“Elijah!” Sophia’s voice wavered as she clutched the edge of the table, her legs buckling beneath her.   Elijah was across the room in an instant, catching her before she hit the ground. “Sophia!” he said urgently, cradling her against his chest. “What’s wrong? Talk to me.”   Her skin was burning to the touch, her breaths shallow and uneven. “I… don’t know,” she whispered, her eyelids fluttering. “I feel so… hot.”  Elijah’s heart raced, but his voice was steady. “You’re going to be okay. I’ve got you.”   Doug appeared in the doorway, his eyes widening at the scene. “Marshal, what happened?”   “She’s burni

“Marshal, the target is in position,” Doug’s voice came through Elijah’s earpiece, calm but firm.   Elijah adjusted the grip on his weapon, his eyes scanning the dimly lit alley where the lieutenant of The Arbiter was making his move. “Good. Wait for my signal. We don’t want to spook him.”   The man they were tracking, a wiry figure with sharp features, stepped into a small warehouse. He glanced around nervously before slipping inside.   Elijah moved swiftly, signaling Doug and the rest of the team to follow. They approached the entrance quietly, their steps precise. Elijah held up a hand, stopping the group before whispering, “Doug, take the side entrance. I’ll cover the main door.”   Last Updated : 2024-12-31

“Marshal, I’ve sorted through the files,” Doug said, placing a stack of decoded documents on the table in Elijah’s study. “There’s something you need to see.”Elijah leaned over the papers, his eyes scanning the pages quickly. The intricate diagrams, charts, and notes painted a chilling picture. He paused at one particular section, his jaw tightening.“Genetic engineering,” he muttered. “Sophia’s anomaly… it wasn’t a natural occurrence. This was deliberate.”Doug frowned. “Deliberate, sir? By who?”“A faction operating in secrecy for generations,” Elijah replied, tapping one of the documents. “They altered bloodlines, ensuring specific traits would emerge. Sophia’s genetic profile is the culmination of their work.”Sophia, resting nearby on a chaise, shifted uncomfortably. Her color was slowly returning, but her movements were still weak. “So… I’m a science experiment?”Elijah turned toward her, his voice softening. “No. You’re a person, Sophia. What they did doesn’t define you.”Soph

"Marshal, the teams are in position," Doug reported, his voice steady despite the tension in the air. "We’re ready on your command." Elijah surveyed the sprawling compound ahead of them, his sharp gaze analyzing every potential threat. The Arbiter’s headquarters was a fortress, bristling with defenses and patrolled by elite Paragon Soldiers. He adjusted the earpiece in his ear. "We go in silent. Minimal casualties. Sophia, are you patched into their systems?" "Almost there," Sophia replied from the mobile command center. Her fingers danced across the keyboard. "Their encryption is good, but I’m better. I’ll get you a clear path in five seconds." Elijah nodded, speaking into his communicator. "Teams one and two, prepare to breach. Doug, you’re with me. Sophia, keep us updated." "Always, Marshal," Doug said, gripping his weapon tightly. Sophia’s voice crackled in their ears. "You’re good to go. Entry point secured." "Move," Elijah ordered, leading the charge. They slipped