Encino – Mike's Apartment
The morning light crept through the blinds, casting long shadows across the room. Mike sat at the kitchen table, his hands wrapped around a mug of coffee, but he wasn't really drinking it. His thoughts were miles away, racing over the events that had unfolded over the past few days.
Kade. The fight. Dr. Kessler's cryptic words. The shadows that seemed to follow him wherever he went.
There's still something out there... he thought again. The feeling of unfinished business gnawed at him, a relentless presence in the back of his mind. He could feel it in his bones—whatever came next, it wasn't over.
There was a knock at the door, sharp and insistent. Mike's eyes flickered toward it, momentarily distracted from his thoughts. Slowly, he stood up, setting the mug aside as he walked over.
Johnny stood on the other side, his usual cocky grin replaced with a rare look of seriousness. "We need to talk," Johnny said, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation.
Mike closed the door behind him, glancing at his old friend. "About what?"
Johnny's expression darkened as he dropped a folder on the table. "About this," he said, pulling a few papers from it. Mike's eyes scanned the documents—classified files, old intel, references to a group that seemed far too familiar.
"FANG V2," Mike muttered under his breath, the name ringing in his head like a bell tolling.
"Yeah," Johnny replied, his voice low. "They're not finished. And I think we just got caught in their sights again."
Germany – FANG V2 Compound
Dr. Kessler stood before a row of monitors, watching with a cold, detached gaze. The surveillance footage of Mike's fight with Kade played on one screen, the brutal exchange of blows between the two men flashing before her eyes. Her fingers tapped rhythmically against the control panel as she observed the data feeds.
"Subject Kade is no longer viable," she murmured to herself, her voice smooth, clinical. "His emotional response... too unpredictable. We need someone more focused. Someone with no ties."
She turned sharply to one of her subordinates. "Initiate the activation of Unit 17. Prepare for deployment."
The technician, standing rigidly at attention, nodded. "Understood, Doctor."
Dr. Kessler watched the monitor as the words "Unit 17" flashed across the screen. This was no longer a game. This was personal. Kade had failed her. But there were always more tools in the arsenal. And Unit 17—this one—would be the one to finish what Kade could not.
Encino – Mike's Apartment
Mike flipped through the papers Johnny had brought, his eyes narrowing as he read each line. The name FANG V2 kept appearing, like a ghost, haunting every page. This wasn't just a group of mercenaries or rogue scientists anymore. This was an organization with an agenda—an agenda that included him.
"You think this Kessler woman's after me, don't you?" Mike asked, glancing up at Johnny.
Johnny shrugged, rubbing the back of his neck. "Doesn't take a genius to figure that out. She's been tracking your every move since the war ended. And if this thing with Kade is any indication, she's not done yet."
Mike's jaw tightened. He wasn't surprised. His past, his skills—they'd never let him truly walk away. It had always been the same story. War, combat, death… and always, there was something or someone pulling him back in.
"I need to go after her," Mike said, his voice steady. "Finish this, once and for all."
Johnny frowned. "You think you can do it alone?"
Mike didn't answer right away. Could he? He had been alone for so long, relying on himself—on his training—to survive. But now, things felt different. There was something bigger, darker, waiting for him to confront it.
"I'm not alone anymore," Mike said finally, glancing at Johnny. "You and me, we can take this on."
Johnny nodded, a hint of a smile creeping onto his face. "Hell yeah. Let's do it."
Encino – Streets
Tory walked briskly down the street, her thoughts swirling like a storm. The sense of unease that had settled over her since the night of the fight hadn't gone away. If anything, it had only grown stronger. The more she thought about it, the more she felt like she was standing on the edge of something. Something huge.
She had been caught in the crossfire before, but this time felt different. There was something bigger than just Mike or Kade—something that tied them all together. And somehow, she knew that whatever it was, she couldn't stand by and let Mike face it alone.
She turned a corner and froze. A man stood there, watching her. Tall, with an unsettling calm in his posture. His face was obscured by a mask, but his eyes were cold, calculating.
Tory's heart skipped a beat. This wasn't just a stranger.
The man took a step forward, and that's when Tory's instincts kicked in. She dropped low, ready to strike. But the man was faster. Before she could react, he caught her arm, twisting it behind her back with brutal efficiency.
"FANG V2 sends its regards," he said, his voice clipped and emotionless.
Tory's heart raced as she struggled, but it was no use. She wasn't going to escape this time. Not without help.
Mike's Apartment
Mike and Johnny had just finished gathering their things, preparing to head out when the phone rang. Mike answered it without thinking.
"Mike," a voice said, distorted by the line. It was familiar, but strained. Tory.
"What's wrong?" Mike's voice went cold.
"They know," she said quickly. "They've found me."
"Where are you?" Mike asked, his body already in motion.
"I'm—"
The line went dead.
"Shit," Mike muttered, slamming the phone down. "We're going after her."
Johnny followed his lead, grabbing his jacket. "Let's move, man. Time to take the fight to them."