The trap

Kael's instincts screamed warning as the squad escorted Echo\-12 to the extraction point. He scanned the surroundings, searching for potential threats. The air was thick with tension, and Kael's gut told him they were walking into a trap.

Suddenly, Echo\-12's demeanor changed. Their eyes locked onto Kael, and a cold smile spread across their face. "You're not who I expected," they said, their voice dripping with malice.

Kael's rifle snapped up, trained on Echo-12. "What's going on here?" he demanded.

Echo-12 chuckled, the sound sending shivers down Kael's spine. "You really don't know, do you? You're not extracting me. You're extracting a package. And this package is going to change everything."

The squad exchanged uneasy glances, confusion etched on their faces. Kael's finger tightened on the trigger. "What are you talking about, Echo-12?"

The operative's smile grew wider. "I'm not Echo\-12. I'm the one they've been trying to keep hidden. And you're about to unleash a whole world of trouble."

Kael's comms device crackled to life, a message from an unknown sender: "Abort extraction. Repeat, abort extraction."

Too late. The ground beneath them gave way, and Kael felt himself falling into a hidden trap.

He landed hard on a concrete floor, his vision blurring. When his eyes focused, he saw he was in a dimly lit room. His hands were bound behind his back, and a quick check revealed his rifle was gone.

Kael's mind racing, he recalled the events leading up to the trap. His squad, consisting of Maya, Ryder, and Axel, had been with him. They were ambushed, and...

Maya! Where was Maya?

Kael struggled against his restraints, but they were too tight. He called out, "Maya! Ryder! Axel!" but there was only silence.

Panic set in as Kael realized he was alone. Had his squad been captured or...?

The door slid open, and a figure entered. Kael recognized the man - Director Arlo, his handler.

"Kael, I'm glad you're awake," Arlo said, his expression unreadable. "You've been played. Echo-12 was never the mission objective. They were the key to unlocking something much bigger."

Kael's anger boiled over. "What have you done with my squad?"

Arlo's expression didn't change. "Your squad is safe, for now. But you'll never see them again unless you cooperate."

Kael's eyes narrowed. "Cooperate with what?"

Arlo smiled. "You'll find out soon enough. Let's just say you're about to embark on a journey that will change everything."

Kael's mind was racing. He knew he had to stall for time, gather information. "What's going on, Arlo? What's the real mission?"

Arlo leaned against the wall, a sly grin spreading across his face. "The real mission, Kael, was to extract a package. A package that could change the course of human history. And you've just handed it over to the enemy."

Kael's blood ran cold. What had he done?

As Arlo turned to leave, Kael called out, "You'll never get away with this!"

Arlo chuckled. "It's already done, Kael. The package is in the wrong hands. And you... you're just a pawn in a much larger game."

The door closed behind Arlo, leaving Kael alone with his thoughts. He knew he had to escape, find his squad, and stop whatever catastrophe was unfolding.

But for now, he was trapped, with only his wits to rely on.

Meanwhile, in a different location, Maya regained consciousness, her head throbbing. She was in a similar cell, but she was alone. She called out for Kael, Ryder, and Axel, but there was no response.

Maya's eyes narrowed. She would escape, find Kael, and uncover the truth behind this mission.

Ryder and Axel were in a separate facility, being interrogated by their captors. Ryder spat at their feet, defiant. "You'll never break us."

Axel, however, remained silent, his eyes fixed on the interrogator. He was calculating, planning his escape.

The three members of Kael's squad were alive, but their situations were dire. They knew they had to escape, regroup, and rescue their teammate.

But for now, they were at the mercy of their captors.

As Kael sat in his cell, he knew he had to rely on his training and instincts to survive. He would escape, find his squad, and uncover the truth.

The game was on.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***