Adventures Of Bayek: Through The Void And Beyond

With spring coming and the snow melting away, Bayek continued to condition his body to further his cultivation. The unit also condition them selves through physical training. While teams were out collecting parts and material for Bayek's version of the Vita Ray Chamber. He began to collect names of people who volunteered to go through the evolution process the old fashion way. Bayek soon realized that most of the unit volunteered. Brothers, sisters, parents, lovers. Everyone had someone they wanted to protect.

Before preparing to leave the university in early May. Bayek began to construct a rank system. He remained as the Colonel, beneath him were commanders, lieutenants, then Sergeants. In that order. Bayek wanted to keep it as simple as possible. Each sergeants had a team, Lieutenants commanded 3 teams, commanders over saw 3 lieutenants . All of the commanders reported to the Colonel.

Bayek, then created an omega squad. The purpose of the squad was to achieve evolution. With Bayek personally leading them , they would go through numerous life or death battles with hordes of varying sizes. When the command structure was put out. People were assigned promotions and teams were given their designations. It was truly a busy few months but the progression in the company, made all of the survivors felt that what they were doing was a long term and viable option.

With materials collected and a command structure in place. The company left the university to continue the trip to New Orleans. The first stop was actually five minutes away at a national Guard base. There was a transportation unit there. Spending a week there. The company engineers retrofitted 18 wheeler to act as a lab on wheels for their Colonel. They felt the Colonels work was the light at the end of the cold dark tunnel.

" Colonel, the mobile lab is finished. Everything you requested has been moved to the lab." Coffee reported. As one of the only evolved, coupled with her military experience. Bayek gave her a commander position in the company.

"Thank you" Bayek replied " I have a strange feeling about New Orleans. And I'll like to get there as fast as possible. Omega Squad will be the scout from now on. Get them ready, when we leave. Tell Commander April I want the convoy to follow 45 minutes behind."

Coffee snapped to attention saluted before leaving to carry out her orders. Grabbing his blades, Bow and arrows. Bayek went to lead the Omega squad to scout the way to New Orleans. The 'Vita Ray Chamber' and serum, would-be put-on hold, until Bayek and the convoy had reached New Orleans.

Facing the Omega squad. Bayek looked on to faces full of determination. Cesar, Miranda, Raul, Yalissa, Nadia, and Hazel were among the Omega squad. Bayek wanted the them to become evolved first. This way maintaining Commander positions would be easier for them. As for Hazel and Nadia, Bayek was curious about what an evolved Hazel could do with a bow an Arrow. Nadia was just Raul and Yalissa's daughter, so she came along. The rest of the members were all fighters that Bayek had saved from the airport.

"You know some of might not survive this mission. Our objective is to scout these badlands for a safe route. Our secondary objective…is extermination. With that being said. You all have pistols. They are not to be used. Your go to weapon should be melee weapons. Pushing your bodies well beyond your limits is how you achieve your first evolution. Evolution is the end game. Once evolution is achieved you will be reassigned to another position and replaced by a mundane. Do you all understand?"

All of the omega squad answered with a stern "yes!"

Now on the road, Bayek had to lead his squad on their first detour when the highway became backed up once more. Leaving markers and sending a radio transmission for the company to follow. The omega squad took an exit that led to a nice sized town. It was completely ransacked through, with no signs of life.

"Colonel, this town is too small. It wasn't put on the map. Either we need to find one or map it our self." A man from the squad informed him.

"Search the small gas stations and stores for roadmaps. Even if its just of the town, it will be enough to get us back on track. Keep an eye out for walkers and variants." As the team broke of into groups. Bayek found seat and began to cultivate while he waited. Picking up on her presence, Bayek choose to remain silent as Hazel watched him cultivate.

"Why did you assigned me for this team, I didn't volunteer" She asked, staring at the motionless Bayek

"Remember when you saved that bastard, Shane? It was dark, and the walker was no more than an inch and a halfway from biting his f.u.c.k.i.n.g neck off. But you, you made the shot with a bow and arrow…

Imagine what you can do, after you evolved. Everything becomes enhanced even your perception. And if your worried about not making it back. I promise, I will not let anything happen you… I promised Benji" Bayek explained his reasoning.

Hazel didn't really know how to feel. Good, because he promised to protect her. Bad, because the only reason he would go out of his way to protect her, was because of a promise with her little brother. Emotionally conflicted, Hazel flashed a light smirk at Bayek.

"What's wrong?" Bayek finally opened his eyes and faced her. When Hazel registered his question, her mouth soundly became dry and her mouth moved, yet no words came out.

"I..I just"

"Colonel, we found a map, and small herd moving south, and another one moving south east from the west." A voice interrupted Hazel.

"What are their numbers looking like?" Bayek asked

" The herd heading south is around 30, the herd heading south east from the west, is around 45" the fighter answered in a clear voice. Pushing off the ground, Bayek rose to his feet. Looking at Hazel, Bayek smiled

"Maybe when you evolve, you can find the words that evade you. Come on, we'll take the forty-five." Looking at the fighter. "James, right?"

"Yes, Colonel" James replied. With the number of people in the company, James assumed that the Colonel wouldn't bother to remember his name.

"James, pick a partner. The two of you can handle the herd of 30, have the rest of Omega back you up, just in case."

"Yes, Sir." As James was about to leave Bayek stopped him. "You know the requirement, So I hope fight hard or there's no point for you to be a part of this squad"

Looking into Bayek's eyes, James could feel their cold intent invade his body. Evolve or die, James realized what he add actually signed up for. There was only one way out of the Omega squad and Bayek had told them straight up. He had just failed to process it.

"Evolution is the end game. Once evolution is achieved you will be reassigned to another position and replaced by a mundane." Those were the words the Colonel spoke. Evolution was the only way to leave omega squad alive.