It was a quiet night at a military base in the Middle East. One of the few American aligned ones left in the region, too. It was important enough to not be removed by the president, though many of the soldiers inside were wishing that he did, as they were beyond bored. ISIS never attacked this place due to how heavily defended it is and none of the local governments dared to either, for fear of incurring the wrath of the U.S.
"Looks like another quiet night" one of the guards at the main gate said, observing the vast emptiness of the area.
"Yep. Just it has been for as long as anyone can really remember. A shame, really. I've been hoping for some action" the other guard said, with a heavy sigh as he puffed his cigarette.
"I prefer quiet and boring to loud and chaotic, personally, but I know what you mean," guard 1 said.
"When you've been in the military for as long as I have, you tend to become a bit warhungry, kid" guard 2. Guard 1 simply shrugged, not really sure what to say at the moment. So, he just stared at the horizon. Then, for a split second, he thought he saw something moving out there.
"Something got you jumpy?" guard 2 asked, seeing his friend lean forward.
"I think my eyes are playing tricks on me. I thought I saw something moving out there" guard 1 said.
"Yeah, that happens when you've been in the heat for too long, even though it's night. Nothing, a good night sleep after your shift won't fix" guard 2 said. Guard 1 took his advice and relaxed a bit. Silence fell over the guards, unaware of the presence watching them.
"Say, have you heard the rumors?" guard 2 asked.
"Rumors?" guard 1 asked, turning to guard 2.
"Yeah. Something has been breaking into bases all over. No one knows who or what is doing it, but the things they were guarding were missing while the guards were beaten into the dirt. Sometimes literally" guard 2 said.
"Any clues as to who it is?" guard 1 asked.
"Not a single one. It's as if they were phantoms in the night" guard 2 replied.
"Well, hopefully, we don't run into those people" guard 1 said, a bit nervous.
"Same. I ain't in the mood for getting my butt handed to me, but when is anyone?" guard 2 asked.
"Right, we better get to-" guard 1 said, but a hand was placed over his mouth and he was pulled into the shadows before he could even register what was happening. Guard 2 noticed his friend being dragged away, but was grabbed from behind, as well. Soon, it was quiet again. A minute later, a guard on patrol walked by and saw the bushes rustling, sending him on edge.
"Who's there?" he demanded, aiming his rifle at the bushes. Before he could reach, a shuriken shot out and hit the rifle, knocking it aside. A shape rushed out and grabbed the barrel of the gun and pointed it at the ground. The guard was able to get a good look at the shape. It looked like a young woman by the frame and shape. She was tall for her age, but slim and well muscled. She was wearing a form-fitting black bodysuit that was padded around the torso with gold accents along the thighs, arms, and sides with a gold triangle symbol on the chest. Her head was covered by a similar helmet that even covered her face, with only gold lenses where the eyes are. There was a sleek gold metal belt with a round, glowing buck around her waist.
"W-who are-" the guard couldn't finish his sentence before the girl slammed two of her fingers on his neck, taking him out in an instant. She easily lifted the guard and threw him into the bush. At the top of a watch tower, a guard saw this and was about to radio it in, but a bullet from a nearby ridge slammed into his head, killing him. The culprit was another woman in a similar suit as the first women, but where there was gold, it was an icy blue color, but the symbol on the chest was still gold. There was a pair of retractable arm-mounted guns on her forearms. There were two ammo belts around her waist while the gold belt she wore was strapped over her right shoulder.
The guard on the other watchtower was about to shout, but he suddenly passed out. Crouched behind him was a third girl. She wore a similar suit, but the highlights were red and it was similar to the gold-colored girl's suit. Though, this girl's suit sported short heels and padded gloves. There was a red endless knot symbol on the back of the suit.
"Agent 24, signing in. 89. 37. Sound off" the girl in gold said, pressing a finger on the sound of her helmet.
"Agent 37, here. I have the best vantage point here and ready to scope anyone I see" the girl in blue said with a British accent.
"89 reporting in. The parameter is secure" the girl in red said with an African accent. 24, satisfied, headed over to the main building and knocked on the door politely. Moments later, a guard opened the door and, before he could react, 24 sent him flying with a one-inch punch straight to the sternum. The other guards saw this, but a wave of some invisible force emanated from 24 and washed over the guards, knocking them all out in an instant.
