The Story of Yeling Mah Pt. II

Chapter 16 - Stormwatch vs. Squad Four

"Red alert."

I jolted out of bed, and ran to the conference room, grabbing the suit and placing it on my chest. I double tapped it as the leather expanded, covering my body until I was suited up in Vision's uniform.

I ran to the door, and nearly bonked Haka on the head.

"Haka?! What are you doing here? Go back to bed!"

Haka grabbed my waist and wouldn't let go, giving me her signature pleading puppy eyes.

"Come on, Haka, please. Not now."

But Haka was stuck to me like glue as she nudged my waist with her head.

"Fine, come with me."

We reached the conference room, as more and more members of Stormwatch piled in.

"Yo, why do all the alerts have to happen in like, 4 in the morning." Lucas grumbled.

Rui noticed Haka by my side and knelt down.

"Haka! Fancy seeing you here!"

Haka let go and skipped to Rui as she began to play with her, making weird faces and stuff. My eyebrow twitched in confusion.

Joseph smiled. "Your sister is so adorable."

"Thanks."

Joseph cleared his throat and turned to us. "Okay. So we have everybody here, except... well. Tony and Lucas. As usual."

"What? Lucas is right here-"

I was suddenly interrupted by a loud snore. Lucas had fallen asleep at his seat as Joseph sighed.

"We got a breach in the outer defences. I don't know how it happened, but one thing is clear. Someone is on their way here. And according to the scouts, it's Squad Four."

My heart began to beat faster.

Squad Four. I hadn't heard that name in over two years.

Oh yeah, I guess I should probably bring this up. But it has been two years since I was in the Stormwatch Brigade. My reputation with them slowly began to improve, although many people still didn't like an ex-convict in their ranks. But despite that, people respected me, and not once was I ever criticized for wearing Vision's suit.

Each mission that I went on with the people in Stormwatch was another opportunity to learn more about my powers, and to help my squad mates.

But I never truly moved on with my past life. And today's breach was an indicator of that. Because upon hearing that name... my mind began to flash with the memories I had with Whitney, Lewis, Maika, and Matt. Especially Matt.

Every time he threatened me, I didn't know if it was just as a joke, or if he was serious. But I knew that he knew I was no longer part of the Contingency Initiative. And by that accord, it didn't take a genius to know that Matt was out for my head.

"They're probably after me, right?" I asked.

Joseph closed his eyes. "No."

"What?" I asked, confused. That didn't make sense. I had the most bad blood with them, being essentially a traitor.

"They're after me." Rui said, causing me to stare at her in surprise.

We were all taken aback from that, that Lucas woke up.

"What? Why are they, who? What's going on?"

Rui clenched her fists. "I don't know what they have against me, but I'm who they're after, from what the Scouts are saying."

"We'll protect you no matter what!" Lucas shouted, as he slammed his fists on the table, causing Haka to jump in surprise and run to my side.

"Lucas is right." I said.

"They want you? They gotta go through us."

Rui looked at us gratefully.

"We'll have to be cautious. I've already set up traps and diversions and enlisted the help of other Brigades as well. They've been stationed on the trail to our HQ. Maybe if it was other Squads that wouldn't be necessary. But this is Squad Four we're talking about. I just don't trust our normal defences to deal with Squad Four. Especially with The Mirage."

I shuddered. Matt was always scary. Now with him being pissed off and having a chip on his shoulder, I couldn't imagine the resentment he had.

I remembered how Matt fought off the combined forces of Joseph, Logan, and Rui. At the same time. And that was just him screwing around to get me out of there.

This time, he was serious.

Logan, Lucas, Tony, and Joseph were stationed at the front lines, to take down whoever came our way. I was stationed at the front gate to shield Rui if anything happened. A helicopter was coming to take her somewhere safe for the time being. Likely RWC headquarters.

This was a race against time. Protect Rui, until the chopper arrives.

A small screen appeared in my HUD as Rui and I went to the roof. I had ordered Lily, the new recruit to Stormwatch to take Haka to her room since it was unsafe.

My HUD was connected to the numerous cameras across the base, as we waited.

Waiting and waiting.

For Squad Four to come out.

"Cobalt, you good on your end?" Joseph's voice buzzed in.

"Yeah. Rui's fine." I said.

"Good, we're gonna beat these Squad Four suckers up!" Tony's voice lit up in my coms.

"Shut the hell up! I can't listen if they're coming or not." Lucas buzzed back.

The two began to argue on the coms until Logan shut them both up.

"Hey! You two! Pipe it down. You're no longer the juniors in this team. Act more like the seniors you're supposed to be in front of Lily."

We continued waiting. Knowing Squad Four, they would be disorganized. Matt would be off on his own. Considering it was a raid against Stormwatch, Matt would likely be the first one ther-

"Movement!" Joseph exclaimed.

My HUD lit up with a black streak that zipped across four cameras in the span of an eighth of a second.

"What the hell..." Lucas muttered.

"So fast!" Rui gasped.

"This speed. He just bypassed all the traps!" Logan muttered.

