The Move

The next 24 hours passed in a blur. Team 12 barely had time to process the weight of their new assignment before they were thrown into preparations for the transfer. There were no farewell ceremonies, no speeches, and no time to even reflect on what they had just survived.

Orders came swiftly. Pack your belongings. You leave by 0600.

Aiden stretched as he leaned against the transport vehicle, yawning. "So… let me get this straight. We're officially Elias' personal bodyguards, and we answer only to him?"

Vivian smirked. "That's what they said. You sound disappointed."

"Disappointed? Nah, I'm just realizing that means we're gonna be around scientists all day," Aiden groaned. "I thought we signed up to be soldiers."

Jiro adjusted his gloves, his usual calm demeanor intact. "Don't be foolish. You think a normal scientist would need a team like us to protect him? If Elias is at the center of this, then whatever's happening at that research facility is big. Bigger than just security."

Bao remained silent, standing near the transport vehicle, his arms crossed. He had spent the night combing through mission reports, trying to piece together the full picture. It was impossible to ignore the pattern—the secrecy, the unusual selection process, and the way they had been tested in ways that no ordinary soldiers would be. Why them? Why now?

Their ride was unlike any standard military transport. Instead of open convoy trucks, they were being escorted in heavily armored classified transport units. No windows. No outside visibility. Whatever this research facility was, they weren't meant to know its location.

At precisely 0600, Colonel Duvall arrived, his expression unreadable as always.

"Your orders are simple," he stated. "From this moment forward, you are no longer regular soldiers. You are part of an unlisted unit. Your records will not be accessible to standard military personnel. You will not exist to the outside world. Only those within your chain of command will know your true assignment."

Vivian scoffed. "You make it sound like we're ghosts."

Duvall's expression remained cold. "You are."

That sent a chill down their spines. They had heard of units like this before—groups that operated under direct authority, with no oversight from conventional military structures. They weren't just soldiers anymore. They were weapons, wielded in absolute secrecy.

Bao took a step forward. "And what happens if we refuse?"

Duvall's eyes narrowed. "You won't."

The Colonel wasn't wrong. They had already seen too much. The only path forward was the one in front of them.

"Your transport is ready," Duvall finally said. "Board the vehicle. From this point forward, you answer only to Elias."

Without another word, Team 12 stepped onto the transport, the heavy doors sealing shut behind them.

The Journey – Into the Unknown

The ride was long. Hours passed in silence, the only sounds being the steady hum of the vehicle's engine and the occasional vibration from the reinforced wheels moving over uneven terrain.

No one spoke much. There was nothing to say.

Desmond eventually broke the silence. "So… where do you think this place is?"

Vivian exhaled. "If they don't want us knowing the location, it's probably nowhere near any known bases."

Jiro nodded. "Or underground."

Aiden leaned back against his seat. "Great. Love the idea of being stuck in a bunker for the rest of my life."

Bao barely heard them. His mind was still on Elias. What kind of place required an entire research facility to be built around one person?

After what felt like an eternity, the vehicle finally came to a stop. The mechanical hiss of depressurization followed as the reinforced doors slid open, revealing a stark white decontamination chamber beyond.

A voice crackled through unseen speakers. "Proceed forward for clearance."

No hesitation. Team 12 stepped out into the chamber, the heavy doors sealing shut behind them.

Immediately, automated scanners swept over their bodies, detecting biological signatures, weapons, and any unauthorized materials. The air around them grew warmer as an invisible sterilization process ran its course.

"Clear," the voice finally confirmed. "Proceed to the main hall."

As they stepped through the final checkpoint, the sight before them took their breath away.

The research facility was massive. Far larger than any of them had expected. White steel corridors stretched in every direction, with sleek, reinforced walls lined with security panels, retinal scanners, and automated defenses. The air smelled clean—too clean. This wasn't just a lab. It was a fortress.

Scientists and security personnel moved with purpose, many of them wearing identification badges with high-security clearance levels. The atmosphere was nothing like a military base—this was a high-tech think tank, a place where the most brilliant minds worked in complete secrecy.

"Well," Aiden muttered under his breath, "this is a little different from the battlefield."

Vivian whistled. "No kidding. I've never seen this much security in one place before."

Jiro adjusted his visor. "That's because this isn't just a research facility. It's a containment site."

Bao frowned. "Containment for what?"

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