CHAPTER 41 : DEFEAT

Syafiq and the armed Special Forces approached Khairul, Nasuha, and Kyoko, who were all tense and fearful. Khairul and Kyoko were severely injured, while Nasuha desperately created a shield around them.The Special Forces stopped in front of them, but Syafiq continued walking. He observed the three, noticing Khairul and Kyoko's injuries."Get a medic here! Help the Superhumans!" Syafiq called out. The Special Forces medics approached with their equipment. Syafiq turned back to face the three."Lower your powers. We... will help. Don't be afraid, don't worry," said Syafiq."W-What, why?" Nasuha asked, confused."We know about the Superhumans who fight mutated monsters, who help the people, and who assist us. Let us have the chance to help you now," Syafiq replied. Nasuha lowered her light shield. The medics immediately began tending to Khairul and Kyoko, laying them down for treatment."We've been looking for your group for a long time. I understand why you don't trust us or the government, but our goal isn't to hurt or kill Superhumans. We need Superhumans like you, who fight to protect..." Syafiq explained, but Nasuha continued to watch him, still hesitant."This isn't the main base of the White Tigers. We have intel on them and their operations. Many of our members lost their lives tonight, and the White Tigers won't escape. We will destroy them tonight," Syafiq continued."My other team members... they're at the main base," Nasuha said.Kyoko's thigh was bandaged, while Khairul's wounds were being stitched. Khairul looked at Nasuha, concerned."We will help," offered Syafiq."You... you might be helping us now, but what guarantee do we have that you won't shoot us in the back later?" Kyoko asked, slowly standing up and glaring at Syafiq suspiciously."Trust me, we want the same thing: the safety of the people and ensuring that those in power don't misuse their abilities. We've helped you now, and that's proof that we're on the same side," Syafiq responded."So now we owe you a favor?" Khairul asked."No. We owe your group a great debt. We just want to repay it now," Syafiq reassured them. Khairul and Kyoko still looked skeptical."Alright, we understand. We accept the help of the Special Forces," said Nasuha, her voice filled with newfound determination. Khairul turned to her, looking impressed, as Nasuha showed no signs of fear or doubt anymore."The main base of the White Tigers is in Klang. Our second team is there, and they're likely in danger just like we are now. I can fly my team members there," Nasuha explained."We have our helicopters too... Show us the way, uhmmm..." Syafiq hesitated, unsure of how to address Nasuha."Ms. Star," Nasuha said with a smile.The last time we met.I should have said something.No...I should have pulled you back... not left you behind again..."Danielle," said Ali, his face filled with sorrow."The world is small, huh, Ali?" Danielle smiled bitterly. Mikael was severely injured in his right arm and stomach, Khalid's Sentinel armor was destroyed, Mei was sitting weakly with her body burning up, and Chyou was unconscious. None of the HOPE members were able to fight anymore."Why you? Are you a Mutant?" Ali asked, but Danielle sighed deeply, ignoring his question."How's Ustaz Umar and the others?" Danielle asked instead."They... they're fine," replied Ali. Danielle placed Ali's mask back on, fastening it tightly. He then placed his left hand on Ali's chest."I'll send your regards, Ali," said Danielle, and Ali's eyes widened. Suddenly, the building shook, and the sound of explosions echoed loudly. Danielle looked up."One problem after another, huh?" Danielle sighed, pulling his hand away from Ali's chest. He stood up, looking at Ali and the rest of the HOPE members."See you later, Ali," said Danielle."Huh-" Before Ali could respond, Danielle struck his neck, knocking him unconscious. Danielle then moved towards Mikael, who tried to attack again but was quickly knocked out as well."You're too late, Ali," Danielle muttered to himself.On the rooftop, White and the high-ranking members of the White Tigers faced off against Khairul, Nasuha, Kyoko, and the Special Forces helicopter. At the base of the building, three Special Forces armored vehicles