"Too easy," she said.
"You knocked them out, didn't you?" 37 asked through her comm-piece. She sounded disappointed.
"Of course. We're here to acquire an asset, not to have fun, 37" 24 said, a bit sternly.
"Right, right... But can't we have both?" 37 asked, a bit too eagerly for 24's liking.
"37. Focus down your scope. Not on your sick glee for murder" 89 said, joining in on the conversation.
"I'm bored, okay?! This is, what, base raid number 16? It's the same thing. We scout it out, 24 goes in and it's awesome. We may get a few hits in. Then, onto the next one. It's so repetitive, watching paint dry would be more dynamic" 37 said, a bit annoyed and exasperated. 24 rolled her eyes under her mask.
"It means that we did a good job on the mission with no mistakes" 24 said, levelly.
"You did a good job. We don't do anything. I don't have a glee for murder by the way! It's just the only thing I can do without being put on standby and doing nothing!" 37 countered, a bit offended at 89 implying she loves killing.
"It's your fault for choosing long range weaponry as your specialty, 37" 89 said.
"Hey, I cannot help it if I'm just that awesome with firearms while the Gorilla can't fire straight to save her life" 37 said.
"I heard that!" 24 exclaimed, her calm demeanor vanishing for a moment. Sure, she doesn't have the best aim with guns, but that doesn't mean anything!
"You were supposed to!" 37 said. 24 could practically feel her smirk.
"Focus on the task at hand you two. Have you found the Asset, whatever it is?" 89 asked, deciding to realign the two's focus before they devolved into a childish argument.
"Not yet, but it's here. Likely stored in the lowest level. Keep an eye out for any unexpected surprises" 24 said, regaining her calm, professional trek through the halls was quiet and uneventful until she came up to an elevator that opened to reveal it was filled with guards. They stared at her as she casually strolled into the elevator. The doors closed and sounds of fighting could be heard from inside. When the elevator on the bottom floor opened, 24 was cracking her knuckles, the guards now unconscious around her, on the floor or against the wall. She strolled down the corridor.
"Say, the intel said their commanding officer's a Metahuman" 37 said, after a bit of silence.
"And he will fall before me," 24 said confidently.
"It is best to still be careful, 24. Metahumans tend to be quite powerful in their own right'' 89 advised. 24 made a note of her warning regardless of her confidence. She found the vault, but noticed the room felt chilly for whatever reason. Standing in the middle of the room was a tall well-built man with fair skin, short blonde hair, and green eyes. He wore a standard military uniform, with the pins indicating that he was a general.
"So you are the unknown force that has been taking down our outposts. To think a child would be capable of such feats" the general said.
"I'm 18 and I'm not a normal Human being" 24 said, cracking her neck.
"You're clearly not with how you've been working through our outposts. However, this is the end of the line for you" the general.
"Do not be so sure. My superiors desire the prototype fuel source you have and I'm not leaving without it" 24 said. Then, it got even colder in the room while the general glared down at 24. She got into a fighting stance as she grabbed two cylinders that extended out into a pair of escrima sticks.
"I wasn't intending to let you leave," he said. Before she could move, a number of cie spikes appeared in the air and fell towards her. 24 nimbly dodges and knocks away the spikes with her batons. So, he's an ice Metahuman. She better be careful or she might end up as a block of ice. An ice fist suddenly shot forward and slammed into her face and forced her to crash into the wall with noticeable force. The fist receded and 24 landed on her feet, noticing the floor was covered in a layer of ice. She yelped in surprise when ice spikes shot out of the ground, which she could barely dodge. He's certainly not going to give her any breathing space.
"89! 37! I need immediate reinforcements!" she exclaimed, dodging an ice blade.
"We're on our way!" 89 shouted.
"Seriously?! You must be in serious trouble then! We'll help!" 37 exclaimed, happily.
"Hurry!" 24 exclaimed. She dodged another ice spike as it was launched at her.
"Let them come! I, General North, will beat you all and bring glory to America!" the general exclaimed, proudly. As she dodged, she dug into her pouches and brought out several shuriken. While she did, they became coated in a black substance. She fired the shuriken with all her strength, but North summoned a thick wall of ice to block the shuriken. 24 used this opportunity to rush forward, leap over the wall and slammed her fist onto North's head, the fist being coated in that same black substance. The moment the fist connected, North's body shattered into a pile of ice and 24 leapt back. After a minute of silence, slowly, the ice began to reform into North in a crouching position.
