Chapter 1: The Breaking Point
The ice-cold water felt like needles piercing her skin. Alice’s breath caught in her throat as the pressure of the fire hose nearly knocked her backward. She forced her hands into the wet concrete, anchoring herself. Around her, the laughter of fifty soldiers echoed against the bleak barracks. Smartphones were raised, lenses catching the reflection of her misery.
"Look at her! The 'proud' recruit is melting!" Captain Vance jeered, pacing around her like a predator. He stepped close, the heel of his combat boot grinding right next to her frozen fingers. "Let this be a lesson to all of you. In this base, my word is the law. You are nothing but dirt beneath my boots."
Alice slowly raised her head. Water dripped from her matted hair, but through the freezing haze, her eyes weren't filled with tears. They were filled with an icy, terrifying calm.
"Are you finished, Captain?" she asked, her voice steady despite the shivering of her body.
The laughter stopped. The soldiers exchanged stunned glances. Vance’s face turned a dangerous shade of crimson. He lunged forward, grabbing her by the collar of her soaked uniform, pulling her inches from his face. "You think this is a game? By tonight, I will have you court-martialed for insubordination. Your career is over, girl."
He shoved her back into the mud. "Dismissed!" he roared to the crowd.
As the soldiers dispersed, whispering and uploading their videos to private group chats, no one noticed Alice standing up. She didn't wipe the mud off her uniform. Instead, she walked with a straight back toward the public telephone booth near the edge of the base—completely ignoring the smartphone in her own pocket.
She dialed a secure, 12-digit encrypted number.
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When the line picked up, a deep, authoritative voice answered: "Central Command. State your clearance."
Alice stared at the headquarters building where Captain Vance was currently laughing with his officers. "This is Strike Agent Alice. Activation code: Nemesis-09. The trap is set. Bring down the hammer."
