousers, the damp fabric clinging to his skin. His gaze was sharp, assessing the situation as always.
"Cassian," Kai called, his voice low but laced with an unmistakable authority. Cassian, who had been watching the whole interaction with a mischievous smirk, met his gaze with a raised brow.
"Bring Finn to the nearest hospital," Kai commanded, his tone unwavering, like a general giving orders in the middle of a battlefield.
Cassian chuckled, the sound rough and carefree. "Alright, alright... let's go, weak guy," he teased, moving to support Finn by his shoulder. Finn leaned into Cassian with a grimace, but there was a mocking humor in his voice.
"I'll beat you up once I'm good," Finn shot back, his voice laced with playful defiance as he held onto Cassian's shoulder, the two of them making their way out through the fence and into the woods.
Kai watched them for a moment before turning to the rest of the operatives. Raising his hand in a swift motion, he signaled them forward.
"Investigate the warehouse," Kai ordered, his voice cutting through the night air, filled with authority. The operatives, poised and focused, moved in sync with his command, slipping into the shadows around the warehouse entrances, their knives drawn and ready.
Julia, standing just a few paces away, felt her earlier tension start to fade as she watched Kai's calm, methodical leadership. His control over the situation was unmistakable—everything fell into place with a single gesture from him.
Kai's hand moved again, his eyes narrowing as he gave the next order. "Find Mina and Clara."
Julia, her curiosity piqued, glanced at him, her eyes searching for any hint of emotion behind his unreadable expression. "What's your relationship with Mina and Clara?" Her voice was firm, but there was a softness, a slight vulnerability that crept in.
Kai stopped mid-motion, his eyes meeting hers, the briefest of smiles curling at the edges of his lips. His voice remained steady, revealing nothing. "Oh, they were Hannah's close friends," he said, his tone almost casual.
Julia blinked, her heart doing a strange flip at the mention of Hannah's name. She felt an odd, sudden tension in her chest. "Oh, Hannah's friends..." she repeated softly, but beneath her words, there was a clear undercurrent of something else—a hint of jealousy she couldn't hide.
Her eyes dropped to the ground for a moment, as though the weight of those words had hit her more than she expected.
The faint sounds of operatives moving through the warehouse reverberated against the cold, metallic walls. Boots thudded softly on the wooden floorboards, their weight blending with the quiet hum of distant machinery. Outside, others guarded the perimeter, but within the building, the air was thick with tension.
Kai adjusted his coat with a practiced ease, his gaze steady as he turned to Julia. A soft, reassuring smile tugged at his lips as he rested a hand gently on her shoulder. "Stay here, Julia. I'll check inside," he said, his tone calm but firm, the authority in his voice leaving no room for argument.
Julia's breath hitched at the unexpected contact, a thrill racing through her chest. Heat crept into her cheeks, and she quickly nodded, her red eyes darting to the floor. "Hmm—hmm… okay," she murmured, her voice barely audible.
Kai didn't linger. He moved purposefully through the warehouse, slipping into the office through a window. The space was dim, lit only by the pale glow of moonlight filtering through broken slats in the blinds. Paperwork was scattered haphazardly across a desk, and beside it, neatly stacked parcels sat ominously—a clear stash of drugs.
Kai's eyes narrowed as he crouched to inspect them, but before he could make sense of the discovery, a sharp, commanding voice shattered the stillness.
"Let her go!"
The shout echoed through the warehouse, reverberating off the steel beams and concrete walls. Kai shot to his feet, his body tense, and rushed toward the sound. He pushed open the office door, moving quickly toward the commotion.
In the middle of the warehouse's vast open space, chaos unfolded. Under the harsh glow of overhead lights, a car stood parked haphazardly amidst scattered crates and debris. Surrounding it were operatives, their weapons trained on a lone figure who held a hostage in front of him like a shield.
Kai's gaze zeroed in on the scene. The hostage was Mina. Her long, disheveled brown hair framed her tear-streaked face, her wide, terrified eyes darting around in desperation. She was dressed in revealing lingerie, her vulnerability made even more stark by the rough grip of the man holding her. His pistol was pressed firmly against her temple, his other hand clamped over her mouth to stifle her cries.
The man was tall, his stance exuding cold confidence. He seemed completely at ease, even as he stood surrounded by a ring of armed operatives. His smirk was a taunt, his dark eyes glinting with menace.
"Back off!" he snarled, his voice sharp and unyielding. Mina flinched, her muffled whimper breaking through the tension.
Kai raised his hand slightly, signaling the operatives to hold their fire. His sharp blue eyes locked onto the man, assessing him with calm precision. "No one shoots," he ordered, his voice carrying a quiet authority that cut through the tension.