"Impressive... Whatever technique you use was able to hurt me, even when I made myself out of Ice" North said with some modicum of respect seeping into his voice. He fired more ice spikes, but they were all shot out of the air.
"What?!" he shouted, but 89 appears and delivers an axe kick straight to his head. He slumped over, the kick forcing him down, before grunting when she hit him with a palm thrust followed by a sin kick to the temple. He tried to throw an ice punch, but 89 dodged it before slamming her elbow into his stomach, causing him to double over. North growled and tried to slice her with an ice blade. However, the black substance coated her side upon the blade slicing her side. Despite his best efforts, the blade won't cut the girl's side. 37 used this distraction to take aim and fired another shot. The bullet splits into multiple smaller ones, each coated in the same balck substance. 89 sees this and leaps out of the way, letting North take the full brunt of the attack.
"Took you two long enough" 24 said, slightly annoyed.
"Better late than never" 37 said, loading another shot. 89 rejoins her teammates
"All that matters is that we have come. And it is time to finish this!" 89 declared as she and 24 charged towards North, who had a serious look on his face. Ice and snow began to build up around him, which orried the three agents.
"ICE AGE!" He shouted and a truly massive blast of ice and cold erupted from him, blanketing the entire room. In mere moments, it was turned into a winter wasteland. The girls were blown back by the sheer force of it, but they survived. 24 groaned, her ears ringing from the attack, as she stood up. This man was powerful. Looks like it's time to pull out all of the stops.
"It would seem we need to stop holding back" 89 observed as the three girls regrouped.
"It definitely seems like we should" 24 acknowledged, 37 turned to them, holding her rifle.
"Does that mean you're-" she asked, but was cut off.
"Yes. Keep him distracted" 24 said.
"Right," 89 said.
"We'll do our best," 37 said, aiming her rifle. 89 rushed forward at North.
"I will not let three pests take my fuel source!" North declared, launching an ice spike. He growled as 89 effortlessly deflected the spike with her arm.
"It's our mission objective and we won't be stopped!" she declared, hitting him with a flying kick to the face.
"And we are tougher than we look!" 37 said, firing several bullets. Knowing these bullets can harm him, North dodged them, but this left him open to 89's next onslaught of blows. She was fast and precise with her strikes, which made it hard to stop her when leaving himself open.
"You have powers of ice but you clearly rely too much on it!" 89 declared before she received an uppercut to the jaw by North, using the momentary pause to his advantage.
"Do not be so sure of that" he said, smugly. That moment ended as he barely dodged another bullet from 37. This left him open to 89's next barrage. This time, anytime he found an opening, 37 took a pot shot that distracted him and allowed 89 to press her attack. North ahd to admit, she was very trained for her age. He didn't have much time to mull over this before 89 leapt back.
"It seems we are victorious" she said, confusing him.
"I'm not even close to being defeated," he said.
"Not yet" 24 said, finally joining the battle as she charged at North. When she got close enough, her fist suddenly became engulfed in flames.
"RED… HAWK!" The flaming fist collided with North's stomach and unleashed a fiery explosion upon impact. He screamed in pain as he was sent flying back and slammed into a wall. The flames died down as 24 stood, victorious.
"We did it!" 37 exclaimed, cheerfully.
"Do not celebrate just yet" 89 said, staring at where North had fallen. Just moments later, she slowly got back up, breathing heavily with blood dripping from his mouth. He glared at the three.
"You're the first person to stand up after being hit with my strongest attack. I'm impressed" 24 said. North didn't say anything, but merely kept glaring at 24, who was starting to feel smug.
"What's the matter? Cannot speak to your betters when on the verge of defeat?" she asked, tauntingly. Suddenly, she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"The trash I favor dealing with are the arrogant ones," North said, suddenly behind 24. The agents were shocked. The North that had been glaring at them became ice and crumbled, revealing it as a decoy. North starts to freeze 24's body.
"You are skilled but there's a difference between us. One difference that makes you trash. I'm willing to die for my cause and you aren't" he said, proudly. 24 was about to say something, but North had finished freezing her solid. 37 reacted quickly, aiming her rifle, but an ice spike shot out of the ground, destroying her rfiel and impaling her shoulder.
