24 Derrick Jones - Extra Chapter (1/2)

The Year 2031, December

15:00 P.M

Great Corporate United's Military HQ, Sweden.

. . .

The headquarters of the Great Corporate United's main military force was majestic. It was otherworldly. An enormous metal front door made out of pure t.i.tanium stood proudly in front of me. The walls and pillars of the building had fine, intricate designs weaved on them.

It was an honor to be invited by the right-hand man of His Supremacy to this place.

”You're Private Derrick Jones of Squad Four. Your former leader was Sergeant Campbell, yes?” said a soldier in golden gears. He was checking my I.D and browsed the military database with his A.I watch. He scrolled down the square hologram that was displayed by the watch and nodded at me.

”Yes, Sir. It was unfortunate what happened to him,” I said softly.

The news of Sergeant Campbell's status as K.I.A. during the fight against the resistance was shocking. Two months had pa.s.sed since the fall of our temporary base at Mansel Island. Sergeant Campbell was an excellent leader of our team.

I could not believe he died. He was much more capable than any commanders and leaders that I knew.

”You're lucky to get out of Mansel Island alive. Our base there was completely destroyed,” said the guard as he scrolled the square hologram.

”I was sent to Greece a day after we attacked the island. Is there any order to retake that place?”

”I don't think so. I mean, it was not His Supremacy who ordered the attack. It was his daughter. I remembered it was something about the island's town chief p.i.s.sing her off, something like that.”

”Oh, I see. Though, if His Supremacy wants it, he can just take back that little island. It was His generosity that allowed that place to remain neutral in the first place,” I said.

”Yeah. We've got Neo Africa to worry about. It would not be long before His Supremacy's objective to unify the world to come true.”

The guard whispered to his earpiece and the t.i.tanium door opened slowly. Seeing such a huge door opened before my eyes filled me with antic.i.p.ation, and a bit of anxiety.

I was ushered in by two other guards to the headquarters' meeting room. They opened the door for me and I entered. A long sleek table filled almost the entire s.p.a.ce with chairs at every section of the table. His Supremacy was not in the room but there were a few faces that I did not recognize except Relly Fernandez. He was His Supremacy's, right-hand man. He wore the standard Great Corporate United military uniform, a golden watch, and an eyepatch over his right eye. His dark hair was tied into a ponytail. He sat at the edge of the table.

There were two other people besides him. One of them was a woman that constantly looking at me with bizarre eyes. Her grin was unhumanly wide and her teeth were abnormally sharp, like a tiger. Her dark hair was unruly and too long by the military standard. She had yellow eyes, which I a.s.sumed were contacts. Even that was not allowed by the military. The man, however, had his face covered with a blue military hat. 'Was he sleeping?' I thought. Both of the new individuals wore our standard military uniforms.

”Sir! Private Derrick Jones of Squad Four! Reporting!” I saluted at Sir Relly and he gestured for me to take a seat near the weird woman.

”Thank you for coming, Private Jones,” said Sir Relly Fernandez with a low tone.

”It's my pleasure, Sir,” I replied.

”Then, to start off this quick meeting, I'll introduce you to these two soldiers. You never met them, right?”

I predicted they were exceptional new recruits since very few low-ranking soldiers were invited to the HQ in the past. ”No, Sir,” I replied.

”This man is Hughes. He's an elite soldier from His Supremacy's personal squad. He's also an Aegis User,” said Sir Fernandez.

”What is an Aegis User, Sir? This is the first I've ever heard of such a unit.”

”Only high-ranking soldiers and officers know about their existences. They are human weapons made to help His Supremacy achieves his goal. And that woman next to you is an Aegis User too.”

The woman kept staring at me with wide eyes. Her yellow irises gleamed under the light.

”Er, she doesn't look like a soldier, Sir.”

”Ah, yes. These people are exceptions to our military rules and conducts. Her name is Lily. And don't mind her looking at you like that. She always has an interest in new people she met.”

I realized both of them only have first names. ”If I may ask, Sir, what are their full names?”

Sir Fernandez leaned back in his chair. ”They don't have full names. They were stripped of their origins and pasts since becoming a part of His Supremacy's personal squad.” He glanced at both of them before looking at me with stern eyes. ”I a.s.sume you know why you are called here, Private Jones.”

I nodded at Sir Fernandez's statement. ”I will be part of a secret operation. That's the only thing I knew, Sir,” I stated.

”That's correct. This operation will be carried out in Kazakhstan, where you are required to quell and eliminate the ma.s.s rebellion going on there right now.”

A ma.s.s rebellion.

Since the defeat of our army at Mansel Island, the rebellions were getting more and more critical. ”Will you be joining the operation, Sir?”

”I will, but only as a backup. A squad of Teria soldiers and a Vasquez will be in the operation.” Sir Fernandez gestured at both of the Aegis Users. ”These two will also be there as well.”

”Sir, why are you telling me about the Aegis Users? These... human weapons are top secret and only high-ranking officers know about this, as you said before.”

Sir Fernandez tilted his chin and looked at me. ”That's because you're no longer a private. I also invited you here to inform you of your promotion. As of today, you're General Derrick Jones. You're the new leader of Squad Four.”

I stood up immediately after he said that. ”I'm a general?! But, Sir, that's a very huge jump from someone like me who was a private.”

”His Supremacy requested it,” said Sir Fernandez.

I was dumbfounded. Someone having a low profile and background as me was noticed by His Supremacy. Surreal was the only word for it.

”Before you ask why, General. Your deeds and achievement in Greece were recognized by His Supremacy. You are an astounding soldier.” Sir Fernandez moved to the door. ”But don't forget. Both of them are more high ranking than you. They served under His Supremacy and answered to him directly.” He walked out of the meeting room and Sir Hughes followed him. I was left with the odd woman who was my superior.

She still had her mad eyes on me, as if she saw me as her prey.

”Er, Ma'am. How may I help you?” I asked Sir Lily. She did not say anything and started to walk out of the meeting room too.

”Nice to meet you, Jones,” hissed Sir Lily while she was at the door. Her eyes were leering at me. A few moments later, she closed the door behind her with a loud thud. I was alone in the meeting room.