Present Day

5 Days After Squad Zeus Was Forced to Leave Athenia

July 20, 2075

1500 JST (Japan Standard Time)

On a Beach Near Nagoya, Japan

Sonya Grey's Point of View

“That was so badass!” Ruby loudly exclaims in excitement.

“I told ya’ll I was a good driver!” Billy says in surprising confidence.

“If I die from anything, it’s going to be from stress or peer pressure,” I say.

We barely escaped Athens, crossed the Panama River, and have been smooth sailing beside the intercontinental land bridge, now known as the suicide gate Aquarius in a lightweight submarine-car. Thalassophobia is obviously an irrational fear of mine that I may or may not ever overcome.

Fortunately, my survival instincts override my aquatic bête noire, and the new clothes that we’ve been given by Minerva are quite useful. Bulletproof military thermal wet-suits have pouches that are capable of storing our equipment and allow us easy access to our weapons, and the extra accessory is the kind of technology we need to even the odds. Thank you, Minerva, for everything.

“Ok, we need to get our bearings and head to Inpu,” Duy explains as he inspects our paper world map. “Inpu is near Hiroshima, so we head west.”

“I’m sure they all miss us already, ok?” Billy says in excitement as he navigates the decimated highway. “I hope they have good food in Inpu. Rachel is probably hoarding all of the root beer and bubblegum she can find!”

Sigh. Time to be a buzzkill again.

“We need to split up,” I say. “Angela knows exactly where we are and where we plan to go. The longer we stay together, the faster we’ll be paying our death tax.”

“You’re being paranoid again, Sonya. There’s no way they know where we’re going,” Duy naively retorts.

“My paranoia keeps us alive, Duy.”

“What are you trying to say, Sonya?” Drew asks in confusion.

“I’m saying that one or more of us here is a spy, working for Angela.”

Yup. There they go again. That familiar look of confusion and doubt.

“Prove it,” Duy says in disbelief.

“Alejandro and Athenia are all the proof you guys need. We abandoned our communicators back in Colorado, and yet Angela knew exactly where we were at all times. People are easy to manipulate. All it takes to bring someone to their knees is a threat or a promise that appeals to their needs or wants. I suspected that Anna was the traitor at first since she had the most to gain; however, my doubt was shattered, and she earned my trust after she came up with the plan to use the Behemoths and Rachel for the rescue mission. Luke being the traitor, is ludicrous, and Rachel being the traitor is unlikely, but a possibility. This process of elimination supports the fact that the traitor is one or more of us. Lieutenant Sonya Grey, Captain Ho Vắn Duy, Corporal Drew Howard, Private Billy Cooper, and Private Ruby Redheart. One of us has betrayed The Mighty Squad Zeus for their own personal gain and are currently leading us to the grim reaper.”

I would’ve been such a good lawyer or detective in The Old World.

“You’re being freakin’ ridiculous, Sonya!” Ruby yells in disbelief.

“I guarantee that Private Teresa Young is going to die of heartbreak after she learns of the tragic ending to our story,” I say.

I’ve made them uneasy and quiet. A positive and a negative.

“I refuse to point fingers because that will only result in our squad’s implosion, but death from within is a humorous way to conclude our tale, and Anna isn’t around to save us this time,” I say. “I guarantee that Angela is currently “heh heh”-ing her face-off, as she prepares to set up an ambush that will result in our swift execution. The longer we wait, the slimmer our chances of survival are. You’re all my friends so I won’t abandon you, but I’d rather die fighting with a chance to escape, than with my hands tied behind my back as I stare at my impending death.”

Of course. More silence.

“Sigh. All this dead air matches this fallen city perfectly,” I say. “Have you all forgotten that we’re currently traveling in the ruins of Rion? We’ll be joining all of these skeletons any minute now, and I can already imagine Angela smirking at the thought of our final resting place.”

“Billy, stop the car!” Duy orders, followed by a loud screech of the car. “Have you lost your head, Sonya?!” Duy shouts in confusion.

“Not yet,” I say.

“Oh, great!” Duy says. “Since you’re “The Invincible, Secret Agent, Sonya Grey,” what do you suggest that we do?”

“It’s your squad, not mine,” I say. “Your call, Captain.”

