Death Calls

Chapter 1 - Return

A handsome man with a middle part hairstyle, has a lean bodyfigure and has a strong appeal running through the streets. He wears a white hooded shirt then at his bottom, he wears black cargo pants with black and white shoes and wears tactical gloves that only reveals half of his fingers.

"Faster faster faster! There's no time left, I gotta hurry!" Leo was in a hurry and ran through the busy streets. He was bumping a lot of people along the way.

It was a sunny day, with clear skies and matching hot temperature. Streets full of busy people and traffic arose, a typical day for workers to work. Smoke arises...

"Watch where you're going!" Shouted by an angry vendor that had his cart fell over as Leo accidentally bumps the cart. There goes the cart as it falls then dozens of fruits and vegetables rolled up and it scattered in the ground.

"Sorry," Leo casually replied then cross the first street. Leo was too busy to care about things in his environment. To him it was just obstacles trying to hinder him but he had a heart and knows how to apologize.

Whoosh!

"I jumped and slide through the car's front window. Without hesitation and with clear vision, through motion and speed, through sweat and...Nah, I was just actually late." Leo analyzed how he goes with a tiny bit of exaggeration. He then released a small laugh as he rethinks of what he just thought.

"I'm so sorry!" Leo said then continued in running as he slides through the car's front window. Several cars then stopped and was complaining as Leo rushes to cross the streets.

"Too many cars, such traffic this is." Leo sighed as he rushed through the streets. Leo ran and ran until he almost made it. He then reached the last street and then, when he was crossing the road something fast appeared. This feeling suddenly felt familiar to Leo, a feeling of remembering the air of fast moving bullets piercing through the wind as Leo felt the incoming air towards him. With Leo's long experience in the war his instincts got him to react fast to be able to dodge through.

"Oh no!" Leo shouted while he rolled in the ground away. Suddenly, it was a fast moving truck that came along and Leo almost got hit if he didn't react fast enough. But this was nothing to Leo, a fast moving truck is nothing compared to a moving bullet. His long experience in the battlefields made his focus and reaction speed reach a higher level, being able to react fast. Leo may not be able to dodge a bullet due to human limitations but his reaction speed is well trained.

"Are you commiting suicide?!" the driver shouts angrily with a very frustrated look in his face. But with such traffic he let it go then continued in driving.

Leo just ignored the driver and this scenery. After which, Leo stood up and crossed the road. Leo wasn't excited, he was rather annoyed but upon remembering his old teammates and his past, he can't help but to feel excitement. He sighed...Then after a few more minutes of running, Leo finally reached the place.

"Here it is, I'm here, finally," Leo said in his mind. Leo exhaled and inhaled as he was catching his breath. After almost an hour of running, he suddenly felt exhausted. Legs a bit tired and the need to drink water. However, it was actually a bluff for Leo to feel exhausted, it was actually a feeling of laziness.

"Ahhh, that symbol...reminds me of old times." Leo visualized his past. A large scratch that symbolizes this place. A scratch from those from the cat family, specifically, the Panther. A symbol with black and white colors, and ferocious eyes resembling the agents of this facility. That logo, proudly known as the Panther Force or what is called as Panther Force Agency (PFA) or (PF). The agency that serves as ranked top 1 for central intelligence in Philippines, with highly skilled agents trained for both stealth and special operations.

Leo entered and looked around, he was trying to find the meeting place. Leo was then escorted by one of the guards and as he finds the room, he quickly opened the door.

"Oh nice," Rynn sighed as she folds her arms. Rynn also known as the 1st squad's data analysis expert. Rynn's expression always looked annoyed. She is a beautiful woman, her body figure is decent, short in height with fairly medium sized chest and has a short hair. She wore a black oversized hoodie and at the bottom she wears shorts that are short in length, above the knee.

"Finally, here he is!" Lucy said with a smile on her face. Lucy is always in a good mood and is always cheerful. Lucy known as the "Hacker" of the 1st squad. A beautiful woman, tall in height and her body figure is ideal, appearing to have curves and has a long hair in golden yellow color. She wears a croptop fully exposing her waist and at the bottom, she wears baggy pants.

"Huff huff...I was clearly out of my breath." Leo thought in his mind. Inhaling and exhaling constantly in the last 5 seconds.

"H-hey guys, miss me?" Leo asked with a seemingly exhausted face while he rises his other hand, greeting them with a smile as he breathes heavily. Leo known as the 1st squad's most highly trained, combat expert in both melee and guns, a tactician and suitable for almost any kind of operations.

