Chapter 33

The sun dipped low over the horizon as King Ethan of Veldoria exchanged a final handshake with President Morel. The signing ceremony had been a triumph, and the future felt brighter for both nations. That evening, he was treated to a private dinner and rested in the opulent guest suite prepared for his stay.

Morning came quickly, and as the King stood by his vehicle, President Morel presented him with a finely crafted wooden box. Inside lay a ceremonial dagger with intricate carvings. "A token of our gratitude and the start of a long friendship," Morel said warmly.

"Thank you," King Ethan replied, placing his hand on the president's shoulder. "We will walk this path of progress together."

The convoy of armored cars sped down the road to the airport, flanked by military police vehicles. The King, seated beside Viktor, reviewed notes on their upcoming projects. The tension of diplomacy had given way to a rare moment of calm as they neared the plane.

Then it happened.

A crack split the air. Time slowed. King Ethan felt a sharp, burning pain explode through his chest. His vision blurred as breath fled his lungs. The world tilted, and he slumped forward. His mind registered the agony before darkness swept over him.

Viktor reacted instantly. His body slammed into the King, shielding him with every ounce of muscle and instinct. The bulletproof vest the King wore had slowed the projectile, but it wasn't enough. Blood stained his shirt as Viktor's roar filled the cabin.

"Sniper! Engage defense protocol!"

Chaos Erupts

The convoy jolted to a halt as the lead and trailing cars skidded into defensive positions. Guards leaped from vehicles, rifles raised. Another crack—a second bullet struck a royal guard perched on the King's vehicle, his body lurching against the window as he blocked the line of sight to the target. Blood sprayed across the glass.

"Move! Go, go, go!" Viktor bellowed.

The driver surged forward, communication crackling as he shouted into his headset. "Control, this is Alpha-One. King down! Repeat, King down! Prepare for emergency takeoff. Medical team, report status!"

Inside Veldorian One

On the runway, guards in tactical gear formed a perimeter, rifles trained on every angle. A stretcher awaited as the vehicle screeched to a stop. Medical staff raced forward, flanked by soldiers. The King's bio-watch, powered by AI, streamed real-time vitals to the team. Blood pressure plummeting. Oxygen critical. Chest trauma.

"Move him now!"

Viktor lifted the King's limp form into his arms, his own heart thundering with fear he never showed. He sprinted with the medical team as they secured the King onto the stretcher. Guards formed a human shield around them, eyes scanning every rooftop and shadow for movement.

The engines of Veldorian One roared to life. The ramp rose as the guards and medical team pulled inside. The tires left the tarmac as the plane climbed skyward, cutting through the air with relentless urgency.

--- POV Change

The hum of the medical bay aboard Veldorian One was a steady backdrop as Dr. Eliza Voss adjusted her glasses and reviewed data streams. The advanced AI interface monitored vitals for every member of the King's security detail and, most importantly, King Ethan himself. Every breath, heartbeat, and fluctuation in his health was tracked in real time by the cutting-edge bio-watch—code-named Birdwatch.

Suddenly, an alert blared across the system.

ALERT: Cardiac distress detected. Subject—King Ethan.

Vitals—Heart Rate: 170 bpm. Oxygen saturation dropping. Chest trauma suspected.

"Birdwatch just flagged the King!" Dr. Voss snapped, heart racing. Her eyes darted over the holographic display showing his vitals in red. "Severe drop in oxygen levels—possible puncture wound."

The team of five sprang into action. Paramedic Garrett Lang prepared a trauma kit, while Nurse Sofia Leal activated the emergency protocols for in-flight medical procedures.

"Is this a false alarm?" Sofia asked, her hands steady as she prepped a transfusion kit.

Before Dr. Voss could answer, the radio on the console crackled to life.

"Control, this is Alpha-One. King down! Repeat, King down! Prepare for emergency takeoff. Medical team, report status!"

The tone of Viktor's voice left no doubt. This wasn't a drill.

"Copy, Alpha-One. We're standing by with full trauma readiness," Dr. Voss responded calmly, though her heart hammered. She switched the channel to internal communications. "Medical to cockpit—begin emergency flight prep. Ramp team, clear for immediate entry!"

Inside the bay, adrenaline surged. Lang adjusted the portable defibrillator while Sofia loaded an emergency blood pack into the IV system. "Vitals indicate major blood loss. Chest wound confirmed. AI is reporting projectile impact near the heart, trajectory unknown."

"We'll stabilize and assess in transit," Dr. Voss ordered, her eyes scanning the data. "AI, analyze bullet path and potential organ damage."

AI Response: Trajectory suggests penetration near upper left chest. Blood pooling. High risk of lung puncture.

--- POV Change

Captain Adrian Reiner's gloved hands tightened on the yoke of Veldorian One, his concentration absolute as the jet's engines roared to life. The sleek aircraft, designed to be both a fortress and a fast-moving escape vehicle, hummed with power beneath his command. The calm of the cockpit was shattered when a sharp, insistent tone rang through the communication system.

