Two guards were at one of the classrooms. Suddenly, their earpiece rang.

“All units, report! This is number 1.”

“2, in.”

“3.”

“4.”

“5.”

…

“31.”

A few seconds of silence followed.

“32?” The first voice demanded. “32, come in!”

There was nothing.

“Who’s closest to 32’s assigned location?”

“We are.” One of the two guards replied.

“Check it out.”

“Yes sir!”

The guard went toward the door, but just before that could happen, the door was ripped open, and Brandon charged into the room. He barely paused as he put two energy blasts into the two guards. His goggle had heat vision capabilities. The two collapsed immediately. Two kicks to the head sealed the deal.

“36? 36 come in!” The commanding voice heard the commotion as well. Brandon was about to leave the room when he remembered something. He quickly knelt down beside one of the fallen men and picked up the earpiece and placed it into his pocket. Alpha connected it to Brandon’s armor.

The man went from room to room. Go in, take out the attackers, and get out. Simple as that. Brandon had the element of surprise. He had heat vision goggles. He had energy pistols. Only a handful of the guards managed to fire a few bullets, but even they were quickly disposed of.

For every classroom he liberated, he had a few braver students pick up the firearms and keep an eye on the door. Just in case.

Eventually, the men in black realized something was really off with their plan.

“Fall back to the first floor! Take the rest of the hostages!” A movement like this would obviously give some of the hostages hope to flee, so a countermeasure had to be issued. ”Shoot anyone that tries to run.”

The remaining forty or so men in black sprung into action as they hurried hundreds of students out of their classrooms. Brandon did his best to catch up to them, but he was just one man. Granted, one especially powerful man, but still just one man.

“Get down!” Brandon screamed as he turned around another corner and fired three rounds. This time, all the shots were going for the head. At a range this close, a dragged out firefight would certainly lead to unintended casualties.

Police officers had the right to shoot to kill when they saw the need to do so. Brandon felt like he was in a similar situation.

Two intruders were immediately brought down, but the third lived long enough to unload a string of bullets at Brandon. Brandon didn't just tank the bullets. Ricochets are as dangerous to the bystander students as direct shots. Instead, he took out the melee weapon and formed a giant energy axe. The armor enhanced his strength and reflex. With the help of Alpha, he positioned the axe so that all the bullets landed on the energy part and were melted.

“Oh my god…” The third man was about to fire again before being put down for good by an energy round to the face.

“Return to your classrooms orderly! You’re safe now! Go back and lock the doors!” Perhaps the three bodies on the ground weren’t the most reassuring, but Brandon’s cold, mechanical voice certainly was. The students gradually returned to the cover of classrooms. A few of them whispered words of thanks as they moved by Brandon.

Brandon didn't answer, but deep down, he had to admit this felt good. His hands gripped harder on his pistols as he moved past the crowd and made his way down the other side of the hall.

In one of the other classrooms, Jaison frowned when he saw the guards started to move the students.

This was unexpected.

“Where are you taking us?” He suddenly stood up from kneeling position and demanded. One of the men in black turned around in confusion, only to be punched in the chest. The students exclaimed. What the hell does Jaison think he’s doing? Does he really think a punch from his weak, fragile arm could take down a grown, likely trained, man? Plus, there are two men in the room! What is wrong with him? Is he suicidal? If he is, then he should find a way to die without endangering everyone else!

But the man being struck didn't share the students’ view. In fact, as soon as the punch landed on his chest, a stream of blood poured out of his mouth. His intestines were fractured. As he slammed into the ground, it was obvious, without medical treatment, he wouldn’t live to see the daylight of tomorrow. Given the situation, he’s probably dead.

A shade of metalic white flashed across Jaison’s fists.

The second guard took a step and placed enough distance between himself and Jaison before aiming his gun at Jaison. A cold smirked was on his face. He couldn’t wait to show this idiot who has watched too much movies what the price of being a hero in real life is.

The next second his head exploded.

Brandon popped his head into the room. His eyes briefly landed on Jaison before he issued the same command he gave to everyone else. “Stay in the room and lock the door.”

