THE HERO
it's a calm and usual night for New York. The sky illuminated with vivid light of moon and stars dazzling in the background. The big skyscrapers are trying to reach them but can't. Thousands of people moved along the streets, passing each other like ants. To them, the world seemed simple and straightforward but they don't have the slightest idea what is happening beneath their feet. Almost 20 meters below ground and 2 km away from New York square, in an abandon subway station, a group of 4 suited and masked men are on run. behind them an army of 6000 armed soldiers ,chasing them like hell. The group is moving and dogging the bullets, taking turns while jumping over the debris . From outer look they all are just some common people in black suit with a black briefcase but in reality they are a part of a secret organization goes by the name HEX. HEX operates in the shadows-an independent international defense agency that officially doesn't exist, yet quietly shoulders the weight of the world's survival. The main goal of HEX is to save the earth from human's self annihilation. However these 4 are low level field agents of HEX. They were given the mission to watch out for any shade business happening in the abandoned subway but things went extremely side ways. It tuned out that a whole army of bioterrorists are developing a deadly virus in this underground subway, now it basically turned into their research facility. the team is trapped inside.
Faint echoes of gunfire and shouted orders reverberated through the abandoned subway. Four agents in black suits darted through the tunnels, their breaths heavy, their movements precise. The army of 6,000 soldiers behind them wasn't slowing down-they were gaining.
"Move! Stay low and keep running!" barked Luke, the group leader, as he narrowly avoided a bullet that ricocheted off the wall beside him.
The team weaved through the narrow passage, dodging debris and leaping over broken tracks. The once-silent station was now alive with chaos: boots stomping, weapons firing, and orders being shouted over the soldiers' comms. John, the team's tech specialist, was panting as he pulled up a holographic screen from his watch. "Luke! They're closing in-two squads just entered from the west tunnel. We're surrounded!"
"Keep moving!" Luke shouted, glancing back to ensure everyone was still on their feet. A stray bullet grazed his shoulder, making him wince, but he pressed on.
Finally, they dove into the shattered remains of a metro car. Its rusted shell offered little protection, but it was all they had. Huddled inside, Luke pulled out his comm module, his voice steady despite the chaos.
"This is Group Leader Luke, code name Hammer. Do you copy, Mission Control?"
The module crackled before a voice responded, calm but urgent. "This is Mission Control NYC. I'm Mission Commander Eagle. What's your status?"
Luke leaned against the car's wall, his breathing heavy. "We're trapped. A bio-terrorist army-6,000 strong-has converted this subway into a research facility. They're developing a virus and they are going to deploy it by the morning. We stumbled into their base and blew our cover. We need immediate backup!"
"Coordinates?"
Luke quickly transmitted the location.
"Beacon received. Backup is on its way. Hold your position."
Snapping the module shut, Luke turned to his team. "You heard her. Help's coming. But until then, we stay sharp and stay alive. John, status?" John's screen flickered with red dots, all converging on their location. "They're sweeping the area. We have maybe two minutes before they find us."
Luke tightened his grip on his weapon, scanning the car for any weaknesses. "Listen up. If they break through, I'll hold them off. The rest of you, head for the north exit. No arguments."
The others hesitated, their fear palpable, but they nodded. The rumble of approaching boots grew louder. "Positions, now!" Luke ordered, his voice like steel. The team raised their weapons, bracing for the inevitable.
on the other hand mission commander Maria(code name Eagle) was in her cabin in the hexagonal shaped building which belonged to Hexagon industries. HEX uses hexagon industries as their cover. However Maria looked heavily tensed hearing the news from luke. Maria's chest tightened as Luke's words echoed in her mind. She gazed out of her 20th-floor window, the city lights below blurred by the storm in her thoughts. Failure wasn't an option-not this time. She knows the situation is dier and they have to rescue their agents as well as neutralize the virus. she took a deep breath, took out her phone and called her higher up. it rang for quite some while but finally it was received, "Hello, this is Maria mission commander NYC. I need to talk to the Angel. it is urgent code RED." Maria cried. "ok wait for a moment", the operator replied. a few seconds later another voice came through her phone, "This is angel. What's the problem?" Maria told her everything. Hearing the situation angel gave a sigh of stress, "Don't worry, I know just the right person for this job. Get to the subway with adequate gears immediately. I will be sending two agents there." Hearing words of assurance from her gave Maria a little bit comfort.
