'I wonder what's going to happen now?'
Rey leaned against the wall, arms crossed, as Tess stood at the center of the room, her commanding presence drawing every eye.
The dim light of the Resistance base cast long shadows, but her expression was clear: this wasn't a discussion.
"We've been ordered to return to Headquarters," she announced, her voice firm but carrying a note of resignation. "The higher-ups are concerned about the destruction of the base we were sent to investigate. They want us out of this region immediately."
Josh, seated at the edge of the table, frowned and leaned forward.
"Why? We had nothing to do with that. We followed orders, inspected the place, and reported back. Why should we run like we're guilty of something?"
Tess let out a soft sigh, rubbing her temples.
"I know, Josh. I've made the same argument. But the higher-ups believe it's too dangerous to stay here. They think the Dragon Emperor's forces might launch a sweep of the entire area, looking for whoever was responsible. If we're caught in their crossfire, there's no telling what could happen. Retreating to HQ is the safest move."
Rey, leaning in the shadowed corner, stayed silent at first, his mind replaying the events of the past night. He knew why the base had been destroyed and who was responsible. But admitting that now would only complicate things.
He straightened up and fixed his gaze on Tess.
"When do we leave?"
"Immediately," Tess said. "We have an hour to pack everything and meet at the entrance. Everyone needs to be ready by then."
The room fell into a brief silence, each member digesting the news. Finally, Andrew stood, breaking the tension. "Understood. We'll be ready," he said, his calm demeanor diffusing some of the unease.
"Good," Tess replied, her tone softening slightly. "This isn't ideal, but it's what's been decided. Dismissed. Get your things and prepare to move."
The group disbanded, some heading for their quarters, others for the storage rooms.
Rey walked with measured steps toward his room, thoughts swirling.
He had been meticulous the night before, ensuring no direct traces of his involvement would be found. But the aftermath still weighed heavily on him. The sight of the five humans transforming into grotesque Monsters and Dr. Shwartz's twisted fate lingered in his mind.
Inside his room, Rey began gathering his belongings.
His travel bag was sparse, containing only essential gear and a few personal items.
He moved with efficiency, but his mind was elsewhere.
'Why now?' he thought. 'Why did they order us to pull out so soon? Are they really this afraid of the Dragon Emperor, or is there something else they're not telling us?'
He slung the bag over his shoulder and checked his weapons, making sure they were secured but accessible. After a moment's hesitation, he reached for the enchanted dagger he'd taken from one of the enemies he had fought.
Its faint hum of power was a reminder of the chaos he had caused.
Rey glanced at the clock.
He still had time, but lingering in his room wouldn't do him any good. With a final sweep of the space, he left, heading toward the base's entrance.
Most of the team was already there when he arrived. Dexter and Andrew were double-checking their equipment, while Josh leaned against a pillar, arms folded, looking less than pleased. Mia was securing a satchel of documents, her movements precise and methodical.
Tess stood near the exit, her posture tense as she reviewed a small data pad.
"All set?" Tess asked as Rey approached.
He nodded. "Ready."
Within the next few minutes, the entire team had gathered, their bags packed and weapons at the ready. Tess looked over the group, her gaze lingering on each member as if silently counting them.
"Good," she said. "Once we're out of the base, we'll take the standard route to the extraction point. HQ will have transport waiting for us there. Stay sharp and stick together. Let's move."
The team fell into formation, with Tess leading and Andrew taking the rear. The base's hidden entrance opened with a low rumble, revealing the dense forest that surrounded their location.
They stepped out into the cool night air, their movements silent and coordinated.
Rey kept to the middle of the group, his senses on high alert. His thoughts, however, were conflicted. Returning to HQ felt like a step backward, a retreat from the questions he wanted answered.
The Dragon Emperor's forces, the experiments, the cult—it all felt too important to leave unresolved.
But for now, he had no choice but to follow Tess's lead. As the team disappeared into the forest, Rey cast one last glance over his shoulder at the base that had been their home for quite some time already.
'I would have had to leave eventually, and this presents me with quite the opportunity… even if it is abrupt.'
