12

Theo's POV:

I can't sleep.

I roll and roll on the bed but nothing, sleep never comes all because I can't stop thinking about Captain and Pravi't' Mirom.

I play the scenario all over again in mind seeing as he held that box. What was inside the box? I had no idea.

How did they take Captain also?

That is another unsolved mystery. If Vladimir could be so sure that we didn't get him that means they had planned this out all from the beginning, they knew we were going to be there and they knew what they were doing so all that was just a distraction to get what they actually came for.

The box.

What is inside the box? Whatever was inside it, I have a very bad feeling about it, this is going to be bad.

Very bad.

After the briefing with the Major he had announced me acting Captain to everyone which was quite appreciative about.

I sit straight on the bed, with my head in between my hands, lost in thought. I need a break from all these,I need to clear my head and think clearly.

I stand up from the bed looking at the time, as it is only 3:00 in the morning before I head to the gym. I usually work out for about an hour but this time I am going to make it longer.

I check my time seeing it is 5:00 already and time for our training. As Captain it is my duty to wake all of them up.

I take out my whistle blowing it out loudly again and again to those who hadn't heard it. Another thing about being in the military is to never be a deep sleeper.

Everyone already on their feet as we go out for our physical training, before breakfast which is by 6:30 after training.

Work commences immediately as everyone goes to their various departments to begin working. I walked into the tech department to see the progress of how they've gone.

"Anything?" I ask.

"Sir we've been searching since yesterday, but nothing came up. Then I asked myself where you would keep someone or something where you don't want them to be found," Jessie our tech whiz spatted.

"Okay go straight to the point Jess," I can't waste any more time as it feels like Captain is on limited time and we need to get there fast.

"Yeah sure, sorry. Well if I was to hide something I don't want anyone to find the best place would be somewhere where no one would want to check. A public place like a market area, a park area, a festival area where nothing can be heard even if they were torturing someone," Jess explains.

"Okay go on," I continue.

"So I searched everywhere close to Astec with a market area, park area, and then I got a hit. Livecity park just 50 meters away from Astec."

Of course.

Why didn't I think of this, oh God these guys. Of course an obvious area that no one will bother to look.

"I don't know what I'll do without you jess. Thank you." I pat her on the shoulder before I leave to inform the Major about our latest progress.

"So what are you waiting for, take your team and go." Captain orders "And Captain, bring me back Derek," Major adds.

"Yes sir." I salute before leaving.

"Captain you have to hurry we've got movements up at Livecity and there is nothing held on out there today, which takes us back to Vladimir." Jess stops me as I was about to go.

"Good, thank you." I leave her there as I rush up to meet my team and get ready for a mission.

All my bet is that Captain is there and I'm sure of it, we just have to get there fast. Considering what Jess told us movements were up to 10.

"Comms,"

"Check."

"Guns,"

"Check."

"Vest,"

"Check."

"Ready to go?" I ask.

"Ready to go sir!" They all replied as we move.

We get to Livecity seeing the quiet area of every corner making you think twice if anyone is actually here, but according to jess the movements were seen ten blocks north from Livecity.

We see an abandoned warehouse with lights on, as we go about surrounding the whole place. I take the first entrance I see as some of my men took the other entrance.

We get in seeing the door open and everywhere empty with no trace of anything or anyone.

It’s been cleared.

Damnit!

"Sir there's no one here," Drew says as my jaw clenches, but still look around. We search everywhere to see if there is anything we could use to trace them, because I am damn sure these people were here.

How could they have left so soon? And how could they have known when to leave?

Could it be a coincidence? Or not.

Another thing of being a soldier is never believe in coincidences.

They could have left so soon If and only they were told we were coming, which means we have a mole.

A mole in the army.

Shit!

Who could it be?

My eyes roam everywhere as the boys search every nook and corner in order to just find something but nothing.

"Let's go there's nothing here, they cleaned up well. Another unaccomplished mission," I sigh leaving the building when my feet hit something.

I picked it up, seeing it's a test tube, left close to the door while I examine it well. Through the look of this it can be told something was just inside.

But what?

I pick it up as an evidence that these people were here and I will also take it to the lab for testing to see whatever was in there.

We head back as I immediately take the sample to the lab for testing before going to the Major.

"I can see it didn't go as planned?" Major says as I get back to his office.

"Sir it was an unaccomplished mission due to the fact that I think we have a mole in our mist." Major instantly looks at me in confusion.

"A mole you say?" "Yes sir,"

"Do you know what you're saying Captain?" Major asks me knowing the gravity of what I have just said.

"Positive Sir." I admit.

"Okay then. Do you have any idea who it could be?" Major asked blankly.

"Not at all sir, but we were able to get something from there. A test tube." I inform him. "I don't know what a test tube will be doing there, but I do know it’s something that has to do with the box." Being a soldier you have to be honest to those in higher ranks when asked a question or when gone for a mission.

"So where's this test tube?" Major ask slightly impatient. "I've taken it to the lab sir, for testing." I tell him.

The look on Major's face right now shows clear rage, impatience and whatever it is that he has on his face that I can't properly read.

"Why would you take it to the lab without informing me, Captain?" Major asks which makes me question myself about this.

