Project Racket Strike - 1

“YDH Base…this is the Alpha Research Team..! We are in grave danger..! This epidemic has infected us very badly..! We are sending an SOS Stage -4 signal…I repeat…We are sending an SOS Stage -4 signal…! Request to act immediately..!”

The Newsday Globe

The Alpha Research Team Goes Missing

Jan 25. (RTN) The elite Alpha Research Team (ART) sent to WattleBirch (WB) islands in West Atlantis Ocean have gone missing. Reports from YDH headquarters suggested that no contact has been established with the team since the past 48 hours. Inhabitants from the WattleBirch islands, under territory of District Riverdell, had complained of a strange epidemic spreading across the islands causing Brain damage & multiple organ failure. Exact number of casualties kept undisclosed, the team had gone to investigate to find a cure for the unknown disease. Further news & updates are awaited.

“Commander Awesome AJ? How you’ve doing?” Captain Steve came & shook my hands. Today morning I was told to report to YDH Base HQ immediately. En Route, bio scanners fitted in my eyes showed me reports in Newsday Globe, informing about an unknown epidemic in WB islands and the team that went missing. At the base, I was informed to leave for the island urgently, along with my earlier team, Bruno, Mark, Dr Zeus and Jack, who were a part of Project Razorsharp.

“I hope you know the mission AJ..!” Steve winked at me, smiling.

“Yeah…” My brain had already picked up the message, which was now displayed on my bio scanners. “My mission is to find out what this epidemic is and to locate the ART who went missing on the islands..! And if possible, to find a cure to this deadly epidemic which is affecting all the people there..!” Guess what, my brain is too sharp now. I had already read Steve’s mind when I sat in the VTOL, a latest technology aircraft, along with my team.

“We are approx. 50 klicks towards west, moving deeper in the West Atlantis Ocean. The islands are surrounded by other smaller islands, all in possession of our Riverdell. Once there, we are on our own..!”

Captain Steve winked at me again & wished me good luck as the VTOL advanced towards the WB islands.

I landed on the islands and looked around. The city, currently due to the epidemic, it was evacuated and all the residents were being moved to the nearby islands. Situated directly in between the West Atlantis Ocean, the entire island was surrounded by forests & mountains, after which the main city borders started.

As I started walking with my team, the bio scanners in my eyes scanned the entire area. Surprisingly, no RED coloured warning readings were noted, which meant the air around was not infected. No epidemic was found around. Then were was the elite team? I tried contacting them through radio. I also tried to locate them using the Observation Drone stationed high above in the clouds directly above the islands. Nor could I connect to them, nor could I get any reply from the drone.

“I suppose no network leaves the islands…” Jack replied, checking his network signal, “Something’s jamming the signals..!”

“Yeah right..! That’s the reason we…”

Suddenly my bio scanners turned RED. Immediately, a faint ringing sound, resembling the banging of metal utensils, filled my ears. I started feeling dizzy and nauseated. Unable to stand properly, the scanners in my eyes started flashing RED, indicating DANGER. My entire team was no different. All of them were either vomiting or were feeling unsteady. The sound in my ears was piercing. I covered my ears, but the sound didn’t stop. What was happening?

After some time, it all stopped. We gradually returned back to normal, confused & looking at each other.

“What sound was that?” I asked my team who were still recovering.

“We never heard any sound…!” Dr. Zeus replied, “I only remember feeling dizzy & nauseous…! I think the epidemic has hit us badly….!”

Instantly something striked me. Was that some sort of Supersonic sound? Was it intended to attack us? Was the same thing being done on the inhabitants of this city? I couldn’t understand anything.

I then hatched a plan. Together we decided to move & cross the forest till the outskirts of the city. Once there, we resolved to move in different directions to expand our search. We then started walking, moving cautiously and checking for any movement. My mind was continuously trying to search for solutions, but I couldn’t get one. Where’s the Alpha research team? What type of epidemic is this? Why did only I hear the sound?

Still lost in thoughts, at evening time we reached the outskirts of the city. We stood on top of the hill & observed the entire city of WattleBirch before us. Appearing deserted, I scanned the entire area. No sign of humans or any living thing. What was happening here?

“Let’s spread in different directions...” I ordered my team, “Bruno, Mark you both take the west. Zeus, Jack you proceed on east. I’ll take the north. Keep your radios on. Let’s keep each other informed. Use the Observation Drone above to locate any of the team members. Don’t forget to call in case of danger...Good Luck..!” We then dispersed in 3 directions.

I started moving cautiously in North direction. Aiming my gun ahead, I walked on the highway in between the city. With tall Glass buildings around, the entire area was deserted, with vehicles stopped abruptly in between and all shops, restaurants & other places left half open or closed. Strangely, no living being, not even birds were fluttering around, giving the entire area a haunted look.

