The sun hadn't risen, but chaos had. The operation at West Arc Supply Depot started smooth–too smooth. Smoke coiled into the sky as shadows rushed beneath broken towers. Civilians were being evacuated, and HUNTERS were scanning for infected.
The operation starts...
The HUNTERS deployed fast – systematic, clean. Kawser and Rasel handled the left flank. Hridoy's drones scanned every corner. Tayeb used his brute strength to tear through barricades.
Suddenly–BOOM!
A massive explosion rocked the depot.
Zara (shouting over comms):
"Shelter Block C just went offline–civilians were still inside!"
Too late. A misplaced explosion from an automated launcher – hacked and directed – had destroyed it.
Smoke. Screams. Fire. Confusion. Fakhrul called for backup, the damage was done. News spread within minutes. The media exploded. Footage leaked instantly – people blaming HUNTERS. Social feeds went viral.
Angry Civilian Interview (on-screen):
"They said they'd protect us… now we're burying families!"
News Anchor:
"Once hailed as heroes, the HUNTERS now face backlash for the deaths in West Arc. Is this the price of trusting vigilantes?"
At the HQ Tower
Fakhrul punched the wall back at HQ.
"That weapon system was hijacked. We were framed."
But someone already moved faster than the truth. Everyone's mood was dark. Kawser slammed his hand on the table.
Kawser:
"That blast came from a faulty redirect. Siddik's turret software glitched!
Siddik (calm but cold):
"My tech doesn't make those decisions. Someone gave it a target."
Kawser:
"So you're saying that was me?"
Rasel (quietly):
"Let's not act like your gadgets are flawless, Siddik… I mean–accidents happen."
Tension cracked the room.
Hridoy (serious):
"Or maybe… it was a human error. Like the person who launched it."
Zara and Tayeb exchanged looks–and nodded silently. The team wasn't fully united anymore.
Kawser didn't say anything, was oddly quiet. He walked alone to the outer platform. Hridoy noticed.
The Theft
That night, Kawser moved through HQ like a ghost. In the dark corners of the armory chamber, he pulled a chip from the control server. A red light blinked–
Data Transfer: IN PROGRESS.
Lines of code flashed. Coordinates. R&D reports. A partial schematic of Siddik's hidden project files.
Kawser (whispers to himself):
"They think I'm the problem… wait until they meet the real one."
After transferring the data, Kawser fled away with his stuffs and gadgets.
Private Meeting
Next morning, Siddik meets with Hridoy in his room.
Siddik:
"You know he is gone? With my gadgets and our mission information.
Hridoy (surprisingly):
"Kawser? Why did he do that?"
Siddik:
"He rerouted the launcher. We lost civilians because of him. But this goes deeper – he's not working alone."
Siddik explains Hridoy why Kawser did that.
Hridoy:
"We need to tell Fakhrul–"
Siddik (interrupts, intense):
"No. Not yet. He won't believe that. And if we act too soon, we lose… and the bigger threat watching us."
A Glimpse of the True Enemy
Elsewhere, Kawser meets a figure in the ruins. He covered his half face with a mask, the spiral-broken-crown emblem burning in the background.
Kawser:
"It's done. They're divided. People will turn on them."
The Figure (distorted voice):
"Let the world doubt its saviors. When they fall… only the Spiral will remain."
Kawser:
"But you never said people would die/"
The Figure:
"Sacrifice breeds revolution. You've given us the key. Now… let the Spiral spread. After the team is fully divided, you'll get your revenge."
Rift Within
Fakhrul, Siddik, Hridoy, Zara, Rasel, Tayeb gather quietly in the war room. Everyone's tense.
Fakhrul:
"We need answers before we loss the city's trust."
Siddik:
"We don't just have a rogue fighter… we have a leak."
Hridoy (watching screen):
"Last access to R&D files was Kawser. 1:43 am. And right after this we lost his connection."
Everyone freezes.
Tayeb (eyes narrow):
"That bastard gone rogue."
Nafisa ran to the war room.
"You guys need to see this."
Kawser is making a public conference wearing the HUNTERS suit. Through a series of videos and messages, he accuses the HUNTERS of being no better than the very monsters they fight. He blames them for the deaths, suggesting that they're working with the unknown forces. He doesn't name the villain directly, but his message is clear: the HUNTERS are the real enemy, and he's no longer part of their mission.
Siddik whispers to Hridoy:
"Now the real chaos begins….."
Hridoy asides with Siddik in the corner.
Hridoy:
"Now what should we do?"
Siddik:
"This isn't the right time. Kawser's gone rogue. His words about who he's working for are nothing more than a smokescreen."
Hridoy:
"We can't just ignore this. If Kawser's gone rogue, we need to tell Fakhrul."
Siddik (firmly):
"Not yet. Fakhrul would be already at his breaking point. If we tell him now, the team will fall apart. Trust me, Brother. We need to wait for the right moment. The truth will come out, but only when it's the right time.
Hridoy:
"And if Kawser's betrayal is already too far gone?"
Siddik:
"We'll deal with that when it happens. For now, keep an eye on him. We move quietly and wait."
Hridoy:
"But Siddik remember one thing… If things get out of hand, you'll be villain in everyone's eye. You'll lose everything."
Siddik:
"I was a villain from the very beginning. I lost what I had. Now I have nothing to lose."
"Let them hunt shadows. The real fire is only just beginning. Dr. Doom, I'm coming for you."