[BOAT—APPROACHING HARBOR]
The boat cut through the water steadily. Controlled. The sky slowly brightened.
And inside, Blitz was sleeping. Completely. Curled up on the seat, like nothing was happening. Specter sat beside her, eyes half-closed. Not fully asleep. Just resting.
Raven leaned back, arms crossed. But his eyes were on Blitz. "...Unbelievable. " Noxis stood at the front, hands on the wheel. Focused.
The engine slowed. The boat gently hit the dock.
Raven stood up first, stretching slightly. Then, he leaned down. "…Wake up, sleepyhead. " A pause. "…Pumpkin." He tapped Blitz's cheek lightly.
Blitz frowned. "…Ahhh…" She shifted, eyes still closed. "…Already?" A yawn. "…Did we arrive safely yet?"
Specter stood up. "…Yes." A beat. "…And we're already late." She checked the tracker, eyes narrowing. "…She's heading to the private jet port."
Blitz suddenly sat up, still half asleep. "…Can we eat first?" She made a small pleading face with big eyes.
Raven stared at her. "…No." Without hesitation, he grabbed her arm, pulling her up. "…We don't have time for that."
Blitz's lips instantly pouted. "…You're so cruel…" Noxis stepped down from the boat, calm as always. "…If you collapse mid-mission…" A pause. "…I'm not carrying you."
Blitz turned. "…Wow."
"…You too?" Noxis walked past her. "… Eat after we secure the target."
Blitz sighed dramatically. "…I'm surrounded by heartless people." Specter didn't even look back. "…Move."
------------
The taxi sped through the road, morning traffic just starting. Blitz leaned against the window, still grumbling. "…If I faint later, don't blame me."
Raven smirked. "…We'll take a picture first."
"…YOU!" Specter ignored them, focused on the tracker. Noxis watched the road ahead, quiet.
Four of them. One direction. The private jet ports. Where Vex was about to leave. And this time, they weren't letting her go alone.
[PRIVATE JET PORT – OUTER ISLAND]
The wind rushed across the open field. A private jet, ready. Engines low. Waiting. Vex stood near the stairs. Helen beside her. "…We don't have much time."
Then, footsteps. Fast. Multiple. Vex's eyes shifted, already knowing. "…They're here."
Blitz appeared first, slightly out of breath. "…Finally found you!" She bent slightly, hands on her knees. "…Do you know how tired I am?" A pause. "…And I'm hungry too." She rubbed her stomach dramatically. Silence.
Vex just stared at her. Specter stepped forward, calm. But her eyes weren't. "…Can you stop doing this?" A pause. "…What's the point of being a team…" A beat. "…if you keep running alone?" Vex didn't answer.
Specter's voice softened slightly. "…You think you can handle everything."
A step closer. "…But you're still relying on Helen." She glanced briefly at Helen, then back to Vex. "…So let us help too. " A quiet breath. "…Please."
Raven crossed his arms, smirk softer than usual. "…She's right. " A beat."…Same mission. " A slight pause. "… More people, faster results. " Noxis gave a small nod. "…Agreed." Silence fell.
Vex looked at all of them. One by one. Blitz. Specter. Raven. Noxis.
Then, she exhaled slowly. "…I left you a clue like that…" A faint smirk. "…And you still solved it. "Blitz grinned proudly. "…Of course, we did."
Inside, Vex's thoughts shifted. 'There's no other way…If I push them away…I'll just create more problems. ' A pause. Then, she nodded. Finally. Her hand lifted, gesturing toward the plane. "…Fine."
"…You can come. " A beat. "…But you follow my orders." Her eyes sharpened. "…No questions. " A beat. "…No hesitation."
"…If you can't do that…" She turned slightly. "…Leave now." Silence.
Blitz stepped forward immediately. "…As if we'd leave." Specter gave a small nod. "…We're in." Raven smirked. "…This just got interesting. " Noxis simply walked past them, toward the plane. "…Let's move."
One by one, they stepped in. No more arguments. No more distance. Just one team again.
Vex paused at the entrance. Looking back, just once. At the island. At Tiana's house, far away. Then, she stepped in. The door closed.
This time, she wasn't alone. And this mission just became something bigger.
[PRIVATE JET – IN FLIGHT | DAYBREAK]
The engine hummed softly. Clouds stretched endlessly outside, bright. Peaceful. Too peaceful. Inside, the tension hadn't left.
Blitz was the first to break it. She leaned forward slightly, raising her hand. "…Do you have any food? " A pause. "…I'm starving already."
The stewardess smiled politely. "…Of course, we do." She tapped on her tablet. "…What would you like?"
Blitz's eyes lit up instantly. "…Spaghetti carbonara." A beat. "…And fresh orange juice." The stewardess nodded, noting it down. "…Anything else?" She glanced around.
Raven leaned back lazily. "…Just coffee." Noxis added calmly, "…Black." Specter spoke next. "…Something light." Helen gave a small nod. "…I'll take the same."
The stewardess smiled again. "…It will be served in fifteen minutes." A pause. "…Please wait comfortably." She walked away.