ALERT: Emergency Code Alpha. Priority Medical. Initiate immediate extraction protocols.

Reiner's heart skipped a beat. Alpha meant only one thing: the King was in grave danger. The adrenaline surged immediately, and his fingers tapped the comms panel, his voice cutting through the calm with military precision.

"Alpha-One to control. Condition red. Prepare emergency departure."

Lieutenant Dorian Vex, his co-pilot, was already flipping through pre-flight systems, keying in commands. "Vex, full power to engines. Prepare for emergency climbing departure. We're not waiting for clearance."

"Understood, Captain," Vex responded without hesitation, his fingers flying across the console. The plane's engine spooled up to maximum thrust, the jet vibrating slightly under the pressure.

Moments later, Viktor's voice crackled through the comms.

"Alpha-One! The King is down! We're coming in hot. Secure perimeter and prepare medical bay. Hostile sniper in the field. Do not—repeat—DO NOT delay takeoff."

"Copy that, Alpha-One," Reiner replied, his voice firm despite the urgent situation. His eyes darted to the external camera feeds. The motorcade was approaching, and Reiner could already see the defensive perimeter being set up around the plane. Guards were moving swiftly, shields up, while others jumped atop the cars, rifles trained on the distance.

"Vex, scramble counter-detection drones," Reiner ordered, his mind working ahead.

The drones were launched with a soft hum, disappearing into the sky to search for signs of the sniper.

---

The motorcade screeched to a halt, tires screaming against the tarmac. Guards disembarked swiftly, their rifles up, securing the area. The sound of gunfire echoed in the distance. Reiner's pulse quickened. A sniper had found a vantage point—his thermal detection system picked up the heat signature of movement atop a nearby building.

"Sniper fire confirmed," Reiner muttered under his breath, eyes narrowing. "Vector analysis shows he's on high ground. Stay sharp, Vex."

"Understood," Vex replied, the calm in his voice belying the tension in the air.

The King's car approached, and Reiner could see Viktor, large and protective, already positioning himself between the King and the hostile fire. Another shot rang out, and a royal guard crumpled to the ground, blood staining the tarmac. The King was down, but Viktor was already shielding him, and the rest of the guards scrambled to assist.

"ETA to takeoff: 15 seconds," Vex said, his fingers quickly working on the pre-flight checks.

Reiner's voice was calm but urgent. "Make sure the bio-monitor is streaming to Birdwatch. I need a read on the King's vitals."

The aircraft's ramp lowered with a hiss, and Viktor's team began lifting the stretcher carrying the King's motionless form. The scene was chaotic—guards firing back at the sniper's position while others helped load the King into the aircraft.

"Medical team is in position," Vex confirmed as the last guards made their way up the ramp, rifles raised and scanning for threats.

"Close the ramp!" Reiner barked, flipping the switch to secure the entryway. The hydraulic systems whined, and the ramp sealed shut.

"Engines to maximum power," Reiner ordered. "Prepare for emergency climb."

With a roar, the plane's engines ignited, and the jet surged forward. Reiner pushed the aircraft's nose up, the force pressing him into the seat as they rocketed into the sky, climbing faster than the plane was ever meant to. Every second counted.

"Altitude increasing," Vex confirmed as they shot upward, leaving the chaos on the ground behind. "We're clear. Taking the safe zone."

Reiner's hands remained steady on the controls. They had to get out of this unscathed. The plane, sleek and fast, was climbing high, but he couldn't shake the feeling of eyes on them. His instincts were sharp. Something was wrong.

Then, without warning, a voice blared over the communication system.

"Six unknown aircraft, bearing 3-2-1! They've got a lock on us!"

Reiner's heart skipped a beat as he saw the aircraft appear on his radar. Half a dozen fighter jets, their black silhouettes cutting through the sky, closing in fast.

"Vex, scramble the escort jets!" Reiner shouted, his mind racing. "We need intercepts NOW."

Vex's fingers were already flying over the console, sending the signal to the three Veldorian jets escorting them. Moments later, the two escort fighters peeled away from the formation and engaged the enemy, their afterburners igniting as they went into evasive maneuvers, locking onto the hostile jets.

"Alpha-One, we're engaging!" one of the pilots shouted.

Reiner's heart pounded in his chest as he focused on climbing even higher. The danger wasn't over yet, but they had a chance—his mind focused solely on getting the King to safety. The escort fighters were keeping the unknown jets at bay, but Reiner knew their time was running out. Every moment that passed brought them closer to a potential dogfight in the skies.

As the last of the hostile jets darted away, smoke trailing from one as the escort fighter landed a successful hit, Reiner finally allowed himself a deep breath. But the job wasn't done.