I checked every turn, every corner as it passed. I could see my team’s location in their respective direction in my eye scanners. We were in constant touch with each other.

Suddenly, my scanners flashed a dot. Almost 100 feet ahead, my scanners indicated the presence of something. Probably human or a living being, I guessed as I moved in that direction. The point was near a glass building. As I approached, I moved cautiously checking for any other movement around. As I neared the location dot, I saw something lying down on the road. The location was precisely that, so I walked closer. As I walked vigilantly, I scanned the thing. It was a human body, probably dead, lying on the pavement. As I came near, the bio scanners in my eyes scanned the body. The scanners indicated multiple organ failure, his muscles were shrunken due to loss of blood & his brain was a vegetative mass, almost melted down. What the hell was this epidemic doing to the human body?

Suddenly my bio scanners turned RED. Immediately, a faint ringing sound, resembling the banging of metal utensils, filled my ears. I started feeling dizzy and nauseated. Unable to stand properly, the scanners in my eyes started flashing RED, indicating DANGER. The sound in my ears was piercing. I covered my ears, but the sound didn’t stop. What was happening?

Again as it happened earlier, all of it stopped abruptly. My scanners stopped blinking RED but they were not showing the location of my team. As I tried contacting them, I felt as if someone was trying to contact me. My team never answered back. Panicked, I tried radioing to the YDH base, but all signals were jammed. I was totally in dilemma.

“Commander Awesome AJ?” I almost fell off as I received an incoming radio message on my earpiece.

“I hope you know me…” the person sounded desperate, “I am Dr. Cyrus from the Alpha Research Team (ART)…”

I stood up immediately. “Dr. Cyrus? Where are you…?”

“Listen to me, AJ…” Dr. Cyrus interrupted me, “We are in grave danger. I am patching you certain co-ordinates...” As he said this, a YELLOW dot flashed on my eye scanners, indicating a location about 2 klicks further north ,deeper in the islands. “This is a research facility guarded heavily by armoured guards. Reach at this location, then u’ll get an idea what’s exactly happening on these islands..! Use the passcode 485220 at every entry points to gain access inside…!” Before I could further ask anything, the call disconnected. The position still flashed on my scanners, indicating the shortest path to be followed there. I again tried contacting my team. Still no answer from them.

As I progressed along the road, taking shortcuts in lanes, I still kept thinking. Why was Dr. Cyrus silent all the way till now? Why was only I given the location to reach there & not my team? Was Dr. Cyrus still alive? If yes, where was he hiding? I tried to find the source of the radio message which will help me track Dr. Cyrus’s location using Reverse Signal Communication. Surprisingly, the message returned back. It was as if some firewall or a program was blocking my connection, which was absurd. Why would the Alpha Team block me?

Alert & watchful, I slowly reached the desired location. Since it was night, there was dark all around. Standing around 500 meters away, I checked the facility using Visor Binoculars. As told, it was heavily guarded by guards, wearing protective suits & helmets & carrying rifles. Looking at the manpower there, it was impossible to take everyone down at once & move in.

I decided to enter stealthily inside. My team was still not reachable. Using my scanners, I checked the easiest entry to the main door without spotting. It showed a guided path from the backyard, towards the rear entry. Staying watchful, I proceeded slowly, crawling as I neared the wired compound fence.

Suddenly my scanners picked up a radio message, “If you see code 485220 on your wrist display screens , at once rush to the nearest electronic entry point and shoot the person…! That person is Commander AJ. We are issuing shoot at sight orders for Commander Aj..! Remember, he has a very sharp mind..! Stay alert & take him down…!”

I was shocked. Shoot at sight orders for me? Why? Did Dr. Cyrus give me the wrong location? Who was trying to kill me? What exactly was happening here?

The YELLOW dot location was still on, indicating a safe path for me towards the rear entry. Using darkness around, I crawled silently till the rear compound wall. It was least guarded. Checking for CCTV movements, I used my scanners & night vision to stay away from guarded areas. Slowly & stealthily, I reached the entrance door. It was locked with electronic passcode entry. Not using the passcode given to me, I used the eye scanners to hack the codes. The door slowly opened & I stepped inside a corridor.

The whole corridor inside was deserted. Crossing it,I found the server room & accessed the data inside.

I was shocked on seeing the data in front. It was a network of equations & integrals & almost every document had a word Project Racket Strike highlighted with descriptions written next to it.

What was Project Racket Strike? Was it in some way related to the epidemic in the islands? Who wanted to kill me and why?

TO BE CONTINUED…..