He had always been curious about the Resistance's HQ, and now he would see it for himself.
'I guess I might see my older brother again… what a pain.'
"Listen up," Tess began, her voice firm but low. "We're heading to HQ via a secure route. At the first checkpoint, we'll pick up a hidden vehicle. From there, we'll drive to another checkpoint where we'll switch to a hovercraft. That'll take us the rest of the way. I expect everyone to stay alert and follow orders. No deviations."
Josh shifted his bag onto his shoulder. "Why all the cloak-and-dagger stuff? HQ afraid the Dragon Emperor's people will tail us?"
"It's a precaution," Tess replied, her eyes narrowing slightly. "We're not taking any chances. The destruction of that base has stirred things up, and we can't afford to be sloppy."
Rey kept silent, though his mind lingered on everything being said.
The group departed swiftly, their steps silent as they created even more distance from their base.
After trekking through a narrow forest trail for about thirty minutes, they reached the first checkpoint. Hidden behind a thick grove of trees was a concealed hatch.
Tess crouched, entering a series of codes into the keypad beside it.
With a quiet hiss, the hatch slid open, revealing a sleek, black vehicle with reinforced plating.
"Our ride," Tess said, gesturing for everyone to get in.
Josh whistled softly. "Didn't know we had toys like this stashed around."
"HQ plans for contingencies," Tess replied curtly. "Now get in."
The team quickly loaded their bags into the vehicle and climbed aboard. Tess took the driver's seat, while Andrew sat beside her to monitor the navigation system. The rest of the team settled in the back, with Rey sitting near a window, his eyes scanning their surroundings.
The vehicle's engine purred quietly as Tess started it.
They rolled out, following a barely discernible path that cut through the dense forest. The drive was tense but uneventful. The team spoke little, each person lost in their thoughts. Rey occasionally glanced out the window, noting how the trees grew thinner as they approached the next checkpoint.
After about two hours, they arrived at a nondescript clearing.
Waiting for them was a sleek hovercraft, its metallic surface gleaming faintly under the sunlight. Tess parked the vehicle and stepped out, gesturing for the others to follow.
"Switching rides," she said. "Load up quickly."
The team moved efficiently, transferring their gear to the hovercraft. Tess approached the control panel of the hovercraft, activating it with a special key card. The craft hummed to life, its turbines glowing faintly.
"This thing is a beauty," Dexter remarked, running a hand along the edge of the craft. "Wonder how fast it goes."
"Fast enough," Tess replied. "Now get in."
The thing was large enough to contain all eleven of them, no problem, so they had no issue fitting inside. Once everyone was aboard, Tess took the pilot's seat, and the hovercraft lifted off smoothly.
The transition from the ground vehicle to the air felt seamless.
As they ascended, the sprawling landscape unfolded below them. Forests stretched endlessly, occasionally broken by rivers and patches of open land. Despite the beauty, the team remained focused, aware of the dangers that could lurk anywhere.
Andrew monitored the GPS, occasionally giving Tess directions. "We're on track. Another three hours and we'll be there."
"Good," Tess said. "Let me know if anything changes."
The journey continued in silence.
Rey leaned back, watching the horizon. His thoughts wandered to the events at the destroyed base and the people who had been experimenting on Monsters. He wondered how many other hidden operations like that existed and how far the Dragon Emperor's influence truly spread.
Eventually, the hovercraft's GPS directed them toward a mountain range that loomed in the distance. The peaks were shrouded in mist, and the terrain became increasingly rugged. Tess guided the hovercraft lower, navigating through narrow valleys and over jagged cliffs.
"There it is," Tess said, pointing ahead.
Nestled against the side of one of the largest mountains was a concealed entrance, almost invisible against the rocky surface. Tess expertly maneuvered the hovercraft toward it, landing smoothly on a hidden platform.
As the team disembarked, Tess turned to them.
"Welcome to HQ."
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[A/N]
Happy New Year, everyone!!!
I hope you enjoy your day as much as you enjoy these chapters!
Haha!