Chapter 1

(Protocal Headquarters, Planet 018894567, 16th October 3020.)

Underground Tunnel

Inside the tunnel - which was unusually dyed with red, a figure could be seen fighting with 13 others. Even though he was dead tired and surrounded, he was able to barely match against them.

Even though the headquarter was on self-destruct counter, he was fighting with his life on line, instead of escaping like others.

Well, more like he was the bait for invaders- the Empire.

Protocal Headquarters was a trap set-up by his organization, to make a dent in Empire's numbers. And he was the bait.

Looking at himself, he could see the numerous wounds and whatnot on his body. He had tried to protect his vitals, but alas they were just too many out there for his head.

Taking a look at the last 13 invaders, his situation wasn't much better than them.

'The Headquarters will blow up in 3 minutes more, but I can't hold them that long enough' ' Maybe I should just stop, I've done enough' ' still being killed by the Empire...haaa' gasping hard, he had these thoughts. ' We are close to that lab...anyway since today is the day I die, let's blow this up' thinking this, he made use of the gap between them and dashed.

" Yo, let's take this fight to the end" he shouted while running.

Soon he saw the room, lab 0000. Taking a deep breath, he opened the door and went in. Inside this lab was an unfinished particle cannon - a finished cannon could destroy a planet, if fully charged.

Ignoring the warning messages, he checked for the charge in it.

To his relief, it had 10% charge left, more than enough for the Empire's pawns.

Mustering all his remaining strength, he lifted the unfinished particle cannon with both hands, and using his shoulder to support it. 'Hopefully those pawns won't be alive after this'

Soon he heard their footsteps, just outside the door.

As he had locked the door, those pawns were trying to break the door apart. 'That's it' 'As soon as they break the door, I'll shoot'

Looking at self-destruct counter, it had final 1 minute 30 seconds left, and soon the door was broken apart.

Taking advantage of the chaos, he aimed and shot cannon at the door.

Those Empire pawns had just entered the lab and got in line of the cannon, leading to their doom. As tough they were, they didn't had free will, being called pawns for the same.

A rational being wouldn't have had followed him there and wouldn't stay in a place that was on self-destruct count down.

And Empire had several of these "pawns".

Alas, he was forced to fight them - all so his organization could get a small victory. In a sense, he was same as pawns. They were owned by Empire, while he belonged to those scums who used him as bait.

Well, atleast he had free will in his mind- only thing keeping him sane.

In all this, he forgot that the particle cannon was an unfinished product- not that he cared about, as he would die soon.

The unfinished particle cannon caused space disturbance, leading to many distortions and cracks. While he would have liked to end this miserable life, he recalled one theory- of space cracks and distortions. They could lead to either your doom or new world.

Looking at the counter, last 30 seconds were left.

He had to decide, to jump or stay, and fast.

He recalled his life...how he was abducted and experimented...given code name "Zero". It had taken him a long time to get free will from all that brainwashing. He did everything- all so he could break away from this. And they used him as bait.

Asking himself ' Do I want to live ', ' or do I want to loose my life which I struggled so far'. A part of him wanted to rest- eternally.

"10 seconds to Self-destruct..."

"9 seconds to Self-destruct...."

'Jump or stay '

"7 seconds to Self-destruct...."

' Do I want revenge on those scums?? '

"5 seconds to Self-destruct...."

' I worked so hard to regain my will '

"3 seconds to Self-destruct...."

'Ahhhh, atleast I won't die without complete body in crack'

"1 second to Self-destruct...."

'JUMP, I'll see you scums if I'm alive '

(---FAR AWAY, Main Base of Protocal.----)

"Marshall, base on planet 018894567 has successfully been self-destructed. No life signs found. Seems Zero has finished his task." said Zamba, while looking at the holographic screen in front of him.

"HAHAHA, so much so for that struggle Zero. If you hadn't struggled, I would have left you alone...alas, you had to fight and rebel. sniff sniff...Wasted so much resources on him, our first creation to fight Empire. Nevertheless, he put a dent on Empire. HAHAHAHA"

Zamba looked away from the holographic screen, towards his creator - Marshall. A 7 foot tall man, having scar on left eye, while wearing monocule on right eye. While looking at him one would assume him to be muscle head and brawn-over-brain. But he was the brain behind Protocol and one to lead all Experiments. A scientific genius but ruthless guy, and mentally unstable - You wouldn't see such combination anywhere.

"So this ends the chapter Zero..HAHAHAHA. You justified your name HAHAHAHA." said Marshall in deranged laughter.

"Continue the project Delta, Zamba. She shouldn't be like Zero."

"On it, Sir."