Paladin Ascending Vol 1 #2: Dark Sections

(Quick note: To culminate the end of November, I decided to release this on the 30th. There are 4 issues left which will release across early December and so forth, so stay tuned and keep reading! ;)

 

Fear.

 

It’s the last thing I have in my head, the thrill of life going down my spine. Moments earlier we went skydiving basically. We’ve been waiting for the last half an hour for the rest of the agents to breach through, which they did.

 

I look around—as I see guards being knocked out by the efforts of my team. Then I see people started interrogating each other. The third thing I observe—is hearing sounds of choppers flying over your head, taking off while some land. Minutes in analyzing the environment and I can see everyone’s gloomy faces being similar to mines; showing calculated thoughts with touches of concern. Ty was right, it’s been a long night almost reaching the day.

 

Usually it’s entering forbidden territory that reminds me of how the game me and Connor used to play in the big park when we were kids, running, spraying each other with water guns, and setting forts.....But this time, it’s the real thing. Speaking of which, I don’t think I’ll be seeing him again, all those years I’ve tried to track him down….

 

I realize I became distracted by the thoughts of memory, as I snap back to the sound of hustles and whispers.

If it wasn’t for my brief-out-of-reality sequence popping out of nowhere, I wouldn’t have another visual distraction —-a man, short and clad in a tight fitting black suit appeared, looking like he took too much sour cream. I sighed, realized it was the CEO ally of our agency.

 

Jesse: “What is it now, Gardner? I don’t have the time for this.”

Mason: “I have emergency details. Before you start throwing stuff at me, listen. This mission, it’s a diversion. More than just a lure.

Jesse: “Lure? How?”

Mason: “Retrieve the files and samples for me.

Jesse: “What? Why? And which which floor?”

Mason: “I’l send you the details. Stay tuned for it. Go and dig deeper.

Jesse: “Might just ask the hacker to shadow-teleport us in.”

 

Well, that sentence ended on a high note because there’s an obvious explosions set off by one of ours….

 

***

 

2:14 A.M.:

 

I look to the sides for double checking, knowing that the place is surrounded. Signs of a firefight about to happen when my agency sends more people to do the tasks. Without a doubt, I look up my interface, as I read the info. Without hesitation contact my team immediately. I tell them about Gardner getting dust on the rival companies he’s got. It

Tyrone: “That was quick. Maybe we should head deeper in if we’ve gotta retrieve stuff.”

Sam: “Yeah, sure. Just remember the headlights. I’m not too much of a morning person, even for a lab.

Erin: “Maybe, maybe. How about I show they way through the shadows? You won’t really be needing night vision while I’m here.

Harry: “Good thing none of this sh*t detects me. Jesse, if you have the codes, do it quick. We don’t have all day. North’s gonna whoop our a*ses when he find out more about Project Ceres.”

Jesse: “Doc knows best. He has his backup plans.”

Harry: “Still, gotta keep a watchful eye. I can’t guarantee if I’ll run out of juice hiding ya.”

Tyrone: “Alright, I guess….two more levels….aight, there we go.”

 

We’ve come to a reaching point, probably the deepest. I feel like the explosion is still out there, but it won’t keep us for long before we get out. Amidst of the darkness, I walk towards one of the rooms, as I access the door, I hear footsteps. The echoes of someone. I give the signal to my team. But then it’s gone. Despite keeping our cautiousness, we enter the rooms within it. Tons of data storages are held within. I hack the interface while my team does the rest of the procedure. I lose track of time as I do it, with Tyrone reminding me that we should analyze the files later. Lucky enough, I was able to more vials of samples thanks to Erin’s abilities.

 

Then Sam senses something. It is likely an intruder. He tells Erin to take him and Tyrone away first. Harry uses his abilities to round us up together. As we look up, it is a white clad ninja with cybernetic parts. Seemingly of unknown origin, possibly even sent by North.

 

It is silent, but with a deadly presence, with the mask looking ripped straight out of a psychological movie. I ask Harry to make a move, which he does, but the ninja seems to have seen through us. He throws stars at us, which I am able to dodge in this state. Tyrone decides he had enough and fights him in close combat proximity, attacking the various pressure points that could disable him. Sam shoots his gun with ease, managing to knock him down. With my quick glimpse, I see something odd—it is blood flowing. I grab a a tube I brought for my own, unknown to him, as I collect the sample.

 

The ninja wakes up quickly, chasing after me. The team is nowhere to be found as I escape a dead end, as he corners me up. My improvisational skills kick in, remembering that the light is around, as I absorb the electricity—and hurl bolts at him. The ninja falls for good, as of now.

 

My brain tells me to run straight to where the others are, as Tyrone grabs my arm and we leave….and my mind goes blank.

 

The last thing on my mind….is truly fear.

Done