Dark Wave Force: The Beam

Chapter 5: Leave Us Alone.

The echo of the final blow still resonated through the battlefield as the dark shadow creature disintegrated into nothingness, its form melting away like sand in the wind. The last remnants of its monstrous energy fizzled out, leaving behind a scorched and cracked earth.

Jake and Mike stood side by side, their eyes locked on the vanishing shadow with an air of determination. Their bodies were bruised, their clothes singed from the intensity of the battle, but there was a sense of satisfaction in their stance. They had done it—together.

"Well, that was a hell of a fight," Jake said, wiping the sweat from his brow as he turned to face the team. His grin was wide, a rare moment of pride showing on his face.Mike, ever the stoic, gave a simple nod. "We didn't expect to be part of the team's clean-up crew, but it's good to help."

They scanned the battlefield, their eyes falling on the rest of the Dark Wave Force, who were all catching their breath and nursing their wounds. The group had come close to losing—too close for comfort—but now, the immediate threat was gone. For the moment, they were safe."Are you all alright?" 

Jake asked, concern lacing his voice. "That was one tough son of a—"

"We're fine," Lucas snapped from the center of the group, cutting him off. His voice was sharp, tense. He still stood rigid, his katana gripped tightly in his hand, his breathing heavy but steady. He didn't look relieved. He didn't look grateful.

Jake and Mike exchanged a brief glance. They could feel the tension in the air. 

"You sure?" Mike asked, his brow furrowed as he took a cautious step forward. "You look like you took a hit."

Lucas' eyes darkened, a flicker of something behind them—frustration, anger, maybe even something deeper that no one could quite place. He took a deep breath, refusing to show weakness in front of the team, but the words that came out of his mouth were anything but calm.

"I didn't need your help," Lucas spat, his voice low but filled with venom. He turned to face them fully, his jaw clenched. "I had it under control. I didn't ask for you two to waltz in like some damn saviors."

Jake took a step back, a flicker of disbelief crossing his face. "We were just trying to help, man—"

"I don't need help!" Lucas snapped again, his eyes flashing. He shoved his katana into its sheath, his posture aggressive. "I can handle things on my own. I don't need anyone coming to my rescue. I'm not weak."

The force of his words hit the team like a physical blow. A silence followed, the weight of the confrontation hanging heavily in the air. The rest of the team exchanged uneasy glances, unsure of how to react to Lucas' sudden outburst.

Jake was the first to recover, his expression softening but his tone firm. "Lucas... We're a team. You don't have to carry all of this on your own. If you need help, you've got us."

But Lucas wasn't hearing it. He shook his head, his hands balling into fists at his sides.

"I don't need anyone," he repeated, more quietly this time, but the hurt behind his words was clear. "I don't need to be coddled. I'll finish this fight by myself. I don't need you, I don't need anyone."

Mike stepped forward now, his voice steady but unyielding. "You're right about one thing, Lucas. You're strong. But no one is invincible. And you can't do this alone." His gaze was firm, almost pleading. "We're here for you, but you've got to stop pushing us away."

Lucas didn't answer. Instead, he turned his back to the brothers, his face set with determination. "You've done your part. Now it's time for you to leave. We'll handle the rest from here."

Jake and Mike exchanged another glance, this one filled with regret. They had come to help, but it seemed that their presence wasn't wanted. Jake opened his mouth to protest, but Mike placed a hand on his shoulder, stopping him.

"We'll go," Mike said, his voice low but resolute. "But know this, Lucas—you don't have to do this alone. You don't have to shut us out."

Without another word, the two brothers turned and began walking away. Their footsteps were heavy, the weight of the situation pressing on their shoulders as they moved toward the horizon. Lucas didn't look back, his jaw still clenched, his hands trembling with barely contained anger. The rest of the team stood silently, unsure how to react to what had just unfolded.

As the brothers disappeared into the distance, Genesis stepped forward, her voice soft but steady. "Lucas... was that the right call?"

Lucas didn't look at her as he answered. "I don't need them, Genesis. I can't keep dragging everyone into my mess. This is my fight. And I'll finish it. Alone."

Jessica watched him carefully, her expression thoughtful. She knew how much Lucas carried inside. How much pressure weighed on him. She didn't want him to keep doing this to himself. She wanted to tell him that it wasn't wrong to rely on the team—that they were a family. But she held her tongue.

Instead, she walked up to him, her voice gentle but firm. "We all have a role to play in this, Lucas. Don't shut us out."

Lucas looked at her for a moment, his gaze flickering with uncertainty, but he shook his head, turning back toward the road ahead. His voice was low, almost defeated. "I don't have time for this right now. We have to go."

With that, he started walking toward the path leading toward their next challenge. The rest of the team hesitated for a moment, exchanging uncertain glances, but they followed him, knowing that there was no changing his mind. Not right now.

The team began their trek once more, the weight of their victory over the shadow creature now replaced with an unspoken unease. Lucas led the way, his back straight and shoulders tense, pushing forward toward the unknown. But the quiet distance between them was heavy—a fracture they could not ignore.

As they made their way toward the next stage of their journey, the path ahead seemed uncertain. And yet, they all knew that despite the distance between them, despite the tensions rising between their leader and the rest of the team, the Dark Wave Force had no choice but to move forward.

The Beam awaited.