Chapter 01 - The First Bite

Sienna Hexagon City, it's the marvel of human civilization located on the northern part of the Main Continent, once a green land descended into barren after long decades of power conflict between many nations.

Today, all annexed under one flag, the Federation.

With a population of approximately one million, the people here lived and marched on their own society clockwork. But there were many who decided to seek out other entertainment.

"Kekeke, today is the best day ever!" Walking out of a certain back alley, a young man stretched his arms wide after he had conducted a certain physical activity.

"Yeah! Not only we get pay, we also get to buck that delicious ass!" His buddy followed up from behind, showing the same satisfied expression.

"She is docile just like that old man said."

"Yeah, who would have thought."

The two looked back, seeing their third guy had just finishing up his 'business' with the female.

"That was good, babe." He pulled up his pants. "If you want to have fun like that. You can swing by here again."

"Yo man, let's scram." The other called out to him.

"Right. Right. Just a sec!"

Located close the city walls, the backstreets of a certain district, it was a suitable location for them to do such activity.

However, for the woman, she wasn't here by her own volition. She only ended up in this seedy neighborhood after making a series of choices and its consequences.

After fixing up the mini dress, she walked out of the alley and marched herself toward the main crowded streets.

The sunset is bright.

As she's making her way, she looked up toward the orange sky above her.

It's beautiful, yet desolate...

How long have I seen the orange sky like this?

Maybe, on that bloody battlefield...

... ... ...

... ...

...

When she opened her eyes, she was a blank slate.

She did not remember who she was. Her name. Her background. Nothing.

All she was a blank canvas. But little by little, it soon filled by first conversations, by the kindness of people wearing military uniforms, carrying weapon in their hands.

The smell of dirt.

The smell of blood.

The stench of rotten fleshes.

The deafening explosions.

The powerful cries of automatic weapons.

Even though she had lost the memory, she had some general knowledge and learned that she was in the middle of a battlefield.

It was the bloody, chaotic and maddening world she had opened her eyes to.

One would have groveled, asking, begging, depending greatly on the strangers' kindness.

She did not.

She began as a tagalong in the company of soldiers. Steadily, she picked up the skills and learned the tricks in order to survive.

She began to help, and saved the wounded on the battle.

She voluntary picked up the weapon and fired toward the opposite side.

From that point on, she changed the makeshift clothes she had, into a uniform.

She gained a rank, and a first name.

She was fearless, strong and perhaps better than all the soldiers.

She slowly gained a new identity and a title.

Raising from the mud and blood in trenches of the battlefield.

She became the leader.

She became the beacon of hope.

From a no-name conscript to a war hero.

Her lost-origin story quickly earned the sympathy from a kind-hearted General who was willing to adopted her.

With that, she was pulled out from that bloody battlefield.

She had her last name, and the first name that she was given by someone else.

Hannah Grey.

That was her life.

A blank canvas that filled with blood and mud, and many other things.

But this story will not be about her walking own righteous path, determine to seek out her lost memory.

This one, is a misstep, a product created by her own choices.

A misstep which she didn't realize nor comprehend the full consequence of it until she was struck and stuck... in a quagmire.

This is a story of a young woman whom is taking a dangerous path, one that made her to be devoured, and corrupted by one's beastly desire.

When her flesh had been bitten and tainted, it's only the first step before the slippery slope...

... ... ...

... ...

...

"Welcome, Agent Hannah Grey." A voice came from a figure called Operator.

"You're now officially the member of Independent Office of Federal Constabulary, also known as I.O.F.C."

"As you have known, the Federation's influence is growing rapidly thanks to the winning over the Zulakha Empire's conflict, a fight which you have contributed greatly."

"But where the light goes, shadow follows."

"Our job isn't just merely policing, but to stop the men who were drunk in power. People who thought they can get away with their crime."

On the screen, a number of pictures appeared, showing the cruel sight of soldiers abused and violated the civilians.

"..."

"Apologies for the graphic images, Agent. I know they're not easy to look at."

"There's a saying: Evil thrives if good people do nothing."

"By making the first action, only then, a good change followed."

"This is your assignment."

