Humanity.
Could you actually define something as complex as humanity? It was a word that all kinds of people in different jobs tried to define with a set meaning, but the word "Humanity" could take on a variety of different definitions. To Charles, though, this word actually lacked depth. He believed the human race shouldn't even try to be defined by a singular word.
It was pointless! Completely meaningless!
"If anything, humanity is selfish!"
Charles yawned before taking another sip of his freshly brewed coffee. The bitter liquid rolled across his tongue, warm and familiar.
'Lovely as usual!'
He left his office and continued to dwell on how he could possibly define humanity, especially since, with all things considered, this world would soon go to shit anyway.
"Hey Agent Silva!"
Charles usually ignored his fellow agents. Conversating seemed more like a hassle to him. It definitely took way too much time to speak to others. Precious time that could be used to help save humanity... which was the subject of this perfidiously boring meeting.
Usually, Charles would skip out on such hassles. But with the outbreak of the Stasis, with all things considered, his wants or needs shouldn't matter anymore.
He turned his gaze to the other agents bad-mouthing him in the corner.
"There he goes again, thinking he's a cut above the rest of us, not paying us any respect!"
"Yeah, the nerve of that guy. Just because he scored big and saved the Head Commissioner's daughter from some kidnapping and got hit with that promotion."
"Please. He's still the same rookie he was four months ago. I mean the guy could barely shoot a gun!"
The men burst out into laughter.
Charles felt nothing. He had never cared for status or good reputation. The only thing that should be on the specialized agent force team's mind was the mission. They were trained to handle this, after all.
The world had never really agreed on anything in particular. But the one thing the global alliance could do was settle on making a specialized agent force team that was capable of clearing specialized missions in hours, no less. Built up with some of the world's top agents.
And now?
Well, all that was meaningless now. The Stasis was a completely incomprehensible threat that could take years to neutralize.
"Ahem!"
The room's lights dimmed to a darker setting to accommodate the arrival of Head Agent Soran. The cunning bastard was the first agent and technically the co-founder of this little group of elites. He had conspired with the president, using their connection as friends to put the idea in his head, which the president of the united states soon put in all the other world leaders' heads.
Charles blinked.
'Right, I tuned him out!'
"As you may all know, as of yesterday, Greenland is ground zero for what we may know as a world ending bacteria known as the Stasis."
Uneasy mutters spread throughout the room.
Charles just couldn't believe it. Of all places, the base of the group that was supposed to "save humanity" was ground zero for the end of them all.
The irony was certainly not lost on him.
Head Agent Soran's face twisted into some form of guilt. The expression struck Charles as odd for such a prestigious man. It was the look of a man sorry for something he had already done... or, furthermore, was about to do.
"As such, this meeting will be our last. So, I won't make you wait too long."
The projector behind him flickered to life as he pointed at Mars. "As you all know, our plan is to evacuate over 50% of humanity to Mars in the prototype super ship, the Path of Reclamation. The ship can hold millions of people. Children, women, elders."
He paused.
"But none of us will attempt to board the ship."
"Our final duty as soldiers will be to stay here and die for the cause of humanity."
The room suddenly burst out in chatter as everyone became confused. Charles felt his stomach drop.
What did he mean, die? Lay down their lives?
And for what exactly? Laying down their lives certainly couldn't save humanity.
But then a realization hit Charles like ice water in his veins. This wasn't about a noble death at all. They were simply sacrifices, lambs meant to try and contain the Stasis here on Greenland before it could spread anywhere else.
The Head Agent's eyes found Charles across the room.
And smiled.
A cold sweat slid down Charles' spine as he stood frozen among the rest of the confused agents.
"W-what do you mean lay down our lives, sir? Do you mean we have one last mission?"
Charles glanced over at the person who asked the question. To his surprise it was a mere rookie, probably naive just like Charles once was. Just a kid with dreams of serving the world to the bitter end.
'What utter bullshit that had been.'
Time and time again, Charles had devoted everything to saving humanity, and this was where it brought him. It seemed humanity's demise was just inevitable. This was nothing like anything they had ever experienced before.
"It is exactly what I said." Soran's voice was cold, final. "The end is here, and we will be the first line of defense in order to contain and eliminate the virus. I called in a nuclear strike on Greenland to completely devastate the people."
'Wait... the people?'
His face twisted into something closer to horrified. This twisted, sick bastard.
"What about the people?!" The words tore from his throat before he could stop them. "They have been evacuated, right?"
He had to ask. He even had his one and only friend there. Lucy and her kids. Charlie, Ryan, Blaze, all of them. Charles wasn't the type to allow people to die just to be caught up in his line of work's mess.
With a click of a button on the reception desk in front of him, a timer appeared on the screen behind the Head Agent.
Red numbers counting down.
"When this time runs out, Greenland will be obliterated with as many bombs as possible to completely sink this land into the ground until there's nothing left. Not of the land, nor of the people."
Soran's expression didn't change.
"I wish you all good luck and goodbye."
The headmaster walked out of the room, leaving an eerie silence in his wake. Then it shattered. The room burst into a fray of panic, people shoving each other aside, all desperate to get out the door.
"Move! I have to save my daughter!"
"No, you move! My wife and kid are waiting for me!"
Charles didn't waste time with them. He had to save Lucy no matter what. He could care less if he died. But if they died?
He could never forgive himself.
Not even in the afterlife.
[ 2 HOURS REMAINING UNTIL THE STRIKE ON GREENLAND ]