Chapter 93

Chapter 93:

Paris stretched beneath a gray sky, shrouded in an atmosphere heavy with desolation. The City of Light, once alive and vibrant, was now a canvas of chaos. Columns of black smoke rose in the distance, silent witnesses to battles and fires raging throughout. The Seine, instead of offering its usual tranquility, was restless, its surface churned by the rapid passage of black speedboats.

The sleek, matte vessels bore the insignia of the GIGN, France's elite tactical unit. Packed with heavily armed operators dressed in black combat gear, the boats raced forward, their engines roaring. Faces hidden behind helmets and balaclavas, the operatives gripped their weapons, their postures tense yet focused.

In the lead boat stood Sergeant Rio of Omega-5 "The Jewelers", his sharp gaze scanning the riverbanks for potential threats. Around him, his team moved in silence, checking equipment and weapons with mechanical precision, preparing for the mission ahead.

The radio crackled, breaking the oppressive stillness.

"Leader of the 3rd Detachment to Command," a steady voice reported. "We've just passed the Accor Arena and are en route to the operational zone. ETA: five minutes."

A response followed quickly: "Command to Leader of the 3rd Detachment, copy. Drones have detected several bridges ahead, occupied by infected, as well as distressed barges. Ignore them; naval brigades are behind you and will intercept."

"Understood, Command. Over," replied the leader, his voice calm but resolute.

The leader's voice crackled through the radio with urgency:

"Leader to all teams, you heard the situation. The infected will be raining down on us hard. If any of you fall into the water, you're on your own, find a way to survive and regroup. No excuses."

The operators tightened their grips on their weapons, a palpable tension spreading among the teams. The dark waters of the Seine reflected the ominous sky above, and the bridges ahead loomed like shadows, promising chaos. Everyone braced for impact, knowing the infected were waiting to strike.

The shout rang out like a gunshot through the comms:

"CONTACT FRONT!"

Every operator swung their weapons forward, their training kicking in as one synchronized unit. The roaring engines of the speedboats grew louder as they approached the bridge. What awaited them was a nightmare: the structure above was crawling with infected, their grotesque forms leaning dangerously over the edge, ready to pounce.

The leader's voice cut through the comms.

"Hold steady! Weapons free, clear the path!"

The operators opened fire in unison, their rifles roaring with controlled bursts. High-caliber rounds tore through the infected, sending bodies tumbling from the bridge like ragdolls. Several fell headfirst into the murky water below, their grotesque screeches silenced in an instant.

From the far right boat, an operator shouted, "They're jumping, three incoming!"

A trio of infected leapt from the bridge, their limbs flailing wildly. The first was cut down mid-air by a perfectly timed burst from a sharpshooter. The second smashed into the hull of a boat, bouncing off and vanishing beneath the waves. The third was met with the butt of a rifle, sending it spinning into the Seine with a sickening splash.

"Keep moving! Don't slow down!" the leader barked.

As the boats surged forward, the operators maintained their relentless barrage, cutting down infected attempting to leap from above. A grotesque figure landed on the front of one boat, claws scraping against the metal as it lunged toward the nearest operator. Without hesitation, the sergeant from Omega-5, Rio, stepped forward.

"Not today."

With a single, brutal swing of his weapon, Rio smashed the creature off the bow, its body disappearing into the water. He gave the operator a quick nod before pivoting back to the chaos ahead.

More infected began to pour from the shadows of the bridge, their inhuman shrieks filling the air. One operator raised an under-barrel grenade launcher.

"Permission to clear the bottleneck!"

"Granted!" came the leader's reply.

The grenade arced perfectly, detonating just above the center of the bridge. The blast sent chunks of concrete and infected flying. What remained of the horde stumbled, disoriented, before being picked off with precision shots.

"Bridge clear! Keep moving!"

The speedboats roared forward, leaving the collapsing horde in their wake.

A sudden shout came from the left flank: "Incoming from the barges!"

Several infected, likely drawn by the noise, clambered onto a nearby barge, their grotesque forms swarming toward the boats. One operator tossed a flash grenade onto the barge, the blinding light and deafening bang stunning the creatures. In the same instant, a heavy machine gun roared to life, cutting through the immobilized infected with ruthless efficiency.

The boats weaved skillfully through the narrow stretch, operators firing in all directions to keep the infected at bay. A lone creature managed to cling to the side of one boat, its claws digging into the hull. Before it could pull itself aboard, the operator closest to it drove his boot into its face, sending it crashing into the water.

"Hold formation! Just a little further!"

As they passed under the final bridge, the operators unleashed one last volley, ensuring no infected were left standing. Silence returned, broken only by the hum of engines and the operators' steady breathing.

The leader's voice came through the radio, calm but resolute:

"No losses. Everyone accounted for. Good work. Prepare for landing."

The operators exchanged glances, their expressions hidden behind black visors but their relief palpable. 

The operators approached the riverbank, their speedboats slowing as they neared the secured zone. Police officers were busy coordinating the evacuation, directing civilians from the Île de la Cité toward the helicopters landing and taking off in the Cour Carrée. The rhythmic hum of rotor blades filled the air, underscored by shouts and hurried footsteps.

