

WARHEAD

KERRY CEPERO

Part of the "Company Man" Comic Book

Created

By

Pete Hernandez III

©ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2015. Published in the United States and released internationally by authorized commercial entities in accordance with the laws of each sovereign nation.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents are the product of the authors' imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

For my loving family; Monica, Esteban, Annabel, Kathy, and Tiffany...

FACT:

In 1931; The Puerto Rican Cancer Experiment was undertaken by Dr. Cornelius Rhoads, under the umbrella of the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Investigations. The initiative infects human subjects of Puerto Rico with cancer cells.

Along with his research Doctor Rhoads later goes on to establish the U.S. Army Biological Warfare testing facilities in Maryland, Utah, and Panama, and is named to the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.

While there, he begins a series of radiation exposure experiments on American soldiers and civilian hospital patients...

...the results are classified.

US EMBASSY

Libreville, Estuaire Province

Gabon.

October 5th 2024

1:45 AM local time

Embassy Watch Room

STAFF SERGEANT Kevin Wilkes on-duty

Corporal David Vega on duty

A full moon lights the night sky over the US Embassy building that has stood here since 1961. A fortified establishment that over the decades has seen three wars in the immediate region. Tonight however, all is quiet for two longtime friends-almost brothers; who sit in the command watch room and trade stories to entertain the long and normally uneventful post.

"So anyway Dave- I told her we were going to check out King of Crowns. It was two for one and brother she got PISSED!" Kevin said banging his large hand connected to a 6'ft 5, 237 lb. frame on the console surface.

"No way..." David laughed out loud. He always gets a kick hearing Kevin tell his tales with gumption. Always the entertainer when the shift gets boring. Normally, people see Kevin as a serious individual because of his dedication to training and perfecting his body; what he loves to refer to as his "temple". The man wakes up at the crack of dawn and gets in a serious workout before an already busy schedule ahead of him, and don't find yourself eating an unhealthy meal at his side when it's chow time. The man will point out every bad thing that sits on your plate and every side effect you'll get by eating it. For him...it was lean chicken with no flavor and a veggie that was usually boiled or steamed. David really admired the discipline Kevin had toward his diet, even if he didn't follow a diet himself.

"Brother, she stormed out and right into her car my dude. She bounced and left me holding the bill for the room, the rental, and the VIP tickets to the club. The worst way to end a leave bro; I jumped on a flight out here the next day" Kevin said jokingly as he took his phone out and scrolled through some images. "Look...here she is flipping me the finger as she walked out." He extends his arm so David can get a good look at the image.

"Damn Kevin..." David smiled and shook his head slightly. "That's what you get for not listening to me brother. King of Crowns is just a glorified nudie bar, that's all. There isn't one good woman that wants to be wined and dined there!" David said scrolling through the surveillance shots of the property.

"No, it's not! It costs $75 just to get in there! I only pay $10 to get into purple pussycat." Kevin responded. He leaned back on the chair and rested his head on his arms. "It's always packed."

"It's a strip club Kevin."

"It's a high-end gentleman's club little brother. Bottles are $300 a pop."

"That's why I'm a VIP member at the pink pussycat." laughed Vega. "Budget babes and cheap beer all night brother!"

Only a few Marines rarely saw this side of Kevin. Most people would be intimidated at the size of the man so to share in his tales off base you would have had to have earned a special respect with him. Of course Corporal Vega had that respect and more. David was the little brother Kevin Wilkes always wanted. Both of these Marines grew up in the same boys' home in Queens, NY. Kevin who was five years older; convinced David that the Marines were the best way to go.

Neither one of them were any good at school...David hated reading and Kevin couldn't divide or multiply. The long time did have one thing in common-pride. They both hated depending on anyone or anything. Spending a lifetime in boy's homes run by churches they preferred to avoid any situations that made them feel as if they were taking handouts.

Kevin would work at minimum wage job at a senior center serving the residents needs like picking up prescriptions or cooking for them and David would pick up a shift at the local supermarket bagging groceries near the church where the boys from the home would worship. On payday Kevin and David would treat the younger boys to takeout pizza or a group movie night. Which is why enlisting in the military made so much sense to them. Since in the Marine Corps they would earn with honor that which is given. It made them feel stronger as men, as examples to the other boys still living in the home. To this day, they still send money for pizza and movie nights.

"Anyway, listen I'm going for a coffee, you want one?" Kevin asked.

"Cafe con Leche with five sugars please." David said scrolling through the screens on the monitor.

"Five sugars, seriously?" Kevin gave him a sly look with a raised eyebrow.

"Yea man, you know I love it light and sweet." Vega replied. "Make sure you don't forget. Last time you brought me a cup of coffee it was bitter and angry; like the girls you love to date so much."

"Ha, ha; real fucking funny. Next time we go home, I'll tell everyone how the tough jarhead keeps fake cherry filled pies stashed in his locker."

"Pause right there Marine-don't you blow up my spot." David said motioning to Kevin to keep his voice low. "Those pies are my home away from home."

"Yea, yea, yea..." Kevin said with a sly grin on his face. "Listen, camera 8 went down an hour ago. Make sure you log it in the pass down book."

"Already done Sergeant..." David said.

"That's what I'm talking about Marine." Kevin said with pride as he walks out of the control room.

David waits for him to leave before he reaches into his left pocket for a box of his favorite individually wrapped double cherry frosted pies. "Come here baby...daddy missed you."

Seville Warehouse District

Outside the embassy, several blocks away on the Rue Pecqueur within the factory district of the city inside a small warehouse near the industrial sector; a small army made of former Gabonese soldiers has gathered here in the middle of the night. All of them have a united purpose in being here- whether they wanted to or not; led by a man fueled by pure vengeance and terrible resolve. His name is Emry...a lifelong guerrilla and a man with purpose. Emry stood no taller than 5 foot 8-yet his reputation towers in this country. He stood silently near the dock area of the warehouse, puffing on a habanero seed cigar and contemplating what is to come this night.

"Lionel Duvalier...you have the look of a worried mother on your face." He teased one of his top commanders, and oldest friend.

"Emry...are you sure the police will stay out of the area?" Lionel asked with visible concern. His shirt was drenched in sweat from the nerves he struggled to contain.

"Stop worrying Lionel- everything is in order. Get the men to make sure they are all fully loaded. We cannot afford any mistakes tonight. " Emry said as he opened up the bay doors inside the warehouse.

Lionel has stood by Emry's side for almost twenty years. As child soldiers they learned the horrors of war and the value of family. To them it was everything...family...the common denominator above all else. Lionel went on to start a family of his own. He married a seamstress and she blessed him with two sons and three daughters. With this life before him he had thought he'd seen the end of conflict, the end of war. He settled his family in a small village near a farm where he raised chickens and most importantly- lived in peace.

That was until six months ago when Emry came back into his life-reminding him of his duty to a greater purpose. Ordering his friend to put aside the peaceful man and re-embrace the soldier once more.

Lionel walks toward a large weapons cache holding everything they would need to conduct this undertaking tonight. "They will have enough firepower to tear the building to shreds...god willing. The jeeps have arrived with Alexei and the rest of the men. We now have eighty-nine fighters; hopefully they won't all die tonight." Lionel said pacing back and forth nervously.

Lionel hasn't seen a battle in over a decade. The rehabilitated rebel has forgotten the hunger for the fight...and lost the taste for blood. If he had his way he'd be back in the village tending to his crop. Emry on the other hand has a healthy appetite for destruction.

"Lionel, you are scared my friend; but do not fear. Everything is falling into place." Emry said calmly as he laid a soft hand on Lionel's shoulder.

They walked over to a table where a group of men down whiskey, rum, & tequila in search of the drunken courage needed to get through the challenge of this night. Lionel too takes a glass and pours himself a shot of rum. He immediately swallows the liquor and quickly pours another. "I've forgotten the courage needed for such things."

"Lionel, the reason you lack the stomach for this is because your mind lacks the proper... motivation. Gather the men here, and I will show you what I mean." Emry ordered.

Lionel went off reluctantly after swallowing another shot glass full of rum. He yelled for all the men to gather together. Emry just stood there...absorbing all that was happening. "Finally the day has come...finally I can have my vengeance."

"Everyone, gather here. Now...!" ordered Lionel.

As the men gather around their commander, Emry pushes a small plastic crate to the center of the open floor. He throws what's left of his cigar out of the bay door. He motions to them to join him in the center of the warehouse. After a few short minutes, his troops assembled and he stood atop the crate; ready to speak.

"Men of Gabon...brave soldiers of Africa. Tonight we take the first step toward retribution. The first step toward the light; but first let us remember why we are here. We have all... lost someone we love." said Emry as he paused briefly.

"We all have lost sons and daughters; brothers and sisters. We did not lose our loved ones to war...or starvation; to mass genocide or disease. Our loved ones were taken from us by those who claim they were healers. Doctors who gave us false hope on how they were here to help keep our loved ones free from sickness or disease. Instead they came with misery and despair to Gabon. Those they helped with their... medicine vanished like ghosts." Emry stopped for a moment to place his hand by his heart. "Those they could not...we buried in the ground-with our hearts lying beside them." He said somberly as every man inside hung on his every word.

"When it came to pay for their crimes, they were like sand in the wind, gone like the cowards they are." Emry walked over to a group of somber men and looked them straight in the eyes. "We all here had to stand and watch our women cry at the loss of the children. Did we not brothers?" He paused and took a breath... maximizing the attention he commanded from the men at this moment.

Emry reached into his pocket and slowly pulled out a small picture of a little girl. She was playing with dolls on a simple couch with braids in her hair and a smile on her face. "My daughter-was nine years old when she was taken from me. I no longer hear her voice....or remember the smell of her hair." He said holding her picture in the air. "Like you, all I know now, all that is left...is anger."

He kissed the photo and placed it back in his pocket. "NOW...finally; after all these years we have finally found a trace of the ghosts who took what we all lost."

Lionel walked over to Emry and handed him an 8 by 11 color image of a middle aged American woman leaving a government building. It was held high to present to the men. "We finally found someone that can lead us to them. She was here...she was one of the ghosts. She knows where they took your children. Find her inside the American embassy, and we will find the answers we seek. We can look our women in the eyes like men and say we have our VENGEANCE!!"

Like wolves howling for the hunt, the men cheered loud after hearing Emry's words. One by one they gathered their gear and prepared for the march toward their target. Emry shook hands and embraced hugs with his men. Then Emry walked over to a white van parked outside the dock and opened the rear door. A young couple barely in their 20's; Issa and Abbak playfully tease each other inside the cab area while a larger figure with a towel over his head sits at the far end, breathing heavily and distorted. Emry can only see his eyes.

"My brother sent you all to me because you are like... gods on the battlefield. That you all have the blessings for this battle." Emry said. "Once we arrive, the lives of these Gabonese men will rest on your efforts. I trust you will not let them down."

The large figure looks up and stares right at Emry. He nods his head in acknowledgement. Issa and Abbak just smile- flowing with arrogance which annoyed Emry deeply, but that is what happens when power is given to the young. They were not his soldiers; they belonged to a much bigger cause. However, his reputation filled with deeds of heroics for the county affords him many things. These three assets are luxuries which he is proud to have nonetheless.

Emry orders the jeeps to move out and the convoy was well on its way. Within a brief time the small army was within a few yards of the main gate... at the US Embassy.

United States Embassy

Re-charged with caffeine Kevin and David complete the required tasks of the post; checking in on the Marine patrols outside on the grounds; making sure the access control systems are on lock, and the Marine minding the guns is awake and aware. Everything was normal...until Kevin looked at camera 7 facing the street and saw a large group on foot with a line of jeeps approaching the embassy.

"Dave, eyes up-eyes up." Kevin pointed to the activity seen on the HD screen.

"What's up my dude?"

