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 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.