Chapter 1 – The Call
With every punch, Ethan wasn't releasing his anger—
he was testing his control.
The sound of iron echoed through the gym.
The punching bag swung back and forth, as if even it couldn't keep up with him.
Sweat dripped from his forehead and hit the floor.
Ethan didn't stop.
For him, a fight wasn't a reaction.
A fight was a decision.
The phone on the bench vibrated.
Unknown Number
Ethan stopped.
For a second, he stared at the screen.
Then he answered.
"Hello?"
The voice on the other end was low, but urgent.
"Ethan… it's me. Zion."
The noise of the gym slowly faded away.
"You don't call during the day," Ethan said.
"What happened?"
"Time is short," Zion replied.
"I heard shipment logs. And I got a middleman's name."
Ethan removed his glove.
"There's a big deal going down at the harbor tonight."
"What kind of deal?" Ethan asked.
"Arms. Money. People," Zion said.
"And the ones behind it… they're connected to the Blue Group."
A brief pause.
"Last time I warned you," Zion said,
"the city survived."
Ethan remembered.
An old raid.
A silent evacuation.
Zion was never wrong.
"Ethan," Zion said,
"if no one goes tonight…
the balance of the city will change by tomorrow."
The call disconnected.
The sounds of the gym returned,
but Ethan's mind wasn't there anymore.
He knew—
this wasn't a normal call.
C-Force Base – Evening
The echo of the gym slowly dissolves into the silence of the base.
Screens glow.
Maps. Live feeds. Coordinates.
Captain James stands near the central table.
Alan works at a console.
John trains with dumbbells.
Jack stands near the wall—calm, alert.
Ethan enters.
"I got a call from Zion."
Captain James' eyes narrow.
"What did he say?"
"A big deal at the harbor tonight," Ethan says.
"He mentioned shipment logs and a middleman. Blue Group is involved."
Alan stops.
"If Zion is calling during the day…
that means it's serious."
Captain James zooms in on the harbor on the map.
"Alright," he says.
"Ethan and John will go tonight."
Alan stands up immediately.
"Sir, we didn't come here to serve coffee."
Jack adds,
"Why the same two people every time?"
Ethan says in a harder tone,
"Alan, this isn't a game."
Alan looks him straight in the eyes.
"Exactly why I'm saying this."
John sets the dumbbells aside.
"Captain," he says,
"Alan's tech overwatch is strong.
Jack is best at silent movement.
Both have proven it in training."
Captain James thinks for a second.
"Zion was clear," he says.
"The deal is happening tonight."
The room goes quiet.
"And it's also true," James continues,
"the government will never authorize this mission."
He looks at all of them.
"If we don't go…
no one will."
A beat.
"The mission is classified," James says.
"Go. Prepare."
Preparation
Weapons racks open.
Vests lock into place.
Radios are tuned.
John pauses.
He pulls out a small photo from his pocket.
Alan notices.
"Who is that?"
"My younger brother," John says.
"Does he know what you do?"
John gives a faint smile.
"In his eyes, I'm a hero.
Someone who helps people."
A brief pause.
"That's why I joined."
Then John asks,
"Why did you come here, Alan?"
Alan hesitates.
"On recommendation."
"From who?"
Alan looks away.
"Can't say yet.
At the right time."
John understands.
He doesn't push further.
Plan
"Alright team, attention," Ethan says.
Everyone focuses.
"We'll move in two teams," Ethan says.
"Jack and I from the left.
Alan and John from the right."
"John and I will lead," he continues.
"You two provide cover."
A brief pause.
"This is not an official mission," Ethan says.
"We'll get only one chance."
He looks at all of them.
"You're all my responsibility."
Jack mutters from the side,
"He should run for office."
"Shhh," John says.
"Focus."
"Let's go," Ethan says.
Car – Night
City lights fade behind them.
Rain begins to fall.
Alan notices—
Ethan's hands are shaking slightly.
"You okay?" Alan asks.
Ethan keeps his eyes on the road.
"I've been after this group for a long time," he says.
A beat.
"Zion is one of our best informers."
Alan understands.
This isn't just a mission.
Harbor – Night
The rain intensifies.
Cranes stand like shadows.
Ship engines hum at low power.
The gate opens.
Too much silence.
Ethan feels something is off.
Like someone is watching.
A faint metallic sound somewhere nearby.
A torchlight moves forward.
Zion lies on the ground.
Blood.
Night.
Stillness.
Ethan rushes to him.
"Zion…"
Zion's eyes open slightly.
"The deal was fake…" Zion says.
"Who?" Ethan asks.
Zion struggles.
"…he… is compromised…"
A brief pause.
"…one of… us…"
His eyes close.
The silence grows heavy.
Then—
A blue laser dot appears near John's shoulder.
"Sniper!" Jack shouts.
Trap
A bullet tears through metal.
Sparks fly.
"Lights off! Take cover!" Ethan orders.
Smoke spreads.
In the darkness, blue visors glow.
"Multiple contacts!" Alan shouts.
The fight erupts.
Then the speakers crackle.
"Zion made a mistake," a distorted voice says.
"Coming here… and so did you."
Police sirens sound in the distance.
"Police incoming!" Alan says.
At the same time, a large cargo ship slowly begins to move.
"The ship's name is BLACK TIDE," Alan says.
A Blue Group operative sprints up the ramp.
"He's boarding the ship!"
Ethan makes a decision.
"If we stay, we get arrested," he says.
"If we board the ship, we have a chance."
Police voices echo.
"Drop your weapons!"
"Ship. Now," Ethan says.
Point of No Return
The team runs.
Gunfire behind them.
The ramp begins to rise.
John jumps.
"Feels like gym day again!"
Ethan, Alan, and Jack follow.
The ramp slams shut.
Inside the Ship
Red emergency lights.
The deep rumble of the engine.
A shadow stands ahead.
Broad shoulders.
A calm voice.
"You're late."
The ship gains speed.
Ethan raises his weapon.
The game had begun.
— Chapter 1 Ends —