"Camera 7...." Kevin said as he put up the shots on the main screens.

David sat up on his chair, straightening himself out, and focused on the images.

"See that movement?"

David sees the men approaching the main gate of the facility. "Was there a soccer game or something?" David began panning all cameras toward the large group of men. Suddenly his eyes open wide as he reacts to the obvious danger. "Shit, these guys are armed and taking defensive positions."

Kevin immediately got on the radio "Watch desk to Rover-One."

"Go for Rover-One."

"We have a large group of armed foot mobiles across our gate, please check and advise."

"Roger that, stand-by."

As the Rovers verify the situation on the ground, Kevin takes out a small tablet from his pocket. He activates the device connected to the buildings surveillance system and sees live images of the outside compound. "I'm sending up the Guardian." Using an app on the device a small UAV drone helicopter turns on its lights and starts spinning its rotary blades on top of the embassy roof. Within seconds the UAV is in the air and flying overhead of the embassy.

"Watch this is Rover..." At that moment shots were heard being fired over the airwaves. "This is Rover-two on the north side entrance of the building! Shots fired! I repeat shots fired...requesting permission to engage!"

"Roger that, take defensive cover and stand-by." said Vega. The alert alarm is sounded waking up every Marine on-station. All defensive systems in the building come online. Laser guided turret guns...sonic pulsar cannons and system operated grenade launchers are now activated and preparing to open fire on enemy positions.

The men inside the watch room fight off anxiety as the sweat begins to drip down their faces. Heart beats race as the reality of battle takes over. Kevin uses a headset to make contact with the senior officer on post. Master Gunnery Sergeant Evan Johnson "Gunny, this is the watch desk. We have a large group of armed locals massed at the gates. They are firing at the building and engaging our rovers on-site."

"Full engagement?" asked Gunny Johnson...still adjusting from being awoken suddenly.

"Affirmative...we're requesting to execute defense protocol 3-India at this time."

"Make it so. Mobilize all hands on deck...I'm on my way." Gunny ordered.

"This is command to all Rover Units, you are red and free." Kevin said allowing the Marines on the outside to engage. "Dave; light those bastards up."

"Roger that...activating firing pattern Yankee-Bravo." David began the counter attack using the touch screen controls to highlight the areas he wants the 50cal turret guns to defend. All turret weapons outside the building begin firing at Emry's men. The weapons target the attackers with pinpoint precision. The Gabonese force takes cover behind jeeps and building structures.

Smoke and sparks shoot up into the air. Loud explosions that are heard and seen for miles cause the small nightclubs and bars near the embassy to empty in a hurry as the patrons run for their lives.

Emry orders his second wave to fire RPG's at the building surrounded by thick concrete walls and high steel gates.

"Concentrate your fire on the defensive systems!" Emry yelled out to his commanders.

Marine fire teams, fully armed appear from all sides of the building and take up defensive positions on the grounds. The men move in slow line formations firing at Emry's men in an attempt to keep them from advancing on the main gate. "Marines...keep them back! Don't let those assholes push on our gates!" Rover-One barked out to the Marine reinforcements. The air was quickly becoming hazy with all the gunfire in an already humid night.

David continues to work the controls of the turret systems while Kevin guides the flow of Marines entering the fight.

Master Sergeant Mike Berkowitz who's a tactical expert in embassy defense and second in command runs down the hall with his squad from the armory toward the nearest exit out toward the fight. "Watch, this is Bravo-One. Give me a sit-rep!"

"We have unknown hostiles firing at the embassy. Gunny's been notified. All units are engaged at this time." David answered.

"Roger that. Notify local enforcement right away." Mike said over the air. "Rover-One, what's your 20?"

"Bravo, I've displaced to the east side. I got hostiles flanking sir...we're surrounded."

"Roger that, we got more units heading to you right now. Hold your position. Watch desk come in."

"Go for watch." David responded.

"What's the status of our defensive perimeter?"

"All perimeters are holding sir. No structural damage to our shields at this time."

Emry's men were fighting with black market M-4's, modified AK-47's, RPG's, and 50cal guns mounted on jeeps, weapons that are all useless against the shield system of the embassy; made of heavy duty high impact resistant steel panels. Emry knew this would be an obstacle for the men, and came fully prepared for it. "Send them in." He ordered his men to begin the second wave of the attack with the jeeps riding up front providing cover fire. Men atop the jeeps fire the 50cal turret guns at the Marines on the ground who immediately make them pay for it. The US firepower begins destroying the jeeps just as the white van rolls up next to Emry.

"NOW...!" Emry yells out. Issa and Abbak run out quickly from the front of the van. The young African woman runs straight for the gate and raises her hands high. Issa takes a deep breath as a wave of red light starts emanating from them slowly. As the light spectrum coming from her hands gets brighter, lights and power begin cutting off in and around the facility.

The UAV flying over the embassy loses power and crashes into the lawn outside the building causing Marines to scatter for cover. The turret systems shut down. The lights inside of the building shut off, and the emergency lights struggle to turn on.

The situation becomes dire as the Marines in the embassy find themselves in the dark while Emry orders his men to advance. "NOW...target the ground forces!"

Emry's counter attack pushes the Marines back toward cover positions near the building. Inside David and Kevin sit there helpless as the defense system is completely down leaving their fellow Marines on their own. "Holy shit the power is out...what the fuck is going on? We just lost our defensive grid!" David said as all his screens go blank. "What the fuck man!"

"How the hell did that just happen? Our Marines are naked out there. Can you fix it?" Kevin asked as both men struggle to re-activate the control systems.

"I don't know; I can run to the main bus in the electrical room restart our power grid."

"Do it. We need those guns up or we're fucked." Kevin said as he walked out of the watch room while David sprinted toward the main generator room.

"Wilkes, what the fuck happened to our power grid?" Gunny Johnson walks into the room.

"Vega's on it now sir.." Kevin said as he opened a lock box containing high beam flood lights. He hands one to the Gunny.

"I'm sending two Marines to relieve you and David. Once the power is back on I'll need you to assemble a team and get in the fight." Gunny walked out of the room and headed toward the nearest group of Marines. He placed the flood light on a flat surface with the beam facing toward the ceiling, giving the Marines near the armory some visual relief. Soon flash lights start appearing everywhere.

"Let's go Marines! We got men out there in the fight! MOVE OUT!!" Gunny said as the backup systems start turning on and radio communication is established once again.

"Watch...this is Vega. What's the status of the control boards?"

The control screens start rebooting and the red emergency lights inside the room turn on. "We're getting there. Get back here so we can get into this fight!" Kevin started resetting all the defensive systems.

Mike Berkowitz and 18 Marines covering the outer perimeter fight Emry's forces in the dark. "Watch your fire! Make sure we're not sending stray shots into civilian buildings!" Mike said to his men. "Watch, this is Bravo-One, why are we in the dark?"

"Bravo-one, be advised we're lost power all over! Guardian is down! Remote systems are down. The backup system is now online...stand-by." Kevin said over the radio.

"How in the fuck does that happen right now...?" Mike said to himself as he fired on Emry's forces in front of the embassy. Three more Jeeps pull up near the front gate.

Abbak appears next to Issa behind cover. He starts to breathe deep and brace his body leaning back on his right foot. A blue energy field starts forming around his hand, getting bigger and bigger with every passing second. Abbak releases the ball of energy at the gate surrounding the compound.

"INCOMING!!" Mike yelled out as his men took cover from Abbaks' assault. The steel gate freezes immediately and starts to crack.

"Command, this is Bravo-One. Ordinance of an unknown nature is being fired at our position. They are attacking our gate structure and we have no turrets firing!" yelled Mike into the radio. "What the fuck is going on with our guns?"

"Three more minutes and we should have our turret system back on-line." Kevin replied.

"We don't have three minutes! They are using some sort of atmospheric weapon on the gates, freezing them solid!" Bravo one desperately pointed out. "We need those turrets on or we need air support now!

"Rover-One- come in!" Mike said into his communicator.

"Go ahead Bravo..."

"We're going to lose the north gate. Rally your team and concentrate everything you got on that breach."

"Roger that...moving."

Mike orders his Marines to engage the forces gathering in front of the frozen section of the gate. Using the new M-5 rifles and XM-30 short distance grenade pounders Mike Berkowitz spreads out his teams into crisscross firing patterns. The frozen front steel panel begins cracking and soon gives way. Now Emry has a hole to punch right through.

"BREACH...BREACH...MAIN ENTRANCE GATE!" Mike yelled out to his Marines on the battlefield. "Bravo team-concentrate fire on the gate entry now!"

"Sergeant Berkowitz!" called out one of his men.

"What is it?" he answered.

"Charlie team is coming up!"

"Tell Charlie to flank left of the gate! Set up a line and use suppressive fire with those M5's!"

Emry gave the signal to men on the remaining jeeps to advance through the opening in front of the building; The Marines counter attack firing XM-30 rounds-destroying the first wave of jeeps as they enter the gaping hole.

Gunny Johnson walks into the watch room escorted by two female Marines. Kevin immediately makes way. "Sergeant Wilkes. Privates Halle and Mercer will take over from here.

"Yes sir." Wilkes answered. "Where do you want me?"

"Gear up and get ready to kick some ass Sergeant. I need you to rally up a unit and bring them here."

"Yes sir..." Kevin said as he exited the room.

"Bravo-one, come in." Gunny radioed out to his men on the field.

"Yes sir, this is Bravo."

"Mike, what's going on out there son?" The Gunny finally starts seeing live images from the cameras.

"Sir, you wouldn't believe it if I told you!"

"What do you mean?"

"These locals are in possession of some kind of atmospheric weaponry. One of them just froze our front gate solid to the point where it broke away. The funny this is that I didn't see a weapon in his hand."

"Can you hold that perimeter son?"

"We'll give them everything we got sir!"

"Roger that!" Gunny said. "Wilkes, was there a response from the local police?" Gunny asked.

"Negative" Wilkes said over the radio. "No response from their end sir."

"Private Mercer, place Echo and Delta units on the second and third floors north side and tell Hobbs and Pena to target ground command assets."

"Yes sir." She said as the control console boards and defense system controls start coming back online. "Defense systems are back online. Turret guns are re-loading."

"Execute defense parameter 92-Charlie Oscar. I want a full ordinance shield backing up our Marines outside, NOW."

"Sir, I have Africa actual on -com." Private Mercer said. "They are requesting command authentication."

Gunny picks up a head set and patches in with the command center for the entire African region. "Authenticate Command Romeo-Foxtrot-34534-Papa."

"This is Overlord actual."

"Overlord, this is coven three. We are fully engaged at our position. We lost main power and running on backup systems."

"Copy that. Stand by."

Gunny walks over to the main computer control board and types in his password. "Mercer...begin cutting off our lines from the central wireless hub at command on my mark."

"Yes sir. Should I start the clock?"

"Immediately..."

Outside the embassy;

Emry walks over to Lionel with three of his men. Lionel sits waiting with a convoy of four jeeps. "Lionel! Follow him in-he will clear a path for you!" Emry said. He then walked over to the white van's side door and knocked three times. The rear of the door opened...and the ominous figure patiently waiting inside slowly walks out. Emry walks up to him. "Kill them all..."

This figure begins to approach the embassy-causing every fighter in his path to stop firing and move out of its way. They were scared for they've heard the rumors about him-of them; those who could do what others cannot. He does not acknowledge anything other than his objective; he is not distracted. He just advances forward toward Mike Berkowitz and his Marines.

"Sir...!" a private called out to Berkowitz.

"Yea" he responded behind cover.

"You see that?"

"See what Private?"

"THAT!" The private pointed at the danger approaching the gaping hole in the front of the embassy.

