Unity in the Face of the Unknown (5)

Cody's pace slowed as he approached the portal, his senses keenly attuned to any signs of danger left behind by the retreating archer. Despite his cautious approach, nothing overtly suspicious caught his eye, yet a sense of unease gnawed at the edges of his consciousness.

As he drew nearer to the portal, Cody's attention was drawn to the diminishing size of the Breach itself. A frown creased Cody's brow as he observed the shrinking portal, a troubling realization dawning upon him.

As Cody stood before the portal he saw that its size had diminished to three-quarters of its original diameter when he entered. The concept of portals closing had always been a distant thought, relegated to the realm of abstract speculation rather than practical consideration.

Now, faced with the reality of the shrinking portal, Cody found himself contemplating the implications of its eventual closure. How long would it take for the portal to vanish completely? What would happen once it sealed shut? These questions lingered in his mind, stirring a sense of curiosity mixed with a tinge of apprehension.

Despite the portal's current size, Cody understood that its eventual closure was inevitable. The thought of being stranded on the other side, cut off from the world he knew, sent a shiver down his spine.

With a deep breath, he stepped through the Breach and emerged on the other side. The familiar sight of the truck stop greeted him, bathed in the soft glow of the setting sun. With a wary glance around the truck stop, Cody took a deep breath to steady his nerves.The air was filled with the hissing of air brakes and the distant hum of freeway traffic.

Relief washed over Cody as he realized that he had returned safely to Earth. His car was still parked off to the side, exactly where he had left it. He took a moment to gather himself, checking his surroundings one last time before making his way towards his vehicle.

Despite the adrenaline still coursing through his veins, Cody couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. He had navigated another Breach, faced danger head-on, and emerged unscathed. 

 He carefully leaned the man against the side of his car, ensuring he appeared as though he was simply resting. {As close to casual-looking as an unconscious man can be, I guess.} 

Cody rummaged through his car's glovebox, his fingers finally closing around his cell phone, and snagged a package of teriyaki-flavored beef jerky that had been laying on his passenger seat. With a sense of urgency, he dialed Mark's number, tearing open the jerky as he waited for the call to connect.

After what felt like an eternity, Mark picked up on the fifth ring, his voice calm and composed on the other end of the line. Cody spoke quickly, his mouth still full of jerky as he recounted the recent events. "Mark, I was in a Breach and a group of people attacked me as I was trying to leave. I knocked one of the guys out and he's here with me, another guy escaped. Isn't this what you do is deal with Enabled people that attack each other?"

Mark's response was immediate, his tone professional and reassuring. "That's exactly what I do," he confirmed. "Send me a pin to your location, and we will be there as soon as possible. Do you need medical attention?"

Cody quickly swallowed the last bite of jerky before responding, his mind racing with the urgency of the situation. "No, I'm fine, just a few scratches and bruises. But this guy, he's out cold and I have no idea what his deal is. I'll send you the location now."

Without waiting for a response, Cody ended the call and opened the map application on his phone. After dropping a pin at his current location, he sent the coordinates to Mark with a brief message detailing the situation.

As he waited for Mark's team to arrive, Cody glanced back at the unconscious man slumped against the car. A sense of unease settled over him as he pondered the events that had transpired in the Breach. {Why had these people attacked me? Did they just ambush other Enabled as a rule?}

With Mark's assistance on the way, Cody knew that answers would soon be forthcoming.

As Cody stood in the parking lot, a sense of relief washed over him as he watched the black government SUVs and armored van pull into the lot with precision. The cavalry had arrived, just as Mark had promised.

The vehicles came to a smooth stop, and Cody could see Mark's familiar face in the window. They wasted no time, swiftly exiting their vehicles with practiced efficiency. Mark approached Cody with a reassuring smile, flanked by his team members who were armed and ready for any situation.

"Good to see you're alright, Cody," Mark said, his voice calm and authoritative. "Is this the guy who attacked you?"

Cody nodded, gesturing towards the unconscious man leaning against his car. "Yeah, he's the one, he had accomplices, the leader ran, the other one… didn't make it out of the Breach."

Mark nodded in understanding, turning to his team. "Alright, let's secure the area and get this guy restrained and into the van."

Cody stepped back as Mark and his team moved into action, swiftly and efficiently securing the area and restraining the unconscious man. 

Cody couldn't help but notice the subtle but significant changes in their gear and appearance. Gone were the conventional firearms and tactical gear typically associated with government agents. Instead, the Kevlar-clad operatives now sported an array of swords strapped to their backs, large shields held firmly in hand, and knife hilts protruding from various points on their uniforms.

Cody's eyes widened in realization as he took in the sight before him. Each member of Mark's team was Enabled, possessing unique abilities that set them apart from ordinary humans. It was a stark reminder of the changing landscape of the organization and the world they operated in.

Mark followed Cody's gaze, "Things are changing quickly, Cody," he said, his voice carrying a sense of resolve. "We're adapting. The world is different now, and we need to be prepared for anything."

Cody nodded, "I appreciate you coming so quickly. I wasn't sure what to do."

Mark pulled a notebook out of a pocket on his jacket, "I need to ask a few questions about what happened, you understand?"

As Mark began his rapid-fire questioning, Cody recounted the events inside the Breach with as much detail as he could muster. He described the process of clearing the Breach, the encounter with the hostile figures, and the subsequent altercation that ensued.

"I was on my way out of the Breach after a full clear," Cody explained, his voice steady despite the lingering adrenaline from the encounter. "That's when I spotted the two figures approaching. They didn't hesitate, they just attacked me on sight."

Mark nodded attentively, his expression focused as he processed Cody's account. "And did you recognize these individuals? Recognize what their powers were?" he inquired, his tone measured but urgent.

Cody shook his head. "I didn't recognize them, they were definitely Enabled, but I couldn't tell you what their abilities were, it all happened too fast," he replied, his brow furrowed in concentration. "But they were definitely well-equipped and seemed pretty skilled. I don't think this was their first time."

Mark gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "We'll take it from here. You did well."

As the conversation with Cody concluded, Mark swiftly organized his team, delegating tasks with practiced efficiency. With a determined expression, he called out to a select group of agents, instructing them to begin the search for the escaped archer.

"Alright, team," Mark announced, his voice projecting authority. "We've got a fugitive on the loose, split up into pairs and cover as much ground as possible. We need to find him before he causes any more trouble."

With a series of nods and murmured acknowledgments, the agents dispersed, fanning out across the surrounding area in search of their elusive target. 

As Mark wrapped up his briefing, a thought seemed to strike him. With a quick motion, he reached into his breast pocket and withdrew a slip of paper, holding it out to Cody. 

"I almost forgot," Mark said, a hint of excitement in his voice. "I've been keeping an eye out for potential teammates for you, Cody. And I think I may have found someone who could be a good fit." 

Cody's curiosity piqued as he accepted the slip of paper from Mark's outstretched hand. He glanced down at the neatly written name and phone number: Geoff Taylor. "Thanks, Mark. I'll reach out and see if we can arrange a meeting," he said, tucking the slip of paper into his pocket.

Mark nodded in approval. "Good luck, Cody. I have a feeling you and Geoff will make quite the dynamic duo," he said, his voice laced with optimism.

With a nod of gratitude, Cody watched as Mark and his team began to mobilize, preparing to deal with the aftermath of the Breach incident. Vehicles were readied, equipment was stowed away, and everyone quickly fell into formation, ready to depart. As Cody turned to head back to his car, he couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement at the prospect of forging a new partnership.