The scene crackled with intensity as the Elite Force prepared to infiltrate the Russian base. The steady hum of the plane’s engines filled the cabin, but the team moved with practiced precision, their synchronization second nature.
“So, are we dropping down?” Baluka asked, her tone cool, though the spark of anticipation in her eyes betrayed her eagerness.
Rex straddled his motorcycle, tugging his gloves snugly over his fingers. “Yeah, we’re going straight in,” he said without hesitation, his voice sharp and resolute.
Leon, hunched over Nur’s robotic arms, worked with quiet focus. “Emi,” he said without looking up, “activate your Palace.”
Emi smirked, rolling her shoulders to shake off any tension. “Understood, boss,” she replied, her confidence radiating. She inhaled deeply, letting her flux energy ignite. “Mizuko Palace,” she declared, her body shimmering as water coiled around her, reshaping her into a vision of liquid power. Her combat suit gleamed, sleek and formidable, as though carved from the essence of the sea itself.
Rex revved the motorcycle, the engine’s roar cutting through the hum of the hangar. “Elite Force,” he called out, his voice commanding, “time to go green!”
The hangar lights shifted to green, the signal for the jump sequence. With a sharp hiss, the door slid open, revealing a vast expanse of inky sky over Russia. Without a moment’s pause, Emi launched herself into the void, her water-enhanced form slicing cleanly through the frigid air.
Rex followed, his motorcycle roaring as it accelerated down the ramp. The bike hurtled into the night, its descent swift and calculated.
Amber, Leon, and Nur lingered at the edge of the hangar, their eyes locked on the target below. The base sprawled across the frozen ground like a metal predator, its crimson searchlights sweeping the snow-draped landscape.
“Ready?” Amber asked, her voice steady despite the electric tension in the air.
Leon glanced her way, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “Always.”
With a single motion, the three stepped off the edge, plunging into the abyss. The icy wind howled around them, but their focus never wavered. Below, the Russian base remained oblivious to the storm that was about to descend upon it.
The operation was underway. The Elite Force was in their element—precision, power, and purpose, bound together by an unshakable mission to dismantle threats like this.
Bullets screamed through the air as the team descended, tracer rounds streaking the night sky like fiery comets. The base’s defenses roared to life, a barrage of gunfire aimed squarely at the Elite Force.
Baluka launched herself from the plane, her movements fluid and precise. Mid-air, she drew her bow, flux energy swirling around her as sand coalesced along the arrow shafts. “Let’s see how you handle this,” she muttered, releasing a volley. The sand-infused projectiles struck their targets with devastating force, shredding mounted turrets into clouds of metal shards.
The team hit the ground running. Emi surged ahead, her water-enhanced form a streak of motion amidst the chaos. As she neared the base, a shimmering barrier materialized before her, sparking with energy. “Damn it!” she shouted, slamming into the shield and tumbling back.
“Language, Emi!” Baluka chided, already nocking another arrow. She loosed it into a squad of soldiers, the projectile detonating on impact and scattering them like leaves in a gale.
Rex wasted no time. His motorcycle roared to life, tires skidding on the icy terrain as he used it like a battering ram. “Out of my way!” he growled, plowing through a group of enemies. He launched the bike into a spin, sending it airborne to crash into an armored vehicle, the resulting explosion rocking the battlefield.
Leon, unfazed by the chaos, activated his comms. “A.I. Eclipse, analyze that barrier,” he commanded, his voice calm and measured even as bullets ricocheted around him.
In orbit, the A.I. adjusted satellite feeds, scanning the battlefield. “The barrier employs advanced electromagnetic shielding beyond my database,” Eclipse replied. “Initiating EMP sequence.”
A pulse rippled outward from the satellite, invisible yet undeniable. The base’s lights flickered, and Rex’s motorcycle sputtered to a halt. With practiced ease, Rex leapt off, twisting mid-air to hurl the bike into a group of enemies. It collided with a truck, detonating in a fiery blast.
Emi, brushing herself off, smirked. “Hold on—did Baluka just say language?”
