"...Our new recruit is still on his way. I know... Yeah, Siberian storms can be unpredictable. No, I'm currently on-site..." T-Rex's deep voice rumbled through the quiet room.
Ethan's eyes flickered open. He was inside a secluded, dilapidated wooden structure—an abandoned logging cabin converted into a temporary forward safehouse.
"The brat is finally awake," Cheetah growled.
Ethan was lying on an old leather sofa. He pushed himself up into a sitting position, his heart pounding as he surveyed the perimeter. Surrounding him was the rest of the lethal DWO squad, lounging in strategic cover points.
Cheetah pushed off the wall and marched toward Ethan, her boots thudding against the rotting floorboards. "Alright, kid. Start talking," she demanded, her shadow looming over him.
Ethan looked around frantically, his mind racing.
Where is that red-eyed woman? She isn't here...
"Hey! Are you deaf, brat? Talk, or I'll give you a reason to start screaming," Cheetah snapped, her emerald eyes narrowing into slits.
Ethan braced himself, glaring directly into her eyes with pure, unyielding defiance.
Cheetah smirked, amused by his resistance. "Look at that. The little rat thinks he can intimidate me."
She thrust her gloved hand forward to grab Ethan by the neck. But before her fingers could close around his throat, a dark, gloved arm darted out from the side, catching Cheetah's wrist in an iron grip.
Every operative in the room turned instantly.
Standing beside the sofa was Zero, her crimson optics glowing softly through the gloom.
It's her... Ethan thought, breathing a silent sigh of relief.
When did she even get here?
"I believe Vice Leader's standing orders were to let the boy rest until Boss arrives," Zero said, her voice smooth and completely devoid of emotion.
"Yeah, well, he's awake now," Cheetah spat back, attempting to wrench her wrist free. "Which means interrogation starts now."
"I am not allowing you to lay a finger on him," Zero replied calmly, refusing to loosen her grip.
Cheetah's gaze locked onto Zero's visor, her expression darkening with suspicion. "Why are you shielding this kid so hard, Zero? Don't tell me you're working with him?"
"Watch your tongue, Cheetah," Zero warned, her tone dropping an octave.
"If you're not aiding the enemy, then step aside and let me do my job," Cheetah growled, pulling her arm back with full force.
To her surprise, Zero's grip held firm, her physical strength far exceeding expectations.
"I am preventing you from harming an unarmed civilian," Zero said firmly. "How could a child his age possibly be an enemy spy?"
"It's basic covert warfare," Cheetah countered smoothly. "Infiltrators use children because soft-hearted fools like you never expect them. He could be a deep-cover sleeper agent for all we know."
"You have nothing to back that up," Zero stated. "You are letting your paranoia run wild."
"Then let me interrogate! That's how we verify it!" Cheetah demanded.
"I will let others question him, under Vice-Leader's or the Leader's orders," Zero declared softly. "But not you. You will end up killing him before he speaks a word."
Over by the weapon racks, Stinger leaned toward Scorpion, whispering under his breath, "Damn... first time I've ever seen Zero get this protective."
Scorpion gave a slow nod. "Yeah. Something about this kid is... Even I can feel something strange."
"Zero, you are getting on my nerves," Cheetah snarled, her patience snapping as a wave of murder lust radiated from her body.
Zero didn't offer a single word in response; she simply held her ground, her red eyes locked onto Cheetah.
Losing control, Cheetah threw a lightning-fast left hook with her free hand. Zero leaned her head back, letting the fist graze past her cheek before releasing Cheetah's wrist. Cheetah used the momentum to throw a brutal follow-up punch toward Zero's chest. Simultaneously, Zero drove a high side-kick straight toward Cheetah's jaw.
SWOOSH!
Before either strike could hit its target, a massive shadow dropped between them.
Two massive hands clamped down seamlessly—one intercepting Cheetah's incoming fist, the other catching Zero's kick by the heel in mid-air.
Both women froze in shock.
The Vice Leader?! Cheetah thought, her blood running cold.
