The quiet days at HQ had come to an abrupt end.
A new mission had surfaced, one that required Team Unknown's unique skills. The target was a high-ranking member of the underworld, a notorious figure known for orchestrating a series of violent turf wars. The brief was clear: eliminate the threat before he could escalate the violence further.
As the team gathered in the briefing room, Val stood at the head of the table, a stark contrast to the hesitant leader he had been during the early days of Team Unknown. Since the loss of Ember and Exeo, he had stepped up, embracing the responsibility that came with leadership. The weight of his brothers' legacy rested heavily on his shoulders, and he was determined to forge a new path for the team.
"Listen up," Val began, his voice steady and commanding. "We have intel that our target will be at a meeting tonight. We'll move in quietly, no unnecessary risks. Fon, this will be your first mission with us. I expect you to stick close and follow my lead."
Fon's eyes widened with excitement and nerves. "I won't let you down, Val!"
"Good. Stay focused," Val replied, offering a reassuring nod before continuing. "We know this guy has some heavy hitters around him, so expect resistance. Riggs, you'll take point with Fon. Bo and I will cover your backs."
Bo smirked, nudging Fon playfully. "Just try to keep up, kid. Riggs here can move pretty fast—sometimes faster than his brain."
"Hey!" Riggs protested, crossing his arms with mock indignation. "I'll have you know I have an excellent plan in place. It's called 'don't get caught.'"
Val rolled his eyes, but the familiar banter lightened the mood as they prepared for the mission ahead.
The team donned their tactical gear covered under their black hooded cloaks, the familiar weight of their weapons reassuring against their bodies.
As they moved out, Val felt the familiar rush of adrenaline, a blend of excitement and anxiety. It was the kind of rush he hadn't experienced in months, and it reminded him of his brothers, their presence lingering in the air like a ghostly whisper.
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The target's location was a rundown warehouse on the outskirts of town, a fitting hideout for someone so entwined with the underworld. The team approached silently, shadows blending into the darkness. Val led the way, his instincts heightened, senses alert. He could feel Fon's presence just behind Riggs, the boy eager yet tentative.
Keep your head down, Fon, Val instructed softly via Mind Link. And stay close to Riggs. We'll make this quick.
Fon nodded, following Val's instructions.
As they slipped inside, the dim light illuminated crates stacked high against the walls. The atmosphere was thick with tension. Val gestured for silence, and the team moved in synchronized stealth.
Two guards ahead, Riggs's reported, scanning the area. I'll take the left; you take the right, Fon.
Fon nodded, determination etched on his face. This was his chance to prove himself, to show he belonged with Team Unknown.
They moved like wraiths, slipping past the guards undetected.
Val felt a swell of pride watching Fon navigate the shadows, his instincts kicking in as he mimicked Riggs' movements. The training had paid off, but the stakes were real now.
They reached the meeting room, the door slightly ajar. Inside, the target was flanked by two heavily armed men. The room was tense with unspoken threats, a powder keg ready to ignite.
Time to move, Val said via Mind Link, signaling the team. Riggs and Fon, create a distraction. Bo and I will take the target.
With a swift nod, Riggs and Fon burst into the room, the younger boy's heart racing. "Hey! You're in the wrong place!" Riggs shouted, drawing the attention of the guards.
Val and Bo surged in behind them, weapons drawn. The surprise was palpable, the guards' reactions momentarily stalled. In that split second, Val seized the opportunity.
"Now!" he yelled, engaging the nearest guard. The sound of combat erupted, a cacophony of grunts and the clash of weapons.
Val moved fluidly, recalling the lessons from Ember and Exeo. His brothers were with him, guiding him through the motions.
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Amidst the chaos, Fon darted around, adrenaline surging as he faced a guard. His training kicked in, and he executed a maneuver Val had shown him just hours earlier. He dodged to the side, delivering a swift kick that sent the guard staggering.
Nice move, kid! Riggs voice louder on their Mind Link, as he tackled another guard to the ground.
Fon's heart raced with exhilaration, but he couldn't let his guard down.
As he turned, a shadow loomed before him—the remaining guard, eyes narrowed, weapon raised.
"Fon!" Val's voice cut through the noise. He pivoted just in time to see the danger approaching his young trainee.
In a heartbeat, Val sprang forward, redirecting his momentum as he tackled the guard away from Fon.
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"Stay back!" Val shouted, adrenaline pumping through his veins as he wrestled the guard to the ground. With a quick motion, he disarmed him, delivering a swift blow that rendered him unconscious.
Fon's breath hitched in his throat as he watched Val in action, a protector in his element.
Focus! Bo called, having dispatched his opponent. We need to secure the target!
Val locked eyes with the target, a man dressed in fine clothing, clearly unfazed by the sudden chaos. "You think you can take me down?" he sneered, attempting to retreat.
"No one's leaving here tonight," Val asserted, stepping forward, weapon aimed steadily. "Your reign of terror ends now."
Before the target could respond, Val lunged forward, using the element of surprise to disarm him. The man fell, and Val pressed a knee into his back, securing him against the cold concrete.
"Get the restraints!" Val ordered, glancing back to see Fon still standing near Riggs, awe etched on his face.
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With the mission concluded, the team regrouped outside the warehouse, the tension easing into relief as they made their escape.
They returned to HQ, the thrill of the mission fueling their spirits. Val couldn't shake the pride he felt for Fon's performance, even in the face of danger.
"Not bad for your first mission, kid," Riggs said, slapping Fon on the back. "You've got some potential."
