Location: Tavara – Secret Estate, Outskirts of Vexhill
The sun dipped behind the horizon, casting long shadows across the sprawling estate nestled deep in the outskirts of Vexhill. On the surface, it was nothing more than an abandoned vineyard. But beneath it? A silent fortress—the rumored final bastion of Project Hades.
Victor stood at the estate's edge, binoculars in hand. "Thermal signatures. Underground. Heavily shielded. They knew we'd come here last."
Nora adjusted her black ops gear, eyes sharp. "We've danced around ghosts long enough. It ends here."
Echo, patched into their comms from Atlas HQ, spoke in a hushed tone. "Victor, we've intercepted chatter. They're preparing to transfer 'Subject V.' Top clearance. It's not a weapon... it's a person."
Victor's jaw tightened. "They kept a subject from the original Dominion research?"
Zuri joined in. "Records show Subject V was one of five failed enhancements... but this one didn't die. They erased the file. Whoever it is, they've kept them hidden for over a decade."
Nora's expression darkened. "Then we're dealing with a secret even the Dominion feared."
---
Location: Underground Complex, Same Night
The team infiltrated the compound through an old irrigation tunnel. Elros took point, silently neutralizing guards with surgical precision. Damien followed, guiding two shadow units through alternating air ducts and access panels.
They reached a sealed door marked "V1-Genesis"—biometric access only.
Victor placed his palm on the scanner. It beeped… and turned green.
The door hissed open.
Inside, the air was sterile. Chilling. A soft blue glow lit the chamber. In the center floated a stasis pod—within it, a young man, no older than 25, suspended in an advanced cryogenic fluid.
Damien stepped closer. "He looks like..."
Victor's breath caught. "Me."
They turned toward Echo's voice in the comm. "Subject V is a clone."
Shock rippled through the room.
Victor stared at the pod, voice low. "Dominion didn't just try to build weapons… they tried to replace us."
---
Location: Dominion Archive Room, Same Compound
Meanwhile, Nora uncovered a sealed archive loaded with files: audio logs, growth charts, psychological evaluations—all on V1.
She played one log:
> "Subject V exhibits advanced cognitive adaptation, near-perfect muscle memory, and a disturbing ability to mimic command patterns of Atlas officers. Termination attempt failed. Subject entered a comatose state but revived autonomously days later. Do not engage without full squad backup."
Zuri's voice came through: "Victor… he's not just your clone. They modeled him after your battlefield instincts."
Victor whispered, "He's what they wanted me to be—without morals. Just power."
Nora added, "We can't let him wake up. Not like this."
---
Location: Exit Route – Seconds Before Extraction
Suddenly, alarms blared. The chamber lights pulsed red. A booming voice echoed through the speakers.
> "If you kill him, you kill your own blood, Kane."
An explosion rocked the hallway. Gas poured into the ventilation system.
Victor gave the order. "Extract him. Sedated. Zuri, prep for containment. We'll learn who he is… and decide what to do next."
As they escaped the compound with Subject V, Damien lingered behind, staring at a shattered Dominion insignia on the wall.
"Even in death, they try to play God."