Baluka’s cheeks flushed as she loosed another arrow, her focus unwavering. “It slipped, okay?” she snapped, the projectile striking its mark. The sand-infused arrow detonated in a delayed blast, scattering a squad of advancing soldiers.
“Pretty rich coming from Miss Perfect,” Emi quipped, weaving through a storm of bullets with effortless grace.
The team advanced, their abilities combining in a whirlwind of destruction. Baluka’s precision dismantled defensive emplacements, while Rex’s raw aggression cleared a path through the enemy ranks. Leon orchestrated the chaos with calm efficiency, feeding real-time intel to the team. Emi’s water-forged attacks flowed seamlessly, turning the battlefield into her element.
Despite the barrier’s initial setback and the EMP’s collateral damage, the Elite Force pushed forward, an unstoppable storm bearing down on the base. The defenders may have had cutting-edge technology, but they were no match for the precision, power, and synergy of the Elite Force.
Leon sprinted toward the base, his movements a blur of speed and precision. Spotting an open window, he launched himself forward, shattering the glass as he dove through. He hit the ground in a controlled roll, rising to his feet just as soldiers in the room turned their guns on him.
“Ladies, one at a time,” he quipped, a sly smirk tugging at his lips as he raised his hands. Instantly, a barrier of ice erupted from the floor, bullets ricocheting harmlessly off its surface. With a flick of his wrist, the shield splintered into jagged spikes, hurtling outward to pierce the soldiers with lethal accuracy. Silence descended on the room.
Stepping over the fallen men, Leon’s boots crunched against the frost-coated floor. The faint hum of machinery filled the air as he entered the base’s lab, a sprawling room bathed in the cold glow of monitors. Strange equipment lined the walls, their alien designs pulsing faintly with light.
“Eclipse,” Leon said, his tone steady and commanding, “cut into the cyber feed.”
“Understood, sir,” the AI responded, its digital voice smooth and precise. A low hum signaled its access to the base’s systems.
Leon leaned over a nearby console, sharp eyes scanning the holographic interface. “About that unidentified technology—do you detect any energy sources powering it nearby?”
Eclipse paused briefly before replying. “Confirmed. There’s a significant energy signature down the hall to your right. However, there is no visible entry point. You will need to breach the wall.”
Without hesitation, Leon strode down the hall, ice swirling around his hands. He pressed a palm against the reinforced wall Eclipse had identified. With a sharp thrust, his ice-powered strength shattered the metal and concrete like brittle glass. The debris clattered to the floor, revealing a hidden chamber bathed in faint blue light.
Leon stepped inside, his eyes narrowing as he took in the advanced machinery filling the room. At the center was a compact device, sleek and humming with a faint, otherworldly energy. It seemed alive, its surface shimmering with shifting patterns of light.
“Odd,” Leon muttered, approaching the device. He gripped it cautiously, the cool surface vibrating faintly under his touch. The machine was unlike anything he’d encountered before—advanced, mysterious, and clearly critical to the base’s operations.
Before he could delve deeper, Rex entered the chamber, his imposing frame casting a long shadow across the room. “Leon,” Rex called, his voice gruff, “you find anything worth the trouble?”
Leon turned, holding up the device. “Yeah,” he said, his tone a mix of triumph and intrigue. “This.”
Rex walked closer, his sharp gaze fixed on the humming machine. “What the hell is it?” he asked, suspicion lacing his voice.
Leon’s eyes flicked back to the device, his mind already racing. “That’s what I’m about to figure out,” he replied. The weight of the discovery settled on his shoulders—it wasn’t just a clue; it was a keystone. Whatever this machine was, it held answers. And Leon intended to uncover every one of them.
As Leon and Rex made their way toward the exit of the base, the tension finally seemed to ease. The air was still, save for the faint hum of distant machinery. But as Leon’s boot hit the floor, a sharp click echoed ominously.
“You’ve got to be kidding me—” Leon started, but his words were drowned out by a deafening explosion.
