Killer Instinct: Carrie Unleashed

Chapter 43: First Mission

The full shade of darkness shrouded Jago until specks of light seeped into his eyes. Lines of trees surrounded him, covered in fog, even as he sat up and checked his surroundings.

Where am I? He headed north until he arrived at a meadow. Mist obscured the region, but Jago kept moving until a blossomed tree revealed itself. A log sat in front of the tree, showing a view of this strange foggy realm. "What is this place?"

"Don't worry, you're safe," a voice said.

Jago jumped at the unexpected voice. He shifted to his battle stance, listening until a man with wise yet weary eyes emerged. He sported an attire comprising a digital military camouflage pattern. "Who are you?"

"You should know," the man said. "Orchid told you about me."

Jago furrowed his brows until he spotted the man's tape on the outfit: Jacob. He stepped back, swallowing hard as a heaviness crept in his stomach. "Father?"

Jacob smiled, his sepia eyes lighting upon meeting one of his two children. "The spirit world isn't what I expect to have our first meeting."

"Spirit world? Does this mean-"

"Calm yourself. You're not alive nor dead, as though something is keeping you grounded. Why don't you sit next to me?"

"I rather stand."

"Suit yourself."

Jago mentally kicked himself before he sat beside his father on the log. "My...my legs were becoming stiff."

Jacob chuckled. "You and Orchid have my stubbornness; it must be a family trait. You must have questions, I assume."

"How did you and my mother meet?"

"I met her when I accepted the mission to rescue aid workers taken in Pakistan. The terrorists demanded a ransom and promised to kill them if the nations did not obey. After careful planning, we completed the mission by killing the rebels and saving the hostages. Once we brought them to base, the doctors assessed their treatment; only your mother received the rebels' worst. I visited her during my downtime, and I grew fond of her. The doctors mentioned my presence helped her cope with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and other emotional scars."

"So, you weren't there once I was born."

"No, and I regretted it, but I sensed that I would have a son. You can call it a parent's intuition."

"Is my mother here?"

"Not to my knowledge. That reminds me of when I've been trying to find you and your mother. The last clue I had was that you vanished into the Himalayas."

"She placed me at a shrine in the Himalayas, and the monks adopted me. Although they're a family in my eyes, meeting Orchid changed my perception. Since then, I wanted to find my mother."

"I see. To think your mother would leave you at a temple unless...she told me she had to go somewhere because the same rebels sent her threatening mail. An assumption, but if they learned she was pregnant, they would kill her and turn you into one of their soldiers. Your mother was the only person keeping me going. You can do much if you're a lone wolf, but having someone precious in your life strengthens you."

"Still, you risked your career by going AWOL when you learned of Orchid's abilities."

"Maybe, but if Ultratech or the government received word of Orchid's powers, they'd use her as a weapon. I couldn't let it happen. From what I understand, you're doing the same for Carrie."

Jago jerked his head towards his father with scrunched brows. "How do you-"

"I might be dead, but it doesn't mean I'm keeping track of the events in the mortal world. Do you plan to adopt Carrie?"