Chapter 5:The weight of blood

The night air felt colder as Logan and Kara approached the perimeter of the Valdez warehouse. The sounds of the city felt miles away, drowned out by the anticipation that buzzed between the two of them. The rest of the crew had spread out, ensuring the perimeter was covered, but Logan's focus was solely on the task ahead.

"Let's keep it quiet," Kara whispered as they crouched low behind a stack of crates, watching two guards patrol the area in front of a side entrance. "We can take them out, but we need to avoid alerting the whole damn warehouse."

Logan nodded, his expression stoic. He'd handled worse than a couple of guards before, but the stakes here were higher. Every move counted. His hand instinctively brushed the hilt of his Desert Eagle, but his mind was already thinking of other options.

"Cover me," Logan murmured.

He stepped out from behind the crates, moving quickly and silently. His force-field ability activated, an almost invisible shield enveloping his body. The field was so fine-tuned, it made no noise as it shifted and expanded, just a faint distortion in the air. He had learned over the years to use the force-field not just for protection, but for manipulation. With a small concentration, he could create controlled bursts of force—enough to send objects flying or deflect a blow.

As Logan approached the first guard, he let his force-field ripple in a precise motion, a slight compression of air that caught the guard's arm mid-swing as he turned toward the approaching threat. The guard's body jerked with an almost imperceptible shock, and before the man could fully react, Logan had already closed the gap. A quick strike with his right hand sent the guard to the ground, incapacitated with a carefully placed pressure point against the neck, and Logan quickly moved to the second guard.

Kara, watching from the shadows, made her move. Her sniper rifle in hand, she took aim at the second guard. The shot was clean—precise—and the guard collapsed silently to the ground with no more than a soft thud.

Logan gave a small nod of approval before his focus shifted once again to the interior of the warehouse. The real challenge was coming. As they moved deeper into the shadows, Logan felt a shift in the air—a subtle ripple. Two figures, larger than any man Logan had ever encountered, were moving toward them. A shifter and a titan.

"Enforcers" Kara muttered, her voice barely above a breath. She tensed, ready to move.

Logan's mind raced. These weren't just any ordinary men.—One was a massive figure, broad and intimidating, with the build of a rhinoceros, while the other titan was a little less massive but just as imposing— They were clearly the Valdez cartel's enforcers, meant to protect the warehouse from intruders like them.

"We need to separate them," Logan whispered. "I'll handle the rhino."

Kara didn't hesitate. She moved off to one side, prepared to take the shifter down from a distance. Logan's attention was fully on the imposing titan.

The titan emerged from the shadows as Logan rounded the corner, its massive form like a living wall. Logan immediately activated his force field, a subtle shimmer of energy protecting his body. He moved quickly, dodging the titan's first swing. The titan swung a large pipe with brutal force, but Logan was already out of the way, his body propelled by his gravity manipulation.

The clash of metal echoed through the empty space, debris flying as the titan's pipe shattered against the floor. Logan's daggers flashed in the dim light, and with a quick, sharp motion, he struck the titan's side. The wound was deep, but the titan barely flinched. He roared in rage, swinging again with enough force to send Logan tumbling back.

The shifter joined in, and Logan's heart raced. He knew he couldn't take them both head-on. But he had a trick up his sleeve.

Summoning his gravity manipulation, Logan increased the pressure around the enforcers, momentarily causing them to stagger. The sudden shift in gravity threw them off balance just enough for Logan to close the distance. With a quick leap, he used the titan's body as a springboard, landing on its back and driving his daggers deep into the Titan's neck. The titan's body stiffened, and with a gurgled cough, it collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

The moment the shifter came running to kill.Logan wasted no time. He activated a secondary function of his force-field—one that allowed him to create a dense burst of pressure that sent him rocketing forward. He closed the distance between them in the blink of an eye, and as the rhino shifter swung a heavy fist at him, Logan used his field again, redirecting the blow so it flew harmlessly into the air.

The rhino shifter stumbled from the force of his own punch, and Logan moved in for the attack. With a deft motion, he used his force-field to stabilize himself as he shifted his weight to avoid the shifter's next brutal swing. The shifter, realizing he was being outmaneuvered, tried to charge at Logan. But Logan anticipated it. With a small pulse of his field, he slammed into the shifter's chest, sending him stumbling back and creating just enough of an opening for Logan to land a debilitating strike.