"No," Asst. Director Ayesha said in a cold tone. Asst. Director Ayesha, second in charge of the Panther Force Agency. Tall in height, has an ideal body and has a short hair. If her beauty is ranked, she scales high above! She wears glasses and a blazer and at her bottom she wears a pencil skirt.

"Ouch that was straightforward." Leo said in his mind.

"Pls don't do that again," Asst. Director Ayesha said with a cold stare at Leo.

"Understood," Leo immediately replied.

Theo then came and went near Leo then they bro fist with each other as a symbol of their friendship.

"Heyyy brother!" Theo smiled at Leo with a very bright look in his face. Theo is a friendly and a respectful person. Theo known as the 1st squad's bomb expert. Having a two block haircut, bangs that covers his forehead, tall in height and a handsome man. He wears a dark blue plain polo shirt tucked in his black pants. Leo smiled back as his response as he looked at Theo. William then came close to me and was excited as well.

"Yo, our og is back," William said as he rises his hands then pointed at Leo. William is a calm person and has a friendly personality. He is known as the 1st squad's gun expert. He has straight hair and bangs that reaches his eye level. A good-looking man, tall in height and has a lean body. He wears an open brown polo with a black tshirt inside and at his bottom, he wears white pants and black shoes.

"Always gone late again huh," Rex said as he punches Leo then smiled right after. Rex is the most caring person of the group. He is known as the 1st squad's leader, the captain and the group's strategist. Rex wears a plain gray shirt revealing large portions of his muscles in his arms and at his bottom, he wears white black pants.

"Ouch! What was that for?" Leo smiled at Rex with a respectful expression.

"Ahem, that's enough. This isn't a grand reunion," Asst. Director Ayesha said with an emotionless look in her face. She was the only one serious.

"Wait, where is Chase?," Leo asked as he looked around and notices his very dear companion is absent. As Leo asks where Chase is, the door of the room was suddenly opened, one of the Panther agents opened the door.

"Attention everyone," Asst. Director Ayesha quickly said as the director enters. Everyone then stood properly with their hands in their head as everyone saluted the director.

"Good, you're finally here,"

"Chase is absent today for some reasons," the director said as he fixes his taxido and enters the room and walks towards the front while the other Panther agents stood by the back of everyone. A man with a serious yet calm expression in his face. Director Jack, the one in charge of the Panther Force Agency. Director Jack is a serious yet calm man. Handsome face, slick back hairstyle, tall in height and has a lean body. He wears a black taxido with a necktie then at his bottom, he wears black slacks with matcing black shoes. He also wears a silver watch in his wrist.

"Don't you miss me sir?" Leo was joking around to change the whole scenery as it went suddenly quiet when Director Jack entered.

"Shut up," Director said with a cold expression against Leo. He then puts his hand in his pocket and the opposite other, to slide through his hair.

"Looks like someone's not in the mood today," Leo thought in his mind.

"Anyway, before we start discussing, I would like all of you to meet a new member of Panther Force," Director Jack said as he points the door as the Panther agents open the door once more.

"Come on in,"

The new member slowly enters the room with face facing down and legs shaky. Shyness and embarassment was felt through everyone. A minute passed he then came close and lifted his head. He suddenly had confidence then smiled to everyone as he waves his hand.

"Hello everyone! I am Samuel Rofer but you can call me Sam for short," Samuel said with a smile as he rises his hand as a sign of greeting everyone in the room. Samuel has a decent height, has straight hair that reaches his eye level and has a decent body figure. He wears a black and white shirt and at his bottom he wears black jogging pants.

"Hello Sam glad to meet you," Director Jack replied in a smooth tone.

"He is now-" Director Jack was about to finish his sentence but Samuel talked at the same time.

"I can also cook then I-" Samuel quickly interrupted. His voice was fast but heard by everyone, he appears to be talkative now that he already spoke, showing feelings of comfort.

"Okay, so he is-" Director Jack said as he continues his statement showing an almost annoyed expression. Director Jack is short tempered even when he's a calm person, it cannot be avoided. If one is born with such a personality one might not have notice that he/she is already letting this personality take over them as it is already bounded in one of each person, its the reason why we're unique to one another.

"I also clean and wash dishes!" Samuel

interruped once more. This time Director Jack was getting annoyed and everyone looked at each other. Director Jack isn't the type to let his statements get disrupted or else, one will get punished. Even the Panther agents at the back look at each other, seeing their calm faces suddenly changed.

"Okayyyyy, so-" Director Jack is now annoyed. Everyone opened their eyes wide as they're about to witness again Director Jack's rage. It was actually normal, it was reasonable and everyone understood it well. Being a Director has a lot of responsibilities and has plenty of burdens to carry so its normal for them to gain this much stress then just burst and release it around, just like a volcano erupting. However, Director Jack is also a calm person so seeing him burst is quite rare.