Disembarking quickly, the operators moved in a tight formation, their boots striking the stone steps as they advanced toward the Louvre's entrance. All around, the activity continued, but the operators remained focused, their weapons ready.

They climbed the final steps and stopped just short of one of the entrances to the Cour Carrée, scanning the area and awaiting their next move.

The group spotted an officer in GIGN gear, barking orders to his men and coordinating the evacuation efforts. As soon as the officer noticed them, he approached quickly, his expression sharp with recognition. He leaned in slightly and whispered, "Foundation?"

The leader gave a curt nod. "Affirmative."

The officer gestured toward the building behind him. "Follow me."

The operators moved in formation as the officer led them into the Louvre, past the busy evacuation zone, and into a quiet, empty room. Once they were all inside, the officer shut the door, sealing them off from the noise outside.

Turning to face them, he introduced himself in a steady voice. "I'm Master Sergeant Michel Diarra of the 5th Intervention Group of the Gendastrerie. I was informed you'd be arriving."

The leader stepped forward and replied firmly, "Commander Watcher, 3rd detachment of the JTF 'Zombie Hunter,' Foundation."

Michel said, "Glad you've joined us. How can I assist you?"

Watcher replied, "We're heading to the Palais Garnier. We've confirmed traces of hostile human forces there, likely SAPPHIRE. Do you have any intel to share?"

Michel responded, "I sent a BRI-PP unit on a reconnaissance mission, but they got stuck due to the overwhelming number of infected."

Watcher said, "Hmm, and the air route is impossible…" He grabbed his radio and spoke, "Watcher to Kira. We need an alternative route to the Palais Garnier. The streets are overrun with infected, and the airspace isn't secure."

A robotic male voice responded, "Mr. Watcher. Based on your provided information, I recommend proceeding to the Pont Neuf metro station. From there, follow the line toward La Courneuve – 8 Mai 1945, bypassing the Opéra stop. There is a concealed service entrance granting access to the Palais Garnier's underground levels."

Watcher responded, "Roger that, Kira."

He then turned to Michel and said, "Well, I have to move out. Good luck."

Michel replied, "To you as well."

Watcher regrouped his detachment, and they departed from the Louvre.

They moved through the area, passing several groups of survivors escorted by the police, walking against the flow of people being evacuated. Eventually, they reached the metro station, where two police officers stood guard at the entrance.

The two police officers stepped aside, standing at attention as Watcher and his detachment passed. Watcher glanced at them briefly, but as he moved forward, something caught his eye, a blue armband partially sticking out of one officer's pocket.

He stopped in his tracks, turned back, and asked, "What's that?"

The officer stiffened, panic flashing across his face. "Oh, it's nothing," he stammered, quickly moving his arm to shove the armband deeper into his pocket.

In a swift motion, Watcher intercepted the officer's arm, snatched the armband, and unfolded it. His eyes narrowed as he saw the emblem of a diamond printed on it, accompanied by bold letters below: SAPPHIRE.

There was a tense pause.

Suddenly, both officers reached for their weapons. Reacting instantly, Watcher locked the first officer's arm and executed a Koshi-guruma, flipping him to the ground in one fluid motion. Simultaneously, two operators tackled the second officer with a perfectly synchronized double takedown.

Within moments, both officers were subdued, pinned to the ground under the firm control of the detachment.

Watcher pressed his earpiece, his voice steady but laced with urgency. "Watcher to Command, we've encountered a critical situation. Two hostiles disguised as police officers, confirmed SAPPHIRE operatives. Both are restrained. Requesting immediate intel support and guidance, over."

A voice responded through the static, "Command to Watcher, copy that. Maintain position and secure them. A recovery team is on its way. Over."

As Watcher relayed further details, a chilling sound broke the tense atmosphere, a low, guttural chuckle from the man pinned beneath him. Watcher's eyes narrowed as he shifted his focus to the restrained operative.

"What's so funny?" Watcher demanded, his tone sharp.

The man grinned, blood trickling from his split lip. His voice dripped with malice as he spoke, loud and unwavering, "You think you can stop us? You think your guns and tactics can suppress the truth? We are SAPPHIRE, the last defenders of reason in this diseased world. Religion, every single one of them, is the true infection. It blinds, enslaves, corrupts. For centuries, faith has shackled humanity, stifled progress. But not anymore. We will burn it all down, every church, every temple, every idol. And from the ashes will rise a world unchained, free from the lies of gods."

The man's laughter grew louder, echoing through the metro tunnel as his unhinged rant came to a crescendo.

Watcher's eyes hardened, but before he could respond, a faint yet unmistakable sound caught his attention.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Adrenaline spiked as he quickly yanked the man's jacket open, revealing a crude but deadly explosives vest strapped tightly to his chest. His mind raced for half a second before instinct took over.

"EVERYONE, GET DOWN!" Watcher roared, his voice carrying through the tunnel.

The operators dove for cover just as the world erupted in a deafening explosion.

The tunnel shook violently, a blinding flash of light consuming everything in its path, as the sound of the blast swallowed all other noise.

BOOM.

———

Sorry for not posting anything last week, I was sick as fuck