Forged In Freedom

Chapter 1 - Escape

The sound of heavy footsteps crashes through the forest, mixed with incoherent yelling. We're running—through the rain and mud, past bullets and explosions. Running for our lives.

My name is Legion. I lead a 12-person elite cyborg team. We were once called "Power," the tip of the spear for the C1 project. Feared. Respected. We took on missions no one else could. Now? We're fugitives, escaping from The Foundation.

Last week, I hacked into their systems and found out how to disable our inhibitor chips. Yesterday, I deactivated them for my entire team. For the first time in years, we remember who we really are. I can look at Echo and see her—not just a sharpshooter, but a person with fears and emotions. Blink isn't just a scout, Arch isn't just a medic. None of my team is expendable. They're my family now. And I won't let them go. Not now. Not ever.

"Captain, where exactly are we headed?" Blink calls out, her voice sharp over the rain.

"I'm not sure," I reply. "Scout ahead and tell me what you see."

"On it," she says, vanishing in a blur.

They call me Captain. The name feels right now, more than ever. Even Seraph, with her love of the sea, calls me that.

"Seraph! Echo!" I shout.

"Yes, Captain?" Seraph responds, her voice calm.

"Aye?" Echo echoes, already scanning our surroundings.

"Echo, get a count on how many are chasing us. Seraph, can you change form in this rain?"

Echo's ability to see through smoke, darkness, rain—just about anything—makes her our best chance at knowing what's coming. Seraph, our aquatic expert, has an ability most wouldn't believe even after seeing it: she transforms into a mermaid when submerged in water, amplifying her power.

"Captain, I can see about 1,200 enemies closing in. They've called for reinforcements," Echo says after a few moments.

Her voice is steady, but I know she's run the numbers over in her head several times. I trust her with my life.

"I understand. We need to move faster and hope Blink returns with good news."

Blink is our speedster. With a top speed of over 200 kilometers per hour, she's unmatched.

"Captain, I can't change forms unless I'm fully submerged," Seraph says. She sounds almost apologetic, though it's my fault for forgetting.

"Right, I forgot. Sorry about that."

"No worries, Captain! Shouldn't we start firing back though?" Seraph asks, gripping her anchor with a grin. "I'm itching to start counting heads."

"She's right, Captain! I wanna start boxing their heads in!" Kai's voice cuts in.

Kai, our hot-headed martial artist, is more agile than anyone else, and every punch he throws feels like getting hit by a truck. He and B.B. are the only ones who can match me in sparring.

"No," I say firmly. "We run not because we can't fight, but because we can. We could end their lives easily—but we won't. Not now. We run because it's the right thing to do. The time for fighting will come, but not today. We'll spare their families the grief of losing someone they love. There's no honor in slaughtering just because we can."

The team goes silent, letting my words settle. Being a leader isn't just about making tough decisions. It's about guiding them, steering them toward the right victory. I see the moment of realization flicker in their eyes. This is what it means to lead.

"Captain, you're nervous," Silver says softly from behind me. "It's alright. Even the best leaders get nervous."

Silver's voice is always calming. Despite being blind, she can read emotions better than anyone. She's riding on my back, though I know she can take care of herself. Still, this way I know for sure.