Chemicals

15

The next morning, the base was buzzing with quiet intensity, but I felt calm. The kind of calm that comes when you know there's no turning back and you've made peace with it. As I gathered my gear and headed to the central hall, the weight of the mission didn't faze me as much as I thought it would. We had a job to do—retrieve the Curex-13 component—and I wasn't going to let fear slow me down.

The air outside was cool and crisp, with a faint mist clinging to the ground. It gave the whole place an eerie, quiet feel—almost like the calm before the chaos. In the distance, the city's skyline was barely visible, jagged and broken against the horizon. A reminder of what the world had become. The mist clung to the ground outside, a cool, damp breeze brushing against my face. The city loomed in the distance, a jagged reminder of what was left of civilization. I inhaled deeply, steadying myself. I'd been in tough situations before, and this one wouldn't be any different. I was ready.

We gathered in the hall to gear up, each of us preparing in our own way. Ivy was already checking through the equipment, her face set in that serious, focused expression she always wore before a mission. Even though she radiated confidence, I could tell she was feeling the pressure. This mission wasn't like the others—this time, we were headed straight into the heart of the city, into what had once been a bustling metropolis but was now a dangerous ruin filled with Psychoids and who knew what else.

Ivy stood in the hall, focused and sharp, going over our equipment. "Everyone has their weapons? Ammo? Radios?" she asked, her voice steady, but her eyes scanned us with the same concern we all felt.

I secured the straps on my backpack, my movements confident. I wasn't nervous—not anymore. The anticipation felt more like adrenaline, sharpening my senses, preparing me for what was to come. This wasn't a time for hesitation. I glanced over at the others—Andrea adjusting her vest, Mohammed checking his maps. They were ready too, though Andrea's usual swagger had a little more edge to it today.

Andrea broke the silence first, her grin almost forced. "Can't wait to see what the city looks like now," she quipped, though I could sense the underlying tension.

"We'll stick to the back roads," Mohammed said quietly, still reviewing the GPS tracker. "The main streets are crawling with Psychoids."

Ivy nodded. "Exactly. Back routes only. In and out, no unnecessary risks." Her tone was firm, and I could tell she wasn't leaving any room for mistakes.

I checked my own gear one last time and found myself glancing over at Ethan. He was busy inspecting his rifle, his fingers moving with calm precision. His experience was obvious, but that didn't surprise me. He'd trained for this sort of thing long before we met. When he looked up and caught my eye, he smiled, the kind of smile that said, We've got this.

"You ready for this?" he asked softly, his voice laced with warmth.

I nodded, meeting his gaze with a determined look of my own. "I'm more than ready," I replied firmly. I wasn't here to be scared. I was here to make sure we got that Curex-13 and made it back alive. No doubts. No hesitation.

Andrea wandered over then, giving Ethan a look I didn't miss. "Looks like you've got everything in order, huh?" she said with a teasing grin. "Stick close, new guy. I'd hate for you to get lost out there."

I raised an eyebrow, but quickly brushed aside any flicker of jealousy. It didn't matter. Andrea's playful flirtations weren't going to distract me. I had my focus where it needed to be—on the mission.

Ivy clapped her hands, drawing everyone's attention. "Alright, team, this is it. No wandering off. We're getting that component and getting out, quick and clean."