"These firewalls are so 2007."
- Dokkaebi
Hereford Base, England
With John Clark still recovering in Singapore, Aurelia Arnot has taken up the mantle of Acting Director "Six". The urgency of the situation in South Korea weighed heavily on her mind. The recent hacking incidents—one involving a military helicopter, the other a commuter rail—had highlighted a growing, dangerous threat. The second attack, barely averted by Rainbow operators Vigil, Dokkaebi, Dusk, and Chameleon, had almost spiralled into a full disaster.
"Lesion, Blackbeard," Arnot said, her voice crisp as she addressed both operators via video conference, "Since both of you are in South Korea, I'm putting you both in charge of the operators on the ground. The situation's only getting worse."
"We're on it, Director," Lesion replied.
Blackbeard chimed in, his tone a little gruff but determined.
"We've got eyes on several suspicious locations. We'll act fast, but we need full intel on the enemy's next move."
Arnot nodded.
"I trust you both. Keep Vigil and Dokkaebi in the loop, even though they are currently back under the command of the 707th SMG. No room for mistakes this time."
"Understood," Blackbeard replied, "Just give us the green light, and we'll handle the rest."
"We'll make sure this doesn't spiral out of control, Director," Lesion added.
Incheon, South Korea
Blackbeard and Lesion stood in front of a small group of operators. Dusk, Chameleon, Lockpick, and Sabit gathered around, awaiting orders. Blackbeard cleared his throat, his authoritative tone cutting through the tension in the room.
"Alright, listen up," Blackbeard began, "Acting Director Arnot has given us our assignment: Hunt down Mercury and stop him. He's a critical piece of Wu Hsing's operations, and taking him out will significantly weaken the Keres Legion."
Lesion, standing by a makeshift comms station, chimed in. "I'll be mission control from here. You'll have full support, but this is a high-risk operation. We need to act fast and stay coordinated."
Chameleon, the quirky Vietnamese operator, gave a quick nod, her eyes gleaming with excitement. Lockpick, the towering Indonesian operator, remained silent, his stoic expression giving away nothing as he adjusted his gear. Sabit, ever calm, glanced at the rest of the team, waiting for the plan to unfold.
Blackbeard's gaze locked onto each of them. "I'll be serving as squad leader for the duration of this mission, but feel free to let me know if you have a better strategy when out in the field. Remember, we take down Mercury, we eliminate one of Wu Hsing's personal squad members. That's a huge blow to the Keres Legion's operations. Let's make sure this one counts."
Sabit asked, his voice calm but curious, "What about Vigil and Dokkaebi? Will they be part of this operation?"
Blackbeard glanced over at Lesion, who shook his head slightly, then returned his gaze to the team.
"Until the international military exchange event is finished, Vigil and Dokkaebi remain under the command of their own unit, the 707th SMG. We won't be able to bring them into this mission."
Dusk's expression hardened, his brow furrowing.
"That's a problem." He shifted uncomfortably, then spoke again, his voice laced with concern, "Kuh's using Mercury's cyber-attacks as an excuse to try and get rid of Dokkaebi. The 707th's not exactly known for being lenient with their own. And I don't know if anyone's told you, but—"
He paused for a moment, choosing his words carefully.
"She and I encountered a Keres Legionnaire codenamed Beom while saving the train. He's a former 707th operative named Ok Yong-Su. He's... He's also Dokkaebi's ex."
The room fell silent as the others processed the revelation. Blackbeard's eyes narrowed, understanding the gravity of the situation.
"So, not only do we have Mercury to deal with, but Dokkaebi's personal history with one of the Keres Legionnaires could complicate things… Alright, Dusk. I'm assigning you to watch over Dokkaebi. Keep her close, keep her safe. We can't afford distractions."
The weight of the assignment settled on Dusk's shoulders. There was no turning back now.
Vigil stood guard outside Lieutenant-General Baek's office, his posture rigid as he kept a watchful eye down the hallway. Inside the office, the tension was palpable. Major-Generals Pak Suo-Won and Kuh sat across from each other, the air thick with barely contained frustration.
Pak's voice was measured, but the anger simmered just below the surface.
"You're risking national security, Kuh, all because you can't let your personal grudge go. This is about more than just Nam Eun-Hye."
Kuh leaned back in his chair, unfazed.
"Nam needs to prove she can co-exist within the 707th, Suo-Won. You're blinded by your loyalty to her."
"Loyalty? I'm loyal to the safety of this nation. Nam's achievements speak for themselves. But you've stunted her promotions at every turn. Why?"
"I'm the one who commands the White Tigers. You command the 9th Special Forces Brigade. Nam may have been a former subordinate of yours, but she's a White Tiger now. You should mind your business."
"You're more concerned with your petty power struggles than the safety of the very people you're supposed to protect. You're pushing her to the edge—and it's dangerous."
Baek, watching from behind his desk, finally spoke, trying to cut through the tension.
"Enough, both of you. This isn't helping anyone."
But the tension in the room didn't dissipate, even as they begrudgingly fell silent.
A knock echoed through the room, and Baek gestured for them to enter. From outside, Vigil opened the door, stepping aside to allow Dusk inside, his helmet tucked under his arm and Lucy following closely behind him. The moment they stepped in, Kuh's voice cut through the air.
"The Singaporean and his mutt," he sneered, "Leave the dog outside."
Dusk didn't flinch, his gaze unwavering.
