The command center's holographic display showed a cluster of red dots, moving.
Organic lifeforms. Too many for a simple animal.
Amazoness stood beside Professor Monster, her crimson eyes fixed on the display. The dots grew closer, steadily.
"Professor Monster," she said, her voice a low, metallic purr. "A group of organic lifeforms approaches our position. Their proximity increases with each passing moment."
Professor Monster turned from the main screen, his glowing yellow eyes locking onto the tactical display. His face, pale and augmented, showed no emotion. He wore a black hooded coat. Holding a large ornate staff.
"Humans," Professor Monster stated, his voice a deep, distorted rumble. "They have discovered our hidden base."
He steepled his clawed fingers, the sound a faint click.
"Such a discovery cannot be permitted."
His voice was cold, flat. There was no room for debate, no space for mercy in his words.
Insects trying to peek behind the curtain.
Professor Monster's command hung in the air, absolute. Amazoness felt a familiar spark of anticipation.
"Eliminate the approaching group," Professor Monster ordered. "No witnesses."
Amazoness gave a sharp nod. Her silver hair swayed with the movement. A predatory glint shone in her red eyes. This was what she lived for, the swift execution of his will. Prey to be culled.
She turned, moving with a fluid grace towards the exit. Her skintight black and red bodysuit shifted with her movements. Behind her, a contingent of Ninders fell into step. They were smaller, humanoid figures in matte black armor. Their faces were smooth helmets with narrow, glowing red visors. They carried basic energy weapons.
Ninders were the basic infantry of the Iron Cross Army. They were robotic or cyborg constructs, identical in appearance. They served as expendable shock troops, designed to overwhelm enemies through sheer numbers and unflinching obedience to their commanders.
Amazoness led them through the dense mountain terrain. Her movements were silent, efficient. The Ninders followed without a sound, their metallic forms blending into the shadows of the forest.
They won't even know what hit them.
She located the group of scientists quickly. They were still moving, unsuspecting, their small scanner beeping softly. They wore simple outdoor gear, looking out of place in this wild, untamed part of the mountain. One man, older, with glasses, pointed at something in the distance. Hiroshi.
Amazoness watched them for a moment. Too easy. She ensured they were well within her trap, with no viable escape routes. The terrain was too rough, the forest too thick. They were cornered.
She raised a clawed hand, her red eyes narrowing.
"Eliminate."
The Ninders responded instantly. They raised their weapons, charging forward. Their matte black forms burst from the foliage, appearing from nowhere.
Pew! Pew!
Energy spat from their rifles.
Hiroshi and his team were caught completely by surprise. Their shouts of confusion and panic cut through the forest. Hiroshi's mind struggled to comprehend the attackers. Aliens? No, it can't be.
He had imagined many things, but not this.
Panic gripped the scientists. They scattered, their screams growing louder. Hiroshi tried to guide his team, shouting for them to run. The Ninders were too fast, too numerous.
A black-armored figure lunged at Hiroshi. It moved with chilling speed. A vibro-blade slashed across his side.
Slice!
A sickening cut.
He fell to the ground, clutching the wound. Warm wetness spread through his clothes. The air left his lungs in a ragged gasp.
Hiroshi lay on the cold earth, bleeding. The sounds of the struggle grew fainter around him. He heard desperate cries, quickly silenced. He felt a terrible regret. His wife, Aiko. His son, Takuya. They flashed through his mind.
I should have stayed home.
He had been so sure of his scientific responsibility, but now, facing death, he regretted not spending that last day with his son.
Takuya…
His vision blurred. The forest darkened around him.
Thump.
With all the scientists incapacitated, their bodies lying still among the trees, Amazoness surveyed the scene. A cold satisfaction settled over her. The Ninders stood motionless, their mission accomplished.
"Retreat," Amazoness commanded.
The Ninders turned as one. They disappeared back into the forest as silently as they came. Only the bodies of the fallen remained. The lingering scent of ozone and blood filled the air. The Iron Cross Army's secret remained safe.
* * *
The stale air of the garage usually brought Takuya a sense of calm. The scent of oil and metal, the familiar weight of a wrench in his hand, these were his anchors. Not today. A strange, tight knot formed in his gut. He tried to focus on the damaged engine of his motocross bike. The bent frame of the front wheel mocked him.
