Syndicate

A few hours earlier..

Jasper stepped into the Syndicate HQ, still feeling the weight of uncertainty hanging over him. The advanced technology of the command center hummed around him as he made his way into the briefing room. He had barely caught his breath from the last mission, but it seemed like there was no time to rest. He had seen the news of New Haven's situation all over social media, he was hoping they were going to do something about it.

Inside, the rest of the team was already gathered. Cipher stood at the front, her posture calm and composed as always, her eyes scanning over the mission details displayed on the screen behind her. Balor leaned against the far wall, a smirk plastered across his face, clearly eager for the upcoming task. Nox sat silently in a corner, his dark figure blending into the shadows, his presence almost ghostly. Vis stood near the back, arms crossed, her expression serious as she glanced between the others.

Jasper hesitated as he entered the room, feeling like an outsider among the group. He had only just been recruited, and even now, he wasn't sure if he belonged here. The weight of everything—the Syndicate's ruthless methods, the cold efficiency of the team—still sat uneasily on his shoulders.

"Glad you could join us, Solaris," Cipher said, her voice cutting through the tension like a knife. Jasper still wasn't used to the codename they'd given him, it's supposed to mean sun in latin or something similar to it.

Jasper nodded, taking his place among the group, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Cipher's demeanor was colder than usual, more focused. Whatever this mission was, it was important.

"Alright," Cipher began, her gaze sweeping across the team. "Our target is a new H.O.P.E. recruit—codename Perseus. He's recently awakened to his abilities, and while he's still inexperienced, he has incredible potential. Our mission is to take him into custody and bring him back here, to the Syndicate. He's going to be a key asset for our cause."

Jasper's brow furrowed as soon as Cipher mentioned the target. "Wait, we're... capturing him?" he asked, his voice uncertain. "Why? Why would we go after a guy who just joined H.O.P.E.? I thought we were supposed to be helping people, not... kidnapping them."

Cipher's gaze flicked to Jasper, her eyes sharp but unreadable. "He's important, Jasper. You don't need to know all the details, but trust me when I say that Perseus will play a pivotal role in what we're trying to accomplish. This is bigger than one person."

"But what does that mean?" Jasper pressed, a knot forming in his stomach. "What's the real reason we're going after him?"

Cipher's expression didn't change, and her voice remained steady. "It's not your concern right now. All you need to know is that Perseus is vital to the Syndicate's mission. The rest will become clear in time."

Jasper didn't feel any better. In fact, her vague answer only deepened his doubts. He had joined the Syndicate because he believed in their independence, their willingness to tackle the problems that H.O.P.E. and other organizations ignored. But now, it felt like they had their own secretive agenda—one that wasn't about helping people, but about building power. He wasn't sure he could trust them, especially if they were willing to abduct a new hero without explanation.

Cipher continued, ignoring Jasper's hesitation. "The plan is simple. Balor will make the first move. He'll approach Perseus directly, but his real goal is to pull Aegis' attention. Once Aegis is locked in combat, Balor will keep him distracted for as long as possible. Meanwhile, the rest of us will move in and capture Perseus."

Jasper's eyes widened slightly. "So we're using Balor as bait? What happens if Aegis figures out what we're doing?"

Balor chuckled from his corner, his smirk widening. "Don't worry about me, kid. I've tangled with Aegis before. He'll be too busy dealing with me to worry about anything else."

Cipher nodded. "Balor's right. We'll have the element of surprise. Once Aegis is occupied, we'll move quickly. Solaris, Nox, Vis, and I will be in position to neutralize Perseus and extract him before H.O.P.E. can react."

Jasper's stomach churned. It all felt too calculated, too ruthless. He knew the Syndicate operated in the gray area, but this plan... it didn't sit right with him. They were treating Perseus like a pawn, a tool to be collected. And why? What was so special about this kid that made him so important?

As Cipher continued outlining the mission, Jasper's thoughts drifted. He felt a growing sense of unease, not just about the mission, but about the Syndicate itself. Was this what they really stood for? Recruiting superhumans for their cause, regardless of what those people wanted?