The operatives exchanged uneasy glances but obeyed, their weapons still aimed but fingers steady on the trigger.
Kai took a single step forward, his movements measured. "Let her go," he said, his tone low and deliberate, every word a carefully placed thread in the fragile web of negotiation. "This doesn't end the way you think it will."
The man chuckled darkly, his grip on Mina tightening. "Oh, I think it will," he sneered, pressing the gun harder against her temple.
Kai's gaze flicked to Mina, noting the tremble in her frame and the sheen of tears in her brown eyes. His jaw tightened. "You're surrounded," he continued, his voice steady, his expression unreadable. "Let her go, and I'll make sure this doesn't get worse for you."
The man's smirk faltered for a fraction of a second, but his composure quickly returned. "You think I'm stupid?" he growled. "I let her go, and I'm dead. No deal."
Kai's fingers twitched, his sharp mind working through possibilities. The operatives remained tense, their weapons trained on the man but waiting for Kai's command. The warehouse felt like it was holding its breath, the air thick with anticipation.
The tension in the air thickened, like an unspoken challenge. Kai stood motionless, his eyes locked onto Mina's, seeing the fear in her brown eyes, the tears glistening against the dim light. The sound of her stifled cries pierced through the thick silence like a knife.
"Fuck, don't fight back," the man growled, his grip tightening as he forced the barrel of the gun against her temple, the cold steel pressing harder into her skin.
Mina's body trembled with each silent sob, but she stayed still, her spirit unbroken even as her voice came out in choked sobs. Kai's heart clenched at the sight.
"Let her go," Kai's voice cut through the tension, steady yet laced with desperation. His hands clenched at his sides, a rare vulnerability creeping into his usual calm demeanor. "This isn't right… I'll do anything. Just let her go."
Mina's eyes flickered to Kai, and in that brief moment, the silent cry in her gaze was enough to tear at his resolve. The tears that welled up in her eyes seemed to weigh heavy in the air between them. She shook her head slightly, as though trying to communicate something with just her gaze.
Before Kai could speak again, one of the operatives beside him placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to steady him. "C-colonel…" The operative's voice was low, almost hesitant, but the man with the gun didn't wait.
He smirked darkly, his fingers digging into Mina's shoulder as he pulled her tighter against him. "Anything?" he repeated, his voice thick with malice.
Kai's face remained unreadable, the storm of emotions behind his eyes hidden beneath a mask of discipline. His pulse quickened as the man's next words sent a chill through him.
"Then, let's put a bomb in this warehouse… and let it explode. Burn everything. No evidence left."
The man's eyes bored into Kai's, cold and intense. He was serious. His words were deliberate, like a twisted offer, meant to test Kai's limits, meant to push him into a corner. But Kai didn't flinch. His expression remained unchanged.
Inside, his mind raced. The man had no idea the storm he was about to invoke. But Kai wouldn't show that. Not now. Not when Mina's life was hanging in the balance.
He exhaled slowly, preparing himself for the next move, knowing that the next words he spoke could either save them—or plunge them deeper into hell.
Mina shook her head, her body trembling in fear, her muffled sobs escaping as she struggled against the man's iron grip. He pressed the barrel of the gun harder against her temple, a cold smile curling on his lips.
Before Kai could respond, the man spoke again, his tone filled with malice.
"In the basement, there's a bomb. You'll blow this place up, or maybe…" His voice lowered as he tightened his grip on Mina. "She dies. Right here."
Mina froze, her eyes wide with terror, and she shook her head violently. "No... please..." she whispered, her voice choked with sobs.
Kai's gaze sharpened, his jaw tightening with resolve. He raised his arm slowly, signaling for his operatives to lower their weapons.
"Lower your weapons, operatives," Kai commanded, his tone calm but laced with authority. "We'll retrieve the bomb."
Mina's eyes widened in horror, her body stiffening as she shook her head desperately. "No... not the bomb, please..." Her protests were drowned by the man's grip tightening around her, forcing her into silence.
The man sneered and shoved the pistol even harder into Mina's head, a cruel smirk on his face. "Shut up," he spat, his voice cold as ice. "If you want to save her, do as I say."
The operatives, ever focused and precise, began moving toward the rooms and corners of the warehouse. Their guns remained lowered, but they were quick and efficient as they systematically searched for the basement. With military precision, they made their way to the location of the bomb.
Kai stood still, his expression unreadable, but there was a cold determination in his eyes. As the operatives moved, he kept his focus on the man holding Mina hostage.
"Once they find it, they'll be the ones to activate it," Kai said quietly, but with authority. "And this place will be gone. No evidence left behind."