It started with a green glow at first coming from outstretched deformed hands. Within a fraction of a second it released the green energy like a ball of fire at the destroyed jeeps blocking its way through the main gate. The impact shook the ground...causing every Marine to rise from their positions and fall back. Mike Berkowitz just stares at it-never in his 11 years of combat experience has he encountered something like it before. One of his men grabs him from the arm-jolting Mike back into real time. "Sir we gotta roll!!"

Finally -the turret guns come back online and fire a defensive pattern at Emry's troops. Mike sees an opening to regroup his units and reform a defensive line.

"We got power! Raise the barriers!" Ordered Berkowitz prompting his men to raise defensive Graphene panels positioned all around the embassy-providing the Marines high impact resistant cover positions to defend the building. The turrets are effective...but with that "thing" out there lurking Berkowitz knows he's going to need a lot more than defensive barriers.

On the east side of the embassy, Abbak continues his assault on the compound. "Get ready!" he yells at Lionel.

Lionel leads three jeeps behind Abbak -who takes in a good breath of air into his lungs. He then pushes out the air with his arms extending from the center of his chest creating a transparent ball of frost. He hurls it at the concrete wall...

"Open fire!" Lionel yells. The bullet barrage from the 50cal guns opens up a large enough hole-allowing Lionel to lead his convoy of jeeps in and bring the fight inside the embassy perimeter. The battle begins to turn Emry's way now. His offensive chess pieces are now in play...and he sees nothing that can stop his advance now.

United States Africa Central Command

USAFRICOM

Kelley Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany

He was in the middle of his third cup of coffee when he received the call. Marine Colonel Mark Chen, a tall and fit middle aged Hawaiian was in command of the normally hectic nightshift at Africa Command. He oversees watch operations in an area filled with spec-ops missions, terrorist bombings, and critical incidents. Colonel Chen receives threat level Intel on the hour every hour. So it is not outside the range of logic to receive a report of an attack on a US Embassy.

"Attention!"

"As you all were- Lieutenant Wells, sit-rep." Colonel Chen ordered as he walks over to the monitor stations within the highly advanced central operations center.

"Colonel, we have a Marine Security Detail at our embassy in Libreville under attack at this time. They have initiated Broken Arrow Protocol." LT. Wells points out on satellite imagery the battle raging in the embassy grounds to the Colonel. "There are power failures being reported. The situation has become extremely critical-they are in danger of being over-run."

The Colonel uses the touchscreen monitor to pull up real time images of the battle. "What assets do we have nearby that can assist?"

Wells brings up a 3D holographic map of the African continent and pinpoints locations of the nearest military assets in the area. "We have a Naval Carrier Strike Group off the South Atlantic and a Combat UAV squadron over the region. We're tasking the Super-Platform satellite into orbit right now."

Colonel Chen walks over to a glass wall office near the back and sits down at his desk. He picks up the receiver on his land-line. "This is Colonel Chen at Africa Command. I need General Keating for a critical situation."

"Stand by Colonel."

As he waits to speak with his commanding officer, he goes over the file reports of the embassy.

"Colonel, you're now on now with General Keating."

"Thank you. Good morning General. I'm sorry I had to wake you."

"It's okay. Give me a moment..." The General answered. You could hear the slumber still in his tone of voice as he worked to focus his thoughts on the conversation. "Okay...what's the situation?"

"Sir, our embassy in Gabon has come under heavy fire in the last few minutes. Reports from our Marine detail state a large group of hostiles have engaged our forces and are attempting to breach the embassy."

"Did you call Washington?"

"It has been logged into the E.C.S. By now the situation room should be clued-in."

"Very well, expedite a rapid response team over there now."

"We tasked a UAV squadron on-station."

"We got any tier-one teams out there?"

"We have a SEAL team near Chad. I may be able to re-route them if they aren't on mission critical status."

"Get on it!"

United States Embassy

Gabon, Africa.

Gunny Johnson orders a counter-attack on the enemy. A barrier of bullets separates the hostile forces and his Marines outside using pulse 350 guns on auto fire. The guns spray Emry's men with enough firepower to slow their advance; giving Mike Berkowitz some time to regroup his line of defense.

"Jones, Marcos, Tompkins, flank right on my mark."

"Sarge!" yelled Tompkins. "We got something big coming up through the gates!"

"No shit! Now fire those XM-30's! Give them hell Marines!" Their counter assault slows the advance of the ominous figure. It moves rapidly away from the line of fire-while extending its hands and firing green concentrated plasma blasts at the Marines. Mike orders his men to fall back from the impact points making it difficult to counter the advance. The Marines try to maintain their nerve in the face of what appears to be certain death.

Inside the watch room, Gunny continues to find options to turn the tide of the battle.

"Gunny...!"

"Go ahead Mike."

"Sir we have blast coming from some mobile bio-weapon advancing directly in front of us. It's right on grounds and coming at my position...it's almost on top of us."

The Gunny pounds his hand against the wall. "GOD...damn it; can you hold?"

"Not for long sir! We got jeeps with mounted guns moving up on the east side sector...rolling in hot. We need air support!"

"We got UAV squadron on-station- 20 minutes out. Hold that perimeter as long as you can son. Copy that?"

"Yes sir."

"Private Halle, get Vega to our VIP and make sure she's secured." Gunny ordered.

David was ordered to the east wing, 3rd floor of the building to check up on the Embassy's VIP. Alarms blaring, and emergency lights flashing everywhere. The floors tremble and the walls shake as he came upon a private office used for guests of the embassy.

The door to the room was wide open. Emergency LED lights were lit and a woman sat there as calmly as someone could possibly be in this situation. She was in her mid-forties with dark hair and a fair complexion. Quiet and reserved- her name was Noemi Wright, an expert in bio-research.

"Ma'am, my name is Marine Corporal David Vega." He said slowly approaching her. "I need you to ready a light travel bag. We need to prepare you to evacuate."

She looks up at David and shakes her head. "Please do not call me that."

"Pardon...?"

She walks over to him and extends her trembling right hand...which David gently takes. "My name is Noemi. I figure since my life is in your hands we should be on a first name basis. Don't you think David?"

The comment caught David by surprise. "Yes...uh...okay. We..."

"Where are you from?" She asked as she walked back to her back and gathered up her personal effects. "I'm sorry David; when I'm nervous I ask a lot of personal questions. My way of dealing..."

"Queens, New York." He answered politely, content with keeping her as calm as can be.

"You must be a JETS fan?"

"Giants- listen...Noemi...we really need to get you..." Right then, a loud explosion was heard coming from the lobby area of the embassy. Radio chatter indicates that multiple breaches are in effect and Gunny Johnson is ordering all available units to the main floor of the building.

"Please stay here. A Marine will arrive shortly to escort you to our HELO pad on the roof for an emergency extraction."

David made his way down the halls quickly as all hell was breaking loose. He actually entertained the idea that tonight he was going to die. His volume on his radio receiver was all the way up...hearing the chaos his fellow Marines were entrenched in...feeling useless at the same time.

"This is Bravo-One to all units, fall back! Fall back! We have heavy blast fire coming from...AHHHHH"

"Oh my god...'' He thought to himself. "That was Mike."

"Bravo team, say again-Alpha-One to Bravo team come in!"

"Alpha-one this is Charlie-Two. We're getting hammered by some unknown mobile-weapon! It's cutting us down, we need air support or our flanks are going to fold!"

"All Units, regroup at the south portico of the building..."

"What the fuck is happening here...how can they get the jump on us like that?" David thought to himself. The transmission is cut off as he begins to come to the realization that many of his fellow Marines...friends are either dead or wounded-unable to defend the outer perimeters of the grounds.

Marines take up cover positions behind what defensive barriers remain- firing on the awesome figure coming at them. The creature then begins targeting the turrets...opening an alleyway for more of Emry's men to advance.

"All units, be advised that Gladiators have been deployed." Private Halle says over the radio.

Gladiator land assault drones come-online and begin a defensive assault on Emry's Jeeps. Six five foot tank-like drones begin rolling toward the invading force at the gate. Green blasts continue to rip through the defenses as the front doors of the embassy are blasted open. The Marines were getting overrun with hostiles moving into the building at an alarming rate. It was pure carnage and it wasn't about to let up.

United States Africa Central Command

Colonel Chen leaves his office and walks over to the satellite stations monitoring the imagery being sent by NASA's Super-Platform in orbit. Teams of military personnel scramble to gather as much Intel as possible.

"Corporal Green, what do we got?"

"Colonel, OP-SATT is reading 60 plus hostiles flooding the grounds. Most of the defensive turrets are dead...and it looks like the embassy is breached."

"My God..." The Colonel just stands there in awe at the scenes unfolding on the monitors. "It would take the highest level of offensive capability to overrun a fully armed American Embassy, especially one defended by our Marines. Gabon is nowhere near that level. We need more intel."

"Also sir, look at this." The image zooms in showing the front gate of the compound. "Colonel there is a weapon of unknown origin firing on our forces. See those green energy signatures here. Whatever it is- it's powerful and fully mobile sir." Corporal Green pointed to the images on screen as they zoom in.

"Get the Pentagon on this right now."

A young female private walks over with an ear set linked to a secure satellite line and hands it over to Colonel Chen.

"Colonel Chen. I got the White House Chief of Staff for you, sir."

"Thank you Private." Colonel Chen said as he walked over to the side out of ear shot.

"This is Colonel Chen."

"Colonel, this is Neil Todesto at the White House. I just received word from our situation room that our embassy in Gabon has come under attack?"

"Yes sir. We received a mayday from our embassy commander. They have come under heavy fire. General Keating has been informed as well as Admiral Berry on the USS Stennis."

"Colonel, do we have any idea who is behind the attack?"

"We are gathering as much real time Intel through OP-SATT as possible. Whoever it is sir... they have in their possession weaponry of an unknown origin- highly effective against our defenses."

"I'll alert the President. Have whatever Intel you can gather ready in ten minutes."

"Understood sir..."

United States Embassy

The ground floor of the embassy has turned into a war zone with every man fighting fiercely to hold the line. The room is lit up with an insane amount of gunfire. Kevin comes out of the weapons room "geared up". As David approached the armory this sudden nausea began to form in the pit of his stomach. "Oh man...I think I'm going to throw up".

He started to sweat and his hands trembled with what he thought was fear. He told himself that he must be shit scared since this is the first real combat situation he's ever been in; a situation that feels more like "the Alamo".

"Vega! Move your ass Marine, we gotta roll!" yelled Kevin. "Gear the fuck up....whoa! You're sweating bullets."

"I'm okay...my nerves must be fucking with me." David answered as he wiped the sweat from his brow.

Kevin gently pats David on the chest, as a big brother would when wanting to encourage bravery in the face of death. "Well un-fuck yourself brother, fear is unauthorized. Gear up and let's move."

"Where are we going?" asks Vega as he puts on body armor.

"Second floor, we're setting up a secure perimeter for extraction."

David stops and looks up at Kevin. "We're bouncing?"

"Of course bro. Look at what the fuck is going on out there. We're clearing out so they can carpet bomb the fuck out of this place!"

"Okay...so what's the play?"

As they are just about to move forward- a blast rips through the wall directly in front of them. David and Kevin jump behind cover as rubble sprays everywhere. Lionel has successfully breached the embassy and orders his men inside.

"Fall back to the east wing!" Kevin grabbed David by the chest plate and both got into a cover position behind a wall near the armory.

"Shit Kevin, they're going to cut us off from the rest of the squad." David said as they remain hidden from Lionel's entry team.

"Only if we let them brother...." Kevin said as he set his M-5 for full fire. "You ready Marine...?"

David tightens his grip on the M5 and lets out a breath of air. "Let's do this..."

David and Kevin return fire at Lionel and his men. The area starts filling up with smoke making it hard for anyone to see what they are hitting. "Sergeant Wilkes...this is Delta-One. We're coming from the west wing on the other side."