“I… I… Fuck!” He hesitates as we all exit the car. “Ok… ok. If there is a traitor or two, then that means we’re already fucked. Angela could be anywhere, and I think that she’ll try to kill Sonya first since she’s her biggest threat. Splitting up into two groups increases our chances of survival by fifty percent. Since Sonya and I are leaders, it makes sense that we lead one group each. Sonya’s group will be driving the car on the interstate, while I’ll be leading my group in another direction.”

Smart. I’ve underestimated you, Captain.

“Wait!” Drew joins in. “How do we know that Sonya isn’t the traitor?”

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Sigh. Now I have to represent myself.

“Unlike the case with Anna or Luke, I have no way to answer nor prove your dumbass question,” I say. “Therefore, I plead the fifth to increase our chances of surviving this trap. Speaking of survival, there is one way that can all escape from this trap.”

What I wanted to say was “I escaped my ruthless blood family to find a loving one, you stupid fuck!”

“And what would that be?” Drew asks in suspicion.

“If the traitor really regretted their decision, then they would make the correct choice of acting as a decoy, but I guarantee they won’t do that.”

*

30 Minutes Later

Outskirts of Rion

Drew Howard’s Point of View

“Hey, Drew?” Duy asks as he smoothly maneuvers around the immobile zombies and debris on the highway.

“Yeah?” I ask.

“Did you know that when most people in The Old World caught a fish in sports, they returned it to the ocean?”

“No.”

“And the hungrier the fish is, the easier they can be caught.”

“I see…”

“The ocean was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” Duy says as he stops the car and puts his hands on the wheels.

Laser sights coming from above the ruined bridge to our twelve, and more soldiers arriving inbound in every other direction.

“Damn, now I wish I had a jetpack,” he says as several Death Angels surround us in all directions. “Fucking bastards!” Duy screams in anger as he gets dragged out of the car.

Of course, they let me out safely.

“Not you again!” Duy yells as two soldiers restrain him.

“Heh heh. Well, well, well,” Angela Blackwood taunts as she effortlessly lands on the ground and takes off her new helmet. “If it isn’t Captain Duy of the Mighty Squad Zeus,” she says as she approaches Duy.

“Go to hell!” Duy fires back.

“Unfortunately for you, you’ll be saying hello to Akuma much sooner than I shall,” she says as she pulls out her katana. “I’ve learned my lesson. Underestimating targets, both major and minor is something that I shall never do again, but I must admit, “The Invincible” Sonya Grey is quite a deceptive witch. I suspected that she might pull a bullshit tactic such as this; however, gambling is something that I have no talent or interest in. Nonetheless, she, along with Ruby Redheart and Billy Cooper, shall be accompanying you in hell soon.”

“Angela,” a mysterious man in a Costa Rican-colored flag hoodie and black jean shorts says in a deep voice and a thick Spanish accent as he approaches. “This muchacho (young man) is not Luke Miller,” he realizes in disappointment.

“Your observation skills are spectacular, Pride. Patience is but a virtue, so hold your horses. You shall get your jab at Luke Miller soon,” Angela calmly explains. “Heh heh,” she says as she returns her attention to Duy. “I’ve called upon The Seven Deadly Sins to assist me in my operation as insurance. Pride here will demolish Hercules, and my old friend Greed is currently en route to kill Sonya Grey and the other two worms. Upon the conclusion of our business in this graveyard, we shall march to Inpu, where Luke Miller and Rachel Cooper shall meet the swiftest of executions. You all shall soon collapse like a row of dominoes,” she says as she inspects her deadly katana. “I am informing you of your squad’s cruel fate because, as I leader myself, I too constantly worry apropos of my subordinates. However, I believe myself to be quite humble, so I must admit that none of this would’ve been possible without the help of Drew Howard here.”

Shut up…

“He’s a smart cookie. He knows that fighting against the side with the giant space laser of death is pure, utter, foolishness,” Angela says in an overconfident tone as one of her soldiers snatches my communicator out of my pocket. “Now, I quite enjoy soap operas, so… do you have any last words to say, Captain Ho Vắn Duy?”

“Drew… I had a feeling it was you, but I didn’t want to believe it. I thought we were friends! How could you do this to us?” Duy asks in disbelief.

