Man On The Moon

Chapter 45: Unecessary

The group finds themselves in a dimly lit room, their vision still hazy from the after-effects of the smoke and the flashbang. Some of them are starting to recover, groaning and rubbing their heads in pain, their eyes slowly adjusting to the low light. Vettel, groggy and disoriented, finds himself in front of three mysterious men. He doesn't recognize them, and the situation doesn't look promising. Taking a moment to gather his bearings, he looks around for any clues about his current situation. Vettel, after the initial shock of his waking up in a strange place wears off, he looks at the men with a questioning look.

Vettel: "Who are you? Where am I? What's going on here?"

Vettel's eyes widen as a look of realization crosses his face. Trio Stellaron Hunters... he's heard of their reputation, their infamous history. As realization sets in, his confusion turns into a deep sense of unease mixed with curiosity.

Vettel: "...Stellaron Hunters. What do you want with me?"

Kafka, Silver Wolf, and Blade, now unmasked, their faces more visible, regard Vettel with the usual cool, almost casual nonchalance typical of them. Their silence is broken by the cool, calm voice of Kafka.

Kafka: "We have use for you, Vettel."

Silver Wolf chimes in, an amused smirk on her face.

Silver Wolf: "And by use, she means we need your skills for a little... side project."

Blade remains mostly silent, his arms crossed as he gazes at Vettel with a stoic expression. He speaks up, his voice low and serious.

Blade: "It's not optional."

Vettel, initially stunned by the revelation that he's facing the Trio Stellaron Hunters, now finds himself on the defensive. His expression is a mix of confusion and defiance.

Vettel: "And what if I refuse?"

Kafka, her eyes flickering with a hint of mischief, steps forward. Her voice is calm but with a clear undercurrent of authority.

Kafka: "Refusal isn't an option, Vettel. You've attracted our attention, and that means you're now a part of our plans."

Silver Wolf, enjoying the dynamics, adds a twist of humour.

Silver Wolf: "Yeah, you're like... a key player in our little game now. And you don't just get to walk away from that, sorry."

Blade, though stoic, speaks in agreement with the other two.

Blade: "You have skills and power. We need them for our goals. The sooner you accept it, the better."

Vettel, despite the threat, defiantly holds his ground.

Vettel: "You're out of your mind if you think I'll just fall in line with your plans. I have my objectives, my purposes."

Kafka, her smile widening, almost as if she's enjoying the resistance.

Kafka: "Oh, we know. And that's part of the reason why we want you on our team. Your individualism, your determination... they could be assets if wielded correctly."

Silver Wolf, a hint of admiration mixed with her playful demeanour.

Silver Wolf: "And let's be real, dude. If you join us, you'll be doing some pretty cool stuff, stuff you couldn't even imagine on your own."

Blade, ever the pragmatic one, gives his more straightforward reason.

Blade: "Plus, it's not like you have a choice anyway. If you refuse, we have ways to... persuade you."

Vettel, his anger reaching a boiling point, clenches his fists defiantly as he responds to the Stellaron Hunters.

Vettel: "You're all the same, you Stellaron Hunters. Thinking you can just use people however you please, like they're pawns on your game board. I won't be a part of your schemes. I won't be a tool for your cause."

Kafka, remaining unfazed by Vettel's outburst, steps closer to him. Her voice, still calm, holds a steel undertone.

Kafka: "You're right. We do see you as a piece on our game board. But think of it this way. You won't just be a pawn, you'll be a valuable piece that we'll use strategically. Your skills, your independence... we can channel that. We won't let it go to waste."

Silver Wolf, adding her input.

Silver Wolf: "And hey, let's face it – our 'schemes' are damn efficient. If anyone can accomplish something crazy, it's us. Imagine what you could achieve with our resources, our tech."

Blade, his stoic expression unchanged, reinforces their point.

Blade: "Refusing us isn't an option. You can either cooperate willingly, or we can... coerce you into compliance. Either way, you'll be doing our bidding. It's just a matter of how difficult you want to make it."

The sudden appearance of the cyborg guardian interrupts the tense exchange between Vettel and the Stellaron Hunters. The cyborg guardian, its mechanical voice breaking the intense atmosphere, announces that there's been an escape from the prison. Vettel's eyes widen, and the Stellaron Hunters, while displaying their usual calm facades, shift their attention towards the cyborg guardian. The cyborg guardian continues, its voice mechanical yet steady.

Cyborg Guardian: "An escape has been reported from the eastern quadrant of the facility. The escaped individual is considered dangerous and a high threat to security."

Kafka, her gaze quickly shifting back and forth between the guard and Vettel, her expression betraying a hint of surprise at the news.

Kafka: "Do we have any intel on who the escaped prisoner is?"

The cyborg guardian responds, its tone matter-of-fact.

Cyborg Guardian: "We're still gathering information. Current data suggests the individual has enhanced physical abilities and possesses unknown psionic powers."+

Silver Wolf, visibly intrigued, a hint of excitement in her eyes.