Raven glanced at Blitz, amused. "…Your jet serves full meals?" A smirk. "…No wonder you weren't shy."
Blitz froze. Then turned away, arms crossed. "…You…" A beat. "…Just mind your own business." Raven chuckled.
Specter sighed slightly. "…We're used to this." She glanced around the cabin. "…This jet has been handled for missions before." A pause. "…It belongs to Vex's family." Silence.
Raven raised a brow. "…Of course, it does."
Vex didn't react. She remained seated, focused. A tablet in her hand, given by Helen. Data scrolling. Routes. Coordinates. Her eyes sharp. Cold again.
"…After you eat." Her voice cut through the space. Calm. Controlled.
"...Pay attention to what I'm briefing about the upcoming mission." No one spoke. "…Follow my words." A pause. "…And don't interrupt." Her gaze didn't lift. "…Not even once." Silence fell again.
Blitz straightened slightly. "…Yes, boss." Specter nodded quietly. "…Understood." Raven smirked faintly. "…Now this feels like a mission." Noxis didn't speak, but his attention was already locked.
Above the clouds, everything looked calm. But below, a storm was waiting. And this time, they were flying straight into it.
[MID FLIGHT]
The food had arrived. But no one was eating now.
The tablet screen glowed faintly, projecting a holographic layout in front of them. A facility. Cold. Complex.
Vex stood. "…Listen carefully." Her voice, steady. "…This mission is not like the others." A pause. "… One mistake…"
"…and we don't get a second chance." Silence. Her hand moved, zooming into the outer layer of the facility.
"…Team One." Her eyes shifted. "…Blitz. Noxis."
Blitz straightened instantly. "…Yes, boss." Noxis remained calm, already focused.
"…You two will take the outer perimeter. " The map shifted, highlighting multiple entry points. "…Security patrols rotate every three minutes."
"…Cameras reset every ninety seconds." Blitz blinked. "…That fast?"
"…Yes." Vex replied flatly. "…Which is why you don't rely on timing. " A pause. "…You rely on instinct. " Noxis nodded slightly. "…Understood."
"…Your job is not infiltration." A pause. "…It's disruption." The map lit up red. "…Create noise."
"…Pull attention away from the inner system." Blitz smirked instantly. "…Now THAT sounds like my kind of job."
Vex ignored the tone. "…But don't lose control." Her eyes locked onto Blitz. "…If you go too far." A beat. "…we all get exposed."
Blitz raised both hands slightly. "…Relax." A grin. "…I'll behave." Noxis glanced at her. "…You won't." Blitz scoffed. "…Hey!"
Vex's voice cut through again. "…Listen." Both went quiet. "…If you see reinforcement units…"
"…You fall back." Blitz frowned slightly. "…We don't fight?"
"…Not head-on." A pause. "…Their numbers aren't the problem."
Her eyes darkened. "…Their system is." Silence. "…You buy us time."
"…Nothing more."
"…Nothing less." Blitz nodded slowly. "…Got it." Noxis added calmly, "…We hold the line."
Vex gave a small nod. "…Good." The map shifted again, moving deeper into the facility. "...Next team."
The holographic map shifted. Outer perimeter faded, replaced by a tighter structure. Corridors. Security layers. Dark. Controlled. Vex's hand moved slightly, highlighting a new zone.
"…Team Two." Her gaze lifted. "…Specter. Raven."
Specter straightened. "…Ready." Raven leaned back, smirk faint. "…Always."
"…You enter through the secondary access." The map zoomed, showing a narrow entry point. "…Maintenance route."
"…Minimal visibility." A pause. "…But not unguarded." Specter nodded slowly, already analyzing. "…Blind spots?"
"…Every forty seconds."
Vex replied instantly. "…But they shift." Raven raised a brow. "…So, no pattern."
"…Exactly."
"…Your role is silent infiltration."
"…No alarms."
"…No unnecessary contact." Specter's eyes sharpened. "…Understood."
Raven tilted his head slightly. "…And if contact happens?" Vex's gaze locked onto him. "…Then it ends before it begins." A pause. Raven smirked. "…I like that."
Vex swiped again, another layer appeared. "…Inside…"
"…You locate internal data nodes."
"…Anything related to the barrier system." Specter leaned closer, focused. "…Extraction priority?"
"…High."
"…But not over the mission." A beat. "…If something goes wrong…"
"…You leave." Silence. Vex's eyes rested on Specter, just a second longer. "…Don't engage deeper levels." A pause. "…No matter what you see."
Specter frowned slightly. "…Why?" Vex didn't answer immediately. "…Because it's not your mission."
Raven noticed. A small glance between them. Something was being hidden. "…Stay in the shadows."
"…That's where you're strongest." Specter gave a firm nod. "…Understood."
Raven stood up slowly, stretching. "…Try not to have all the fun without us." Blitz from behind, "…OI!"
The map shifted again. Outer layer, inner layer. Now a web. Signals. Connections. Invisible, but everywhere.
Vex's hand hovered over the projection. "…Helen." Helen looked up. "…Yes."
"…You won't enter the facility." A pause. "…You stay outside."
