Capítulo 31: Unfinished Business... (P.1)
~Ezra's Pov, A few days later~
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'I finally found them... I think it's time I put an end to their operations.' These guys practically had no traces. They weren't just careful, they were almost anonymous by a significant margin. The only reason why I've been able to track them was because of that one person I helped during the carnival when I went with Amber.
It wasn't hard to find him specifically, and by doing so, I've found where they all could be, and if I can find anyone of importance at that little hideout. I'd be more than set.
However, the memory of that night with Amber still lingered. We had such a good time, carefree and happy. Now, everything was different. I shook my head, focusing on the task at hand. There was no room for distractions...
I approached the rundown warehouse that matched the coordinates I'd pieced together. It looked abandoned from the outside, but I knew better. Steeling myself, I tuned my senses, scanning for any signs of life inside. Hearing heartbeats, whispers, and the faint hum of machines—this place was anything but deserted.
I slowly moved in. And there they were, a group of them huddled around a table, discussing something in hushed tones. I stayed in the shadows, listening in. Their leader, an average-sized man with a composed demeanor, seemed to be the one calling the shots. If I could take him out, the rest would likely fall apart.
I stepped forward, letting the dim light purposely catch my silhouette. They noticed immediately, scrambling to their feet, weapons drawn at the sight of me. I just held up my arms in a mock gesture of surrender.
"Good evening, gentlemen... Relax a bit..." I said, "I'm not here to cause trouble... Yet..."
The leader sneered, "Who the hell are you? And why fuck are you here?" He didn't shoot me on sight, props He's either a fool, or he's very calculating, maybe a bit of both. But I digress.
I instantly moved in towards an empty seat next to him and his lackeys, "To make you an offer," I replied, inching closer, "Tell me where your base of operation is."
They laughed, but it was clearly tinged with uncertainty. I could hear their heartbeats, they were, afraid... Poor things, they had no idea what they were dealing with. As if someone appearing beside you wasn't enough, you take said person for a joke...?
"I don't think you understand," the leader said, pulling out a gun. "We don't take orders from anyone."
I scoffed, these guys were playing brave, I could smell urine from one nearby me, even from the boss man himself... I'll play this game of theirs, "Neither do I," shrugging, "But I'm not giving you orders. I'm giving you a chance."
With that, I moved faster than they could react, disarming the leader and grabbing him by the neck. "Guargh!!!" he choked out, his eyes wide with fear.
I tightened my grip just enough to make a point. "Listen carefully," I said, making my voice low and dangerous. "You and your men have one choice... Tell me where your main base of operation was, or die, simple."
The others looked on, frozen in shock and fear. They were realizing, perhaps for the first time, that they were up against something far beyond their understanding or control, perhaps both.
I released the leader, letting him fall to the ground, gasping for air. "Tell me, what's your answer?" I continued.
He coughed and sputtered, clutching at his throat as he tried to regain his breath. "Alright, alright!" he wheezed, his voice shaking, "I'll tell you. Just... D-Don't kill me."
I leaned in, making sure he knew I wasn't bluffing. "I'm waiting," I said, my patience getting thinner by the second. I was contemplating whether I should let any of them live at this point or not. Men like these haunted societies for less than a brush on the shoulder.
But death was sometimes too easy an escape for these types of people...
He glanced at his men, who nodded nervously, urging him to comply. "O-Our main base is in the old factory on the outskirts of the city, south from here and underground," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "It's heavily guarded, but that's where you'll find our boss..."
I nodded, satisfied with his answer. "Good," I said, standing up straight. In a small instant, I broke every one of their arms and legs and dialed the authorities to come for them all. With that finished, I flew out and headed towards the next location. The final stop.
I was gonna rid this city of this damned serum operation.
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~Omniscient Pov~
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"Kori! Damn it! KORI!! I said I'm sorry!" Dick turned towards her with guilty eyes.
Kori's eyes flashed with anger and hurt as she spun around to face him. "Sorry? Dick, you've been saying 'sorry' for weeks now, and nothing has changed!"
Dick ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident on his face. "I know, Kori, and I mean it every time. But things are complicated right now."
"Complicated?" Kori's voice rose, filled with disbelief. "Dick, you were sleeping with another woman. How is that 'complicated'?"
Dick took a step closer, reaching out to her. "Kori, please, it was a mistake. A terrible mistake. I wasn't thinking clearly."
She shook her head, stepping back. "No, Dick. I can't keep doing this. You say you love me, but your actions... they don't show it."
He looked at her, a pained expression crossing his face. "I do love you, Kori. More than anything. But there's so much going on, so many responsibilities."
Kori's eyes softened for a moment, but then she hardened her resolve. "I get that, Dick. We all have responsibilities. But... I gave you the needed time to figure out what's more important before it was too late."
She quickly sat on the bed, holding a tired expression. "Not only did you cheat on me, you cheated with Barbara! My own friend?!!"
