CHAPTER 108: NICE SHOT

Theo stepped out from the shadows and made his way back through the debris-littered hallway. Dust clung to his cloak as it shimmered, flickering out of view when he dismissed it.

He rolled his shoulders, exhaled, and braced himself.

As soon as he stepped into the open, his team’s assigned commander whirled around and barked, "Where the hell have you been, recruit?!"

Theo stopped in his tracks, unbothered. "Where’s Ben and the rest of the team?" he asked back.

The commander’s frown deepened, clearly not expecting that comeback. "I dispatched them to clear the west gymnasium," he snapped, his voice rising just enough for others nearby to hear. "Unlike you, they follow orders."

Theo tilted his head slightly. "Right. So you didn’t notice they wandered off on their own near the pool area and nearly got themselves killed?"

The man’s jaw twitched. "They had... clearance."

"Sure they did," Theo muttered. "And I bet they radioed it too, right?" He didn’t bother hiding the sarcasm in his voice.

The commander took a step forward, his tone sharp. "Watch your mouth, Recruit Luther. This isn’t a playground."

Theo’s eyes narrowed, studying the man. Everything about him, from his overpolished boots to his obvious discomfort, reeked of politics. Favoritism. Connections.

Of course.

Ben had to be tied to this man somehow. It clicked fast, his attitude, his arrogance, how the commander looked the other way even when Ben blatantly disrespected others.

Theo’s mind turned. Ben’s father... wasn’t he the CEO of some pharmaceutical group before?

Then it hit him. Andromeda Group. One of AMSO’s financial backers.

’Figures.’ Theo exhaled through his nose. Ben doesn’t need to earn respect. He probably bought his way in. And now that he’s in, his father’s money likely makes him one of the auxiliary sponsors - the type who get their names engraved on brass plaques in the HQ and have the ears of certain commanders.

Theo clenched his jaw. He wasn’t here because of money or privilege. He was here because his sister almost died. Because lives were on the line. Because he had power and hiding it wouldn’t help anyone anymore.

Still, he didn’t speak. Let the commander think he had the upper hand.

Instead, Theo straightened his back and said calmly, "Just letting you know, Ben and his squad survived because someone cleaned up after their mess. But maybe that’s not important, right?"

The commander’s mouth opened, but Theo had already started walking away.

"Permission to rejoin the team, sir," Theo added with a perfectly neutral tone, not even glancing back.

The commander said nothing. Theo smirked slightly. He didn’t need the man’s approval. But as he rejoined the others, some of whom looked at him with newfound awe, he knew one thing for sure.

People like Ben might have bought their way into AMSO. But Theo? He was going to earn his place.

Theo silently blended into the formation, following the commander’s barked orders without complaint. He moved with practiced steps, holding his rifle low and scanning the shadows ahead. His face remained unreadable, his mind focused, even as he heard approaching footsteps behind them.

Ben and his group rejoined the team as if nothing happened.

No thanks. No nods. Not even a glance in Theo’s direction.

It was laughable, honestly. Just half an hour ago, Ben was sprawled on the ground, staring at death while MAqua loomed over him and now he had the nerve to pretend like Theo hadn’t just saved all their asses.

Typical.

But Theo didn’t say a word. He didn’t need to.

He simply adjusted the strap on his rifle and moved in sync with the group. His fingers crackled faintly with residual volts as his internal charge realigned.

He kept his Voltgeist power subtle, just enough to light his palm when needed, or arc faintly through his shots when he squeezed the trigger of his silenced rifle.

Next to him, one of Ben’s teammates, a shorter guy with a buzzcut and narrow eyes, snuck a quick glance at him.

Theo noticed. He also caught the other one, a tall guy with a freckled nose, stealing occasional looks too.

They didn’t say anything. Just watched. Carefully.

Theo didn’t mind. Let them wonder.

The buzzcut one nudged Freckles subtly and whispered under his breath, "That’s the same lightning thing he used earlier..."

"Yeah, but... that rifle too," Freckles replied, his voice almost inaudible. "He didn’t even flinch when it jammed and still hit three in the head."

Theo kept walking, his sharp hearing catching every word despite their attempt to keep it hushed. A ghost of a smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth, but it vanished just as fast.

Ben, of course, pretended nothing happened. He walked with his usual swagger, loud with his footsteps, his armor slightly scuffed from earlier but still worn like a trophy. He didn’t even glance at Theo.

Figures.

Theo had no interest in picking a fight.

At least, not yet.

They passed through another corridor of the university’s science building, the overhead lights flickering and sparks occasionally bursting from torn ceiling wires. The group halted when the commander raised his fist.

Theo lowered his rifle slightly, standing still, Voltgeist humming faintly in his nerves. His other senses expanded instinctively - Environmental Scan kicking in, quietly scanning the biological rhythms around him. Nothing ahead yet. No Meteorborns close.

"Clear this wing. Move in pairs. Check labs, storage, and classrooms. Stay alert," the commander ordered.

Theo nodded once and paired off, though he could feel two more glances from Ben’s men in the back.

A sudden crash echoed from the corridor ahead, glass shattering, followed by the ragged, inhuman screeches that raised every hair on their arms.

"Infectees!" someone shouted.

The team spun into formation just as a group of MB Infectees stumbled out from the lab doors, their bodies jerking unnaturally, limbs smeared in gore. There were at least eight of them, their heads twitching as they sniffed for human movement.

The commander shouted, "Aim for the head! Fire at will!"

Gunfire erupted. Bullets cracked through the air in tight bursts. The sickening sound of bone and flesh tearing apart filled the hall. One by one, the infectees dropped as precise shots found their skulls.

Theo raised his rifle calmly, tracking the twitching head of an infectee sprinting straight at him. He fired. A single bullet burst through its temple, and the body collapsed mid-stride, skidding across the floor with a wet thud.

No hesitation.

Buzzcut fired beside him, missing twice before hitting his target in the jaw.

"Nice shot," he muttered, nodding at Theo.

Freckles just looked rattled, his hands trembling slightly after the skirmish.

Once the last of the infectees dropped, silence returned. Just the ringing in their ears and the clicking of magazines being reloaded.

Theo turned and moved quickly into the nearest lab room. The glass wall had shattered inward, blood stained the tiles, but tucked behind an overturned counter were two young survivors, wide-eyed and shaking.

"Hey. You’re safe now. Get up slowly," Theo said, slinging his rifle behind him.

They nodded frantically and followed him out of the room. Another teammate guided them to the evacuation path already cleared.

That was when Theo heard it, a sharp buzz from the commander’s radio.

"This is Delta Team, multiple hostiles near the western gym! We’ve lost visual on half our men, we need back-up now! Repeat, Delta needs backup!"