The force-field allowed him to make quick adjustments, keeping him just out of reach of the rhino's blows while he exploited every opening with precision. His dagger flashed through the air, finding its mark in the shifter's side, just above the ribs. The shifter howled in pain but quickly retaliated with a backhanded swipe.

Logan's force-field flared again, absorbing the impact and redirecting the force into the ground beneath him. The ground cracked, but Logan remained steady, his grip on his weapon unwavering. With a flick of his wrist, he drove the dagger deeper, severing a key tendon in the shifter's arm. The rhino shifter's arm dropped uselessly to his side.

Kara's shot rang out just as Logan twisted the dagger, and the rhino shifter fell to the ground, unconscious from the blow to his head.

The rhino shifter, now disoriented and in pain, tried to fight back, but his movements were sluggish. Logan pressed the advantage, using his force-field to create sudden, short bursts of pressure that forced the shifter back at every turn, making it impossible for him to land a hit.

With a final, focused pulse of his force-field, Logan sent the shifter crashing into a nearby wall, the impact rattling the building's foundations. The shifter groaned, unable to stand,the Logan finished him with a clean cut to the throat.

Logan stood over him, breathing evenly, his force-field dissipating. He met Kara's eyes, a silent acknowledgment passing between them. The job had been done. Quiet, efficient, without a trace of noise or chaos.

As the team regrouped, Manny's voice crackled through the comms. "Status?"

"We're clear," Logan said, his voice steady. "The enforcers are down."

"Good work," Manny replied. "Now let's finish this."

Logan glanced down at the fallen shifter, a faint sense of satisfaction settling in. Every move he made, every pulse of his force-field, brought him closer to the life he had chosen—a life of quiet destruction, where even the most formidable enemies fell without a sound.

As the team moved toward the heart of the warehouse, Logan felt the familiar hum of anticipation. The mission was far from over, but it was just another step toward the reckoning they had all been waiting for.

---

Logan wiped the blood from his cheek as he started at the massive door leading to the Valdez storage vault. The two titan guards stood motionless, their hulking forms radiating raw power, while the shifter in human form paced back and forth like a predator preparing to strike.

Manny's voice came through the comms. "Logan, remember—take out the titans first. They're the muscle. The shifter will try to catch you off-guard."

Logan adjusted his grip on his daggers, his force field humming faintly around him. He nodded to Manny and moved forward, drawing the attention of the guards.

The first titan snarled, raising a massive steel pipe it had been wielding like a club. Without hesitation, it swung at Logan, the pipe tearing through the air with deadly force. Logan rolled to the side, the pipe smashing into the concrete floor where he'd just stood, sending shards of debris flying.

Logan surged forward, using his gravity manipulation to boost his speed. He ducked under the titan's next swing and drove one of his daggers into its side, aiming for a vital organ. The titan roared in pain but didn't falter. It grabbed Logan by the shoulder, lifting him off the ground like he weighed nothing. Logan gritted his teeth and activated his force field, the barrier repelling the titan's grip just enough for him to twist free.

"Hold still, you little punk!" the second titan bellowed, joining the fray. Logan barely dodged a hammer-like punch, the wind from the strike brushing his face.

"Logan, behind you!" Kara shouted through the comms.

The shifter lunged, its body transforming mid-air. What had been a man now resembled a black panther,claws gleaming in the dim light. It slashed at Logan, its claws raking across his arm. Blood splattered the floor as Logan stumbled back, clutching the wound.

"Damn it," Logan muttered, his breathing ragged. He glanced at the shifter and titans, who were now closing in from all sides. He could feel his energy draining, but he refused to back down.

The first titan charged again, but this time, Logan was ready. He extended his force field in a sharp, concentrated burst, sending the titan staggering backward. With a leap powered by his gravity manipulation, Logan stabbed the titan's neck putting him down.

One down.

Before Logan could recover, the shifter attacked again, this time slamming him against the wall. Pain exploded in his left arm as the bone snapped under the pressure. Logan cried out, his vision blurring for a moment. The shifter growled, its yellow eyes gleaming with savage intent.

"You're tougher than you look," it hissed, its voice a guttural snarl. "But not tough enough."

Logan gritted his teeth, summoning the last of his strength. He shoved the shifter back with his force field, creating just enough distance to draw his Desert Eagle. He fired twice, the bullets striking the shifter's leg and shoulder. It howled in pain but darted toward the exit, its movements faster than Logan could track.

"It's trying to run!" Manny barked. "Don't let it escape!.We'll handle the last titan.