"And what about the civilians in New Haven?" Jasper interrupted, his voice sharp with concern. "The city's going to be in chaos after The Architect's attack. We're just going to ignore that? Aren't we supposed to help them?"

Cipher's gaze hardened slightly, and for a moment, Jasper could see a flash of something cold in her eyes. "We leave that to H.O.P.E.," she said flatly. "Our mission is Perseus. We're not here to save New Haven."

Jasper felt a pang of disappointment. He had thought—hoped—the Syndicate was different. That they operated outside the system for the right reasons. But now, it seemed like they were just as focused on their own agenda as the organizations they claimed to stand apart from.

"So we're just... letting people die?" Jasper muttered, more to himself than anyone else.

Balor shrugged, his casual attitude grating on Jasper's nerves. "That's the game, kid. You can't save everyone."

The room fell into a brief silence, and Jasper could feel the weight of their stares on him. He looked around at the team—Cipher's cold focus, Balor's smug confidence, Nox's silent indifference, and Vis's distant expression. He wasn't sure if any of them shared his unease, but none of them spoke up.

This wasn't what Jasper had signed up for. He had joined the Syndicate because he believed they were doing the right thing—helping people where others couldn't. But now... now he wasn't sure what they were doing at all.

"Get ready," Cipher said, her voice cutting through the silence. "We move out in one hour."

Jasper nodded reluctantly, but as he walked away from the briefing, his mind was swirling with doubt. He didn't trust this mission. He didn't trust the Syndicate's motives. And most of all, he didn't trust that what they were doing was right.

Back in present time..

Perseus soared through the darkened skies, his heart still pounding from the battle below. The city of New Haven stretched out beneath him, a landscape of chaos and violence. Fires still raged in the distance, and the sounds of gunfire echoed through the streets. He pushed himself harder, his mind focused on regrouping with Gumdrop. He had to help. He couldn’t leave people behind in this madness.

But before he could reach the rendezvous point, a strange, shimmering light flickered around him. For a split second, he thought it was a trick of the eye, but then the forcefield closed in on him like a vice. It was a glowing, translucent bubble of energy, and it had completely surrounded him, trapping him mid-flight.

"What the—?"

Before Perseus could react, the forcefield yanked him downward with incredible force. The wind rushed past his ears as he plummeted out of the sky, slamming into the hard pavement of an abandoned parking lot. The impact knocked the breath from his lungs, leaving him dazed as he struggled to push himself up.

But he didn’t have time to gather his bearings. As soon as he hit the ground, shadows emerged from the surrounding area—figures moving with cold precision, quickly surrounding him. The Syndicate. They had been waiting for him.

His eyes darted around, trying to make sense of what was happening. Cipher stood at the front of the group, her tactical gear barely visible under the moonlight, Vis standing behind Cipher calmly but ready. Nox was there too, his presence ghostly, barely noticeable in the shadows. And then there was Solaris—Jasper—standing with them, his expression hard to read.

"What’s going on?" Perseus gasped, his heart racing as he tried to stand, but the forcefield still kept him pinned down, restricting his movements.

Cipher stepped forward, her voice calm and commanding. "Take him down," she ordered, her eyes locking onto Jasper. "We need him alive, but we can't let him resist."

Jasper hesitated, his heart pounding in his chest. He glanced at Perseus—just a kid, barely any older than him. The confusion and fear in Perseus' eyes were obvious. This wasn’t what Jasper had expected, and everything about the mission felt wrong. Why were they going after another kid his age? What did Perseus have that was so important?

But Cipher’s voice cut through his doubts. "Solaris. Restrain him. Now."

Jasper’s stomach twisted, but he forced himself to move. He stepped forward, his body tense with hesitation, but he knew he had to follow orders. He had to trust that Cipher knew what she was doing—that this was somehow for the greater good. Still, every instinct told him to stop, to question this plan.

