"How long do we have to stay here for? I'm getting really tired of this place," Bai grumbled, his foot kicking the food brought to them by the guards. His eyes surveyed the guards, as though devising a strategy. After giving up, he glanced upwards to see a section of the wall cracked. With a curse, he turned away, frustrated that they hadn't at least provided a larger and more aesthetically pleasing cell.
They had been in their new home for nearly a week following the events at the zone, having been captured and confined in this unpleasant and foul-smelling prison cell situated in an unknown location. They were fed twice a day; throughout their entire stay, they had not been permitted to take a bath, likely due to concerns that they might attempt something if given the opportunity to leave. Although that fear seemed unfounded, considering they had been restrained with the ability-inhibiting cuffs, they were effectively powerless against the highly trained and formidable guards assigned to watch over them.
"Don't waste your energy, Bai. Just relax; we'll think of something," Hei remarked from the corner of the cell. He had been strangely quiet ever since they arrived, only speaking out in certain situations. But come to think of it, they had all been in the same predicament. Henry also didn't speak, yet he seemed to be plotting something. As for Racheal...well, Racheal was the one who had been hit hardest by Micheal's death, and she was still suffering from the pain, so she too had remained silent.
"Hey, could you at least provide us with something better than this nonsense you've been giving us?" Bai, filled with frustration, pounded his fists against the steel bars of his cell, shouting at the masked guards observing them. He had long harbored hatred against them, especially the emblem etched on their masks depicted a snake consuming its own tail, the same insignia associated with their taskforce. It infuriated him to witness it.
"Step away from the bars and be quiet," The first guard commanded, gripping his gun and aiming it at Bai. Bai slowly backed off, defiantly spitting onto the ground.
"Let him be; he has a point. If this is their final night, they deserve something better to eat." A calming voice resonated as the door swung open, allowing four cloaked figures to enter, accompanied by a masked figure in a suit trailing behind them.
"You witch, you will burn in hell for this!" Bai exclaimed, recognizing the familiar red hair as he lunged forward, slamming his hands against the metal bars in a fit of rage. The others rose to their feet upon noticing the group arrive.
"Witch? How did you know? Hahaha," Milena inquired, her expression one of fake surprise, before she erupted into laughter, further aggravating Bai.
"You mentioned our 'last night', what's that all about?" Henry frowned and stepped closer, directing the question at Milena, who responded with a smirk.
"That's why I like this one; he's cute and smart. As for these others," Milena stepped closer to the prison bars, just far enough away for Bai to not be able to reach her. She smiled at Henry, then turned to the twins with disdain.
"Why you little.." Bai began to curse again but stepped back as the pony-tailed man advanced, memories of his brother's fate flooding back.
"You insolent filthy halfblood, know your place when your elders are talking," Karlos replied, his gaze laced with condescension, his eyes shimmering with a strange and familiar blue light.
"We're leaving for the capital now, we intend to take over the world's military. We're only here to say our goodbyes since you're still part Valerian. You'll be killed soon, so savor your last moments before you are sent off to your friend, the lightning brat. Hahaha! I would have loved to keep you here to witness what I will create in your world, but I can't have any irregularities like you running around. Each second you breathe is a chance for you to pose a risk to our plan, and I will not watch as what we've awaited for 500 years is taken from us. I will not allow it, so enjoy the last five minutes of your life." Milena smiled as she spoke to the team, whose eyes widened in shock. What were these individuals intending to do to the world, what degree of madness was this?
"You won't get away with this," Henry growled, stepping forward and gripping the bars with his powerful thick hands.
"Haha, cute, I'll take your word for it," Milena smiled, winking at Henry, who shot her a fierce glare.
"Let's leave; world domination awaits," The ponytailed man declared with a confident smile, prompting his group to nod in agreement as they turned to depart.
"Eliminate them in five minutes, goodbye," Milena instructed the guards, then blew a kiss to the team before walking away with her entourage. As they departed, the final masked figure hesitated briefly, casting a fleeting look at the group before exiting, leaving the team trapped within their cell while the guards swiftly pivoted and aimed their weapons.
"Henry, are you done thinking yet?" Hei asked, anxiety etched on his face. When they arrived, Henry had reassured them to stay calm and promised he would find a way out. However, given their dire circumstances—lack of proper food, confinement to their cells, and the absence of eating utensils—it felt as though Milena had taken every precaution to ensure their escape was impossible.
"I'm still working on it, so hurry up and get behind me," Henry replied, feeling out of options. After contemplating for six days, he had yet to discover a solution to their dilemma. As the situation grew increasingly dire, he was forced to think outside the box.
"I will enjoy this," The first guard said, aiming at Henry, who stood resolutely in front of the others. If push came to shove, he was prepared to take them all down with him, buying precious time for the others to escape.
