Dominos: Zero Point Awakening

Chapter 40: Betrayal and Blood

The logic sliced through the room like a blade. Rogue Neogens were a threat—Abdu’s rampage had seared that truth into the earth, a scar no one could ignore. Yet the defense corps weren’t faceless villains twirling schemes in the dark. They were soldiers, their hands calloused from battles fought for the helpless, their oaths etched in sweat and sacrifice. My stomach churned as the question gnawed at me: Where did we fit in this shifting uncertain landscape?

“What do you mean, ‘eliminate Level One Neogens’?!” the captain exclaimed, her tone edged with unease. “What are those?”

Malcolm Cole leaned forward, unflinching. “It’s a ranking system based on the serum’s power manifestation: Levels One to Three. Your awakened abilities place all of you at Level Two—except the commander here, who’s reached Level Three.”

The revelation dragged my thoughts back to the chaos of Raspberry Island. That was where we’d first seen Neogens with special abilities unleash their uncanny powers.

The captain inhaled deeply, clinging to her composure. “Alright, you’ve got your ranking system... But what do you mean by ‘eliminate them all’?”

“There are currently sixty-five Level One Neogens in the planetary defense corps,” Malcolm replied, his words clipped and precise. “Dr. Necro’s research shows any one of them could climb to Level Three. After Abdu, we’ve labeled Level Threes as nuclear-grade threats. We can’t afford sixty-five potential time bombs, each one a mental breakdown away from catastrophe.”

The realization sank in, heavy and final: the defense force had chosen its stance.

“But everyone in the corps swore to protect this planet!” the captain protested, her voice rising with a mix of defiance and disbelief. “Abdu was a tragedy, it doesn’t make his actions a pattern!”

“Commander!” William’s shout cut through the room as he turned on John Grey, his chair scraping against the floor. “Those are your men! They have fought besides you for years! Are you just going to sit there and let them die?”

Grey met William’s glare, his expression carved from stone. “The decision’s made—for the country. I follow orders.” His tone was steady, but the trembling fist in his hand betrayed him.

“Then what about us?” The captain’s gaze locked onto Malcolm, unyielding. “Are we the world’s next threat?”

“You’ll be heroes,” Malcolm said, his smile thin and calculated. “The eight of you—you’re the ones who’ll save our world. Dr. Necro will monitor your energy, prevent another disaster like Victor or the commander.”

Dr. Necro broke in, his voice clinical. “Level Three Neogens can’t coexist. I call it the Frenzy Effect: when their abilities awaken, the serum warps their minds, convincing them they’re invincible. In Level Threes, it’s amplified—they sense others like them, and the serum drives them to fight until one’s dead. You saw it with Commander Grey and that kid, tearing each other apart. However, I’ve developed a way to track and stop it.”

“Stop it how, exactly?” William growled, voicing the suspicion thickening the air.

“Captain,” the president interjected, her tone softening into something almost pleading, “Believe me, this wasn’t an easy call for us. We’re doing it for the planet’s survival.”

Eight of us—heroes?

The words clawed at me, jagged and off-kilter.

I whirled toward Malcolm. “What do you mean, eight?”

The numbers didn’t add up, and a cold twist of dread tightened in my gut.

“What about Victor, Diego, Drake, and Sane? What’s going to happen to them?” I demanded, my voice sharp with urgency.

Malcolm turned to me, his gaze calculating. “You’re Cipher, right? I heard you went after Abdu.”

“Answer my question!” I snapped, refusing to be sidetracked.

Commander Grey stepped forward, his face a mask of fury. “How dare you!” he growled,

His fists clenched, ready to strike.

And so was mine!

“Easy, Commander!” Malcolm interjected, raising a hand to halt him. “This isn’t the time for infighting.”

Grey reluctantly stepped back, and Malcolm turned his attention back to me. “Look, we brought you here because we want to work with you. Victor is in a secure location. Diego is under close watch, but we won’t eliminate him yet—you have my word. As for Drake, he escaped lockup, and we’re tracking him down.”

“And Sane?” I pressed, my heart pounding. “Where is she?”

“She?” The captain’s eyes widened in shock. “Cipher, is Sane a woman?”

Malcolm’s expression remained impassive. “Sane is no longer part of this squadron. She’s agreed to execute the plan and sacrifice herself for the greater good.”

The pieces fell into place, and rage surged through me.

They were going to use her power to wipe out the rest of the defense corps. I cursed myself for not seeing it sooner.

“I see where this is going,” I muttered, my voice low and definite. “It’s a game of dominos—heading for the doomsday.”

In that instant, my body moved on its own. The Solid State activated, power thrumming through me like a live current. I burst through the door, sprinting toward Fort Vanguard with every ounce of strength I had.

I pushed myself to the limit, desperate to reach her in time.

During those five centuries locked in darkness, her words had been my only light. I couldn’t let her die—not like this. I’d fight the whole world if I had to, just to save her and help her chase her dream.

Moments later, I skidded to a halt at Fort Vanguard, my senses straining to find her. A clamor echoed from the main hall, and I bolted toward it.

Outside, an artillery unit stood guard, weapons at the ready.

Then I felt it—Sane’s energy, faint and fading, her life force slipping away.

“Who’s that kid?” a soldier barked.

“Get him out of here!” another shouted.

I ignored them, smashing through the entrance. Inside, my worst fear came to life: Sane lay crumpled on the floor, surrounded by about thirty men, their boots slamming into her with brutal force.

Time froze.

Seeing her like that—broken, bleeding, on the edge of death—the light in my heart guttered out. Helplessness crashed over me, the same suffocating despair I’d felt when Randy killed my mother right before my eyes. Then, in the darkness, a red screen flared to life:

[

Predator Mode Activated

Ability 1: Entrapment

]

Energy exploded from me, a dome of power rippling outward like Yukio’s. My power level surged, and the world dissolved into a blur of blood and muffled screams.

I tore through them, my hands moving faster than thought, ripping apart dozens in a heartbeat. But then, a trembling hand gripped my arm.

“Stop,” Sane whispered, her voice barely a breath, her body shaking with the effort.

I froze, the rage draining as I looked into her eyes. The Predator Mode deactivated, but fury still boiled beneath my skin. She was covered in wounds, blood seeping from every inch of her.

As she swayed, I caught her, cradling her fragile form. “Sane!” I called,

She lifted her gaze to mine, her voice a faint murmur. “The sea...” Then she went limp.

The world had never offered me an easy path. At which point does a person finally begin to accept their fate?

“W-who are you?” one of the men barked, his voice trembling. “She attacked us first!”

“That’s Cipher—the one who fought Gwendowson!” another cried. “They are both traitors!”

I turned to them, my eyes burning with rage. They flinched, stepping back, fear etched on their faces. I was furious, but pity flickered too—they had no idea their own country had condemned them.

I lifted Sane into my arms.

Outside, the artillery unit opened fire. Every bullet hung in midair, frozen, as I walked past, the soldiers trembling in my wake.

An aftereffect of the Predator Mode?

I didn’t stop to wonder.

I sped away, leaving the chaos behind, carrying her toward home—away from the madness, the betrayal, the bloodshed.