The man walked towards a large oak tree. There was already a woman standing under the shade provided by the foliage of the large tree.

“Hey!” The man said, waving at the woman.

The woman turned to look at him. She was skinny, her raven hair was shaven close to the sculp on one side and the rest was tied in a ponytail. She wore a blue, leather overcoat. “Hello.”

“You part of Team Lao too?” He said. The man was a little bigger than the girl, his blue vest jacket hiding some toned muscles. He had short ginger hair and brown mischievous eyes.

“Yes,” she said.

“So, where is the old fart?” he said, leaning closer to her and putting his hand on the tree behind her.

Her face scrunched in disgust as she smelled the alcohol on his breath. She glared at him, not moving back at all.

“Hey, no matter what that old fart Lao says, you can leave the talking to me.” He said with a smirk, pointing at himself with his thumb.

“Oh… really?” she said. “Have you ever met Captain Lao? Do you know him?”

“What’s to know?” he said before blowing on his nail and polishing them on his vest. He looked bored as he spoke. “He’s just another old fart who’ll throw his weight around because we’re weaker. But if we stick together and if you give me a little time to get as strong as the old fart, I’ll be running this team in now time.” He smiled at her. “And you’ll be my second in command, would you like that? Second in command to me, Captain Yun Ip Chun.”

“Captain Yun Ip Chun, huh? Sounds like male delusions”

They both looked at the newcomer. A girl walked towards them. Her head was clean shaven, making it look a little bigger with no hair.

“Uh… oh, you… you…” Chun said, staring at her bald head.

“What are you looking at?” she said, stepping up to his face just as he had done to the other girl before, however this time, it was more threatening.

Chun’s eyes, briefly looked at the top of her bald head. He could see his uncomfortable expression reflected back at him from her polished sculp. “Uh, I’m not looking at anything,” he said, pulling his eyes away from her bald head.

“And you are?” the other woman said.

The woman scoffed at Chun before turning to her. “My name is Deng Dandan, I’m here for Team Lao, like the rest of you,” she said. “So, where is the old fart?”

“Right, that’s what I said.” Chun said.

“I was not talking to you.” Dandan said.

“Come now, ladies,” Chun said, trying to disarm them with his smile. “We’re all on the same team here. And on long missions, I’ll be here to keep you all warm.”

“Not if you were the last man on Earth.” Dandan said. “Not even if the human race was gone and we were the only option for repopulating.”

Chun held his chest and grimaced. “Deng Dandan, you’re words wound me.”

The girl cleared her throat to get their attention. “There’s still one missing. This is a four-person squad.”

“Oh, is everyone already here?” a voice said in the distance.

They all looked towards the approaching person, the sun behind them hiding their features.

“I guess we better stand to attention,” Chun sighed. “This is probably old fart Lao.”

“I’m already not impressed,” Dandan said, folding her arms. “Just another stupid man.”

The man came into view. He was young, had black hair that bounced with each of his hurried steps. His eyes were hazel but a quarter of each eye was coloured silver.

“Who are you?” Chun said when the boy arrived. “You’re not Lao.”

“Captain Lao? No, I am not the squad leader.” The boy clasped his hands and bowed. “I am a new recruit; my name is Wang Zen.”

“Wang Zen?” Chun repeated in confusion. “Wait, if you’re not Lao, then…” He looked at the girl.

Dandan also looked at the girl.

Zen, confused on what was going on, also looked at the girl.

She clasped her hands behind her back as she looked at them. “Welcome, Wang Zen and the rest of you. I am your squad leader, Captain Lao.”