"Hmmp, if we're going down, I'm not going down without a fight," Racheal declared, her expression resolute. She stepped out from behind Henry, who turned to her in surprise, pondering where she had found this newfound confidence.
"If you're going to fight, then we can't just sit back and watch," Bai added, stepping forward with a determined glint in his eyes.
"Indeed, brother, we will fight together and die together," Hei said with a smile, moving to stand beside his brother.
"Hahaha, a group of fools, let's see who meets their end first." The second guard laughed heartily at the team's unexpected bravado, his gaze sweeping over them as he contemplated who to eliminate first.
"I'll take you first," The second guard smirked, aiming at Bai, who flinched. However, he glanced down to see his brother grasp his palm with a nod, signaling his support. The others followed suit, turning back to the guards, who smiled menacingly. They curled their fingers around the triggers, ready to commence the execution when a scream suddenly erupted from behind the door, freezing their actions. They exchanged glances before glancing at the door, where more screams erupted,
followed by a series of gunshots.
"What is happening out there?" Racheal inquired, eager to discover what could have possibly rescued them from their fate.
"RATATATATA" The sound of gunshots echoed relentlessly, indicating a fierce gunfight was underway. This barrage persisted for several minutes before abruptly ceasing, suggesting that the unfolding events had reached a conclusion.
The guards, now anxious and somewhat frightened, gulped as they resolved to investigate. They hadn't taken a single step when the door suddenly flew open, and a guard staggered in, one arm missing. Blood gushed out like a flood as he turned to face those in the room, his expression one of sheer terror. His face had drained of color, turning pale as he struggled to enter the room.
"We're...under attack, kill...prison--" Staggering into the room, the guard struggled to speak as his body fought to remain upright.
WHOOSH
SLASH
Unexpectedly, a shadow darted into the room, and a headless body collapsed to the floor. The head then rolled to the feet of the guards, who momentarily froze before gradually looking up at the figure that had just arrived.
The figure stood tall, approximately 6 feet in height, clad in a black leather trenchcoat that extended to his ankles. His gloved hands firmly held a sword, from which blood dripped onto the ground. A masked face observed the guards, who quaked in fear, uncertain of his identity yet acutely aware of the danger he posed.
"DIEE!" The first guard yelled in panic, but before his finger could pull the trigger, two heads rolled onto the ground, followed by two headless bodies.
'That was fast, who is it?' Henry observed the masked figure as he bent down to wipe the blood off his sword before sheathing it behind his back. Rising to his feet, the figure turned to the team, who instinctively flinched. They had just witnessed him slice off two or three heads without a hint of hesitation; this was no ordinary assassin.
As he removed the mask from his head, the expressions of the team shifted to disbelief, their eyes fixed on a recognizable face. Brushing his blonde hair aside, the striking young man greeted them, saying, "Hi, guys, sorry I'm late."
"Liam" Henry muttered in shock, questioning whether his eyes were playing tricks on him. This was the man who had attempted to kill them back at the zone; they had all believed him to be dead, yet here he was, standing before them, very much alive. They had much to reflect on, recalling the betrayal they endured and the close brush with death they nearly experienced at his hands. However, remembering Micheal's words about being mind-controlled by Dr. Grey, they chose to release their anger, prioritizing Micheal's last wishes.
As they grappled with the bewildering reality of his survival, two additional figures entered the room, capturing everyone's attention. A strikingly handsome young man stood out, characterized by his long, wavy hair, captivating green eyes, and a perfectly symmetrical face. He wore a long black trench coat and had a black hat perched atop his head. The second individual appeared to be a fellow prisoner, dressed in the standard orange and yellow jumpsuit. He was notably attractive and youthful, around the same age as Liam, and bore a peculiar mark on his forehead.
"Hi, I'm James" The first youth stepped forward and remarked, eliciting gasps of surprise from the team who recognized the name immediately.
"You're Michael's friend, right?" Henry asked, taking his time to observe James more closely.
"Yes, I am, and this is Gravix, also a friend of Micheal's. Liam, help them out; we have to leave immediately; we don't have much time." James approached them with a friendly smile, introducing the young man behind him, who waved at the team with a grin. They failed to notice the flash of anger that crossed Liam's face at the mention of the name, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared. Liam drew his sword and sliced through the metal bars effortlessly, like tofu.
"Wait, if you're alive then Michael..." Racheal rushed toward Liam, her words trailing off as her eyes sparkled with a hint of hope. The rest of the team mirrored her anticipation, eagerly awaiting Liam's reply.
"I'm sorry." Glancing at the ground with a pained look, Liam replied, struggling to contain his grief. Upon hearing his response, Racheal took a step back, the hope fading from her eyes.
"Gravix? Hmm, where have I heard that name before?" Henry frowned and remarked, convinced he had encountered the name somewhere previously.
