1 The Hunt
The forest, shrouded in darkness, set the stage for a relentless chase, where the hunter becomes the hunted
Moving with grace and purpose, a silhouette danced throughout the forest.
Not too far behind the silhouette, like vultures, drones soared through the dimly lit canopy, chasing after their elusive prey.
"How long are you planning on running for?" A voice calmly said, echoing in the shadows of the trees.
"It's not like I enjoy being chased."
Zac Frost, also known as Zero, emerged from the inky gloom of the forest backdrop. He is wearing a black military uniform that clung to his body, defining his well-chiseled form.
Zero possessed tanned skin, piercing purple eyes, and black hair that glistened under the faint light. He excluded an air of elegance and danger, a strange combination.
"Why don't we end this here? They have already surrounded us." A feminine voice said inside Zero's mind.
"Not yet. I won't go down without a fight." Zero said, his voice laced with determination.
Bella, or as Zero affectionately calls her, Bells is an AI (Artificial Intelligence) which is light-years ahead of his planet's technology.
Hailing from a distant world, she had been with Zero since birth. Their union began when Bella escaped from a crashed spaceship. Zero's father, Jaden, was a scientist leading the team that had been investigating the spaceship crash, and Bella's self-destructive act was the first step in weaving their destinies together
After following Jaden, Bella used a robotic spider to inject nanites into the unborn baby, changing Zero's fate forever.
Zero was seven years old when Bella revealed her existence, setting the stage for their unique partnership.
"Bells, hack into the drones and provide me with a live feed of all the targets. I need to take down at least half of them before they capture me." Zero said, his eyes glowing as the screen projected right in front of him.
With Bella's assistance, he had modified his body to access this augmented reality interface. The interface appeared as a glowing, translucent canvas in front of him, lit up with vibrant neon blues and greens and seemed to understand his every thought and gesture.
"Ha... ha... ha... Three years. We've been on the run for three years from the bastards of the Golden Circle. Finally, it comes down to this." Zero said with hatred and a sense of loss.
He had worked for the Golden Circle once, the puppeteers of the planet. Even the World Government was but a mere marionette in their hands.
They had captured him when they discovered his inhuman physique. Sadly, his parents paid the ultimate price, losing their lives trying to protect him.
At the time, he was only eight years old, and he had yet to realize his full potential.
He had endured inhumane torture, subjected to different forms of torment day after day, week after week.
The goal of the Golden Circle was to create other inhumans by replicating his DNA. "Subject Zero" is the codename they bestowed upon him.
After years of tireless experimentation, their endeavors bore fruit – the birth of inhumans. Yet, even the most promising among their subjects were but a mere echo of Zero's boundless potential. These inhumans possessed superhuman attributes, boasting extraordinary strength and lightning-fast speed. However, their feats paled in comparison to the awe-inspiring prowess of Zero.
This ambitious endeavor was not without its consequences. The vast majority of these inhumans underwent profound transformations, leaving them bearing little resemblance to their former human selves and out of control. Their visages had morphed into something utterly otherworldly, a testament to the power coursing through their veins.
Despite their remarkable achievements, the limitations of their technology became increasingly apparent.
When Zero turned 14, they halted their experiments and wiped his memory for he was far too valuable an asset to be destroyed. They had planned on making him their trump card. Unbeknownst to them, his memory was protected by Bella. .
With Bella's guidance, he pretended to lose his memory, all while harboring a burning desire for vengeance.
He believed that the end of the experiments meant the end of his suffering, he couldn't have been more wrong. What followed was a nightmarish training regime, pushing him to the very limits of human capability. He was schooled in a vast array of knowledge, enduring physical and mental challenges that would break most. At 16, he was sent on missions, leaving chaos and destruction in his wake. By 18, he had become the Golden Circle's top agent, with over 100 completed missions and a perfect record.
During his time as an agent, he earned the grim moniker, "The Angel of Death."
"Bells, kill their footage and leave mine". Zero ordered, creating the stage in which he became the hunter.
In a different part of the forest, the Alpha Squad had lost sight of Zero. Drones hovered above, their footage mysteriously disabled. The team members crouched in the dense underbrush, their tension palpable.
"Team, proceed with caution." Alpha One said with tension in his voice.
As the team moved cautiously through vegetation in the forest, they were abruptly interrupted by the sound of something rolling with a sinister "Tik... Tik... Tik…" sound filling the air.
Someone seemed to recognize the sound and shouted, "Grenade!"
They swiftly scattered into the dense underbrush, and an explosive blast resonated through the forest. The team members emerged unscathed, shaken but alive.
"It's a dummy. Take cover and be alert. Team, confirm status." Alpha One commanded.
"Alpha Three, Copy."
"Alpha Six, Copy."
"Alpha Four, Copy."
Each team member echoed their responses, but two code names were missing..
"Alpha Two and Alpha Five, confirm status."
Still there was no response from these team members.
Sweat trickled down Alpha One's forehead as he addressed the group through the microphone, "Zero, he's here".
The team members stood frozen. It had taken just a few seconds from the moment they spotted the grenade to the moment they sought cover, and yet they had already lost two team members. What was even more disturbing was the eerie silence—no sounds of struggle.
"AHH!"
Sounds of struggle erupted through Alpha Three's microphone. In a fit of panic, Alpha One aimed his weapon and started firing in the direction of Alpha Three's position. After emptying his clip, he paused.
"Team Status. He called out, his voice quivering.