"Thanks, Riggs!" Fon beamed, still buzzing with excitement. "Did you see how I—"
"Yeah, yeah, we saw," Bo interrupted, laughter in his voice. "But let's work on your reflexes a bit more next time. You almost had a heart attack when Val jumped in front of you."
Val chuckled, but he felt a swell of protectiveness as he looked at Fon. "You did great, Fon. Just remember: it's not always about proving yourself. Sometimes it's about working together and knowing when to rely on your team."
Fon nodded, absorbing the lesson. "I understand, Val. I'll keep training!"
As they settled into their usual post-mission routine, Val felt a shift within himself.
The loss of Ember and Exeo would always be a part of him, but in the chaos of the mission, he had felt their guidance—felt them urging him forward.
Leading Team Unknown would not be easy, but with each challenge, he was growing into the role, learning to blend the lessons of the past with the hope for the future.
The shadows of their memories would guide him, and he was determined to protect this new family, ensuring that the legacy of his brothers would live on through every mission, every challenge, and every young life they touched.
Val glanced at Fon, who was animatedly recounting the night's events to Bo and Riggs, and felt a renewed sense of purpose.
Together, they would face whatever darkness awaited them, united by the bonds they forged in the shadows.
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Although they're back at HQ, this is now Val's job to report the mission back successful to General Luis.
He spun around and walked towards the general's office.
As soon as he came in, Dr. Lewis was also there, both were looking at something on the monitor screens, while the hologram on the general's table reflecting what was showing.
When both heard the door opened, they spun around and looked at Val.
The General's demeanor was still the same as always, but understanding Val's situation and with the previous incident, he could only nod at him at his arrival.
"Sir."
"How was the mission, bringing along Fon?" the general asked sternly, but could feel the fatherly voice within it.
Val nodded, and said, "Although it was not serious, he was able to grasp the situation quickly, and a little bit more exposure to missions, will do him good and focus." shifting his gaze from General Luis to Dr. Lewis, then back at the general.
"Good, good. Now, Dr. Lewis here has something to ask of you."
Val sat across from General Luis and Dr. Lewis in the dimly lit office, tension hanging in the air like an unspoken question.
Dr. Lewis gave the hologram tablet, and the holographic display flickered to life between them, showing Val the battlefield scene—scattered bodies, charred earth, and the silent forms of Ember and Exeo lying side by side.
Dr. Lewis cleared his throat, a mix of concern and curiosity in his voice. "Val, we need to understand something. Their vitals show as normal, and yet… they haven't regained consciousness. How did you know they were alive?"
Val clenched the tablet tightly, his gaze fixed on the flickering images of his brothers. He could still feel the pulse of their souls, a heartbeat resonating with his own, even across the veil of unconsciousness. But explaining it aloud was another matter entirely.
"How could you be so certain?" General Luis pressed, leaning forward. "It's one thing to hope, but your certainty led you to call for their retrieval as if you'd seen them breathe."
Val's vision blurred momentarily as a memory surged forward, pulling him back to that night on the battlefield.
---Flashback---
Val's gaze drops, and tears flow freely, far more than he had shed in the depths of his mind. His shoulders shake as he realizes the weight of his actions—the two figures lying motionless behind him, their sacrifices heavy in his heart.
He knelt amidst the wreckage, chaos dissipating around him, but his heart pounded with an unrelenting urgency.
Ember and Exeo's still forms lay before him, their faces pale, breaths shallow. The sight of their bodies, so vulnerable and unmoving, hit him harder than any blow.
When he saw the two souls of his brothers in his consciousness, he knew that there is still hope for the two of them.
"Ember… Exeo," he whispered, trembling as he reached out, brushing his fingers against Ember's shoulder. "You're still here."
A surge of energy pulsed within him, the faint connection flickering to life.
Although Deleo disappeared, the Void within him was still there, stirred within him, and along with the Purple Fire that was gently wrapping the two souls, it amplified his senses, and he felt their souls intertwined with his—faint but alive, like embers beneath ash.
They weren't gone.
The realization struck him with a force he couldn't explain.
Dr. Lewis! he shouted into his Mind Link communication, voice thick with determination. I need both of them retrieved immediately. They're alive.
---Flashback End---
The flashback faded, and Val blinked, returning to the present moment in General Luis's office. He met Dr. Lewis's gaze, his expression resolute.
"I knew because… I felt them," he said finally, his voice unwavering. "Their souls—they're bound to mine. I can't explain it, but I knew they are alive."
Their souls are safe within me...for the moment, was left unsaid. He couldn't exactly tell them, as he, himself quite doesn't understand how it happened.
General Luis's brow furrowed. "And yet, they haven't woken up. Whatever this 'bond' is, it's not enough to revive them."
Dr. Lewis leaned forward. "Val, their vitals might be stable, but if they're trapped in a state that goes beyond physical damage, we need more than just an explanation. How do we help them wake up?"
Val's jaw tightened. "I'll find a way. We've always been connected. If there's a chance to reach them, I'll do it. Please...just give me a little bit more time. Keep them safe for now."
The room fell silent, the hologram's light casting an eerie glow across their faces.
General Luis exchanged a glance with Dr. Lewis, both still uncertain yet unable to deny the force of Val's conviction.
"Then," General Luis said slowly, with a heavy sigh "we'll rely on you, Val. But understand, if you're wrong…"
Val cut him off, his voice fierce. "I'm not wrong. They're still with me. I'll bring them back."
Then, Val left General Luis's office, determined to find a way to bring his brothers back to consciousness, even if it means risking more than he ever imagined.