In the Barrack.

Hugo, Mark, Liam, Arthur, Victor, and the other soldiers were deep in sleep when the barracks' speaker crackled to life, jolting them awake. The harsh, mechanical voice announced, 

Speaker - Second lieutenant Hugo Aariv Wilson and Second lieutenant Mark Anderson, report to Captain Oliver in the cell area, immediately.

Groans filled the room as the soldiers rubbed their eyes and stretched. Samuel, known for his snark, grumbled.

Samuel - Oh great, just what we needed. Middle-of-the-night wake-up call. Who did you two piss off this time?

Victor (Lying on his bed) - Guess Captain Oliver missed them too much, Sammy. Maybe he needs a bedtime story. A really 10 on 10 baddie story in POV.

Laughter rippled through the room, but it quickly died down. Liam, sitting on the edge of his bed, stared at Hugo with an unreadable expression. His eyes were dark and empty, as if he carried a burden too heavy to share. Hugo caught Liam's gaze and felt a chill. He shook it off and nudged Mark. 

Hugo - Come on, let's get there.

They grabbed their uniform and headed for the door. As they passed Victor's bed, he lifted his head and watched them go, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes.

In the Cell

Captain Oliver sat in a metal chair facing the cage where Darius was restrained. The room was cold and sterile, the fluorescent lights casting a harsh glow over everything. Oliver's eyes were fixed on Darius, his expression unreadable.

Oliver - Hello Darius.

Darius looks straight in Oliver's eyes and doesn’t respond.

Oliver - Not responding as expected, want to eat something, Are you hungry or?

Darius - Talk…

Oliver - What?

Darius - You said you wanted to talk…… so ……….. Talk.

Oliver - Right. So as I’ve already said, you caused us a little trouble.

Darius (Interrupts) - Glad I did. How does it feel to have the taste of your own medicine, does it help enough.

Oliver smiles.

Oliver - It didn’t help, so we decided to cut down the disease by our own hands, that's why you are here.

Darius - here I am… All yours.

Oliver - So what's the grand scheme Darius?

Darius (yells in anger) - To get the fuck of you all out of our territory.

Oliver - No. no no. you are getting me wrong, you are the first intelligent headhunter so let me rephrase - What are your ambitions for this world of ours, what are these powers of yours, why is the council after you, what are you all headhunters planning to do? Are there more like you?

Darius looks at Oliver’s face, with unpleasantness.

Darius - My mouths are shut, you won’t be getting anything from me.

Oliver - Ok let's begin with normal questions. Darius, You've been accused of mercilessly killing soldiers outside the Dome. What do you have to say for yourself? 

Darius met Oliver's gaze with a defiant glare. 

Darius - What soldiers? Those who harass the people outside the Dome? They steal from them, take what little they have left. They've already suffered enough from the headhunters, and then your soldiers come and make it worse. I think the one with the most number of sins in this room are you guys.

Oliver - You think so?

Darius's eyes flashed with anger. 

Darius - Think? I saw it happen. Your people come in, pretending to help, but you just make things worse. The people outside have been through hell, and your soldiers take advantage of them.

Oliver - The soldiers are there to eliminate the headhunter threat at its root, Many living outside the Dome have refused to relocate to safety. They don't comply with guidelines, and that puts everyone at risk. What choice do the soldiers have?

Darius (yells, his voice echoing off the cold walls) - Committing horrific acts like theft, rape, and murder? Is that your idea of compliance?

Oliver (remained calm) -  What about the soldiers you killed? Many of them were innocent, just doing their duty. Can you justify that?

Darius (voice cold and resolute) - Whoever lays a hand on my family, I will cut them down without a second thought.

Oliver took a deep breath, shifting his approach. 

Oliver - Let's move to the next question. What do you know about your powers, Darius?

Darius looks puzzled. Oliver continues his harsh interrogation, stating the actions of Darius, committed by him in his Volkermord form.

In the Cell

Oliver - I ask you again. Who are you? What are these powers of yours? How do they work, and what are your goals? Are there more like you?

Darius's frustration was evident. He tugged against his restraints, his face a mask of irritation. 

Darius - I don't know. I don't know how it works, I don't know why I have these powers, and I don't have any grand goals. I don’t know the fuck you talking about.

Oliver - Is there someone outside who wants all of us inside dead? Are there people inside that want our fall?

Oliver's eyes narrowed as Darius showed silence. He reads Darius' expression and comes to a conclusion that his perception is correct.

Oliver - You've killed many soldiers, Darius. Innocent men and women. Your actions make you a mass murderer and a threat to humanity. You are a ticking time bomb, a threat to all you love, we can give you a chance to make things right.

Darius - I don't know much about my power! I only use it to protect the people I care about. Those soldiers weren't innocent. They were monsters in uniform, like all of you here, as for what they all did, I have no drop of trust left for you all, I did what I had to do and I'll do it again if needed.

Oliver leaned forward, his gaze intense. 

Oliver - Do you really believe that killing soldiers is the answer? Do you think it will bring peace to anyone?

Darius's resolve wavered for a moment, but he quickly hardened again.

Darius - I know what I saw. I know what they did and I know what they all are gonna do. And I'll keep fighting until the people outside the Dome are safe. You see me a threat to humanity but from where I see it, you look like the threat to humanity as well. So yeah!!! Killing is an answer I guess.

Oliver sighed, realizing that this interrogation was going nowhere. 