No reply came, and an unsettling silence enveloped them.
Alpha One's hands began to shake as he took a deep breath to steady himself. Suddenly, he felt the cold touch of something against his head.
Turning around slowly, only to find a masked man in black suit standing before him, a suppressed pistol pointed directly at him.
'Zero, you're already surrounded. Surrender now, and I can plead on your behalf.' Alpha One spoke.
Peeew...
The silenced bullet whizzed through the air, ending the man's sentence abruptly.
"He talks too much." Zero said.
"You could have let him finish. I wanted to see the desperation on his face." Bells pouted..
'You're becoming more and more human.'
'Of course, I am. After all, I am the greatest AI in the world. I am designed to evolve.'
Having taken down the fifth team, Zero and Bells continued their relentless pursuit.
—----
Beyond the forest, at the perimeter, a high-ranking military officer sat in his tent. His uniform, adorned with numerous stars and badges, spoke of his authority. Around his tent, other small and large military camps bustled with activity, soldiers preparing for what lay ahead.
"Sir." A voice called from outside.
"Come in." The General said.
The nervous soldier reported after entering the tent, "We've lost contact with Alpha Team."
Samuel Steelhart, a name that resounded with authority and respect. Standing at a formidable height of six feet, he cut an imposing figure, his presence commanding attention. His striking blond hair framed a face that bore the marks of battles long fought, and his dark, penetrating eyes gleamed with the wisdom that only years of experience could impart.
A distinctive scar, etched upon his forehead, cast a shadow over one of his eyebrows, a subtle reminder of the many trials he had endured. Each line and crease on his face seemed to tell a story, a testament to a lifetime spent in service to his country.
Steelhart, a man of unshakable resolve and unyielding dedication, had taken it upon himself to bring an end to the relentless pursuit of Zero.
"Useless. It's been three days, and you can't capture one man. What's the use of keeping you people around?" Samuel slammed his fist on the desk. His eyes smoldered with anger, and his cheeks flushed in frustration.
"With due respect, sir, he may be just one man, but he's "Zero." The soldier explained.
Samuel heaved a deep sigh, his anger slowly giving way to resignation, "How many teams are remaining?"
"Only the Shadow Wolf Squad."
"Tell the Shadow Wolf Squad to retreat."" Samuel ordered. "Keep an eye on the perimeter. It's already dusk, and visibility is low. Engaging with Zero now is unwise. Give the command, and we'll go all in at the first sign of light."
"Yes, sir."" The lieutenant acknowledged with a salute before leaving.
—---
Inside the forest, the Shadow Wolf Squad leader relayed the orders to his team: "We've received orders to retreat."
"Permission to inquire, Sergeant," Frank began, his tone crisp and respectful, "I would like an update on the current mission status."
His unwavering gaze was a reflection of the eager anticipation shared by his comrades in the squad: Trevor, Lucas, Alice and Jessie – the latter two being the only female members in this dynamic team.
"The situation has taken a dire turn, my comrades," the sergeant grimly informed the squad. "Command has lost contact with Alpha Team as well. As it stands, it appears that we are the last remnants of hope on this perilous mission. The sun has set, and our visibility is waning. We've received orders to fall back."
The squad exchanged concerned glances, acutely aware of the gravity of the situation. Alpha Team, the paragon of our forces, was also missing, and the weight of that fact hung heavily in the air.
The sergeant's voice steadied as he laid out their new mission plan, his words echoing with authority. "Squad, listen up. Alice, you're our rear guard. Frank and I will take points. Trevor, Lucas, and Jessie, your vigilant eyes are our lifeline. We proceed with utmost caution."With discipline, they maintained a steady pace, moving carefully through the forest. To lighten the mood, Trevor shared jokes with his fellow team members.
Suddenly, a bullet whizzed past them, followed by a deafening explosion. The group froze, trying to make sense of the chaos.
Trevor, who had been joking just moments earlier, now lay on the forest floor, his head missing.
"Sniper!" The sergeant cried out, his voice filled with dread.
The remaining team members quickly sought cover, their senses on high alert. The sergeant's voice trembled as he asked, "Did anyone determine the sniper's location?"
"Four o'clock, distance and number of enemies unknown," one of the members replied.
The captain switched frequencies and relayed a message to command, "This is Shadow Wolf to Command; we are being ambushed, I am sending you the coordinates. We have a sniper on our heels, direction towards south-west. We request backup."
"...."
After an agonizing two minutes, the reply finally came, "This Command to Shadow Wolf : "Challenge code : Tango Foxtrot November"
This is Shadow Wolf to Command : "Response code : November Foxtrot Tango."
"Identity confirmed.Backup request denied. No one is allowed to enter the forest until dawn. We can provide backup with military drones. We repeat, we will send hunter drones over." : The reply came from the Command.
"Shit." Shadow Wolf muttered under his breath. He experiences a profound mix of emotions as fear gnaws at him. Despite the fear and frustration he strengthens his determination to protect his teammates and find a way out of this perilous situation.
"What did they say?" Jessie asked, her voice quivering.
"We are on our own."The sergeant replied with a heavy heart.
—---
In another part of the forest, Zero, positioned himself on a thick tree branch. His eyes, framed by the scope of his high-powered rifle, focused on the direction where the Wolf Team is concealed.
"Damn, these trees are too wide. I can't tell which one they're hiding behind." Zero cursed, frustration evident in his voice.
—-----
Editors/Proofreader:
Soul River