"Lucy's part of my gear. She goes where I go," he replied, his tone calm but resolute.
Pak, ever the diplomat, turned to Dusk with a polite nod, greeting, "Inspector Sng, I'm sure we can find a way to make this work. How can we assist you?"
Dusk glanced around the room, noticing the tense atmosphere, before speaking up.
"Major-General Kuh, did you assign Staff Sergeant Nam Eun-Hye to hunt down Mercury all by herself, without any aid from the rest of the 707th SMG?"
Kuh's eyes narrowed, but he didn't hesitate.
"Yes, I did."
Dusk nodded, his expression unreadable.
"As per my instructions from Rainbow Command, I'll be assisting Staff Sergeant Nam in her efforts to locate and neutralize Mercury."
He paused, his gaze locking onto Kuh's.
"Is there going to be a problem with that, Major-General?"
Kuh's jaw tightened, but he knew he couldn't push back. Dusk, being a Singaporean, was outside of his direct command, and Kuh was reluctant to escalate given the ties between his country's 707th SMG and the Singapore Police Force's Special Tactics And Rescue.
"No," he muttered, barely holding back his frustration.
Dusk gave a sharp salute to the three commanders, his demeanor respectful but distant
"Thank you, sirs. I'll take it from here."
As Dusk turned to leave, Pak seized the moment to speak: "It's remarkable, isn't it? A young man from a small country considered insignificant by so many other nations, displaying such levels of professionalism and humility. It's a shame some are more concerned with their own authority than what's best for the mission."
Kuh's face reddened, but he couldn't muster a response, fuming silently as Dusk exited the room.
It was the third day of Mercury's cyberattacks, but instead of launching large-scale hacks, he seemed to be focusing on more petty, disruptive measures. Local shops were left without power, traffic lights malfunctioned, and people were trapped in elevators, all part of his effort to sow chaos in the everyday lives of civilians. Despite the growing tension, Major-General Kuh's frustration with Dokkaebi only intensified, berating her progress at every turn.
In the locker room, Dokkaebi, her hair loose and unbraided, slammed her fist against the wall, her voice barely above a growl.
"They're both just bloody ticks that I can't get rid of," she muttered under her breath.
But it wasn't just the constant pressure from Kuh and the challenge from Mercury that gnawed at Dokkaebi. As her anger began to subside, a wave of bitterness hit her when she remembered—Ok Yong-Su, her ex, was now working with Mercury. The thought of him, now aligned with the enemy, twisted something deep inside her. Her hands clenched, and for the first time in a while, the weight of it all threatened to break through the shell she had made around herself.
Dokkaebi needed a moment to herself, so she slipped out of the locker room and made her way to the quiet courtyard of the base. The cool air hit her face as she sat on a bench, her thoughts drifting back to Yong-Su. Why had he turned on their country? She couldn't understand it. Was it her fault? Had her decisions pushed him down this path? The more she thought about it, the more her heart felt heavy with guilt. She should've done something—anything—to stop him from becoming the man he was now.
The sound of footsteps pulled her out of her thoughts. Looking up, she saw Dusk standing near the entrance, looking unusually unsettled.
"Everything okay?" she asked, her voice carrying a hint of concern.
Dusk hesitated for a moment before answering, glancing at the ground.
"Lesion borrowed Lucy to investigate something at the site where you and I barely stopped the train from derailing," he said, "I thought he would be done, but now he's taking Lucy into your unit's headquarters to have her snoop around. And here I thought Lucy was clingy towards me… Turns out, I'm getting a bit of separation anxiety without her around…"
Dokkaebi raised an eyebrow, a small, faint smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Lesion and Lucy, huh? That's... going to be interesting."
Dusk took a step forward, his eyes softening as he looked at her.
"You okay? You seem a little... off."
Dokkaebi sighed, running a hand through her messy, unbraided hair.
"I am. Just... stressed out, I guess."
For a moment, they both stood in silence, the weight of the situation hanging in the air. Dusk shifted slightly, his expression serious as he asked, "So, about Ok Yong-Su. Anything more you can tell me about him?"
Dokkaebi took a deep breath, staring off into the distance for a moment.
"Yong-Su's from Busan. Lives near Jangsan, actually."
"Jangsan... that's where the Jangsan-Beom legend comes from, right? The Jangsan Tiger?"
"You know about that?"
"Yeah, tiger-like shapeshifting cryptid that haunts Jangsan. It stalks its prey and lures them in using mimicry. Pretty scary."
Dokkaebi looked at him in surprise. Most foreigners have never even heard of this particular myth.
"That's... exactly what Yong-Su's like. He's not a shapeshifter, but he's the best at infiltrating. He specializes in slipping past people unnoticed. He's done missions crossing the DMZ to spy on North Korean military movements," she said.
"I guess calling himself Beom makes sense, then. Like that tiger in the legend."
Dokkaebi's gaze softened, her expression distant.
"Yeah, he's always been like that. A shadow, never really seen unless he wants to be."
Dusk watched as a van rolled into the base, its engine humming quietly, but Dokkaebi didn't even look up.
"Ignore it," she muttered, as though the arrival didn't matter, "It's just one of our undercover vehicles."
Dusk raised an eyebrow, sensing a shift in her demeanor. He knew this wasn't just about the vehicle.
"What about Yong-Su?" he asked, his voice low, "Next time we encounter him... are you ready for that?"
She met his gaze, her eyes hardening.