Blitz blinked. "…So she gets the easy job?" Helen raised a brow slightly. "…Try sitting still while managing all of you."
Raven chuckled. "…Fair point." Vex zoomed into multiple signal routes. "…You'll handle communications."
"…All channels go through you."
"…No direct contact between teams." Specter nodded. "…Central relay."
"…Exactly."
"…You monitor internal systems."
"…Camera loops."
"…Security overrides."
"…And route updates."
Helen crossed her arms slightly. "…And if the system locks?" Vex's eyes didn't move. "…You break it." Silence.
Helen gave a small smile. "…Got it." Vex's tone lowered. "…But listen carefully." Everyone focused. "…The second barrier…"
"…is not just a system."
A pause. "…It reacts." Blitz frowned. "…React? Like what, AI or something?" Helen's expression shifted. "…Adaptive defense."
"…That's worse." Vex nodded slightly. "…If it detects intrusion…"
"…it will reroute."
"…Shut down access."
"…And isolate us." Silence. "…That's where you come in." Vex looked directly at her. "…You keep the system unstable."
"…Just enough."
"…So, it can't fully respond." Helen's eyes sharpened. "…So, I don't win." A pause. "…I stall."
"…Exactly." Vex's voice softened, just slightly. "…And Helen…" A beat. "…If anything goes wrong…"
Helen interrupted. "…I pull everyone out." Vex didn't argue. "…Yes." Silence. They understood.
"…You're the reason this mission works." Helen gave a small nod. "…Then don't make me fail."
The map dimmed, until only one section remained. Deep inside the facility. The core. Silence filled the cabin. Vex didn't sit. She stood there, still.
"…My turn." No one spoke. They already knew, this part wouldn't be easy.
Vex zoomed in, multiple security layers appeared. "…Second barrier control unit."
"…Located here." A locked chamber. Surrounded by rotating access points, encrypted locks and internal surveillance.
Blitz frowned. "…That looks… annoying."
"…It is." Vex replied calmly. "…I enter alone."
Immediate reaction, "…What?" Blitz. "…No." Specter's voice followed. "…That's not necessary."
Vex didn't even look at them. "…It is." A pause. "…Too many people…"
"…increase detection rate." Raven crossed his arms. "…Or you just don't want backup." Silence. Vex ignored that. "…Once inside…"
"…I access the system directly."
"…Manual override." Helen frowned slightly, "…That means no remote support."
"…Correct." A beat. "…You won't be able to reach me." Silence. "…The system will react."
"…Faster than before."
"…It learns." Specter's eyes narrowed. "…Adaptive system again."
"…Yes."
"…And this time…" Vex's voice dropped. "…It targets the intruder." Blitz muttered. "…That's you."
"…Exactly."
"…If I fail…" A pause. "…The system resets."
"…Stronger."
"…Locked permanently." Silence. "…And we lose our only chance."
"…So don't come after me." That hit harder. Blitz stood up slightly. "…What do you mean?"
"…I mean it." Vex finally looked at them. Her eyes, cold. Firm. "…No one enters the core."
"…No matter what happens." Specter stepped forward. "…Even if you don't come out?"
A pause. Vex didn't hesitate. "…Yes." Silence. Heavy. "…Complete your roles."
"…Trust the plan."
"…And don't break formation." A beat. "…That's how we win."
Silence. Heavy. The holographic map had already disappeared. But the weight of it, remained.
Vex stood still. "…Any questions, team?" No one answered immediately. Then, Blitz.
"…Yeah." She stood up slightly, arms crossed. "…I have one." A pause. "…Why does it always have to be you?" Silence. Vex didn't respond. Blitz stepped closer. "…You go alone."
"…You take the worst part."
"…And we just… what?"
"…Watch?" Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried. "…That's not teamwork."
Specter moved forward. "…She's right." A pause. "…You're hiding something." Vex's gaze shifted, slightly. "…I'm not."
"…You are." Specter didn't back down. "…You warned us not to go deeper."
"…Not to follow you." A step closer. "…That's not strategy."
"…That's protection." Silence. And that was too close.
Raven leaned against the wall, watching. "…Interesting."
"…So the leader has secrets."
Noxis didn't speak, but his eyes stayed on Vex. Careful. Vex exhaled slowly. "…I gave you your roles." A pause. "…Follow them." Blitz shook her head. "…That's not an answer."
"…Because there isn't one." That was sharper. Vex's voice lowered. "…Not yet." Silence. Specter's eyes softened, just slightly. "…Ran…"
But Vex looked away. "…This isn't about trust." A pause. "…It's about timing."
Blitz sighed loudly. "…You always say that." A beat. "…But fine." She turned away, hands in her pockets. "…We'll follow your plan." A pause. "…But don't expect us to stay quiet forever."
Specter nodded slowly. "…We move as planned." Raven smirked. "…I like a little mystery anyway."
Noxis added quietly, "…We adapt if needed."
Vex stood there, silent. But her grip, tightened. Because she knew, they were getting closer. Too close.
This wasn't just a mission anymore. It was a breaking point. And once the truth came out, nothing would stay the same.
TBC