The base was a stark contrast to the sprawling chaos of the city below. Nestled discreetly in the heart of the capital, it was designed to be invisible to the untrained eye—a nondescript building camouflaged by holographic projections and electromagnetic interference. Inside, the atmosphere was calm but charged with anticipation. The four of them—Alex, Governor General Mr. Ford, his assistant Mr. Jones, and Agent Smith—gathered around a sleek, curved table embedded with holographic projectors that illuminated the room with a soft blue glow.
Alex glanced around, noting the subtle security measures: biometric scanners, automated turrets hidden behind panels, and a network of surveillance drones humming quietly above. "Quiet place for a war council," he remarked, his voice carrying a hint of dry humor. "Not exactly the kind of spot you'd expect for planning a full-scale assault on Apex."
Ford smiled thinly. "Stealth is our best weapon right now. We can't afford to draw attention until we're ready to strike. Apex has eyes everywhere."
Jones, ever the pragmatist, tapped on a tablet, bringing up a detailed map of the known Apex bases. "We've identified five major installations globally, but intelligence suggests there are smaller, more mobile cells operating under the radar. Our priority is to dismantle thcommand hubs first."
Smith, who had been silent until now, finally spoke, his voice calm but edged with steel. "We'll need precision strikes. No collateral damage. These bases are heavily fortified, and Apex agents are ruthless."
Alex nodded, stepping forward to the holographic map. "I've been inside Hydra. I know their defenses. They rely heavily on automated drones, energy shields, and bioengineered guards. But their biggest weakness is their overconfidence. They don't expect a direct assault."
Ford raised an eyebrow. "And you're volunteering to lead the charge?"
Alex smirked. "Someone's got to. Besides, I've got a personal score to settle."
Jones chuckled softly. "You and APEX have a complicated history, don't you?"
Alex's grin faded slightly. "You could say that. Remember I broke into their facility and burnt it to the ground? Yeah, that didn't exactly earn me a welcome mat."
Ford's expression softened, a flicker of respect in his eyes. "That was a bold move. Reckless, but bold. It showed you're not afraid to challenge the system."
Smith nodded. "And it also showed you're effective. We've been watching you, Alex. You're not just a wildcard—you're an asset."
The room fell into a thoughtful silence, the weight of their mission settling over them like a storm cloud. Then Ford broke the silence. "Alright. Let's talk strategy.
The holographic map zoomed in on the capital city's quiet base, then shifted focus to Aretuza, a distant country where one of the Apex bases was located. The cityscape of Aretuza flickered into view, a blend of ancient architecture and futuristic technology, nestled between rugged mountains and sprawling deserts.
Jones pointed to several red markers scattered across the city. "This is where Apex has entrenched itself. Multiple entry points, heavy patrols, and a central command tower fortified with energy shields."
Alex studied the layout. "We'll need to hit them fast and hard. Smith, you'll provide overwatch and neutralize any snipers or reinforcements. I'll infiltrate the base and plant charges on their power core."
Smith smirked behind his glasses. "Sounds like a plan. Just try not to blow up the whole city."
Alex laughed. "No promises."
Ford interjected, "We'll provide satellite support and electronic warfare to disrupt their communications. Jones, coordinate with local assets for extraction."
Jones nodded, fingers flying over his tablet. "Already in motion."
The conversation flowed seamlessly, each member contributing their expertise. Despite the gravity of their mission, moments of levity punctuated the discussion.
"So, Alex," Jones said with a grin, "how does it feel to be working with the people you once considered enemies?"
Alex shrugged. "Strange. But sometimes, you have to team up with the devil you know to fight the devil you don't."
Smith chuckled. "Well, just don't get too comfortable. I'll be watching you."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "I wouldn't expect anything less."
As the night deepened, the four agents found themselves sharing stories, strategies, and even jokes. Smith, usually reserved, opened up about his background as a sniper and the loneliness that came with it. Alex shared tales from his time surviving APEX ruins, the radiation that transformed him, and the grudges he carried.
Ford, the seasoned leader, revealed glimpses of his past mentorship under the SHIELD president, the betrayal that shook him, and the heavy burden of command. Jones, the ever-pragmatic assistant, balanced the group with his dry wit and sharp observations.
Despite their differences and past conflicts, a tentative camaraderie blossomed. Alex found himself respecting Ford's steady leadership, tolerating Jones's sarcasm, and even appreciating Smith's quiet loyalty.
.
.
.
Decked out in casual wear—a pair of black trousers, a crisp white shirt, and a loosely knotted tie hanging around his neck—he approached the nondescript storefront. The sign above read simply "Auto Parts," but beneath this mundane facade lay a secret far more sinister: an APEX base, hidden deep underground. The man moving with purpose toward the entrance was no ordinary customer; he was a hunter walking into the lion's den.
As he pushed open the door, the faint chime of a bell echoed through the small shop. Behind the counter stood a man who immediately straightened, his polite smile almost too perfect. "Anything I can help you with, sir?" the man asked, his tone smooth and practiced. If not for the knowledge that no civilian could be working in an APEX facility, the visitor might have been fooled by the act.
"Yes, actually," the visitor replied, his voice calm but edged with steel. "I heard you received a bulk delivery today. Someone told me you might have something in stock." The man behind the desk blinked, confusion flickering across his face.
"Sir, we did get some new arrivals, but you'll have to be more specific. Do you know the product's name?" he asked, stepping away from the counter as he gestured toward the rows of car parts lining the walls.
The visitor's eyes narrowed. "Yes, I do. Death." Before the man could process the words, the visitor's hand shot out with lightning speed, snapping the man's neck in a swift, brutal motion. The body crumpled silently to the floor.
