"Are you sure?" Holland asked, extending a silenced pistol toward him.
"This isn't the first time," Rain replied, taking the gun and tucking it into the holster strapped to his waist.
"This is the first time I won't be watching your back," Holland reminded him.
"You're the captain now. Guess it's time to quit going into the field yourself, Holland," Rain teased, trying to provoke a reaction, but Holland remained silent.
The joke didn't land today, Rain thought to himself as he picked up four magazines for his sidearm and slipped two into each side of his waist pouch.
Holland seemed to be in a bad mood, a conclusion Rain could draw even if he didn't fully understand why.
But understanding it wasn't necessary right now.
What mattered now was the plan in his head—he needed to focus solely on that.
Rain grabbed his sword and sling, adjusting the strap for a moment, all the while feeling Holland's gaze on him, thoughtful.
"Is there something you want to say?" Rain decided to ask directly.
"You're not planning on doing what she asked, are you?" Finally, Holland spoke.
Rain was taken aback. "Why would you think I would do that?" he asked.
Holland sighed, the sound heavy with concern. "It's too difficult. You know that."
Rain nodded, understanding his meaning. He had run the calculations in his head as well. The odds weren't in his favor; too many unknown variables made success a distant prospect.
Still, there was a way—one he had to walk alone.
But pulling off the plan and surviving it were two entirely different matters, the voice of reason reminded him.
Once the strap was adjusted, Rain extended his hand in front of Holland.
Holland stared at him for a moment, then handed over three wrapped packages. Rain took them, placing them carefully into his shoulder pouch.
"Well then," Rain said, rising to his feet. "See you later."
Holland patted his shoulder lightly. "Good luck," he said briefly.
The two of them stood on the deck of the Washington, which was currently anchored by a steep, craggy cliff. The central part of the deck opened up, revealing a versatile gun turret. Mounted on the platform was a large harpoon gun, ready for use. Holland walked toward the turret and checked the rope securing the harpoon, while Rain tied a nylon rope securely to the attachment clip on his sling.
Once he was sure it was firmly secured, Rain bent down, retrieving the ice axe with both hands. He faced the cliff, backing up until he was pressed against the ship's railing. Rain twisted the axe, preparing to throw it forward. He bent his knees slightly and braced his core.
"Ready," he shouted. After speaking, he quickly shut his mouth and clenched his teeth tightly.
The harpoon launched with a deafening bang, cutting through the air. The coiled rope attached to the harpoon unraveled with a hiss, snaking across the deck like a striking serpent.
Rain felt the shock as the rope tightened, pulling him along with it, following the harpoon's trajectory.
The strong wind hit his face so fiercely that Rain decided to close his eyes, using the wind's force to calculate the speed of his flight instead.
The wind gradually subsided as the harpoon lost momentum. Rain counted down in his mind.
Finally, when he reached the highest point the harpoon could carry him, Rain opened his eyes and quickly assessed the best point on the cliff face ahead. He swung the ice axe with precision, striking the rock.
Thunk!
The solid thud of metal piercing stone was unmistakable. Rain quickly assessed that the hold was secure enough.
He swiftly used the sharp edge of the axe in his left hand to sever the rope that was attached to his sling.
In the blink of an eye, Rain dove to the right, narrowly avoiding the harpoon as it fell. He double-checked to ensure that the rope tethering him to the harpoon had been severed. It wasn't necessary to check—it was already cut. If it hadn't been, by now, he would have been yanked back down.
Rain tested the grip of the ice axe in his right hand. After confirming that it was securely embedded in the rock, he withdrew the ice axe from his left hand and began searching for a place to plant his feet.
Then, he began climbing.
…
Rain gazed down at the city below through his binoculars. He reached for his communicator and pressed the button. "I've reached the front."
"Copy that. What do you see?" Holland's voice crackled back through the radio, sounding muffled.
Rain lowered the binoculars and looked at the settlement again.
It sprawled across a bottleneck near the Nile River, a makeshift city constructed around the dam using whatever materials its builders could scavenge.
He spotted bonfires within hastily assembled camps, the place looking more like a military outpost than a city.
The dam itself was massive, built by the Egyptian government to ensure the Nile's water levels stayed high enough for ships to pass. The dam stood in stark contrast to the temporary structures scattered around it. Two massive concrete towers flanked either side of the dam, resembling large staircases leading up to its summit.
"There are about ten soldiers along the dam's entrance, but I should be able to reach the rendezvous point in ten minutes," Rain reported, recounting what he had observed.
"We'll be waiting for your countdown," came the reply.
Rain scanned the area once more. From his vantage point, he knew that if he could get past the guard towers, he could reach the dam itself. He mentally confirmed the path once more, then adjusted his wristwatch to begin the countdown for ten minutes. After setting the timer, Rain pressed the radio once more.
"Starting the countdown now."
After speaking, he tucked the radio back into his waist pouch and took off, running downhill.
His shoulder throbbed from the hour-long climb up the cliff face, and his abdomen burned where the rope had yanked against him. Despite the pain, Rain didn't falter; the discomfort was manageable.