"Delta we're in heavy contact in the east wing." Kevin said over the radio as he and David kept constant fire on Lionel and his men. "Advise changing your approach."

"Roger that...we see you."

The Marines counter attack becomes too much for Lionel to continue his advance; his men trapped between David and Kevin's counter attack and the Marines of Delta unit coming into the fight from the other side.

"Displace...!" Lionel frantically tries to get his men to return to the outside of the building...but the smoke prevents any of them from finding their way out.

David zeroes in on Lionel who tries to direct his men. He steadies his rifle and lines up his shot; he then squeezes the trigger.

Lionel didn't see it coming, the farmer only feels a searing pain enter his chest area... then everything goes black. Life goes....dark.

"Good shot brother! Let's push them out!" Kevin said as he ordered his Marines to advance forward.

...elsewhere

Noemi Wright waited nervously in the office holding her bag in her lap. Eager to leave her anxiety begins to dominate her rational thinking. As she convinces herself to make a run for it, the smart phone inside her bag rings with an expected call. "Hello..."

"Hello Noemi..."

"It is about time. They're coming for me! How the hell did they find out I was here? When am I getting out?" She said as her voice filled with panic. The sounds of battle are overpowering her attempts to remain calm.

"The Marines should buy you enough time until our team gets there. Did you find the subject?"

"I can't talk about that now! Do you hear what it sounds like out there? I'm going to die unless you..."

"Calm yourself..."

"I can't! This place is coming down all around me. This entire area was sectioned off from active operations for this particular reason. You sent me to a death trap!"

"I understand your concern. We are assembling a team of D.S.A's right now."

"Diego...! I need you to get me out of here NOW! I am a moment or two away from death." She yelled as the noise becomes deafening.

BOOM!

Her call drops. The building rattled as if the bomb went off inside. A Marine runs into the room and gently grabs her arm. "Ms. Wright, we need to move you to our HELO-Pad upstairs now ma'am."

"What happened? What was that?"

"Hostile forces have breached embassy, we need to go now!" They rush down the hall toward the exit staircase. As they move forward she sees large plumes of green fireballs erupt in the air. "My God...it's true."

The last remaining Marines desperately try to fight them back. The embassy is burning as Noemi sees her life coming to an end. "There is no escape from this...damn you to hell Diego."

Kevin, David, and a small squad were firing from an elevated position on the balcony overlooking the first floor. They struggle to hold Emry's forces from coming up to them. A fire on the first floor begins to spread while water sprays from the fire protection systems.

Surviving members of Alpha and Charlie units move Kevin and David- up the stairs toward the extraction line.

"Marine! Where is Alpha-One?" Kevin asked one of the men moving past.

"I don't know...something cut a hole right through us out there and it ain't stopping for shit!"

David sees a remote control device for a Gladiator drone lying near a fallen Marine. It was still uploading the startup sequence. He took the control with him as Gunny Johnson arrived on-scene.

"Regroup our Marines up to the third floor! Set up charges on all the exit doors leading up Sergeant! We need to buy some time." Gunny ordered. "The Devil is down there and he ain't playing nice."

"I got a Gladiator!" Vega yelled out. "It's ready to deploy!"

"Get that Drone in action Corporal. Get these assholes off our backs!" Gunny said.

Finally- the aerial drone squadron arrives from off-shore and begins to pound the area with stinger missiles. The unknown creature runs outside to engage the drones, leaving the Marines in the embassy alone.

"Here's comes the cavalry!" Gunny yelled out. "Move the wounded upstairs!"

Emry's forces are cut down in half instantly. "Get down!!!" Emry yells out at his forces. "Issa...stop them!"

The young Gabonese woman, no more than 19 years of age stands atop the charred remains of a jeep. With all her might she claps her hands in the air once and a pulse wave is sent toward the squadron of six drones. Four drones are able to bank away from the pulse wave; two drones however are caught in its path. They immediately fall to the earth, crashing into buildings nearby.

While inside...

The Gladiator drone set to full-fire holds the hostiles trying to move up the stairs back from the line; giving the Marines much needed time to regroup. "David! Send it to the front!" Kevin ordered.

"Roger that...moving!"

Suddenly a green blast hits the Gladiator-destroying it upon impact. The creature barrels back in through the gaping hole on the side and releases an onslaught of firepower. "INCOMING!!!!!"

An explosion of green fire blasts through the floor underneath the Marines. Several of them including Gunny fall through the blast hole and are obliterated by the unknown menace.

"FUCK! HOLY SHIT!!!" screamed one Marine from down the hall.

"Gunny's down!" Kevin now assumes command of the fight and tries to rally the Marines to hold the line. "HARRIS! SET UP A FIRE TEAM RIGHT HERE!"

Kevin throws three grenades down the hole toward the creature and orders his men to take cover. The blasts are enough to halt his movement for a short moment. "Command, this is Wilkes. Gunny Johnson is down; I've assumed command of the fight! What's the status of our support?"

"En route ...Sergeant. SEAL teams are three miles out."

"Roger that! Wipe the hard drives get out of there! Move!"

"Already on it....formatting is almost...AHHHH!"

"Command...command come back!" The transmission abruptly ends, leaving Kevin with them empty feeling that the central communications room for the entire embassy has been hit. "I think we just lost the watch!" Kevin said. He gathers the surviving Alpha and Charlie members to his position. "Marines; I need you to make it up to the HELO pad and secure that perimeter TWEED! JACOBS!"

"Yes SIR!"

Kevin hands them a tablet. "Try and re-establish a communications link with overlord."

David takes three high impact grenades and tosses it down toward the lobby area. "Frag out!" The front of the building begins to crumble...rubble flies in all directions. Something big maneuvers away from the grenades, David catches of glimpse of it through the haze. "What the fuck is that?"

"Kevin did you see that?" asked Vega as they reload their weapons. "Something weird is down there brother and it ain't human!"

"Yea... and it's kicking our asses. Check your ammo."

The anxiety starts to overwhelm David. His hands get shaky as he reloads his weapon. Kevin grabs him by the shoulder. "Whatever it is, if we don't stop it NOW then there will no one alive when the SEALS arrive. Get yourself together man...it's just me and you now brother."

David never saw it coming, but Kevin got a quick look of the glowing horror fired their way. Without one thought he pushes Vega out of the way. "DAVID!! GET DOWN!!"

A green blast exploded. David is thrown five yards away from his friend. Stunned and confused David tries crawling to Kevin "...oh no...Kevin." Another blast rips open the rear staircase. Fire erupts everywhere. David relies on the last bit of courage he has and picks up an XM-30 from the floor. He fires every round it had. He didn't care if he hit anything; he just blasted away until his hands hurt.

Ceiling rubble falls on the first floor-the embassy is coming down on itself. David rose up stumbling past a Marine on a Sat system calling for more support. He made a bee line for Kevin. As he got closer David saw how bad Kevin was. The blast tore a hole right through his body. The wound was so bad that Kevin's spine is exposed. David's hands begin to tremble "...Kevin...oh my god...Kevin." He didn't want to admit it-didn't want to accept it but David knew the obvious; his best friend- his big brother was gone. David looks around and sees Marines flooding up toward the fourth floor where the roof access point is. He gets up and tries to recover from the carnage of blood and bodies. "...I'm not leaving him here..." He picks Kevin up and carries him on his back as he was trained to.

Outside,

Two MG 40 fast attack helicopters approach the embassy containing the men that make up Seal Team 8. The helicopters begin circling the air space over the embassy-unloading its turret cannons and laser guided stinger missiles.

Issa runs from behind one of the jeeps and fires a blast-hitting one of the helicopters.

"We're going down!! Brace for impact!!" The Pilot yelled inside the helicopter. It crash lands on the south lawn. The rotors make contact with the trees on the ground whipping the body of the helicopter into the side of the building. Immediately Emry's men fires rockets at the wreckage assuring that there are no survivors.

SEAL Team leader King Snake sees Issa running on the ground-trying to get an angle on them. "Rain man!" he called out to his top shooter.

"...I got her!" Rain man looks into his scope and acquires Issa in his crosshairs. She swirls her arms in the air-creating another energy sphere.

"What the fuck?" Rain man mutters to himself.

Issa steadies herself as she prepares to target the other remaining helicopter -as it prepares to bank toward her. Rain man tightens the grip of his hands-steadies his rifle...and takes the shot. The energy ball collapses as Issa falls... lifeless on the ground.

"Clear!"

"Good shot!" King Snake said patting the pilot on the shoulder. "Take us in...!"

Emry orders the last of his decimated forces to enter the fray as he sees Issa's body on the ground. Emry lost more than half of his force; friends that he has fought with for decades. He's regretful that so many lives were lost, yet resolved to finish the fight until he gets what he came for. He pushes the remaining soldiers forward. With his monster inside blowing holes everywhere Emry enters the embassy walking carefully past the bodies. Alidou approaches him from the rear of the facility.

"Find her, so we can end this!" Emry said. He continues to walk further in, and comes upon a body. The corpse of his longtime friend Lionel...with his weapon still in hand; eyes wide open. He saw his own death coming. For a brief moment-Emry felt the burden of guilt. He pulled Lionel away from his peaceful life; he brought his friend to his death. Emry reaches down and closes the eyes on his friends' body. Swallowing the anger and guilt he continues on toward his objective.

David moved into the staircase and went up to the fourth floor as Marines behind him valiantly fought back. As he entered the floor carrying Kevin, David discovered hostiles already there. "How the fuck did they get here so fast?" He walks quietly into a room, out of sight. Marines are still fighting on the upper floors, trying to keep Emry's forces from stopping their extraction. The first helicopter arrives on the HELO-pad to evacuate the seriously wounded.

On the second floor Noemi Wright tries to recover from a blast that killed the young marine trying to get her to safety. Her blouse is torn; stockings ripped open. With her knees bleeding she crawls on the floor looking for her glasses. As she gets closer, she hears the oncoming footsteps of soldiers. Not knowing who was coming, she places her hands up in the air. She sees figures of men surrounding her. Someone comes up from behind her and offers up her glasses.

"Looking for these?" A voice hands her the glasses.

"I'm a civilian, I am not military."

Alidou stands before her and lays a black & white picture of her treating children in a local hospital, the children that went missing. "Isn't this you Mademoiselle?"

She stares at the image, knowing the obvious. There will be no escape from this now. "Please, please let me explain." She pleaded. "I....I was trying to help...."

Alidou took his finger and placed it on her lips to shut her up. He then whispered into her ear. "You are a demon." Alidou motioned to his men to pick her up and take her to Emry. She screams, begging them not to hurt her. The men meet up with Emry on the third floor as the rest of his forces re-engage the Marine survivors on the roof level. Emry motions to over to one of his commanders; "Bring him."

The men escort the large hulking figure up the stairs. You could hear his heavy steps nearing closer and closer. Then, the large figure enters the hallway. His facial features droop, as if his muscle went soft. His pupils discolored and they protruded from his sockets. Noemi is brought over to Emry and thrown on the floor. She cannot continue to scream, she cannot continue to cry-for the fear prevents her to do anything but tremble at the sight of this...thing standing over her.

"Look at your work of art; isn't he so beautiful?" Emry said softly up close and personal with Noemi. He forcefully places his hands on her shoulders and leads her toward the dreaded figure. "His name is Jacques. We found him in the morgue of the local hospital. The same hospital you had the pleasure of administering your ...vaccines... to our many children".

"...please...please...I have nothing to do with this..."

Emry slaps her across the face and then grabbed her by her chin. "He came back to life in screaming agony. The sight of him frightened and repulsed the nurses who tended to him..

He forcefully turned her face toward the one they called Jacques. "As the years went on he changed more and more. Until one day, this green fluid spilled from his eyes and fingernails. Then...his hands bled fire that destroyed a school house full of children. He used to be a beautiful little boy who had his mother's smile."

