A Hard Lesson, Part 1

Posted on Thu May 6th, 2021 @ 9:48pm by Level 1 Hikaru Yoshida

Mission: Echoes of the Past
Location: Unknown Pacific Island
Timeline: 10 Years Ago

U.S. Army Major Hikaru Yoshida rose silently above the still water as a black shadow against the moonlight reflecting in the rippling water. The other eleven members of his Delta Force operational detachment unit followed suit as if the water used magic to give life to creatures of the night. They all scanned in different directions with their rifle sights for any potential threats as they made their way forward and onto dry land. Ahead of them lay a large concrete building surrounded by the usual security trappings of a chain-link fence, guard towers, roving guard patrols, etc. Typical defenses one would expect from HYDRA, an elite force that posed a threat to the entire world.

A number of elite teams had been gathered for the risky attack on the private island that housed what appeared to be some kind of sprawling complex. On the books, it was just a well funded research facility. But even just a few good satellite images showed a security force that seemed overpowered for a remote science station. There had been too many reports of nefarious activities, such as banned medical procedures, that possibly included cloning, and a disturbing level of torturous experiments on humans and mutants alike.

Before the soldiers could even crawl out onto shore properly, five bright streaks seemed to shoot straight up into the air, coloring the night in a sickly reddish-orange, streaks shimmering brightly over the waters. Those points of light paused high above, then streaked back towards the earth, somehow each targeting a position of one of the teams.

Hikaru’s eyes widened in surprise as he watched the flares shoot out above his team and the other four spread around the island. He didn’t have time to discern how they had found out. That part didn’t matter anymore. Most likely it was due to some sort of sophisticated sensor net around the island for just such an infiltration attempt. He thrust his left hand out in a forward motion like a saw blade and spoke into his throat microphone. “Sneaky time is over. Move to the objective!” And just like that, he and the team of elite Special Forces soldiers ran as fast as they could directly to the perimeter fence.

The flares continued on their trajectory, striking the sand on the landing as the men ran towards the perimeter. Three audible beeps blared out before those flares exploded in a fiery rain of shrapnel. Five sections of beach almost seem to evaporate, sand, flaming metal, and men were thrown in all directions. Water swept in to rapidly fill the craters left by the stunning explosions, dragging men under the turbulent waves. Others fell in limp heaps, pierced through by the molten shards of debris.

Major Yoshida had made the initially wise call of ordering his men to the beach but even his conditioned men were no match for the speed of the special artillery round that hit the water. Even from the position of impact behind the team, it blew outward in all directions. The shockwave swept through his team with a forceful magnitude unlike any he had ever experienced before. If he had been looking at the point of impact, he would have witnessed it pass through his team, melting each of them like candles. They all started to cook inside out as they lost all unit cohesion, screaming in agony as they twisted out of form. The wave had dissipated somewhat by the time it reached Yoshida but it had a similar effect on him as well. The saltwater only made his melted flesh sting beyond comprehension as the flames died out. The scorched smell of burnt meat hung lazily in the cool breeze coming off the shore as he dug his right hand into the sand and pulled himself out of the waves. He would have used his other hand had he still had one. His left arm was completely blown away. He couldn’t feel his legs and feared the worst as he used every last ounce of strength to get out of the water. He made it past the threat of drowning but just barely.

The chaos had been brief, and what was left in the wake was a nearly complete wipeout of some of the best trained soldiers on earth. The large gate swung open with a heavy creak, and HYDRA forces began spreading out along the island, led by a tall, thin woman wearing a skin-tight suit of stark white armor, white hair, and almost desperately pale skin.

“If they can’t be saved, put them out of their misery. They’ll be able to use the biomass,” the Ice Queen said, gazing over the scene of utter devastation with cold, passionless eyes. Then she squinted a bit, tilting her head to the side as she noticed movement where she wouldn’t have expected it. She motioned the others off to follow her orders, then began stalking towards the downed soldier.

You’re a stubborn one, that cold voice sounded off in Hikaru’s mind. She didn’t appear to be armed as she approached, icy-blue eyes studying him dispassionately as he struggled like a bug that had been stripped of its limbs.

All he could do is bare his teeth as he fought to control the pain. Blood welled up in his mouth and it oozed out of the side of his lips. He rolled onto his left side with heavy breaths. His right hand reached down his right hip. His gloved fingers grasped the handle of his tan colored M17 Sig Sauer pistol. However, he could feel his adrenaline start to wear off as he tried to pull it from the hip holster strapped to his thigh. Using all of his might, he groaned as he pulled it free and aimed it in the general direction of the woman clad in white. His vision was too blurry to make her form out clearly and his arm was shaking due to loss of blood.

Well, that’s interesting. Are you really trying to fight? the Ice Queen asked, her voice still in his head, an unpleasant sensation of a cold wind creeping into the corners of Hikaru’s mind. Then, slowly, painfully, his hand began to turn the gun back towards himself. How are you still alive, little bug?

Yoshida struggled against his own hand turning the barrel of his 9mm pistol as it arched toward his own face. The fear started to creep into his soul as he glanced from the muzzle to his unknown enemy. “Shut… up!” he said out loud in response to the voice inexplicably inside his own head.

A measured look of disbelief briefly flickered across the Ice Queen’s face as the man actually managed to fight her off enough to start turning the gun back towards her. She gave the dying man a slight smile, one that didn’t touch the icy depths of her eyes. That’s minorly impressive. A strong will to live, a strong will to fight.

Almost as if she grew bored with the game, she kicked the gun out of the soldier’s hand and pinned that hand to the ground, grinding it underfoot, as she crouched down next to him. She reached over to his shoulder and pulled what was left of the tattered fabric of his uniform back, and she nodded as she studied the puckered skin that had grown rapidly over his wounds. Who would have guessed. I’m certain they’d like to get their hands on you.

It was all he could do in such an exhausted, spent state to ask for release. “Kill… me. Get it… over with!”

I have no intention of killing you, little bug, the woman in white said, unmoved by his pleas. When she continued, it was with a cold, passionless tone of a true psychopath. I’m quite certain that your suffering is only beginning.

Hikaru moaned weakly but said nothing as all the strength left in him disappeared. The cold darkness of oblivion enveloped him as everything went black.