Squad Alpha stepped into Theon's training room, their boots clicking against the polished floor. At the center of the chamber, a writhing vortex of chaotic energy pulsed ominously, contained behind a shimmering barrier. Around it, the investigation team scurried like worker ants, their machines whirring as they fed data to flickering holograms.
"Jack!" Hughes barked, his voice cutting through the sounds of whirring equipment.
Jack, a wiry technician with sharp eyes, glanced up from the device in his hands. "Gate looks stable, Hughes. We're reading a one-star, one-stripe level, but the density of death Lu is unusually high."
Hughes chuckled, smirking as a hidden sigh of relief smoothed the tension from his face—almost like he'd regained a few years of his life. A one-star one-stripe mission, even with Lu involved, was nothing compared to what Theon had pulled off over his years at Veritas. "Then we've got nothing to worry about."
With a final confirmation from the investigation team, Squad Alpha moved into position, their gear humming to life. Behind them, Ren's voice grew increasingly frantic, each word sharp enough to cut steel.
"REMEMBER. DO. NOT. FINISH. THE. GATE. LEAVE AT LEAST ONE ENEMY BEHIND SO THE GATE DOESN'T CLOSE. YOU GOT THAT YO---"
Squad Alpha appeared on the other side of the portal before Ren could cuss them out. Hughes shook his head, grinning.
"At this rate, he's going to ruin that calm, cool image he's built among the rookies."
But before Hughes could continue, the reality of their surroundings hit them like a brick.
A rotting world stretched before them, suffocating under a sickly green sky. Buildings, long abandoned and crumbling, jutted out from the ground like broken teeth, while gnarled trees twisted unnaturally, their bark blackened and lifeless. The air was thick, reeking of death and decay, and the ground beneath them crunched with every step, as if threatening to collapse.
Hughes scanned the surroundings, his eyes narrowing as he assessed the situation. "Stay alert, everyone." he said, his voice low and commanding, a complete flip from his usual casual demeanor. "This place is crawling with death Lu."
The squad spread out, moving cautiously through the desolate landscape. Luna took the lead, her eyes and ears constantly scanning for any signs of danger. Jax stayed close to Hughes and Rufe brought up the rear.
Then—movement.
From the ruins, things emerged. Shambling, broken, their bodies stitched together by the gate's malice. Their hollow eyes burned with violet embers, locking onto the living with hungry intensity.
"Zombies" Luna whispered, her voice barely audible. "Keep your guard up. They may be slow, but they're relentless."
Hughes gripped his warhammer, its heavy weight familiar in his hands. "Take them down fast. We need to find Theon before this place gets any worse."
Squad Alpha launched into action. They moved like a well-oiled machine, cutting down the zombies with ruthless efficiency. The air filled with the sounds of metal meeting decayed flesh, the clatter of bones, and the groans of the undead.. The sound of their weapons slicing through decayed flesh echoed through the desolate landscape, attracting more zombies.
Hughes became a force of nature, his warhammer creating brutal arcs through the horde. Every impact sent bodies flying, shattered ribs audible over the din. Yet for all his power, he danced between swings, his bulk defying physics as he pivoted to crush another skull.
Luna darted through the horde like a shadow, her twin daggers flashing as she severed tendons and arteries with pinpoint accuracy. Her lithe form weaved in and out of the zombies, striking them down with deadly grace before they could react.
Jax, with his long spear, fought with a cool, detached efficiency. Each thrust and sweep was deliberate, keeping the zombies at bay while scanning for weak points in their ranks.
Rufe, meanwhile, was a whirlwind of destruction, his deep laughter echoing across the battlefield like a mad god. His massive battle axe cleaved through the undead with ease, each swing backed by immense power, leaving shattered bones and dismembered corpses in his wake.
As they fought their way through the horde, Hughes's mind kept drifting to Theon. He knew the young man was capable, but the thought of him facing these horrors alone was unsettling. They needed to find him, and fast.
After what felt like an eternity, the Squad Alpha reached the limit of this zone. Each zone within a rift was always confined in a set space, usually in the shape of a dome. Though the size of zones varied, the limits were always constant. You couldn't tell that you had reached the limit until the space seemed to solidify, forming a wall that didn't let you continue further.
"Two kilometers, give or take." Jax said, wiping sweat from his brow. "Small enough. Finding Theon shouldn't be too hard."
Hughes nodded, taking a deep breath.Luna, Rufe—east quadrant. Jax with me south. Map as you go." He bared teeth in something too sharp to be a smile. "Kid's tough, but let's not keep him waiting."
With a brief nod The team split without hesitation, years of trust carved into every movement.
Luna and Rufe took the eastern path, their senses keen and their weapons at the ready. The eerie green light cast long shadows across the decayed landscape, adding to the sense of dread that hung heavy in the air.
"Stay sharp." Luna whispered, her eyes darting around, scanning for any signs of movement.
Rufe nodded, his grip tightening on his axe. "Yeah, yeah. Let's find the kid and bail, these death-Lu holes give me the goddamn creeps."
As they moved through the desolate ruins, they encountered more zombies, though in smaller groups. Luna's daggers flashed, slicing through the undead with precision, while Rufe's powerful swings shattered bones and decayed flesh alike. They communicated with hand signals, their teamwork seamless as they cleared the path ahead, making sure to leave a zombie or two behind.
Meanwhile, Hughes and Jax took the southern route, moving cautiously through the treacherous terrain. The air was thick with the stench of death, and every step felt like a potential trap. Hughes's hammer was ready, his eyes scanning the shadows for any signs of danger.
"See anything?" Hughes growled, hammer humming with restrained energy.
"Nothing yet." Jax replied, his eyes constantly scanning. "But we'll find him. He's too tough to go down easily."
Minutes stretched into what felt like hours as they scoured the area. Despite their thorough search, there was no sign of Theon. No blood. No scraps of gear. Just silence. Frustration began to set in as the zombies began to die in more and more brutal ways.
After completing a full circuit of the zone, the squad met in the middle. The atmosphere was tense, a mix of worry and determination.
"We didn't find anything." Luna reported, her expression serious. "No signs of him. No struggle. Nothing."
"Same here." Jax added, shaking his head. "It's like he vanished. If he died there should have been at least something. But no. Nada. It's like he was never here to begin with."
Hughes frowned. "Alright, let's take a moment to regroup and plan our next move. We're not lea—"
Before he could finish, a sudden shift in the air made them all freeze and put up their guard. A bright, shimmering light appeared before them, casting an ethereal glow over the ruined landscape. The light intensified, becoming almost blinding, and then, as quickly as it had come, it dissipated, leaving behind a familiar figure.
Standing in the spot where the light had been was Theon, looking calm and unscathed. His expression was serene, as if he had simply stepped out for a walk.
"Hello everybody." Theon greeted them, his voice as steady as ever.
"Did I miss anything?"