The Calm Before the Storm
Val sat alone in his quarters, the quiet ticking of the antique clock on the wall the only sound breaking the silence.
The past month had been eerily quiet—no ambushes, no sudden skirmishes, just the hum of routine missions and strategic planning. But the weight of anticipation pressed against his chest like a stone. He knew better than to trust the stillness.
Bo had returned from his solo mission three weeks ago, bruised but alive. Riggs would be back in a matter of days, and Fon, who had completed his simple assignment, was already back at HQ, ever the restless presence with his boundless energy. Yet, each member carried the same unease, a shared sense that the storm was only waiting for the right moment to break.
Dr. Lewis was constantly monitoring communication channels, hunched over his desk with eyes flicking between screens and half-deciphered documents. The strategic operations room glowed with the pale light of holograms, casting long shadows that danced on the walls. The tension was thick, palpable.
One evening, as Dr. Lewis sifted through intercepted transmissions, a message caught his attention. The garbled words crackled through the speakers, a jumble of consonants and static. His pulse quickened. With practiced fingers, he set to work, decrypting the signal. As the fragments fell into place, a phrase jumped out at him:
"Bellator relic… timeline compromised."
He straightened, eyes narrowing. The relic they had retrieved a year ago—it was more significant than they'd understood.
Mind Link Communication: Dr. Lewis: General Luis, we need an emergency assembly. I have intercepted something connected to the Bellator relic.
The response was immediate. Understood. I'll call for the team. Be ready.
The strategic operations room filled quickly.
Val stood near the front, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. Bo leaned against a table, eyes scanning the room. Fon sat on the edge of a chair, his young face tense with a seriousness that defied his age.
General Luis entered, a commanding presence that brought the room to full attention.
"Dr. Lewis, tell them what you told me," General Luis said, folding his arms.
Dr. Lewis's gaze swept over the gathered team. "I intercepted a signal from an unknown source, coded in a way that aligns with the documents Val retrieved. It mentions the Bellator relic and implies that something related to it is set in motion."
Val's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenching. "What does that mean for us?"
"It means," Dr. Lewis continued, "Hades' Wrath and Black Lotus are closer to their goal than we thought. The calm we've been experiencing isn't just coincidence. It's strategy. They're preparing for something big."
Riggs, who had returned that morning, leaned forward, his voice low and rough. "So what's the play? We can't just sit and wait."
General Luis nodded. "We're not. We're increasing patrols, tightening security. But we need to be smart about our next move. If we overplay our hand, they'll know we're onto them."
Bo asked, "What about the relic itself? Where is it now?"
Dr. Lewis hesitated. "It's in a secure location, protected by multiple safeguards. But if they've found a way to track it, it won't be enough."
The room fell silent for a moment, tension hanging like a storm cloud ready to burst.
Val broke the silence. "Then we need to get ahead of them. Any leads from the documents?"
Dr. Lewis nodded slowly. "There's a mention of a place, something called the 'Primordial's Vault.' I haven't pinpointed its location yet, but if they're going after the relic, it could be where they plan to take it."
Fon's eyes darted between Dr. Lewis and Val. He spoke up, his voice steady despite the nervous tremor in it. "If they're moving soon, we won't have time to sit around. Shouldn't we be preparing to intercept them?"
General Luis placed a firm hand on Fon's shoulder. "We will, kid. But we need to know more first. Rushing in blind is a death sentence."
Val nodded, his eyes meeting the general's. "We have to act fast, but we can't afford to be reckless. Bo, Riggs, Fon—gear up. We're moving out in teams to scout potential leads on the vault."
Bo activated his Mind Link. Finally, some action.
Riggs simply replied, Just be ready for whatever they throw at us.
Later that night, the team dispersed to their assignments, the air crackling with tension. Val stood at the window of the operations room, staring out into the darkened horizon. Dr. Lewis's voice pulled him from his thoughts.