On the roof top of NYC Observatory a mystical man is wandering. It's odd for anyone to wander this late at night. So when the curator noticed him he came to check. " sir, you are not allowed to stay in the roof top for this late of night. I would suggest you to come down", asked the curator." Don't say rubbish. Stars are just playing out now. Today the andromeda looks gorgeous. Moreover, some old man said, The darker the night the brighter the sky.", said the man in blue suit gazing at the stars through a telescope. "well that's true sir, but we are closing now. so please cooperate." "Fine, five minutes, that's all I want. " "Okay sir, as you wish.", saying this the curator went away. The suited man took his eyes off the telescope and leaned on the railing. "How can you not fall in love with a night like this", he said gazing at the sky. That night was truly beautiful. moon shone bright, stars dazzling while moon's soft light flickering on the roof top. The black back drop of vast empty night sky was baffling, as if an artist had brushed white dots on a black canvas, so elegant yet so mesmerizing. He was enjoying the view with his soul poured in it, but all on a sudden his communication module rung. he picked it up. "hello, this is angel. We need to talk Blur", said from the other end. blur answered with annoyance in all over his face and voice, "Can we do it later? I am busy now."
-NO. A group of our agents are trapped in the northern subway of New York. a bio terrorist racket has developed a deadly virus and planning to deploy it by the morning. Some of our rookie agents went to look into the matter but now they have get them selves into trouble.
-so you mean, I have to clean the mess of a rookie now.
-yes, and save the world at the same time.
-ok...., fine..... .
-good I am sending you their location. Reach there fast and shadow is also on-
-wait wait!!!! shadow is coming? Than why doesn't he just take care of it?
-please!!! for god's sake blur, once in your life why can't you be responsible!! I as HEX commander order you this mission is that clear?
-yes Mam. Consider your mission done.
"what a pain!", he said to himself while hanging up. Blur took a deliberate step back from the railing, drawing a deep breath. Slowly, he raised his arms. The air around him seemed to hum, glowing red as it ionized, then shifting to a radiant blue plasma and bang, with a flash of light he was air born leaving behind a supersonic boom. Hearing the sound curator rushed to the roof but there was nothing.
"ok what's our position Ros?", asked Maria. " Well we are currently 2 blocks away from the subway station", replied Ros, chief field mission agent of hex NYC branch. He and Maria were waiting in a van for the back ups that would be sent by Angel. From outside, the van looked unassuming-just an old, battered caravan. Inside, however, it was a marvel of innovation: glowing holographic interfaces, precision-engineered weaponry, and a sleek cyber strike system capable of neutralizing threats in seconds. The van also comes with integrated weapon system. This little vehicle can bring down a whole war head all by it's own if needed. Yet Maria was stressed, though she tried her best to hide it but it was quite obvious. Ros tried to comfort her, "I know you are feeling stressed but don't worry. If the back up doesn't arrive in time , we will charge on our own with my little devil". " you call this mini van a devil", said Maria with a smirk on her face." No I don't call that. It's the official name of this van. see the card there", pointing at a card said Ros which read "This is little devil. handle with care." All on a sudden they heard a knock at the door. "I think our guests have arrived" ,saying this Maria opened the door.
The Villains
The high-tech caravan, a moving fortress of innovation, was parked in the shadow of an abandoned subway entrance. Its matte-black exterior reflected no light, blending seamlessly into the night. Inside, the space was a marvel of futuristic engineering. A circular console dominated the center, surrounded by floating holograms displaying maps, data streams, and enemy heat signatures. The walls were lined with compartments housing weapons and advanced tech, each marked with glowing holographic labels.
Maria Vendivo stood at the console, her expression sharp, eyes scanning a live feed of the station's interior. Beside her, Ros, the towering enforcer known as Hammer, loomed like a statue, his arms crossed and his eyes fixed on the holographic displays.
The hiss of the caravan's hydraulic door broke the tension. Hooded figure in pitch black itallian suit stepped in first, his dark suit blending into the dim lighting upper face covered by his hood. Maria knew this man. He is Shadow ,the legend who doesn't need any introduction, the second in command of hex after Angel. His steps were precise, calculated, and the air seemed to shift as he entered, his commanding presence impossible to ignore. Maria had heard about him but never seen him in person. Seeing him Maria senses a sigh of relief and for the first time she hopes that they have got a real chance against this situation.
Behind him strolled Blur, A blue-suited man. His relaxed posture and the faint grin on his face were a stark contrast to the seriousness of the mission. He stepped in as if he owned the place, his eyes casually taking in the caravan's tech. Maria does not know him. she reaches out her for a handshake with both of them and said, "I am Maria Vendivo code name eagle and i am the commander of this mission". shadow nodded and said, "I am shadow the second in command of hex" Blur also introduced himself, " the name in strange, Albert strange." Maria giving a formal smile asked, "as per the mission rule I suppose that i need to call you by your code name". "No need. But if you want to know, it's Blur"
Maria straightened, addressing . "Ok gentle men as you know ,we've got a situation here, and it's escalating fast." Her tone was sharp, but her relief was evident.
