G.H.O.S.T.: The Vaknar War

Epilogue

The ship touched down on the beach, as Hunter stepped off and looked to the sky.
"We're here. Weapon's safe, we've got civilians here."
The group made their way into the jungle, as he activated his mask and took off his goggles to look at the facility before them.
Kane took the lead as they followed a map to it.
"We're close enough, I think. I can feel it."
"How can you tell?" Frost asked.
"My fear detector is going off the charts."
They continued forward, finding a clearing near a large statue of a woman, and it was in ruins.
"Who did this?" Oliver asked.
"I have no idea, but if they're still here, we might be able to find her. I can sense something inside the remains of the building."
They proceeded to enter it, and it led to a stairwell that spiraled down into the ground.
"What's this place?"
"I'm not sure, but I know that's where the masked woman was last located."
The Elites all nodded, prepping their weapons.
"Alright, let's get going."
"I'll go first, everyone else, follow behind me. We don't want to alert anyone to our presence yet."
Everyone nodded as they made their way down the hall and into the darkness.




***
                                    
5 minutes ago, unknown position.

It was a large compound, surrounded by other buildings.
A man walked down the hallway, carrying a briefcase with his files inside.
His phone rang in his pocket, as he pulled it out to answer.
"Hello?"
"We've got an emergency on our hands."
"What happened now?"
"We've had reports of unfamiliar readings on our charts, and one energy signature we haven't seen in a long time. Grim's."
"G.H.O.S.T. just always seems to have a surprise at every corner don't they."
"Yes sir, how do you want us to approach this?"
"Inform the division and have the units launch the Tactic squad. As for the Shadow Elite's, bring out the Hound's. We don't want any surprises."
"Percival's team has been informed, and HQ is aware of the situation."
"Good. Keep me informed on their progress."
"Yes sir."
He hung up, looking over the data and setting the briefcase down to open a secret compartment inside, as he placed the data disk inside and closed it.
"It's time..."
On the rooftop of the facility stood a woman wearing black robes and a golden mask. She placed her hand on the edge of the roof and pushed off towards the ground below.
As she descended, the wind blew through her hair, as she landed in front of the building with the greenish glow.
She held a pistol in her right hand and wore a mask with two horns protruding out of it.
Her arms were covered in black leather vest and she used black gloves to cover her hands. Her legs were also protected in black leather, as well as her lower back.
The only area exposed was her chest, where there was a black cloak covering most of her upper body.
After making contact with the ground she began walking in the direction out of the man's sight.
As she pushed her back against a wall. She tapped her ear, "Siphon, come in."
"You're really pushing yourself this time aren't you?" Siphon said, his voice echoing through her piece.
"I can't help it if I'm a bit reckless. Besides, I've got eyes on him."
"Alright but be quick, we lift off in five. Atlas and Grim want us back at HQ asap."
The woman smiled, "Grim's back huh, then I guess I gotta deliver him a homecoming present."
Twirling around the woman took two steps, smoke emitting from her mouth and eyes as she leapt once more into the shadows.
***
Grim looked through the window view of his office, watching agents run across the halls and mechanics at work in the hanger bay.
He sighed.
It had been too long since he finally came into contact with people who didn't want to kill him.
He lost count of how many days he'd been in the hell hole of the necro realm, fighting off the kindred Silas was about to unleash.
Grim caught a glimpse of the Elites as their ship departed.
They had all grown into exceptional agents, he almost felt old.
Xavier especially, he thought of the boy as one of his own, he was happy that he found some sort of solace with his father, as much as Grim would hear a mouthful from the kid's mother he wouldn't blame her. Malcolm chose to hide the secrets within himself and took a risk for the sake of the powered and powerless. A hero among heroes.
"Ace...we're really in it now."
Going back to his desk,  feeling the groove of the surface he tapped a button under his chair.
A comm in his ear chirped to life. "Director, the government officials would like a word with you, as well as the council members." A woman said.
Grim grunted.
"Tell them I'll be there shortly."
"Yes sir"
The comm ended in static, leaving Grim back to his thoughts.
Grim never really liked all the politics that came with the job, and as much as Amadeus tried to mirror the tower during the fight, they still left a mess for their damage control to fix. He knew certain members would see this as an opportunity to end the organization and put appeals on super powered use. In this world as much as they tried to prove they were the same, G.H.O.S.T. still had to face many who hated super powered individuals and many who plotted on making them a public enemy every time they attempted to save the world.  He could never tell if it was jealousy or just hate for the dark lady's effects on the world deep in their hearts, taking it out on them. He knew it would be a matter of time before their enemies caught them at their weakest as of now.
A table emerged from the middle of his office, the same one as the war rooms, however synched to Grim's mask.
On the top of the table sat a black briefcase and a small tablet.
Grim opened the briefcase, revealing his personal records and files.
He put the briefcase down, as he opened a drawer to reveal several stacks of papers.
Grim grabbed the papers.
There's a lot of data to sift through.
The Hold was still in partial repair and a couple of convicts had escaped, including Stalax, causing Grim to scowl as he read on.
The Shadows reported a cell organization  they were tracking down known as the Xypher Corp were the creators of the serum used to create the Vaknar.  The only problem was they were under direction of a M16 research division, making it a jurisdiction problem, nothing the Shadow Elites couldn't handle.
With a sigh, he moved the stack of paper to the side, as he opened another drawer and took out another case.
The Vaknar had been the least of their problems. Silas was in another league, one which put Grim on guard and he would use every resource available to find and stop him.
Before he could open the case he felt a sharp pain in his skull as he dropped to his knees.
A strange pressure built up in his head, causing him to fall on his back and stare up at the ceiling.
His body shook violently as a dark crack appeared across his mask, within a minute his body lay still.
He groggily picked himself up moments later, unconcerned with the case he dropped.
"Transference complete, my liege." Grim said in a different gloomy tone.
He  raised his hand over the table as a dark wavelength of energy scanned the table's surface.
He picked up a tablet from the desk, transforming it into a mechanical bird.
"My connection is still weak, go on now."
Transferring darkness into the bird he let it fly off as it phased through the glass window and out the hanger.
Grim knelt once again as the pain got even sharper, the dark crack on his mask rescinded as he dropped on the floor.
He screamed in agony as a shape appeared on his back.
As it finished, a symbol partially done appeared.
A red  tip featuring a pattern of scales.
Outside the office Xavier, Amadeus and father were catching up on life and his career as a G.H.O.S.T.,
not before hearing Grim's screams.
Atlas burst into the room as he shoved the door.
"Grim! What's going on!?"
Grim's vision blurred, as he gasped for air.
Everything seemed to fade away.
All he could perceive was Atlas crying out for medics as Xavier prepared him for CPR before his consciousness slipped away.
***
Empty darkness.
Two energies colliding.
A link lost.
Chaos brewing slightly, growing.
Gaining strength, spreading.
Worlds burning, Wars waged, the dead rising, Secrets unfolded, a hellbent blade clashing with a scythe, a man and woman standing as it all came before the apocalypse.
A tower engulfed in purple flames.
Through the eyes of a cracked mask the sight of a blurry figure firing a blue shot.
...
Silas opened his eyes.
Torime, his trusted confidant, slammed her staff on the ground as a group of soldiers walked closer to the round table he sat at.
"My liege."
The masked man looked up at them as they sat down around the table.
A storm was brewing outside the castle, thundering echoed throughout the room.

