Part 04: Beginning

ACT 1: Beginning

Josh's perspective:

Josh set out to Punggol, alongside Neva and Rahul. Josh was packing some things before heading off, hence they didn’t go along with Ilyas’ team.

He wore his Dozer gloves, along with a backpack filled with the documents and research on the Wolf Dozer incidents.

“Why did you bring her into this department?” Neva asked, as Josh continued rummaging through his bag.

“After that incident, we can’t afford to find someone else.” Josh said. “I mean we already lost 3 people in that infamous case, and it has tarnished the image of the DEA.”

“We are all forced to be on the front lines, Leader.” Neva said, as Rahul yawned loudly. “Any opinions, Rahul?”

“Huh? Oh… about Edelyn? Well I don’t really care as long as I can get some scraps for new equipment.” Rahul said, shrugging his shoulders as Neva only felt more grievance towards the situation.

“She doesn't even have a reason to be here.” Neva complained. “She comes late to work everyday… and you're just going to let it go?”

“She is the only one that has knowledge on how to use the Real Agent’s Suit.” Josh said. “The incident wasn’t what we wanted… but we have to move on, Neva.”

“Zi Ming cannot be returned from the tragedy.”

Josh took his bag and told them they were leaving. Neva could not let go of that incident, but knew she had to continue with the current mission.

"You liked her, didn't you?" Neva cried. "Zi Ming was… was our best friend."

"Don't bring her up, please." Josh smiled weakly, as he carried his backpack up to his shoulder. "It's about time. We should head off."

The journey towards Punggol was quiet, as Neva's words and the image of Zi Ming played in his mind like a movie.

A creeping melody sounded in his ears, something that was all too familiar to him. Neva was playing music through her earphones loudly enough for him to hear it. Josh was taken into a world full of clouds, where he was sitting near a ledge overlooking the sea. A girl was standing next to him, and he recognised her immediately. He realized he couldn't move from his spot, as she began dancing around in the grass.

"This melody… is beautiful, isn't it? Whenever I listen to it, I feel like the world would be clear of those monsters." She said in a mellow tone. "Don't you think so, Leader?"

"Ah." Josh said in his heart. "If you were still here, I think…"

"F-forgive me." Zi Ming's words echoed suddenly as the sky turned black instantly. Josh was taken aback as the thunder struck down in front of him.

"Leader! Oi, leader. We are here at our stop!" Neva cried out to him as he woke up from his slumber. He rubbed his eyes as they made their way out in time before the door closed.

"What were you doing back there?" Neva cried.

"Sorry, I … was just thinking of her." Josh said as he paused for a moment to catch his breath.

"Let's complete our mission… for her sake."

Neva's eyes lit up, and felt a tad bit more calmer.

They took the escalator out of the station. They were greeted by the eerie screeching of a Dozer. Several officers were gunning them down, as they flooded the sky.

"Bird Dozers! Can I destroy them?" Rahul was smiling widely from the abundance of free materials.

"Go ahead." Josh said, as a Dozer flew and dived towards him.

It twirled like a spinning top, thrusting itself like a drill as Josh activated an acid on his glove.

"Sorry, birdie. I am not in a good mood." Josh swiped his hand forward, stopping the bird in its tracks. The acid from his glove ripped it into pieces as it slowly disintegrated into dust. "Go and fly free with the rest of your species."

Meanwhile, Rahul had two capsule devices that he wore on both of his wrists. By shaking it several times, it charges the amount of energy he will release upon contact. The sum of the die will be the number of combos he had to perform in succession. The final hit would be the most powerful, while the build up punches aren't as strong.

Rahul rolled a 16, punching all of the Dozers as they attacked him.

"5, 6, 7, 8!" Rahul used his fists in a synchronized beat, crushing them one by one.

"14, 15…" Rahul grabs one of the birds as he spins his body around. He flung it hard at two other flying Dozers, destroying them instantly. A large Dozer the size of an elephant charged at him, as he swiped his leg back against the ground. He tackled it with his fist drawn back, reeling in for a sizable punch.

"16! Full combo!" Rahul used all of his force, destroying the large Dozer in one concentrated attack.

"What were those crazy punches?" The Police Chief was impressed, as the Dozers were all left disembodied. "Wait, we aren't supposed to kill these things…"

"Oi, you!" The Police Chief ran towards them but a snake looking Dozer appeared from the ground. Neva kicked him away with her leg, and spun her fan blade from under her long sleeves. It started to split into tiny shurikens, shredding the snake like cheese. Her fan blade can reform back together into its original size.

The snake Dozer was not yet adapted, so it adapted a nearby lamp post. It gained its abilities, and a spark surged through its head.

"Are you guys from the DEA? We are here to capture these Dozers alive." The Police Chief yelled but the roar of the beast sent shivers down his spine.

"Stand back if you don't want to get hurt." Josh said, activating the poison on his glove.

"Oi… why do you only have three fingers?" The policeman cried as the beast whips his tail at him.

Rahul blocks it with his body, protecting him from the blow. He had trained and worked out daily to improve his stamina and durability. This gave him the power to withstand attacks with his strong muscles and solid Dozer armor.

"This isn't the time to be asking dumb questions, Chief." Rahul said, as the Police Chief shot the beast with his gun. His bullet was not enough to pierce through its body, leaving him with no choice but to count on them for help.