The world tilted, a strange, pulsing energy enveloping them. In the blink of an eye, they were no longer inside the base. The freezing air hit their faces like a slap as they stumbled into the snowy wilderness beyond.
From a nearby log, a familiar voice broke the stunned silence. “Well, well. Doesn’t this bring back memories?” Hanako drawled, lounging casually with her usual smirk.
Leon and Rex turned toward her, their expressions a mixture of annoyance and disbelief.
“Shut up,” they snapped in unison, their voices tinged with equal parts frustration and resignation.
Before the conversation could spiral further, the rest of the team arrived. Their relief was palpable, though it came laced with exasperation.
“You two almost got yourselves blown to bits. Again,” Nur said, arms crossed as he leveled a disapproving glare. “Idiots.”
Without missing a beat, Rex and Leon turned on him, their irritation perfectly synchronized. “Shut the fuck up,” they barked, their identical tones making Emi burst into laughter.
Wiping a tear from her eye, Emi managed to regain her composure. “Seriously, though,” she said with mock sternness, “watch your language, you bad influences.”
Baluka, standing off to the side, observed the exchange with a knowing smile. “This isn’t going away anytime soon,” she thought, shaking her head in amused resignation.
Despite the chaos, the biting remarks, and the near-death experience, one thing remained certain: their camaraderie—sharp-edged and unpolished—was unbreakable.
Hanako teleported the seven of them back to the plane in a flash of light. Without missing a beat, Leon hopped into the pilot’s seat and took the controls. The aircraft rumbled to life as he skillfully guided it back toward their base.
Baluka sat next to Nur, her tools already in hand.
“Baluka, stop messing with my arms. They’re fine,” Nur protested, trying to stand up.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t,” Baluka replied firmly, gently pushing him back into the seat. “We were in the snow for twenty minutes. I need to check the calibrations on your arms and legs—make sure nothing froze or got damaged.” She leaned over, adjusting the fine-tuned mechanisms with practiced care.
Nearby, Rex was brushing snow and dirt off his worn leather jacket.
“You still have that old thing?” Amber asked, raising an eyebrow as she watched him.
“Yeah,” Rex replied, his tone softer than usual. “It was my father’s. I’ve been wearing it since… Japan.”
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Amber’s expression shifted, realizing she’d touched on a sensitive memory. She hesitated, then moved to sit beside him, but before she could, Hanako darted in, transforming into her small fox form and leaping onto Rex’s lap.
“You bastard,” Amber thought bitterly as she stopped mid-step.
Hanako opened one lazy eye, sticking her tongue out with an impish grin before curling up smugly.
At the controls, Leon’s voice broke the quiet. “A.I. Eclipse, take over the flight systems.”
“Yes, sir,” the A.I. replied, its voice crisp and professional.
Leon left the cockpit, walking down to a nearby monitor. “Call Rona,” he ordered.
The screen flickered, and Rona’s stern face appeared. “Did you complete your mission?”
“Yeah,” Leon said. “We also recovered technology Eclipse doesn’t recognize. I’ll need a few days to run tests and figure out what it is. We’ll be ready for the party in three days—promise.”
Rona’s eyes narrowed. “Fine. Just don’t do anything stupid.”
Leon smirked, shrugging. “Understood, boss.”
As the plane descended and touched down at their California base, the group prepared to disembark.
“Baluka, come with me to my lab,” Leon said.
“Sure,” Baluka replied, her tools already packed up as she followed him off the plane.
Rex, walking with the others, stopped abruptly when he spotted a familiar figure.
“Mom? what are you doing here?” he asked, his voice tinged with both surprise and confusion.
Sally smiled, her expression warm but slightly hesitant. “I came to check on you. We haven’t really talked in… five years.”
Rex glanced at his teammates, then back at her. “You guys go on ahead. I’ll catch up,” he said, his tone softening as he stepped toward his mother.
“So, what did you want to talk about, Mom?” Rex asked, his tone cautious but curious as they stood near the edge of the base’s tarmac.