"Yes," she replied, a cold edge in her voice.
After a beat, she added, "But since Yong-Su has turned traitor, there's no need to say his name anymore. He's just 'Beom' now. A wild tiger, a threat to the country... nothing more."
Dusk nodded, but his eyes narrowed as he noticed the van still parked at the gate, its engine still running, yet the two guards, usually stationed there, were nowhere to be seen. His instincts kicked in.
"You sure that's one of yours? Something feels off," he muttered.
Dokkaebi followed his gaze, her expression hardening.
"Let's check it out."
They approached the gate cautiously. As they got closer, Dusk spotted the two guards lying motionless on the ground, unconscious. His hand went to his sidearm, instinctively moving into a defensive stance. Before either of them could react, however, the van's doors swung open.
The gas hit Dusk first—a thick, pungent cloud that instantly made his head spin. His knees buckled, but he forced himself to stay upright. He staggered toward Dokkaebi, trying to warn her, but his vision was already blurring.
"Dusk!" Dokkaebi's voice rang out in concern, but Dusk's breath was shallow, whatever chemical that hit him already taking hold.
"Run," he managed to croak, before his body sagged against her.
Too late. As he collapsed, Dokkaebi felt the cold mist hit her own face. The world around her began to tilt. Her legs wobbled, and her body grew heavy. She tried to steady herself, but her strength was quickly draining. The last thing she saw before everything went black was a man stepping out of the van—dressed in a 707th SMG uniform, but with the unmistakable mask of the Keres Legion.
Then, everything faded to darkness.
Lesion scanned the rows of servers, his eyes narrowing in concentration. Sabit stood beside him, keeping a vigilant watch over their surroundings while the three members of the 707th SMG quietly observed. The server room, normally sterile and calm, felt heavier with the tension of an ongoing investigation. Lesion had borrowed Lucy from Dusk, her sharp senses crucial for finding any overlooked clues.
Suddenly, Lucy's ears perked up, and she barked loudly, her gaze fixed on a specific server. Lesion followed her line of sight, intrigued. He approached the server, crouching down to inspect it. Sabit joined him, noting the faint signs of disturbance—scratches on the outer casing and a slightly off-center USB port.
One of the 707th SMG members, a young woman, stepped forward.
"No one's entered the server room in the last three days. It's been locked down tight," She sounded confident, but there was a flicker of doubt in her voice.
Lesion's mind began to piece together the clues. He pulled back slightly and scanned the floor, his sharp eyes catching something unusual.
"Wait," he muttered. Lucy had already nosed at the small patches of mud near the servers, "Mud. Not exactly fresh, but there it is."
Sabit frowned, asking, "How would that get in here?"
Lesion's face hardened.
"Someone from the outside must have infiltrated the room the night before the helicopter was hacked. Whoever did this had access to this area."
Lesion's radio crackled, cutting through the heavy silence of the server room. "Lesion, we have a serious problem," Blackbeard's voice came through, urgent and clipped. "Get to the security room. Now."
Without a word, Lesion turned to Sabit. "Let's go.
They moved quickly, their footsteps echoing down the hallway as they reached the security room. Inside, Blackbeard was already at the central monitor, his expression grim. Vigil was seated nearby, his usual stoic demeanor betraying little emotion, but his feet were tapping nervously—an odd sign for someone usually in control.
"What happened?"
Blackbeard nodded toward the screen. The footage was clear, showing Dusk and Dokkaebi, both disoriented and struggling to remain conscious. The scene shifted to reveal a van, its doors sliding open. A group of men in 707th SMG uniforms stepped out, but something was off: They were wearing Keres Legion masks, and some don't even look Korean based on their skin and hair colour. The gas they released had taken down both operators swiftly, and the video captured them being dragged into the van with practiced efficiency. Lesion's jaw clenched.
"Why were they targeted?" he asked, his voice laced with frustration, "Mercury's past with Dokkaebi? Or maybe Yong-Su's connection to her? Was Dusk just collateral?"
Blackbeard's gaze remained steady, but his voice was firm.
"Doesn't matter. We need to find them. Fast. This is no longer just about stopping Mercury. They've crossed a line. We're not letting them slip away with our own."
Vigil, who had been silent until now, looked at the screen, his fingers stilling as they hovered over his tablet. His expression was unreadable, but the tension in his shoulders spoke volumes. The mission had just shifted into something far more personal.
Dokkaebi's eyes fluttered open, her mind foggy and disoriented. She was met with a familiar face, inches from her own. Dusk's eyes were closed, but his mild groan indicates that he was stirring. Dokkaebi struggled to sit up, but then she realized she and Dusk had been tied together with a mix of duct tape and ropes, their bodies pressed against each other front-to-front with their wrists tightly bound behind their backs.
As Dokkaebi's eyes adjusted to the dim light, she took in their surroundings. The abandoned psychiatric hospital's walls seemed to close in around them, the peeling paint and rusty medical equipment a grim reminder of their predicament.
Dusk stirred, his eyes snapping open as he took in their situation. He was momentarily disoriented, but as his gaze met Dokkaebi's, his expression changed to one of annoyance as he realized how they had been tied up.
"What the fuck? What is this? Dokkaebi, are you hurt?" he asked, trying to keep his voice steady.
Dusk's face was inches from hers, their noses almost touching. She could feel his warm breath on her skin, and her heart rate quickened in response. Dokkaebi's eyes flashed between embarrassment and irritation as she struggled against the ropes.