Oliver - Indeed we are, And that is what men like me are trying to change. We'll continue this later, Darius. For now, think about what you've done and what you want to achieve.

As Oliver stood up to leave, he glanced back at Darius, who was still staring at him with unwavering defiance. The door to the cell opens. Darius sees two soldiers entering the cell. Oliver looks at those soldiers

Oliver - Darius, this is 2nd Lieutenant Hugo Aariv Wilson and 2nd Lieutenant Mark Anderson. two of our best, We believe you all have history together? May you all enjoy your reunion……… And remember Darius, they are briefed about your actions, Have fun, everyone.

Oliver gets out of the cell and moves to the monitoring room. Mark and Hugo look at their long lost friend and in a moment they get the answer about his existence.

They froze with a sort of calmness when their eyes landed on Darius, restrained and looking back at them with a mix of defiance and weariness. Hugo's breath caught in his throat. He whispered, almost to himself, his voice filled with disbelief.

Hugo - He is really alive,

Mark stepped closer, his eyes never leaving Darius.

Mark - Yes, he is.

Darius's eyes flicked between the two men, recognition dawning. he whispered, 

Darius - Is that really you guys?

tears welling up in his eyes. Memories flooded back, overwhelming him, and he lowered his head in disappointment. Hugo, realizing something was amiss, moved toward Darius. 

Hugo - Darius... What happened to you? We thought you were dead.

Darius replied, his voice tinged with bitterness

Darius - Yes, I am.

Mark (yelled in worry) - The hell, you are right in front of our eyes.

Darius (quietly) - A lot has changed, More than what can be explained.

Hugo (pressed on) - Why are you here, Darius? Why are you locked up like this?

Darius realizes something and his gaze hardens.

Darius - That's a pretty horrible act you’re doing there, trying to look ignorant to the events, even though you know all of it.

Mark, trying to defend Hugo, asked, 

Mark - What are you saying?

Darius - Well, if you want to hear it from me, I'll state it again, I am here because I fought back. Because I wouldn’t let you all do to my people what you’ve been doing for years. Your soldiers... you’re not the heroes you think you are.

Hugo (In confusion) - You’re saying the soldiers outside the Dome are hurting people? That they’re not protecting them?

Darius (In a cold voice) - Not just hurting, They’re exploiting, stealing, killing. They’ve turned into monsters.

Mark - And you? What have you been doing? Killing innocent soldiers as they were trying to save lives?

Darius met Mark's gaze.

Darius - Protecting those who can’t protect themselves. Destroying the disease so they all don’t need to suffer.

Mark (insists) - But killing soldiers? Darius, there had to be another way.

Darius’s expression softened for a moment. 

Darius - If there was, I’d have taken it. But when you see your family, your friends, being torn apart by those who are supposed to protect them... you do whatever it takes. And besides, you guys never left any chance to take another way.

Hugo sighed, his voice tinged with regret. 

Hugo - This isn’t how it’s supposed to be. We were told we were out there to help, to end the headhunter threat.

Darius (sadness in his voice) - And some of you might believe that, But belief doesn’t change reality. The reality is, your soldiers are just as much a threat as the headhunters.

Hugo - But what can we do?

Darius (pleaded) - Help me, Help me expose the truth. If you really want to protect people, you’ll see that the real threat is right here. Life can sustain itself outside the Dome, if it gets real help from you all. The Dome is capable of eliminating the headhunters whenever they want, but they never lift a finger to do so. Help me to do what the Dome doesn’t want to.

Mark and Hugo exchanged a glance, a silent conversation passing between them. Mark nodded slowly, determination settling over his features.

Hugo - Darius there are bigger things than the inside and outside of the Dome, something on which the survival of humanity as a civilization depends. Tell the commander whatever they ask, whatever you are,... help us save humanity.

Darius looked at them, a mixture of confusion, hope and uncertainty in his eyes.

Darius - What are you trying to say?

Hugo - we will help you but we need your help as well. The commander and Dome, All of humanity needs your help.

Darius looks down in disappointment.

Darius - You guys changed a lot, Glad to see you both are mature now, never thought you become hypocrites as well.

Ardonia City

Marzell stood atop a high ground in Ardonia City, binoculars pressed against his eyes as he surveyed the airport below. From his vantage point, he could see multiple trucks, each filled with dead bodies, moving toward the Dome military base. Hordes of headhunters trailed behind the trucks, their feral movements visible even from this distance. Lowering the binoculars, Marzell grabbed a water bottle from his bike and drank it all at once. He tossed the empty bottle aside and pulled out his walkie-talkie. 

Marzell - You all in position, boys?

A chorus of responses crackled through the device - Yes, Major.

Marzell - Remember, securing the weapons is our primary objective. Saving ourselves is the second. Anything else comes after that. Remember it, especially you, Pete.

Pete's voice came through, resolute but tinged with nervousness. 

Pete - Yes, Major.

Marzell (commanded, speaking to both groups) - Lure the headhunters toward the airport.

The trucks roared to life As the autopilot system inside each of those trucks revs up, their engines growling as they accelerated toward the Dome military base. Marzell watched as the convoy picked up speed, the headhunters eagerly chasing after the promise of fresh prey. With a swift motion, Marzell pulled a flare gun from his holster and shot a blue flare into the cloudy night sky. The flare arced high before bursting into a brilliant blue light, illuminating the darkness.