Two weeks later, Kabelo stood at the crest of a hill overlooking Pretoria, South Africa. The city sprawled below under a golden sunrise. Life went on – cars in the distance, morning commuters – unaware of the silent battle that had been waged for their future.
After the firefight in Botswana, international pressure – and the evidence Kabelo's team leaked – forced a sweeping investigation. General Mohlase was arrested at an airport attempting to flee. SynGen's CEO and Helios Labs officials were taken into custody abroad. The Prometheus Serum and remaining research were seized by authorities.
Kabelo, Khumalo, and Colonel Mabaso had been flown back to South Africa under official protection. They spent days giving testimony to a special commission. In closed-door sessions, they detailed every horrific twist of Project Prometheus. They were hailed as whistleblower heroes, though much of the recognition happened away from the public eye due to the sensitive nature of their experiences.
Mabaso was recovering in a military hospital, his condition improving daily. He had personally been commended by the President for his patriotism and bravery. Khumalo, too, was on the mend, already cracking jokes with nurses and eager to get back to training new recruits once cleared for duty.
As for Kabelo, the government had quietly offered him any post he wanted – or none at all, if he preferred. The official record would show that he and his team acted under direct orders to investigate a rogue operation, preserving the honor of the military. But those who knew the truth understood how much had rested on his shoulders.
He appreciated the gesture, but what he wanted first was simple: to breathe free air without someone hunting him, and to figure out what to do with a life – and powers – forever changed.
Footsteps approached from behind. Kabelo turned to see Khumalo walking up the slope, arm still in a sling but otherwise looking like his old self. He carried a thermos of coffee and offered a cup to Kabelo.
"Figured I'd find you up here," Khumalo said, taking a sip from his own cup. "Hell of a view, hey?"
Kabelo nodded, accepting the coffee. They stood in comfortable silence for a moment, watching the sun climb.
"So what now, Shadow?" Khumalo finally asked softly. "Got any plans? Gonna disappear on us like a proper ghost?" There was a hint of concern beneath his light tone.
Kabelo inhaled the crisp morning air. He had thought about this. "I don't know about disappearing," he said with a faint smile. "In fact, I think I've done enough of that. Maybe it's time I stepped into the open a bit more."
Khumalo raised an eyebrow. Kabelo continued, "They offered me a role in a new task force – dealing with clandestine threats, utilizing... unique skill sets. Colonel Mabaso might head it up once he's fit. It's tempting."
"With what you can do," Khumalo agreed, "you'd be an incredible asset. And you'd have backup this time."
Kabelo chuckled. "Backup would be nice for a change." He grew more serious. "But I also need to make peace with what happened. My team... the ones we lost. De Beer, Singh, Lebo... I owe it to them to live, really live, on my own terms. Not just as a weapon."
"You're not just a weapon, Kabelo," Khumalo said firmly. "You're a good man – one who's been through hell and came out fighting for what's right. Whatever you decide, that's what you'll carry."
Kabelo looked at his friend, grateful. "I won't lie, part of me thought I wouldn't survive this. But here we are. Alive. Free." He flexed his hand and, for an instant, opened a tiny portal in his palm. Through it, the sunlight refracted, casting dancing spots of light on the ground. "These powers... I could do a lot of good with them. Maybe prevent another Prometheus from happening somewhere down the line."
Khumalo watched the miniature portal wink shut. "If anyone can handle that responsibility, it's you, Shadow."
"Not just me," Kabelo corrected. "Us. All of us who know the truth." He sipped the coffee, savoring its warmth. "I'm thinking of taking that task force offer. With a few conditions. I pick my missions. I keep my autonomy."
Khumalo grinned. "And maybe you'll need a trusty one-armed sniper as a partner, eh?"
Kabelo laughed. "I was going to ask if you knew anyone fit for the job."
They clinked their cups in camaraderie.
Below, the city was coming alive with morning bustle. Above, the day was bright and clear.
"Whatever comes next," Kabelo said quietly, "I'm ready."
In the distance, a flock of birds took flight, soaring freely across the sky. Kabelo watched them and felt, finally, a sense of homecoming. He had walked through darkness and emerged on the other side, not unscathed but unbowed.
They turned and made their way down the hill together, two soldiers stepping into a new day. Kabelo left no shadows behind him now – only the light of a future he and his brothers-in-arms had fought hard to earn.