"No, but my dignity's taking a beating," she said, "What kind of sick freak ties people up like this? My whole body's pressing… Against… Er…"
"Please stop… Before every word we say starts sounding pornographic…"
As the two struggled against their restraints, the screen of a television mounted on the wall next to them flickered to life, casting an eerie glow over the room. A bespectacled Eurasian man appeared on screen, his smile twisted and sinister.
"Welcome, Grace, Keith," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "I've been waiting a long time for this moment. You see, I have a bit of a score to settle with you, Grace."
Dokkaebi's eyes narrowed, her face set in a fierce scowl.
"Mercury," she spat, her voice venomous, to which Mercury chuckled.
"Ah, yes. I see you remember me. But I'm not the only one who's been waiting for you. You see, I have a... associate who's been eager to meet you."
As Mercury spoke, a figure emerged from the shadows, their presence seeming to draw the air out of the room. Dusk's eyes locked onto the figure, his heart sinking as he recognized the man's face.
Beom, aka Ok Yong-Su, sat in a chair, his eyes fixed intently on Dokkaebi. A combat knife glinted in his hand, the blade seeming to gleam with a malevolent light.
Dusk's instincts screamed at him to act, to protect Dokkaebi from the danger that loomed over them. But he was tied up, helpless to do anything but watch as Beom's eyes seemed to bore into Dokkaebi's very soul.
Mercury's face twisted in a snarl as he continued to rant, "You think you're so clever, Grace? Nearly getting me killed the last time we clashed in cyberspace. You think you're better than me, but you're not. You're just a lucky little hacker who stumbled into the right situation."
"Damn right I'm smarter than you," Dokkaebi snapped back, "For starters, even the dumbest of hackers won't dare to accept a job from a rogue North Korean general trying to launch a coup against his own Supreme Leader. And while your skills are top-notch, your codes are not exactly original. At the end of the day, you're just piggybacking off existing codes ripped from the Dark Web."
Mercury's voice rose to a near-shriek, his anger and resentment boiling over.
"SHUT UP! You have no idea what I've been through, you little bitch. The North Korean government was going to execute me, all because of you. I had to go on the run, hiding in the shadows for years, pretending to be dead just to survive. And it's all because of you."
Dusk's eyes rolled in disgust.
"You're a supervillain wannabe, Mercury. What kind of hacker advertises himself like this? Don't you know that most hackers live secretive lives for their own safety?"
Mercury's face turned red with rage.
"You don't understand, Sinkie. I could have changed the world. I could have made a difference. But no one appreciated my work. No one understood my brilliance. So, I turned their own technology against them. Just like Beom here turned on the 707th SMG when Rainbow decided he wasn't cut out for recruitment."
Mercury's eyes locked onto Dokkaebi, his gaze venomous.
"By the way, it seems you're responsible for Beom's plight, Dokkaebi. You and your precious Rainbow. But now, with the Keres Legion backing us up, both Beom and I can claim back what was rightfully ours."
Beom stood up, an expressionless look on his face.
"Yes, I can," he said, his voice low and menacing as he walked over to Dusk and Dokkaebi.
Dokkaebi's expression changed, her eyes pleading with Beom as she turned towards him.
"Beom, what are you trying to accomplish by siding with terrorists? This isn't something you would do. You can't just-"
But Beom just smiled, a cold, hard smile. And then he kicked Dusk in the back, hard enough to make Dusk wince in pain. Dokkaebi's words were cut off, silenced by the sudden violence. Mercury's face remained on the screen, his expression cold and calculating.
"I've wasted enough time on you two," he said, his voice dripping with disdain and mockery, "I've been tasked with turning Incheon International Airport into South Korea's biggest site of tragedy. And knowing just how good you are, Grace, I'm not taking any chances. The only reason you're still alive is because I needed a bargaining chip in case shit goes wrong, but once I'm done, you're finished. As for you, Keith, unfortunately, you're collateral. You should pick dancing partners properly in your next life."
"Yeah, fuck you too, Asian Boris Grishenko," Keith quietly retorted.
A chuckle escaped Mercury's lips before the screen flickered and went dark, plunging the room into silence. Dokkaebi's eyes locked onto Beom, her voice desperate and pleading.
"Yong-Su, please don't do this. Whatever Mercury is planning, it will cost thousands of innocent lives. You know this. You can't let him do this."
For a moment, Beom's expression wavered, and Dokkaebi saw a glimmer of the man she once knew. But then his face hardened, and he steeled himself, stomping down on Dokkaebi's leg which caused her to cry out in pain.
"You son of a bi-"
A swift kick to Dusk's head interrupted his attempt to curse at Beom, who puts a finger over his lips before turning back to his ex-lover.
"You took everything from me, Dokkaebi," he said, his voice cold and bitter, "My career, my reputation, my future. It's only fair that I take everything away from you."
He glanced at Dusk, then continued, "But I'll at least let you keep your new boy toy. You'll have someone to accompany you when you burn in Hell. I even made sure the two of you can see each other's despair before that happens."
Dokkaebi cried out his name, her voice cracking from a desperate attempt to appeal to what she hoped was left of Beom's conscience.
"Yong-Su, no! Please don't do this! Yong-Su!"
In response, Beom pulled out a roll of duct tape, tearing some pieces off and violently gagging Dokkaebi and Dusk before he turned and walked away, leaving Dokkaebi and Dusk to their fate. As he disappeared into the shadows, he called out over his shoulder, "Good luck getting out of those ropes."
