One piece: Without a system, I have to survive!

The helicopter hummed steadily in the dark sky, the wind whipping past us as we soared toward our rendezvous point. Below, the fires of the Navy base flickered like distant stars, a grim reminder of the chaos we had left behind. I leaned back in my seat, my body bruised and exhausted from the fight, but my mind was sharp, replaying everything that had happened.

We had escaped with our lives—and the critical data. But I knew the battle wasn't over. The Navy's plans were still in motion, and the cost of victory was far steeper than any of us had anticipated.

Smoker sat across from me, his face etched with the same exhaustion, but also a growing sense of determination. "We can't afford to rest. We need to get the data to the right hands as soon as possible."

I nodded, glancing at the flash drive in my hand. It contained the blueprint for the Navy's genetically enhanced soldiers, the truth behind their twisted experiments. If this information fell into the wrong hands, everything we had fought for would be meaningless. The entire world would be in danger.

Selene and Shira sat beside me, both of them silent but alert, their eyes scanning the horizon. I could tell they were as anxious as I was. We had barely escaped the base, and now we were flying straight into the unknown. The Navy wouldn't give up that easily.

Suddenly, the pilot's voice crackled over the intercom, breaking the silence. "We're approaching the rendezvous point. Prepare for landing."

I felt a jolt of adrenaline course through me. This was it. We were close to securing our next step—but something about the situation felt off. There was a nagging feeling at the back of my mind, an instinct that told me we weren't out of danger yet.

⚔🔥🔥🔥

The helicopter descended rapidly, its blades slicing through the air as we neared the landing zone. The ground below was bathed in the soft glow of moonlight, the shadows of trees stretching long and dark across the landscape. It was a remote area, far from the reach of the Navy's forces.

As we touched down, I felt a strange unease settle over me. I glanced at Smoker, who shared the same look of suspicion. Something wasn't right.

"We're not alone," he muttered, his eyes narrowing.

The helicopter's engines sputtered to a halt, and the door slid open. I was immediately greeted by a group of heavily armed figures standing in the shadows, their faces hidden by masks. They wore tactical gear, and their weapons were drawn, aimed directly at us.

"Out of the helicopter, now," one of them commanded in a low, gravelly voice.

I hesitated. This wasn't the extraction team we were expecting.

"Who are you?" I demanded, my hand resting on the hilt of my sword. "What's going on here?"

The figure stepped forward, pulling off their mask to reveal a familiar face. My heart skipped a beat.

It was Tatsuo—the very same person who had once been our ally. He was now standing in front of us, a cold, calculating look in his eyes.

"You?" I breathed, disbelief flooding my senses.

Tatsuo's eyes locked onto mine, his expression unreadable. "I see you've made it this far. But now you're in my territory."

Smoker stepped forward, his gaze hardening. "Tatsuo, what's the meaning of this? Are you working with the Navy?"

Tatsuo's lips curled into a thin smile. "Not exactly. I've been working for myself for a long time now. But it seems we have a common enemy—one that you're about to find out just how dangerous they really are."

I felt a knot form in my stomach as the realization hit me. Betrayal. Tatsuo wasn't here to help us. He was here to make sure we didn't succeed.

"You've been playing us all along," I said, the anger rising in my chest. "You knew everything about the Navy's plans. You were using us."

Tatsuo gave a low chuckle. "Oh, it's not that simple. I never planned on betraying you. I just needed a little leverage. And now, I have it."

I reached for my blade, ready to fight, but Tatsuo was faster. He gestured to his team, and the soldiers closed in around us, their guns aimed at our heads.

"You'll never escape this time," Tatsuo said, his voice icy and unforgiving. "This is the end of the road for you."

⚔🔥🔥🔥

I tried to think, to come up with a plan, but my mind was clouded with anger and confusion. How could Tatsuo—someone we had trusted—be working against us? What had happened to him? What had turned him into this?

But before I could react, another figure stepped forward, this time from behind Tatsuo. A woman, tall and dressed in black tactical gear, her presence commanding.

She removed her helmet, revealing a face I had never seen before, but one that carried an air of authority.

"You're too late," she said, her voice smooth and confident. "The Navy's plans are already in motion, and there's nothing you can do to stop it."

I tensed, my hand still gripping the sword hilt. "Who are you?"

The woman's lips curled into a smile. "I'm someone who's been pulling the strings from the shadows. The name's Kara. And you, my friend, are standing in the way of something much bigger than you can possibly comprehend."

I could feel the weight of the situation crashing down on me. This was no longer just about stopping the Navy. There was a larger force at play, one that had been orchestrating everything from the start.

"You've underestimated us," I said, forcing my voice to remain steady. "And now, you'll pay the price."

Tatsuo and Kara exchanged a glance, their eyes flickering with something—regret, perhaps, or calculation. But it was too late for that.

The fight was far from over.