Chapter 5 Back to Training

The facility was eerily quiet in the aftermath. Over fifty bodies—researchers and guards alike—lay motionless across the halls, the air thick with the scent of blood and gunpowder. The chaos had ended, but the scars remained.

Inside a damaged cell, Sergeant May stirred. The reinforced door had been broken during the attack, leaving a jagged opening. She hesitated before cautiously stepping out, muscles tense, heartbeat steady.

Then—

Cold metal pressed against her forehead. A gun.

Her breath caught as she slowly raised her hands, staring down the barrel. Without hesitation, she muttered, "Meow meow."

The response was immediate. A sharp order. A firm grip on her arm.

She was forced to her feet and escorted away.

The Facility's Aftermath

The intercom crackled to life, its static breaking the heavy silence. Then, a voice—solemn, measured, unwavering.

"Yesterday, we suffered a great loss. Over fifty brave men and women gave their lives for the sake of world peace. Their sacrifice will not be forgotten. Let us stand in silence to honor them."

For a moment, the room fell still. Some clenched their fists, swallowing back emotions. Others couldn't hold back—tears slipping down their faces as they mourned friends, comrades, and loved ones.

But outside these walls, the world had already begun to move forward.

Word of the attack spread swiftly through the underworld. The once-dominant UNC of Sector 5 had suffered a crippling blow. Rumors swirled—whispers of Mr. Wong's sudden disappearance, some speculating he had betrayed the organization.

Meanwhile…

A lone hiker navigated the rugged mountain trails, his boots crunching against dirt and stone. He moved with purpose—until something unusual caught his eye.

A corpse. Or at least, what remained of one.

Authorities were notified immediately. Within the hour, Inspector Lee arrived on the scene, watching as the forensic team worked quickly, collecting what little evidence remained. A DNA scan confirmed it—there was still a story left to uncover.

Back at the Facility

Sergeant May found herself back in captivity, this time seated in front of Dr. Lynn and her assistant, James.

Dr. Lynn barely looked up from her notes. "So, how are you feeling?"

May exhaled. "I've been better." She glanced around before locking eyes with the doctor. "What exactly happened here?"

Dr. Lynn's expression didn't change. "Classified."

May scoffed, shifting slightly in her chair. Of course. She expected that answer—but that didn't mean she had to like it. As the conversation continued, she subtly adjusted her position, inching back toward the door.

Then—

She collided with something solid. Someone solid.

Turning sharply, she met the unreadable gaze of Commander Nas, the head of the Section 5 garrison.

Her stomach dropped.

"Uh…" She forced a sheepish smile. "Sorry about that."

Nas didn't move. His grip caught the back of her shirt, halting any attempt to slip away. His voice was firm, unwavering.

"Where do you think you're going?"

May blinked. "Bathroom?"

Nas studied her for a moment, then let go. "Fine."

She barely took a step before his voice stopped her again.

"But before you go—" His tone shifted, more measured. "I have an offer for you."

May hesitated. "What kind of offer?"

Nas crossed his arms. "Join the unit. Or stay locked up. Your choice."

May's lips twitched into a half-smile. Not because she was amused, but because she already knew—

She was screwed.

Training Grounds – UNC Camp

Sergeant May was no more.

Her rank had been stripped, reduced to Private after joining the United Nations Coalition (UNC). Now, she was part of an elite women's special task force—an entirely new world, one that demanded discipline, strength, and absolute obedience.

The scorching sun beat down on the recruits as they pushed through another grueling day of training. Sweat dripped from their brows, muscles burned, but there was no room for complaints.

The flap of the training tent lifted, and Captain Yumi stepped inside. Her sharp gaze swept over the recruits before landing on May.

She strode toward her, arms crossed. "How's the training going?"

May straightened, keeping her voice steady. "All good, Captain. The training is… different, but I've been able to adapt a little."

Yumi's eyebrow twitched. "A little?" She leaned in slightly, her tone ice-cold. "Do you think a little will help you survive, Private May?"

May clenched her jaw. "No, ma'am."

"Then don't half-ass it." Yumi's voice was sharp, cutting through the tense silence. "Drop down. Fifty push-ups. Now."

Without hesitation, May lowered herself to the ground. As she began the push-ups, Yumi turned to the rest of the squad.

"The rest of you—dismissed!"

The recruits scattered, some throwing sympathetic glances at May, none daring to challenge the order.

As May counted each push-up under her breath, Yumi watched in silence for a moment before turning and walking out of the tent.

Cafeteria – Later That Evening

By dinner, the tension of the day had melted away. The cafeteria buzzed with laughter and chatter as the squad finally had a moment to breathe.

May sat with her teammates, arms still aching from earlier. She picked at her food, only half-listening—until a smirking voice cut through.

"So, Private May, still adapting a little?"

Laughter erupted around the table.

May sighed, shaking her head. "You're never letting that go, huh?"

"Not a chance," said Lina, taking a bite of her meal. "You should've seen Yumi's face. Thought she was gonna dropkick you on the spot."

Another recruit, Sophie, chuckled. "Honestly, we were all waiting for it. You got lucky with just fifty push-ups."

May rolled her eyes. "Lucky? My arms say otherwise."

Lina nudged her. "Welcome to the squad, newbie. This is just the beginning."

Before May could respond, a voice from behind silenced them.

"You ladies having fun?"

They turned to see Captain Yumi standing nearby, arms folded. The table instantly fell silent.

Yumi's gaze flickered toward May. "Hope you've still got energy left, Private. We're running a drill at dawn."

May forced a smile. "Wouldn't miss it for the world, ma'am."

Yumi smirked. "Good. See you all bright and early."

As the Captain walked away, the table groaned.

"Dawn drills? You've gotta be kidding me," Sophie muttered.

Lina sighed dramatically. "May, I officially blame you for this."

May held up her hands in mock surrender. "Hey, if I suffer, we all suffer."

More groans. More laughter.

Maybe things wouldn't be so bad after all.

May stretched out on her bed, exhaustion weighing heavy on her limbs. From the top bunk, Sophie leaned over.

"So, May," she asked, voice soft, "why'd you join the UNC?"

May exhaled, staring at the ceiling. "Because of someone I knew. Wanted to protect them… or maybe just understand them better. Pretty typical, huh?"

Sophie shook her head. "No, it's alright… as long as you know what you're doing."

May glanced up. "What about you?"

Sophie hesitated, fingers tracing her blanket. "Let's just say… I needed a way out."

May didn't push. Instead, she smirked. "Well, that got dark fast."

Sophie blinked—then laughed. "Yeah, guess it did."

Then—BAM!

The door swung open.

Both women instantly dropped onto their beds, pretending to sleep. Footsteps passed through, then silence.

Sophie whispered, "Think they bought it?"

May yawned. "Doesn't matter. I actually fell asleep."

Sophie snorted. "Good night, dumbass."

"Night."

The next morning, the intercom blared—

"Welcome to Hell Week, recruits!"

May groaned.

She was definitely screwed.