"I can also-" Sam interrupted again. Quick words from his mouth just like a kid talking. Everyone was puzzled, they're trying to tell whether Samuel is provoking Director Jack or he is born with an annoying personality.

"Will you stop!" Director Jack shouts angrily. Everyone in the room was shocked for a while, preparing themselves. Everyone in the room already knew what'll happen next as they witness how Director Jack goes in rage.

"I mean...that's great Sam! Okay that's enough," Director Jack said with a cold but serious expression. His expression suddenly changed leaving everyone stunned, this was the first time the director suppressed his anger. Everyone couldn't talk as the scenery gets tense.

"Anyway, Sam is going to be joining 1st Squad of Panther Force," Director said in a smooth tone.

"What the? He literally suppressed his anger and became calm all of the sudden?!" Leo was stunned as he thought this in his mind.

"In other words, starting today he's now one of you guys,"

Everybody was shocked once more. Everyone then looked at each other then looked at Sam right after. Samuel wasn't listening then was at the corner touching something then suddenly, files fell as he opens the cabinet at the top.

"What? This clumsy person is gonna join us? The Panther Special Forces?!" Leo thought in his mind with disbelief and disappointment.

Leo looked at Sam again as Sam drops the files once more after picking them up then as he tries picking them up it all went worse, it scattered in the floor.

"You must be kidding me," Leo said with disappointment in his face.

"No, I'm not kidding. In fact, the government wanted him to join us," Director Jack said as he fixes his necktie with one hand and the other opposite in his pocket.

"The government? The higher ups want this guy in our team?" Leo thought in his mind as he was shocked.

"Not only that, I'll be deploying Sam in every mission,"

"So bear in mind, you all must be assisting him and also, calm down Leo," Director said.

"Hmmm," Leo muttered.

"Sam, I am Director Jack Adams," Director Jack said as he faced Samuel with both hands in his pockets.

"I am Ayesha Orse, the Assistant Director," Asst. Director Ayesha said with a cold expression in her face.

Sam waved his hand to both directors with a smile. Samuel appeared to be new to everything and brightness appeared all over his face especially his smile.

"Hey, I'm Rex Rogers, captain of the 1st squad of Panther Special Forces," Rex said then he pats Sam's head with force. Sam was a little dizzy after that pat. Then William and Theo went close and introduced themselves.

"Yo, I'm William Laffler. Call me Will for short," William said as he puts his one hand in his waist and his other arm relaxed as he stands beside Samuel.

"Hey, and I am Theo Axley. Glad to meet you," Theo said as he reached his hand to Samuel, Theo then shook Samuel's hands.

"Hi, I am Lucy Renossa," Lucy said with a smile as she raises her hand and waves at Samuel.

"Um hi, my name is Rynn Nevad," Rynn said with a smile as she puts her hands in her hoodie. Sam looked very happy then he waves his hand to the two with a smile.

After a minute, everyone looked at Leo.

"What?" Leo asked as he folds his arms. A look of disappointment is clear in his face with an annoyed expression.

"Ehem, aren't you going to introduce yourself hm?" Director Jack asked with a smooth tone.

"Fine," Leo responded in a serious manner but in a low tone.

"Hey, name's Leo, Leo Axel," Leo introduced himself to Samuel as he walks and went near Samuel. Sam smiled at Leo as his response but didn't say a thing.

"Its a pleasure to meet you all!" Sam said as he bows to everyone.

Everyone smiled and liked Sam. Even when Sam looks clumsy and talkative, everyone knew that he was chosen for a reason. Everyone in the room knew that Director Jack doesn't just add clowns in the group except for Leo, who doesn't like Samuel. To Leo, anything that hinders both him and his group in reaching their objective, is a burden.

"Alrighttt, now that's over everyone can sit down now," Director Jack said as he claps to call their attention.

"Let's jump right into the case, I have more meetings to attend to,"

"Don't worry this will be quick,"

Everyone then went in the long glass table at the center of the room and then sat down in their chairs. The Panther agents at the back then followed.

"The reason why I assembled the 1st squad of Panther Force..."

"Why it is urgent that I have to call the 1st squad back,"

Director Jack clicked his laptop, turning on the wide TV screen that is attached to the wall just in front of the long glass table, once it was turned on it showed information in it.

"Operation: DarkStorm,"

"Operation DarkStorm?" Rex asked with curiousity in his mind. Prepared as he is, he listens. Rex was already having a lot of thoughts, one of it is knowing the type of mission this is.

