CHAPTER 10 - Confrontation in the Shadows (PART 3)

Deputy Stone (responding via the secure radio channel): "Copy that, Lieutenant Joe. We're in position and ready to move. Corporal Faux, you ready?"

Corporal Faux (via radio): "Ready to go, sir. We're locked and loaded."

Lieutenant Joe: "Good to hear. Remember, this is a high-stakes situation, and we need to apprehend this fuckers alive

The team proceeds to move toward the building, their synchronized footsteps barely making a sound as they close in on the xeno-humans. Joe joins them from the other part of the building.

Lieutenant Joe: (in a hushed tone) "Alright, team, we're approaching the door to the room. Stone, be ready to breach on my signal. Faux, keep your eyes open for any surprises."

Lieutenant Joe carefully approaches the door, checking for any signs of movement or noise from within. He signals Deputy Stone to prepare to breach the room.

Lieutenant Joe: (whispering) "Get ready... Three, two...

(MEANWHILE)

The gang are still in the room with the door locked trying to devise a plan, Alex quickly harnessed his ability as he predicted and saw the task force coming...."alright team here's the plan" he says as they gather around to listen

Lieutenant Joe: one...….. Brea…..?"

RILEY (whispering to herself) this is it...

With a surge of telekinetic power, the steel door begins to buckle and rattle. The task force behind Joe is unaware of her presence and remains focused on the breach. The door suddenly explodes inward, sending shrapnel flying, and a shockwave pushes Joe and most of the task force backward.

LIEUTENANT JOE (surprised and disoriented) what the...?!

Riley emerges from the wreckage, her hair tousled and eyes filled with determination. She swiftly takes down the few agents who managed to maintain their footing.

Lieutenant Joe, regaining his composure, reaches for his weapon, but it's too late. Riley uses her telekinesis to disarm him, rendering him helpless.

RILEY (firmly) this ends here.

CORPORAL FAUX, a skilled marksman, takes aim with a tranquilizing dart gun. He silently lines up his shot, trying to steady his breathing.

CORPORAL FAUX (whispering to himself) got to make this shot count.

Riley turns a corner, her footsteps echoing in the silence of the warehouse. Suddenly, Corporal Faux takes his shot, releasing a tranquilizing dart. The dart cuts through the air, heading directly for Riley.

Alex: Riley! Watch out!

Alex's urgent warning echoed through the corridors of the facility, setting the stage for the unexpected showdown. Riley, her heart pounding in her chest, turned the corner, the reverberation of her footsteps breaking the eerie silence that hung in the air.

Corporal Faux's tranquilizing dart sliced through the silence, a deadly projectile hurtling towards Riley. Just as it seemed all hope was lost, a balloon animal appeared out of thin air, intercepting the dart with a surreal deftness that could only be Mia's intervention.

Riley, still reeling from the shock of Faux's audacious attempt, possibly on her life, managed a breathless but grateful response, "Thanks, Mia."

Her attention then shifted, her eyes narrowing at Corporal Faux. With an intensity that sent a shiver down the spine of anyone who dared to witness, she unleashed her telekinetic power, sending Faux and all the nearby taskforce soldier sprawling away like a ragdolls.

Riley's breathless victory over Corporal Faux was short-lived. As she readied herself for the next confrontation, her eyes widened in sheer disbelief. John Stone, a sinister glint in his eye, aimed a dart gun directly at Mia, who was still recovering from her extraordinary balloon animal save.

"Look out, Mia!" Riley screamed, but before she could summon her telekinetic abilities to intervene, the dart was airborne. Time seemed to slow as it closed in on Mia. But then, a sudden feeling of drowsiness washed over Riley, her limbs turning heavy and uncooperative.

Riley struggled to maintain her focus, to protect her friends, but it was too late. Lieutenant Joe, lurking in the shadows, had expertly aimed his tranquilizing dart at Riley. As the dart pierced her skin, a profound weariness overtook her. Her vision blurred, and she stumbled, powerless to stop the oncoming darkness.

Through half-open eyes, she watched in despair as the rest of her gang, one by one, succumbed to the same fate. As Alex, Ethan, and Jay sprang into action, determination etched on their faces. They knew they had to defend their fallen comrades and somehow turn the tide.

"Where's my brother! "Alex yells, with his keen strategic mind, leaping toward Stone, aiming to disarm him. Stone was fast, though, and his training evident. He danced nimbly out of Alex's grasp and, with a quick flick of his wrist, sent a dart soaring toward Alex. It found its mark, and Alex stumbled, his movements slowing as the tranquilizer seeped into his system.

Ethan, equally resolute, tried to engage Lieutenant Joe, attempting to disrupt the tranquilizing onslaught. He unleashed a torrent of attacks, using his trickery to create a blinding spectacle of light and sound. But even Ethan couldn't keep Joe at bay for long. The lieutenant's dart, propelled with uncanny accuracy, hit its mark. Ethan's limbs grew heavy, and he crumpled to the ground, powerless.

Jay, known for his agility and resourcefulness, sought to outmaneuver their adversaries. He darted toward a nearby stack of crates, using them as makeshift cover. But the element of surprise was short-lived. In a flash, John Stone had him in his sights. A tranquilizing dart streaked through the air and met its intended target. Jay tried to dodge, but it was in vain. He staggered, struggling to stay on his feet, before eventually succumbing to the drug's effects.

Despite their courage and determination, the gang's efforts were in vain. The room was now eerily silent, save for the quiet hiss of tranquilizer darts as they lay scattered about, defeated. Their adversaries had emerged victorious, at least for now, and the gang's fate hung in the balance.

Makai was the last man standing, he needed to act fast. As Joe and Faux closed in on the unconscious xeno-humans, Makai's mind raced. With a deep breath, he focused his energy, summoning the abilities that made him unique. His power to duplicate things was their final hope

Makai: (under his breath) it's now or never.

In an instant, Makai's eyes gleamed with a bright, almost otherworldly light. He reached out with both hands, and the objects in the room began to multiply, creating a stunning and dazzling spectacle. Crates, barrels, discarded metal pipes, and even the tranquilizer darts themselves multiplied exponentially, filling the room with an overwhelming array of potential weapons.

Deputy John Stone: (startled) what the fuck is happening?

Lieutenant Joe: Stay focused, we need to secure them!

Makai seized this distraction as his opportunity. He leaped into action, brandishing a duplicate steel pipe and lunging at Joe with a remarkable speed. He swung the pipe, connecting with a resounding thud against Joe's tranquilizer gun. The gun went flying, and Joe was disarmed.

Joe: (stumbling) You little—

Before Joe could finish his sentence, Makai swung again, this time connecting with Joe's side, sending him crashing into a stack of crates. Joe lay dazed and momentarily defeated.

John Stone, seeing his partner fall, tried to regroup. He lunged at Makai with a tranquilizer dart gun of his own, but Makai duplicated a wooden plank into a makeshift shield and deflected the dart.

Deputy John Stone: why won't you just stay down with the rest of your….!

Makai's eyes glinted with determination. With a burst of power, he picked up the tranquilizing gun, made a shot and multiplied the tranquilizer darts into a hailstorm of projectiles, launching them toward Faux with pinpoint precision. Faux was quickly overwhelmed and fell to the ground, darted into unconsciousness.

Makai stood amidst the chaos, victorious but exhausted. He had single-handedly turned the tide, rescuing his comrades and defeating their adversaries. The room was once again filled with the echoing silence of their adversaries' defeat.