were stationed, while the soldiers below had begun advancing into the building."I'll kill you all!" White's entire body transformed into steel, and a tail grew from his back. A sniper shot was fired by the Special Forces, but the bullet had no effect on White."Where are they?!" Khairul shouted angrily, worried about the fate of the other HOPE members. He rushed towards White, narrowly dodging a punch, and slashed White's cheek with his blade.Alex had only two knives left, which he aimed at Khairul, but Kyoko quickly intercepted them with a bolt of lightning, foiling his attack. Kyoko charged toward them, but Nora slashed her arm, causing two blood hounds to form from the blood and block Kyoko from approaching.Nasuha fired a beam of light that knocked White backward, and Khairul slashed at his chest. White swung his fist again but missed, allowing Khairul to wound his neck."How? How could this kid's blade cut through me?!" White monologued, kicking Khairul away from him. White covered the cut on his neck that Khairul had inflicted earlier."That's enough... Stop fighting, or I'll kill them," Danielle warned, walking while dragging Ali, Mikael, Mei, Khalid, and Chyou. Nasuha immediately pointed both her hands toward Danielle with a furious expression."Let them go!" Nasuha yelled."I'll release them on one condition: the Special Force and your group let us go... or I'll kill them," Danielle replied, gritting her teeth. Everyone present fell silent for a moment. Syafiq placed his hand on his chin, pondering what to do."Make your choice quickly; one of your team members is seriously injured. He'll die if you don't help him immediately," Danielle added. Kyoko and Khairul were also frozen in place."What are you doing, Danielle? Just kill them!" White ordered, but Danielle took a few more steps forward."Don't rush, White," Danielle said, looking at Nasuha, who was glaring at her sharply, ready to attack at any moment. The Special Force helicopter drew closer to Nasuha."I understand you want to save your team, but we can't just let the White Tigers go!" Syafiq exclaimed. Nasuha started trembling, the confidence she had earlier vanished, and Khairul noticed her state."Don't be ridiculous! Are we supposed to let our people die?!" Khairul shouted."I've done the math... We'll all end up killing each other here. Many will die. Think about it. You want to ensure the safety of many, don't you?" Danielle questioned. The light in both of Nasuha's hands vanished, and she looked at Danielle, troubled."Yes... We'll let the White Tigers go. Hand them over," Nasuha demanded. Danielle immediately released the HOPE members he had been dragging. White merely glared at Danielle."Trust me, White. This is for our benefit too," Danielle said."Argh... But how are we supposed to leave here now?" White asked, looking at their helicopter that Nasuha had destroyed earlier."You made the right choice. You saved many lives, hero. But not everyone will agree with your decision," Danielle remarked as he looked back at Nasuha. Suddenly, an RPG was fired by the Special Force. Danielle directed his left hand toward the rocket, a red-black aura emanating from his hand, causing the RPG to backfire and hit the Special Force helicopter, causing the rear part to explode."No!" Nasuha immediately flew toward the falling and burning helicopter."Nasuha!" Khairul shouted, while Kyoko quickly chased after her and the helicopter. Khairul realized that he was now standing alone, facing the White Tigers.White tried to move forward, but Danielle tapped his shoulder."That's enough.""What are you thinking? This is our chance to kill them! You broke your own condition!" White snapped."Look, White... We've already won. This is our message. No matter who they are, we will win. They won't be able to fight us again anytime soon. I want to see something more interesting from them. Consider this a personal request of mine... to play with these heroes," Danielle explained. White sighed, his body returning to its human form as he turned away from Khairul."See you again, hero. Let our next battle be more exciting! I'll be waiting," Danielle said, while Khairul just glared at them. Danielle retreated with the other members of the White Tigers.Nora