Logan stumbled toward the Stingray, ignoring the searing pain in his arm. He jumped into the driver's seat, his bloody hands fumbling with the ignition. The engine roared to life, and he sped after the shifter, who was bounding across the warehouse yard toward a nearby vehicle.

The chase was brutal. The shifter zigzagged through the yard, leaping over obstacles and using its claws to scale walls. Logan pressed the pedal to the floor, the Stingray's modified engine roaring as he closed the distance. The shifter darted into a dirt road leading away from the warehouse, and Logan followed, the car's tires kicking up dust.

The shifter leaped onto a moving truck, clawing its way to the roof. Logan fired through the Stingray's open window, the bullets narrowly missing as the shifter darted to the other side of the truck. Frustration flared in Logan's chest, but he stayed focused, maneuvering the Stingray alongside the truck.

With one hand, he aimed his Desert Eagle and fired again. This time, the bullet struck true, hitting the shifter square in the chest. It let out a strangled roar, its claws scrabbling against the metal roof before it tumbled off the truck and hit the ground hard.

Logan slammed the brakes, skidding to a stop. He climbed out of the car, his body screaming in protest. The shifter lay on the ground, gasping for breath as its body flickered between human and beast. Logan approached, his Desert Eagle aimed at its head.

"The Valdez…cartel" the shifter choked, blood bubbling from its mouth. "Will be coming for your heads" Logan finished, pulling the trigger. The shifter went still, its yellow eyes dimming as the life left its body.

---

By the time Logan returned to the warehouse, the building was engulfed in flames. Manny's crew had rigged the charges perfectly, the explosions reducing the Valdez operation to rubble.

Manny and the others rushed to meet Logan as he staggered out of the Stingray, his left arm hanging limply at his side. His face was pale, streaked with blood and sweat, and his breathing was labored.

"Logan!" Manny called, his voice tinged with worry. He reached out to steady the younger man, who was swaying on his feet.

"I got the shifter," Logan said hoarsely, his legs buckling as he sank to the ground. "It won't warn anyone."

"You look like hell," Kara said, kneeling beside him. "But damn, you pulled it off."

Axel handed Logan a canteen of water. "You're lucky to be alive, kid."

Logan managed a weak smirk. "you should see the other guy."

Manny crouched down, his expression unreadable. "You've got guts, Logan. I'll give you that. But next time, don't go off-script. You nearly got yourself killed."

"I'll keep that in mind," Logan muttered, leaning back against the Stingray. His body ached, his energy completely drained, but the sight of the burning warehouse brought a small sense of satisfaction.

Manny clapped him on the shoulder. "Let's get you patched up, The boss is gonna want a full report

on this one."

Logan nodded weakly, his vision blurring from exhaustion and the lingering pain in his arm. Manny and the others moved quickly, setting up a makeshift camp around the Stingray. Axel started pulling out medical supplies while Kara checked the perimeter, keeping a wary eye on the surroundings in case anyone from Valdez's crew showed up to investigate.

"You're in bad shape, Logan," Axel muttered, cutting away Logan's torn jacket to inspect the broken arm. "We need to get this set up right now."

Logan winced as Axel worked, but he stayed silent, focusing on the task at hand. His mind wandered for a moment, replaying the battle over and over, each decision, each fight. He knew he had pushed himself to the edge, but it felt like something more—something bigger was coming. The Valdez operation was just a part of it, and despite his victory tonight, Logan knew the real battle was yet to come.

Axel finished wrapping the splint around his arm. "There, that should hold you for now, but we need to get you some real medical attention soon."

Logan nodded again, his mind still on the mission. "Where's Manny?"

Kara glanced over from her lookout. "He's on comms with Salvador, getting the intel to him. They're already planning the next move."

Logan tried to sit up straighter, pushing against the weight of his injuries. "The shifter said something... about the Valdez coming for us"

Manny returned, the usual stoic expression on his face, but there was a spark of something else in his eyes—concern, maybe even respect. "I heard. We'll be ready. You did good tonight, Logan."

Logan looked up at him, his voice steady despite his pain. "Next time, I won't be so reckless."

Manny's lips curled into a thin smile. "We'll make sure of it."

Logan let his head fall back against the car, closing his eyes as the adrenaline from the mission slowly ebbed away, leaving only the dull ache of his wounds and the quiet hum of the Stingray's engine. But deep down, Logan knew that this mission was just the beginning. The real fight was still ahead.