“Angela is right, Duy,” I say. “We can’t beat them. Not only do they have a space laser, but they have complete dominance over the entire fucking world! Fighting against them is stupid! I… I tried to keep us all together! We should’ve surrendered a long time ago!”

“Oh, come on, man,” Duy says with a laugh. “You’re going to have a hard time regaining the trust of the others.”

“You idiot. I’m not returning. I’m done… with everything. My family has been granted immunity, and we’re going to be living in Gaia soon, as promised.”

“And who made such a stupid fucking promise to you?” Duy asks in doubt.

“Harold… back in Colorado,” I say.

“Ah, that makes sense,” he says with a deep sigh. “Teresa is going to kick your ass, man, and so is your sister.”

“You’re a fool, Duy,” I say.

“Well, this fool kicked your ass in a race with jetskis,” he says with a chuckle. “I don’t think you’re a bad guy, man. I just think that you got scared and made a bad decision. It’s a part of being human, but I wish that you had more faith in us. We’re the Mighty Squad Zeus, and our kickass story has just begun, Drew.”

“Goodbye, Duy,” I say.

“Nice knowing you too, asshole,” he says as he slowly returns his attention to Angela. “Mildew lady, are you going to at least give me a chance to fight?”

“You’re quite a masochist,” Angela accepts as she sheathes her sword. “Ignominy before your impending death is an odd request, nevertheless I shall honor your last wish,” she continues as she gives a signal for the guards to release Duy. “I am one who never lies, and I always keep a promise; therefore, I shall reward you with a swi-,” she says as she and Duy enter a fighting stance.

“Whatever, lady. If Luke can take you, then so can I,” Duy responds in full confidence.

“How poetic that the majority of your squad’s final resting place shall be among the last bevy of fools who dared oppose us,” she says with a chuckle. “Saigomade baka (Stupid until the end),” she says in… Japanese as she shakes her head, followed by a sudden lunge towards Duy from her.

She’s so fast! Duy!

She delivered a spinning back-kick to the gut.

“Fuck,” Duy says in agony as blood and vomit exit from his mouth.

“Hizamazuku nōmin (Kneel peasant)!” Angela screams in rage as she prepares to deliver another blow.

She… she broke his kneecaps with two powerful kicks and forced him to kneel.

“This mercy is an honor, considering what you did to my subordinates!” She states in anger as she prepares another attack.

A skull-crushing double hand-chop to both sides of the temple!

“Foolishness,” Angela says in an ominous tone as she unsheathes her katana.

“N-no matter what… happens t-to us,” Duy struggles to say as his body begins to spasm, mouth covered in blood and vomit, with dilated pupils. “Always, always r-remember who this squad i-is named after… after,” he says with a chuckle and a smile. “Ju-just like Zeu… Zeus, we are the mightiest! The bo-bo-bond this squad sh-shares w-w-will be unbroken… f-for-forever! The, the en-entire world w-will remember u-us one day! We… will n-nev-never be… forgotten…”

“Sono yō na mattaku no oroka-sa (Such… utter foolishness),” Angela says in pity as she prepares to strike with her sword.

“Teresa…” Duy softly says as he slowly loses consciousness.

An impalement straight in his mouth?! She’s taking her sword out and is about to.

Decapitate him.

What… what the fuck did I do?

“Are you happy now, Angela?” I ask.

“Heh heh. Happiness, just like freedom, is an illusion,” she says as she gently kicks Duy’s kneeling headless corpse into the ground. “I don’t enjoy doing this; however, I do enjoy serving Mother Gaia. Hmm. One would think that Azrael would be enough of a deterrent to keep foolish peasants in line; however, there’s always that one imbecile who dares to try us,” she says as she puts Duy’s head into a large pouch. “Drew Howard, I consider myself to be quite honorable and honest, however…” she says as she… lunges towards me?!

WHAT?!

Fuck! My jaw! She fucking broke it with her backhand?! Fuck! Shit! I gotta… I gotta get up and run!

“Ah!” I yell.

I… I can’t move! She stabbed me in my knee! Fuck! I’m gonna die!

“Harold is quite dishonorable and dishonest,” she says in an ominous tone as she points her pistol at me. “No need to cry over spilled milk, child. Peasants simply aren’t allowed to dine at the table of royalty.”

Mom, Dad, Jaliyah, Ruby, Duy, Luke, … I’m so, so sorry.