The power of will

Summary: Life likes to fuck with me. Whether in this life, or the next, it will always find a way to worsen it. But, I wouldn't be me if I didn't defy the bastard. And maybe, i'll have some fun, while I'm at it. Hold on sweetie, i'm coming home.

Prologue

In the darkness of the night, with but a few stars casting their pale light on the city below, steps of a person could be heard. A few muffled shouts echo away in the distance, along with what seems to be alarm. The person released a sigh of relief, clutching a small device in his right hand. He took a few more breaths, and started running, knowing he could not rest until he completed his objective. Slipping into a dark alley, the mysterious person jumped up on the dumpster, and using it as a springboard, jumped again to reach the ladder that leads to the top of the building. Climbing quickly, reaching top, the person smirked and turned around to see the place he just infiltrated blow up in a majestic display of fireworks. He took out a cigarette, and lighting one up, turned and started walking towards extraction point.

~Time skip~ A few hours later

Entering the HQ, the person finally relaxed, knowing he is safe, for now at least. Slouching a bit, a cigar between his fingers, smoke hanging close to his hand for a few moments before dissipating into the air. He entered the pin code to gain access to the main office, where he and the other generals planned their next move. Entering, he noticed only one person was inside, his brother in all but blood, best friend of ten years, Nathan.

"You look like shit" – he said with a smirk forming on his lips. I laughed loudly, ashes falling of my cigar to the cold metal floor. "I could say the same to you. You look like you've aged even more since the last time i saw you, which was about 6 hours ago." He gave me the bird, and lighted a cigar himself. It was a habit neither one wanted to get rid of.

"In all seriousness, what happened while i was gone? Everybody seems even more tense than usual." – i asked while drawing a smoke.

"Sigh, they are closing in, in a few days, at the most, we are gonna have to move the HQ. But, that's not all, it appears we have a mole." – in a somewhat subdued voice he told me. I chuckled "Well, i'm guessing the only reason the Emperor's troops aren't reigning hell down on us, is because the mole thinks he is transmitting them information. I knew he was the mole the moment he stepped into our base. Well, and i kinda tampered with his comm. device. The only thing his report consists of is our favourite foods."

Then i gained a thoughtful look, my cigar almost done, and after i left it in the ashtray, i spoke, fully serous "Prepare everyone, we are moving tonight to a new location. Kill the mole, and make in noiseless. I don't want the troops to be even more on edge. I'll go see my wife, i missed her…"

"Aye aye bro. I'll see you later."

In the morning of May 2nd, 2016, everything changed. I was on uni listening to the professor droning about graphs that explain some frequency... I wasn't listening as usual, that shit was too boring, and i knew i'd deal with it when the time comes. I was a lazy fuck most of the time anyways. And then it happened. Alarms blared throughout the entire city, signaling the invasion. Fear gripped my heart, and i froze for a moment. I tried to maintain at least some semblance of rationality, but it was kinda hard, knowing that shit hit the fan. Fuck. I was barely 21 years old, lazy ass gamer with a girlfriend. But, not one of those typical gamers, guys who never go out, wear glasses, and have some innate inability to talk to the opposite sex. No, i grew up in a village with a family that deals with agriculture, ever since my great great great grandpa moved here. My brother is 8 years older than me, and he taught me so much things, much more than my father and mother combined. I can't describe myself, it would take too long… And my world came crashing down on me, like house of cards. I could hear the fanatic shouts of everyone in colledge, and even though they said to be calm, i knew i had to get outta there. Those fuckers will target the uni, too many people capable of doing something. We are the future of this country, i thought bitterly. I ran as fast as i could, trying to get away from uni, and just before i got to an old building, a sharp, whistling sound stopped me in my tracks. I turned around to see a freaking missile drop down into where i presume was middle of the campus, and everything just went up in flames. Few seconds later, the square exploded, and few more areas with most people in them. One missile struck way too close for comfort, and the glass shattered on the nearby building. As a result, a shard flew through the air and cut my left eye, giving it a nasty vertical gash. I yelled out in pain, and the string of curses that would send running even the toughest guys left my mouth. I cleaned the blood, and stopped it from bleeding further. I dared not to move from where i was. I'm not sure how much time has passed, but no more bombs were dropped from the sky that was now painted sickly orange. I moved cautiously towards the center of town, trying to make myself as small as possible, hoping that no harm would befall me. I remembered that i have a phone in my pocket, but to no avail, there was no signal. I cursed and frowned. Ensuring that my family was safe is now my second priority. I had to get out of here, and check up on my girlfriend. I really hope she is safe. Even though we aren't together that long, she is the light in my life...