An image popped up, showing a portrait of a gray-haired man, looking handsome in his fifties, yet there was something about him that she couldn't tell just yet.

"Colonel Landa Wolf, he is known as the Hunter."

"He's the base commander, tasked with managing the Sienna Hexagon City's security as well as clearing out the Separatist faction located in the city."

"He's good at his job, perhaps too good."

A next batch of images came, showing the named figure ordered the executions on the prisoners against the wall. Frame by frame.

"Our latest intel is indicating he's involved with underground factions in black market."

"We do not know the exact transaction or its content. We want you to find out."

"This will be a long investigation. It may take up a year. But we have faith in your capability. Good luck."

"Service before self." The operator spoke up the motto.

"Service before self." She repeated.

From a war hero to undercover agent. This was the path she had taken.

... ... ...

... ...

...

Sienna Hexagon City -- Federation Military Headquarter

After the talk with receptionist, Hannah was told to wait in the lobby.

Despite the day was early, the staffs and the guards maintained their profession.

Her service uniform was the same like all female staffs. Dark-colored jacket, military belt, shoulder mark, arm badge, etc.

The only difference was she wore pants while the other wearing tight mini skirts.

As soon as the hour hand struck at 9, a man in officer uniform ranked as Colonel walked into the lobby.

There he is.

From the first glance, Landa Wolf was unlike what she had saw from his profile.

He had average height but his presence announced powerfully in the room.

The guards and staffs stood up to attention, Hannah followed suit.

The man nodded to them. "As you were."

"Oh? What do we have here?" The Colonel took notice of Hannah's presence.

"To what I do own the pleasure of meeting the war hero from the Eastern Front?"

His words gained a few ears who were close by.

"This is my first day to work for you as your new adjutant, sir. The RHQ (Regional Headquarters) should already have sent my profile to you?"

"Ah yes!" He smiled of out bitterness. "My previous adjutant has been...clumsy lately. I had to let him go two days ago. The papers and letters have been stacking on the desk since."

"But now that you're here. I believe it's a blessing that I've been waiting for!" He beamed his bright smile which she returned the same (awkwardly).

"Follow me." He made a gesture.

...

Normally, an agent would have a prepared background, a fake name, a fake profile which they must learned by heart.

However, for Hannah Grey's case; her name, her background. All were grounded to the facts.

She was a young woman in her twenties, gray-silver hair and rare hazel eyes. She was rescued by Able Company of the Federation 6th Corp, who fought Zulakha Empire's 13th Army on the Eastern Border.

She voluntary became a conscript. Her service and achievements in those three years of brutal fighting earned her the ranks, medals and a certain title.

The only thing that had been twisted a little was the six-month of recuperating from the war wounds with her adopted family after the treaty, which was the actual training period with I.O.F.C.

It's rather unorthodox to choose such method. However, it's happened because of her own suggestion.

On paper, a decorative war hero who was reassigned to the rear echelon.

In order to get close to the target, it would be suitable to have the position as an adjutant.

A perfect cover which they couldn't have ask for more.

...

The pair quietly made their way into the elevator.

"How's your father? I may ask." Colonel Landa asked Hannah as soon as they're being lifted up to the upper levels.

"He's...doing well, sir. Mostly just resting on the bed." She answered truthfully.

"Age is a cruel mistress, please do give my regards to him."

"Yes sir. Thank you."

Even though it's mere socializing, but she was actually...grateful.

Back in the days of rolling in the muddy trenches, General Grey just happened to see her from a distance. After hearing her story, he decided to adopt her.

One would say it's an act of impulsive, but the man was determined. He wanted to change her life for the better.

He served this country; therefore, she too, did the same, but in another mean.

"You're certainly going to be a handful." He muttered.

"I'm sorry, sir? I didn't catch that."

The elevator stopped and opened its doors.

"Just talking to myself. But please do address me as 'Colonel' from now on, Major Grey, or should I say, Adjutant. I do hope you can exceed what my former adjutant can't do."

"Yes, Colonel."

...

...

The first week was uneventful.

Hannah was showed the rope, getting to know his routine. How he'd like to have his morning coffee, tea break, daily reports and other stuffs.