"Val, if this really is connected to the Bellator bloodline… be careful. They're not just targeting us. They're targeting you."
Val turned, a flicker of something unreadable in his gaze. "I know. And that's exactly why we can't let them win."
Val hesitated for a moment, then gazed between General Luis, and Dr. Lewis. He said, "I'd like to ask your opinion about something.", motioning for his team to ahead of him.
As soon as the rest of the team had dispersed from the room, only General Luis and Dr. Lewis remained.
Then, with a determined gaze, he said, "What if we reveal that one of us is an ARM user? As far as our intel goes, and based on the incident a year ago..." he paused then continued, "It seems only those large notorious Underworld organizations knows that the Void is among the Bellators, which is me."
General Luis's brow furrowed, his eyes hardening with a mixture of determination and reluctance. "The existence of an ARM user has always been kept under lock and key. Only a few in the highest ranks know, and for good reason. If word got out that we had a living ARM rank among us, it could draw attention we're not ready for, from friend and foe alike."
Val's jaw clenched, the implications heavy. "But our enemies are already mobilizing, seeking power that could rival anything we've faced before. If there was ever a time to reveal this—to warn others and shift the balance—it's now."
Dr. Lewis stepped forward, his usually composed demeanor showing cracks of concern. "Val, you're talking about upending years of secrecy. The ARM rank isn't just another tier of power—it's the peak, the embodiment of what many believe to be a myth. Revealing it could shake alliances, inspire panic, or worse, lead to betrayals from within."
Val's eyes burned with conviction, but beneath it, there was a flicker of exhaustion. "We're already at the brink. Hades' Wrath and Black Lotus are relentless, and if they're aiming for the relic's power, we won't be able to fend them off alone, no matter how elite our unit is. The ARM rank might be the only leverage we have left."
General Luis looked at Val, his gaze unyielding but with a hint of sympathy.
"You know as well as I do that once this information is out, you become more than just the captain of this squad. You become a beacon—an invitation for both allies and adversaries to turn their sights on you. We'd lose the tactical advantage of surprise and risk painting a target the size of Clareo on your back."
Val's lips pressed into a thin line. "I understand, General. But if we wait too long, the choice might not be made for us. Hades' Wrath knows more than we give them credit for, and if they're aware of what's hidden within the Bellator bloodline, then it's only a matter of time before they leverage that knowledge."
The room was steeped in silence, the unspoken truths hanging between them like a veil.
Dr. Lewis sighed, breaking the tension with a weary tone. "If we proceed, we need to frame it strategically. The ARM rank's reveal shouldn't be an announcement—it should be a deterrent. A subtle message that warns our enemies without sparking chaos among our allies."
General Luis considered this, his jaw working as he weighed the risks. "We'd need to control the narrative tightly. Selective reveals to trusted command and allies we're certain won't turn. And we'll need contingencies for any fallout."
Val's eyes darkened with the storm of the past year's battles, betrayals, and the relentless pursuit of the Void's power. "I know what's at stake. But if revealing the ARM rank can save lives and put a stop to the chaos before it engulfs us all, then it's a risk I'm willing to take."
Dr. Lewis's gaze softened, a rare moment of personal concern breaking through his professional mask. "Val, this isn't just about revealing a rank. It's about you, about what you'll face when the world knows the extent of your power."
Val met his eyes, the shadows of past sacrifices and future burdens reflected in his own. "I'm prepared, Dr. Lewis. I have to be. Because if we don't make this stand now, there might not be a future left to protect."
General Luis stepped closer, his hand gripping Val's shoulder firmly. "Then we do this with precision. We'll draft a plan and pick the right moment. And when we move, we'll be ready for whatever storm follows."
The three men stood in silence, the weight of the decision pressing upon them.
Outside, the wind howled like a distant whisper of war, and Val knew that once the ARM rank was known, there would be no turning back. He turned his gaze to the horizon, where the night bled into the promise of dawn.
It was the calm before the storm, and soon, the storm would know his name.