The atmosphere in the basement was thick with tension. The white tiger, Tiggy, paced back and forth in front of Adam, its muscles rippling with each graceful movement. Its piercing eyes locked onto him, exuding a silent challenge. Adam stood firm, his hand gripping the military knife, every fiber of his being ready to react at the slightest movement.
Tia, standing by with wide eyes, stuttered, "T-Tiggy, d-don't hurt him too much…"
Jackie was practically vibrating with excitement, his eyes never leaving the scene. Arnold, Sarah, and the others stood in a loose circle, watching intently, knowing this would be a fight like no other.
Without warning, Tiggy lunged.
The tiger moved like a blur of white and gold, its claws slashing through the air with brutal speed. Adam barely managed to sidestep the first swipe, but Tiggy was already on him, the next set of claws raking across his left arm. The force of the hit knocked Adam back, but he quickly regained his footing, wincing as the pain shot through his body.
His used his left arm as a shield, bruised and cut, but still functional. Tiggy's speed was overwhelming, and for a moment, Adam's instincts told him to keep dodging, just surviving the onslaught. His breath came in shallow gasps, sweat trickling down his face as he shifted on his feet, eyes darting to follow the white tiger's every movement.
Each time he blocked or dodged, Tiggy's claws scraped against his arm or sides, leaving deep gashes. The pain was excruciating, but Adam fought through it, gritting his teeth. He couldn't let up. He couldn't let this tiger dominate him completely.
Then, Tiggy leaped at him again, its massive body a blur of muscle and intent. This time, Adam was ready.
With a roar, Tiggy swiped downward, but Adam ducked low, timing it perfectly. The tiger's claws missed by inches, and with the opening, Adam swung his right fist with all his might, catching Tiggy square in the chest. The blow landed with a sickening thud, and Tiggy staggered back, its powerful legs trembling slightly.
Adam panted, his body still hurting from the previous blows, but the taste of success surged through him.
So that's the strength of my punches, he thought.
Now, let's see what happens with the knife.
Tiggy's golden eyes narrowed, and for a split second, Adam saw a glimmer of recognition in them—a silent acknowledgment that this fight was far from over. The tiger backed off, eyeing Adam with renewed wariness.
Adam stood tall, his right hand tightening around the military knife. His stance was wide, ready. The pain in his left arm was numbing, but it was already healing. His mind was clear. He was faster now. Stronger.
"Come on," he muttered to himself, his gaze never leaving the tiger.
Without warning, Tiggy dashed forward again, leaping into the air, its claws gleaming in the dim light. Adam's heart raced, but he held his ground, waiting. The moment Tiggy was near enough, he ducked slightly, just enough to avoid the deadly claws that would have torn through his face.
In one fluid motion, Adam lunged upward with the knife, stabbing deep into the tiger's chest. The blade sank in with a sickening crunch, the force of the impact driving the knife further into Tiggy's body. The white tiger let out an earsplitting roar, a sound that reverberated through the room, sending a chill down Adam's spine.
The tiger thrashed wildly, its massive frame bucking and twisting, trying to shake Adam off. The force of the struggle was almost too much to bear, and Adam was flung into the air, his grip on the knife loosening as he was sent tumbling across the floor.
He hit the ground hard, rolling, pain lancing through his body. Before he could recover, Tiggy was on him, a blur of motion. The tiger's speed was unmatched, and in an instant, Tiggy stood over him, its massive paw raised high. Adam barely had time to react.
The paw came crashing down onto his head with the force of a sledgehammer. His vision blurred, and his thoughts became a muddled mess. Pain exploded in his skull, and before he could even try to focus, everything went black.
His last thought, as the darkness consumed him, was a fleeting curse.
Ah shit.
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Adam woke to the sight of Sarah leaning over him, her face filled with concern. His vision slowly cleared, and he could see Beth standing nearby with her back turned toward him. Jackie, lounging off to the side, smirked and said, "Morning, sunshine. Did you dream about getting your head whacked by a tiger too?" He let out a short chuckle.
Adam ignored him and focused on Sarah. "How long was I out?"
"Three minutes," Sarah replied.
Jackie whistled to himself. "Well, that confirms it. The tiger's sentient. Look." He nodded toward Beth.
Adam shifted his gaze and saw Beth speaking calmly to Tiggy, while Tia stood nervously beside the tiger, wringing her hands. Tiggy sat like a giant, muscled statue, its head tilting thoughtfully at Beth's words.
Jackie leaned in. "It can actually understand words. Beth's communicating with it right now. Asking it stuff about how it feels, where it thinks it came from. Wild, right?"
Intrigued, Adam pushed himself off the ground, wincing slightly. Together with the others, he moved closer to listen.
"-so what do you feel when looking at us?" Beth asked Tiggy, her voice steady and curious.
Tia scratched the back of her head nervously, clearly struggling to translate. "U-um, I think... Tiggy says you all look... weak."
Tia shrank back, clearly embarrassed, while Tiggy raised its chin in smug pride. Adam almost swore he could see the faintest hint of a smirk on the beast's painted-looking face.
Beth, however, kept a serious expression. "I see. That makes sense."
She turned her sharp gaze to Adam. "Good fight. Have you recovered?"
Adam glanced down at his torn clothes, then gave a lopsided grin. "I need new clothes."
Beth nodded. "Go get changed. The rest of you, prepare yourselves. We leave in ten minutes."
Adam hands the knife he had used and held it out to her. "Here, the knife."
Beth barely glanced at it before shaking her head.
"Keep it."
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Riding in a newly issued patrol vehicle, Adam adjusted the collar of his fresh uniform, grumbling slightly. The neck was a little too tight for comfort.
Across from him, Jackie whistled as he ran his hands over the interior. "Man, this new car is sweet. It's wider, sturdier... It's basically a civilian tank."
Arnold, sitting nearby, chimed in without looking up, "It's a heavily armored response vehicle. Designed for SWAT operatives in high-crime cities of the United Freedom Federation. Manufactured seven years ago."
Jackie raised an eyebrow, actually interested. "Huh. Fancy."
Peter was tucked into a corner, typing furiously on his laptop. Tia, exhausted from the earlier events, had dozed off with her head bobbing against the window. Sarah idly scrolled through her phone, earbuds in.
Adam, still curious, asked Arnold, "Have you been to the UFF before?"
Arnold grunted. "Yeah. Visited for a bit during a fire station overseas learning program."
Jackie sighed, stretching his legs. "Man, you're lucky. I was saving up to move there... maybe find a job or something."
Arnold turned to him, expression flat. "Wouldn't recommend it. That place is drowning in corporate bullshit."
Adam blinked in surprise. "Really?"
Arnold nodded. "A friend who worked there told me something I'll never forget: 'In the UFF, you're the employee, the customer, and the product.'"
Jackie grimaced. "That sounds awful."
Arnold simply shrugged. "It is."
The patrol car suddenly slowed, and Beth glanced up at them through the rearview mirror. "We're here. One last target."
Everyone perked up as the vehicle came to a stop. They disembarked, stepping onto the sidewalk.
A large sign loomed ahead.
Silver Creek Street – North Subway Station.