Thanks to the crash course on the administration paperwork by I.O.F.C, she managed to made through the stacks of reports with minor errors.

"Very good. I'll see you tomorrow."

He's a charismatic man. That's how Hannah saw when the staffs and soldiers showed their relaxed face toward him.

There's other personal side of him that many didn't learn.

On a second week, there's a visit from a civil lawyer, something about his family.

She didn't know what they have discussed, but his visit had left him quite...a low mood.

"Would you like some tea, Colonel?" She asked.

"I suppose I would. Use the herbal from yesterday."

"Yes Colonel."

"Tell me, Adjutant. Are people fundamentally selfish since birth?"

A philosophical question out of nowhere.

"I believe...they are."

"You have seen it too, right.? How children cry out loud if they don't get what they want."

"And yet, the more they grow, they don't react in such way, why?"

"Because...it's childish."

"Oh, it is childish, and so they have to deploy a different tactic, to get what they want, regardless of everyone else, whether it's their happiness or safety."

"..."

"Sorry, adjutant. I need that cup of tea now."

"Yes Colonel."

... ... ...

... ...

...

It's a day like any other day.

Hannah was sitting on the car's passenger seat next to the driver while Col. Landa was in the back row.

They're on their way to work, blending in with the traffic.

Usually, there would be an armed escort, however, the Colonel did not want it, for he wanted to maintain his incognito in public.

However, today, Hannah noticed something was off.

As the car was driving down on the backstreet where a few trucks were making their load off to the warehouses, she asked the driver to stop the car.

"What's wrong?" The driver asked as he slowed down the vehicle.

She didn't answer him for she was focusing toward a number of workers in front of them. Their eyes...were full of killing intent!

"Reverse!"

The moment she said so, all hell broke loose.

The workers pulled out their concealed weapons and fired at them.

"Get down!"

A hail of bullets smashed through the windshield violently, she managed to shield herself the fragments but the driver got hit, rendering the lost control.

The car made a rear impact at the parking truck.

"Got them!"

"Move in--" The attacker's voice got cut off when a bullet punched through his throat.

Within the smoke coming from the engine, Hannah returned fire with her service pistol.

She didn't fire blindly but with accuracy, putting the attackers to halt their advance.

As soon as she fired the last bullet, she reached out to another weapon which located by the glove compartment.

P18, a submachine gun developed back in the years of war, and first used by the shock troopers specialized in trench warfare.

Side-feed. 30-round in a straight box magazine. Good enough for firepower.

One attacker tried to make a gallant charge but he's immediately cut down by a burst of fire.

Thanks to the sudden threat of automatic weapon, the attackers were hesitant.

Seeing the situation was shifting, Hannah looked over the driver and the passenger.

The driver got hit in the shoulder and appeared to be unconscious. She then noticed Colonel Landa, who was in shock, but uninjured.

"Are you alright, sir? Colonel Landa!" She called out.

"Ye-yeah..."

She checked the state of the driver again. His pulses were weak.

Must stop the bleeding.

She quickly took the bandage from the compartment to dress his wounds. An act she had done for hundreds of times in those years of war.

Then she leveled the seat down, allowing him to lie down and avoid the line of fire at the same time.

"Colonel. I need you to press down on his wound."

The man recomposed and followed her instruction.

Once he did that, she looked back, the attackers still hiding before cover, and probably unsure whether they should press on or make the retreat.

She checked the weapon again, a half-depleted and one full spare magazine for P18, she had to use them well. She also took the gun from the driver as a replacement for her emptied one.

"What are you doing?" Colonel asked as she's just about to pull the door's handle.

"...Stay down and keep your head down." That's all she said before she finally exited out the car.

Years of fighting had self-taught her. People don't aim well under pressure.

In her element, she fired the automatic weapon, suppressing the attackers while moving away from the car.

"Fuck! Kill that motherfucker!"

She successfully drew their attention away, as they shifted their focus on her.

Once P18 was emptied the first mag, she crouched herself next to some wooden boxes and bags, she braced for the incoming fire.

The objects mercilessly punched up by machine pistols' rounds, but they stopped them from reaching to Hannah.