Perseus barely had time to react as Jasper moved behind him, wrapping his arm around Perseus’ neck and pulling him into a tight headlock. "Sorry, man," Jasper muttered, his voice strained with guilt.

Perseus struggled against the hold, his strength surprising, but Jasper held on, tightening his grip as he felt the cosmic energy inside Perseus start to flare up. The air around them shimmered with raw power, and Jasper could feel the heat rising. Perseus was strong—far stronger than he had realized.

Just as Perseus started to push back, Nox appeared out of nowhere, moving with terrifying speed. Without a word, Nox plunged a syringe directly into Perseus' chest, injecting the tranquilizer into his bloodstream.

Perseus gasped, his body jerking from the sudden sting of the needle. His struggles grew weaker, his energy fading fast as the tranquilizer took effect. Within seconds, his body went limp in Jasper’s arms.

Jasper swallowed hard, gently lowering Perseus to the ground as the young hero’s eyes fluttered closed. The parking lot fell into an eerie silence, the only sound the faint hum of the forcefield as it flickered and disappeared.

Cipher stepped forward, her gaze sharp and focused as she looked down at Perseus’ unconscious body. "Good work, Solaris. Nox, make sure the dose holds long enough to get him back to the HQ."

Nox nodded silently, already preparing another dose just in case.

Jasper couldn’t help but wonder if he had made the wrong choice joining the Syndicate. They said they were fighting for freedom, for independence from the corrupt systems of H.O.P.E. and N.E.M.E.S.I.S. But this? This felt like something else. It felt like they were building their own army—one that wasn’t so different from the organizations they claimed to oppose.

Cipher, as usual, remained detached. "Let’s move. We need to get him secured before H.O.P.E. realizes what’s happened."

As the team began to gather their things, ready to transport Perseus, Jasper stood there, staring down at Perseus, the weight of what they had just done settling heavily in his chest. He felt sick. The mission had been a success—just as Cipher had planned—but everything about it felt wrong. Perseus wasn’t an enemy. He was a kid, just like Jasper, trying to figure out his place in this world.

And now they had taken him. "Is this really what we’re fighting for?" Jasper muttered under his breath, his doubts growing stronger with each passing second. But no one heard him.

Vis, standing nearby, noticed his troubled expression. She approached him, her usually distant demeanor softening for a moment. "Hey, don’t beat yourself up about it," she said quietly, her voice trying to offer some form of comfort. "I know it feels wrong, but sometimes, we have to do things we don’t like for the greater good. You’ll get used to it."

Jasper swallowed hard, his gaze still fixed on Perseus. "I don’t know if I want to get used to it," he muttered, the doubt clear in his voice.

Vis opened her mouth to say something more, but before she could speak, the soft sound of clapping echoed through the parking lot. It was slow, deliberate, and mocking. The sound cut through the silence like a knife.

From the shadows of a nearby balcony, a figure emerged, cloaked in darkness. He wore dark shades that obscured his eyes, a black trench coat that flowed behind him like a shroud, and black leather gloves that gleamed under the faint light of the parking lot. His face was concealed by a black mask, and when he spoke, his voice was altered by a mechanical voice changer, giving it an eerie, distorted tone.

"Well, well, well… looks like we’re not the only ones who understand the boy’s true value," the figure said, his voice dripping with condescension. He stepped forward, his slow, deliberate movements oozing confidence as he surveyed the Syndicate team below him.

The sudden appearance of the stranger immediately put everyone on edge. Jasper instinctively stepped closer to Perseus, his heart racing as he tried to figure out what was happening. Vis tensed beside him, her forcefield powers ready in an instant. Nox remained silent, his gaze sharp as he analyzed the situation. Cipher stepped forward, her expression unreadable, though her eyes were locked on the mysterious figure.

"Who the hell are you?" Cipher demanded, her voice cold and commanding.

