Three weeks later, after we began the Neogen training, the captain called us all to assemble in our barrack.
“Alright, everyone! We’ve been assigned our first mission,” She declared standing in front of us, “Make preparations—we depart at first light tomorrow morning.”
The announcement hit all of us like a thunderclap. We’d trained to battle the Vodocks—and no one was expecting military missions. A wave of unease swept through the group, unspoken questions thickened the air. I kept the skepticism to myself trusting the captain, however it was not the same for everyone.
William finally broke the silence.
“Captain, no disrespect, but I signed up to fight aliens, not to leap across rooftops on some covert government job.”
Yukio nodded, “Our contract didn’t mention missions like this. I have no interest in meddling in national or political conflicts.”
“He’s right we didn’t sign up to conduct government missions,”
“There was no mention of this in the contract we signed!”
Diego and loid Anderson backed up the others
The captain’s eyes narrowed,
“You’ve misunderstood your purpose. As members of the Planetary Defense Force, that serum coursing through your veins binds you to protect this world from all threats—internal and extraterrestrial alike. That’s your duty as PDF officers.”
Every word she said was true. But doubt still lingered among us.
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Many had journeyed from foreign lands, drawn together by a shared goal: to harness our enhanced strength against the Vodocks. Yukio’s objection was sound—nothing was mentioned regarding missions other than fighting the Vodocks in the contract.
“You seem not to know this; The world isn’t as straightforward or simple as you think,” the captain continued, her words sharp with conviction. “To defeat the Vodocks, global stability is essential. This mission could shape the outcome of the war ahead. If you’re too frightened to step into the fire, stay behind. But once we leave, my orders are law. I won’t tolerate resistance. The fight against the Vodocks has already begun.”
Her reasoning sank in. If other dangers jeopardized our planet’s peace, our newfound power carried a responsibility to act. Though hesitant, we all resolved to join the mission.
It was dawn and we gathered outside the air dock, clad in battle suits and armed with weapons tailored to our strengths. We sat down chatting as we awaited the captain’s return from the general with mission details. Anticipation hummed through the group, a mix of curiosity and nerves.
“Ever been with a girl?” William sidled up beside me.
The question caught me off guard, a flush creeping up my neck. You don’t know how uncomfortable some situations are until they find you.
I quickly replied,
“No. I tend to ignore things that add no value to my goals. Romance is... axiomatically useless to human advancement.”
“Classic virgin line,” He grinned, undeterred. “Look, kid—time’s is everyman’s greatest foe. This is our first mission. might be your last. What if you cross to the other side without ever getting to feel a woman’s touch.”
“I don’t believe in love, sorry! My death will be valued by the people I will save. Where is the Captain, anyway?”
“You don’t need love to enjoy the game,” he teased, elbowing me lightly.
Billie joined in, his grin wide. “I’ve got three wives in three countries, and I love them all the same!”
I stared, incredulous. “Three wives? Willingly? How does that even work? Are women that... gullible?”
Billie’s laughter boomed, rich with experience. “Far from it—women are cunning. They’ll empty your bank account before you cross the street, and you won’t realize it until you’re up at 3 a.m., staring at a drained peacekeeping fortune, wondering where it all went.”
The mood shifted, growing heavy. To lift it, I pulled a bottle of homemade brew from my pack and handed it to Billie. “Try this—corn flour beer from back home. It’s strong.”
He took a sip, and his eyes lighted up. “Not bad at all! You made this?”
“I don’t drink,” I admitted, “but I’ve seen it ruin livers. Fermented it once to test if it’d help me sleep—didn’t work.”
Bill-Board, wrestling with his English, beamed. “Hyung, igeo jinjja masisseoyo! Neodo meogeobwa!”
Billie translated, chuckling. “He says it’s delicious. You should bring this to Korea!”
The captain’s return jolted us to attention. She launched straight into the briefing with precision. “Listen up—this is an extraction mission. Rebels have stolen a vital device and are holed up on Raspberry Island. Our objective: recover it and neutralize all threats. For most of you, this is your first operation. Follow my orders, and we’ll all return intact. Questions?”
William’s quickly asked. “What device? And ‘neutralize all threats’—are we killing people?”
“You’re soldiers now,” she replied, her tone icy. “This is the reality of our work. Whatever brought you to the PDF, you’re here to succeed by any means necessary—maximum force included. If you can’t handle this, you won’t survive what’s coming. You chose the wrong path.”
“Captain,” I stepped forward, unease gnawing at me. “They only got the serum three weeks ago. Are they ready?”
“We don’t have the luxury of time,” she snapped. “The threat won’t wait. If you can’t obey, go pack your bags. Board the helicopter only if you’re ready to fight without hesitation.”
Her ultimatum weighed heavily. We’d trained relentlessly to reach this moment—retreat wasn’t an option. Thirteen of us, including the captain, climbed aboard, hearts pounding with uncertainty.
The helicopter’s rotors thrummed as we soared toward the island, the cabin thick with tension. Diego Castro hunched over a bag, retching—blaming airsickness, though we all knew fear was the true culprit preying at his tender heart. But that fact was true for all of us. Despite our enhanced strength—capable of shattering concrete—our minds struggled to keep pace. Well perhaps except for Wardak and Sane, who seemed unattached to everything and everyone.
William’s voice cut through the noise. “We’re facing rebels, damn it! We’re not soldiers—none of us have done this before. Why can’t the captain see that?”
“You’re overcomplicating it.” Loid Anderson shrugged, pragmatic as ever. “This is what we’ve been training for. And after your sparring with the commander, I reckon nothing on that island will touch you.”
“It’s not about danger,” William shot back. “She’s ordering us to kill people. Am I the only one who thinks this is crazy?”
“It doesn’t matter!” Diego, with his face pale, muttered, “The outcome is not always based on the initial set points. Your choice here hardly matters. And that’s the reality for most people. In this confined space, your opinion, freedom, free will—those are abstract concepts.”
William’s frustration flared.
“So we just obey blindly? Dmitry, you’re a Russian soldier—are you even allowed to do this?”
Dmitry turned to William. “I came to fight aliens, and I trust the captain. She says this is necessary.”
“You were the world’s strongest boxer, William." loid smirked, "Where’s your spine now?”
It was obvious most of them were anxious. And so was I, thinking about taking another persons life was difficult decision each of us would have to face at one point or another.
That’s when the captain’s voice crackled over the intercom.
“We’re nearing the drop zone.” she announced and then added. “The island is about a few kilometers away. We’re getting off here. We’re doing a surprise attack so we can’t risk going any further with the helicopter. Once we reach the shore, we’ll split up in groups, circle the island and attack from all sides. Our long-range sensors show that they are hiding the device somewhere in the central part of the island. We’ll need to act fast and retrieve the device before they destroy it!”
The captain explained upon reaching the drop zone.
Raspberry Island emerged from afar—a wild tangle of forest and cliffs. My hear raced, as I realized that things just became real.