created a giant bird using her and Eric's blood. All the White Tigers members boarded the bird."Huaak!" The giant bird flew away from the main headquarters of the White Tigers, with Khairul watching them, clenching his fists as both his blades retracted into his arms.At the same time, Kyoko and Nasuha pulled Syafiq and the other Special Force members out of the helicopter that had crashed and was burning. They quickly flew away from the helicopter before it exploded in mid-air."What were you thinking? Breaking your own words?! What an asshole!" Kyoko fumed, throwing Syafiq, causing him to slide across the rooftop. Nasuha gently placed down the Special Force members she had carried."You think we'd just let our team members die to fulfill your objective?! We shouldn't have trusted you in the first place!" Kyoko's anger escalated, lightning surrounding her. Syafiq immediately reached for his pistol."Enough!" Nasuha interjected, causing Kyoko to halt and Syafiq to freeze."The safety of the rest of HOPE... that's what matters now. Let's get out of here," Nasuha ordered, moving toward the members of HOPE lying on the ground."Sir... Don't become our enemy too," Nasuha said as she walked past Syafiq, who just sat there, while Kyoko left him with a lingering glare."Ergh... Urh..." Ali regained consciousness first. Khairul immediately lifted his head."We need... to go to... Aisyah..." Ali said weakly."Aisyah?" Khairul was confused."I know the direction... we need to hurry," replied Ali. Nasuha placed everyone inside the same light orb."Alright," said Nasuha. She carried them into the air, with Kyoko pushing from behind. The HOPE team vanished in the blink of an eye, while Syafiq stood slowly, watching them leave as the Special Forces members gathered around him."I'm sorry..." Syafiq hung his head."Yes, InsyaAllah, after quarantine, I will come visit you, Mom, okay? Be patient, Mom... I'm fine, don't worry. The cases have slightly decreased in my area, so the situation at the emergency room is now under control..." Aisyah was talking to her mother on the phone when her balcony window was knocked on three times. Aisyah quickly moved toward the balcony and opened the curtain.Her eyes widened when she saw Nasuha carrying the injured members of the HOPE team inside the orb of light, along with Khairul and Kyoko standing on her balcony."I'll call you back. There's...an emergency!" Aisyah quickly ended the call and opened the balcony window."Come in, quickly," Aisyah said urgently.Aisyah had cleared the living room, where Khalid, Mei, Chyou, Mikael, and Ali were laid down on the floor. Aisyah used her powers to first heal Chyou's spinal injury."Is there anything we can do to help?" asked Nasuha, looking worried. Aisyah paused her powers for a moment to wipe her sweat."My power drains a lot of energy. I need food and water to keep going. Just make instant noodles, quick meals, and give me plain water so I can keep using my power," Aisyah explained."Got it." Nasuha nodded in understanding, and she and Khairul hurried to the kitchen. Meanwhile, Kyoko sat nearby Mei and Khalid, who were still unconscious, looking pained."Wake up, you two..." Kyoko pleaded.That night, Aisyah used her powers to heal all the injured HOPE members, including Khairul, Kyoko, and Nasuha. By dawn, Aisyah, now completely exhausted, slumped weakly on the sofa, covering her face."A war between superpowered humans! An exclusive interview with Captain of the Special Forces, Superhuman, Mr. Syafiq Zuhur.""It's undeniable that humans with powers like mutants, or what we call Superhumans, are among us. Not only that, but they've proven to be dangerous, with their own criminal organizations..."The morning news played on the television, showing Syafiq being interviewed by reporters. Khairul, Nasuha, and Kyoko watched the broadcast with worried and suspicious faces as Syafiq turned directly toward the camera."But...there are also Superhumans who help us. They saved me and my team. Not all Superhumans are our enemies. So I urge all Superhumans out there! In Malaysia! We need your help! Join the Special Forces, help us!" Syafiq called out passionately."This is insane. Totally crazy...Yabai," Kyoko stood up and massaged her head."Ky-Kyoko?" Mei