Dusk and Dokkaebi struggled against their bindings, their movements awkward and restricted by the ropes that tied them together. They twisted and turned, trying to loosen the knots, but it was no use. The ropes were too tight, their posture too restrictive, and they only succeeded in making small tears in their uniform's sleeves. Even worse was the manner in which they were tied. Neither liked the idea of having their bodies moving against each other in such a manner, and both of them, despite being adults, were flushing red from humiliation. As for their gags, it took a while, but the two eventually managed to remove the duct tape from their mouths.
"That was messed up," Dusk complained.
"Yeah… And I bet that freak Mercury probably have a camera set up somewhere watching our plight…"
"He better not be live-streaming this, because if he does, I'll find him and broadcast myself gorging out his eyes live on the Internet."
"Me too. I'll break his fucking fingers…"
But as they continued to struggle, it became clear that they were getting nowhere. The ropes were too strong, and they were getting weak due to the cold. As minutes turn to hours, they began to lose hope. They had been struggling for what felt like an eternity, and they were no closer to escaping. The cracked clock on the wall showed it was midnight, and considering the time that had passed since their abduction, they've probably been tied up since at least late afternoon.
"I can't anymore… We're really cooked," Dokkaebi whispered, her exhausted voice starting to show signs of despair.
"Hey, don't say that. We need to stop Mercury from whatever he plans to do at the airport. Just need to… Get out of this…"
Even as Dusk tried to reassure Dokkaebi, he himself was starting to feel the effects of the cold as he struggled to free them both. Just as they were about to genuinely give up, Dokkaebi's eyes landed on something on the floor. She froze, her gaze fixed on the object, and Dusk followed her gaze. It was Beom's knife, lying on the floor below the chair he had been sitting on. Dokkaebi's eyes lit up with hope, and she turned to Dusk with a determined look on her face.
"We can use that," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Dusk's eyes locked onto the knife, and he felt a surge of hope. Maybe, just maybe, they could escape after all. But then, a question popped into his head.
"That's Beom's knife. Why the hell did he leave it behind" he asked, curious.
"Who knows… But let's just cut ourselves free first."
As they inched forward, their progress slow and laborious due to the way they were tied, Dokkaebi's eyes never left the knife. But her mind was elsewhere, consumed by thoughts of Beom.
"I'm so disappointed in him. I genuinely thought he would find his conscience, that he would realize what he was doing was wrong. I can't believe this is what he's chosen to do…"
Dusk's eyes met hers, filled with understanding.
"Don't blame yourself, Dokkaebi," he said, "Beom had choices to make. He chose to quit the 707th SMG, he chose to align himself with the Keres Legion, and now he's chosen to harm you. Whoever Yong-Su was, he's dead, Dokkaebi. We're dealing with a wild tiger now. You can tell me how he was like in the past when we're done with him."
Dokkaebi could feel a bit of tears in her eyes, but she held them back, her jaw clenched in determination.
"But I still feel some responsibility. I was his ex-girlfriend, his teammate. I should have seen the signs, should have done something to stop him."
"I understand. I've been through something similar in the past. I blamed myself for a long time, wondering if I could have done something differently. But the truth is, we can't control others' actions. We can only control how we respond to them."
Dokkaebi's eyes locked onto his, filled with gratitude.
"Thanks, Dusk," she said again, her voice barely above a whisper. "Just knowing that you understand makes me feel a little better."
They continued to inch forward, their progress slow but steady, Dusk's words a reminder that they were in this together. Just as they were making progress, a piece of the ceiling suddenly dropped to the floor right next to them, sending dust and debris flying everywhere. Dokkaebi let out a shriek and buried her face in Dusk's shoulders, her body trembling with fear.
But as she realized what she had just done, Dokkaebi quickly pulled back, her face flushing with embarrassment. Dusk could only sigh in resignation, his eyes rolling heavenward.
"Well, that is turning into a nightmare for our respective dignity," he muttered.
Dokkaebi's eyes widened in mortification as she realized the implications of her actions.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to...I just..."
Dusk's expression was pure embarrassment. He avoided looking at her, his eyes fixed on the floor instead.
"It's okay, Dokkaebi. I get it. It's just that, given the way we're tied together like this, it's just...awkward."
The awkward tension between them was palpable, but they both knew they had to shake it off. They had more pressing concerns, like escaping their bindings and stopping Mercury's plan. After a moment of awkward silence, Dokkaebi took a deep breath and nodded.
"Let's just focus on getting out of here, okay?"
"Yeah. Let's do that."
With renewed determination, they continued to inch forward, their progress slow but steady. Finally, they reached the knife, and Dusk carefully took it in his hands. He began to work on the bindings, his movements careful and precise…
In one of the meeting rooms of the ROKA Special Warfare Command's base, Blackbeard paced back and forth, his brow furrowed. Beside him, Lesion studied the digital map on the screen, fingers hovering over the tablet, as if willing the location of Dusk and Dokkaebi to appear.
Sabit, Lockpick, and Chameleon stood at the edge of the room, each visibly tense. Sabit's arms were crossed tightly, his jaw clenched. Lockpick, ever stoic, barely shifted, but his narrowed eyes betrayed his worry. Chameleon chewed on the edge of her lip, glancing between the others as she exchanged uneasy looks with Sabit.
