The Black mamba

The crooked warehouse stood shrouded in the darkness of night, its edges illuminated faintly by the twin planets that served as moons. The stars overhead scattered like jewels, offering little warmth to the cold atmosphere. Inside, Thaurex entered, greeted by the silent anticipation of his squad and several of Lavex's men, all gathered under the dim industrial lights.

He slipped his phone into his pocket. "The General's busy at the moment, but he'll return my call soon enough," he said, stepping toward the billboard. The display was cluttered with images and notes: Umbra Keep's military aircraft, the heavily fortified vault, and key points of the HQ.

"Thanks for meeting one last time," Thaurex began, his voice steady but firm. "This is it—the final review of the plan. Let's make sure everything is clear."

The group exchanged glances, nodding in agreement. Lavex leaned against a crate, a confident smile spreading across his face.

"Here's the rundown," Thaurex continued, gesturing to the board. "Lavex and his team will launch a strike on the aircraft base, taking out their wings. A bird with no wings is useless. This should force the General to leave me alone while he deals with the chaos. That's when I'll head to a restroom and let Ruco and his squad into the building."

He paused, his eyes scanning the group, ensuring their focus.

"Once inside, we'll split into two teams. One team will neutralize the air defense system to ensure Lavex has a safe extraction route. The other team will move with me to the vault. Our objective isn't just Falethier. If there are other captives, we get them out too. After that, we deal with the General and Zaulkom. Lavex will meet us at the designated landing pad for extraction."

Thaurex took a breath, his tone sharpened with resolve. "Everything clear?"

Heads nodded again, a silent yet unified acknowledgment of the mission's gravity. The faint sound of boots shifting on the concrete floor was the only response before silence reclaimed the room.

The phone buzzed through the cacophony of soldiers preparing for the mission. Thaurex locked eyes with Ruco before stepping outside. The cold night air hit him, sharp and biting.

"So, you and Thaurex know each other?" one of the soldiers asked, watching Ruco as he adjusted his gear.

Ruco's face remained cold, his gaze distant. "He's my best friend. We've known each other since childhood. We met at an orphanage." He paused, eyes narrowing. "I've never seen him this focused... not since the war... right before—"

He cut himself off, eyes flicking to the soldier who had spoken.

"Right before what?" the soldier pressed, curiosity clear in his voice.

Ruco's expression hardened, his voice lowering. "Nevermind. Shut up and get prepared," he barked.

Outside, Thaurex stood alone, his phone pressed to his ear as the small fleet of ships hummed in the background. His white hair fluttered in the wind, blending with the cold night around him.

"What is it?" The General's voice crackled over the line, impatient. "I've got some important things to do."

"I've got him," Thaurex replied, his tone clipped, urgent.

"Got who?" The General's curiosity was piqued.

"The location of Lavex... the last descendant of Avitraux." Thaurex's voice was low, the words laced with meaning.

"Oh?" The General sounded interested. "Where is he?"

"I can only tell you face-to-face. I'm on my way to the HQ. Deal?" Thaurex's tone was firm, resolute.

"Depends on what's your end," the General replied, suspicion clear.

"I get to see more files that me and my crew collected," Thaurex countered.

The line went silent for a moment, like the cold air between them. Thaurex glanced back at the warehouse, seeing Lavex and the rest of the crew prepping.

"Fine. I shall await," the General finally said.

"Good," Thaurex responded, ending the call.

Lavex, catching Thaurex's gaze, raised an eyebrow and flashed an "okay" signal. Thaurex gave a slight nod, confirming the mission was a go. Lavex disappeared back inside to rally the rest of the squad, and cheers erupted from the group.

But then, Thaurex felt the gust of wind again, colder this time. His gaze moved toward the far distance, where a faint voice called his name.

"Papa!"

The voice grew louder, closer, but before Thaurex could fully process it, Ruco tapped him on the shoulder.

"Thaurex! Yo, you good?" Ruco asked, his voice breaking through the fog of Thaurex's mind.

"Yeah, just zoned out for a minute," Thaurex murmured, shaking off the strange feeling.

"Well, it's time," Ruco said, a hint of urgency in his tone.

