The night before their recon, Val sat quietly under the bunk bed while the rest of the team had fallen asleep.
He couldn't sleep and decided to head to the training gym. When he opened the door, he saw Dr. Lewis alone, fiddling with something under the dim light in the corner.
He slowly walked toward him and asked, "What are you working on?"
Dr. Lewis flinched and gasped, glancing at Val before returning to the gadget he was tinkering with. "You didn't hear me open the door?"
"I'm too focused on what I'm doing right now," Dr. Lewis replied, the sounds of metal clinking accompanying his words.
Val hummed in response and sighed as he sat beside him.
Dr. Lewis shifted his gaze to Val, then back at his project. While moving his hands, he asked, "Can't sleep?"
Val nodded, staring into the dim expanse of the gym. "It's just… a lot on my mind."
"How will you bring back your brothers?" Dr. Lewis's voice was tentative, as if probing a wound.
Val looked up at Dr. Lewis, then back into the darkness. He replied, "They're safe, but bringing them back is a risk. I can try, but there's no guarantee that hell won't break loose."
Dr. Lewis's hands stopped, and he looked at Val, narrowing his eyes. "Is your ability—the Void—back?"
Val hesitated, feeling the familiar weight of Deleo lurking just beneath his consciousness.
Then, without warning, Deleo materialized on half of Val's face. The left eye, where the magic seals were imbued, glowed red, dark veins surrounding it like a shadowy tattoo, with wisps of black smoke dancing around him.
Val (Deleo) then spoke, "Hello, Doctor," his voice cold, laced with an unsettling calm.
Dr. Lewis's breath hitched as he beheld the transformation. He gulped and asked, "Are you the Void?"
Val (Deleo) tilted his head slightly, exposing more of the darker side of his face. "You seem curious about knowing me."
Val, whose consciousness was wide awake, watched the interaction, feeling a mix of concern and resignation. He looked up and said, "Doctor, yes, this is the Void."
Dr. Lewis paused, his curiosity piqued despite the lingering fear. "It's not every day one gets to converse with a being like you. From the time of the Primordials. The potential for knowledge, for understanding..."
Deleo leaned forward, his expression shifting to one of intrigue. "Knowledge is a pursuit worthy of your time, Doctor. What intrigues you most? The power I wield, or the soul that struggles beneath?"
Dr. Lewis met Deleo's gaze, a blend of fascination and apprehension. "Both, actually. The intersection of power and identity is a complex tapestry. Understanding you could illuminate aspects of the Void that remain in the shadows."
Deleo only chuckled, and suddenly retreated. Dr. Lewis gasped and asked, "Where did he go?"
Val waved his hand dismissively and stood up with a yawn. "Don't worry, Doctor. He's inside me. He's fine. He just retreated because he sensed I'm sleepy."
Then he walked out of the gym, leaving the doctor speechless.
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The next day, the air outside was crisp as Team Unknown geared up for their reconnaissance mission.
They stood in their office in their underground HQ, exchanging glances, a mix of anticipation and apprehension swirling among them. All of them wore black hooded cloaks and masks equipped with voice changers and the Mind Link.
The looming presence of Hades' Wrath and Black Lotus made this mission feel heavier than usual, like a weight resting on their shoulders, threatening to crush their resolve.
Val adjusted his gear, feeling the familiar tug of Deleo's presence just beneath his consciousness. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end, a sense of foreboding creeping in.
"Alright, team," he began, his voice steady but laced with urgency. "We need to gather intel on both syndicates. I want to know their numbers, their operations, and any connections they have between them. This isn't just about our safety; it's about preventing them from striking first."
The intel Deleo provided was from 100 years ago, so they needed to gather more current information on their targets.
Val designated their roles with an authoritative tone, "Fon, you will work on tracking communications. I know you're itching to release some tension from your ability, but we can't risk it yet. Based on our intel, they might use it against us."
Fon nodded, his fingers twitching with anticipation, but he held back his eagerness.
"Also, as much as possible, do not engage. Only when necessary. This is a scout mission; we can't afford to get into a fight without knowing their firepower. We all know these underworld organizations aren't composed of mere civilians; most of them have abilities too."
Everyone nodded, a silent agreement hanging in the air.
Val continued, "Riggs, you scout the outskirts." He turned to him. "Check their territory with your Wind ability and see what we can uncover. Bo will handle any crowd control if things go sideways with his Ice ability."
Riggs cracked his knuckles, his expression serious. "Let's show them how Team Unknown does recon. Quiet and stealthy."
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When they arrived, they briefly checked the area, the tension thickening the air.
As they prepared to split up, Val felt a familiar whisper from Deleo echo through his mind. "You might want to keep a close eye on Riggs. He's a bit reckless, you know. Especially when it comes to doing things their way."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Val muttered internally, rolling his eyes. "Don't worry; he might look reckless, but even if he is, he won't get caught."
"Aren't you worried about me? I can be a bit reckless too, you know," Val said in amusement, which Deleo only scoffed at in response.
As Val approached a rundown warehouse, he sent a status report via Mind Link, which connected directly to their HQ Base, where General Luis and Dr. Lewis were waiting.
I've arrived at the first location on our list. I'll see if we can find any clues about their plans.
The rest of the team replied, Copy that, while conducting their own recon as assigned by Val.
Val walked through the shadows, undetected. Since he could teleport using the Void, he transported himself to the backdoor entrance.
He slipped through the side entrance, entering a dimly lit space filled with crates and shadows. The air was stale, heavy with the scent of dust and oil.
Val quietly pushed the crates aside as he searched for anything that might provide intel, peeking around a corner.
As he moved deeper into the warehouse, he stumbled upon a small office tucked away in the corner. He entered cautiously, mindful not to use his abilities—if there was a trap, he didn't want to trigger it.
The room was cluttered with files and documents strewn across the desk, a stark contrast to the rest of the warehouse. He walked toward the documents, rifling through the papers, anxiety thrumming beneath his calm exterior.
Suddenly, Val's heart raced as a low rumble echoed through the building, followed by muffled voices. He stopped rifling through the papers when he heard Bo via Mind Link.
You got company, Val. Three of them.
Val clicked his tongue and blended within the shadows in the dark room.
He watched as the door creaked open, revealing a figure clad in the black and crimson of Hades' Wrath. The man scanned the room, his gaze lingering just a moment too long on the shadows. Although Val could feel the danger, he realized he didn't feel scared; instead, a chilling calm washed over him.
Calmly, he regarded the man, a cold glint in his eyes behind the shadows.
But just as the figure took a step forward, the sound of crashing metal echoed from outside, drawing the man's attention away. "What the hell was that?" he growled, rushing back to join his comrades.
Val saw this opportunity, and before he could retreat, he quickly grabbed some documents and slipped out of the office using his Void teleportation ability.
When he was outside the warehouse, chaos erupted at the front entrance. Before he left, Val caught a glimpse of the confrontation unfolding in the courtyard. Hades' Wrath and Black Lotus operatives squared off, the air thick with tension and hostility.
Let's meet at the assigned rendezvous point, Val commanded them via Mind Link. The last thing they needed was to be caught in the crossfire.