The sun had just started to rise, casting a hazy gold light across the wrecked facility. The battle was over. The mission was a success. The weapon was on its way back to the base, secured on the Interitus plane.
And now, the final part of the plan rested on me.
I stood alone in the clearing—rubble all around me, twisted steel groaning beneath the weight of my footsteps. My body glowed faintly with green light, the nuclear fire pulsing gently in my veins. I could feel it building—rising—ready to be released.
All I had to do… was destroy what was left.
I crouched slightly, placing both hands on the scorched ground. I focused everything into one point. The fire gathered into my chest like a solar storm.
Just a little more...
Then—
"W-Wait…"
A voice. Weak. Broken.
My eyes widened as I looked up.
A soldier—barely standing—limped toward me, dragging one leg behind him. His uniform was torn, blood soaking the fabric of his pants. A gash ran across his forehead, and his rifle had been tossed aside long ago.
"P-Please… stop…" he gasped. "Have mercy…"
I hesitated.
My powers dimmed, trembling with uncertainty.
I rushed to him and caught his arm before he collapsed. He was shaking, barely holding onto consciousness.
"You're still alive?" I whispered. "I thought they—"
He gripped my wrist tightly. "They told you… we were the enemy, didn't they?"
His voice was hoarse, but determined.
"I-I don't understand. You're… military. But they said this was a hostile base. A terrorist operation…"
The man looked me dead in the eye.
"That weapon… your team… Interitus stole it from us. From the government."
My heart stopped.
"No… that can't be true…"
He nodded slowly, wincing in pain. "They aren't heroes, girl. They're the most dangerous villains in this country. And you… you're one of them."
I stepped back, breath caught in my throat. My legs felt like they were sinking into the ground.
This had to be a lie. It had to.
"I-I don't understand… if that's true, then why would you approach me? Why not hide? Or attack me?" I asked, voice cracking.
His lips trembled into a faint smile.
"Because… you looked like an angel."
And with that… his heart stopped.
He collapsed in my arms.
I froze.
Tears welled up in my eyes. My mind spiraled.
They lied to me.Katara lied to me.They used me… to kill innocent people.
I gritted my teeth and let out a silent scream.
But I made a choice.
I healed the soldiers I had injured during the mission—gathering what strength I had left. I created a massive burst of light, a fake explosion, to trick Interitus into thinking the base was destroyed.
When I met back with them, they were waiting at the aircraft.
"Mission success!" Katara cheered. "You did amazing, Lena!"
They surprised me with a celebration back at base—food, drinks, music. Laughter.
I forced a smile. I laughed with them. Played the role of the happy, clueless powerhouse.
But I knew the truth now.
And I was done being their weapon.
Later that night, when everyone was drunk or asleep, I slipped out of my room.
Katara's office was dark, but unlocked.
I moved quietly, slipping into her chair and booting up the computer. Her password was easy. Her name, followed by the word "Queen."
How fitting.
I opened the project files. Scanned the folders.
What I saw shattered everything I believed.
Photos of cities destroyed. Civilian casualties. Chemical tests.
Redacted emails between Interitus and known terrorist groups. Operation logs.
And then—
The lab.
The same laboratory where my classmates and my best friends died.
It wasn't just a hideout.
It was an experimental site—run by Interitus.
And worse—my teacher was involved.
He had led us there.
He had led us to die.
My hands shook as I stared at the screen.
Then—voices outside.
Footsteps.
Panicking, I slid under the desk, my breath caught in my throat.
Two people entered.
It was Katara… and Sol.
"Ughh," Katara groaned. "She's such an idiot. She actually helped us kill those civilians."
Sol chuckled. "Told you she was naive. We can use her to destroy the next target too. She's powerful—unstoppable. She'll do it without question."
Katara's voice lowered. "Tomorrow. We'll tell the team the next move. The government still thinks we're hiding. This time… we level a whole city."
"Sounds fun," Sol muttered.
Their footsteps faded.
The door closed.
I didn't move for ten minutes.
Not until the rage finally took over.
Chapter 9: The Defector
I didn't sleep that night.
I stole everything I could—documents, files, evidence.
Then, I left the base.
Alone.
Using my powers, I flew low through the mountains, avoiding radar and patrols. I had one destination in mind:
The capital.
I arrived at the gates of the White House before sunrise.
The guards saw me, raised their weapons. They weren't welcoming.
"State your business!" one barked.
I held up the evidence. "I have documents that prove Interitus is planning to attack this country."
They didn't believe me at first—until they opened the folder.
Then everything changed.
I was escorted inside, through secured halls and into a high-level security room. Around the table sat generals, agents, and one man I recognized from every news broadcast—
The President.
He stood when I entered.
"Who are you?" he asked.
I didn't sit. I didn't waver.
I activated my power. Green flames flickered from my palms, glowing in my eyes like stars.
"I'm Lena. The sixth member of Interitus."
Gasps filled the room.
"I'm also their strongest member… and I'm here to bring them down."
The President stared at me.
And then—
He smiled.
"Drop your weapons," he ordered his guards.
They obeyed.
"Lena," he said, walking toward me, "How can we trust you?"
I looked at him and said "Read me", He looked at me from head to toe and and said "Welcome to the Fight".