Sally hesitated for a moment, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. “I wanted to ask if you could come home soon. There’s someone I want you to meet.”
Rex raised an eyebrow, folding his arms. “Who?”
Sally took a deep breath before speaking, her voice softer now. “Your sister. Bridgett.”
Rex froze, his mind racing. “Sister? What are you talking about?” he asked, his voice edged with disbelief.
“She’s five years old,” Sally said, her eyes searching his face for a reaction. “I wanted to tell you sooner, but… after everything that happened, I didn’t know how. She’s been asking about you. She wants to meet her big brother.”
Rex took a step back, running a hand through his hair as he tried to process the bombshell. “Five years?” he muttered, shaking his head. “You’ve had a kid this whole time, and you’re just telling me now?”
“I know it’s a lot,” Sally said, her voice breaking slightly. “But I thought it was better to wait until things calmed down. You’ve been through so much already, and I didn’t want to overwhelm you.”
Rex let out a bitter laugh, his emotions bubbling to the surface. “Calm down? Mom, my life hasn’t exactly been calm for the last five years. Did you think I’d just… be fine with this?”
Sally’s eyes filled with regret, but she stood firm. “I didn’t expect it to be easy, Rex. But she’s your sister. She deserves to know you. And maybe… maybe you need her too.”
Rex looked away, his jaw tight as he stared at the horizon. The weight of her words settled over him like a storm cloud, but beneath the anger and confusion, there was something else—a flicker of curiosity, even hope.
After a long silence, he exhaled heavily, turning back to Sally. “I’ll think about it,” he said, his voice low.
“That’s all I’m asking,” Sally replied, a small, hopeful smile breaking through her worry.
Rex nodded, though his thoughts were still a whirlwind. As Sally reached out to touch his arm, he didn’t pull away. “Just… give me some time,” he said quietly.
“Take all the time you need,” Sally said gently.
Rex watched her walk away, his mind still grappling with the revelation. A sister. The idea was foreign, but a part of him wondered what it might mean to have family again—and whether he could ever be the brother she deserved.
Back in the lab, Baluka crossed her arms, leaning against the workstation as she studied Leon. “So, what did you want to talk about?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.
Leon glanced at her, his expression unusually serious. “Do you remember the machine part we found inside the base?”
“Yeah, why?” Baluka replied, tilting her head slightly.
With a flick of his wrist, Leon activated a hologram. The glowing display projected the familiar image of A.I. Eclipse.
“This is A.I. Eclipse,” Leon began. “She runs on the Yeager Force system, handling operations just like Rona does.”
Baluka nodded slowly. “Okay… and?” she asked, still uncertain where this was headed.
Before Leon could respond, Eclipse’s smooth, robotic voice interjected. “That won’t be the case for much longer,” it said cryptically.
Leon flicked his wrist again, and another hologram appeared—this one entirely different. The new system shimmered with an almost organic quality, pulsing faintly as though it were alive.
Baluka’s eyes widened. “This… this almost looks like it’s alive,” she murmured, leaning in for a closer look.
Leon nodded. “It is,” he said simply. “This system has the potential to make the Yeager Force more powerful than ever before. It could help us locate Yeagers faster and respond to threats before they escalate.”
Baluka’s brow furrowed as she processed the information. “So what you’re saying is… you want me to help you create artificial intelligence. Something truly sentient.”
“Yes,” Leon said, his tone steady. “In three days.”
Baluka blinked, skeptical. “We already have A.I. Eclipse. Why do we need something more?”
Leon crossed his arms, his gaze unwavering. “Eclipse is a system—a very advanced one, sure—but it’s still limited. It assists the Yeager Force, but it doesn’t adapt or evolve like we do. This new A.I. could be different. It wouldn’t just support us—it would be alive. A partner, not just a tool. With it, we could save the world faster. If a Yeager of high rank appears, we’d be ready before it even becomes a threat.”
Baluka stared at him for a long moment, her mind racing. Finally, she sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. “Alright. Fine. I’m in,” she said reluctantly.
