Prologue

The rain was pouring hard in the night and there was hardly any visibility. Most people were sleeping without any care in the world until morning came. But to some, this night would be most unforgettable.

The wild roar of an engine could be heard closing in on one of the less travelled roads in Fire Country. The wet pavement did not cause the tires of the car lose grip, even when going around sharp turns and corners. This maneuvering was an incredibly difficult task considering the haze creeping all around. The car was of average make, not built for speed nor for terrain. However, tonight, it was stretching its limits in all senses of the word. The car swerved off of the road, maintaining its maximum speed, into the darkness of the trees.

As soon as the car disappeared, another engine was heard. However, this vehicle, hovering 25 feet above ground, was built for speed… and for destruction. The machine, a helicopter, paused in midair, its blades and paddles cutting through the rhythm of the rain. Suddenly, two search lights glowed to life and began roaming through the thickness of the forest. All the while, two men in uniform stepped near the edge and looked down. The older of the two with an eye patch was standing while the younger one had night vision goggles on, carrying a bazooka, and was kneeling beside him. Minutes passed and the lights caught movement.

"Sir," the kneeling man said. "Target sighted."

"Follow them," ordered the man standing beside him. The helicopter obeyed. "Lock it for a clear shot."

The man beside him nodded and concentrated on the target. This chase had been going on for 24 hours straight and this man didn't even know who they were up against. During briefing, the targets were called 'Sparrow' and 'Robin' and the car was called 'Flight.'

'What kind of codenames are those?' he thought then. 'It's such a joke.'

But now, he realized that these targets could, in fact, put up a fight… well, technically, 'flight' since all they did was run. And their maneuvering was so sharp that it was hard to lock onto them. However, the orders were clear and absolute, "Take them down at all costs." So the man blinked and angled himself and the weapon once more for a better view. 'Yes, they were good but this soldier is way better,' he thought. After a fleeting moment, he smirked.

"Target locked, sir," he said. The rush of adrenaline and anticipation filling his system.

"Fire."

And the soldier did. Not long after, the 'Flight' burst in flames and was pitched forward a few feet away due to its speed upon impact.

"Get her down and survey the area," the commander said. "Bring me Sparrow: dead or alive."

The order was given. Clear and absolute.

Back in Flight, Sparrow opened his eyes and felt a steady stem of blood trickling down from his forehead. Then his sight blurred as the surge of pain hit him. Disoriented, he looked around and saw Robin unconscious, with the window badly cracked beside her.

"What—" he whispered as he heard the roar of an engine coming closer. He didn't know what was happening and his eyelids were getting heavier by the second. Then, his hands flew up to where Robin was seated and he removed her seat belt, opened her door and pushed a button. His eyes trailed upward to Robin's face and he dimly felt himself smiling without a clue as to why. Then he let his eyes close and he drifted into unconsciousness.

After a few minutes, the helicopter containing the commander and the soldier alighted, swooping to the ground flawlessly, and the two approached Flight. To the commander's surprise, only Sparrow was inside of Flight, his head a bloody mess.

"Sir," the soldier began. "The passenger door is open. The other target must be somewhere nearby."

The commander's brows furrowed. "Forget it. We don't have time. Get Sparrow and head back to headquarters."

"And Flight?"

"Blow it up."

"Yes, sir!" Clear and absolute.