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✱ CHAPTER 5 : AXOLOTL
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Project Axolotl was a classified biological research experiment authorized by Syveron Industrial with direct approval from both the CEO and the Head of the CIA. The goal was to develop an enhancer that granted subjects superior vitality and strength along with specialized supernatural abilities tailored to their unique capabilities.
Nine individuals were subjected to the experiment, three classified and six successful candidates who were now Syveron's elite operatives under the codename Axolotl. To maintain control, each operative had a chip implanted in their body. Any sign of disobedience, and they would be terminated. "Oh, so we can kill them... Good stuff."
Cassandra smirked, her eyes glinting with malice as she read through the classified files in a hidden executive panic room, accessible only to top officials in case of terrorist attacks or worse.
She leaned back, watching the surveillance feeds flicker. The operatives were trying to reunite, pushing forward with their mission. "That b***h better be dead. Next time I should have asked for male guard, hmm this Levi looks promising."
Warning! Power shortage... Power down on 10, 9, 8… "Ah nah, not this again. Reminds me of that spooky mansion," Brooks muttered as they walked down the hallway toward the elevator. They halted as their objective shifted due to the sudden announcement.
"Looks like we need to fix this. Any intel on the AI...?" Levi asked while Orion flexed his powerful bone-flesh claws, the tension in the air thickening as the surroundings darkened.
"Well, let's f**king get into action!" Orion declared enthusiastically. "We're not here to fight, but to rescue," Brooks reminded him, pushing Orion's claws down.
The lights flickered out. A dim glow from emergency radium lines illuminated the sector, casting eerie shadows. At the same time, multiple sealed doors unlocked hopefully not the ones leading to classified areas.
As they switched on their flashlights, Orion playfully crossed his claws in front of them, making Brooks flinch. Levi chuckled. "Really...?" Then BANG!
A sudden gunshot echoed through the corridor. They exchanged glances before quickly forming up and sprinting toward the source of the noise. The further they went, the dimmer the lighting became.
"Cease fire! We are Rescue Team Operatives Axolotl!" Levi called out. "Sorry, sorry...!" A panicked worker stood with his hands raised, a gun dangling from his fingers as he repeated the phrase anxiously.
"Status report, Scout. One survivor verified for extraction," Levi confirmed. "Wait!" Orion stepped forward, his eyes narrowing as he caught sight of a shadowy figure behind the worker. A dead body lay slumped on the ground.
Suddenly, the worker grabbed his gun and fired… BANG! The bullet went inside Brooks, the man turned his aim toward Levi's back.
Brooks grabbed the worker's wrist and pulled the gun. "You got a problem, kid?" he growled, pressing his own weapon against the man's forehead, agitated.
"I no, I didn't mean to, I'm sorry!" the worker stammered.
Brooks scowled and knocked him out with a swift strike to the head. Orion quickly cuffed him, marking him as a murderer before leaving him behind.
They bagged the dead scientist's body and resumed their mission. Wasting no time, they headed to the facility's power system to begin the reboot process.
Upon reaching the lower levels, they stopped in their tracks. The scientists were already dead.
But there were no gunshot wounds. Instead, their faces were grotesquely swollen, with thick blue liquid oozing from their eyes, ears, and mouths. This liquid is similar to the submerged liquid in the confidential site.
Brooks took a sample for further analysis, carefully avoiding any contact with the harmful chemical. He placed it in his capsule bag and proceeded to the Observation Sector. Beep... beep... beep.
Blinking lights flickered in the rustic atmosphere, thick with dust-covered documents, scattered files, and complex calculations detailing the power plant's functions. A control panel stood in the room, lined with mini screens, blinking lights, levers, and switches.
As Brooks examined a small letter detailing voltage control, stabilizers, and other technical aspects, he navigated to the power level interface. Rebooting the system required a specific sequence of steps. To activate the heavy-duty generator, they needed command keys from both facility commanders, a security measure designed to prevent power misuse.
Levi received this information through the comms from the main advisor and operative, Alina. As she relayed the details, the team began searching for the keys. Among the scattered belongings of the commanders, they found an item linked to a middle-aged man, a distinctive blue-eyed American with a square face and deep wrinkles.