"I'm going after it. The rest of you stay here." Joseph said, as I watched him leave the post, and activate his Vala supersonic speed. Joseph shot to the location of the black streak, leaving behind a sonic boom.

I watched as the black streak zipped across a camera, from one field of view to the other. Whoever this was, was ridiculously fast. Joseph was going at top speed, Mach 3, and he wasn't able to keep up.

But at the same time, I knew how he was able to pull something like this off.

Because only one person could give off the illusion of moving so fast.

"It's Mirage's Switch Teleport." I said.

"Mirage?" Rui asked.

"Yeah. He's able to switch the position of himself and whatever he looks at. He's been honing down that ability for years, and I guess now he's somehow improved it to the point where he can surpass Joseph's speed."

"This guy!" Joseph exclaimed. "I'm losing him!"

I clenched my fists. At this rate, I would have to take on Matt. And there was no way I could beat him one on one.

Suddenly, the streak stopped, as Joseph caught up to it.

"Why are you doing this?" Joseph shouted at Matt, who simply chuckled.

"I came for Patcher, but considering you're so eager to get your punishment, I think I'll kill you all."

Logan and the others managed to join the fight through the boom tube, emerging on the other side.

"Game over, Mirage!" Lucas pointed his finger at Mirage, who smiled.

"Do you think outnumbering me is any indication as to how a fight is going to end?"

Tony and Logan powered up, as the four circled Mirage.

"Where's the rest of the Squad?" Logan asked.

"Probably dead. Not that I care." Mirage replied.

"You're supposed to be their leader, why did you abandon your squad mates like that?" Joseph asked, angrily.

"I didn't abandon Tidalflame, if that's what you're on about." Mirage responded, as he caught Logan's kick effortlessly, and pushed him back.

Joseph shot forward with his supersonic speed, but Mirage redirected his punch, and at the same time, deflected Lucas' kick.

He pushed them both back.

"Tidalflame chose to leave us. If anything, he was begging to be abandoned. I'm considering him an addition to my kill list. But the first is Patcher. I see she's not with you. That bitch couldn't even face me, after what she has done."

"Hey, I dare you to call her that again!" Tony shouted, as he aimed his explosion at Mirage, who smiled.

"The four of you have gotten quite overconfident in yourselves, after being neglected by me for so long. Maybe I should teach you all a lesson."

My eyes widened.

"Tony! Don't fire that!"

"Too late, sucker! He's getting lit up!" Tony launched a massive red explosion at Mirage's position.

It was too late indeed, because the moment he did that, Mirage's red eye glowed, and the two switched places. The explosion engulfed Tony as he went unconscious.

"GZ!" Lucas shouted, but Joseph held him back.

"Mirage, you truly are a monster. To hurt a kid like that."

Mirage lowered his head, as he cracked his fingers.

"I am a monster? Is that so, Joseph Greziak. I wonder how it came to that."

Joseph brought his fists up as Logan stepped forward beside him.

"Curse-mark, Ground Zero. Fall back to Cobalt and Patcher. This is too dangerous for you two to be here."

"No way." Tony said, regaining consciousness. "We take this guy together."

Rui clenched her fists.

"Rui?" I asked.

"I think... I think I know why Mirage wants me dead." Rui said, her voice shaky, as tears began to pour out from her eyes.

"Hey, Rui. What's going on? What do you mean?" I went up to her and put my arm around her shoulders. Rui's eyes were full of shock as she began to shudder.

My HUD showed Joseph, Logan, Lucas, and Tony closing in to Mirage, as the four fought him in a four on one exchange. But despite Logan and Joseph's skill, Tony's firepower, and Lucas' strength, they were outmatched.

Lucas sent a punch that Mirage dodged, leaping into a handstand, then twirling around acrobatically, and landing a kick to his face. Logan went low and launched a leg sweep, to catch Mirage off balance, but the Squad Four Leader landed with his other hand, and grabbed Logan by the face with his two feet, sending him into the air.

"You're wide open!" Joseph shouted, as he zipped in and launched a powerful punch that caught Mirage clean in the face, but Mirage dissipated into black smoke.

"A clone!" Tony exclaimed, as he turned around, Mirage appearing from within the ground through a shadow portal.

Tony panicked as he fired a massive explosion, but Mirage predicted this, and switched places with Lucas, eliminating him instantly.

"His grudge against Stormwatch..." Rui muttered.

I watched as Joseph glowed with the power of Vala, summoning a massive spectral construct which slammed on the ground repeatedly, but Mirage acrobatically dodged the slams, creating multiple clones to jettison himself in the air, and to move himself around, avoiding Joseph's swings.

"Still relying on your brute power? Guardian?" Mirage sneered, as he created two clones, which each pushed his feet. Mirage slammed into Guardian as the two tumbled in the air.

Level 3 Senkaku: Reverse Slingshot Backbreaker

Mirage hurled Guardian to the ground, as he switched places with a stone, the three of them preparing to break Joseph's back. Joseph's eyes went wide.

Logan instantly closed the distance, as he slashed with his swords, dissipating two of the clones, narrowly missing the real Mirage. Joseph landed on the ground next to Logan.

The two got back up.