Silver Wolf: "Unknown psionic powers, huh? This just got interesting..."

Blade, ever the cautious one, cuts through the excitement with his pragmatic mindset.

Blade: "We need to know more. Enhanced physical abilities and psionic powers are manageable, but the unknown factor could be dangerous."

The cyborg guardian nods in agreement, its mechanical voice continuing.

Cyborg Guardian: "We have initiated a full lockdown of the facility, and security teams have been deployed to locate the escaped prisoner. However, the individual's current whereabouts are still unknown."

The trio of Stellaron Hunters, after hearing the news of the escaped prisoner, turn away from Vettel and start exiting the room. Kafka, Silver Wolf, and Blade pause at the door. Kafka, her voice calm yet authoritative.

Kafka: "We'll be back to continue our discussion shortly. Stay here and don't do anything stupid."

Silver Wolf, her smirk still present, adds a playful note.

Silver Wolf: "Yeah, behave yourself, Vettel. I've left some entertainment for you while we're gone."

Blade, ever taciturn, offers a blunt warning.

Blade: "And remember, if you try to escape, we'll find you. It won't be pleasant for you when we do."

Without another word, the trio of Stellaron Hunters leave the room, the door clanging shut behind them, leaving Vettel alone in his cell-like enclosure. The room suddenly shudders as Acheron, Vettel's older sister breaches through a wall of the prison, the impact creating shockwaves. The sudden action catches Vettel off guard. Vettel, surprised but relieved, turns to see his sister emerging from the broken wall. Vettel's initial surprise quickly turns to relief as he looks upon his older sister. Acheron, her expression stern and resolute, approaches her brother.

Vettel: "Sister, what are you doing here? How did you find me?"

Acheron, her voice filled with relief and determination, responds to her brother.

Acheron: "I survived that surprise attack from the Stellaron Hunters. Their plan had its flaw."

Vettel, still taken aback by the series of events, looks at his sister with a mix of gratitude and worry. Vettel, his voice filled with both gratitude and concern, replies.

Vettel: "I'm glad to see you alive, sister. But you shouldn't have come here. It's dangerous, especially with the Stellaron Hunters involved."

Acheron, dismissing her brother's concerns, responds with a firm tone. Her resolve is steadfast.

Acheron: "I came here because I couldn't just leave you in their hands. We're family, Vettel. I won't let them use you as a pawn."

Vettel, touched by his sister's devotion but still worried about her safety, tries to reason with her.

Vettel: "I appreciate your concern, sister. But you don't understand who we're dealing with here.
The Stellaron Hunters are on a whole other level. They have resources and power beyond what we could imagine."

Vettel, feeling a surge of gratitude and affection, leans forward and plants a gentle kiss on his sister's forehead, his voice soft and sincere.

Vettel: "Thank you, sister. Your courage and devotion mean everything to me. But promise me you'll be careful. We can't let the Stellaron Hunters get the better of us."

Acheron, touched by her brother's affection, nods in response. Her expression remains resolute but her voice softens with emotion.

Acheron: "I'll be careful, Vettel. But remember, we're in this together now. We'll get through this, I promise."

The siblings, determined and united, begin to strategize their escape from the prison. They quickly realize that time is of the essence, and their actions need to be swift yet cautious. Vettel and Acheron swiftly move through the corridor, keeping an eye out for any potential threats or security measures put in place by the Stellaron Hunters. As they navigate the halls, they discuss their next steps in hushed tones. The trio Stellaron Hunters, Kafka, Silver Wolf, and Blade, return to the cell, their expressions expecting to see Vettel still inside. However, their surprise turns into shock as they find the cell empty, a clear sign that Vettel has escaped. Kafka, her usual composure momentarily shaken, is the first to speak.

Kafka: "How did he get out?"

Silver Wolf's playful demeanour turns into confusion as she speaks.

Silver Wolf: "I don't believe this. We left him locked up tight. There's no way he should have been able to escape on his own."

Blade, his stoic features betraying a hint of annoyance, responds with a calm voice.

Blade: "We underestimated him. He's more resourceful than we gave him credit for."

The trio Stellaron Hunters, their calm exteriors now laced with anger and frustration, realize the extent of their miscalculation. A hint of disbelief and unexpected admiration also lurks beneath their anger. Kafka, her voice sharp, speaks first.

Kafka: "We should have taken more precautions. That damned kid is more trouble than we anticipated."

Silver Wolf, her initial surprise now replaced with a grudging respect, speaks up.

Silver Wolf: "I have to admit, that guy's got some serious guts and resourcefulness. Escaping from our custody... that's no ordinary feat."

Blade's anger simmers beneath his stoic exterior, his voice tight with restraint.

Blade: "Yes, he's resourceful. But he's also a danger to our plans. We need to find him and deal with him before he causes any more disruption."