Shadow gave her a curt nod, his voice calm and measured. "We'll handle it. Brief us."
Maria tapped the edge of her transparent bifocal glasses, activating the interface. Streams of data scrolled across her lenses as she connected to J.E.N., HEX's Joint Enhanced Neural Network. The glasses projected a glowing overlay onto the world, highlighting details and feeding her real-time information. Everyone looks at the holographic map of the subway station.
Maria pointed at the map. "Six thousand soldiers. Armed, well-trained, and entrenched. They've secured the virus in a heavily guarded bunker below the central platform and our agents are trapped inside here at a abandon car in the southern part of the station. The virus is almost 300 meters away from the extraction point of our agents. the whole path is swarmed with terrorists ,no back door, no extra entrance, both of the places are fully sealed and the only way to get in is via this tunnel. I think a frontal assault is suicide."
Blur studied the map, then tapped a section of the tunnel with a finger. "What if we blow a hole right here? It's a direct path to the bunker. No need to fight through the crowd. I and shadow will handle the soldiers ,you and hammer use the distraction to get to the hostages"
Maria frowned. "And what about the soldiers? They'll swarm us as soon as we breach."
Blur grinned, holding up a hand. A faint glow emanated from his palm, the air around it shimmering. In an instant, a small sphere of antimatter formed, its surface crackling with raw energy. The glow intensified, and Maria instinctively took a step back. The sphere was no larger than a marble, but its power was palpable. With a flick of his wrist, Blur dissipated the sphere, the energy dispersing harmlessly into the air.
"you don't get the point my lady. For people like us fire power is not a issue and the terrorists are no more than some stray children ," Blur said casually. "I can handle it."
Maria stared at him, her skepticism giving way to a mixture of awe and unease.
Shadow broke the silence, his voice steady. "We'll go with Blur's plan, but we need contingencies. Maria, set up a perimeter and prepare for extraction. Ros, secure the southern access point. Blur and I will handle the primary infiltration."
Maria hesitated, then nodded. "Understood but though we use distraction to smoke out the soldiers there will still be some 100 or 200 soldiers patrolling the hostages that will still be a problem". "ok then I and hammer will extract the agents, you and blur go to the central platform" shadow proposed, "that's better. I am in", Blur agreed. Ros and maria also agreed. " ok lets gear up agents", said Maria
The room responded with a low vibration as the nano-tech embedded in their suits came to life.
It began with a soft, metallic ripple across their clothing. Their uniforms shimmered as the nanobots within the fabric restructured themselves. Maria's suit transformed first, the dull tactical gray melting away into a sleek black design. Blue streaks of light traced along the seams, pulsing like veins of pure energy.
The others followed suit. Ros grinned as his muscular frame was enveloped in the smooth, armor-like material. Shadow remained calm, his sharp gaze focused on the transformation as his own suit adopted the same black and blue design. Blur, leaning casually against the wall, smirked as his suit completed its transformation effortlessly, looking like it had been made for him all along.
As the suits finished forming, the masks slid into place. A seamless, white layer of material emerged from the collars of their suits and covered the lower half of their faces, leaving their eyes visible. The material adjusted perfectly to each individual's facial structure, providing both protection and an intimidating edge.
"That's new," Ros muttered, tapping the mask lightly.
"Hold on," Maria said as the next phase began.
A soft whirr filled the room, and from above their eyebrows, a high-tech augmented reality (AR) visor slid into place. The goggles activated instantly, glowing with a faint blue light. The HUD (Heads-Up Display) powered by J.E.N. flickered to life, projecting tactical data, environmental scans, and team vitals directly into their line of sight.
"Initializing tactical HUD," J.E.N.'s voice chimed, calm and professional. "Connected to all team members. Mission parameters loaded. Real-time synchronization enabled."
Blur tapped the side of his goggles, bringing up a mini-map of the subway station. "This thing still feels like it's reading my mind. Not bad."
Maria focused on her own HUD. She flipped through the overlays, checking mission details, atmospheric conditions, and enemy movement patterns. The clarity and precision were astounding.
Ros tested the goggles' thermal vision mode, smirking as heat signatures popped up through the walls of the caravan. "Now, this is what I'm talking about. They won't know what hit 'em."
Shadow remained quiet, studying the tactical information that scrolled across his visor. His presence was commanding, a reminder of his position as second-in-command. He turned to the others. "Everyone, focus. Blur, you're taking point once we get inside. Keep scanning for anomalies."
