Destination Zero (1)

With an air of calculated nonchalance, Kade fiddled with his fork and knife, the dull clatter filling the room. He leaned back in his chair, his eyes locked onto Lando, the edges of his mouth twitching with a hint of a smile. "We have a mission that we'd like to discuss with you. But it's one that demands your utmost preparedness. Are you ready for it?" His voice was laced with intrigue, piquing Lando's interest.

Upon hearing Kade's proposition, a flicker of apprehension flashed through Lando's eyes. His mind involuntarily journeyed back to a haunting memory – the twenty-day-long mission that was seared into his consciousness. The cacophony of gunshots, the terrified screams that still echoed in his ears, the sight of blood splattering onto the dusty ground – all these memories came flooding back, painting a vivid and chilling panorama of past horrors.

Lando remembered being inside their state-of-the-art transport vehicle, designed like a futuristic truck tasked with escorting them to their mission's destination. The mission was ominously titled 'Destination Zero.' He was entrusted with the responsibility of handpicking at least ten of the new recruits who had shown promise in their ranks. However, the supposedly easy starter mission transmogrified into a living nightmare, leaving him the sole survivor.

Seated inside the transport truck, with his rifle securely slung across his back, Lando was an oasis of calm amid the boisterous excitement of the recruits. "We're gonna kick these bandit asses!" a young woman named Renan cheered, her voice brimming with uncontainable excitement. Renan was a recent addition to their ranks but had quickly ascended due to her exceptional capabilities. With her striking blue hair and vibrant purple eyes, she was an enigma who, in a strangely twisted way, reminded him of Aqua.

As if catching onto his thoughts, Renan swiveled in her seat to face Lando, a playful glint in her eyes. "So, are you and Hana an item?" She inquired casually. Caught off guard, Lando shook his head hastily. "No, we're not. We've just been through a lot together, you know, been through hell and back," he replied, his voice softening as he thought of Hana.

Renan merely nodded in understanding, "Okay, that makes sense," she responded before her attention was diverted to the safety check on her rifle.

Lando's eyes then drifted to the man seated next to Renan – a hulking figure of pure muscle, an embodiment of raw power. His name was Casp, and he was an impressive force, a titan among men. Lando recalled the day when Casp managed to single-handedly shove away five opponents in one of their training sessions. His display of strength was nothing short of extraordinary.

"Hey Casp. You think we're going to do just fine?" Another man, known as Badger, piped up. With short blonde hair and sparkling blue eyes, he was a striking contrast to Casp.

"We're gonna fuck 'em up, Badger!" Casp roared, his enthusiasm infectious. The others chimed in, their shared bravado reverberating within the confines of the vehicle.

As their journey neared its end, the driver suddenly announced a warning, "A sandstorm is predicted to reach this location in about fifteen minutes. Be careful out there, folks." With that, he slowed the vehicle to a halt, the echoes of his words serving as a grim reminder of the challenges that awaited them.

With an air of determination, Lando leaped out of the vehicle, swiftly securing his gun in his grip. As he disembarked, the guard's voice echoed after him, "Good luck, Lando. You too, recruits." The guard turned to face Lando, his eyes filled with an unmistakable sense of gravity. "Keep them safe for us. They're the best we got since Bale and Mara left." He cast a brief glance at Casp and Renan, who, in return, offered a nod of understanding. One by one, the other recruits emerged from the vehicle, their hands tightening around their weapons in anticipation.

One particular recruit, Charlie, struggled to ready his gun, his eyes darting towards Lando in a silent plea for assistance. Recognizing his need, Lando asked, "Need a hand, Charlie?" Approaching the young man, he nodded shyly, his gaze averted. A natural introvert, Charlie's reticence had been a constant presence throughout their journey.

"First, turn off the safety," Lando instructed, watching as Charlie followed his direction diligently. He then added, "Now, remember, your goal is to take out the enemy. Got it?" A look of confusion flickered across Charlie's face.

"Is that all?" He queried, looking somewhat taken aback. Lando simply nodded. "I'm not here to train you on how to use a gun," he said dismissively. Charlie, with his long brown hair and distinctive red eyes, just nodded, looking slightly overwhelmed.

Among the recruits, there was a conspicuous silence as they all waited for Lando's command. One of them, Eris, a girl with curly black hair and soft brown eyes, had been particularly chatty on their journey up until this point. Now, however, she was uncharacteristically quiet, her gaze fixated on a metal building looming ominously in the distance.

Next to Eris stood Dante, his gaze riveted to the impending sandstorm. "You think this one will be a bad one?" he asked Lando, his short, blue hair rippling in the increasing wind. His green eyes were filled with a mix of trepidation and anticipation.

"Yeah, it's definitely not going to be a pretty sight," Lando replied, his gaze fixed on the brewing storm. The remaining recruits—Mary, Daniel, Jackal, Sammy, and Mike—donned their helmets and uniforms in preparation for what lay ahead.

The team made its way toward the foreboding metal building, the wind intensifying with every passing moment. "The storm is coming, let's head in," Lando commanded, leading the way into the building.

Upon reaching the main entrance, the door didn't automatically open as they were accustomed to at other bandit bases. Casp, sensing the situation, stepped forward, grabbing the door handles. As he exerted force to pull the doors apart, the metal shrieked under the strain. The putrid stench of decay wafted out, invading their senses and causing Charlie to gag.

Charlie's reaction elicited a curt retort from Sammy, who punched him in the shoulder. "Man up, we're entering enemy territory." He was about to stride in when Lando halted him, his gaze fixed on the looming darkness inside the building. "No. We all stick together, no manning up shit," Lando admonished, sending a ripple of nervous anticipation through the group.

Upon entering, they were greeted by a gruesome sight. The walls and floors were caked in blood and entrails, an undeniable evidence of a massacre. Strangely, scratch marks adorned the walls, adding to the ominous atmosphere. The sight rendered them speechless. As they scanned their surroundings, the beam of Casp's flashlight paused on an unidentifiable shadowy object. A sense of foreboding washed over them as Lando slowly approached the object.

As he shone his flashlight onto it, the blood drained from his face. It was a decapitated head, eyes gouged out, the jaw missing completely, only the exposed teeth peeking through the blood-soaked floor. The horrifying sight made Charlie reel back in disgust, his voice choked with revulsion. "I'm going to be sick," he whimpered, drawing away.

"Jesus Christ!" Sammy exclaimed, looking away abruptly. Lando quickly hushed them. "Shhh! Whoever did this is clearly deranged. Do not hesitate; shoot to kill," he instructed, his voice barely above a whisper. With that grim directive, Lando cautiously moved past the ghastly sight, the others following in tense silence.