"37!" 89 exclaimed, concerned for her teammate's health. 37 crouched down, gripping her shoulder.
"I'll live, but we need to beat this guy! Now!" 37 exclaimed. Under her mask, 89 was sweating. With 37 injured and 24 frozen, it was up to her to turn this around. But, with 24 frozen, they were on a time limit. They have to stop North and thaw her out before it's too late. That Red Hawk was effective, but 89 didn't know it. Her thoughts ended when she was forced to dodge a series of ice punches. To her shock, she was actually struggling.
"You're wavering child! You're unsure of yourself!" North declared. 89 blocked an overhead strike, only to get punched in the stomach. She retaliated with a kick to the stomach and pushed off of North's body and landed two feet away.
"I will not falter, here!" 89 shouted. She rushed forward to throw a punch, but North dodged. 89 spun on her heel to deliver another punch to his face, but she received an ice kick that sent her flying a foot away.
"Enemies showing false bravado makes my job easier!" North said. 89 was starting to feel fatigue set upon her and she knew she couldn't keep this up for much longer lest they either fail their mission or lose 24. Looks like she'll have to use her ultimate technique. Suddenly, 89 vanished from sight, confusing North, before reappearing directly in front of him with her fists pressed against his stomach.
"SIX KING GUN!" With her declaration, a shockwave of pure power shot right through North, causing severely internal damage to his organs. He stumbles back a bit, clutching his stomach, but falling onto his back. 89 and 37 breath a sigh of relief, glad to have finally brought him down.
"Finally… We got him" 37 said.
"He's still conscious, but he's in too much pain to do anything. You get the fuel while I help 24" 89 said. 37 turned to 89.
"Are you sure? The Six King Gun always has a physical toll on your body" she said.
"I can handle the after effects just fine to carry 24 out of here. You worry about your shoulder getting treated, even with our slight healing factor. As long as nothing else happens, we're in the clear" 89 said. 37 looked nervous, but nodded. Before either could respond, North growled and slowly sat up, very much in pain but powering through it. The two agents' eyes widened in horror.
"Oh, no…" 89 breathed out.
"He's still able to move?!" 37 exclaimed. North spat out some blood, coughing loudly.
"I'll admit that you trash are formidable... but I can at least give you an ultimatum…" he said, before using his powers to freeze the vault, covering the door in thick blue ice. It looked very thick, too.
"I can't do much as it is to finish you off... I've taken too much damage... And so have you three... Leave now or stay. If you leave now, you'll help that Arrogant trash statue or stay and wait for the ice to melt and she dies of frostbite" North said, giving his ultimatum. Neither agent doubted his words one bit.
"What do we do, 89? Neither of us have anything that can melt the ice" 37 said, worriedly. 89 was at a loss at what to do. She was certain they could break through the ice, but not so sure if they could do it before 24 freezes to death. She internally cursed. 24 got frozen because she let her guard down, but so did she and 37. In the back of her mind, a tiny voice was telling her to do the right thing. After what seemed like a minute, she came to a decision.
"37... Help me get 24 out of here so we can treat her. We have to retreat" 89 said. 37 looked at her, warily.
"But, the Echelon-" she was cut off.
"Let me handle them, 37. I'll be taking full responsibility for this failure" 89 said. 37 bit her lip under her helmet, but she heard the same voice to trust 89's judgement.
"... Okay... Let's get out of here together." 37 said. The two agents grabbed 24 and made their way to leave, but North decided to get in on last warning.
"Just remember trash! If we ever meet again, I will end you!" he declared.
"And we will not make the same mistakes or be so easily beaten, as here" 89 said before leaving the vault room. They eventually left the abse and returned to their transport. Their transport resembled a large luxury jet, but with futuristic-looking rotos on the center of the wings and a large adjustable engine on the back. It was pitch black with a white underside. The interior was a cross between a sci-fi spaceship and luxury jetliner with enough room to house several people comfortably. And the two agents boarded the jet and placed 24 inside of a special chamber.
"Don't worry 24, we'll get you treated and you'll be better before you know it. Better enough to yell at us" 37 said, a bit sadly. She hated it when 24 yelled at them.