Because this mission depended entirely on him.
As Rain approached the glow of the perimeter lights, some of the soldiers standing guard began to turn their heads, alerted by the rapid movement in the darkness. If Holland's calculations were off, Rain would undoubtedly be gunned down before ever reaching the dam.
But Holland never missed. Rain didn't trust blindly, but it was a fact in his mind.
By the time Rain was closing in on the edge of the settlement, mortar rounds began raining down.
The deafening explosion startled the soldiers, who quickly turned their attention to the source of the blast. In the chaos, Rain was able to slip unnoticed among them. This was the very reason he volunteered for this mission—he was the only one who could blend in among the enemy. If he could just get close in the confusion, phase one of the plan would be a success.
So far, the first phase of the plan had gone flawlessly.
The soldiers around him were in a state of panic.
"Can't see the enemy!"
"Damn it! Did those cowards really use mortars?"
"They're firing from outside the missile range!"
"Get the spotlights on them, now!"
The shouts were drowned out by the deafening roar of another mortar barrage. By the time the second round landed, Rain had already darted into the side tower of the dam.
Rain ran against the flow of soldiers, most of them rushing to take up positions on the outside perimeter. He turned quickly, descending a staircase until he reached the bottom. Rain found himself walking along a metal catwalk installed alongside the dam, a maintenance path for repairs. The dam itself was a towering concrete wall, and the catwalk stood more than a hundred meters above the dark, murky waters below.
At this point, Rain could hear the commotion behind him—soldiers and maintenance workers running about frantically on the catwalk. He swiftly withdrew a wrapped paper from his pouch and dropped it onto the ground in a rapid but deliberate motion. After placing the second bundle, he reached the far side of the dam.
"This is Washington. What's the status?" Holland's voice crackled again through the radio.
"I'm heading for the rendezvous point now," Rain replied, his breath steady despite the chaos around him.
By now, the plan was still going smoothly. Rain thought to himself as he passed more soldiers rushing up the staircase, some of them heading in the opposite direction.
He just needed to get to the top and descend along the dam's edge, and then he'd reach the rendezvous.
The moment Rain opened the door, he found himself standing on top of the dam, a narrow pathway about fifteen meters wide stretching ahead, leading to the cliffside he had just scaled.
In front of him stood a group of soldiers, all lined up, aiming their guns at him.
Rain froze. Even if the enemy had anticipated his infiltration, there was no way they could have identified him so quickly.
Unless…
Rain spotted one soldier at the front of the line. He was wearing a black trench coat over body armor and camouflage jeans. His face was smooth, almost feminine, framed by long black hair reaching down his back. He looked almost delicate, a person easily mistaken for a woman.
"It's been a while, Rain. I knew you'd show up here," he said, his voice light as he stepped forward.
Rain took in the details of the scene—two soldiers to his left, with their fingers off the trigger. The one closest to him had turned his face too far to the right.
Finally, Rain's gaze locked onto the figure before him, a man with black hair. "Good to see you again, Kyle," he said, his voice steady.
Kyle smiled, and the smile only made him look more feminine. "So, you've finally decided to join me?" he asked.
Rain didn't answer, his mind rapidly assessing the situation.
Seeing Rain's silence, Kyle gestured toward the ice axe in his hand. "You climbed the cliff to get here, didn't you? Honestly, I figured your team would use that route to infiltrate, but I didn't expect you to be the one doing it. With just that gear? You could've fallen to your death!" Kyle frowned, his tone laced with what sounded like genuine concern—though Rain couldn't yet decide if it was real or feigned
"If you'd let the water out of the dam and let us pass, I wouldn't have had to risk my life in the first place," Rain replied, his tone flat.
Kyle laughed. "You know that if I did that, a lot of people would die. Now, put down your weapon," he added, his voice no longer playful.
Rain crouched slowly, placing the ice axe on the ground with deliberate care, making sure the handle was slightly raised.
"How did you know I'd come?" Rain asked as he straightened up, his right hand moving to his waist pouch.
He wouldn't use the gun, he decided.
"The only weakness your people have is underestimating us as kids. I could see that they'd force you to infiltrate because you're the easiest one to blend in. It was obvious," Kyle replied, sighing. "Your captain underestimates me too much."
"Maybe that's true," Rain replied indifferently, his voice still devoid of emotion. "But I wasn't forced to come."
"And that's the point I want you to understand!" Kyle threw his hands up in frustration, his tone brimming with exasperation. "People like you will always be used by the older generation, whether directly or indirectly. It's been that way throughout history!"
Kyle had explained his ideology to Rain before, but Rain wasn't interested in listening. Instead, he reaffirmed his plan in his head and initiated the first step of his improvised strategy.
Rain reached for his shoulder bag with his right hand, gauging its weight with a single grip.
Kyle noticed immediately, just as Rain had predicted. "Take off that bag and toss it over," he commanded sharply.
Rain complied without hesitation, carefully removing the bag from his shoulder. With a calculated flick of his wrist, he hurled it into the air, ensuring it arced high above the group.
