The sky was calm, a bright day in one of Spain's coastal cities.
Until the sirens wailed, and security vehicles rushed through the narrow streets.
> Loudspeakers:
"All citizens are requested to enter their homes… a mutant is roaming the city freely!"
News channels everywhere broadcasted the story.
In one of the cafés, the television was showing a live report.
Journalist:
"This morning the army surrounded the city of Barcelona by order of the Minister of Defense, after a mutant was spotted on a store camera… As a precaution, we ask all citizens to remain in their homes for their own safety, and if you see anything strange, please notify the local police or call the green hotline."
Inside the café, a few people sat in shock listening.
In a far corner, a man in a black jacket with his hood up sipped his coffee slowly.
He didn't care for the news, exhaustion clear on his pale face.
He turned his head slowly toward the TV, and when the footage of the mutant was shown, he watched without concern.
It showed a young man walking nervously, looking lost.
He stopped at the sidewalk, glancing around anxiously, and suddenly the sewage water around him began to rise noticeably.
The man in the café whispered to himself:
"Heh… poor guy."
Then he turned his face away from the screen.
---
Alliance Headquarters – Operations Room
khaled: "Can we make it in time?"
almy: "He's still on the run, and you've got twenty minutes to reach the city… What do you think? Is it worth trying?"
Khaled thought for a moment then said:
"Get me the coordinates and call the team."
almy: "His location is in Barcelona…"
Almy sent a call through the comms to the team.
Khaled moved quickly to get ready, strapped his axe on his back, and headed to the runway where the team was waiting:
Simon and Boris chatting excitedly about the mission, "hana" with a faint smile, and "almy" holding her computer.
khaled with an annoyed look: "Where is mosta?!"
almy: "He's busy with the new refugees… so I called Boris instead."
Khaled looked at Boris:
"Ah… Boris and Simon, what a duo… I hope this mission goes well."
boris: "Don't worry, Commander! It'll be a successful mission. I'll punch a soldier, and Simon will…" (keeps talking)
hana laughed softly: "Now you'll have to endure this radio (Boris) and this clown (pointing at her brother Simon)."
Khaled seriously: "Enough talking. Let's get to the plane."
Then he turned to almy: "Stay on comms, and update us with any news."
almy: "Understood."
The engines roared louder and the ground trembled.
The plane took off, and they were in the sky.
---
Inside the plane
khaled: "We need to get there at maximum speed."
hana: "Where's our destination?"
khaled: "Barcelona, one of Spain's coastal cities. Almy said we've got twenty minutes if we rush."
hana worried: "Injured civilians in danger again?"
khaled: "Just one."
hana shocked: "What?!… We're risking ourselves for one man?!"
khaled: "Not an ordinary injured man. A mutant was caught on camera with extraordinary powers."
hana: "And what's the difference?! We're risking our lives for a single person!"
khaled firmly: "There's a big difference between ordinary injured people and someone with power. Any mutant who joins us strengthens our chances of survival and lessens the UN's threat against us."
Hana's expression shifted as if convinced, but she remained tense.
In the back, Simon and Boris were causing a racket.
khaled under his breath: "Teenagers…"
---
Over Spain's skies
simon looking out the window: "Spain!… I can't wait!"
boris excited: "Finally I'll smash some soldiers!"
khaled over comms: "We've arrived, almy. We need a landing spot."
almy: "You can't land! The army's surrounding the city."
hana fearful: "What do we do now?!"
almy: "You all have to jump!"
khaled: "Alright, we will. Stay on comms."
hana trembling: "W–we're going to jump?!"
simon trying to calm her with mockery: "Don't worry, your brother's here. Before they even grab their guns, I'll yank down their pants hahaha."
khaled: "We're not facing the army head-on. We'll find the mutant and leave quickly. We'll only fight if we have to."
hana shivering: "Feels like we're jumping straight into hell!"
The plane doors opened, the winds roared.
Boris jumped first yelling: "What an amaaazing daaaay!"
Then Simon pushed his sister Hana out as she screamed in the air while he burst into laughter.
Khaled was the last one.
He said to almy: "The plane's yours now."
almy: "Copy."
Then he jumped.
During the freefall over Barcelona, Khaled received a map from almy with locations where the mutant had been seen.
almy: "I've sent you coordinates of an abandoned building."
khaled: "Copy. Let's land on it."
The team steered their descent like hawks in the sky.
As they neared, each opened their parachute until they landed on the building.
They quickly descended the stairs, the sound of police sirens echoing in the distance.
---
In Barcelona's streets
boris excited: "Where do we start?!"
khaled: "We'll move according to the map, almy."
hana: "But how will we avoid the police and army? They're everywhere!"
khaled: "The map's wide, we won't find the mutant in hours, especially with the army here."
simon: "Let's just walk out as we are! Who'd know we're mutants?"
khaled: "They could search us during patrols."
Then he added: "I have a plan… but it's risky."
boris with gleaming eyes: "I love danger!"
Helicopters' searchlights filled the skies, police cars rushing everywhere, until an explosion struck the city's main power generator.
The people heard the deafening blast, helicopters and police were drawn to the explosion.
The team slipped into the narrow alleys.
khaled: "Good job, simon."
simon with a sly grin: "Heh… I didn't do much, just moved at the speed of light and tied the wires you told me about."
hana: "It was a smart plan."
boris disappointed: "I thought we'd get into a direct fight."
Khaled decided to split the team:
khaled: "almy, scan the areas already searched by the police on the map."
almy: "Copy."
Then he told the team: "We'll split up. Each of you search your designated alley."
hana: "But how will we find him? In homes? The streets are almost empty!"
khaled: "Everywhere. Use the bio-scanner."
Each of them set off in different directions.
---
The confrontation
Khaled received a signal from almy:
"I just spotted him on a bank camera. He's now facing the police."
khaled over comms: "Everyone, head to the site immediately!"
In the streets, the young mutant was running terrified until police cars trapped him front and back.
Officers stepped out, weapons aimed.
People watched from their windows.
The officer through a loudspeaker:
"Get on the ground now!"
Suddenly, the loudspeaker vanished from the officer's hand in a swift flash.
Simon stood before the mutant, holding the speaker with a wicked grin!
Silence spread.
The police, the young mutant, even the people at the windows were frozen in shock.
Simon raised the loudspeaker and mocked:
"I suggest you drop your guns."
Boris, Hana, and Khaled arrived late.
boris thrilled: "Awesome! Simon started the party without us!"
"If you were in [character's name]'s place, what would you do? 🤔"