KITHE: Mission

Kronos is a place and organization that is located on an island inside the Philippines that can't be seen on the map. It has incredibly high security that before you get inside, you have to pass through nine gates that have a different level of security.

"You don't have a plan yet don't you?" Ash said and grinned to mock him. Kithe going alone and having no concrete plan is suicide. He might have a chance to go inside if K is not aware of what he did but the problem is going out. And if K already knows about everything, he will be dead the moment he steps on the island.

Kithe gave him a stern look. "I was about to devise a strategy when you appeared without warning," he explains, but Ash just chuckles because he doesn't believe him.

He has been claiming that Ash is a pain in the neck but the truth is quite the opposite. Because of his recklessness, he'll get himself killed. This is the reason why Ash can't tell him things carelessly. When he put his mind to something, he will do it no matter what.

"What are you even doing here? Don't you have your own task?" Kithe changed the subject.

Ash sat properly and said, "Oh right. About that..." causing Kithe to look at him.

"Don't tell me, they caught the target," he said.

"No, they didn't," Ash answered and beamed. This news made Kithe sighed in relief.

"That's great but how did he escape? Did you kill your group?" Kithe asked. Both of them are aware of each other's mission. Kithe and his unit were tasked to find other human subjects but Jack abruptly located the girl they met in the forest. That is because Jack has that kind of ability that is why he is teamed up with the tracking unit.

Ash and his unit on the other hand were tasked to capture this boy that has been a target since then but was always able to escape.

"Oh no, I didn't kill my unit. The kid fought them and they ended up dying. He's actually good though. He almost killed me too. Glad I escaped," Ash stated and smiled in amusement. "He's a pretty skilled kid."

A sixteen-year-old kid who's excellent in using his ability is pretty interesting for both of them knowing he's living in a world where power is uncommon. Kithe was trained inside Kronos making it natural that he is skilled as he is right now but that kid is different.

"Everyone is dead then?" Kithe queried making Ash face turned serious.

"No. Falcon escape," Ash paused and stared at the ceiling. "I escaped before the explosion and came back earlier before sunrise to check it but I couldn't smell his body. We are taught to self-destruct when we are near to our death and that's what the others did. This way we won't leave any evidence that will lead to Kronos nor K. All my teammates' smell lingered in the ashes except for Falcon."

Falcon is one of the skilled agents of K that can be par with Jack. He could be dangerous to humans and him being alive would be dangerous for that kid.

"I have a guess that Falcon was just testing the kid's ability and come back for him later," Ash said in a serious tone and continued, "He had a lot of chance to take him but he didn't."

"You too," Kithe answered. "You are a pretty skilled agent yourself. Falcon is alive and he knows that. It will be dangerous for you if he comes back to Kronos and tells everything to K."

Ash chuckled and grinned, "It doesn't matter. My task playing as his agent is over now." He thought that K will find it out sooner or later anyway. He has no reason to follow him anymore now that Kithe found out about his illegal activities on that island.

"No human died right?" Kithe asked. The combat must've caused a lot of damage to the village and he fears that people died because of it.

"No. But Falcon has his mom," Ash replied with a serious look on his face. "Pretty sure he's gonna use her as a hostage."

"Yeah. He probably brought her to Kronos."

There is a high chance that the woman is alive and they will only find it out once they go back to Kronos.

"Why did you went here anyway? Isn't it better if you go back to Kronos so they wouldn't be suspicious of you too?" Kithe abruptly asked him. Ash's appearance is quite a surprise to him.

Ash's expression changed and spoke, "I have something important to tell you."

Kithe frowns because of the sudden change in his mood.

"What is it?"

"Your mom sent me a message," Ash said.

Kithe curiously asked, "What did she say?" He wondered if it's something about Kronos or K. It makes him want to go back there and see his mom.

"She doesn't want you to go back yet." He explained while looking straight into Kithe's eyes. Kina ordered not to let his son go back just yet and Ash agrees to that.

"But why? Did something happen? Does K knows everything?" Kithe asked as his heart skipped a beat. He's so worried about his mother because she's alone there.

"She feels like K knew," Ash said. "But she said that you don't have to worry because she met an old friend that is her ally. She wants you to know that she's not alone."

Even after hearing what Ash said, he still can't sit still and said, "This still means that I have to go there now."

Ash heaved a deep sigh. He knows that it will be hard to convince him. "I told you, you can't! That's what your mom believes too," he said. If he didn't listen then there is a high chance that he'd force him.

"Then what am I supposed to do? Wait here?!" Kithe brushed his hair in frustration.

Ash shook his head and crossed his arms, "No one is saying that we'll just wait for things to happen. We'll have to create a team and that is your mom's plan."

"What? What does she mean?" puzzled, Kithe asked and sighed. He tried to calm down after noticing that his hands are freezing as well as the wooden floor.

"We have to gather all the kids that K is targetting and have them as our allies," Kithe explained, closed his eyes, and sighed.

"What? We are just gonna put their lives in danger. We can't do that!" Kithe exclaimed. HE thought that the idea is ridiculous. He doesn't want to put other people's lives in danger.

Ash grinned and said, "Man, they've been in danger all their lives. If you really want to stop this, you will follow the plan and save the others. This is the only way, Kithe."

"But how? They are not skilled." Ash beamed because of what Kithe just said.

"Remember the kid that I told you about earlier?"

Ash was talking about the kid that killed his team and escaped. Having him as their ally will strengthen them because of his skill. They just have to find him again.

"But what about the others?" Kithe asked.

"We can train them, Kithe."

"But that will take time! We have to save them as soon as possible," Kithe said. He believes that the longer it takes, the higher the chance that they may not be able to save everyone.

It will also take them a day to get to Kronos using a ship.

"Don't worry. One thing I'm sure about is that your mom has a plan. She knows he won't kill her because he needs her. For now, we have to focus on doing the mission," Ash assured Kithe and smiled.

"And if I refused?"

Ash looked at him and smiled. "Then I wouldn't tell you the truth about our kind."

Kithe asked confusedly, "What?"

"You could choose to proceed with the plan or die knowing nothing," he said and turned his back.

***

End of chapter.