T-Rex stood between them like a monolithic wall, effortlessly holding both lethal attacks at bay.
"Both of you have lost your minds." T-Rex said slowly.
His voice carried such immense authority that both women immediately backed off the moment he released them.
"Vice Leader, she is not letting me interrogate the kid," Cheetah said, pointing an accusatory finger at Zero.
T-Rex turned his head slowly toward Cheetah, his eyes cold. "I said something earlier, have you forgotten or you ignored that willingly? The Boss will handle the interrogation himself when he arrives. Or I will interrogate."
Cheetah felt a sudden wave of primal fear wash over her. Under T-Rex's heavy aura, she lowered her head, unable to maintain eye contact.
T-Rex then turned his attention to Zero. "And you—you should have reinforced my orders instead of engaging in an unsanctioned brawl."
Zero bowed her head respectfully. "Understood, Vice Leader."
The entire room remained dead silent. Even Stinger and Scorpion flinched under T-Rex's oppressive pressure. Sitting on the couch, Ethan felt a crushing weight chest-high, making it feel as though the very air in the cabin had been sucked out.
Satisfied that order was restored, T-Rex turned around and approached Ethan. He pulled up a wooden crate, sat down directly in front of the boy, and let his intense aura dissipate.
"What is your name, kid?" T-Rex asked, his tone soft and measured.
Ethan swallowed hard, his voice trembling despite his best efforts to stay composed. "I... Ethan."
T-Rex gave a quiet nod. "Alright, Ethan. Don't be afraid. Just take a few deep, slow breaths. We'll talk when you're ready."
Ethan nodded, taking a couple of shaky, deep breaths as instructed. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Cheetah and Zero retreat to opposite ends of the safehouse.
After a moment, T-Rex spoke again. "So, Ethan. What were you doing out in that place all by yourself?"
Ethan looked up into T-Rex's eyes, speaking with quiet honesty. "I was looking for my father."
T-Rex was taken aback by the response, though his face remained unreadable.
"So you aren't a scout after all,"
Ethan shook his head.
Before T-Rex could ask any further, the heavy wooden door of the safehouse swung open, letting in a gust of icy wind and swirling snow. Every operative in the cabin snapped their eyes toward the entrance.
A young man stepped through the threshold, stamping the snow off his boots and lowering his thermal hood.
T-Rex recognized the man immediately and rose to his feet, extending his gloved hand. "Welcome... Welcome to DWO."
The newcomer shook T-Rex's hand firmly. "I'm T-Rex, Vice Leader of this unit. You must be our new member."
Liam offered a polite nod. "Yes, sir. Liam reporting for duty."
Over near the supply crates, Stinger squinted at the newcomer.
That's the guy Headquarters assigned us? He looks like he just walked off a high school graduation stage.
He's literally a kid, Cheetah thought, leaning against the far wall with an annoyed scowl.
Zero studied Liam's posture, noticing the calm, analytical discipline in his eyes.
So young... yet HQ deployed him directly. Let's see how he performs.
Scorpion merely stretched his arms, adjusting his gear.
Liam, huh? It's been over a decade since anyone new joined DWO Unit.
T-Rex turned back to face the room, addressing the squad. "Team, pay attention. This is Liam. His codename is Light."
Liam bowed his head slightly toward the assembled veterans. "It's an absolute honor to meet the DWO Unit. Your reputation precedes you."
Zero gave him a respectful nod. Scorpion and Stinger offered quiet nods of acknowledgment, while Cheetah simply turned her back and vanished into the adjoining room.
T-Rex began walking Liam through the team lineup. "That woman over there—her codename is Cheetah..."
Liam listened attentively, taking in every detail. As his eyes scanned the room, his gaze suddenly locked onto the couch near the center of the cabin.
His eyes widened slightly as he spotted Ethan sitting quietly behind T-Rex.
So that's the new recruit... Liam, Ethan thought, studying the young man's calm demeanor.
Wait... what is a kid doing here? Liam thought, his brow furrowing in confusion.
Is he an operative's child? Or something else entirely?