From somewhere deeper in the base, a clatter echoed—likely someone in the control room reacting to the sudden violence. The visitor wasted no time. He crouched behind the reception desk and searched beneath it, his fingers closing around two guns: a Glock 19 and an M11. Just what he needed.
He hadn't come armed; bringing firearms into the surface shop would have drawn too much attention. Besides, he had a plan—a test to run.
With a swift kick, he burst open the door to the control room at the back. A man inside raised a gun and fired—a bullet tore through the visitor's chest, ripping his shirt. The visitor barely flinched. He returned fire, killing the man instantly.
The control room was already compromised. The dead man had managed to send a signal downstairs.
The visitor moved quickly to the control panel and inserted a drive given to him by Mr. Ford. "Are you guys in?" he spoke quietly into his comms earpiece.
"We're receiving the signal... and we're in," came Smith's voice. "We've got surveillance downstairs. Looks like some kind of armory. Hitters are heading your way."
The drive was a hacking device, designed to infiltrate the base's network and download every file connected to it. The visitor glanced down at the wound in his chest. Something was wrong.
The area around the bullet hole glowed faintly. Veins near the wound shimmered with an eerie light, and smoke began to curl from the skin. Alarmed, he opened his shirt to get a better look. The bullet itself was slowly being pushed out by some unseen force, still emitting smoke as it fell to the floor. The wound closed behind it, as if it had never existed.
This was new.
His body was evolving.
He had never seen anything like this before—his body emitting smoke as it healed, expelling bullets as if rejecting them. The explosion and radiation from the experiment that had destroyed the lab had changed him. This outing would be the first real test of what he had become.
Following Smith's directions, he made his way to the hatch leading downstairs and dropped down into the dimly lit corridors below.
"Incoming in five seconds. Four assailants," Smith warned.
The visitor made a split-second decision and tossed the Glock away.
"Uhm, what are you doing?" Clint's voice crackled in his ear, confused.
He glanced up and saw a camera—likely the one Clint was using to monitor him—and gave an OK sign with his fingers.
The footsteps came running down the hall. Four men appeared, guns raised.
He didn't wait for them to speak. He charged.
Bullets flew, but he only focused on the shots aimed at his head, dodging and weaving with uncanny speed. Each movement was precise, calculated. The more they fired, the more he felt something stirring inside him—something powerful, barely contained.
Heat.
Intense, burning heat.
It coursed through every cell in his body, gathering in his fists with every strike he landed. His blows grew harder, his movements faster, as if a nuclear furnace had been ignited within him. Veins glowed beneath his skin, pulsing with fiery energy.
He fought to control it, to keep the inferno from consuming him. But the heat demanded release, and he became its conduit.
With a roar, he unleashed a devastating punch, channeling all the energy through his fist. The force shattered the chest of one of the assailants, his hand punching clean through bone and muscle.
"Holy shit!" Smith's voice broke through the chaos.
The visitor pulled his arm free, glowing embers trailing behind it. The heat was so intense it cauterized the wound instantly.
Around him, broken bones littered the floor. Smoke and mist rose from his pores, making it seem as though his body was a living steam engine.
"What the hell was that?" Clint asked, his voice tense.
The visitor looked down at his still-smoking skin. "My ability," he said quietly.
Arnold was a brilliant man, a genius. Evolution was something most would die to achieve. A smile crept across the visitor's face. This was only the beginning—the first step on the road to something greater.
With renewed purpose, he moved deeper into the base, eliminating anyone who crossed his path. No one was left alive.
The underground corridors of the APEX base were a labyrinth of steel and shadows. The visitor moved through them like a ghost, silent and deadly. Every step brought him closer to the heart of the operation, where the true secrets of APEX were hidden.
He paused briefly to catch his breath, the heat within him simmering just beneath the surface. The transformation was unlike anything he had ever experienced. His body was no longer just flesh and bone—it was a furnace, a weapon forged in fire.
As he advanced, the sounds of reinforcements echoed through the halls. More APEX operatives were converging on his position, alerted by the earlier gunfire and the hacked network
But he was ready.
His senses sharpened, every nerve ending alive with energy. The heat inside him flared, and he welcomed it. It was power—raw, untamed, and utterly unstoppable.
When the next wave of attackers appeared, he met them head-on. Bullets tore through the air, but he moved faster than any human should be able to. His fists struck with the force of a battering ram, sending men flying and shattering bones.
The base was quickly becoming a furnace of destruction, smoke and fire trailing in his wake.
He reached the central chamber, where the core of APEX's operations pulsed with cold efficiency. Computers hummed, weapons were stored, and plans for domination were laid bare.
He inserted the drive into the main console, watching as files began to download. Data on experiments, personnel, and future operations spilled onto the screen.
Suddenly, alarms blared throughout the base.
Reinforcements were arriving in force.
He knew he had little time.
With the drive secured, he turned to leave—but not before planting explosives in key locations. The base would burn, and with it, APEX's grip would weaken.
As he made his way back to the hatch, he felt the heat inside him surge once more. His body was changing, evolving with every battle, every wound, every moment.
He was no longer just a man.
He was something more.
Something unstoppable.
Outside, the world was oblivious to the chaos unfolding beneath the auto parts shop. But for the visitor, this was just the beginning. The road ahead was long, filled with danger and uncertainty.
But with the power burning inside him, he was ready to face whatever came next.
Mr. Ford's voice crackled in his ear. "Good work down there. We've got the files. Now get out before the whole place goes up."
He gave a brief nod, even though no one could see it.
"On my way," he replied.
As he climbed the ladder back to the surface, the heat inside him settled into a steady burn—a promise of the power yet to come.
The evolution had begun.
And nothing would ever be the same again