"Roger that, Jin.... ups called your real name." Blur said casually, the smirk evident even behind his mask. Shadow ,whose real name came out thanks to Blur, rises an eye brow but says nothing. They leave the caravan and move towards the subway. Maria still cannot understand the blur guy. she is absorbed in thought ,Who is he ?what's his deal? she asked J.E.N," Give me files on Agent Blur". "Sorry access restricted. Insufficient clearance", JEN's robotic voice replied. "Why? I repeat I am Eagle, authorization code E009."" Access denied. Insufficient clearance." again beeped. However soon they entered in the platform number A1, exactly right beside the central platform. "Ok the plan is simple but I am confirming it once more. Firstly blur will explode a hole in this wall and give us an opening. than we enter and divide into two groups Blur and maria would hold up the terrorists and move toward the southern part to the bunker. I and ros will use this distraction to move to North and extract our agents out. Than we will join you in the bunker and secure the virus."
The air inside the abandoned subway station was thick with tension. The dim light from overhead fixtures flickered sporadically, casting eerie shadows across the cold, concrete walls. The faint echo of distant footsteps reverberated through the tunnel as the HEX team prepared to execute their plan.
Breaking the silance a defaning explosion reverberated through the whole subway. The explosion echoed through the tunnel and the fog of dust engulfed the whole area. As dust sattels Maria and Blur stood side by side, their eyes fixed on the swarm of armed terrorists charging toward them. Behind them, Shadow and Ros slipped through the shadows, heading toward the train car where the trapped HEX agents were held.
"Think you can keep up, Blur?" Maria asked, her voice steady despite the adrenaline pumping through her veins.
Blur grinned, his hands already glowing with energy. "I was about to ask you the same thing."
The first wave of enemies came into view, their shouts and gunfire filling the air. Maria took cover behind a support pillar, firing precise shots to neutralize their weapons.
Blur, however, remained in the open, his movements fluid and confident. Bullets whizzed toward him, but with a flick of his wrist, he created a shimmering energy shield that absorbed the rounds.
As Blur and Maria pushed through the tunnel toward the bunker, their movements synced, a powerful explosion echoed from the far end. Emerging from the smoke and debris were over a thousand soldiers. Their numbers filled the vast underground expanse, the tunnel walls reverberating with the sound of guns cocking, grenades being armed, and the ominous hum of rocket launchers locking on.
Maria's breath caught in her throat as the sheer scale of the threat hit her. "Blur, there's no way we're getting through this! This is—"
Blur raised a hand, cutting her off. His expression, usually lighthearted, turned serious. "Stay behind me."
"Are you insane?!" Maria hissed.
"Trust me." Blur stepped forward, placing himself between Maria and the enemy.
The soldiers opened fire. A hailstorm of bullets and rockets surged toward them, the deafening noise drowning out everything else. Maria braced herself, expecting to be shredded or blown apart.
But the bullets never reached them.
Blur raised his hand, his fingers splayed, and the air in front of him shimmered. The bullets stopped mid-flight, their forms glowing faintly as they transformed into droplets of water. The rockets exploded harmlessly into massive clouds of mist. Grenades turned into streams of liquid that pooled on the tunnel floor.
Maria's jaw dropped. "What the—"
Blur didn't respond. His focus was unshakable as he extended his power further. With a sweeping motion, he turned the entire next barrage of rockets, grenades, and gunfire into a torrential wave of water that cascaded back toward the soldiers, drenching and disarming them.
The soldiers hesitated, murmuring in confusion and fear. Some of them threw away their weapons, believing they were cursed. Others held their ground, determined to fight.
Blur's voice rang out, calm but commanding. "Still not getting it, huh?"
He took a step forward, and the glow around him intensified. The soldiers' guns began to shimmer, their metallic forms melting away into streams of water. Rocket launchers crumbled into puddles, grenades transformed into harmless splashes, and even their body armor dissolved, leaving them defenseless.
Maria stood behind him, her rifle lowered, completely awestruck. "How... how are you doing this?"
Blur finally glanced back, a playful grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Simple. Matter's just energy, Commander and I'm just rearranging it. I manipulate them bend them, blend them, break them and make them up in any way i want. They bow before my will."
The remaining soldiers panicked, scrambling to retreat. Blur didn't give them the chance. He raised both hands, summoning an orb of energy between his palms. The orb pulsed, sending waves of blue light rippling through the air.
With a flick of his wrist, Blur sent the orb forward. It exploded mid-air, releasing a massive shockwave that disrupted every electronic device in the tunnel. Lights flickered and died, enemy radios crackled into silence, and the soldiers' comm systems shorted out.
The soldiers stumbled, their coordination shattered. Some fell to the ground, clutching their heads as the energy disrupted their nervous systems. Others dropped their remaining weapons, too terrified to continue.
When the light faded, the tunnel was silent.
Blur turned to Maria, his expression calm, his hands still faintly glowing. "All clear."
Maria could only stare at him. This wasn't just power—it was godlike. "You... you just took out over a thousand armed soldiers. Alone."