Jacques looks at her, and with his oversized hands rips off what is left of her blouse, taking the bra with it as well; leaving Noemi bare, exposed, & humiliated. She drops to the floor and covers herself up with her arms. The men laugh at the sight of her small humble breasts. Tears stream down her face. She shivers in immense fear at what the men have in store for her.

"The babies will starve." Said a soldier; inciting more laughter from the men.

"I don't know what you are talking about." said Noemi trembling from the fear. "I was just a volunteer!"

Upon hearing those words, Jacques fired a blast from his outstretched hand and leveled a wall.

"Take her. We will question her back at the camp." Emry ordered.

Out of the instinct to survive or simply because she saw no other choice- Noemi broke away from the men and reached for an XM launcher lying on the floor. She fired the weapon hitting Alidou, blasting his head apart. The recoil from the weapon dislocated her right shoulder, leaving her wrenching in pain on the floor.

David heard the blast as he tried to make his way to the HELO-pad. He laid his friends body in a staircase and headed toward the screams of a woman trying to fight for her life. "...I can't let those animals take her." David picks up an M-5 lying on the floor, covered in blood. Filled with a desire to kill every one of Emry's men he engages the group head on. Emry orders Jacques to destroy him.

Suddenly- Navy SEALS arrive from the top floor. They fire on Emry's group and Jacques. King Snake grabs David and pulls him back. "Move out Marine, we got this!"

"There's a civilian over there in harm's way!" David responded.

"We'll get her...just go!"

Jacques fired a blast, cutting down half of the rescue team. King Snake and the surviving SEALS return fire. Jacques prepared to unload again...when something started to happen to David.

As he headed back to the staircase to retrieve Kevin's mangled body -the nauseating feeling crept up on him once more. David's arms began to tremble...a burning pain then overtook his entire body. The frequency of the pain was so severe it brought the Marine to his knees. "What the fuck is happening!!" His arm flared up... in a deep red fire. David screamed as the bright flame engulfed his entire body.

Emry saw the danger of what was happening. He ran away from the area and down the stairway on the other side of the floor. Fires were still blazing inside the compound. His insides started to cramp...Emry felt this overpowering urge to throw up from deep within his guts...so strong in caused him to fall down the stairs. Everyone in the embassy fell to their knees...in gut wrenching pain. Jacques collapsed on the floor-green fluid escaping from his mouth. All fell silent except the screams...David's screams.

Then-a bright flash swallowed them whole...

United States Africa Central Command

Alert systems go off inside the control room. Men and women move into action to access the nature of the alarms.

"Colonel...we have a Bent Spear on radar!" a technician yelled out as she saw the images coming in from long range satellite showing a huge mushroom cloud over the region.

"Say again private!" The Colonel answered as he rushed over to her.

"Roger that sir, we have Nuke-flash registers active."

Colonel Chen can't believe his eyes as he sees the large mushroom cloud forming on OP-SATT imagery. General Keating enters the room and walks quickly over to the operations area and to Colonel Chen. "Colonel what's the situation?"

"General, take a look at the Op-SATT feed."

The General takes a moment to mentally absorb the images coming in from the satellite. "My god... Is that what I... think it is?"

"We're authenticating- but it sure looks like it sir." Colonel Chen said as he looked over the data on the blast. "The double tell flash... and the forming cloud."

The General walks closer toward the image he is seeing- everyone in the room remains quiet. All equally shocked at what they are seeing; "Colonel...let's get online with the White House."

"Yes sir."

All the General can do at that point is just stay staring at the screen. Intently focused on the mushroom cloud of fire and death... spreading throughout the poor African nation.

The White House, Presidential Residence.

He had just gone to sleep four hours ago when the phone next to the bed rang. "Hello."

"Mr. President, I have the Chief of Staff holding for you."

"Put him through."

"Mr. President..."

"What's going on Neil?"

"Sir, we have a situation. Our embassy in Libreville was attacked. A few moments ago we lost all communication with our Marine detachment there. Satellite images are now showing a mushroom cloud forming over that same area."

The President quickly sat upright, turned on his table light and wiped the sleep from his eyes. "How certain are we? Is it one of ours?"

"As of right now it does not appear to be one of our warheads but it's too early to rule anything out."

"The Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs...?"

"On the way sir; the Secret Service is securing the First Lady in Europe. She'll be up on Air Force Two in ten minutes..."

"Understood; Tell the Admiral to raise our alert level to Def-con 3. I'm on my way." He disconnects the call and stands up. He walks slowly to his walk-in closet.

"Lord God almighty..." he thought to himself. He turns on the TV; grabbing for the closest clean pair of pants he can find -the broadcast goes to a special report.

"This is Elena Champion coming to you live with this Special Report from our World Desk. Moments ago our Cairo office reported that what appears to be a nuclear explosion in the country of Gabon."

THE WHITE HOUSE SITUATION ROOM

The White House Chief of Staff, the Joint Chiefs, the Secretary of Defense, the heads of the CIA, NSA, FBI, and Homeland Security all sit in dark leather chairs at the long marble table in the middle of the situation room. Live 3D satellite feeds fill the wall monitors surrounding them. They all await the entrance of President John D Richards and Vice President Marilyn Allaster.

"ATTen-HUT"

Everyone rises and stands at attention for the former Naval Officer and Iraqi war veteran. He stands tall at over six feet, weighs a healthy 185lbs and looks younger than his age of 51 years. His vice president also emits youth at her age of 47 years.

"As you were..." The President said as he calmly took his seat at the head of the large honey tinted table. "Okay, what's the status in Africa Neil?"

"Mr. President-at this time we have what we believe to be a nuclear attack on our forces in Gabon."

The president reviews real time information on a secure tablet given. "How big was the yield?"

"It wiped out every district in the province." Neil answered.

The president scrolls through the images of the large fireball over the African state. "Admiral Ventura, do you and the other Chiefs concur?"

"Yes Mr. President. This has been fully authenticated by all branches of the military and federal government."

"Who else knows gentleman?" The Vice-President asked.

"The Russians, British, Israelis and Chinese are capable of detecting nuclear incidents of this magnitude." Admiral Ventura answered, bringing up a tactical grid of the area. "We're getting reports of increased Russian naval activity in the region...namely their deep water subs."

The President then directs his attention to the CIA, and NSA Chiefs. "James, you and David here want to explain to me how we missed this here?"

"Mr. President. We had our CIA Special Operations Group running covert missions in Africa this whole year. We've intercepted no indicators to even suspect a nuclear device was in play. All the uranium and plutonium in the region has been and is currently accounted for sir."

"Obviously not...or else half a whole country wouldn't be burning alive right now." The President responded. "Someone out there snuck this one in on us."

"Mr. President." One of the Generals in the room interrupted.

"Yes General Miller?"

"We looked at the footage of the conflict before the bomb went off and-we see no visual evidence a warhead was even on-site. Blast signatures indicate this device wasn't one of the old soviet warheads still out there...it was more destructive. Whatever this was sir, it's far more powerful than our own warhead inventory." The Army Chief of Staff added.

The President just sat there, looking both confused and concerned. "You're telling me...now...that someone out there developed a nuclear device-fully concealable; that far exceeds that of our own stockpile?"

"Too early to tell sir...but it's starting to look like that." The General responded as everyone in the room sat there in silence hearing upon this new piece of Intel. "There's a new design on the block."

"Mr. President, we have a live feed with General Keating at Africa Central Command in Germany." The White House Chief of Staff said. The President motions for him to put the transmission through. A 3D screen opens up at the far end of the room, and a projection of General Keating with Colonel Chen appears on the monitor. "General Keating, Colonel Chen good morning to you both." The President said. "What can you tell us at this time?"

"Mr. President. The Estuaire Province is gone. The blast took out all major industrial and financial sectors of the country-completely leveling the area sir."

"Where was the Gabonese leadership when it happened?" The President asked.

"They were within the blast zone, sir. The President and his family, the Vice-president, and all his main advisers were reported inside the Presidential Palace and are presumed dead at this time."

"Basically that country lost all of its elected leaders in top government." The President runs his hand through his hair and taps one finger on the table. "What are the next few hours going to look like over there General?"

"We can safely assume the surviving Generals will assume kinetic command at this time, and the Governors of Franceville, Tchibanga, Makokou, and Bitam will vie for leadership of the country."

"What about the death toll General?"

"Mr. President...as far as the human toll is concerned...we can expect the numbers to be in the millions. In the end, this incident will decimate the populace. Crops will die out due to the radiation, so will the livestock."

"What assets do we have in the region?" asked the Chief of Staff.

"We have the USS. Stennis strike group already there. We are also redirecting the USS Clinton Strike group to join the Stennis as well. They should be in the region within 3 hours." Admiral Ventura answered.

"Gentlemen..." The President said as he stood up, with the rest of the room following suit. "Let's make sure the home field is secure, deploy the National Guard and alert all the Governors. I'm activating the crisis response team. We'll meet back here in one hour and I'll expect an action plan for a military response on the table."

The President leaves with the Chief of Staff and the Vice President and walk toward the Oval Office, with an obvious look of concern on his face. "Marilyn, I'll need you to head to the hill. Brief the House and Senate leaders on this. Neil, I want to speak to all our allies. See if we can find out who is responsible for this action."

"Mr. President...you'll need to brief the press corps." Neil added. "There is going to be a worldwide panic after this."

"Let's get the game plan going first before I step in there. You can tell them that I will address the country and in the meantime we will be sending every sort of help available to the citizens of Gabon."

"Mr. President. What are we prepared to do once we find out who did it?" The Vice President asked.

They arrive before the doors to the Oval Office. The President stops his stride and turns to face his Vice-president and Chief of Staff. "I'll wait to see what the Joint Chiefs and the CIA provide on Intel. Rest assured once we do find out that there will be a response. For now...let's get on the hunt." The President walks into the Oval alone...with no idea what will happen next.

USAFRICOM

Kelley Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany

4:30 am local time

"Should I bring another round of coffee General?" a private asked as she snuck her head into the Colonels office.

"If I drink anymore, I'll rocket to the moon." The General joked. "I'll take a bottle of water Private."

"Yes sir, and you Colonel?"

"I'll take a bottle too, thanks." Colonel Chen and General Keating sat in a closed office going over all Intel gathered so far. Surrounded by numerous tablets and laptops they try to make sense of how an attack this severe can take place.

"We have had zero bulletins within the last six months alluding to a possible nuke in play" The General commented while going through top secret intelligence reports.

"Sir, this caught us completely off guard. We ran OPSEC protocols recently on all our embassies in Africa. The threat levels were low. "

"What's strange is why there was no local police or military assistance from the Gabonese government when the situation was first reported?" The General asked as he removed a nicotine gum piece from his coat pocket. "A fight that big...?"

"No response from any local agency or military element General. Whoever planned this- did so with local law enforcement support."

An assistant walks in and hands the Colonel a mission briefing report. "Sir, this just came in from the NSA."

"Thank you Sergeant."

The General quickly peers over the threat levels on the report and sees nothing that would ring an alarm "A dead end as far as missions is concerned. This wasn't a hot spot" The General said as he handed the reports to Chen. "As I was going through our casualty report I did across a name-Noemi Wright. She was a VIP at the embassy and arrived earlier in the evening prior to the attack. What do we have on file for her?"

"She's a freelance scientist who was sponsored by her former employer; Daltrix I believe." Chen said while looking for an e-file on her. "Here's what the FBI has on her."

The General looks over the e-file. "Daltrix Industries is a major player in our defense budget-this can't be good." The General said as he took a swig of water. "How do they figure in on all this?"

"They've had R&D projects active in Africa in the past. We can only assume she was here on their behalf." The Colonel hands the General a small tablet.