Mina trembled at his words, her fear deepening as she realized what was at stake. "Please..." she whispered, a tear slipping down her cheek.
The man glared at her, pressing the gun harder into her skin, his lips curling into a sadistic grin. "Shut up, or I'll finish it now."
Kai remained silent, watching the operatives as they continued their search, his mind calculating the risk. His eyes flicked back to the man, his body language calm but ready.
"Do your job, operatives. And make sure we get out of here alive," Kai commanded, his voice cutting through the tension.
The operatives in the warehouse quickly found the entrance to the basement, and with swift movements, they began to work on the bomb, preparing to activate it. Every second felt like an eternity as they secured the area and prepped the explosive.
Kai kept his gaze steady, his mind not allowing any room for doubt. He couldn't let the man's demands win. The operatives would handle the bomb, and then it would be his turn to deal with the man. But for now, he had to trust in his team and their ability to get the job done.
Mina's tear-filled eyes met his for a moment, but Kai didn't allow himself to show any weakness. He had a job to do.
Kai took a deep breath, his eyes focused on the tall man, reading him with a calm precision that could only come from years of experience. The man's trembling confidence barely masked the weakness that Kai was now keenly aware of. Mina, on the other hand, didn't move. Her brown eyes shimmered with fear, her body stiff but her gaze never leaving Kai.
The soft sound of operatives' footsteps grew louder as they returned, each of them holding the activated bomb. The digital timer blinked ominously—4:44.
The man's attention shifted to them, his eyes narrowing, and with a snarl, he pressed the barrel of his pistol harder against Mina's temple. "Put the bomb on the car," he demanded, his tone dead-serious, as though his words carried the weight of life or death.
Mina's body trembled in his grip, her cries muffled by the man's hand. The sound of her desperate, stifled sobs broke the silence, each sob sharp and heartbreaking. Kai's gaze softened slightly, but his voice remained unwavering as he nodded.
"Put the bomb on the car," Kai said, his tone calm and steady. There was no fear in his voice—only the quiet authority that could compel others to act without hesitation.
The operatives exchanged uneasy glances, but without protest, they acknowledged his command. Slowly, they began moving toward the car, their eyes flicking between the man and their surroundings, alert to every movement. The man backed away slightly, keeping his gun trained on them, his expression taut with distrust. His gaze never strayed from the operatives as they approached.
With quick, practiced hands, the operatives opened the car door and carefully placed the bomb inside. It settled with a quiet thud, the weight of the decision hanging heavy in the air.
The man's eyes gleamed with dark satisfaction, but his grip on Mina didn't loosen. Kai stood firm, his gaze fixed on the man, calculating every second. The countdown continued relentlessly—4:44. Each passing moment brought them closer to an explosion, but Kai's focus remained unbroken.
Kai's gaze never wavered as he locked eyes with the man, his expression unreadable, but the weight of his words hung in the air like a cold threat. The tension stretched, the faint tremble in the man's grip on Mina only amplifying the unease. The man pressed the barrel of his gun harder against Mina's temple, the metallic coldness of it seeming to seep into her skin as she trembled, her body stiff with fear. Her brown eyes shimmered, the tears that had threatened to fall now freely streaming down her face.
Before the man could speak, Kai's voice cut through the charged silence. "You think this will do…?" he said, his tone calm but laced with mockery. "After all the bad things you've done, you really think it's worth doing one more?"
The man's flinch was barely perceptible, but it was enough to show the crack in his composure. He gritted his teeth and growled in a low, dangerous voice, "Shut up… or I'll kill this woman."
Kai's eyes never left him, his gaze unwavering, and his mocking tone shifted to something far colder. "It's so easy for you to kill, isn't it?" Kai's words dripped with disdain. "Unless, of course, you see the victim's eyes." His voice dropped to a lethal whisper, his calmness betraying the ruthless promise beneath. "I swear to you... if you kill her... I'll find your family. And I will kill every last one of them. Not a single person in your bloodline will survive."
The man's hand tightened on Mina's mouth, stifling her muffled sobs, and his eyes flickered with something between fear and anger. But Kai's expression was now entirely devoid of mercy. His eyes burned with a cold fury, the kind that could end anyone's life without hesitation.
Mina shook her head in fear, her body trembling in the man's grasp, but Kai's words held a finality that seemed to freeze the moment. The operatives around them stayed still, watching silently, as if they too could feel the weight of Kai's words, sensing that the fate of this situation now lay in the man's hands—and in the deadly resolve of the one who commanded the room.
Kai's threat wasn't just words; it was a promise. A promise he'd follow through on without a second thought.