Rogue Nation

Krist darted up the stairs, his footsteps echoing faintly in the steel-enforced silence of the locked-down mansion. The weight of the sword in his hand was familiar yet heavy, its polished blade gleaming faintly under the dim hallway lights. The image of the sniper—smiling mockingly at the camera just before firing—burned vividly in his mind, taunting him. Krist had never been one to tolerate the illusion of dominance, especially when it came from an adversary.

He paused just outside his bedroom, catching his breath and allowing his senses to sharpen. This wasn't just a break-in; it was an orchestrated strike. The sniper wasn't merely a threat—he was a vanguard, setting the stage for something far more sinister. Krist knew his every move was being tracked.

"Edmack," Krist whispered as he entered his room, closing the door behind him with deliberate precision.

"Yes, Krist?" The AI's voice responded, calm yet tinged with urgency.

"Can you isolate the sniper's position?" Krist asked, strapping a holster to his leg and sliding a second handgun into place.

"I already did. He's relocated to the garage roof—likely a vantage point to breach the second floor. I can disable his scope momentarily, but it won't last."

"That's all I need," Krist replied, methodically checking the sharpness of the knives he'd grabbed.

"I should warn you," Edmack continued, "heat signatures indicate two more armed operatives scaling the side wall. Their equipment suggests professional-grade infiltration."

Krist smirked. His adrenaline spiked, but so did his confidence. "Good. Let them come."

He pushed open the window quietly, stepping onto the narrow ledge outside. The cold night air bit at his face as he climbed, using the ornate carvings on the mansion's facade for support. Below, sparks flew as the chainsaw-wielding intruders continued their futile attempts to breach the reinforced front door.

Downstairs, Maya, Evelyn, Harrison, and Mia huddled near the TV, watching live security footage. The unrelenting persistence of the chainsaw crew made the situation feel increasingly dire.

"Krist's insane," Mia muttered, pacing anxiously. "We should be helping him, not hiding down here."

"And do what? Take on armed mercenaries with… this?" Harrison held up a decorative bat Krist had kept near the couch. "We need a plan, not a death wish."

"We can help," Maya interjected, her tone thoughtful.

The others turned to her, noticing her faraway expression. After a moment of silence, she walked into the kitchen, opening a seemingly ordinary cabinet. Curiosity piqued, the group followed her.

"What are you doing?" Mia asked, but Maya didn't answer immediately.

Inside, spices and neatly arranged ingredients filled the shelves. Then, with a deliberate motion, Maya pressed her palm against the back of the cabinet and slid a hidden panel aside, revealing a small arsenal. Telescopic staffs, batons, and even a bow with a quiver of arrows were stashed there.

"Holy—this has been here the whole time?" Harrison exclaimed.

Mia blinked. "How did you even know about this?"

"Does that even matter?" Maya replied, grabbing the bow and slinging the quiver over her shoulder. "Gear up. Krist can't do this alone."

Harrison wasted no time, grabbing two telescopic batons. With a press of a button, they extended, the tips glowing faintly blue. He experimentally tried to connect them, only for an electric discharge to spark between them.

"Sweet," he muttered. "I can't wait to see the look on their faces when I zap the hell out of them."

Mia rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a grin. She took a telescopic staff, testing its weight. Maya handed Evelyn, the least combat-experienced among them, a pair of black gloves with intricate blue patterns and a smaller staff.

"Keep the gloves on," Maya instructed. "They're shock-enabled. Just touch someone with the staff and press the button. It'll do the rest."

Evelyn nodded nervously.

"I'll find a vantage point upstairs," Maya said. "Cover Krist and take out what I can."

Krist reached the roof just as Edmack's voice crackled in his earpiece. "Disabling the sniper's scope... now."

The sniper, crouched by the edge of the roof, froze as his rifle's targeting system fizzled. Krist wasted no time, closing the distance silently. The moonlight glinted off his blade as he struck.

The sniper's instincts were razor-sharp. He turned at the last second, raising his rifle to block. The sword sliced clean through the scope, grazing the sniper's arm. The man staggered, reaching for his sidearm, but Krist delivered a swift kick to his chest, sending him sprawling.

"Who sent you?" Krist demanded, his sword pressed against the sniper's throat.

The sniper smirked despite the blood trickling from his mouth. "You think this is about you?" he rasped. "You're just a loose end. And even if I fail, others won't."

Before Krist could respond, a scraping sound caught his attention. He turned to see another operative climbing onto the roof, a combat knife gleaming in his hand.

Krist fired two shots from his handgun. The man dodged with startling agility, closing the gap between them. Their blades clashed, sending sparks into the cold night air.

Meanwhile, the sniper used the distraction to crawl toward the roof's edge. Krist noticed too late as the man dropped to the balcony below, disappearing into the shadows.

"Edmack," Krist growled, blocking another slash from his attacker, "status on the others?"

"Two more have breached the back entrance," Edmack reported. "Your friends are engaging them, but they'll soon be outnumbered."

Krist's jaw tightened. He parried a strike, spinning to deliver a powerful kick that sent his opponent staggering toward the edge of the roof. With a swift strike to the temple, he knocked the man unconscious.

Just then, a cold laugh echoed behind him. Krist turned to see another operative, his face obscured by a mask, holding a pistol.

"You're good," the man said, voice muffled but mocking. "But you're too late."

Krist frowned. "Too late for what?"

The man raised a gun. "Let's just say this house isn't as impenetrable as you think."

A deafening explosion shook the mansion, fire and smoke erupting from the lower level. Krist's heart sank.

"Edmack!" he shouted.

"Relax," the AI replied calmly. "The explosion was contained. No structural damage. Your parents designed this house to withstand much worse."

Krist exhaled in relief but refocused on the masked man, who now had backup—a second operative wielding a shotgun.

Krist cursed under his breath. Dodging a pistol was one thing—dodging a shotgun was near impossible. He scanned his surroundings, weighing his options, when he noticed movement behind the shotgun-wielding operative. A faint smile curled his lips.

"I'd surrender if I were you," the masked man said, aiming his pistol.

Krist's mind raced. He was cornered, but he wasn't out of options.

"Sure," Krist said, raising his hands slowly.

"Well," Krist said, his tone almost casual, "looks like I won't need to take any risks today."

With lightning precision, he hurled a knife from his belt. The blade struck the pistol, knocking it from the first operative's hand.

"Damn it!" the man cursed, diving to retrieve his weapon.

But Krist was already moving. He lunged at the first man, sword arcing through the air. The second operative raised his shotgun, but before he could fire, he was struck from behind by an arrow, the shaft piercing his shoulder. He collapsed with a cry, the weapon clattering to the ground.

Krist turned to see Maya standing on a nearby balcony, bow in hand. She gave him a curt nod before nocking another arrow.

"Perfect timing," Krist muttered, stepping forward to finish the fight.