Chapter 35: The Numbers

The neon-drenched streets of Kowloon, Hong Kong, pulsed with life. But for Arata, Pierson, and Natasha, the vibrant chaos was merely a backdrop for their mission. As they navigated the crowded alleys, a chilling realization struck them: they weren't alone. Unbeknownst to them, Nikolai and his forces were already in the city, closing in on their target.

The trio arrived at an apartment building. They found the address and knocked on the door.

"Should we try Chinese?" Arata asked.

"No, he's fluent in English," Pierson replied, a hint of a smile on his face. "I know him very well."

The door opened. A woman smiled warmly. "My love, they've arrived," she said in fluent Mandarin.

"Oh, please let them in, my dear," a man's voice called from inside in German.

Clarke, a man with a kind face, appeared. "It seems I have a Japanese visitor. I'll use Japanese, then," he said.

"Please, there's no need," Pierson laughed. "All of us here can speak Japanese. We lived in Okinawa for seven years."

As Arata looked around the small, comfortable apartment, he saw Clarke's two children playing happily on the floor. The scene felt incredibly fragile, a stark contrast to his world, and it made him uneasy.

"So, Pierson, what do you want from me this time?" Clarke asked.

"I'm afraid I have a big request," Pierson began, his tone suddenly serious. "I truly couldn't open and figure out the code we found on that cargo ship. I'm completely stuck."

"Alright, let me see," Clarke said, walking to his laptop. He inserted the USB drive. "Let's see what you've got for me, USB-kun."

After a moment, Clarke's eyes widened. His face turned pale. "Pierson, you will not believe what I've found."

"What is it? Did you find something?" Pierson asked, leaning forward.

"This file contains records of special forces operations from all over the world. It's a catalog of every mission, every team, and every leader."

The three of them stared at the screen, stunned. Arata's hands clenched into fists. "So this is how The Serpent became such a well-trained force?"

"And you're not going to believe who the leader of this force is," Clarke said, turning the laptop. "He is Nikolai Dimtrikov, a former FSB member and Spetsnaz operative."

"That's impossible!" Natasha gasped, a hand flying to her mouth.

"What's wrong, Natasha?" Arata asked.

"Nikolai is my brother," she whispered, tears welling in her eyes. "He died in a helicopter crash during a mission in Africa."

The room fell silent.

"But the evidence shows he was directly involved in The Serpent's training. Look," Clarke said, pointing at the screen. Natasha saw a video of her brother, alive, training a new generation of soldiers.

"There must be another reason he's doing this," Pierson said.

"And one more thing," Clarke added. "I found a file that is set to activate on September 20th. It's titled 'Operation Ragnarok.'"

Pierson looked at Arata and Natasha. "Ragnarok... that means?"

"You're right," Arata said, his voice grim. "The downfall of the gods. In this case, the world leaders. But where would they do it?"

The G-20 Summit in Jakarta flashed in Pierson's mind.

"Damn it! Ragnarok is going to happen in Jakarta, Indonesia!" Pierson yelled.

"Why Jakarta?" Arata asked.

"Because it will host a meeting of leaders from various countries," Pierson explained.

"I don't know about that," Clarke said, closing his laptop. "But I'm not getting involved in politics anymore."

DOORR! DOORR! DOORR!

A hail of bullets suddenly shattered the window, raining glass and debris into the room. The Serpent had arrived.

"Damn it, they know my location! How?" Clarke shouted, taking cover.

"The USB drive had a tracker!" Arata realized, rage in his voice. "We were led into a trap!"

Bullets tore through the walls. Arata and Natasha moved to shield Clarke's children and wife, while Pierson protected Clarke.

"Natasha! Take my children and run! Pierson and I will buy you time!" Clarke shouted.

Natasha nodded, quickly ushering the terrified family out of the apartment. Arata joined Pierson, returning fire. But soon, they were out of ammo. In a moment of desperation, Arata, Pierson, and Clarke stood and ran, bullets whizzing past their heads. Arata could see the bullet holes appearing in the walls beside him. They escaped from the room, with not a single bullet managing to hit them.

Meanwhile, after successfully evacuating Clarke's family, Natasha returned. As she entered the apartment, she saw a silhouette that looked just like her brother.

"Nikolai?" Natasha whispered, following the figure to the rooftop, where Nikolai was waiting.

"Nikolai, is that you?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"Hello, Natasha. It's been a long time," Nikolai said, sitting on a bench. His face looked weary.

"You're supposed to be dead," Natasha said, her eyes welling up.

"I was in a helicopter crash five years ago. Is that what they told you?" Nikolai asked.

"You're the mastermind behind The Serpent," Natasha accused.

"You're quick on the uptake. You and I both know where we come from," Nikolai said, lunging at her with a knife.

Natasha was faster. She drew her pistol and fired, intentionally missing him.

"Don't you remember what I taught you?" Nikolai mocked her. "Use a close-quarters weapon to defeat your enemy!"

Natasha didn't hesitate. She pulled a knife from her boot. "Just give up, big brother. There's no point," she said, dodging his attack.

"Give up? And let them do what they did to my unit? To leave us in that hell?" Nikolai yelled, his eyes full of rage. "You wouldn't know what it's like."

"You mean Commander Arata?"

"Yes. He's lucky he still has hope. But what about me? They sent me to a Siberian prison. And that's where I met him."

"Who are you talking about?"

"You know him well enough, don't you? I'll use any means necessary to destroy the people who hide the truth. I am a Russian," Nikolai said, with a twisted sense of pride.

Their fight stopped as a helicopter landed on the roof. Nikolai smiled, thinking it was his ride.

"My ride is here. Stay healthy, Natasha. Live the way I taught you," he said.

But just then, a sniper bullet pierced Nikolai's chest. The shot came from inside the helicopter. Through the reflective glass, Natasha could see a silhouette: it was Collins, who had betrayed him. Without a word, the helicopter flew away, leaving Nikolai sprawled on the roof.

Arata and Pierson arrived, finding Natasha cradling her dying brother.

"Natasha, I'm sorry," Nikolai said, his voice fading. "My life has been full of betrayal. Maybe I don't belong in this cruel world."

"Please, big brother, hold on! I'll get you to a hospital!" Natasha begged, tears streaming down her face.

"No. You must live. You will carry on my vengeance against that bastard Collins."

"Go to Hokkaido, Japan. That's where Collins is hiding. And you, Pierson, please take care of my sister." He then looked at Arata. "And you... you're Commander Arata, aren't you?"

"You and I are the same. We were both victims of a corrupt system's orders."

"Don't compare me to you! I never harmed civilians!" Arata yelled.

"That's funny. The operation you led in Mecronia... was a cleanup mission for your country's newly elected Prime Minister. He used you to eliminate evidence of his involvement in the attacks in Japan," Nikolai revealed.

"YOU'RE LYING! PRIME MINISTER NAGATO WOULD NEVER DO THAT!" Arata roared.

"You'll see when you get to Hokkaido. You will believe me then," Nikolai said, and with a satisfied smile, he took his last breath.

Natasha broke down, sobbing uncontrollably. Soon, police sirens blared, and a SWAT team found Nikolai's body.

Arata, Natasha, and Pierson left the scene with Clarke. Arata kept his gaze on Natasha, because he knew exactly what it felt like to lose someone. Especially, when it's family.