Bab 1: Strangers

Beneath the stellar extravaganza of the night sky, every shimmering star took on the persona of a rebellious rockstar, each one a dazzling maverick in the cosmic concert. Their heavenly antics painted an electrifying spectacle, captivating anyone bold enough to glance upward.

The night breeze, laced with the scent of adventure, swept through, carrying a sassy chill that playfully teased the spine of the lone traveler, turning the walkway into a covert catwalk.

As the man strutted through the empty streets, his outfit screamed avant-garde rebellion, setting him apart as the undisputed fashion nonconformist of the night. Clad in a snug-fitting suit, he exuded an aura of a person worth a million bucks and a backstage pass to the universe's coolest gig.

This rebellious flair clashed delightfully with the bleakness of the surroundings, sparking curiosity about his mysterious person and the cosmic party he seemed to be attending.

The cool atmosphere was just one part of what made this late-night escapade a thrilling rollercoaster. The neighborhood, infamous for its high-energy underground scene,throbbed with an electric crime rate that added a thrill to the air.

The absence of people and vehicles only escalated the sense of danger, casting long shadows that whispered of stealthy rendezvous. With every swaggering step, the lone traveler embraced the mounting adrenaline, compelled to ride this wild path—it was the only groove leading to his home.

"Why are they still jamming with me?" the young man murmured under his breath, his long black hair fluttering in the wind as he kicked up the tempo. His edgy vibe was contagious, making it evident that he was in tune with the figures keeping pace behind him.

The nocturnal pursuit unfolded like a vibrant music video, each riff contributing to the pulsating energy of the scene, leaving unresolved chords hanging in the air, creating a suspenseful harmony begging for the next cosmic verse.

In the quiet corridors of the corporate labyrinth, Jack, an unassuming figure, navigated the intricacies of a simple life tethered to an unyielding aspiration: to carve a place of importance in the world. Despite a sparse social circle, Jack found purpose beyond the boundaries of camaraderie.

Within the sterile confines of his workplace, a stark contrast emerged. Jack became the unwitting protagonist in a drama of workplace hostility. Harassed by his colleagues, enduring a deluge of insults and false accusations, he stood resilient. A palpable spite fueled his coworkers' determination to see him ousted.

Today marked the culmination of their sinister plan—a plan where the company's most sensitive documents found refuge in Jack's bag, unbeknownst to him.

The fallout was swift and severe. Outraged higher-ups, fueled by the apparent theft, mandated a thorough search of every employee before day's end. The damning documents, strategically placed, left Jack vulnerable.

He faced instant termination, denied the chance to explain or clear his tarnished name. Shamed and in despair, Jack's only recourse was a solemn journey home. The job, his financial lifeline, was abruptly cut off in a world grappling with economic turmoil.

Beyond the confines of Jack's personal saga, the global landscape painted a bleak tableau. Nations, embroiled in bitter wars for supremacy, turned the world into a battleground.

The casualties, a staggering fifteen thousand lives lost each month, comprised both military personnel and non-combatants ensnared in the crossfire.

In this intricate tapestry of chaos, Jack, now jobless, confronted a future cloaked in doubt. The tumult of nations had cast him as an unwitting casualty, a lone figure navigating the chaos of a world in disarray.

In the muted glow of the dimly lit walkway, Jack's senses heightened as he detected the subtle dance of shadows – two evasive figures discreetly weaving a pursuit around him.

The night air crackled with an undercurrent of tension, and a surge of adrenaline propelled Jack into a disconcerting labyrinth of questions.

"Why are these bastards after me?" Jack's thoughts raced, each step now a calculated attempt to confound his relentless pursuers. The chase unfolded with a symphony of immediacy, the two shadowy figures closing in on him. Jack's body language transformed, a desperate acknowledgment of their presence, while they remained resolute in their silent mission to capture him.

As Jack strained his body to run, the disparity in physical prowess became evident. His petite frame and feeble legs conspired against a rapid escape.

The pursuit heightened, culminating in one of the shadowy figures springing forward, hand outstretched to seize Jack by the shoulders. In a primal response to immediate danger, Jack clutched his briefcase with a white-knuckled grip and swung it backward with a basic force.

The briefcase, a makeshift weapon, sliced through the air, connecting with the pursuer's face and orchestrating a chaotic ballet that sent him crashing to the ground.

Amid the triumph of this impromptu defense, Jack hesitated, a fleeting reflection on the abrupt divergence from a life defined by monotony and an aversion to conflict. The echoes of childhood dreams, once nurtured under the guidance of his now-deceased parents, were drowned out by the troubling memories of their untimely loss in an invasion, thrusting Jack onto a path of unexpected turmoil.

The injured figure, sporting a swollen cheek and a bloodied cut, lay momentarily subdued. Yet, seizing the opportune lull during Jack's hesitation, the second pursuer, cloaked in an aura of mysterious capability, unleashed a punch of astonishing power.

The blow carved through the air with supernatural precision, leaving no doubt about the otherworldly prowess of Jack's relentless adversaries.

In the engulfing darkness that swallowed Jack's consciousness, his body yielded to gravity, crumpling upon the unyielding ground. Within this shadowy descent, the mosaic of his dreams and aspirations shattered under the brutal symphony orchestrated by his assailants.

"Ouch! I didn't expect this guy to fight back, and now I've been hit in the face," lamented the man who bore the brunt of the briefcase blow. His jet-black hair, carefully kept, conferred an air of refinement to his beleaguered form, contrasting the chaos around.

"Quit your whining; it will heal," countered the other man, his fiery red hair mirroring the intensity of his temperament. In a surreal ballet of regeneration, the facial wound exhibited an otherworldly healing rate. The flesh wove itself back together, defying the very laws that governed human frailty, leaving no trace of the earlier injury.

Curiosity etched across the features of the man with black hair as he surveyed the unfolding tableau. "What are they going to do with the guy?" he inquired, his voice cutting through the post-conflict stillness.

"It's none of our business. We were simply sent to pick him up and move him to the lab," responded the red-haired man. From his pocket emerged a peculiar device – a hybrid of telephone and unknown technology, highlighting the mystery that enveloped their mission.

Dialing a number, he initiated a call that resonated through the dim surroundings, answered promptly on the other end.

"Is the job done?" inquired a voice, the timbre steeped in covert authority.

"Yes, it's done. He'll be transported to the lab shortly," affirmed the red-haired man, the weight of unstated consequences hanging in the air.

"Perfect," replied the voice, an enigmatic punctuation to the cryptic conversation that sealed Jack's fate as a pawn in a secret game with rules eluding his understanding. The shadows of uncertainty draped themselves over Jack's unconscious form, leaving his destiny precariously suspended in the balance of invisible forces.

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