"Let's look deeper into this; it's no coincidence that she shows up and our embassy is hit hard." The General ordered.

"I'll get on it right away."

The General leaves the room for a moment while Colonel Chen makes a call. "This is Colonel Chen at Africa Command. Connect me with Major Lynn Strasser please on the secure audio line, no visual."

"Right away Colonel"

As he sits there looking over the file on Noemi Wright, the Colonel swallows the stressful anxiety of what awaits him...knowing full well this will be the longest day of his life.

Army Intelligence and Security Command

INSCOM

Fort Belvoir, Virginia

"I understand Michael, but mama can only make so many cupcakes." Major Lynn Strasser in her army dress greens sits in a glass office holding a picture of her young son wearing his baseball uniform.

"I can't make cupcakes for the whole school too...I know sweetie but Jeremy's mom has more time than I do."

An assistant knocks on the door and pokes her head quietly inside. "Major, I have Africa Central Command on red line three."

"Thank you." Major Strasser quickly ends the call with a kiss and an "I love you sweetie" for her seven year old son Tyler. Handling a full time career and being a mom ain't easy-but the 38 year old Texan does her very best. "This is Lynn Strasser."

"Major Strasser, I have Colonel Chen from Africa Command."

"Put him through...thank you."

"Major Strasser."

"Colonel Chen." She answered as she settled into her chair for the conversation. "What can I do for you sir."

"We need a follow up on a name that came up on our casualty list from the embassy incident."

"Who is the subject?"

"Noemi Wright. She was there on behalf of Daltrix Industries."

"Daltrix?" she asked with concern The Major straightened her posture on her chair. "That institution has a pretty tight operation when it comes to their personnel."

"I'll appreciate it if you can push this up to the top of the list Major; the e-file has already been sent to your inbox."

"I see it. I'll get my staff on it right away Colonel." She ends the call and walks out of the office and to her personal assistant's desk. "I'll need you to hold my calls unless it's from high command for the next hour. Do I have any appointments on hold?"

"No ma'am, you're clear until three when you have Senator Robbins exploratory budget team here to discuss the next quarter of spending."

She lets out a sigh of frustration..."You mean the next round of intelligence cuts, thank you."

The Major returns to her office and closes her door. Instead of calling her staff to deal with the crisis investigation she takes out a small card sized cell phone from a locked draw in her desk. She presses the send button and waits for a response.

"Identification..."

"11763..." She responded quietly.

"Please hold..."

She waited a few moments-constantly checking the halls for any lurking eyes or passer-by. She stands up and locks her door. She sits back down and takes in a breath easing her nerves for what she is about to do.

"Authentication complete; connecting now."

"Report..." a voice on the other line said.

"They got a lead."

"What did they find...exactly?"

"Noemi Wright."

"Who is inquiring?"

"Colonel Chen at Africa Command-they probably got it from the casualty list."

"Can you blow them off the trail?"

"I'm not sure...I can delay it for a short while but there will be plenty of agencies looking into this." She answered. "I will blow my cover if I run interference on this."

"It's very important that you keep tabs on what they find."

"Was this you...?"

"Whether it was or wasn't-is not your concern. Keep me posted the moment you hear anything else."

"When can I expect the payment for my services?"

"It's already wired to your account-Major."

The call disconnects as she sits there burying her head in her hands. The money was five times what she makes in the military but now she asks herself if it was worth it. She sits there with what feels like a mountain on top of her. "How bad will this get?"

Gabon

Ground Zero

The sky is filled with radioactive smoke. The moans of collapsing structures still fill the air. Residents and villagers scatter away from the poison that is pushed by the winds- yet several miles up a heavily armored black stealth helicopter travels at high speed toward ground zero. Inside, dressed in high-tech suits to protect against radiation a rapid response team race toward the ruins of Libreville. In command of this team of five, a 25 year old Indian national-call sign, Spitfire. He sits near the front cabin speaking on his secure smart phone with his superiors. "Command, be advised; the target is obviously gone."

"Division wants to make sure the area is clear. We've brought you a window of only a few minutes in the hot zone so get in, sweep, and get out."

"A nuclear bomb just went off destroying this entire province, I'm sure this is all just a waste of time." He replied; bothered with the order.

"Those are your orders...report back when you clear the area. Command out"

Visibly annoyed he directs his attention to the team. "Alright ladies, listen up. Our orders are to complete a sweep and clear of the area. This chopper's armor can shield us from the radioactive isotopes in the air. If we need to get on the ground-our suits will take it from there." Spitfire said. "Knight-One, you take your team to the right. Knight-Three you're with me."

"Sir, we're approaching the first perimeter." The pilot said. "We got a line of military and emergency helicopters in the air."

"What's our E.T.A to Ground Zero?" Spitfire asked the pilot.

"We're 15 minutes away."

Spitfire peaks his head into the cockpit area; seeing the flashing helicopter lights ahead of them. "Okay, let's go dark. Get us some altitude and take us straight in."

The choppers body armor activates its stealth ability and disappears into the night. It is completely camouflaged from radar, and the naked eye using high grade mirroring metal and phase spectrum technology. It climbs an additional two miles higher before making a straight approach toward the hazy cloud in the dark.

The blast winds slightly shake the vehicle, causing a slight stir within Spitfires nerves. He hates every moment his feet are not on solid ground. After several minutes past the hazard line they enter the now deceased province. Nothing is left in this once heavily populated area. Fires still smolder, radioactivity increases every passing second. Everything is flat or torn apart. The entire ride was a lesson in destruction's aftermath.

"We're approaching ground zero now." The co-pilot said. "I'm activating visual sensors."

Small monitors inside the chopper illuminate the charred area in green; giving Spitfire a clear visual of what he expected to see. "Like I said, nothing left." Spitfire grumbled to the pilot. "Alright, I'll call it in. Get us the fuck out of here." As he reached for his phone the chopper began banking to circle a particular area.

"Sir, we may have got something here." The pilot said. "I'll bring it around for a closer look."

Spitfire zooms in on the monitor and sees a shape directly below the choppers position. "What the fuck is that?" Spitfire asked. "It almost looks intact. That can't be possible?"

As the chopper blows away the dust from the object, the naked figure of a man is revealed.

"Holy shit, I can't believe what I'm seeing." Spitfire just stares at the monitor trying to figure out what he is looking at. "Looks like a whole intact body lying in the center of that crater." Spitfire takes a slight moment to absorb what his eyes are seeing. He has experienced some extraordinary things and figured there is nothing left that can surprise him. Spitfire realizes he was wrong in that assumption.

"What are your orders, sir?" The Pilot asked.

"Land as close as you can. Then disengage the Med-Shell from the rear hull."

"Roger that. Touching down in two, prepare to open the seal lock." The lights inside the helicopter turns red alerting the team to get ready to disembark.

"Remember to stay tight out there! Move quickly!" Spitfire advised his team as the helicopter touches down near the mysterious figure lying on the ground. Spitfire leads the team out; with a medical transport chamber from the side of the helicopter in tow. The unit is large enough to transport any human up to 7 feet and 350lbs. Its super reinforced shell will protect any passenger from harmful impact or exposure from harmful environments.

"Move team-move!" They run over to the figure who lays its side in a fetal position. When they turn it over they discover...the breathing body of Marine Corporal David Vega.

"Sir...we have a pulse. This man is alive." Knight-One said.

Spitfire walks over and just stares at David. His body is covered in soot from the ash- lying naked in the center of the crater. "Get him in the shell and let's get out of here."

They quickly insert David into the med-shell and activate the bio-monitors. Once the machine stabilizes him, they re-insert the shell back onto the hull of the helicopter for extraction.

Soon thereafter the team boards the helicopter and takes off into the cloud covered sky.

"Pilot; give me a sit-rep" ordered Spitfire.

"Radioactive isotopes within the vehicle are decreasing to within normal levels. We should be out of the levels of concern momentarily."

"What about the subject?"

"Heart rate is elevated, and his body is highly contaminated. He's toxic, but alive." The Pilot said. "Where do you want to take him sir...?"

"Get us offshore, we'll need to keep this one off grid." Spitfire said as he looked over a tactical grid map of the African shoreline.

"...the Platform?" The co-pilot asked. "Is that a good idea?"

"Yea...just make sure you stay clear of US Naval presence." Spitfire grabs his communicator and contacts his destination.

"...Identification."

"Spitfire...I need to speak to the Chief on watch."

"Roger that...stand by."

"This is the Chief of the watch."

"This is Spitfire; we're coming in with a package-level 7."

THE OVAL OFFICE

The lights were set and the cameras surrounded the resolute desk. His tie was on straight and the makeup was just about right. Everything had to be perfect when a President addresses a nation after a historic catastrophe. This President knew what was on the line. The fears of the country are at the highest since the Bay of Pigs when a nuclear war was imminent. It was his job to change to re-assure the people...even when deep down inside he was frightened himself.

"Good Morning my fellow Americans. A few hours ago, the world was awakened to a horrible incident that took place in the nation of Gabon. We have confirmed through test reports from the I.A.E.A and several multi-national atomic agencies our worst fears. The blast that destroyed the Estuaire Province was of nuclear origin. No nation or terrorist organization has come forward to take credit for the incident at this time. We are in the beginning stages of the multi-national investigation and have come across leads that will hopefully shed more light on this tragic incident. The United States as well as our allies on the UN Security Council are fully committed to discovering who is responsible for this act, and that they are brought to justice.

We have escalated our military readiness to its highest level and deployed our naval fleets to key areas around our country and around the world in order to protect American lives and that of our friends. I have instructed Homeland Security to raise our threat level here at home and to keep it there until we discover who is behind this crime against all of humanity.

Friends, we must all stay vigilant. Local law enforcement throughout our country are working hard to keep us safe, but our biggest deterrent against an attack such as what befell Gabon is you. Every American must do their duty and report any suspicious activity to local law enforcement and the FBI. I have instructed all the networks to scroll below the telephone numbers, websites, social media and email addresses to these agencies. Law Enforcement personnel and Federal Agents stand ready to receive any and all potential leads.

To our friends in Gabon, the United States will not abandon you. I have authorized congress to build an aid package and have it on my desk for approval by next Monday. In the meantime, our military, and the Red Cross alongside our foreign allies will continue to provide aid and security to the region.

My fellow Americans, we must stand united in the face of this threat. I promise as your President and Commander in Chief that I will use the awesome power of this office to keep us safe today so that our children can live in a better world tomorrow. Thank you- God bless you all... and God bless the United States of America."

The red light on the cameras all turn off, and the spot lights dim down.

".....and we're out; very good job Mr. President." The White House media secretary said as he signaled that the live television feed is off.

"Thank you Ron." Acknowledged the President as he stood up from behind the resolute desk and removed the mic clip from his tie.

Neil Todesto, his chief of staff walks over with briefing reports. The former Dade county prosecutor and Florida State district attorney has been a trusted confidant of the President. A charge he does not take lightly. "Mr. President...I bring a gift" He said escorted by a white house aide holding a cup of the Presidents favorite tea.

"Barbara, is that raspberry zinger you have in your hands?" The President said as he smelled the welcoming aroma.

"Yes Mr. President. I have lemon and honey as well sir." She placed the cup and saucer on the Presidential desk.

"I also have the meeting notes from the budget teams...as well as the quarterly review on our defense spending." Neil placed a folder right next to the tea.

The president steps away from the file as if it were infected "Barbara-be a dear and take Neil and those reports with you when you exit the Oval." He said jokingly-giving a much needed boost of comic relief to an already tense day. "That'll be all Barbara-thank you."

The President instructs his staff to clear the Oval Office with the exception of the Chief of Staff. He sits at the resolute desk, sipping his tea while the white house photographer takes a few shots of him looking at the reports. After two more minutes the Oval Office is completely clear. Once empty-Neil places the top secret status report he's been holding inside his pad folio on the desk for the President to see. "What do we got Neil?" The President asked as he continued to sip on his tea.