Stupid Kenji. Stupid race.
The engine coughed, refusing to catch. He slammed the wrench down.
Then, a voice. It echoed in his mind, clearer this time. Not a whisper, but a cry. Urgent. Distressed.
Your father… danger…
Takuya dropped the wrench. It clanged on the concrete floor. A cold fear seized his heart, sharp and sudden. His father? What could happen to him? He looked up, his gaze drawn to the grime-covered window.
The afternoon clouds outside looked normal. Then, a faint, shimmering pattern appeared. It was like a spider's web, stretching across the sky. He blinked. It was still there. Only he could see it. The web pointed directly towards the distant mountains.
What the hell is that?
A cold dread settled deep in Takuya's gut. The vague unease from earlier snapped into terrifying clarity. He felt it with a certainty he couldn't explain: something terrible had happened to his father. The web in the sky seemed to pull at him, a silent, urgent guide.
He abandoned his broken bike. The mangled metal meant nothing now. His body moved on instinct. A desperate urgency drove him. He snatched his helmet from the workbench. The worn strap felt heavy in his hand.
He leaped onto his spare motocross bike, a slightly older model, but reliable.
The engine roared to life with a single kick.
He shot out of the garage. The gravel crunched under his tires. He pushed the bike to its limit. The wind whipped past his face. Traffic blurred around him. Horns blared. He didn't care. His mind was a frantic mess of fear and premonition. He followed the impossible, shimmering web in the sky.
Gotta get there. Gotta go.
The mountain roads were rough, winding. He pushed the bike harder, leaning into turns, his tires kicking up dust. The web in the sky pulsed faintly, always ahead, always pointing. His father. The word echoed in his head, mixing with the roar of the engine.
Faster, Takuya. Faster.
He left his bike at the base of the mountain, kicking the stand down. The engine ticked as it cooled. He scrambled up the rugged slopes. Branches tore at his jacket. Stones shifted under his feet. His spider-sense, a constant, frantic buzzing in his head, screamed at him.
Danger. Loss. Hurry.
He crashed through the foliage, ignoring the scrapes and cuts.
"Dad!"
His voice cracked. He pushed past exhaustion. Every nerve in his body screamed. Then he saw him. Hiroshi. He lay still among the trees. His father's clothes were stained dark. A ghastly pallor covered his face.
Takuya dropped to his knees. His hands trembled as he reached for his father. Hiroshi's skin felt cold. So cold.
"Dad! Hey, Dad, wake up!" he pleaded, his voice cracking with rising panic. "Hang on! Just hang on!"
He fumbled for his phone, his fingers slick with sweat. He needed to dial the emergency hotline. He needed to call an ambulance. Please, just hold on.
With a supreme effort, Hiroshi opened his eyes. A faint light returned to them, weak but present. He squeezed Takuya's hand. His grip was frail, but the pressure was firm. He used the last of his remaining strength to convey a critical message.
"Takuya…" Hiroshi's voice was barely a whisper. "They… they attacked us."
Takuya stared at his father. His heart hammered against his ribs.
"Who? Who attacked you?"
"Not… not men." Hiroshi coughed, a wet, rattling sound. "Aliens, Takuya. Aliens."
A cold shock ran through Takuya. He stared at his father, his mind struggling to process the word.
"Aliens?" he whispered, the word feeling unreal, impossible. "You… you mean, real aliens?"
His father's dying conviction left no room for doubt. Hiroshi's eyes, though dimming, held a terrible truth.
Hiroshi tried to say more, to explain, but his consciousness was rapidly fading. His grip weakened. His eyes lost focus, staring blankly past Takuya.
"Dad! No, please, don't die!" Takuya begged, tears streaming down his face. "Dad, hold on! Please!"
He shook Hiroshi gently, desperately wanting him to hold on, to say something, anything else. But it was too late. Hiroshi's body went slack. His last breath left him in a silent exhale.
Takuya clutched his father's lifeless form. His pleas turned into broken sobs. The reality of his loss crushed him. The shimmering web in the sky seemed to pulse with a dark, mournful energy, mirroring his despair.
***
Advance Chapters on patreon.com/Najicablitz.
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