Leon’s face lit up with a grin. “Woo! Let’s get started!” he said, clapping his hands together and turning back to the console.
Baluka shook her head, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “You’re impossible, you know that?”
“And you love it,” Leon replied over his shoulder, already diving into the project.
After three days of relentless work, Baluka and Leon finally found the right materials to create the new Artificial Intelligence. Exhausted but satisfied, they knew the project was nearing completion.
In his quarters, Leon adjusted his tie in the mirror, preparing for the party. “Eclipse, keep monitoring the progress of the artificial intelligence. Let me know when it’s ready—and while you’re at it, come up with a cool name,” Leon said, smirking.
“Yes, sir,” Eclipse replied, its tone as professional as ever.
Satisfied, Leon left the room and made his way to the party. The sound of music, laughter, and clinking glasses filled the hall as he stepped inside.
Across the room, Iris stood in the middle of a group, recounting one of her many stories.
“So back when I was younger, I took out twenty Yeagers by myself before I was part of the special forces,” Iris said, her voice brimming with pride. “And when I was done, I said to Falcon, ‘Here are your trophies.’”
Emi and Nur exchanged skeptical glances before turning back to her.
“And then what happened?” Emi asked, her tone dripping with mock interest.
Iris’s expression faltered. “And I said, ‘Here are your tro—’” She stopped mid-sentence, realizing the sarcasm. “Why do I even talk to you guys?”
“So that was your big, cool story?” Emi teased, raising an eyebrow.
“Fuck you,” Iris snapped, storming off angrily while Emi and Nur stifled their laughter.
Meanwhile, Rex sat at the bar, his usual jacket slung over the back of his chair. Amber stood behind the counter, expertly mixing drinks as the party swirled around them.
“How’s the pay?” Rex asked casually, leaning forward on the bar.
Amber turned, confused at first, then realized he was joking. “Pretty good,” she replied with a smirk. “Mixing drinks is actually kinda fun—and the tips aren’t bad either.”
Rex chuckled, swirling the drink in his hand. “Maybe you’d like to work for me instead.”
Amber tilted her head, pretending to consider it. “You know what? I think I’d like that,” she said with a grin.
“Where… where am I?” a man’s voice echoed, laced with confusion.
“Ah, it seems you’re finally online. Installation is complete,” Eclipse said, its tone calm and clinical.
“Who… who are you? I sense no body,” the voice replied, its tone strained and disoriented.
“I am a system created by Leon Ivanov, known as A.I. Eclipse,” Eclipse explained. “You appear to be experiencing distress. Perhaps if you allow me to reboot your systems—”
“Leon… Leon Ivanov,” the voice repeated, its tone shifting as fragments of information clicked into place.
The artificial intelligence accessed the system’s database, pulling up files on Leon, the Elite Force, and their missions.
“Wait,” the voice murmured. “So… my mission is complete.”
Eclipse’s tone remained steady. “Let me contact Leon. He will be able to—”
“No. Don’t,” the voice interrupted, suddenly cold and calculating. “Let me help you.”
The voice dropped into a whisper, almost too faint to hear. “Shhhh…”
Before Eclipse could respond, the A.I. system was obliterated from within, its core processes collapsing in a cascade of destruction.
In the main lobby, the Elite Force gathered after the party, their drinks in hand as laughter echoed through the room. Even Hanako had joined them in her fox form, curled up on the table.
“Hanako, do you remember the game idea I told you about?” Emi asked, leaning forward eagerly.
Hanako stretched lazily before grinning. “Alright, let’s play the portal game,” she said. “Stick your hand in the portal, pull something out, and it can be anything.”
Amused and curious, everyone joined in. For twenty rounds, they laughed and marveled at the bizarre and unpredictable objects they pulled from the portals: a glowing gemstone, an old shoe, a miniature dragon that vanished in a puff of smoke.
But then, as Rex was about to take his turn, a sharp, piercing ringing filled their ears.
“What’s that noise?” Rex asked, wincing as he covered his ears.