~Time skip~ Present day

Few moments ago, a part of me died. I felt like someone took my heart out and stomped on it repeatedly. Even though me, my brother and my best friend were the leaders of the organization, we were the strongest. My brother and i met Nathan when i started training in martial arts. I was a prodigy at the sport, my brother was almost as good as me, even though he never trained, but i was the one who taught him when i had time. I reached the highest level in only 4 years, when i was 16. My brother was the entire cause i started training, he was my role model, and even though i loved playing video games, i respected him much more.

Nathan was good, but he was mostly focused on self-defense, but he was no slouch. And realizing that we were the best, we undertook the operations that most people would deem suicidal, and we came out with barely a scratch. And years of experience dealing with those so called elite soldiers has given us and edge. I even grew more optimistic with each operation successfully done, and i expected us to liberate our country by the end of the year. Every day, people flocked to us, two or three a day, and they get thoroughly checked for any discrepancies.

But, on that mission, everything changed. I don't remember ever being so furious before in my life. And i felt so bad…

~Flashback~ Five months ago

We were sneaking into one of the many compounds the enemy has built in our country, like outposts. One of our spies tipped us that three important figureheads of the enemy faction are meeting to discuss a new weapon – a some kind of biological weapon. We were supposed to get in, take them out, and steal the weapon plans.

Even though the security was improved for the meeting, it was not by much, as to not raise suspicion. It was too… Convenient. Even though the three of us kept our identities a secret, i wasn't so arrogant to think they didn't know anything about us. After all, i raided at least two dozen of their bases.

We got in with little difficulty, and after 15 minutes of ardous sneaking, i was just outside the window, while my brother was in the vents. There was no flashy entry, through a little circular opening i made in the window, i released a highly concentrated, odorless, and of course, unseen sleeping gas. After about 30 seconds, everyone in the room was knocked out. My brother dropped down from the vents and finished them off. He searched for the device with the plans, and after finding it, he flashed his grin, unseen because of the mask he wore. The device didn't look special at all, just a normal flash drive that had a soft glowing blue light at the end of it. But, when that light turned into an angry red, my blood ran cold. My brother's eyes barely had the time to widen before he was gone, and the entire room. The blast knocked me away, and i hit the roof of the truck that was few meters below me. I wanted to scream, my mind filled with rage, ignored the probably bruised ribs, and the only thing i thought about was the slight widening of his eyes, before he died. No, before he got murdered. But, i knew i had to flee this compound, there were so many soldiers popping out from somewhere, searching for the bodies, and confirming deaths. During the mayhem, i snuck out quite easily, vowing to avenge my brother.

When i returned to HQ alone, disheartened, eyes cast down, looking at the ground, people didn't even dare approach me. I trudged through the base, and when i came up to my room, opening it, my wife jumped on me, greeting me cheerfully. She was always happy and overjoyed when i came back. When she didn't feel me move, she stepped away to look at me. Seeing my haunted face, eyes threathening to spill tears, she immediately asked "What's wrong?"

Hearing her, i raised my head, just a bit, and in a voice so broken, so painfull, it chilled her to the bone i said "He's gone. He is gone… My… brother is… gone…"

She didn't get to say anything, i just broke down and cried. The sounds of crying reverberated through the halls, and scared everyone who heard. My wife was rocking me back and forth, one hand running through my hair, the other holding me. I'm not sure how much time has passed before i cried myself to sleep.

~Flashback off~

I grit my teeth, but continued walking, i still had a mission to complete. Again i was going solo, but this mission was a bit different from my usual style. At most, my missions dealt with infiltration, and afterwards leaving without a trace, except when there is something i gotta destroy. This time, it's a straight up assassination, but with a difference that i am supposed to take out the Emperor himself. The country has officially surrendered, and the Emperor is here to celebrate it with his generals. A part of me screamed that this was a trap, but the more logical part of me, told me that they wouldn't use the Emperor as a bait. Still, i couldn't just not do the mission because i have my suspicions and a glaring lack of information.

I reached my room, and opening it, i stumbled upon a sight that put a smile on my face. My wife was laying on the bed, sleeping peacefully. She's the reason i'm still fighting, why i haven't simply given up when my entire family died in the initial attack all those years ago, when my brother got murdered in front of me, while i watched helplessly.

Shaking away the dark thoughts, i silently took my clothes off, had a quick shower, and i tiptoed to bed, trying my best not to wake her up. Just when i laid down my head on the pillow, a sweet, sleep riddled voice called out "Mmmm, hey there, my love. How did it go?"

I sighed "No matter how hard i try, i just can't sneak up on you, even when you're sleeping." I chuckled "Yea, of course, i did what i had to do. I just talked to Nathan. I got another task in the morning." At this, she turned from her side and faced me, and with unshed tears she asked "What?! Already? You just came back, and you're already going on another one? Can't somebody else do it?"

I frowned "You know that i am the most capable man we got. Nobody else can do it. If i do this successfully, this war will end really fast."

She nodded solemnly "What is so important and big, that it might bring to an end to this terrible war?"