"My apologies sir," I couldn't defend myself here because clearly I had no right to take it to the lab until I told him about it, which I didn't.

"Did I give you that order Captain?" He questions my actions again. "Absolutely not Sir," I remind in full respect.

"Get it for me now!" I rise my head up, stating at the Major in confusion. What?

Even if I had no right to take it there, it is still going to end up there so why bring it back?

"Yes sir," I comply as I head to the lab.

"Hey Matt," Matt is our lab scientists here. The guy's like a dictionary of books put together in a person.

"Looks like I have to take it back," I talk to Matt as I see him with the test tube under a microscope.

"Don't touch it!" Matt stops me, as I take a step back.

"I hope you didn't have skin to skin contact with it when you brought it here?" Matt asks sounding stern. I've never heard this guy sound serious before ever since I've known him.

"No I didn't, what's wrong Matt?" I ask him.

"Whatever was inside this test tube wasn't just nothing. I ran down the compounds contained in it and this... This is used to make a deadly weapon, not just a deadly weapon, but a biomass deadly weapon."

"Wait,I don't understand. But..." What are these terrorist planning?

"That's not all, when physically touched or drank, it dishevels the whole human system. I don't know where they got this from, but whatever their planning to do with it is not good. This could kill millions just by staying with anyone who has been in contact with it." Matt continues.

Why will they plan on a making a biomass weapon that could kill billions? Unless, they're planning to actually kill billions.

"So are you saying we're also prone to this?" I ask.

"Not exactly. We are being immunized every day, like you guys after you get back from a mission, you get immunized so this compound has no effect on us based on the amount of immunization we take, but if anyone of us is to take it they wouldn't get sick nor feel anything, but they can transfer it to another person."

What the hell?

"What kind of compound does that? So it basically doesn't affect anyone that is daily immune, but can also be passed?" I ask again.

"Yes, also it cannot be transferred by just mere touching, you need to have an intimate contact, like exchange of saliva or sexual intercourse before getting affected, and it seems from the empty tube it has already been tested."

"This isn't good, this is bad really bad, I have to tell the Major right now, this cloud lead to global mass destruction, Thank you Matt."

"Wait Theo." Matt stops me and I turn. "it can be cured though, that's the advantage of this serum." Matt adds.

"Thank you, thank you Matt." I say again getting out of there before my mind start to explode.

You know I just don't get it why do people find joy in inflicting pain, why must they cause violence? Why do there have to be bloodshed?

I am no saint neither am I a savior, I have killed due to the nature of my job because its either kill or be killed when it comes to these dangerous terrorist, because they don't care, they just don't care if they spill innocent blood just to get what they want.

I run making my way to the Major's office to explain all these and look for the next step to take.

I arrive at his office but halt when I see him talking to someone. I would have left at the instant but I hear my name being called, and immediately the phone call is ended.

What could I have to do with anything Major has going on?

This was not the problem on ground, as I knock on his door and when he sees me, the shock on his face seems suspicious before he quickly masks it off.

I waste no time as I begin to tell him all Matt just told me.

Major becomes furious or not, as I don't know what to call him right now because he is literally yelling at me for not coming earlier and all I do is say I'm sorry.

Though knowing I am not entirely at fault here. He picks up his phone calling the General, who then called the president and that is how this became a national security matter.

"Get Matt here!" Major yells as one of the boys go to get him. The army becomes upside down as everyone is being prepped to work on finding Pravi't' Mirom or Captain.

The General is going to be here any minute, and I hear he is bringing back up to help us with this investigation. We are going to have a lot of back up now that this is national security we're talking about, hopefully it won't get global.

I never expected something like this to happen, but you can't always know what will happen right?

How I wished I could see Haula, to be able to talk to her about all my problems, to be able to hold her. She is always on my mind but that is not the only thing bothering me.

Why was I in Major's conversation? Only one way to find out.

"Drew, over here!" I call drew who is indeed trying to sneak out food. When I mean this place is upside I mean it, everywhere is.

But Drew never changes, no matter the situation and that's one thing I admire from him, no matter what the situation is he will always live his life and try not to get affected by it.

"Yes Captain," I'll never get used to everyone calling me Captain. Drew tries to hide the food behind him not knowing I had already seen it.

"Don't worry I don't have any business with your food. I need a favor, a really big one." I tell Drew as he becomes more serious. I've never asked drew for anything as it has always been the other way round.

"You know I'll do anything. What is it?" I've always been there for drew ever since he came here as a newbie and those in higher ranks than him tried to bully him, but I stood up for him and that's where the big bro started from.

"I need you to monitor the Major," I say and drew looks at me like I've gone crazy.

"The Major, Captain that's..." Drew talks silently as I drag him to a corner.

"I know it’s something, but no matter how vigilant a person can be he or she can still be trailed right? I just need you to know who he speaks to and what he says and what he does, just for now please," I beg him.

"Captain you know if I'm caught I'm a goner." He tells me and I nod. "But I'll do it for you, you've always been there for me and I know you have your reason for asking this which I wouldn't even ask by the way," This is why I call them my family.

"Thank you.” I pat him on the shoulder as he leaves. We'll just have to wait and see.