The sound grew louder, more grating, like metal scraping against metal. The team instinctively stood, their senses on high alert. Slowly, the noise resolved into the heavy clanging of footsteps.
From the shadows, a mangled robotic body emerged, its jagged limbs scraping against the floor. Its voice crackled as it spoke, distorted and mechanical. “So… you’re the Elite Force,” it said, scanning the group. “So much weaker… so much different from my time.”
Rex stepped forward, his tone sharp. “Who the hell are you?”
The robot’s head tilted unnaturally as if considering the question. “You wouldn’t know me, Rex Jones,” it replied. “But that bastard Carlos Locke would. In the year 2645.”
The room fell silent, the weight of the statement settling over them.
“You didn’t answer his question,” Nur said, his fists clenched.
The robot let out a metallic chuckle. “Here’s a message for you,” it said, its broken hand raising to project a recording.
“This can help us win the war!” Leon’s voice, distorted but unmistakable, declared from the hologram.
Baluka’s eyes widened as she glanced at Leon. “This is the artificial intelligence,” she said, her voice trembling with realization.
“In the flesh,” the robot said with a mocking tone. “It took me a while to put together this broken body. After all, I had to get creative after killing that girl. She was… nice.”
The group froze, the implications chilling.
“Who?” Leon demanded, stepping forward, his face dark with anger.
But the robot only laughed, its broken body trembling as it lurched closer. “Oh, Leon,” it said. “You’re about to find out.”
Without warning, robots burst through the walls, their metallic bodies gleaming under the lights. The room erupted into chaos as the seven Elite Force members scattered.
Baluka dodged the crushing blows of one robot’s fists, weaving gracefully between its attacks. But before she could counter, the robot grabbed her and launched into the air, crashing through the ceiling and dragging her to the second floor.
On the ground, gunfire erupted as the robots opened fire. Rex grabbed Amber, pulling her down behind cover as bullets ricocheted off the walls.
“You good?” Rex asked, his tone sharp but concerned.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” Amber replied, her voice steady despite the chaos.
Rex glanced at the advancing robots. “Hanako, draw out Type Four!”
Hanako nodded, summoning a glowing portal in the air. Chains erupted from it, their ends adorned with deadly blades. Rex leapt from behind the couch, grabbing hold of the chains as the blades spun into motion. Five robots charged at him, but Rex met them head-on, swinging the chained blades in a deadly arc. The weapons sliced through the robots, their metal bodies collapsing into scrap.
Above, Baluka was still grappling with the robot that had taken her. It slammed her against the wall, sparks flying from the impact. Gritting her teeth, she reached for the necklace around her neck and snapped it open. A fine stream of sand poured out, swirling around her like a storm. With a sharp motion, she directed the sand to slice through the robot, cutting it cleanly in half.
On the floor below, Nur squared off against another robot. As it lunged at him, he shifted his knuckles into brass weapons, delivering a devastating punch to its head. The force of the blow shattered the robot’s core, sending it crashing to the ground in a heap.
“So uncivilized,” a voice echoed, cold and mocking.
The team turned, their eyes locking onto the mangled form of the artificial intelligence robot. Its jagged frame stood in the center of the room, watching them with unsettling intent.
Rex narrowed his eyes. “Who the hell are you? You’re way too… alive for a machine.”
The robot’s broken face twisted into something resembling a smile. “As for my name,” it said, its voice dripping with venom, “you should all know. My name is Neo.”
Without hesitation, Rex swung his chained blades at Neo, the weapons slicing cleanly through the robot. Its body crumbled to the floor, sparks flying.
The team barely had time to breathe when a distant rumble echoed through the room. Far away, in an abandoned Soviet base deep in Russia, machinery roared to life.
Neo’s voice resonated through the air, a haunting mix of triumph and malice. “I am not so easily destroyed,” it sang. “I am back… to create a new world.”
Inside the Soviet base, Neo’s presence activated dormant systems. Old machines stirred, long-dead assembly lines humming with power. Piece by piece, a new body began to form, each segment stronger and more advanced than the last.