As Brandon left and the students started to barricade the door, Jaison’s fist clenched together tightly. How dare he? How dare Brandon? That was his chance to shine! His only chance! And Brandon had to take even this from him?

His fellow students looked at him like he was stupid. As far as they could see, Jaison would’ve been dead if the white figure didn't miraculously come in. Jaison turned redder and redder. He expected to be thanked by praises and hugs. Now, he was treated with mocking looks and silent judgment.

Meanwhile, the leader of the attacker was almost as furious as Jaison was.

“Someone tell me what’s happening!” He screamed into the radio, only to hear dead silence.

“Sir, we have lost contact with all the classrooms.”

“Pull our men back to the commons.” The leader finally realized whoever the resistor was, he was picking off the attackers one by one before engaging the main chunk of men in black. In that case, it would be stupid to keep letting that happen.

Within minutes, thirty or so men in black retreated to the commons. The commons was a large space in the school that acted as the cafeteria. Over a hundred students were having lunch there were a dozen men in black jumped in and took over.

Brandon did his best and dropped two more bodies on the retreat. As he stopped for a breather, he suddenly heard the school radio system coming on.

“The person that has been attacking my men, listen to me! Whoever you are,” A deep, masculine voice spoke loudly. “drop your weapons and go to the commons. If I don’t see you in five minutes, I will shoot ten students by random.”

A wave of exclaims could be heard in the background.

“Well, at least that saves me the time of hunting them down one by one.” Brandon rolled his eyes, trying to act optimistic. He started making his way toward the commons while reaching inside his watch and searching for something that could help him.

Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks in front of a body.

Resource Officer Carls.

A bullet was lodged in his forehead. His eyes were still wide open in surprise. His handgun with in his grip.

Brandon sighed as he knelt down beside the body. Carls tried to frame his brother, but looking at the body, Brandon didn't feel any hatred toward him. He might have had questionable ethics, but in the end, when real danger comes, he still did his best to carry out his duty.

For that, he should be respected.

Brandon quietly closed the officer’s eyes. He stood back up and made a promise.

“Your sacrifice will not be wasted.”

With one last glance at the body, Brandon continued to make his way toward the commons.

“It’s being three minutes.” One of the men in black commented. “I will not be surprised if he’s not coming.”

The thirty remaining attackers had the commons completely fortified. At least a dozen guns were trained on the main entrance connecting the commons to the rest of the school building. Anyone that enters will be ravaged by a storm of bullets at a single command. Even if the mysterious attacker was some sort of secret government agent, he wouldn’t survive the firefight.

“He should know this is a trap.”

“Of course he knows this is a trap.” The leader groaned at the comments of his men. He wasn’t exactly in the best mood. Not surprising. “He’s bested half my team, for god’s sake! But he doesn’t have a choice. Unless he wants these students to die, he must come.”

He waved his gun at the hostages in the room, drawing a wave of hissing.

But one of his goons had a question.

“But, sir, how do we know he’s a student or even a faculty? We have no idea who he is or if he really cares about these students! It might even be a she! Or maybe they?”

Another man went a bit further with a sudden theory.

“Maybe he wasn’t trying to save these students! Maybe some of our men tried to attack him and he was forced to fight back! If that’s the case, he has no need to risk himself by coming here!”

The team leader cursed under his breath. This was really the most confusing battle he has ever fought in. He has lost half of his team without evening seeing who his enemy was. As far as he knows, it might be an alien dog!

That was when footsteps started closing in.

“Everyone, ready!” The leader ordered, throwing all the random thoughts out of his mind. What just happened wasn’t the best example of military strategy on his part, but with any luck, his enemy would be walking into a crossfire.

Over twenty men aimed their automatic weapons at the door.

The students saw it as well. A few of them wanted to warn the unknown hero about the trap, but they were immediately silenced by a few punches to the face. Most students saw the wrong end of the gun barrels move toward them and decided to remain silent.

That was when a white figure entered the commons.

As soon as Brandon was seen, the crowd exploded into conversation. The handful of guards didn't stand a chance in silencing them.

“What is it?”

“Iron Man? That’s a metal armor!”

“But isn’t Iron Man fictional?”

Those are the movie nerds.