"They're out there in the cold without any protective gear," Chameleon muttered, her voice sharp with concern, "It's bad enough they're in enemy hands—this could kill them."
Blackbeard shot her a sharp glance, but before he could respond, the door opened with a soft hiss. Vigil entered, his expression unreadable as always, but there was a slight glint of relief in his eyes.
"Good news. We've gained access to public security cameras in the area and tracked down the vehicle that was involved in the kidnapping. It's was headed to the southern outskirts of Incheon."
"Where exactly?"
Vigil's eyes flickered to the screen, where a map of the region lit up.
"We've narrowed it down to three locations. Goyo Psychiatric Hospital, Han Gwan Village, or the abandoned power plant. All three places have been deserted for years and are rumored to be haunted. But right now, they're our only leads."
"We don't have much time."
Lockpick's deep voice cut through the room. "We'll need to split up. We cover all three locations, and we move fast."Top of Form
Chameleon's sharp eyes flickered over to Lucy, who sat quietly near the entrance. Without hesitation, she scooped the dog up into her arms
"We don't need to split up," she interjected, her voice cutting through the tension, "If Lucy shows no reaction to one of these locations, we know Dusk and Dokkaebi aren't there."
Lesion's eyes widened in realization.
"You're right. We don't have to waste time searching aimlessly. We just need to track Lucy's response."
Sabit raised an eyebrow, scepticism creeping in, "But if we send her out, what happens if she doesn't find anything? We'll be left with nothing to go on."
"Then we'll be no worse off than we are now. But if she reacts? That's our lead."
Blackbeard observed the group for a moment before agreeing.
"Alright. We'll put Lucy to work. But I don't want to waste time searching each location one by one. Goyo Village is the furthest, so we'll start there. Lesion, take Vigil, Sabit, and Chameleon to investigate the village."
"Understood. We'll move fast."
Blackbeard then turned his attention to Lockpick. "You're with me. We'll head to Goyo Psychiatric Hospital and the power plant. They're not far from each other, so we'll bring Lucy along to help narrow it down."
Lockpick nodded in agreement.
"We need to move quickly, people. Every second counts."
The team readied themselves, each member's resolve hardening as they prepared for the search. Time was running out.
Dusk's hands were shaking as he finally cut through half of the ropes and duct tape binding him and Dokkaebi. His sharp movements showed how desperate he was to be free, and the sense of relief was palpable when he finally had enough freedom to move his arms. With a swift stretch of his arms, he ripped apart the last bits of duct tape and rope wrapped around himself and Dokkaebi.
As Dusk stood, his eyes scanned the dimly lit, decaying interior of the abandoned psychiatric hospital. Dokkaebi did the same, her gaze narrowing as she assessed their surroundings.
"We need to leave," she said, her voice tight with urgency. "Get to the airport before Mercury's attack takes full effect."
But Dusk hesitated, his brow furrowing. He stood still for a long moment, as if something didn't sit right with him.
"You're right," he finally replied, but his tone was low, thoughtful, "But Mercury's no fool. He's not being honest with us."
Dokkaebi blinked, confused. "What do you mean?"
"Think about it," Dusk continued, his voice steady despite the tension in the air, "He's a terrorist hacker. Is he really attacking Incheon Airport by going there directly? What if he's somewhere else… What if he's here?"
Dokkaebi's frustration flared again.
"Dusk, you're overthinking this! Mercury's not in this for fun—he's after the airport's systems, and we need to stop him before he gets too deep!"
"And I'm saying that it's too easy. He wants us to think that. We're probably walking straight into another trap. You're a hacker, Dokkaebi, you need to think like him."
Dokkaebi's mind raced as she tried to keep up with his reasoning. Her impatience surged, but Dusk's words made too much sense. Mercury was a hacker like her, so yes, she needed to think like one. Her pulse slowed as the truth settled in.
"Damn... you're right. It's too smooth, too planned." Her shoulders slumped as the realization sunk in, "If it was me, I would launch a cyber-attack from somewhere further…"
She started to apologize, opening her mouth to speak, but the words froze in her throat as her eyes went wide.
"Dusk—look out!"
Dusk spun around in time just as a Keres Legionnaire appeared behind him, wielding an axe. Dusk managed to catch the attack just before the blade swung, ducking under the Legionnaire's wild strike. They grappled, the Legionnaire's strength pushing Dusk back for a moment. But in one swift motion, Dusk violently slammed his forehead into the man's ballistic mask, the impact cracking the mask and sending the assailant crumpling to the ground unconscious.
Dokkaebi blinked in surprise, her voice flat with disbelief. Dusk stood over the unconscious Legionnaire, wincing as he held his forehead.
"What's wrong?"
"I forgot he was wearing a ballistic mask."
Dokkaebi snorted, a small grin tugging at the corner of her lips.
"You mean you didn't notice the giant metal plate in his face?"
Dusk didn't respond immediately, still rubbing the sore spot. Finally, he sighed and straightened up, his face returning to its usual stoic expression, his gaze fixed on the unconscious Legionnaire.
"I was a little more focused on not dying. Now, let's find Mercury before he really messes things up."
"Yeah, you're right, Dusk. Also about how Mercury is right here in this building."
"Oh? You don't usually accept my theories."
Dokkaebi pointed at the television on the wall, the one Mercury had used to contact them while they were tied up. It wasn't a wireless model. The cables and wires snaked behind it, clearly visible against the dusty wall.