Blur shrugged, his grin returning. "Yeah, well, I told you to trust me."
Maria shook her head, a mix of awe and disbelief in her voice. "You're not human, are you?"
He smirked while his eyes and fist glowing. "No, I am the ruler of reality"
Before she could respond, Shadow's voice crackled through their comms. "Agents extracted. We're heading out. Status?"
"Bunker's corridor clear, you are clear to join." Maria replied, her voice steadier than she felt. "We're moving toward the extraction point."
As they advanced toward the bunker, Maria glanced at Blur, still struggling to process what she'd just witnessed. In that moment, she understood why he was one of HEX's most feared and revered agents. And deep down, she realized that she'd barely scratched the surface of his true capabilities.
The extraction team regrouped near the subway's central platform. The rescued agents—Luke, John, and two others—limped toward the exit, supported by Ros and Maria. Shadow and Blur lingered behind, their mission only halfway complete.
Luke, his face smeared with dirt and blood, glanced back at them. "You sure you two don't need backup in there? That bunker's gonna be hell." Blur waved dismissively. "Go on, Luke. We've got it covered. You deserve a break after the cozy vacation you've had."
Luke managed a smirk. "Thanks for the rescue. Try not to blow up the entire subway while you're at it."
Maria gave both Blur and Shadow a pointed look. "We'll secure the agents and set up at the extraction point. You have less than 30 min to retrive the virus. Best of luck, though I think you guys don't need. You can do it any way" Blur smirked," that's out of line, but it's true." Shadow simply nodded, his face unreadable beneath his AR goggles.
As the others disappeared into the shadows, Blur and Shadow turned toward the heavily fortified bunker. The bunker was a monolithic structure of steel and reinforced concrete, lined with automated turrets and protected by a phalanx of heavily armed soldiers. It stood at the heart of the platform, its thick blast doors radiating an aura of invincibility.
Blur stepped forward, his hands glowing faintly. "Let's make this quick. You want me to handle this or—" "No need you have shown enough light shows for today. Don't engage more than you have to. Stay put and keep your mouth shut" Interupted by shadow. Blur raised an eyebrow but obeyed.
Shadow stepped into the open, his dark figure illuminated by the dim, flickering lights of the platform. The soldiers raised their weapons, but before they could fire, the shadows around Shadow began to writhe and twist, taking on a life of their own.
The air grew heavy, the temperature dropping as darkness seemed to seep from the walls, pooling around Shadow like living ink. As the blast doors crumbled like brittle parchment under the onslaught of power, Blur strolled in behind his partner, his glowing steps briefly illuminating the chaos left behind. The bunker's interior was a labyrinth of cold steel and eerie fluorescence, soldiers scrambling to mount a defense amidst the overturned consoles and shattered equipment.
"You've got a knack for dramatic entrances," Blur quipped, his grin sharp as he leaned casually against a railing. "How many panic attacks do you think you've caused in the last five minutes? Ten? Twenty?"
His partner ignored him, stepping into the center of the bunker with an air of quiet menace.
The remaining guards opened fire, bullets screaming through the air like angry hornets. Yet, the moment the shots neared, the darkness responded, consuming the projectiles mid-flight and turning them into harmless motes of light.
"That's cheating," Blur remarked, watching as a squadron of soldiers backed away, their faces pale as tendrils of living blackness coiled toward them. "No one even gets a chance to reload."
One of the guards, panicked and desperate, pulled the pin on a grenade and hurled it. It didn't even get close. Shadows rippled out like a tidal wave, swallowing the explosion and cascading back into the group of soldiers. The force sent them flying, their weapons clattering uselessly to the floor.
"I gotta say," Blur continued, arms crossed as he hovered above the floor lazily. "You've really got this intimidation thing down. No witty remarks? No villainous monologues? Just... bam—and they're gone."
shadow says nothing, instead sweeping an arm forward. The room itself seems to bend and buckle, panels bursting off the walls and ceiling as dark energy tore through the air. Soldiers screamed, retreating into defensive formations, but it was futile. Tendrils slithered around their shields and yanked them into the void, leaving only eerie silence in their wake.
A group of reinforcements burst into the room, carrying heavy weaponry—rocket launchers and incendiary rounds. Blur whistled low. "Looks like they're bringing out the fireworks. Wanna tag me in?"
The response was swift—a wave of black swept over the reinforcements, disarming them before they could fire a single shot. One of the soldiers threw down his weapon and tried to run, only to be caught mid-stride and dragged into the abyss.
Blur shook his head, mock sympathy in his voice. "You know, they really should've Googled you first. 'How to fight the master of shadows?' Step one: Don't bother."