“It must be the military or the police! Maybe it’s the newest armor or something…”

Ok, that’s a better guess.

“Aliens! There’s no way that’s earth technology!”

Well…

The men in black, on the other hand, didn't share the same thrill by the students. The leader gulped. He has gotten what he wanted: he saw the enemy. But this only brought chills down his spine. He has a million questions.

Who is this? What is this? Where did it come from? Why is it attacking them? Is it with the police or the government?

He finally managed to force out an order.

“Drop your weapon!”

“As you wish.” Brandon opened his fist and allowed a round, metal object to hit the ground. As soon as it hit the floor, the object exploded.

“Grenade!” The leader in black screamed as he jumped for cover. Why anyone would throw a grenade at his own feet was a very good question, but he preferred to find out the answer in the safety behind five layers of cover.

But the grenade didn't explode into a wave of shrapnels or fire. Instead, it sent out an invisible shockwave that washed over every single person in the room, men in black and student alike. It knocked the conscious of all of them out of their body. For a moment, they could still see and hear things, but they couldn’t control their body.

Brandon was the only person not affected by the blast. As all the people were immobilized, he went into action.

Two energy pistols appeared in his hands.

The leader in black watched as Brandon moved from goon to goon, shooting them in the shoulders and putting them out of fighting status for quite a while. In less than a minute, all thirty of them were down. It was faster than slaughtering thirty pigs.

At least pigs could flee. They could only watch themselves being put down.

This was the worst feeling he has ever experienced. The anxiety...the despair...

Finally, it was his turn.

As Brandon walked toward him, the leader in black suddenly jumped to the side. Years of experience in the battlefield allowed him to regain control a little quicker than most people. He reached for a girl among the hostages. Maybe if he could get a hostage, he still had a chance…

Nope. A shot through the arm he reached out made sure of that.

“Uh.” The leader in black collapsed on the ground. As he struggled to get up, Brandon walked to him and yanked him up. He quickly turned to the students.

“Call the police.”

As half the students in the commons dialed 911, Brandon grabbed onto the leader in black and dragged him into a corner.

He needed some information.

“Why are you here?”

The man turned to the side.

“Why are you here? What value is there in taking the school? Were you trying to spread fear? Make a point? What is it?”

An operation like this with this many attackers involved must serve a purpose. The funding and manpower needed was enormous. Brandon wanted to find out who is behind this and bring that person to justice as well. His experience with Henry Dirvin has taught him the price of not getting to the root of a problem.

The man was still silent.

Brandon frowned.

“You know, if this was me yesterday, I would just throw you to the police and get it over with.” He reached behind himself and pretended to be taking something from a pocket. In reality, he was using his watch. “But things have changed. Someone showed me my responsibility, which happens to include dealing with people like you.”

He returned his hand to the front. This time, he was holding onto a syringe. He jammed the syringe into the man’s neck and emptied the content.

The man groaned in pain as the drug entered his body and started taking over. Brandon was unmoved. If he wasn’t here, only god will know how many people will die. Dozens? Hundreds? Someone who was willing to lead an operation like this doesn’t deserve his sympathy.

Finally, the groaning stopped. The leader in black’s eyes turned dull and lifeless.

“Why are you here?”

“We’re hired. Someone paid us $50,000,000. He planned out the attack and the retreat.”

“Who hired you?”

The leader in back paused. It was as if the question triggered something. Suddenly, he started shaking violently.

“You did! You did! You hired me! How could I forget? I saw your armor! You hired me!”

“What? I didn't…” Now Brandon was really surprised. He looked down on his armor before realizing something.

The leader in black could only recognize his armor. In other words, another figure in a white armor, identical to his own, made contact with the leader in black and arranged this whole operation.

That’s bad. That’s really, really bad.

That means there is a third person with the watch and all the content inside. Not only so, he sent these goons to their school. Why? Probably because he knows that Brandon and Jaison also have the watch, and the attack was meant to be a way to test their strength.

Brandon looked up at the security camera in the commons.

If his theory was true, then his every move was under surveillance. His every word was heard. His every action was observed.

His every thought...studied.

Brandon gripped onto his handguns tightly before looking down and shooting the leader in black in the head three times.