Dick's face fell, and his heart harder; He looked away, unable to even meet her eyes. "I-I know, Kori. I know I messed up, and I'm sorry. I never wanted to hurt you or Barbara. It just... happened."
Kori's eyes filled with tears, but she blinked them away, determined to stay strong and calm. "That's not good enough, Dick. You can't just brush it off as something that 'happened'. You made a damn choice. You chose to betray me and destroy both our trusts."
He took a step closer, desperation in his voice. "P-Please, Kori, give me a chance to make it right. I know I don't deserve it, but I love you. I'll do anything to fix this."
Kori shook her head, a sad smile on her lips, "Love isn't just words, Dick. It's actions, and your actions have shown me where your priorities lie... I made my mistakes, but you and I had completely different dispositions, and I changed all of them for you, and now you do this?"
She stood up, her decision clear in her mind. "I need time to think, to decide what I want. Right now... I can't be with someone who doesn't value our relationship enough to stay faithful."
Dick watched helplessly as she walked towards the door, his heart breaking. "Kori, please..."
She paused, looking back at him one last time. "Goodbye, Dick. I hope you find what you're looking for. But it will NOT be with me."
With that, she left, leaving Dick alone with his regret and the weight of his choices pressing down on him, "W-Wait! At least tell me where you're going!?"
She hesitated to answer at first, knowing he had no business anymore to know where the hell she would go, but he was also their leader when it came to what she was about to do... "I'm going out on that lead we had, Alone..."
*Slam!*
Dick just stood there, defeated by his own actions...
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~Omniscient Pov~
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"I'm not getting any response from the east side..." The man looked towards his superior.
The superior in question was a seasoned veteran with a composed demeanor, who glanced up from his maps and monitors. "What do you mean, no response?" he asked, his voice inquisitive, "We have a small team stationed there. They should be checking in regularly."
The man took a steady breath. "I've tried all frequencies, sir. There's nothing. It's like they've just... vanished."
The superior's gaze became more focused. "Vanished? That's unusual. Send a scout to investigate immediately. We need to understand what's going on."
"Yes, sir," the man replied, quickly moving to relay the orders. As he did, a sense of quiet urgency settled over the room. Losing contact with a whole team was no small matter, and it suggested something—or someone—had disrupted their operations.
The leader continued to study the maps, his mind working through the possibilities with cautious precision. "If it's him," he murmured to himself, maintaining his calm exterior. "We need to be prepared."
'If it is him, he'd be coming at the worst time possible... Just when we are able to put the finishing touches on Project Chimera...
As the minutes ticked by, the tension in the room was palpable but controlled. Everyone was on edge, waiting for the scout's report. When the scout finally returned, his face was serious but composed, his hands steady.
"Sir," he said, his voice measured. "The east side is... destroyed. No signs of life. It looks like it was hit by a hurricane or something even more powerful."
The superior's expression remained calm, though his eyes sharpened slightly. "So, it is him," he said quietly. "Prepare the defenses and alert all units just in case. We're dealing with a force unlike any we've faced before..."
He turned to his men, his voice filled with quiet determination. "This is no ordinary threat. We need to be ready for anything. No mistakes, no hesitation. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir!" the men replied in unison, their fear momentarily overridden by their training and discipline.
As they scrambled to fortify their position, the superior maintained his composed exterior. He knew that whoever was responsible for the destruction of the East Side was likely not to be underestimated...
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~Koriand'r's pov~
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"Starfire, it isn't wis—"
"I'm sorry, Batman. I'm doing this alone." I cut him off, my voice firm. I couldn't bear to hear more advice or warnings. I needed to clear my mind, to escape from the emotional turmoil of tonight.
Flying through the cityscape. The city lights blurred below me, just until I couldn't see them anymore...
I peered below seeing one of the facilities we had a lead on. For once, I was hoping there would be something I could punch in ther-
'Hmm?' Who is that? It looks like a male... But, why is he in a suit?
As I descended quietly, the man in the suit became clearer. He stood out against the backdrop of the dimly lit facility. His posture was, calm... Almost nonchalant as if he had every right to be there. It was a bit, unsettling.
I landed softly, still cloaked in shadows. The man hadn't noticed me yet, his attention focused on the facility's entrance.
"Who are you?" I demanded, stepping into the light. Ensuring my voice was strong and carried the authority of someone who didn't have time for games.
He turned slowly. He was masked in a fitting suit and his eyes... They were glowing green, and he met mine with a measured calmness, "You know me... I'm Enigma." he said simply. "And you must be Starfire."
I didn't lower my guard one bit, isn't Enigma supposed to be untraceable? A rumor among the criminals? "What are you doing here, Enigma?"
It felt like he gave me a smile underneath that mask of his. "The same thing you are, I imagine. Looking for answers."
"Answers to what?" Why am even I entertaining this discussion?
However, I saw him glance at the facility behind him, and then back at me. "... In why I'm going to destroy the facility below... A mission of mine for a while, and since you're here, you can help me."
Out of all nights, this had to happen, why this one?
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END
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