---

The plane cut through the skies, its engines roaring as it pushed forward at maximum speed. Despite the heavy turbulence and the constant noise from the engines, Viktor remained still, his eyes fixed ahead, a sharp sense of awareness keeping him on edge. The security team had doubled down on surveillance, eyes constantly scanning the plane for any signs of danger, though Viktor knew the immediate threat had passed. The unknown fighters that had attacked them were gone, but his job wasn't over. Not until they touched down.

The King, though...

He stole a glance toward the medical area. The royal physician, a woman with hands as steady as steel, was still working tirelessly on the King. His once regal appearance was now pale and fragile, his breathing slow and labored. Every second mattered.

"Viktor," the physician called out, her voice clipped and focused as she straightened up from her work. She was surrounded by a flurry of medics, their hands moving expertly over the King's body, adjusting tubes, checking monitors. The King's bio-watch was still transmitting data to Birdwatch headquarters, but Viktor knew that wasn't enough.

"Yes?" Viktor's voice was low but commanding.

"We've done everything we can to stabilize him, but..." Her eyes flickered toward the King's unconscious form. "We need to open him up. If we don't, he won't make it."

Viktor's heart skipped a beat. He took a step forward, crossing the space between him and the medical team in quick strides.

"How bad is it?"

The physician didn't hesitate. "The bullet caused significant damage. He's bleeding internally. The pressure is building around his heart. If we don't relieve it soon, we'll lose him." She met Viktor's gaze directly. "We can't do this in-flight, but we have no choice. It's the only way."

Viktor nodded sharply, the weight of the decision settling on him like a thousand tons. He had been with the King through everything, from the moments of triumph to the dangers they faced together. But now, this was different. This wasn't about a threat; it was about the life of the man he had sworn to protect.

"Do it," Viktor ordered, his voice steady despite the storm inside him.

The physician nodded and signaled to her team, the medics moving quickly to prepare the necessary instruments. Viktor stayed by the King's side, watching, never leaving the room. His eyes flickered between the monitors, the doctors, and the King, his mind whirring with a single thought—nothing could go wrong.

The operation began.

Viktor had seen surgeries before, but never one like this. The physician worked quickly but meticulously, cutting through the King's royal garments, revealing the wound. The blood had congealed, but there was no time to waste. They would need to make an incision near the heart to locate the damage and stop the bleeding.

The room felt colder as the medics prepped the surgical area. The gentle hum of the plane's engines outside did little to comfort Viktor; his focus remained solely on the operation. He watched as the physician's steady hands moved with precision. It was as if she had done this countless times, but Viktor knew the gravity of this moment.

He was guarding the life of not just a king, but the future of the entire Kingdom of Veldoria.

"Vitals are dropping," one of the medics announced. "We need to hurry."

The physician didn't flinch. "Keep working. I need suction here, and prep the blood supply for transfusion."

Viktor's eyes never left the King. His body lay still, but Viktor could see the strain on the man's face. The once proud leader, now vulnerable and fighting for his life.

The seconds felt like hours, each moment pulling Viktor further into a haze of helplessness. All he could do was watch. Watch and hope.

"Almost done," the physician murmured, her hands moving faster now as the King's chest was opened up. The pressure around his heart was immense. She worked to release the blood, clamping down on the major arteries to slow the flow and stabilize him.

Viktor swallowed hard. He could feel the tension in the room—everyone knew what was at stake.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the physician lifted her head and gave a small nod. "He's stable. For now."

Viktor felt a wave of relief, but it was short-lived. He still wasn't out of danger, and neither was the King.

The physician turned to Viktor. "We're not done. We need to keep him under full sedation and monitor him closely. He's not out of the woods yet."

Viktor's mind raced as he took a deep breath. "I'll make sure nothing happens," he promised. "Keep me updated. At all times."

As the medics continued their work, Viktor moved to the door and tapped his earpiece, communicating with his team. The plane was still on course, moving at full speed to get to Liberty City. But the longer they were in the air, the more vulnerable they became.

"Continue to scan for threats. Alert me immediately if anything seems off," he said. His voice was a low growl. His eyes remained locked on the King.

The rest of the security team had fanned out across the plane, keeping watch while Viktor kept a close eye on the medics. Every moment was critical. Every second could mean the difference between life and death.

"Status update, Viktor?" his second-in-command's voice crackled in his ear.

"We're still in the air. The King is stable for now, but it's still touch-and-go. I'll keep you updated."

The flight felt like an eternity, the minutes stretching out into endless hours. But Viktor knew the only thing that mattered was getting the King back to Liberty City, back to the medical facilities that could save him.

The plan had always been to return as quickly as possible, but now the urgency was multiplied. If they didn't make it in time, there would be no saving him.

Viktor stood watch, waiting. Time seemed to drag on, but there was nothing he could do except trust his team and the medical professionals who were doing everything in their power to keep the King alive.

And as the minutes ticked by, Viktor knew one thing for certain—he would not fail. Not today. Not on his watch.