The figure let out a soft chuckle, his voice still distorted through the modulator. "Now, now, no need for hostility. I’m just here to congratulate you. Taking the boy—Perseus, isn’t it?—was a bold move. I wasn’t sure if you understood just how valuable he is. But it seems you do."

Jasper’s stomach twisted at the figure’s words. Whoever this was, they clearly had their own interest in Perseus, and that could only mean one thing—trouble.

Cipher didn’t let her guard down for a second. "What do you want?" she asked, her tone sharp.

The figure smiled beneath his mask, though no one could see it. "Oh, it’s quite simple, really. I’m here to take the boy. I’m sure you understand. He’s far too important to be left in the hands of your little Syndicate."

Before anyone could react, the sound of mechanical whirring filled the air. From the shadows above and around them, a swarm of robots—sleek, black, and menacing—descended into the parking lot. They hovered in the air, their eyes glowing orange as they surrounded the Syndicate team, forming a tight circle around them.

The drones were armed to the teeth, their weapons glowing with energy as they trained their sights on the group. It was clear they weren’t here to negotiate.

"Looks like N.E.M.E.S.I.S. had their own objective in New Haven," Vis muttered under her breath, her forcefields flickering to life as she prepared for a fight.

Jasper’s heart raced as he glanced at the droids, then back at the mysterious figure. N.E.M.E.S.I.S.—of course. This whole attack on the city wasn’t just chaos for the sake of it. They wanted Perseus. And now, they were making their move.

Cipher’s jaw tightened as she sized up the situation. "You must be The Architect then.. We’re not giving him up," she said, her voice low and dangerous. "If you think we’re going to let N.E.M.E.S.I.S. walk away with Perseus, you’re sorely mistaken."

The Architect chuckled again, this time louder, more mocking. "Oh, I expected as much. But you see… it’s not really up to you, is it?"

Jasper felt a surge of adrenaline as the drones began to move in closer, their weapons primed and ready. His mind was racing—how were they supposed to get out of this? They had Perseus, but now they were surrounded by armed robots, and the Syndicate wasn’t exactly known for playing defense.

The tension in the air was thick, and for a moment, it felt like time had slowed down. Jasper looked at Cipher, waiting for her to give the order. But even Cipher, for all her confidence, seemed to be weighing their options.

Vis glanced at Jasper, her voice low but urgent. "We need to get out of here—fast. If they take Perseus, who knows what they'll do with him. And we don’t have the firepower to hold these things off for long."

Jasper clenched his fists, feeling the heat of his solar energy crackling beneath his skin. His hesitation was gone, replaced with a grim determination. They had to protect Perseus, no matter what.

Cipher’s eyes flicked to Vis, then back to the figure. "You’ll have to go through us," she said coldly.

The Architect let out a distorted sigh, as though mildly disappointed. "How predictable," he muttered. He raised one hand, and with that simple motion, the droids activated, their weapons charging as they prepared to fire.

"Take them down," Cipher ordered, her voice sharp.

Jasper didn’t need to be told twice. With a burst of energy, he charged forward, his body glowing with the familiar red light of his solar powers as he blasted one of the droids out of the air. The force of the impact sent it crashing into the ground, sparks flying.

Vis threw up her forcefields, protecting the team from the first wave of blasts as the droids unleashed their weapons. Jasper could hear the sharp crackle of energy as the forcefields absorbed the shots, but they were under heavy fire, and he knew they couldn’t hold out forever.

"Nox, take the left flank!" Cipher shouted as she dove into the fray, her movements precise and calculated. Nox vanished into the shadows, his figure moving like a blur as he cut through the droids with deadly efficiency.

The fight was on, and Jasper had no choice but to keep fighting. But as he threw himself into the battle, one thought kept nagging at the back of his mind:

Why was Perseus so important?

Thank you so much for checking out "Syndicate"! I hope you're enjoying the story as much as I enjoyed writing it. Your thoughts and opinions mean a lot to me, so feel free to share your feedback. Whether it's a comment, critique, or just a quick note to say hi, I'd love to hear from you! Thanks again for your support and happy reading!