"It was either let her die or wait for that vault to melt with a chance of that General regaining his strength" 89 said, as the duo headed into the cockpit.
"I know, but you know how she is. Cares more about the mission than anything else" 37 said as the console came to life in a holographic display of blues and whites.
"It doesn't matter. We're a team and we need to look out for each other when situations like this happen" 89 said.
"Even if one denies it… But are you sure you want to take responsibility for this failure by yourself?" 37 asked, worried for her teammate. The Echelon did not take failure too well and was worried about whatever punishment they'd enact on 89.
"Yes, as I was the one who called the retreat" 89 said, simply.
"Okay... Let's only hope the Echelon isn't too mad for this" 37 said. Silence descended on the two as they continued their preparations for takeoff. 89 saw 37 seemed to be lost in thought, despite ehr still wearing her mask.
"Is something on your mind, 37?" she asked. 37 flinched, slightly, but responded, still.
"That Ice Guy also said something that can't shake my mind... He said he's willing to die for his cause but 24 wasn't…" 37 said, explained. 89 felt the same way. That willingness to lay down his life was startling to them, despite being taught to possess the same mentality.
"Why does that bother you?" 89 asked.
"... What if he meant that for all of us? We believe in our cause... Don't we?" 37 asked, seemingly like a little kid, so confused and vulnerable. 89's sisterly instincts immediately flared up, despite them not being related.
"Of course. We've been raised on it. We believe it with all our hearts" she said, reassuringly.
"Right, right... It is the only thing we've known our entire lives after all" 37 said, not sounding convinced. 89 immediately noticed.
"You sound... saddened" she said.
"I do... Don't I? I guess I'm just curious about why others are against our ideals" 37 said. They've been out on missions for a few years now, but not a single enemy they fought agreed with their ideals, despite how noble they were. They were bringing about utopia. WHo wouldn't want that?
"It is perplexing, to say the least. But, remember, our goal is noble and just. The Echelon's cruelty and hard rules are a necessary evil to achieve paradise" 89 said, resolutely.
"I know but paradise for everyone.. or the Echelon?" 37 asked. If anyone else heard her say that, she would've been punished severely for doubting the Echelon even somewhat. But, 89 wasn't like that. She knew 37 was the most innocent, in a sense, of the three of them.
"For everyone, 37. Trust me" she said.
"I do trust you. You are the smartest of us three" 37 said. Despite 24 being the leader, 89 was the sensible one.
"Well, one of us has to bail you and 24 out of trouble" 89 said, teasingly. Honestly, she seemed to be the only one with any sense of caution in this team.
"And someone has to remind you both not to act like boring old people all the time" 37 teased back.
"I'm not boring!" 89 exclaimed, embarrassed.
"Your idea of fun is gardening" 37 pointed out.
"There's Nothing wrong taking in the sun and enjoying the plants!"
"How would you know?! They don't let you garden!"
"I read!"
"Then how do you know it's fun?!"
"It looks like fun!"
"Do you know what IS fun?! The beach!" 89 blinked in surprise. The beach? When was the last time they ever went to a beach?
"How do you know what a beach is?" 89 asked. The Echelon rarely let them outside the base, as it is. And it's nowhere near a beach.
"I looked at pictures of one when we were younger" 37 asked, simply.
"You mean that time we went to Miami on a mission?" 89 asked, vaguely remembering that place, now.
"That place looked fun, but 24 wouldn't let us take a break, for once" 37 said, pouting.
"She really does need to take a break at times. And perhaps, this incident will be what forces her to relax" 89 said.
"Knowing her, it won't stop her," 37 said.
True" 89 said. AT this point, the jet was fully powered up and it took off into the night, no one aware of the ramifications this event would have on the three agents, the world, and an assuming family in Michigan.
The first official installment of what is most likely my most ambitious project: the Newverse. And were starting at the beginning. Me and my co-author, Andrew, will be pulling for many sources. Some that may surprise you, some that won't. Some things will be different than in their respective canon, as well, but we will take whatever we can from canon as long as it doesn't break our lore or how we crafted some characters. Also, I wonder if anyone can guess what the black substance is? It's quite surprising where we got that from, actually. We're pulling from a lot of media, as I said. Weaving them together into a very unique and expensive world that we hope you'll come to enjoy as much as we have.
That is all for now.