woke up, prompting Kyoko and Nasuha to rush toward her."Mei!" Kyoko smiled with relief, and so did Nasuha. Mei looked at them both before wiping her eyes."What happened? Where are we?" Mei asked."It's a long story, but don't worry...we're all safe," Kyoko reassured, and Mei just nodded."Thank goodness," said Nasuha, her voice hoarse."Thank goodness...everyone's safe..." Nasuha started crying. Mei sat up with Kyoko's help and looked toward Nasuha."I-I'm sorry...I didn't know what to do...I'm so stupid...I-I..." Nasuha sobbed, and Mei immediately hugged her, with Kyoko joining in."Nasuha...You did your best. We're all safe, that's what matters now," Mei comforted."Exactly, don't worry anymore, Nasuha," added Kyoko. Khairul watched the three of them, lowering his head in sadness as well.Not long after, all the HOPE members regained consciousness, including Ali. They all sat in the middle of Aisyah's living room, silently reflecting on what had happened and what they had faced and done."First of all...thank you, Aisyah, for healing all of us. Your powers saved us, and on behalf of HOPE, I am very grateful," Khalid bowed his head slightly."Yeah, don't mention it. I offered my help before this anyway..." Aisyah replied, and Khalid lifted his head again."I know everyone might feel like we failed, but we managed to show the Special Forces that we're on their side, and they've captured one of the mutants. Like the news said earlier, the mutant Mikael defeated is now in the custody of the Special Forces, so we've taken down one member of the White Tigers," Khalid explained."Can we really call this a win? We nearly died... The fact that we survived was just pure luck," Khairul lamented."I understand, Khai. Any mistakes or failures are my responsibility as the leader..." Khalid smiled bitterly."I-I'm not blaming you, Khalid. That's not what I meant...We're just not strong enough...I'm not strong enough," Khairul admitted, looking conflicted."I take responsibility too. I dragged you all into my war, putting your lives in danger. Khalid, Khairul, Nasuha, Mei, Chyou, Kyoko, and Mikael. I'm really sorry and...thank you... Thank you..." Ali looked at each member of the HOPE team before bowing his head in regret."Raise your head, Ali. No one's at fault, and no one bears this responsibility alone. Khai is right, we're just not strong enough yet, that's all," Mei said."Learn from our failures, this is not the time to give up hope. I'm proud of everyone; we all gave everything we had, our powers, and our abilities to succeed... To me, that's already an achievement," Mei smiled at everyone."As long as we're all safe, that's what matters. We'll train and get stronger than we are now. The White Tigers won't defeat us again..." Mikael added."That's right..." Nasuha smiled softly."Once again, thank you, everyone... I'll continue my fight, but if you need me, you know where to find me. And if I need you, I know where to find you too." Ali shook Khalid's hand."Yeah, count on us anytime, Ali," Khalid replied."See you all again." Ali shook hands with Mikael and Khairul."I'm sorry I was harsh with you," Ali said to Chyou."Same... I...I'm sorry too..." Chyou replied, looking away."Thank you, Sister Aisyah," Nasuha said, with Aisyah smiling softly and waving."You're welcome. Take care, heroes..." Aisyah replied as Ali stood beside her."Until we meet again. Assalammualaikum," said Khalid."Yes, Waalaikummusalam," Ali responded.Nasuha then carried all the HOPE members in a large orb of light, and Kyoko pushed them as they disappeared from sight."You truly are a lifesaver, Aisyah..." Ali turned to Aisyah with a smile."This is the least I could do," Aisyah replied."Before you go, help me clean my house back up. That's your payment," Aisyah ordered, and Ali chuckled."Hahaha...yeah, yeah..." Ali responded. He walked back toward Aisyah's living room but suddenly froze."It's a small world, huh, Ali?"Danielle... Why did you join the White Tigers?What happened to you? I don't understand at all."I'm the leader of the White Tigers, but the heart of this organization is not me."What does this all mean?Danielle...It doesn't matter. Whatever happened to you, I'll drag you back. I'll get the answers straight from your mouth!