"The Joint Chiefs, FBI, NSA, and the CIA haven't gotten any solid leads other than the name of a visiting Scientist."

"Noemi Wright. I read the status update. Apparently she's with Daltrix."

"This now brings us to another development only discussed with Admiral Ventura." Neil said as he approached the desk.

"What do you mean?" asked the President as he looked over satellite images of the region.

"Mr. President, as you know our predecessors left us holding the bag on some R & D projects in the defense budget."

"Such as...?"

"New missile shield systems, Graphene armor plating improvements to our armor and aerial inventories...and the fast attack C-130 with the high-powered laser cannons the good Senator of Maryland has been lobbying for his state to construct."

"You mean the one he never shuts up about at every state function he attends...I know the one." The President said sarcastically as he finished up his tea. "Okay Neil, so what's the point?"

"There is one project that has popped up consistently in the past budgets. A bio-weapons initiative we've scrapped several years ago that...may have bared some fruit."

"Go on..." The President leans back on his chair.

"The Admiral has discovered something during the battle in Gabon. He would like to show you in the situation room." Neil said. The President stared at his for a moment lost in thought about what new nightmare was about to be presented to him.

The Situation Room

The President and his Chief of Staff enter the room where only one person was waiting at the table inside, standing at attention. "Admiral Ventura...your wife is going to vote for the other guy if I don't get you home soon." The President joked as he motioned to the Admiral to take his seat.

"She doesn't mind Mr. President. There are plenty of status updates in her social media to keep her occupied." The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs responded, drawing a laugh from his commander in chief.

"Admiral; please show the President what you showed me." Neil said.

"Yes sir." The men take their seats at the table. "Mr. President during the investigation into the battle, certain facts have come to life as to how this force overwhelmed our Marines inside the embassy. They-are not easy to explain. So, the best way to start is just to show you. Our team at Africa Command sent us these video files taken from the surveillance systems at the embassy. What I am about to show you first is the moment the embassy was breached."

The President intently looks on as the HD footage shows the main floor of the embassy. The room is circular with window booths surrounding the floor. Marines use the bullet proof glass at those booths as cover. The men take positions when suddenly the front steel doors and the surrounding wall are blasted out, with the frame collapsing. The room fills with smoke and muzzle flashes from the M5's. Immediately you see the large green blasts firing from the smoke on the booths, taking out the Marines behind cover. Soon the hulking image of Jacques comes out from the cloud of smoke and fire.

"My god...what is that?" The President asked as he tried to make sense of the video footage. The screen now shifts to the battle outside the embassy when Issa took out one of the SEAL Team helicopters with her red spheres of energy. "How is that possible Admiral?"

"We're not sure Mr. President. There is something else sir...something that we are still looking into."

"Go ahead Admiral." The President said. The footage changes to satellite imagery taken from the Super-Platform orbiting over the area.

"What are we seeing here?" Neil asked.

"You see the bodies with the flashing beacons here." The Admiral said. "Those are our Marines-now we will slowly forward this record to the moments before we lose the video; or the moment the bomb went off. Watch carefully."

The images follows a flashing beacon enter a staircase next to another flashing icon in a still position. The icon light source is interrupted by a brighter distortion expanding rapidly... and then the video transmission is lost.

"Now...watch as I loop the last second of that video." The Admiral said. The video slowly loops showing the light distortion emanating from a Marine beacon.

Neil let's out a deep exhale before asking a question. "Admiral is this video suggesting...?"

"This video is not suggesting anything Neil. This is confirming that the nuclear incident was caused by one of ours." The Admiral said as he kept re-playing the scene on a loop.

The President sits up and leans into the table...closer to the Admiral. "How is that possible...?" The President asked.

"Your guess is as good as mine." Admiral Ventura ended the video. "We have no record of military experiments on our Marines anywhere on file that would explain what we just saw. Our teams are trying to identify the beacon ID. We should have a match within the hour."

"Daltrix-now I am piecing it all together." The President said. "Neil...Naomi Wright was a bio-scientist wasn't she?"

"That's what the file says sir." Neil answered. "Where are you going with this?"

"Let's track all the scientists involved in that R & D initiative and see where it ended and who may have picked it up elsewhere. My guess is that whoever continued the work may have done so with Daltrix. They are the only ones capable of producing the capital to fund a project like this and keep it under wraps."

"Sir; Daltrix is our main weapons supplier. It is not out of the ordinary to have Daltrix personnel at a federal or military location." The Admiral said.

"How many times have we had a nuclear bomb go off, and humans that can do un-natural acts at a US Embassy where a Daltrix Bio-Expert is on site?" The President sarcastically said. "I want this looked into to."

"Mr. President...Daltrix is a major backdoor donor for both sides of the aisle. We should be careful how we manage this." Neil added.

There is a light knock on the door-the Presidents body man walks in. "Sir, pardon the interruption- you have the phone call with the British Prime Minister in five minutes. Then after you have a video conference with the Chinese Premier. Should I delay the call?" He asked.

"No, no, no. I'll be right there." The President said. He waited for his body man to leave before continuing the conversation. "How many people know about this Admiral?"

"Only my team knows sir...a total of five people. General Keating and Colonel Chen stated that Africa Command sent me the footage first. No one else knows outside of my team and us in here."

"Admiral; we need answers to this. If our men are afflicted with something like what we just saw-we may have the beginnings of a catastrophe on our hands. Be discreet with anything regarding Daltrix until we have a smoking gun. In the meantime; run a full medical battery on our forces."

"Yes Mr. President."

"I also want a sit-rep report from Africa Command regarding security deployment at all our embassies in the region and an updated triangulation of Russian Naval presence in the area. Call me in when you are ready Admiral."

"Thank you Mr. President."

The President stands and leaves the room with Neil in tow. "What do you have swimming in your head sir?" Neil asked.

"When I was still in the corporate world there was this guy; a private investigator you can call when you needed to take a discreet look into something without setting off alarms." The President said as they walked back to the Oval Office. "His name is Wayne Mercer; I want you to talk to him and see what you can find out about any Daltrix involvement with this incident."

"How can I reach him?" Neil asked.

"There are some back channels we can go through to get word to him."

"Yes sir."

48 Hours later...

Soap...it tasted like soap. That was the first thing he remembered once he finally awoke- having this taste like he had gargled sanitizer gel in his mouth. It also didn't help that the room smelt like a whole container of anti-bacterial spray was let off.

"Am I dead?" He thought because everything in the immediate area was white. He wore a white gown- with white pillows on the bed and white sheets covering him. He was surrounded by white tile walls all around. The only disturbance to the decor was caused by three small monitors that were turned off to the left of a gurney bed that he laid on.

David's eyes were dry and itchy...enough to slightly blur his vision. When he tried to scratch them he found his wrists handcuffed to the side rails of the bed. He was not a patient...he was a prisoner. He tried to remember what happened to him last...what landed him in this situation. His mind drew nothing but blanks. Then small things came back to him "...my name is David Vega...I am a United States Marine." He thought to himself. "...I'm from Queens...and...and...fuck! I can't remember a fucking thing."

Once the thought train running in his head begins to slow, David realizes that he is not in a military facility. Naval hospitals are always busy, like Grand Central Station. They never give you a room alone; you're always sharing a room with other Marines or Naval personnel.

"...why the fuck -am I here? Think Vega-try to remember pendejo!" He felt his heart begin to race...panic creeping in on him. "Where the fuck -am I?" David then felt a slight tingle in his right hand...seconds later his left hand had the same tingle. Nerves and fear began to overtake his emotions. Feeling like a mouse caught in a trap he wanted to get free-he wanted to get out.

"Get it together Vega...don't freak the fuck out!" he kept saying to himself. He began counting in his mind...1...2...3...4...5...and so on. ..His hands then felt hot...feverishly hot. Nausea began to grow in the pit of his stomach. He recognized the feeling...and he didn't know why? Suddenly David heard the slight tapping of high heels approaching the door from a distance. Was it a woman? Was she alone?

Then...his wrists turned red hot and the handcuffs suddenly began to burn away. The lights began to flicker...and everything went dark. It took about two seconds before emergency lights turned on. He quickly rose to his feet; "...holy shit...what the hell just happened...how the fuck did I do that?"

Totally distracted by what just happened the Marine did not realize the door was opening. A young female dressed in a lab jacket entered slowly. She staggered into the room...and immediately fell to the floor. She began vomiting on the floor and went into convulsions. Right away David stopped himself from touching her. Taking precaution he stepped back...not sure if she was infected with some sort of illness. She turned over and he saw her pupils red and dilated. She took one long gasp for air...and then she stopped breathing. "What the fuck...this is crazy..." David whispered to himself.

The door was wide open and wearing nothing but a gown he walked out into a long white bright hallway. As he walked further down the narrow corridor he saw a guard struggling on the floor.

"...security..."

He moved up and saw the guard was a young man...like him. Close in size and build. He found him choking on his own vomit. David turned him over carefully using his foot so he can allow the yellow fluid to escape from his mouth.

"What's going on? Who are you?" David asked the guard; who made an effort to answer. The bile spilling from his mouth burned his throat-making it hard to utter even the slightest noise. The guard's skin began turning red...like a really bad irritation. He was dying and he knew it-so he used the last of the strength he had left to hit an alarm button on the side of his uniform.

The guard then stopped breathing. Sirens begin to sound all over the floor...loud and constant. David begins to panic; two people dead within mere minutes of each other. Alarms going off and he didn't know where the hell he was. The emergency lights begin to flicker...and the alarms began to distort...It almost seemed like there was a power failure.

"...get it together Vega...remember your fucking training." David then heard the footsteps of another guard running down the hall. He told himself it was time to "man up..."

"Jonah!" the guard yelled out. "Station, this is checkpoint two."

"Go ahead Two."

"I'm approaching Room 101, stand-by."

"Copy that Two. Be advised we have power fluctuations all over your sector."

David's training immediately begins to take over. He grabs the dead guard and drags him back to the room he woke up in. He leaves the door wide open in hopes the other guard foolishly barges in. He scans the dead man and finds a baton on his belt. As David predicted-the guard came slowly to the door, armed with a laser sighted sidearm. He peered in...while David waited behind the door. Vega moved in quick, and didn't give him one inch to react. One punch to the guards left side temple to stun him, and a grip to his neck for a choke hold to knock him out. The guard helplessly falls to the ground as he closes the door quickly. David took his key fob, radio, and hand gun. He searched for anything else that might be helpful and then moved his body up against the wall. David removed the guards clothing and began dressing himself in the officer's uniform. The patches on the sleeve read "Guard-One Executive Protection." The name tag on the uniform read...Baker.

The company is a mediocre security firm; used mostly by corporate companies looking to save a buck. They couldn't hire any ex-military or ex-mercenary-so it was manned by any guy who could obtain a class G security license. He found a folded map and a list of post orders...both so badly faded he struggled to figure it out. The discovery brought about a lot of possible situations he felt could be in...and none of them seemed right. Once fully clothed, with the fit being looser than what he hoped for but close enough to blend in-he walked out of the room normally. Head down David remained quiet for a second or two and immediately heard more steps approaching from the opposite far end of the hall; he figured it has to be a roving patrol.

He moved quickly down the hall toward an exit staircase door 15 yards ahead. He checked his corners and went in walking up the stairs to the next floor up. As he arrived on the floor David noticed he landed on what looked like a storage wing. Small rooms filled with cleaning equipment, supplies and, barrels. David found a row of stacked boxes-six feet high at least. His curiosity moved him to open one and see what was being stored. The box contained chemical solutions to fight salt erosion... and deep water oxygen cells to prevent algae growth.