"Until I saw these. Why would an abandoned psychiatric hospital, practically falling apart, have running electricity? It doesn't make sense."
She felt a pang of frustration. Her thoughts were racing, and the pressure of it all started to build, but she took a deep breath and calmed down. The pieces were starting to fall into place.
"Let's find him and end this farce," she muttered, more to herself than anyone else.
In the hidden office at the top of the abandoned psychiatric hospital, Mercury hunched over a bank of monitors, his fingers frozen on the keyboard as he nervously watched the footage from his surveillance cameras and the data streams from Incheon Airport's security—data he'd expected to compromise hours ago. But the defenses were still holding. Worse, Dusk and Dokkaebi had caught onto the fact that he was in the same building as they were.
Three hours. That was the time needed, he had convinced himself, to break through the airport's firewalls. but the reinforced security was more resilient than he'd anticipated. And as if he hasn't had enough problems already, there were now two angry Rainbow operators combing his lair, seeking revenge for the hours of torment he'd put them through.
Frustrated, Mercury turned to the Legionnaire standing at attention by the door.
"Where is Beom?" he demanded, his voice tight with unease.
"Executor Beom left the building thirty minutes ago."
Mercury's face tightened in frustration. He slammed his fist onto the desk, knocking a half-empty bottle onto the floor. It rolled and clinked across the room before stopping against the wall. With a deep breath, Mercury wiped his face, trying to regain composure.
"Dammit," he muttered, "Get the guards to deal with those two."
The Legionnaire nodded and turned to leave, but Mercury didn't move from his seat, his eyes fixed on the screens in front of him, anxiety gnawing at him as time slipped away.
Dusk and Dokkaebi moved through the dim, deserted halls of the abandoned psychiatric hospital, each step deliberate and silent. They dispatched the guards one by one, using swift, non-lethal force to take them down without raising alarms.
"Wish I had a firearm," Dokkaebi muttered as she elbowed a guard in the ribs before striking him in the throat, followed by Dusk landing a knock-out kick to the guard's head.
Dusk glanced at the guards—none of them carried firearms. He frowned, wondering aloud, "You think the Keres Legion's running low on funds? These guys are hardly equipped. Batons, knives and baseball bats look more like gang weapons than terrorist weapons."
"Not likely," Dokkaebi replied, grappling another guard so that Dusk could knock the living daylights out of him, "The scam syndicate we dismantled in Thailand? It was just a small part of their income. The Legion has bigger operations. They don't rely on things like this."
"Then why are they skimping here?" Dusk questioned as he knees a third guard in the gut before choking him unconscious.
"Maybe Mercury's not worth the trouble."
With the guards taken out, the two moved on, the silence of the hospital broken only by the soft shuffle of their boots. As they moved down the dim hallway, Dokkaebi's sharp eyes caught a glint of light through the cracked window. She reacted instantly, grabbing Dusk by the arm and yanking him back just as a gunshot rang out. The bullet tore through the brittle glass, sending a small burst of shards into the air as it punched into the wall beside them.
Dusk barely had time to recover before Dokkaebi was already peeking cautiously out from behind the corner. He followed her gaze, spotting a small group of Keres Legionnaires outside in the darkness, rifles in hand. The low moonlight glinted off their weapons, but their movements were otherwise hidden in the shadows of the abandoned hospital.
"Well, at least we know why the guards inside don't have any guns," she muttered, watching the Legionnaires as they carefully swept the area.
The two of them quickly crouched and crawled across the hallway, staying low and silent to avoid being seen through the window. The night outside was still, and the only sounds were the soft scrape of their boots and the distant shuffle of the Legionnaires moving closer.
Outside the building, the Keres Legionnaires crouched, scanning the darkened windows for any sign of their two targets. The silence was broken by the sudden sound of barking. The Legionnaires turned just in time to see a Belgian Malinois dash past them, its fur gleaming in the moonlight as it leapt through a window and vanished into the hospital.
Before they could process what had just happened, a low hiss filled the air, followed by the unmistakable sound of a pneumatic device. Turning around, they froze as they were met with the imposing figure of Blackbeard, his Mk17 SCAR Rifle held loosely in one hand, his H.U.L.L. Adaptive Shield raised. Behind him stood the towering Lockpick, an LMG slung over his shoulder and a scowl that could cut through steel.
The Legionnaires froze, caught between confusion and intimidation. The odds had just shifted, and it wasn't in their favor.
The four operators made their way through the desolate streets of Han Gwan Village, their boots crunching on the cracked pavement. Vigil led the group, explaining the village's history as they passed crumbling houses and rusted vehicles.
"This place was being modernized to turn it into a town back in the late eighties," Vigil said, his voice low as he scanned their surroundings, "But a fire tore through it, destroying half the village. All 2,455 residents packed up and left after that."
Chameleon shuddered, glancing around at the empty buildings.
"This place gives me the creeps. It's like freaking Silent Hill here," she commented before jumping at a rustling sound in the distance, her eyes wide, "Did you hear that?"
Sabit chuckled from behind her, shaking his head.
"You're jumpy today, Chameleon."
Lesion grinned.
"It's the silence. It does that to you."
Chameleon shot them a glare but kept close. Her nerves only seemed to grow as the shadows stretched in the fading light. When they reached an old three-story building, Lesion decided to investigate. He ducked inside and soon returned, his face grim.
"Vigil, you need to see this."
