Chapter 4 — Secrets in the Shadows

The rebellion's base was quiet when they returned. It had been a successful operation, but the weight of the data they retrieved felt heavier with every step Xander took through the dimly lit corridors. He could sense the tension in the air, a nervous energy that hummed in the hearts of the rebels who had been waiting for them. It was always like this — moments of triumph, followed by the shadow of what came next.

Mara and the rest of the team filed in behind him. Voss was already waiting near the war room, his hands folded behind his back, his expression unreadable. Xander noticed the way Voss's cybernetic eye flickered — not in distress, but in calculation. It was as though the man was always five steps ahead, always planning for the next move.

"Mission report," Voss said, his tone sharp.

"We got what we went for," Mara said, tossing a hard drive onto the table in front of him. "Project Omega files, and the location of Xander's parents."

Xander could see the way Voss's posture shifted when the word "parents" was spoken. The room grew unnervingly quiet.

"Parents?" Voss repeated, his voice cautious.

"They're alive," Xander said, his voice steady, though inside, his emotions were a storm of confusion and hope. He hadn't allowed himself to believe it, but now, with hard proof, the thought was undeniable. His parents — the very people GeneCorp had experimented on for years — were still alive.

Mara crossed her arms, her gaze fixed on the screen as she navigated the files on the hard drive. "It's not just their location. There's something else in these files... something that's connected to the core of GeneCorp's operations."

Xander's heart pounded. "What do you mean?"

Mara hesitated, her eyes flicking to Voss before she continued. "They've been experimenting with something else — something much darker than just genetic enhancements. There are mentions of… of transhumanization, and not just physical enhancements. They're trying to create a new form of human. One that can adapt to anything, survive anything."

Voss's voice cut through the room, low and measured. "GeneCorp's ultimate goal isn't just power. It's control. They're trying to breed the perfect soldier, the perfect weapon, someone they can manipulate and command. And Xander… you're the result of their most dangerous experiment."

Xander felt his pulse quicken. He had always known something was wrong with the world he lived in. That he didn't quite fit in. But this — this was something far more sinister than he had ever imagined. He wasn't just a victim. He was a product of a machine that had no moral boundaries.

"I never asked for this," Xander muttered, his fists clenched at his sides. He had to take a step back, breathe. He had to focus. This wasn't just about him anymore. It was about the world he was fighting to change.

Mara's voice softened. "We'll fix this, Xander. Together. You're not alone."

Voss nodded solemnly. "We'll need to move quickly. GeneCorp will know we've intercepted their data. We have to use it before they have a chance to retaliate."

Xander shook his head. "No. We need to find my parents. We need to get to them before GeneCorp does. They've been using them as pawns for too long. I won't let them die because of me."

Mara's face softened as she approached him. "We will. But we need to be smart. We need to figure out where they are, and then we can strike."

Xander paused. The idea of going after his parents, of putting himself in danger for them, brought a flood of emotions he wasn't prepared to handle. He had spent years alone, not knowing if they were alive or dead. The thought of seeing them again, of confronting them after all this time, made his stomach twist. But he had to. For them, for the future.

"I won't leave without them," he said, his voice firm.

Voss didn't argue. Instead, he turned to Mara. "Get the coordinates. We'll need a team ready to move out as soon as we have a plan."

The next few hours were a blur of activity. Mara worked tirelessly to decrypt the files, while Voss began organizing the rebel forces. Xander couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong, that they were being watched, that GeneCorp had eyes everywhere.

He paced around the war room, his mind spinning. There was so much he didn't know. So much about himself, about his parents, and about the dark forces behind GeneCorp's operations. But there was one thing that was clear — the rebellion was about to enter the heart of the storm. The final confrontation was coming, whether they were ready or not.

Mara finally approached him, her face illuminated by the flickering glow of the computer screen. "I found it. The location. They're being held in a high-security facility on the outskirts of the city."

Xander's heart skipped a beat. It was real. They were alive. He had to get to them. No matter the cost.

Voss's voice cut through his thoughts. "We leave tonight. We'll need to move fast and hit them hard. I'll assemble the team."

As the rebel forces gathered, Xander felt a wave of unease wash over him. This mission was unlike any other. It wasn't just about taking down GeneCorp's forces. This was personal. And he wasn't sure he was ready for it.

Hours later, they were on the move, traveling through the darkened streets of the city. The rebel convoy moved quickly and quietly, using back alleys and underground tunnels to avoid detection. Xander's mind raced, his thoughts jumping from one possibility to another. Would they make it in time? What would his parents be like? And, more importantly, what kind of life had they led all these years?

The facility was well-guarded, heavily fortified with walls designed to withstand any assault. Xander's mind flashed back to the files Mara had uncovered — the experiments GeneCorp had been running. They weren't just enhancing people. They were turning them into something else.

When they arrived at the facility, the tension in the air was palpable. Every rebel knew the stakes. This was it. If they failed, everything they had worked for would be lost.

Voss outlined the plan. "We infiltrate through the east entrance. There's a service tunnel we can use to bypass the exterior defenses. From there, we'll split into two teams. Xander, Mara, and I will go straight for the main lab. The rest of you, secure the perimeter. No one gets in or out until we have the data and Xander's parents."

Xander nodded grimly. He wasn't going to let anything stop him. Not now. Not when he was so close.

They moved silently through the facility, the sound of their boots barely making a sound on the cold concrete floor. Xander's enhanced senses picked up every creak, every footstep in the distance. His body hummed with energy, but he forced himself to remain focused, calm. If they were detected, they were done.

Mara took point, leading the way through the darkened corridors. Xander followed closely behind, his eyes scanning every corner, every door. He could feel the weight of their mission pressing down on him. This was the moment of truth.

They reached the main lab, but the door was locked. Mara pulled out a small device and quickly hacked into the system, her fingers flying across the screen. Within moments, the door slid open.

Inside, the lab was filled with rows of glass containers, each one holding a person — frozen in a state of suspended animation. Xander's heart lurched when he saw them. His parents were in one of the tanks, their bodies pale and unmoving.

"Mara, get them out of there," Xander demanded, his voice tight with emotion.

Mara quickly worked to disable the containment system, and the tank hissed open. As his parents were slowly revived, Xander took a step forward, his breath catching in his throat. His mother and father, both pale and gaunt, looked up at him. Recognition flickered in their eyes, followed by a mix of shock and disbelief.

"Xander?" his mother whispered, her voice weak.

Xander couldn't speak. He had dreamed of this moment, but now that it was happening, he didn't know what to say. All the years of wondering, of searching for them, culminated in this single moment.

"We're getting you out of here," he said finally, his voice hoarse with emotion.

But as he reached for them, the alarms blared.

Voss's voice crackled in their earpieces. "Move now! GeneCorp is already on their way!"

Xander's eyes widened. They had to get out. But as he turned toward the exit, he saw the steel door slam shut, locking them in.