At the same moment, his left hand shot up, revealing a remote control he'd retrieved from his side holster. He deliberately tilted it so the soldiers could see what he held.
In an instant, the soldiers' eyes widened as their brains processed what the object in Rain's hand could mean.
Rain waited for the bag to reach the peak of its arc—a fraction of a second. Then, he kicked the flat side of the ice axe lying on the ground with the toe of his boot. He applied just enough force to send it flying upward to eye level. Rain caught it mid-air with his right hand, leaving the other axe behind since his left hand was occupied with the remote.
He feinted to the right, crouching slightly, before launching himself to the left with explosive speed.
At that exact moment, Rain pressed the button on the remote.
The explosion was deafening as the bag in midair erupted, the shockwave hitting Rain with such force that it knocked him forward. Shouts of alarm erupted from the soldiers who had been lining up to fire. The concussive force of the plastic explosive in the bag he had thrown skyward knocked most of them backward.
Rain caught the sound of bullets clinking against the ground behind him—stray shots from the soldier at the front of the formation. That soldier, having leaned too far to the right when Rain feinted, fired prematurely in the wrong direction.
He stared down into the abyss of dark water below. Most of the water was held back behind the dam, leaving the reservoir at this side significantly lower than the dam's height. He could only faintly make out the surface glinting under the searchlights.
If he fell, even hitting the water would feel like smashing into solid rock. His eyes tracked the two gaping holes in the dam, carved by the explosives he had planted on the maintenance walkway. Massive torrents of water gushed through the breaches, accompanied by thick smoke and flames. The concrete crumbled and bent outward, resembling a punctured sheet of paper.
Off to his left, about ten meters away, Rain spotted the metal maintenance walkway below. That was his target.
"Rain! Watch your back!" A familiar voice, sharp and urgent, crackled through his radio.
Before he could process the warning, the sound of a revolver being cocked came from behind him.
"What did you do?" Kyle's voice was no longer friendly.
"I had to," Rain replied, not looking back. He could tell from the sound that Kyle had the gun aimed at the back of his head.
Rain heard Kyle exhale, his breath brushing the back of Rain's neck.
"You've been brainwashed by them, haven't you?" Kyle's voice trembled with anger. "You never question their orders. You can't even see that you're just a tool for their plans."
Rain shrugged nonchalantly. "I already told you, this was my decision."
The cold steel pressed harder against his skull. "Your decision? Even knowing it will get us—and countless others—killed?!" Kyle shouted, his frustration boiling over.
Rain didn't understand why Kyle was so insistent that he grasp his ideology, especially since Kyle could just kill him right then. If he were in Kyle's position, he would have ordered his men to take action the moment Rain appeared on top of the dam.
"It doesn't matter if you're the new generation or remnants of the old. Humanity is what it is," Rain said evenly. "You can't change that."
Kyle paused, his frustration giving way to confusion. Taking advantage of the moment, Rain crouched down, spinning quickly as he swung his ice axe into Kyle's hand. The axe knocked the gun out of Kyle's grip, sending it falling off the edge of the dam into the dark abyss below.
In that fleeting instant, Rain spotted Kyle's other hand rising, clutching the ice axe Rain had discarded earlier.
Rain twisted his body, barely deflecting the blow. The sharp edge of Kyle's axe stopped mere inches from his face.
Kyle let go of the ice axe, letting it drop momentarily before catching it with his other hand. With a quick twist, he aimed the pointed edge at Rain's torso.
Out of space to retreat and without enough time to block, Rain made the split-second decision to throw himself off the dam. The sharp tip of Kyle's axe slashed through Rain's shirt, leaving a jagged tear. A burning sensation across his skin told him the blade hadn't cut too deep.
Twisting mid-air, Rain drove his own ice axe into the dam's surface, using it to slow his descent. Sparks flew as the metal edge scraped against the concrete, leaving a bright trail in its wake.
Rain landed precisely on the maintenance walkway he had aimed for earlier. He rolled forward to absorb the impact, narrowly dodging Kyle's follow-up strike as the latter leapt down after him.
"You've done it. Congratulations," Kyle said as Rain rose to a crouched position, his expression unnervingly calm. Yet, Rain could see the effort it took for Kyle to suppress his anger. "You've opened the floodgates for the Soviets to slaughter us all."
Rain shifted his grip on the axe, angling the blade behind him. His eyes remained fixed on Kyle, who took a measured step forward. Kyle held his axe horizontally in his left hand, extending it in a probing motion.
"If that's the case, then you shouldn't be wasting time chasing me," Rain said in a tauntingly flat tone.
Kyle stopped, positioning himself with his left foot forward, the two of them now within arm's reach.
Rain dropped into a lower stance, his right foot sliding forward, his weapon hidden behind his torso.
At that moment, Rain noticed a drop of water trailing down Kyle's cheek.
"I have to save you from that ship," Kyle said, determination in his voice.
Then, with a burst of movement, Kyle swung his ice axe at Rain.