"G.H.O.S.T. is getting stronger, even if they try to stop us they're still in the dark. The next few months will be very busy ones."

"Yes...we'll need to bring in more allies my leige." the head soldier said.

They looked different from the Vaknar. Where the Vaknar had a ghoulish look in their eyes, these soldiers had a sort of fire within their iris.
All of them tattooed in ancient scripture and the head trooper had a scar shaped as a snake along his arm, surrounded by the tattoos and glowing in a red flame.

"Make sure we do, but for now we need to focus on our next mission. The humans have made it clear they won't settle for our dream, ready the Cavalieri."
"As you wish my liege. Everyone will be arriving soon, the Xypher official won't be able to arrive I fear."
"Hrn...the sooner we complete our agenda with them. Kill them immediately."
"It will be done as you wish"
A door opened and another group of soldiers entered, followed by the woman with the wolf mask.
The castle lights dimmed slightly, and by the side of Silas lay the head of the president of the nation they resided in. All that surrounded it was now debris and flames around the citadel.

"Our seed. Was it planted?"

The masked woman took her mask off to reveal Anitta Von Ross once more.

She knelt before Silas.

"Yes my liege, He's unaware of anything. They still believe my clone is the real deal. Shall I ignite it?"

"No. Shane's brashness gave away our plan. We must simply wait for the perfect opportunity to bring them all down to their knees."

"And the Vaknar?"

"They were too weak to face the agents of G.H.O.S.T., I have no need for them, the serum is now almost perfected. A trial befitting to my full strength."

"Marsa, are we to attempt a retrieval, my liege?"

"No. It's too soon. Continue working on our project, let our seed sprout. Time is in our favor as it was theirs."

Tapping his mask, a holographic picture of the future Xavier against the wall was shown.

"They think they've altered what will still become. I saw through it. I feel the timeline changing, but not so far that it can not be reversed back."

"We failed to kill Malcolm and extract the key from him."

Silas waved his hand, swiping the picture away.

"No matter. What's done is done. He wasn't the only way to get her back to me. Just the easiest. Now we get our hands dirty."

"At once, My liege."

Anitta stood up and turned around,

"Ready the remaining forces on the double, contact the Cavaerli and tell them we are ready. Message the top ranks, our lordship is waiting to give us or-"

As Anitta barked orders to her subordinates and the soldiers rushed out, Silas tuned out the sounds around him.

He would get back what he lost.

The world would revel in the truth of true might.

He would release himself from his banishment.

Silas closed his eyes once more.

"The end begins now."