Inside the building, weapons were stacked neatly, their serial numbers scratched off. The walls were marked with Keres Legion symbols, the empty weapon crates bearing crossed-out NIGHTHAVEN logos. Vigil's expression darkened.
"We need to report this to Kali. More of NIGHTHAVEN's stolen gear, and it's in the hands of the Legion now."
The sudden sound of gunfire and shouting echoed outside the hospital, causing Dusk to snap his head toward the window. Through the cracked glass, he saw Blackbeard and Lockpick engaging the Keres Legionnaires outside, their movements precise and commanding. It was a one-sided massacre: Despite being outnumbered 15-to-2, Blackbeard and Lockpick were ripping through the Keres Legionnaires like a hot knife through wet tissue.
"Good news," Dusk muttered, a slight smile tugging at his lips, "Rescue's here."
But Dokkaebi was already moving, her attention caught by a faint light seeping from under the door of a room ahead. She pointed at it, her brow furrowed as she said, "Something's off."
Dusk followed her gaze, his instincts kicking in. He nodded, signalling her to stay low as they crept toward the door, the sounds of the ongoing combat outside fading as they focused on the new potential threat inside.
Inside the room, Mercury moved quickly, packing up his vital equipment. His eyes flicked to the surveillance monitors, where he saw Dusk and Dokkaebi closing in on his hidden office. Panic set in as he realized they were getting closer. He grabbed what he needed, heart racing, knowing he had to leave before they arrived.
His fingers fumbled with the last of the gear, but he steadied himself. The trap he'd set up earlier would have to do the job. He just hoped it was enough to buy him the time he needed to escape.
Dusk and Dokkaebi stood in front of the door, both trying to pry it open. It was locked tight, but they could hear movement from inside—someone was still there. Frustration surged through Dusk as he stepped back and kicked the door with all his strength.
The door flew open, but before they could move, a sudden hiss sounded, followed by the explosive pop of a smoke grenade. Thick, choking smoke engulfed them, blurring their vision. As they stumbled back through the swirling smoke, Dokkaebi caught a shadowy figure darting from the room, but the smoke was so thick that both of them soon found themselves on their hands and knees, trying to avoid breathing in more of the smoke. Suddenly, a familiar bark echoed through the smoke-filled air. Dusk's heart lifted as he heard it again—Lucy.
The Belgian Malinois bounded into the smoke, her tail wagging furiously. She skidded to a halt, looking between Dusk and Dokkaebi, before jumping up to lick their faces excitedly.
"Lucy, calm down," Dusk chuckled, wiping dog slobber off his face.
The dog responded with a happy whine before using her tail to motion for the humans to follow her. It did not take long for her to guide them both out of the thick smoke where they see someone turn a corner, clearly attempting to flee the place.
"Good girl," Dusk praised, standing up, "Let's go."
With their path cleared, the three of them quickly sprang into action and gave chase to the fleeing figure. They made their way to the lobby, where they finally spotted Mercury. He was backing toward the exit, but before he could escape, Dokkaebi screamed at him, her voice filled with frustration.
"NICHOLAS CHANDLER-LEE! 이노무 새끼가 말이야!"
Mercury flinched at Dokkaebi cursing his name, turning to face her and Dusk as he held his laptop close to his body.
"You've been tormenting us all night! What is it with you and tying people up? Do you get some sick thrill out of it, you freak?!" Dokkaebi ranted as she picked up and threw a loose brick at him which missed by inches, shattering against a wall instead.
"Why is it that you always seem to be one step ahead of me, Grace Nam?" Mercury exclaimed, gritting his teeth in anger as he adjusted his glasses, "But not this time! This time, you won't stop me!"
Before Dokkaebi could respond, the ground rumbled as an LAV crashed through the entrance of the lobby, its mounted machine gun roaring to life. Dusk, Dokkaebi, and Lucy dove for cover as the bullets sprayed across the room, ricocheting off the walls. Dokkaebi peered around the corner just in time to see Mercury climbing onto the LAV before the vehicle reversed out of the lobby, its engine roaring as it sped away.
The sound of heavy footsteps echoed, and Blackbeard and Lockpick burst into the lobby, immediately opening fire on the retreating vehicle. But it was too late. Mercury had already vanished into the night.
Blackbeard approached Dusk and Dokkaebi, concern etched on his face.
"You two all right?"
Dusk gave a slight nod while Dokkaebi, brushing dirt off her uniform, grimaced.
"Yeah, we're peachy, aside from being cold as hell and some rope burns from being tied up for hours…" She shook her head, frustration evident in her voice, "I'm more pissed off that Mercury got away."
Dusk shared a brief glance with her before turning to Blackbeard and Lockpick.
"We'll need to check his hidden office for clues. He's left something behind."
The four of them, along with Lucy, moved quickly through the abandoned hospital, making their way to the room where Mercury had been holed up. As they entered the office, Dusk immediately noticed one of the remaining monitors Mercury had failed to destroy before his escape still displaying the entire network of Incheon Airport.
"Mercury was really planning to attack Incheon Airport," Dusk muttered, his gaze fixed on the data, "But it looks like the firewalls and security systems were too strong for him to breach."
Dokkaebi leaned over his shoulder, her brow furrowing. Then it clicked for her.
"If he couldn't get through the airport's cyber defenses from here, then he's going to have no choice but to attack from inside the airport itself, breaching the security from within using the airport's own infrastructure. We need to move. Now."