Staying calm, she reloaded the weapon swiftly.

As soon as they had emptied their guns, it's her turn again.

She marched on. Firing while moving.

A reckless act but necessary, because she could tell they're green. Hot blooded with killing but never with proper weapon training.

She mowed the attackers down, one after another. All rounds hit the frontal bodies.

There were five of them, and she successfully dispatched four and wounded one.

The wounded one tried to fight defiantly but he was never granted such opportunity.

"Don't." She coldly told him with the service pistol in her hand.

He resisted nonetheless which earned him a kick in the face, rendering him unconscious right then and there.

After the intense shooting that lasted about 4 minutes that felt much longer than that, the police siren was heard in the air.

...

...

"Will he make it?" Colonel Landa asked the paramedic as he watched the driver being taken onto the ambulance.

"You have stopped his bleeding, sir. I must also complement you on the first-aid, you have saved his life."

"..."

He looked around, the one who had pulled them off the ambush, was nowhere to be seen.

...

...

Out of sight, behind a certain building.

Against her back to the wall, Hannah breathed heavily.

She tried to her breath to be steady, but the effort was difficult.

"Hah...ah...ugh..."

Even though she's a war hero, she didn't desire to be famous.

She didn't want to bask herself in front of the cameras, nor praises.

For she had a certain problem, which haunted her continuously even after the war.

The flashes of memories, the voices, the faces of people she knew she would never see them again...

Looking at her own trembling hands, she only commented in her head: How pathetic.

She reached out to a certain item which she had in the jacket's pocket; a small container.

Contrast to her weapon handling earlier, opening the lip was quite an ordeal.

"No...!" With unsteady hands, she dropped the container.

The item hit the ground and rolled on its own...until it's stopped by someone's shoe.

Shit! Just my luck...

Colonel Landa, a man she definitely didn't want to witness her like this.

"It's certainly that you're a handful, Adjutant."

He picked up and examined the container.

"No label? Hard to tell what you're having."

What should I do now? Forget the mission, this might very well be the end of my career...

"..."

She only closed her eyes and waited for the inevitable outcome...

"Here."

To her surprise, the man put the pill before her eyes.

"Take it." He fed it to her mouth.

He's helping me?

A gesture to help, but for some reason, she felt it's more than that. Regardless, no time to think about it.

She took the pill and swallow it.

After a few seconds, the medicine did the job. The tremor attack has subsided.

"Was that...adrenaline withdrawal?" He asked.

"Yes, Colonel. I only found out after moved in with the family."

He put the container back in her coat's pocket.

"Do be carefully from now on. I don't like the slovenly kind."

With that, he turned back and walked away, leaving her a moment to recompose.

What just happened?

... ... ...

... ...

...

Thanks to police escort, Colonel Landa and Major Grey returned safely to the HQ where everyone was high alert.

The two quickly realized that they weren't the only one who got hit, but other officers as well.

Some got injured and one Lt. Colonel was reported as missing during the time of the attacks.

...

"These were coordinated attacks, gentlemen." Colonel Landa discussed with his remaining officers in the conference room.

"We've crushed them like insects and yet, they keep coming back." An old-aged Major sighed.

"This is something I've told you before and I'll repeat it again. Do not underestimate them!"

"Unless we uproot them, one-by-one. They will always sprout up from the ground and spread like a disease."

"We are Federation soldiers. We serve and ensure our people the right to live in peace and security."

"I'll need you at full one-hundred percent from now on. Get to work, gentlemen."

The meeting was adjourned.

"Adjutant."

"Colonel."

"I thank you for your assistant with my driver. I favored him considerably. The doctor has told me that he will pull through."

"Yes Colonel." She simply nodded while the expression was impassive.

"Not happy with praise?"

"N-no, Colonel! I do not mean by it. It's just that...I forgot that I'm no longer in those trenches."

"I see. I understand the feeling." He patted on her shoulder. "Go get some rest in the break room."

"But Colonel--"

He put up a finger, shutting her right then and there.

"I prefer some time alone." With that, he walked out of the room.

"Report back to me at 1400." He added.