Understanding the Plan
Tide Turns
The hallway reeked of blood and charred fur, the air heavy with the coppery scent of violence. Remond's breaths came quick and shallow, each inhale searing his lungs. His vision blurred at the edges, exhaustion dragging at his limbs.
But Ms. Panther was relentless—a whirlwind of claws and precision. Her obsidian suit gleamed, movements fluid and lethal, every strike efficient and unyielding. The beasts that had cornered him moments ago now lay sprawled across the marble floor, lifeless or writhing in agony.
"On your feet," she snapped, golden eyes flicking to him. "We need to move."
Remond pushed off the wall, hissing as pain flared across his shoulder. His muscles screamed in protest, the kinetic energy coursing beneath his skin flickering dangerously low. But he gritted his teeth, staggering forward.
"More are coming," Ms. Panther warned, voice sharp and commanding. "Can you keep up?"
"I'll manage," Remond bit out, though his legs wobbled beneath him.
She shot him a look that was half annoyance, half concern, then turned on her heel. "Stay close."
They moved through the mansion's labyrinthine halls, Remond stumbling in her wake. Distant roars and screams echoed through the corridors—Alina's family, Bronson, the beasts hunting them all. His gut twisted with guilt and worry, but stopping wasn't an option. Not now.
A trio of animal men rounded the corner ahead, eyes glinting with malice. Ms. Panther didn't hesitate—she lunged, claws glinting, strikes precise and brutal. Remond gritted his teeth, kinetic energy flaring as he charged, driving his fist into a beast's jaw with a sickening crack.
"Down here!" Ms. Panther shouted, gesturing to a service door that led to the underground garage. Remond followed, heart pounding. They stumbled into the dark, metal stairs clanging beneath their boots.
"This way," she commanded, leading him through a series of tunnels. The walls narrowed, the air damp and cold. Adrenaline buzzed sharp and electric in Remond's veins, overriding pain and exhaustion.
They burst into a service corridor, neon lights flickering. A sleek black car waited, engine purring. Ms. Panther vaulted into the driver's seat, eyes narrowing.
"Get in," she ordered.
Remond slid into the passenger seat, barely getting the door shut before the car roared to life, tires screeching as they tore out onto the deserted road.
---
Undercover
The city blurred past in streaks of neon and shadow, the hum of the engine a dull roar beneath Remond's labored breaths. His shoulder throbbed in time with his pulse, blood seeping warm and sticky beneath his jacket.
Ms. Panther's hands were steady on the wheel, eyes fixed ahead, her expression unreadable beneath the mask. The car weaved through side streets and back alleys, dipping into a parking structure beneath a nondescript office building.
She killed the engine, glancing at him. "Follow me."
They moved quickly through dimly lit halls, keypads and security locks yielding to Ms. Panther's swift, practiced hands. An elevator descended, taking them deeper underground, metal walls gleaming sterile and cold.
The doors slid open to a spacious room, screens lining the walls, a steel desk cluttered with files and devices. Surveillance feeds flickered, displaying city intersections, news stations, the sprawl of Second Dawn's HQ.
Ms. Panther crossed the room, unclipping her mask. Dark hair tumbled free, framing a face Remond hadn't seen in five years—soft eyes, a familiar tilt of the mouth.
His breath caught. "Yuki?"
---
Unmasking the Truth
She turned, eyes glinting with a mix of exhaustion and resolve. "It's been a while, Remond."
For a heartbeat, he couldn't move—could barely think. Yuki. Alive. After all these years, the countless nights spent wondering, the guilt that gnawed at him—she was here. Breathing. Real.
His legs moved on their own, crossing the space in staggering steps until he was pulling her into a fierce embrace. Yuki stiffened for a moment, then relaxed, her arms coming up to return the hug.
"I thought—you were gone," Remond choked out, voice cracking. His vision blurred, hot tears spilling unchecked. "They told me—Ho Dieng told me none of you made it."
She pulled back slightly, eyes soft. "I know. I'm sorry. This… has been quite a burden for you, hasn't it?"
Remond managed a shaky laugh, wiping his eyes. "That's an understatement."
---
Yuki's Mission
Yuki led him to a chair, gesturing for him to sit. She settled across from him, fingers lacing. "You deserve to know everything," she began, voice steady.
She had been rescued that day—dragged bleeding from the claws of the tiger-man by operatives from IADR. They had been watching Second Dawn for months, suspicion mounting. Yuki, after months of recovery and training under Ho Dieng, had been recruited as an agent. Her mission: infiltrate Second Dawn, uncover their ties to Axiom Syndicate.
"Axiom Syndicate?" Remond echoed, fists clenching.
Yuki nodded. "They've been using shell companies to hide their investments. Second Dawn was a front—a way to expand influence without drawing attention."
His mind reeled, dots connecting with dizzying speed. "But the video—the evidence we leaked—"
"You shattered their defense," Yuki confirmed. "It was the distraction I needed to plant a microchip in their HQ server. IADR has been decrypting files ever since. And… they found proof."
---
The Lie
Remond's breath came shallow, his heart a heavy thud. "Why did Ho Dieng lie?" he demanded, voice raw. "Why tell me none of you made it?"
Yuki's gaze softened. "He was trying to protect you. Second Dawn was watching—any sign that we survived, and they would have come after you. He needed you out of sight, safe."
"Safe?" Remond barked a laugh, bitter and sharp. "I've been tearing through the city, exposing them piece by piece—how is that safe?"
"He knew you would," Yuki replied gently. "You've never been the type to stand by. But as long as you thought we were gone, they couldn't use us against you."
His shoulders sagged, anger and grief bleeding into exhaustion. "I don't know if I can forgive him," he muttered.
"You don't have to," Yuki said softly. "But we need to move forward."
---
The Call
Remond's phone buzzed, the number unrecognizable but familiar. He accepted it, pressing the device to his ear.
Ho Dieng's voice came through, smooth and commanding. "Remond. Are you alright?"
"I've been better," he ground out, teeth clenched.
Ho Dieng's sigh crackled over the line. "There's no time for apologies. We have a bigger problem—Axiom Syndicate is planning something for the presidential elections. An attack. You and Yuki need to be ready."
Remond's blood ran cold. "What kind of attack?"
"We're still deciphering the data, but it's big. Enough to cripple the city if we don't move fast."
Yuki's eyes met his across the room, steady and fierce.
"We'll stop them," Remond vowed, voice hard. "Whatever it takes."
"Good," Ho Dieng replied. "You have less time than you think."
The call ended, leaving only the hollow silence of the bunker and the weight of the battle yet to come.