[NEW OBJECTIVE]
[INFILTRATE AND DISCOVER]
One of the bionics is a double agent. Find out who, why, who they work for—and replace them... Steal their secrets. Earn their trust. Betray them better while exposing no one... Be the better spy.
---
Zayn stared at the notification from the system as his feet stopped instantly.
'That's complete bullshit. I've known these guys since we were implanted together. They're more family to me than anyone else.'
'How the hell am I even supposed to find out?'
Levi continued walking forward, finally reaching the couch area and grabbing the champagne bottle from Luca, who put up no fight.
"That's right, baby. Private First Class... No, no, no—Bionic Private First Class has a better ring to it, doesn't it, Z?" he teased, pointing at Zayn still far back.
"You know, for someone with supposed super hearing, you're really loud," Luca muttered as he leaned towards Rachel, who was seated right next to him.
"You're all just jealous 'cause we got to first class before you," Levi teased, taking another gulp of champagne.
"Congratulations, you two, but don't think we're not coming for you," Rachel added, cupping loose strands of her brown hair behind her ear.
"I'd like to see you try," Levi smirked.
Zion marched over to Zayn and slugged his arm over his shoulder, almost buckling his knees with the champagne bottle still in hand.
Zayn started to feel a cold sweat seeping out of his pores, the slow dread building in his chest.
"You two just got lucky. We're coming for that position," Zion said as he squeezed Zayn's head, trying to take another sip.
Zayn instinctively shoved him as his head turned a little red.
"Man, you keep forgetting you have super strength... You could literally pop my head like a zit," he said, gesturing to his temple.
"Ewww," Emily added, dropping the bottle on the table.
Zion snarked, "Oh come on, you wouldn't be so helpless if you worked out more... You look like a noodle."
Zayn couldn't help but laugh. Even on the brink of war, Zion was still Zion.
'There's no way it's Zion... Right?'
"You know, you all could be less loud," Luca muttered, shifting his head from Rachel's shoulder to her lap.
"Shut up, Luca,"
Emily hissed as she walked over to Levi and stole the bottle from him.
"Oh, so the Ice Queen can speak..." Rachel said. "You know there's a rumor going around the new privates that you're an assassin brought in by the Ascendancy for 'emergency purpose'."
She said with her hands in quotes.
Zion laughed hard, slapping his thigh.
"So what, they don't really know me?"
Emily hissed.
"Yeah, and whose fault is that?"
Rachel replied.
"Oh come on, guys, let's be honest. Most of those privates won't last, and those that do won't even work with us..." Rachel placed her hands on her waist. "Besides, didn't we join the Ascendancy to not make friends anyway?"
"Rude. So what are we?"
Zion asked, slightly offended.
She shot him her rare smile—or the beginnings of one, at least.
"You, Zion Miller, are the best comrade a soldier could have."
"Awww."
"So why did you join the Ascendancy?"
Zayn finally asked.
'For this to work I have to find motive of some kind—any kind.'
She shrugged.
"I don't really know... Let's just say, if you watch your brothers get executed before you, as you see their heads roll onto the floor it kinda slaps you in the face, then you kinda want to stop being so helpless."
" Shit, that's heavy"
Zion added.
"You never really know people. Even your own brothers."
'Wait, didn't she say her brothers were killed last month? Now it's 'years ago or am I just being paranoid'?'
"Oh, don't do the whole sob story reason for joining the Ascendancy, 'cause I always win,"
Levi added, clearly drunk—he never spoke this much.
Luca turned on the couch, now facing Levi.
"Alright, Private First Class, why did you join the Ascendancy?"
"Simple. I was in a gang before joining, and when we were finally caught, they made us watch as our superiors were executed. Then they told us—either join or go to prison for war crimes." He scratched his head softly. "After that, there really wasn't any other question."
"Damn. So you two didn't even want to join the Ascendancy."
Zayn chimed in.
"Well duh, what sane person chooses to join a faction on the brink of war?"
Emily added.
Rachel gestured toward him, looking down.
"What about you, Z? Why'd you join the Ascendancy?"
"Uhh... it was just kind of a no-brainer." He slowly dipped his hands into his pockets. "My dad was in the army, and so was his before him, so I just thought it was normal."
That wasn't totally true. It was for this timeline, of course. In this one, if the memories he acquired served him correctly, then that was true. But in his original timeline, he joined the army because he honestly wanted to fight for his country and save the world.
'How utterly naive… Like a child's pipe dream. He honestly thought he mattered in a war. It was too late before he discovered that wars only ever ended when little fat old men decided their egos were satisfied.'
"Hell... So you're a third-generation military man? That's cheesy. Wasn't there any other way to make mommy proud?"
Luca teased.
Zayn didn't really care. He just shrugged his shoulders and gave a nonchalant look.
Tnk!
The bottle hit the table, but Zion's fingers were still tightly wrapped around it like it was a lifeline. His words dragged now, intoxication setting in.
"So, why did you two lovebirds join?"
It wasn't particularly a secret that Luca and Rachel were together. It seemed like it was even before the implantation of bionics. What were the chances they would both survive?
Luca just cradled on the couch while she answered.
"We're both orphans. We joined because it was the closest thing to a steady job that would take two orphans with nothing to their names." Rachel played with his hair, twirling it around her finger. "I just had to be with him."
"Awwwwn."
Zion couldn't control himself.
Emily grabbed the bottle, pointing it in Zion's direction now.
"Your turn, gentle giant. Why'd you join?"
"Honestly?..." With all eyes on him, "Funny thing is... I don't remember signing up. Not really. Just... woke up here."
"What?"
Zayn raised a brow. "How's that even possible?"
Zion burst into laughter, clearly drunk as he sipped again from the bottle.
"Look, guys... people were joining, and I said why not? I had no other options, really."
"That's weird,"
Emily said, raising her feet onto the table.
"And what are the chances that we'd be the ones to survive the implants?"
Levi smirked.
"Don't know about you guys, but I was made for this."
Rachel hissed, her sarcastic voice thick in the air.
"Sure you are."
"You guys talk like bionics are some sort of gift... We're just add-ons to their weapons," Zayn added. "Our squad name is literally The Last Resort."
Levi whispered as he folded his arms.
"I get it, man. But as someone with super hearing, I'd suggest you lower your tone. You'd be amazed what people say when they think no one's listening but within these walls someone's always listening."
Rachel chimed in.
"We're survivors, Z. And survivors don't talk about how they survived. They just keep surviving."
Luca finally opened his eyes again and muttered,
"We all know they're using us. But as long as we live... why not? And that's coming from someone who can smell the hate and jealousy off people."
What followed was a strange silence. They just stared at each other, before eventually deciding to go to bed.
Zayn finally reached his quarters. He slammed the door and leaned against it, running his hands through his hair.
"I need help."
Ding!