Finally, the chaos subsided. The soldiers were gone, the bunker eerily quiet save for the hum of machinery. As Blur landed beside his partner, the remains of the room's defenses fell silent. Standing at the center of the chaos was Dr. Aristron Red, his pristine lab coat somehow untouched by the destruction. He clapped slowly, the sound echoing through the bunker.
"Magnificent," he said, his tone dripping with mock admiration. "Truly magnificent. I see HEX hasn't lost its flair for theatrics."
Blur raised an eyebrow, brushing dust off his shoulder. "Takes one to know one, Doc. tell me who are you and what do you want? or should I let him finish redecorating?"
Dr. Red smiled coldly, gesturing to the destroyed lab around him. "You think you've won? You've only scratched the surface. The one I serve is far beyond anything you've faced before." Dr. Red's eyes narrowed, his voice dropping to a menacing whisper. "You'll see soon enough. Point Zero is coming. And when he does, even HEX will crumble."
Blur froze, the humor draining from his face. "Who is Point Zero?"
Dr. Red's grin widened. "Ah, so you haven't heard of him. Good. Then you are lucky"
The tension in the room was suffocating as Blur exchanged a glance with his partner. Whatever they had walked into, it was bigger than they'd thought.
The Angel
As Blur and Shadow cornered Dr. Red, ready to detain him, the unexpected happened—he suddenly collapsed, his body hitting the floor with a sickening thud. Blur frowned, kneeling down to check the scientist's pulse. Nothing.
"Well, that's... anticlimactic," Blur muttered, his tone unusually sharp, betraying a hint of unease.
Shadow remained silent, his expression stoic. He summoned a sphere of dark matter, its surface rippling like liquid night. Carefully, he encapsulated the ampule of virus within the black globule. "We've got what we came for," he said, his voice low. "Let's move."
The two made their way out of the labyrinthine subway station, rendezvousing with Maria and the other HEX agents on the surface. The air above ground was crisp, a stark contrast to the heavy atmosphere they had just escaped. Blur ran a hand through his hair, glancing at Maria.
"What's next?" he asked. "Recovery team on the way?"
Maria nodded, checking her communicator. "They've been informed. They'll handle the clean-up—retrieve the bodies, wipe the memories of any surviving soldiers, and stage the whole thing as an accidental explosion."
Blur tilted his head, his signature smirk absent. "Efficient. Good"
Maria narrowed her eyes at him. "It's standard procedure. How come you don't already know this?" Blur's gaze hardened slightly, a rare edge to his voice. "The missions I handle don't leave much behind to recover."
Maria hesitated, a chill running down her spine as she remembered the raw display of Blur's power in the subway—the effortless, almost casual devastation he'd unleashed. She had no reason to doubt his words.
Her attention shifted to the black globule in Shadow's hand. "What is that?" she asked, her voice tinged with unease.
Shadow's dark eyes glinted. "Pure dark matter. Keeps the virus contained."
Maria stared at it, her breath catching. She had never seen anything so dark, so utterly devoid of light. It seemed to swallow her gaze, pulling her in. She quickly averted her eyes, shaking her head as if to clear it. "Let's move out."
The team climbed into the caravan, the air inside tense as they drove toward the New York headquarters of Hexagon Industries.
Inside the sleek confines of the HQ's mission debriefing room, Blur and Shadow stood before a large projection table. Angel's voice appeared through their augmented-reality glasses. Her sharp, commanding presence filled the room, even from a distance.
"Report," Angel said briskly, her voice pacing as if she were physically there. Her tone demanded efficiency.
Shadow spoke first, recounting the details of the mission with characteristic precision. "The virus is secured. Dr. Red is dead. Cause of death unclear—possibly self-inflicted."
Angel's expression hardened. "And the clean-up?"
Maria chimed in from another feed. "Recovery team is en route to stage the explosion. Mission parameters have been met."
Blur, standing off to the side, crossed his arms. For once, his usual relaxed demeanor was absent, replaced by something quieter—calculated. He stepped forward, addressing Angel directly.
"Look," he began, his voice steady but lacking its usual playfulness, "this wasn't a clean op. There was something... off about Dr. Red. He knew we were coming. His death wasn't random—it felt deliberate. Like a fail-safe."
Angel's holographic gaze fixed on him, piercing. "You're saying this was a setup?"
Blur shrugged but held her gaze. "I'm saying it doesn't add up. And if someone's pulling strings, we need to cut them before they get tangled around us."
Angel regarded him for a long moment, her expression unreadable. "Noted. We'll debrief further once you wrap up the mission and meet me at the central HQ before the annual summit . Good work agents"
As the hologram flickered out, Blur exhaled, leaning back against the wall. Shadow glanced at him.
"You're not usually that... intense," Shadow observed.