"Metron, this isn't looking too good. Even with all four of us together, we're not doing anything against Mirage."

"Chin up high, Guardian. We keep fighting, no matter how great the cause."

Mirage sneered. "I hate that saying, by the way." As he closed in, and pressured Logan in hand to hand combat.

"That same style..." Rui sobbed.

"Hey Rui, calm down. I'm sure whatever it is is just in your mind. He's after you, that's enough to make anyone scared. I'll protect you with my life. I promise."

Joseph tried to close in, but Mirage turned to him, and replicated his body, creating multiple illusions, causing Guardian to miss his punch.

Joseph tried to land as many punches as he could, but Mirage was able to evade them all with his illusions, and land a solid jab to his face, sending him back.

"We ain't done yet!" Lucas and Tony shouted, as they closed in.

"All together!" Logan shouted as well, as Joseph regained his composure.

"At the same time." Joseph grinned, as he joined the four in a simultaneous attack. Mirage may have had amazing reflexes and combat skill, but there was only so much one could do to avoid attacks. The human brain could only process so much.

"I'm so sorry." Rui gasped, as she began heaving.

"Rui..." I muttered.

Level 3 Senkaku: Legion of Mirrors

"No... no way..." Lucas muttered, as hundreds upon hundreds of Mirage clones appeared.

"Which one is which?!" Tony shouted, as he began firing explosions left and right.

One of the illusions landed a jab that knocked Lucas to the ground, and another managed one on Logan. But none of Stormwatch was able to land a hit on Mirage.

"Better hurry up." Mirage taunted. "There's no knowing what I will do once I've had my fun with you lot."

"Screw this. I'm blowing this whole place up. Guardian!"

"On it." Joseph held out his hands and shielded everybody as Tony put his arms together, unleashing a massive explosion that dissipated all of Mirage's clones.

Mirage coughed out blood as he fell on his back.

"He's open!" Lucas shouted.

"No, Curse! Don't!" Logan shouted after Lucas, but it was too late.

Level 1 Amplification: Grand Slam

Mirage smiled as he switched with Lucas, then slammed him straight in the face with his own attack, knocking him out unconscious.

Tony stepped forward, and the remaining three tried again. Mirage split off into hundreds of duplicates once more.

"Wow, the same technique twice, eh? Then let's have it!" Tony exclaimed.

No. This wasn't right. Mirage wasn't the type to make such a rookie mistake. Something was wrong.

The explosion incinerated everything, as Tony felt to the ground, depleted and unconscious.

But once the smoke cleared, all I could see was the numerous duplicates still standing. They all evaded the explosion, jumping back with ridiculous strength.

Amplification and Senkaku: Ultimate Legion

Mirage zipped in and smashed both Logan and Joseph in the midsection as they crumpled to the ground.

"Two whole years for you both to improve, Stormwatch. But here you are, defeated at my feet."

Matt's mirages returned to their respective bodies, as Matt and his clones knelt down and grabbed Tony and Lucas. Then Matt himself grabbed Logan and Joseph, then peered at a contraption.

"What?" I asked, incredulous.

"There's no way he could have noticed that!"

Mirage found the boom tube secret entrance!

Within seconds, Matt entered the boom tube along with his clones, and the group teleported in front of us.

I watched in horror, as Matt and his clones threw our defeated squad members to our feet.

"Hey." Mirage said, causing Rui to gasp.

Joseph and Logan managed to get to their feet, shielding Rui.

"You're not gonna lay a hand on her, you bastard." Joseph growled.

Mirage tilted his head. "I'm not going to lay a hand on her? That's so rude. All I wanted was a little reunion."

"Reunion?" I asked.

Mirage narrowed his eyes at me, and I felt my heart crawl into my throat.

"Say, Yeling." He said, his voice dangerously low.

"Where did you get that outfit?"

I breathed heavily. Things started to make sense. When I first heard of Vision. I thought maybe... but more and more evidence began to align. Even if I didn't want to believe it.

Joseph glanced at Rui, who was shaking so hard, her face pale, like she was seeing a ghost.

"Patcher? Hey. It's going to be okay. The chopper is coming soon. Don't worry about it."

"Aw, forget all the formalities guys." Mirage said, his clones dissipating into black smoke.

Mirage took a step forward, but Logan drew his swords and aimed them at Mirage.

"Is that anyway to treat your student?"

Logan's eyes widened, as he slowly dropped his swords.

"What... what did you just say?"

My heart was beating so fast it felt like it was going to come out of my chest. Joseph was probably the same.

"No... this has to be some kind of sick joke..." He muttered, his eyes flooding with tears.

"Come on, guys. I may have changed a bit..." Mirage slowly took off his mask, revealing his empty eye socket, the numerous scars on his face, and a broken, maniacal smile. The smile of someone who lost everything, who let the darkness in, and enjoyed it.

"But I'm still the same old Matty Lam from back then..."

The mask fell to the ground, as we all stared at Mirage in horror.

"I'm still Vision...."

Matthew Lam looked at us, his hand on his head, his smile, so unsettling that I wanted to just jump off the bridge.

"Ya get me?"