Levi attempted to verify his identity using the micro body cams embedded in all operatives' gear. These devices not only assisted in guiding missions but also contained crucial information in case an operative died or went rogue.
"Redacted," a voice suddenly echoed through the speaker in an unusual rhythm. "That information is redacted, so stop trying to find him," an unknown man warned.
"Who are you?" Brooks said with confusion as Levi inserted a drive inside the panel. "Leave him alone! Stop this nightmare!" he shouted, agitated.
The situation grew more complicated as a strange blue liquid began leaking from the vents. "Wait, what's this blue, gluey mess...!?" Orion exclaimed as he noticed the substance.
As soon as he touched the liquid, something felt off. The strange substance spread toward Orion's feet. The moment it touched him, he shivered, gripping his leg as the liquid seemed to be absorbing his flesh. Panicking, he yanked his leg away, but the damage was already done, it had reached up to his ankle, forcing him to cut his leg off.
"The f**k is this!?" Orion gasped, struggling to hold his breath through the immense pain. "It felt like... I had to remove it... f**k, I can't even explain it...!"
"KID, easy, easy! Can you regenerate it?" Brooks asked, trying to calm him. "No, I need to eat for that," Orion groaned. Levi said,
"Well, the canteen must have leftovers since it was sealed during lockdown. Hopefully that'll work. Brooks, take him to the canteen."
"Got it. I'll help him out. And you?" Security cameras, formerly active, suddenly went dark. The unknown person watching the operatives had lost their visual.
"There's a power failure. Must be the main power cut off!"
"Levi, all the cameras are offline. The location is pinned in your view," Alina informed him. "I've analyzed the power outage, and it seems the emergency vents have opened, which is why that unknown liquid has spread to the upper premises. You need to activate the backup power by finding the commander, the one who holds the key, according to voice recognition data."
Levi glanced at his smartwatch, which projected a holographic map in landscape mode, pinpointing the commander's last known location.
"Okay, let's split up and regroup here once we get things fixed. Brooks, get Orion's leg recovered and rescue anyone you find along the way. Be careful. I'll retrieve the key and detain the commander for questioning. Understood?" "In unison: Yes." "Be careful out there," Brooks added.
Levi nodded before Brooks hoisted Orion's arm over his shoulder and headed toward the canteen. Meanwhile, Levi prepared to move forward.
As they left the room, the control panel remained active, with the drive Levi had connected blinking as it collected data and transmitted it to Alina.
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Levi proceeded to hunt down the commander,
who was last seen in a hidden office. He had likely disabled the signal by hacking into the system, using a backup battery and accessing the main interface in the server room. Studying the facility map displayed in the hologram, provided by Alina, he planned his next move. As Levi moved toward the location, Alina monitored both him and Brooks, while the drive continued collecting data from recent events.
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As she reviewed the incoming data, Alina was shocked by what had transpired. Meanwhile, Scouter walked through the headquarters sector, where operatives monitored and controlled various field operations. The facility was filled with specialists working on dual-monitor setups, while a massive central screen displayed essential details on active operations worldwide; these details were carefully limited to maintain confidentiality.
"Any updates on the operation?" Scouter asked, expecting something useful. "I was thinking... How did such a high-security facility fall into destruction so unexpectedly? And why did all the personnel get trapped inside with no prior alerts?" Alina responded, still analyzing the data.
"So what's new? Scenarios like this have happened before. We've tried our best to prevent it from happening again."
"What are you suggesting?"
"Someone might have let this happen, it's an outbreak." He asked, "Who, and why, Alina?" She replied, "Well, maybe it's a distraction, or maybe it's for outside research. But what kind of experiment would be valuable enough to justify trapping people inside?"
"S**t, Project Axolotl! I need to report this to the Board."
"Wait... there were more like us?" Alina muttered uneasily as Scouter hurried off to inform the higher-ups. She toggled her comms to relay the new intel to Levi.
"Levi, I have new intel based on the collected data." "Roger." She said, "There might be an imposter inside the confidential site." "Who?" She said, "No idea, but you'll receive an update on your objective soon." "Okay. Roger out."
Alina continued sifting through the data, hoping everything would go smoothly. The headquarters remained busy, filled with the constant hum of computer activity, as operatives worked to provide real-time intelligence and support for the ongoing mission.
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