Thaurex nodded, turning toward his vehicle. As the ships began to take off in a cloud of smoke and dust, a glimpse of a faceless Falethier appeared in the distance. She lingered for a brief moment, her image flickering like a ghost, before vanishing into the darkness.

Thaurex's heart skipped a beat. He turned to his car, his mind racing. The door clicked shut behind him as he looked one last time at the place where he had seen her. Then, without another word, he sped off into the night, the weight of the mission and the memory of his daughter pressing heavily on him.

Thaurex sat silently in the vehicle, Ruco and the others by his side, as they crested the hill. Umbra Keep HQ loomed ahead, its oppressive black structure illuminated by harsh dystopian red lights, a stark contrast to the natural beauty of the planet.

"There she is," Thaurex murmured, his voice steady. "Everyone, split."

The other vehicles peeled away into the night, their engines humming softly. Thaurex stepped out of his transport, his boots crunching against the gravel as he approached the towering black gates. Two guards stood rigidly at attention, saluting his arrival.

"Sometimes I forget I'm still considered a soldier," Thaurex muttered under his breath before addressing them. "At ease."

"Sir! The General has been awaiting your arrival, sir!" one guard barked.

"Well, let the old geezer know I'm here now," Thaurex replied dryly.

The gates creaked open, revealing the stark interior. The guards escorted him inside to meet The General, who stood waiting at the entrance.

Transition to Lavex's POV:

High above the HQ, a fleet of ships breached the atmosphere. Inside the lead craft, Lavex stood near the cockpit, his eyes scanning the sprawling air base below. Fighter jets, helicopters, and advanced spaceships dotted the facility.

"To think all this is just a playground for a rich man," Lavex remarked, his tone dripping with disdain. "Circle back around. When I give the signal, drop the bombs."

He moved to the rear of the ship, where his soldiers stood ready. "And secure an extraction route for them before the full might of the military comes down on us," he added, gripping a support beam as the ship tilted for another pass.

Back at the HQ:

Thaurex followed The General through the pristine white halls of the HQ, their footsteps echoing against the marble walls.

"So," Thaurex began, his tone casual but pointed, "what do you think of Avitraux?"

The General's expression darkened. "I think nothing of it. I do as I'm told."

"Spoken like a true lapdog," Thaurex shot back. "Zaulkom says fetch, and you fetch. That's why you're not allowed near the Black Vault. They know if you saw the children in there, it'd break you."

The General halted, turning slowly to face Thaurex. His gaze was sharp, his jaw tight. "How do you know about the children?" he demanded.

"The Yellow Book," Thaurex replied with a smirk. "I have it."

The General's fury boiled over. His hand shot to his weapon, but before he could draw, a soldier sprinted toward him, whispering hurriedly. The rumble of distant explosions shook the building.

Thaurex's grin widened. "Remember when I said I would find Falethier?"

The General's face twisted with rage. He shoved his pistol back into its holster and stormed off with the soldier. In the distance, Thaurex caught a glimpse of Zaulkom meeting with The General, their heated exchange barely visible through the chaos.

Transition to Lavex:

"Now!" Lavex barked, his voice cutting through the hum of the engines.

The pilot pressed a button, and a payload of bombs rained down on the air base. Chaos erupted below as explosions rippled through the facility, flattening hangars and sending debris skyward. Anti-aircraft systems roared to life, returning fire.

One of the defensive blasts struck a ship behind Lavex's, sending it spiraling out of control before crashing in a fiery explosion.

"Dammit!" Lavex growled. "We were so close. Ruco, what's Thaurex doing? It's time to take out those anti-aircraft systems!"

"We've neutralized three so far," Ruco's voice crackled over comms. "All helicopters are down."

"Not enough," Lavex muttered, gripping the frame of the ship tighter as more anti-aircraft fire filled the sky.

Back at the HQ:

Thaurex rushed into the restroom, locking the door behind him. He moved quickly to a hidden latch in the floor, pulling it open to reveal Ruco and the rest of the crew waiting below.

"It's clear," Thaurex whispered. "Split into two teams. Ruco, Ethan, Krumboli—you're with me. The rest, disable the anti-aircraft systems."

The group nodded in unison, their determination palpable. As the two teams moved out, the echoes of explosions and gunfire served as a reminder: failure was not an option.