I sighed, knowing the reaction that would follow "I am to assassinate the Emperor." It did not disappoint "ARE YOU INSANE?! GOING FOR THE EMPEROR IS TANTAMOUNT TO SUICIDE! WE CANNOT TO AFFORD TO LOSE YOU! THIS ORGANISATION WILL FALL APART WITHOUT YOU!" At this, her voice became more quit, and tears were falling freely "I will fall apart without you, i don't want our child to grow up fatherless, just because you decided to be a hero. Can't you be selfish for just one time, and stay with me and our child?"

I sighed once more, looking at the tears that were falling from the beautiful blue/gray eyes of my wife, and wiping them with my hands "Don't cry sweetie" I hugged her tight "I will come back to you, you know i always do. Not even death itself will prevent me from doing so. In the case i fail, i want you not to fall into despair, and live on."

She looked angry, and more tears started falling "There won't be anyone that can even come close to you, i'd rather stay alone with our child, than do something like that. If you fail, i will flee somewhere safe with our child, and live our lives to their end, where i will finally see you again."

That night we made love, what felt for the last time, and even though she didn't hear i whispered a silent goodbye, love...

I had to get ready, this time i'm not going in as usual, well, more like hiding in plain sight. The gathering is supposed to happen in the Grand Hotel in this city. It will be crawling with security in a two kilometer radius. Helicopters will cover the skies. But i have already planned for that. It will be no trouble getting in, not even the liquidation will be a problem. A knife embedded in the head is an instant kill for any human. The problem will be escaping. But i'll manage somehow. I have a promise to fulfill.

An unlucky waiter was unconscious before he hit the ground. I tied him up and locked him in a closet. I knew i had only a small window of opportunity to do this, and i'm not gonna miss it. I covered my scar with some makeup. Putting on my best dazzling smile, i went to the ballroom, to "serve" the Emperor. For some reason, nobody stopped me, and didn't ask for my identity. When i got to grand table, where the Emperor sat, it took all my power to force a smile on my face. "My lord, how can this humble waiter serve you tonight?"

The Emperor arrogantly looked at me, and in a voice that almost made my being shake with rage, he said "I want a bottle of your finest wine." Nothing else was said, i bowed my head down and turned away. Action time.

From underneath my tongue, i dropped a pill into my hands. In it was a odorless, colourless poison of my brother's creaton with Nathan's help. It is a slow acting poison, coming to effect 15 minutes after consumption. Knowing that i had to open the bottle in front of him, i spread a bit on a rim of an intricate crystal glass. It's shape and light reflection will prevent anyone from noticing it. All this was done in 15 seconds. I put the bottle in a bucket filled with ice, and i went to the Emperor. After pouring him the wine, it brought a sick sense of pleasure to see him gulp down almost half glass. I knew that in 15 minutes, i would probably be dead, but that's okay, i was prepared for my fate.

14 minutes later, the Emperor signaled for me, and sent me with an order to hurry up the meal. My luck hasn't let me down, i almost skipped away. In the hall, i bumped into a person i knew all too well, since i destroyed so many compounds in his charge and thwarted many of his plans. I thought he died after i blew up his factory. I passed near him after a wall crushed his entire body except his head. I let my mask down and shot him a cruel smirk and continued to run.

"INTRUDEEE… gaaargh" – it was already too late, even though a precise knife throw directly in the generals throat, everybody in a radius of a 100 meters heard him. But, i still had a chance. The Emperor should start choking and clutching his heart about now. Right on time. I heard frantic screams and shouts from the ballroom. I came to the ice cube machine and took out my pistols. I started running to the staircase, trying to get to the roof. The exit would be blocked, and i didn't want to test my luck so much. On my way to the roof, i encountered some guys, and took them out with a few precise shots to the head.

Reaching the roof, i saw my ticket to escape. A chopper just standing there waiting for me. I quickly checked for bombs, and finding none, on the first glance, i started the chopper, and made my way not to HQ, but southeast of where the HQ is, in hopes of them following me.

Just as i thought i would escape, a missile, heat seeking one, apparently, hit the tail of the chopper. I tried to somewhat control the heli, as to not crash into a building. Somehow i succeeded, and crashed into a nearby park, which was luckily devoid of people at this hour. I came to consciousness a few minutes later, and as i stumbled outside the helicopter, i heard multiple guns clicking, and when i raised my head, i saw at least 40 soldiers with their guns raised at me. I released a dry chuckle and looked high up in the sky, when few raindrops fell on my face. It seemed as even the heavens were crying.

"Sorry, my love, it appears that i failed to come back to you."

And then everything went black.

~End of Prologue~

A/N: First story i've written. Review, if you wish. I would be grateful to answer all of your questions. Constructive criticism is appreciated. Flames will not be ignored, they will be laughed upon.