"I find that hard to believe. Do you recognize him?" James inquired, a smile playing on his lips as Gravix's expression shifted. If they were aware of his identity, what consequences might follow?
"Hmm, I don't think so," Henry replied after deep thought, prompting an inward sigh from Gravix.
James nodded with approval, offering a smile to Gravix, who returned it with a hint of nervousness, reflecting on how narrowly he had escaped. James then turned to the team and spoke with determination, "Let's go, we need to leave and regain our strength, then get to work. We've already lost nearly a week; time is not on our side."
"Get to work?" Bai inquired as Liam assisted them in removing their cuffs, liberating their restrained abilities.
"Indeed, with Milena and her Valerian allies set to dominate the world's military, we must assemble our own forces—an army formidable enough to confront them and the impending terror that will soon envelop the earth," James responded, prompting the team to reflect deeply.
"An army, where will we find an army that strong?" Henry inquired, his curiosity evident as he expressed his uncertainty about the plan. Given that it would be almost unfeasible to locate individuals ready to oppose Milena and her faction.
"It may be a bit challenging, but I have a clear starting point. If we're seeking individuals with the confidence to confront Milena, why not begin with the man who possesses the heart of a lion?" A radiant smile illuminated James' face as the others attempted to discern who he was alluding to.
"He's referring to the most powerful human on earth, the only individual to have attained rank 9: my father, Major Lionheart," Liam stated, illuminating the mystery for the team whose eyes brightened in understanding; they had completely overlooked him, their minds had never acknowledged his presence all this time.
"So, where is he?" Hei inquired with curiosity. He questioned whether he had truly grasped the situation or if he was even aware of what had transpired with his son, Micheal.
"He's being held captive at a black site. We are going to break him out. Are you ready for a new adventure?" James asked, his tone filled with anticipation.
"I suppose this is it; the taskforce is reunited." Bai stretched his body and grinned widely, clearly eager for an adventure like this.
"You bet it is," Liam replied with a bright smile.
"Can I join in? I would love to be a part of this awesome team" Gravix remarked with a bright smile as he eagerly approached the team, who regarded him with a hint of suspicion.
"Don't worry, everyone. Gravix has extensive knowledge about the Valerians and has even encountered your Valerian predecessors. He will be an invaluable asset in our battle against Milena." James patted Gravix's shoulder with a smile, causing Gravix to stiffen, his thoughts swirling anxiously.
"Welcome to the team! It's always wonderful to have another ally on board." Henry acknowledged him as a member of the team before turning to the others to speak, "We can do this. It doesn't matter who we face; we'll gather our army, prepare our resources, and prevent the end of the world once more,"
"We did it once before, we can do it again. We will overcome anyone who attempts to harm our planet and seek justice for Micheal and all those who we lost," Racheal declared, stepping forward with a resolute expression.
"Then it's settled, Taskforce Spongbob is back, and the second part begins now. Let's end things once and for all." James released a deep breath and observed the proud and confident expressions of the team.
'Micheal would be proud of you all' he thought to himself as they all left to begin a new adventure. At this moment, they all contemplated what awaited them next.
*********************************************
In a heavily secured black site, a bare-chested man was visibly chained in the center of a room. His hands were encircled by three distinct sets of chains, fastened to the wall, forcing him into a standing position, while his feet were similarly restrained by chains anchored to the ground. His arms and chest were adorned with prominent muscles, each marked by countless scars. Disheveled blonde hair cascaded over his face, which was angled downward. Two tubes were connected to his back; the first delivered a continuous flow of energy to the man, who appeared weakened yet remained resolute, while the second provided an alternative source that sustained his vitality.
Outside the door that confined the man within the room, two scientists, supported by numerous soldiers, stood in stunned silence, gazing into the room.
"He hasn't moved an inch since we informed him about the deaths of his son, yet his vitals remain remarkably stable. Incredible," The first scientist remarked in awe, pondering how a human could exhibit such tenacity.
"That is why he's the strongest. Make sure this place is heavily guarded; the man inside is extremely dangerous. No one enters, not even me. We can't take any chances—those were the general's orders," The second scientist stated, directing the soldiers with a stern expression.
"Yes, Dr. Crow," The soldiers replied uniformly,
then positioned themselves along the hallway that led to the room. The scientists exchanged a nod of approval, casting one final look into the room before departing, leaving the soldiers to stand guard.
On the door was a sign that stated, 'Do not enter', and below it was a name that also read, 'Major Lionheart'.
Inside the room, the man in chains gradually raised his head to gaze at the door, exposing two golden glowing irises hidden beneath a tangle of disheveled hair.
"Micheal, don't worry, I'll escape from here soon, and when I do, I'll destroy all of them," The man said with a faint growl, as the glow in his eyes intensified.
Coming soon,
Taskforce Ouroboros
Book 2: The Final Chapter,
Don't miss it.