Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Valencia always was the first to charge into danger. Whether it was playing football with the boys when she was nine to being the first one through during a breach and clear. She’s done it at least fifty times. She still runs it over in her mind, thinking of any possible way she could have known what was waiting inside that room waiting to attack. Her unit was responsible for cleaning up urban areas in hostile zones. She earned many commendations for bravery, leadership, and keeping a cool head under fire.

Graduating with honors as well as Sniper classification meant she wouldn't need to be in harm's way. That's why it baffled everyone that she chose a ground tactical unit that would be in the line of fire daily. She is twenty-eight years old and has about that many scars on her body from her missions. Some whisper behind her back she is addicted to the adrenaline of taking a life and being in combat but they wouldn't dare say it to her face. She loves her country dearly and believes in street justice if civil justice fails. She’s the type of leader her men would fall on a grenade to protect. About 5’8 with long black hair and blue eyes with a dash of freckles across her face. She is striking and many would assume she’s likely an influencer or perhaps someone in showbiz when she dresses up to go out on the town. Which happens maybe twice a year and that’s if she's lucky.

Mission briefing that morning said there would be six hostiles in apartment H04 with drone intel confirming. Her team packs into the delivery van to approach the apartment undercover. About two minutes into the ride, Kyle her second in command starts telling dad jokes which is a record for him. Usually, they make it all of thirty seconds before he starts rattling them off. He always does this before the mission even though he isn't a dad. He’s a good kid with a great heart, twenty-three years old, dusty blonde hair with glasses. About 6’3 and muscular for his size.

“Hey guys, what do sprinters eat before a race?” Kyle asks.

“If I have to hear another one of your Goddamn Dad jokes I will shove my foot so far up your ass you’ll be tasting it for a week!” Eric replies. He stands up and starts walking towards Kyle when Caitlyn grabs him and shoves him back into his seat. She’s 5’6 and a firecracker that will fight anyone at a moment's notice. Eric is a foot taller than her and wouldn't dare try to square up. She is a master of several martial arts styles as well as knife techniques. Blonde hair and green eyes and she can drink just about anyone under the table.

“Oh come on it's a tradition at this point. Besides if you try to stop him Eric I’ll have to jump in. What do they eat Kyle?” Caitlyn asks with a smile. Eric sits down and just shakes his head annoyed. He is the largest of the bunch coming in at 6’7 with dark short hair and green emerald eyes. He is the tech expert and in charge of mission recon.

“They don’t eat anything, they fast!” Kyle yells while cracking up. Valencia looks at her team and can’t help but smile. She would do anything for them just like they would for her. The van comes to a halt and Eric opens grabs his phone and a holographic screen projects from it showing the apartment. It’s a live feed from the drone that hovers above them cloaked from sight. It scans the building revealing their targets still in H04 with six heat signatures.

“They are still there, we need to take them out and retrieve any laptops or phones they have. Word is they have an email from Hassad Hashim on one of their devices and we can back-trace to his location if we retrieve it.” Eric says.

“Standard breach and clear right Captain?” Kyle asks.

“Yea, I can’t wait to try out this new Titan Tech flashbang. I heard it not only blinds but sends the assailants into seizures.” Valencia says.

“Damn that's fucking cool, gonna need to watch out with their fingers on the trigger though.” Caitlyn says.

“These fucks have no idea today is their last day, I love the looks on their faces when that realization hits them.” Eric says with a smile.

“Stop talking shit and let's get this done.” Kyle replies with a sternness that is jarring compared to how he was a minute ago. They arrive at their destination and pile out of their vehicle. Valencia leads her team down the alleyway and Eric kicks the door in. They approach the stairwell and she motions them to stop.

“Remember quiet steps and if we run into a scout to drop him before he alerts the others. We’ve done this dozens of times, we got this.” Valencia says with confidence. Her team nods and they rush up the stairs moving quietly and quickly like assassins in the dead of night. They reach floor F and as they turn to go higher a man blocks their way. Kyle quickly grabs him by the mouth and pulls a knife from his leg. He prepares to plunge it into the man when Caitlyn stops him.

“Stop, he’s not human. Look at the eyes, he’s a Remnant.” Caitlyn warns. Its eyes glow green for a moment as it stares blankly.

“What the fuck is a Remnant doing here in this shit hole? I didn’t know they were available over here.” Eric complains.

“Everything and anything can be bought on the black market or did you forget Hassad is one of the biggest dealers on this side of the world.” Valencia says.

“Hey! What are you doing here? Answer me junker.” Kyle asks. The Remnant just blinks almost looking like it’s lost. Eric grabs his wrist and removes it from its mouth. Jessica shakes her head at the scene. The Remnant closes its eyes and falls to its knees.

“Did it shut down? What did you do to it?” Caitlyn asks.

“Nothing!” Kyle responds.

“Forget it, let's just move on. Leave it there and after we are done we can figure out what is wrong with it.” Valencia commands. The team moves on and reaches floor H with ease. They stand in front of apartment 04 ready to attack. Eric pulls a small metal bar from his pouch and presses a button on it. The device grows in size to the size of a human arm with a handle.

“Ramming door in 3, 2, 1.” Eric says then slams into the door. It busts at the hinges and swings wide open. Valencia peers in the room as she releases the grenade and is gripped with confusion. There are five people in the room although four are on their knees with their hands on their heads. Time seems to slow as the grenade leaves her hand, the man standing in the center of the four is grinning. His eyes are glowing an emerald shade of green. A white-hot explosion of light envelops the room as the four humans begin seizing on the ground. Kyle runs in first and is met with the man with green eyes fist. His fist meets Kyle’s chest and the sound of chest bone-cracking still haunts Valencia to this day. He gasps from the intense pain, the man reaches down and grabs his rifle. Aiming at Valencia he opens fire with the accuracy of a well-trained soldier. She leaps towards the corner as the bullets slam into the wall. Caitlyn screams as she opens fire on the green-eyed man. Moving with the speed of an athlete the man positions Kyle in the way of the bullets. He is riddled with them and begins coughing blood. Eric grabs the man in a headlock and begins squeezing as hard as he can.

“Die motherfucker!” He screams. A gurgling laughter bellows from the man's throat.

“I don't think I will.” He replies as he leaps back into the nearby wall crushing him into it. Eric lets go and falls limp as the impact knocked him out. Caitlyn opens fire again but this time the bullets meet their intended target as the green-eyed man takes every shot. He falls to his knees with a loud thud then down on his face. Valencia comes out from the corner in time to see the Remnant from downstairs behind Caitlyn.

“I got him boss! The fuck is dead now!” Caitlyn screams.

“Behind…” Valencia tries to warn her but it is too late. The Remnant grabs her in a headlock from behind and squeezes. The snapping of her neck wrings loudly. Valencia raises her weapon and fires, the shots land perfectly. Three to her chest and one to her head as the bullets pass through her teammate and into the Remnant. It dies instantly and she rushes to Eric to check his vitals. What the fuck is happening? How are these Remnant attacking humans? Caitlyn, I failed you! She thinks. A faint beeping sound begins to ring from the dead Remnant. Eric grabs her and runs towards a nearby window as the explosion rips through the building. The last thing she sees is his face twisted in pain as the fire envelops him. She falls ten stories and lands on the van out front. Before fading to blackness she looks down and sees her legs have been blown away. Her skin is burned black at the knees, the pain she is in sends her reeling. Shock hits her like a wave and rushes over her body. Her eyes roll in the back of her head as the world begins to spin.