Blur's lips twitched into a faint smirk, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Guess I'm full of surprises."
Shadow didn't press further, but a quiet understanding passed between them. The mission was over, but the questions it raised were just beginning.
The mission was over, but Maria couldn't shake the feeling that something about Blur didn't add up. His power, his detachment, and his cryptic comments during the mission left too many unanswered questions. Who was he, really?
**********
Back at HEX's New York HQ, Maria sat at her desk, staring at her screen. She had already filed the mission report, but her thoughts kept drifting back to Blur. Acting on a gut feeling, she decided to dig deeper.
Typing his code name into the HEX database, she initiated a search. A few seconds later, her screen displayed the result: ACCESS DENIED. CLASSIFIED LEVEL 5.
Maria frowned. Even for high-ranking HEX agents like herself, such a high clearance level was rare. Curious, she tried a different approach, running a search on his alias: Albert Strange.
ACCESS DENIED. CLASSIFIED LEVEL 5.
Maria's frustration grew. Why would Blur's records be sealed off at such a high level? Even Shadow's files weren't this restricted. Deciding to push her luck, she attempted to bypass the system, but the firewall instantly blocked her.
Her communicator buzzed almost immediately. A text from the HEX AI security system flashed on her screen:
Unauthorized access attempt detected. Further action will result in suspension.
Maria leaned back in her chair, exhaling sharply. She wasn't going to get anywhere on her own. But if anyone knew about Blur, it would be Angel.
Angel's holographic image remained silent for a moment, as though weighing her response. Then she spoke, her tone measured and deliberate.
"Blur's identity and history are classified because he's not like the rest of us. He's not just an agent, Maria—he's one of HEX's core members."
Maria blinked, caught off guard. "Core member?"
"Yes," Angel said, her voice firm. "Blur is the 6th in command of HEX. He's part of the highest tier of operatives we have—the ones we rely on when there's no margin for error."
Maria's mind raced as she processed this revelation. "That explains his power... but why send someone of his rank on this mission? Wouldn't his time be better spent elsewhere?"
nodding Angel said, "no, you don't get the whole picture. This terrorist organization was able to hide 6000 soldiers presences from our high tech quantum satellite as well as our drones. there are handful of entities in the world that can pull up such an act. So I had to be extra careful and ensure a back up. Our agents life was on the line" angel replied
"But still sending two core agents in a mission like this ,seems to be over estemating, Isn't it? shadow alone should be more than enough.", Maria asked.
Angel's eyes narrowed slightly. "That's not your business. You completed the mission and that's all you need to be concern"
Maria shifted uncomfortably. "Still, there's something about blur... something off. It feels like he's carrying a lot more than he lets on."
Angel's expression suddenly hardened. "Blur's past is not your concern, Maria."
The sharpness of Angel's tone gave Maria pause, but she pressed on. "Then why is it so heavily guarded? What's he hiding?"
"Blur isn't hiding anything," Angel said firmly. "He's done things for HEX—things most people can't even imagine. And those things have consequences. He carries them every day, whether he shows it or not. That's all you need to know. Moreover, you won't need to bother about this matter anymore. I will handle this here on out", Angel replied in a furious tone, "And also show some respect to Blur. He is much senior to you, refer to him as sir."
For a moment, Maria considered pushing further, but Angel's gaze left no room for negotiation.
"Understood, mam" Maria finally said, her voice subdued.
"Good," Angel replied. Her holographic form flickered slightly, signaling the end of the conversation. "Focus on the mission, Maria. Leave Blur's history where it belongs."
With that, the projection vanished, leaving Maria alone in the dimly lit room.
Maria leaned back in her chair, her thoughts swirling. Sixth in command. A core member of HEX. It all made sense now—his power, his confidence, his authority. But it only deepened the mystery of who he really was and what he'd been through.
And then there was Angel's warning, the unspoken weight in her words. Whatever Blur's past held, it was something the higher-ups wanted to stay buried.
Maria had seen many secrets in her time with HEX, but this one felt different. And despite Angel's warning, she couldn't shake the feeling that one day, those secrets would come to light—whether HEX was ready for them or not
After the mission in the abandoned subway, Blur, Shadow, and Maria stayed in New York City for three more days. While HEX operatives ensured the virus was securely stored and all traces of their mission were erased from public records, the trio prepared for their next destination—the Pacific Headquarters of HEX.
The Pacific HQ, also known as HEX Central, was the beating heart of the organization, a city-sized fortress in the middle of the ocean. It was not marked on any map, invisible to satellites, and guarded by technology decades ahead of what the world had ever seen. The HQ wasn't just a base; it was a technological marvel—an artificial island, spanning over 500 square kilometers, with towering skyscrapers, underground labs, high-tech training centers, and some of the most powerful defense systems on Earth.
