CHAPTER 27: GOING ROGUE

The next morning, Alex woke up with a pounding headache.

"Ugh... What the hell happened yesterday?"

He rubbed his temples and looked around. Maggie and Max were slumped over the nearby table, fast asleep. That’s when it all came rushing back.

Feeling a rare twinge of gratitude, Alex grabbed a blanket and draped it over his two closest friends. He crouched down next to Maggie and noticed she had fallen asleep with her thick-framed glasses still on. Carefully, he slid them off and took a closer look at her face.

"Huh... you’re actually kinda cute," he muttered to himself. "I bet if you put on some makeup… you’d have plenty of admirers."

Just as he brushed a stray lock of hair from her face, a voice interrupted him.

"Finally awake?"

Alex turned around, startled to see a fourth person in the room—Leo, the man who had carried him home the night before.

"Well, well, if it isn’t our legendary hero, Leo. I should be honored, huh?" Alex chuckled, standing up and stretching.

Leo wasn’t amused. He crossed his arms, his expression serious. "It was you, wasn’t it? The one who took down those combat machines. How the hell did you get that strong overnight? Did you meet someone during that mission? Get some kind of secret power?"

Alex smirked but didn’t answer. Instead, he stepped right up to Leo, close enough to make it clear he had no intention of explaining anything.

"I don’t owe you an answer," he said casually. "Figure it out yourself. Anyway, I’ve got things to do. Enjoy yourself."

He grabbed his jacket and headed for the door, but Leo wasn’t giving up that easily.

"Fine, don’t tell me. But are you really just going to sit back and let Anna marry someone else? Are you seriously okay with some stranger taking over Rockhill Valley?"

Alex didn’t even flinch. He finished buttoning his shirt, walked to the doorway, then paused just before stepping out.

"Of course, I’m not okay with it," he admitted. "But it’s not about Anna—I just don’t like losing. And if I’m going to lose, I might as well cause some trouble and make sure that guy, Leonardo, regrets it."

With that, he walked out, leaving Leo standing there in stunned silence, unsure what to do next.

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The streets were bustling as Alex strolled aimlessly, hands in his pockets, mind already scheming.

"What should I do for fun today?" he mused, smirking to himself.

Before he could decide, a commotion caught his attention. A loud argument echoed from a nearby clothing store. Curious, Alex wandered over.

Inside, a group of arrogant-looking men—elite resistance soldiers from Terra Bunker—were making a scene. They had picked out clothes but had no intention of paying for them.

"We’re here protecting you, and you have the nerve to charge us?!"

These so-called "elites" were used to luxury and entitlement. Now, they were throwing their weight around, treating the store owner like dirt. One of them even shoved the old man aside when he protested.

"Please, sirs… I need to make a living too!" the shopkeeper pleaded, bowing repeatedly.

"Shut up, old man." One of the soldiers pushed him roughly, making him stumble backward.

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Before the shopkeeper could hit the ground, a steady hand caught him.

"Whoa there," a smooth voice said.

The old man turned to see his savior—Alex.

His eyes widened in shock. "Young Master Hawk?!"

Alex just smirked and shrugged off the gratitude. Instead, he shoved his hands into his pockets and sauntered forward, exuding the kind of energy that spelled nothing but trouble.

Time to stir the pot.

"Who are you? Stay out of the way—we're just doing some shopping for the Resistance."

Alexis smirked and spoke up on behalf of the shop owner.

"You out-of-towners don’t know you have to pay for what you buy? The shopkeeper is just doing business. No need to act like this, right?"

The elite soldiers towering over him barely spared him a glance. With arrogance dripping from their voices, one of them sneered:

"We’re from Terra Bunker. We came here to protect your pathetic Rockhill Valley. You should be treating us like honored guests. Back home, we don’t have to pay a single dime."

Alexis took a deep breath, still keeping his composure as he responded, "Well, this isn't your so-called ‘Salad’ Bunker. You pay here."

The soldiers finally lost patience. With an annoyed grunt, they tossed a few coins onto the ground, then one of them shoved Alexis back.

"There. Now go fetch our side dishes. Scram!"

That was the final straw. Alexis had been willing to let this slide, but now? Now he had changed his mind. He had already planned on stirring up trouble just to make that bastard Leonardo look bad, and now he was fully committed.

Feigning a grin, Alexis said, "Alright… enjoy your shopping, ‘heroes.’"

He casually stepped back, letting the Resistance soldiers continue browsing through clothes. Then, with a slow turn, he began channeling his energy, his smile sharpening into something far more dangerous.

"At first, I was debating whether I should just let things slide for the sake of the bigger picture—not mess with you just because you’re that guy Leonardo’s men. But looking at this now… you Resistance guys are real pieces of work. Someone’s gotta teach you a lesson."

His AI wristwatch, Ray, chimed in, trying to stop him.

"Don’t do this."

But Alexis was too far gone—his heart was already clouded with frustration over Anna and his own failure to break through his limits.

Silently, he gathered the energy in his hands, ready to start a little “game” with these so-called elites from Terra Bunker.

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Meanwhile, in a quiet corner of the Resistance camp’s medical bay, Commander Raine lay resting on a cot.

He had been holding on, pushing through his worsening condition just to formally announce Anna’s engagement in front of Rockhill Valley’s people. But now, at last, he could afford to lie down.

Raine hadn’t told many people about his illness—cancer. In this world, there was no real way to treat it. He knew his time was running out, which was why he was in such a rush to set everything in place.

Though his complexion was pale, his mind remained sharp as he continued giving orders, especially concerning the accommodation of the elite Resistance forces from Terra Bunker.

"Thank you for arranging a place for my men, Commander."

Leonardo sat beside him, speaking with gratitude. Despite Raine’s weakened state, his gaze was still piercing as he met Leonardo’s eyes.

"I’ll see that everything is in order so you can take over smoothly… Just promise me, take care of my daughter. Protect Rockhill Valley. And if the day comes when the AI machines break through these walls… take Anna and run."

The failed mission to rescue the scientists had left him without hope. He could see no other path forward for humanity. This was all he could do.

Leonardo stood, offering a respectful salute.

"I will. Rest up, Commander—I hope you recover soon."

Not long after, Anna arrived, quietly taking a seat beside her father, waiting for him to speak.

"I’m sorry… I’m a cowardly father. This is the only way I could think of… I hope you can forgive me."

Raine gently took Anna’s hand, and for the first time, her usual cold, resolute demeanor cracked. Her eyes welled up, but she wasn’t sure what to say.

"I… I understand."

Raine reached up to wipe her tears, then slowly closed his eyes to rest.

Not wanting Leonardo to see her in such a vulnerable state, Anna quickly got up and left the medical bay.

But Leonardo, having just promised Raine to look after her, followed and spoke in a calm, measured tone.

"I remember seeing you once before—back when we fought the AI machines on the surface. I thought to myself, ‘No way a woman could have aim that precise.’ But you did. You were incredible."

Anna wasn’t the type to care about compliments. She shot him a cold glance and replied flatly, "So what? What’s your point?"

Leonardo was about to respond when Lieutenant Caitlin suddenly rushed over, looking tense.

"We’ve got trouble. Those Terra Bunker Resistance soldiers? They’re picking fights in the streets. You two might wanna check it out."