"Yes, Operation DarkStorm, a top secret mission that is handed to the PFA,"

"Operation DarkStorm, a top tier mission that focuses in one objective,"

"Obtaining a piece of the Larophyte Crystal," Director Jack said. Director Jack expects the group to cooperate and be serious of this problem at hand.

"What is Larophyte?," William asked as he raises his hand. William was calm but deep inside, he can't help but to wonder if Director Jack wasn't mistaken. This Larophyte is something he never heard of and something he believed never even existed.

"Even I can't answer...its my first time hearing this, its like a different type of special ore,"

Director Jack responded with a hint of worry in his face.

"Why must we find a piece of this Larophyte?," Leo asked with a cold expression. Leo was shocked as well, he never heard of Larophyte or what it is used for. This caught Leo's interest and had him to get serious.

"Because the government needed it and once obtained, they'll hand down the piece to the World Union(WU)," Director Jack responded.

"The World Union? If it's this urgent then why won't the WU just send their forces directly or even their experts?" Theo asked. Theo was also shocked, not knowing what Larophyte is even the World Union is involved.

"They did, they are already in the lookout here in the country," Director Jack responded.

"But the thing that concerns me is that even the Union leaders didn't tell the government about their forces coming inside the country in the dark,"

"They could have just told the government to enter legally," Director Jack replied with a change of expression. Director Jack had a lot of worries but he intends to let his 1st squad handle.

"So they entered without the government knowing?" Rynn asked as it left her shocked. Rynn thought to herself, why would the higher ups do such a thing? The higher ups are trying to break the rules as they now have power in their hands?

"Isn't that illegal?," William quickly asked as he understands and lately grasp the point of mission.

"It is, it almost ended up with a gunfight between the country's forces and the union's,"

"That's ridiculous, aren't the Union our ally?!" Rex asked with a serious tone. Rex already understood the case at hand. Rex knew that the Larophyte is their key goal, and the opposing is their own ally.

"Which is why we have to interfere and make our own move, the government doesn't trust the Union," Director Jack said.

"We might not know, perhaps the Union have already been operating silently in the shadows,"

"However, during that time the president and the union leader talked and made an agreement shortly after," Director Jack added.

"An agreement?," Lucy asked as she lately understood the situation. Lucy was puzzled all over and was confused of the problem.

"Yes, an agreement...this all happened one week ago," Director Jack said.

Everyone was shocked. Their eyes wide open and coudn't believe it was a week ago. Some of them trying to remember what happened in the last week and to some it doesn't make sense, it didn't appeared in the news.

"It was all kept confidential," Director Jack said.

"This mission is entrusted to us by the government so I ask all of you...are you in?"

Everyone looked at one another and they all nodded in response.

"I'm glad, the team is back," Director Jack said.

"That's all, this operation will be active after three days. There I will discuss further of our current objectives and information,"

"Why in the next three days? Can't we operate sooner since this is urgent sir?," Leo quickly asked as he thought that they'll be quickly sent out in missions.

"It is urgent but we are also tasked to not operate quickly said by the president himself, he wants everyone to prepare for this, he only wanted to know if Panther Special Forces squad 1 is back,"

"Besides we might encounter the Union, I have to talk to the President about that and tell him that the 1st squad of PFA are back," Director Jack smirked.

"I see, I understand," Leo responded. Leo thought in his mind, World Union hmm what are they up to this time?

"Whatever this Larophyte crystal does, it must be so important. We have to take action," Captain Rex added.

"Yes. Now, is everything clear?!" Director Jack asked as he slides his hand through his hair.

"Yes sir!!" Everyone responded as they all stood up and saluted the director.

"Everyone dismissed," Director Jack said.

Everyone stood up and the tense feeling of the scenery gradually disappeared. Everyone looked at one another, deep eyes that appears to have plenty of meanings. Coldness, shock curiousity, whatever it was it was all clear to them why they were assembled again.

"Yo Leo, see you again," William said as he was the first to left the building.

"Yeah," Leo replied as he waves at William.

"Bye guys!," Lucy said outloud while Rynn waved her right hand as they both left the building after William left.

Rex and Sam then talked to one another. Rex then stayed at the building and showed Samuel the place, like a tour guide or rather a father and his son exploring the park.

"Hey Sam so what else do you do?" Rex asked as he smiles at Sam.

"Oh not that much," Sam replied in a shy tone. His talkative personality immediately disappeared upon hearing a while ago the problem they're facing.

Theo then decided to stay and follow Rex and Sam. Before Leo left, Theo waved at him and ran to catch up to Rex and Sam. Leo was the last to leave the place. With thoughts still circling in his mind he can't help to sigh. He then left the building, he thought in his mind, why does it feels like another war is coming? Leo looked up at the symbol of the Panther Agency once more.