This was where HEX's most critical decisions were made. And this was where the annual agent summit was held—a gathering of the world's most powerful individuals, operatives, and strategists who worked in the shadows to prevent global catastrophe.
The flight was long but smooth, thanks to HEX's advanced transport systems. The aircraft itself was a stealth jet, capable of Mach 4 speeds, equipped with anti-radar cloaking and an onboard AI pilot that required minimal human control. The jet was moving so fast as if it were able pierce through the night sky
Maria sat with her arms crossed, still trying to wrap her head around everything she had learned. The last mission had shown her how brutal HEX's operations could be, but what truly rattled her was Blur's position within HEX.
During their time in NYC, she had tried digging into his records. Nothing. His files were completely locked—not just classified, but erased, as if HEX had wiped his entire history from existence.
Maria hadn't responded at the time, but now, sitting across from him in the jet, she studied him carefully. Blur, as usual, seemed completely unfazed—leaning back, hands behind his head, staring at the ceiling like he was waiting for the flight to end.
Halfway through the journey, the jet passed over North Africa, and that's when Blur stood up, stretching casually.
"What are you doing?" Maria asked, already suspicious.
"Stretching," Blur replied. "You know, getting ready to leave."
Maria frowned. "Leave? We're over the Sahara Desert."
Blur grinned. "Not for long. We're about to pass over Giza."
Maria's stomach dropped. "Wait—don't tell me you're—"
"I'm dropping out," Blur said nonchalantly.
Maria shot a look at Shadow, expecting him to protest. Instead, Shadow barely reacted. Blur continued, "I'll be back in time for the meeting. Just taking a little detour."
Maria clenched her jaw. "You can't just—"
But before she could finish, the jet's side hatch slid open.
The wind roared through the cabin as Blur stood at the edge, looking down at the desert landscape. The pyramids gleamed under the moonlight, ancient and unmovable, as they had stood for thousands of years.
Shadow finally spoke, his voice calm. "Four hours, Blur. Don't make us come after you."
Blur gave a lazy salute. "You know me."
Then, without hesitation, he jumped.
Maria rushed to the open hatch, staring in disbelief as Blur plummeted like a meteor toward the sands below. Just before he hit the ground, his body flickered with a pulse of energy, and he landed softly, barely leaving a mark in the sand.
The jet door closed, and Maria turned to Shadow, fuming. "Are you kidding me?! He just jumped out of a moving aircraft! Over a desert!"
Shadow remained seated. "It's Blur."
Maria threw up her hands. "That's not an answer!"
Shadow looked at her, his tone as steady as ever. "It's the only one you need."
Meanwhile, at the Great Pyramid of Giza, Blur dusted off his jacket and looked up. The massive stone structure loomed over him, but to him, it was just another thing to climb.
It took him less than five minutes to reach the top. Sitting at the peak, he looked out at the world—the vast desert stretching endlessly, the Nile winding like a silver ribbon in the moonlight, the distant glow of Cairo on the horizon.
perched at the peak of the Great Pyramid, Blur let the warm desert wind brush against his face. Below him, the sands stretched endlessly, shifting under the soft glow of the moon. The Nile shimmered in the distance, weaving through the golden landscape like a silver thread, while the distant lights of Cairo flickered like stars trapped on Earth. But the real sight was above—the cosmos, endless and untouched. From here, the sky felt closer, a vast ocean of constellations stretching into infinity. He exhaled slowly, letting the silence settle. No missions, no orders, no war. Just the universe, as it had always been.
******************************
The neon lights of Shanghai flickered in the night, casting a distorted reflection on the glass walls of HEX's Asian Headquarters. The building, a towering structure of sleek black steel and energy-reactive glass, stood as a symbol of HEX's dominance in the Eastern Hemisphere. Inside, at the highest floor, sat Alan, known to most as Watcher. His office was dimly lit, with only the holographic interface of his workstation casting a faint blue glow over his desk. He sat motionless in his chair, eyes closed, fingers barely touching his temples.
Watcher didn't need screens to monitor global events—his mind was an ocean of voices, thoughts, and fragmented visions from people he had marked.
Then, a soft chime. A direct call from Angel—.
He opened his eyes. A holographic projection of angel's face materialized in front of him.
"Watcher, I need you for an urgent mission."
His gaze remained neutral. "Define urgent."
"We've found someone. A boy in Bangladesh. His name is Ali."
Watcher leaned forward slightly. "And?"
"He's developing powers—dangerous ones."
Watcher frowned. This wasn't new. Every now and then, individuals with extraordinary abilities surfaced. But the fact that May was contacting him personally meant this case was different.
"His abilities?"
May hesitated. "Atomic manipulation."