Chapter 5: Orbital Outbreak

Location: GOC Mobile Dropship – En Route to Outpost A-9 Orbit

Wind roared past the windows of the fast-moving GOC dropship as it hurtled through the upper atmosphere. Below them, the Earth glowed. Above them, silence and stars. A routine recon signal had gone dark near Outpost A-9, a floating GOC facility stationed on the edge of a collapsing rift zone.

Black Echo had been deployed. Officially, it was a simple check-in. Unofficially? Everyone on board could feel it was more.

Emma (watching the skies through the window):

"Hey, Lucas… can I ask something?"

Lucas (leaning back, eyes closed):

"…?"

Emma:

"Your eyepatch. It's not regulation. What happened?"

Silence.

Emma (softly):

"I didn't mean to offend—"

Suddenly, Nick stood between them, tone deadly serious, eyes narrowed.

Nick (low, intense):

"Look, girl. If the time's right… we'll tell you."

He took a step forward. His smile was gone. His whole presence felt heavier.

Nick:

"But if you ask again… I don't know what will happen. So don't."

Emma (surprised, then calm):

"…Understood."

Lucas gave a slow nod—grateful, but unreadable.

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Outpost A-9 – Approach Zone

The dropship touched down on the outer deck of the orbital station. The once-bustling metal structure was silent—lights flickering, doors slightly ajar, scorch marks staining the walls.

Lucas (activating comms):

"Command, this is Agent Lucas Millar. Black Echo has arrived. No visual on Recon Team Alpha. Proceeding in."

Command:

"Copy. Proceed with caution. Portal activity was detected 40 minutes ago."

The word "portal" froze everyone for a moment.

---

Inside the Station

As they explored, alarms suddenly blared.

A loud hum erupted from the generator core—and then—

A massive tear in reality split open in the corridor wall. A dark violet portal—rippling, humming, oozing energy.

From it, five creatures emerged.

---

Neuroxins: Type 1 – Croco-runners

Monstrous, lizard-like beasts with the head and jaw of crocodiles, but with elongated legs and claws adapted for land sprinting. Their scales shimmered with plasma residue. They hissed and snarled—and sprinted like bullets.

Emma:

"Crocodiles?! On two legs?!"

Nick (grinning):

"Now we're talking!"

Lucas (stepping forward):

"Black Echo. Form up!"

---

Suddenly, a wave of light rippled across each of them as the GOC emergency response systems activated their Unique Skill Encoding Protocol—only for elite agents under direct threat.

The system scanned their DNA, stress levels, and mental capacity…

> Unique Skill Awakening Detected.

---

🟦 Nick Mash: Skill – BERSERK

His muscles expanded. Veins surged. His teeth sharpened. Nick's pupils became slitted, like an animal. He let out a guttural roar—but remained still, focused, despite the madness.

Nick (growling):

"Just say the word, Captain…"

Lucas:

"Hold until I say go."

---

🟪 Emma Valen: Skill – ASSASSIN

Her presence vanished—completely. Not even her footsteps echoed. She was invisible, silent, faster than the eye could follow.

Emma (from thin air):

"…I like this."

---

🟥 Lucas Millar: Skill – FORGE

His eye glowed beneath the patch. Metal and broken parts near his feet floated and swirled around his arm. With a flick of his fingers, a sword formed—crafted from debris, power cables, and glass.

Lucas (firmly):

"I'll explain later. For now—battle formation!"

---

Combat Begins

The Croco-runners charged. Teeth flashing. Claws slamming the walls.

Emma moved like a ghost, slicing tendons and vanishing before they could react.

Lucas reshaped his blade mid-fight into a glaive, then a chain-whip, striking hard and fast.

Nick went wild—smashing beasts into the wall, breaking jaws, fighting like a monster—but still listening to Lucas's calls.

Lucas (shouting):

"Nick! Right flank!"

Nick (snarling):

"On it!!"

Emma:

"Two down. Three more."

Suddenly, one Croco-runner pounced on Lucas—Emma appeared behind it mid-air, stabbing it through the skull.

Emma:

"Next time, you owe me."

Lucas (grinning faintly):

"Deal."

Within moments, the last one was crushed by Nick's fists.

Nick (panting, bloodied):

"Woo! That's what I'm talking about! …Uh… do I still look hot?"

Emma (invisible again):

"Only if you like wet dogs."

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Aftermath

The portal hissed—then collapsed into itself.

Lucas (calmly):

"That portal wasn't random. It opened here for a reason."

Emma:

"We were the reason. Someone wanted us tested…"

Nick:

"Then they picked the wrong team."

As they regrouped and prepared to report back, Lucas touched his eye beneath the patch for a moment.

The Forge… it was only the beginning.

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To Be Continued…