"We need to secure backup and capture the beast. They will handle the taking down of the Dozer, but we will quickly surround and capture it." The Chief gave his orders as several officers were on guard.

"That is Josh Chan! No way." One of the policemen yelled.

"Who is he?" The Police Chief asked.

"He was the one who stopped the Serangoon Human-Dozer Incident. He is a national hero!" The police officer explained. "He lost three of his fingers during that horrendous match against the Dozer. Reports said it was an infected human!"

"What? Hmm… The Serangoon Human-Dozer Incident… I see." The Police Chief said, turning back towards the chaos that was unfolding before his eyes.

"Neva! Distract the creature for a while." Josh increased the potency on his glove, as they both flank the creature on both sides.

Neva spun her blade, splitting it into fours as the snake sent a surge of electricity that disrupted their movements. Josh scooped down low, dodging the creature's tail as it slammed the ground with a heavy hit.

"NOW!" Neva combined her blades back, and tossed them at the back of the snake's body. They split up and created platforms for Josh to jump on, as he made his way up to his head.

"Alright, time to end this." Josh said, grabbing the head of the snake. "Death Print. 20% potency!" The snake was sizzling from the top, as the heat blasted down its body. However, its base ability made it immune to poison. The snake tried to shake Josh off, but he held on tight to him.

"The acid isn't working?" Josh thought. "If I increase my potency… it might burn my fingers off again…"

"If the snake is immune to poison..." Rahul said, charging his attacks once more. "Then maybe a good amount of punches can knock it down." He rolled a 7 this time, as Rahul rushed in and punched its stomach seven times.

The snake was hardening its scales, and every blow was being absorbed into its body.

It shook violently, as Josh lost his balance and fell off. Rahul caught him before he touched the ground, as the beast was still alive and burrowed itself through the ground.

"Sorry, I could have increased the potency… but…" Josh cried as Neva ran up to him in distress.

The policemen were concerned as the ground only shook more aggressively.

"Josh, am I right?" The Chief said, as the trio looked up at him. "We can call for assistance from the proprietors but it seems like they are all fully occupied. The appearance of wolves has caused a blockage in a lot of areas, especially Flo Residences…"

"That's why we have to hurry." Josh said. "Our mission is to assist the proprietor of Flo Residences."

"Ah… I've heard the situation is not good… but please for the love of God… save us from this-"

As soon as the Chief said that, several of his men were sent flying and tumbling down as the snake rose up from the ground.

"It's here!" The Chief cried as Josh thought if he should raise the potency to 50%, or whether his acid had any effect on it.

"This is unlike you…" Rahul stretched out his arms like he was a goalkeeper who was about to catch a soccer ball from reaching the net. "... to ponder so much about these situations."

The snake saw Rahul and went straight for him like a thrown spear. With all of his might, Rahul activated his defenses and shook his wrists extremely fast and generated a lot of energy.

Rahul caught the snake with his bare hands, and held it down for as long as he could. "You know, Josh, the person I am…"

Josh witnessed the very moment as the snake was pushed to a halt. The brave defender right in front of him has given him a window of opportunity to strike.

Rahul smiled as the die rolled to a 2. "I count on luck… to survive." Rahul slammed the snake into the ground with two large strikes, and the last one caused its head to get stuck into the ground.

"Neva. Follow my lead!" Josh cried, increasing his potency to 30% as he filled his glove with acid. He melted the sides of the snake, thinning out the hardened coating of lead.

Neva tossed her blades, spinning it thoroughly and cutting it through like butter. The beast was split into several pieces, as Josh leapt down from the top.

The Snake Dozer was finally down, and they were all in relief.

The Police Chief was impressed, and decided to let the DEA go this once.

"That was a splendid attack, you are definitely the legend that saved many lives that day." The Police Chief said, yet Josh did not feel the same sentiment.

"Rahul and Neva. Let's head to Flo Residences." Josh took out his phone and called for a vehicle.

"Wait. We need the DEA to come back to the Town Council for a meeting with the Head…" The Police Chief tried to invite them, but Josh knew he was putting on an act.

"What does the Town Council have to do with us?" Rahul asked, as a bright blue car wheezed towards them and stopped right at their feet.

"To Flo Residences? Florence sent me here." A guy with blue hair and sunglasses lowered the passenger window.

"We… just need you to come back with us. Just one of you… to explain the situation at hand." The Police Chief said as the three boarded the car.

"You can do that yourself. We have an appointment to go to." Neva said, as the passenger window rolled up.

The car drove off, leaving the Police Chief to angrily stomp his foot against the pavement.

"Those rascals… To think my trap failed…" He cried to himself. "If only I could get them to follow me and sing their praises… then maybe I could have gotten a promotion. Now… the Town Council will…"

"Will what?" A voice that startled the Chief came from behind him.

"The DEA did this, huh?" A woman who was dressed up in a dark blue suit, walked up towards the destroyed Dozer in awe. "Amazing work."

"Ms. Peng Goh! I… I was the one who tried to stop them!" The Chief smiled in glee. "But who knew… that they would do such a horrible thing-"

"Huh? What are you saying?" Ms. Peng stared at him in disgust. "I saw it with my own eyes. Trying to lie to the head of the Punggol Council?"

"No, Mdm!" The Chief cried in fear.

"That Josh…" Ms. Peng smiled and thought to herself. "He is definitely the same guy… who killed his own friend with his bare hands."