The first thing that came to his mind was that he was on a dock maybe but definitely someplace near a body of water. Suddenly a door opened nearby and a flash of light peering from behind it. David quickly walked down to the end of the dimly lit hall and saw another exit door, and quietly took it up two flights until it came to a door labeled "platform". He walked straight through...slowly and carefully. When David came upon the last door he found it locked. He immediately went for the set of key fobs taken from the fallen guard. David placed the fob up to the reader and the door light's panel went from red to green. It was a door to the outside world. The first thing he felt was a cold breeze that brought his nerves to a calm stillness. Vega thought the end was near; he would make a run for it-find out where he was and then try to contact a CIA sub-station for extraction. He rushed out of the door and came to an immediate stop.

"...oh shit." He quietly said to himself. David walked out into the night and saw in his sights an ocean; miles, and miles of vast ocean. The Marine stood on the deck of a vast deep water platform. You can see nothing but large waves flowing and a sea of stars in the sky. Only the amber lights on the towers dimly illuminate an area surrounded by 3000 gallon steel tanks-some filled with fuel-others with clean water. There were three landing pads near the center of the platform-shadowed by a watch tower that stood only two stories high. He tried to peak over slightly to see if the tower was occupied but he couldn't get an accurate read. He would need to be further out in the open deck to get a better look and risk detection if there were eyes in there. He felt prudent to just leave it alone and assume that it was fully manned.

"I'm totally fucked right here." He thought to himself. Suddenly, two men appear from the other side of the platform. Not guards...but deck hands. They were loading up pallets into a storage container. David waited them out. On the far end-near the base of the tower David caught a glimpse of guards running out onto the platform deck. Vega immediately moved behind one of the large reserve tanks and stood still.

"Ivan...John...you guys see anybody else out here?" the guards yell out to the men who stopped-took a quick glance and immediately responded "No one here boss".

David contemplated jumping into the water...but he saw no shore to swim to. David scanned for anything that could be used as a raft or floatable... but the platform was too high. A jump with anything that can help him float would make too much noise. He saw no other solution other than look for another entry door inside as act naturally until he can find options. David headed straight for the door closest to him. As he entered the staircase...the path of stairs led straight down. He quickly moved down the steps a full five flights below sea level until David finally came upon an entry door.

There was a small janitor's closet to the immediate left and another long hallway in front of him. He figured to hide out for a few minutes until the action dies down. David entered the closet quietly and turned off the light. Five minutes later he heard commotion down the hall and radio chatter going on about the situation. As he listened in Vega discovered more guards were dead...and that they were under the highest alert level.

"Lock it down!"

They ran right past the door, like amateur rent a cops. Real soldiers would have checked this closet. He was unsure what to do next...how to remain undetected while looking for a way out. After the noise in the immediate area died down David exited the closet ever so slowly and moved normally down the hallway. At the center of the floor he came upon a central guard station. A large booth within a glass enclosure filled with flat screen monitors and touch screen control consoles. There was one sole guard inside the station; everyone else was dispatched out to search. The guard sat to the far left of the station with his back exposed and blind. David quickly took advantage of the opportunity and ran up on him...placing the helpless guard in a choke hold and rendering him unconscious. He stuffed the guard underneath the station control board. David found a GPS locator that revealed the platform was off the coast of the African Horn. A wave of grim emotion began to overtake him since he didn't remember why he was in Africa and not back home. His hands began to tremble...his heart rate began to race...he was panicking again. David braces himself against a console...and breathes slowly in an attempt to calm himself.

"What the fuck is wrong with me? Why do I keep freaking out like this?" David took a knee and just concentrated on his breathing. He opened the shirt collar and loosed it up slightly. Beads of sweat start trickling down from his head. Slowly but surely he felt his heart calm down. After two more minutes David felt normal again.

Further down the hall he heard a noise, sounding like someone coughing. He went to the visual monitor console and saw he wasn't the only prisoner in this place. On screen he saw a cell...and a white male...bald...slightly middle-aged puking his guts out in a corner. "Who the fuck is that locked up? Shit...maybe he knows something..."

David grabbed a med-kit hanging from the wall and ran over to the far end of the hallway. There was a small wing there with empty cells...except for the one. He went through the set of keys taken from the other guard. The male turned to him-clutching his stomach...still conscious. "What are you...trying to do?" He said with a slight British accent.

"I'm trying to open the door to your cell." David replied.

"...why? So you bastards can torture me again...didn't you all get your fill?" His face was red and swollen as if he took several punches in the face. The cell smelled of vomit and piss...he's been here for a bit.

"I'm not one of them; I woke up in a room handcuffed to a bed. Fuck! I can't find the key to this door." David said in frustration. The male stood up and gingerly walked over to him. He wore beige pants and a ripped button down shirt. Blood stains cover his shirt. "I'm David...a US Marine. Who are you?" David asked.

"Miles...I'm a reporter for the London Inquirer mate."

David scanned him over carefully and saw his badge ID still hanging on his neck, the marks on his skin suggest someone used the lanyard to choke him with it. "Why would they want to lock up a reporter?"

Miles smiles and lets out a snort. "I don't know mate...why did they lock up a US Marine...?"

"Good point..." David said. "Now I can't get this shit to open. If you want freedom then how do I get you out?"

Miles took his hand and pointed out of the cell toward the opposite end of the hall. "There...over there is a master emergency control box. One of your keys should open all the cells with one turn."

David quickly made his way over to the box...and found it locked with a glass door. He saw one small key hole and went to the key set he had on him. He found three keys and broke the glass with his elbow right away. An alarm went off...and the Marine raced in trying to find the key.

The first key...nothing.

The next key opened the doors to cells on the opposite side. He then placed the last key in...and Miles was free.

David went over to him...and gave him the med-kit. "Several guards and one female were suffering the same symptoms as you. It seems everyone here is getting sick over something...you know anything about it?"

"No...I was fine yesterday." Miles opened up the pack and removed a bottle of water inside. He gulped down the water...and followed it with three aspirins. The doors on the floor at the end of the hall begin to open with a patrol of armed guards arriving on scene.

"We need to go down to the last wing below sea-level. There is a DSV dock and a way out." Miles said very quietly.

The Intel grabs David's attention quickly..."How the fuck do you know that?"

Miles readies himself to move out and away from the oncoming patrol. "You're going to ask me a million questions or are we going to get the fuck out of here?"

David just stares at him in bewilderment. "...the balls on this guy."

"Are you a good shot Miles?" David asked him...handing him an extra sidearm taken from the guard on the station floor. Miles removed the clip, checked the ammo, checked the slide action of the weapon, and re-loaded the gun. "I've been in Africa for a long time, so I could hold my own yank."

"Let's go! Toward that orange door over there..." David said motioning toward an exit door. They both ran down the stairs and quickly made way toward the last floor, sea level. As they approached the door to the level...someone had started to open it.

David stopped immediately and walked back up slowly. "Guards..."

"Bollocks. Your uniform! Get behind me; make it look like your escorting me back to the cells." Miles placed his hands behind his back. "Play it off yank."

"I got you." David walked up closer to Miles and placed a hand on his sidearm like a guard on alert would do.

A small patrol of three men...lightly armed walked up halfway when they came across Miles and David.

"Where are you taking this man?" asked one of the Guards.

"I got orders to bring him down to the dock." Vega said- stirred and unsure if what he was doing. The men just stared at the both of them...giving David this sinking feeling that they have just been caught.

"Who gave the order?"

"The Captain..." Vega responds.

"...which one?"

Behind his back Miles clenches his hands into tight fists; giving David a clear idea of what was about to happen next. David already with his hand on the sidearm takes one quick breath of air. Miles rapidly lands a blow with a neck punch to the guard closest to him. David instantly fires his weapon at the three men before they can react. Blood paints the walls of the narrow staircase as the gunshots echo like three loud explosions in a small space.

"We need to hurry-more patrols are probably headed this way now." Miles said grabbing a radio from one of the men.

"This one is still alive." David said standing over the wounded man. The shot went through his right shoulder blade. Miles walks over to him and places a thumb on the wound-bringing excruciating pain to the injured guard.

"How many guards are down there mate?" Miles asks the man up close to his ear.

"Not many... we're just a skeleton crew man. This place was being cleared out later today." The Guard said as he winced in pain. "...please stop."

"Why are you clearing out?" David asked.

"I don't know why! I'm just a security guard! I don't even know who I work for..."

Miles slams his head on the stair, knocking him out cold. He removes a key fob from the Guards pocket.

"We need to keep moving mate. Their buddies are bound to come down this way eventually." Miles takes point and both move down to the entry doors. David figures now that Miles isn't just a reporter. He handled himself skillfully and the way he maneuvers with the weapon you can tell he's ex-military, British SAS perhaps but definitely trained. But why was he here?

Miles opens up the door bit by bit and looks in. He sees two armed guards patrolling slowly near another cell wing. He doesn't see anyone else. He slowly comes back into the staircase and lightly closes the door.

"I see two up ahead, armed with Calico's." Miles said quietly.

I'll take point and distract the Guards, make sure you get the jump on them before they figure me out."

They both check their ammo and ready themselves..."We'll only get one chance at this." Miles said.

"Yea-let's go." Inhaling a calming breath of air inti his lungs, David moves first- walking normally toward the guards. Miles slips behind him and finds cover behind a wall.

"Hey! I got bodies here!" Vega says aloud to the men grabbing their attention quickly. The men approach David slowly. "I heard the shots...we got men down"

The men just stare at each other-unsure of what they are supposed to do next.

"Hey man...this job ain't worth me getting shot up." One guard said to Vega...laughing it up. "We're staying right here-let the action come to us".

The other guard just stares at Vega's uniform and realizes that something is off. He eyes the name tag on the uniform which reads Baker.

"You related to Norm Baker on the infirmary wing?"

"No...just got the same last name." Vega answered casually. "You know him well?"

"Yea...he's a good buddy of mine."

One of the guards sees the tip of Miles shoes move back behind a wall, he then immediately reacts; "It's him! It's him!" said the guard grabbing for his calico.

Miles moves in and shoots the guard who yelled out. David points his weapon at the remaining man.

"Easy friend, hand your weapon over to my buddy before he shoots you too." David said.

Miles quickly takes the weapon off him and checks his pockets.

"Holy shit-what are you guys, SEALS or something?"

"Why were you here? Why didn't they send you out with the rest of the search teams?"

"...I...I don't know man. I just work part time here. You know...trying to make some extra ends."

"What's going on?" David asked.

"I kept hearing chatter about a high value prisoner on-site. I think we're on the same floor. You see that row of locked doors. Look at the key pads." Miles pointed out. "All of them are green, except one."

Miles lowers his gun and presses the end into the guards left inner thigh area. "Look here mate, if I shoot you right in this spot, you'll bleed to death and there ain't anything anyone can do to save you. It'll be a one way trip down the rabbit hole with your eyes wide open. You'll be aware when the moment of death comes. Do you want to go on that trip mate?"

"I don't know nothing man I swear; this is only my second day at this post. I wasn't even supposed to be here. The bad weather stopped the last few helicopters from the mainland from getting back." The guard said, pleading with his hands motion for them not to shoot him. "Take my FOB, it'll open the door. Whatever you want; I got kids man-I just want to get back home to my kids."

Miles unhooks a FOB connected to a key chain concealed in the guards right pant leg pocket.

"Yea...yea that's it- you got it. Please don't shoot me."

Miles hits the guard in the head with the butt end of the gun, knocking him out cold. "Move him there, over to that open room." They drag the unconscious guard over and then walk over to the locked room.

"You ready to see what's behind door number one?"

Elsewhere...

Unknown to both Miles and David time, they had another guest on the floor just above; that was also here for what was behind that door.

On the far side of the wing near the three pump generators providing power to the sector- a bright flash of light appears from behind the units. Immediately after the flash a young Asian woman appears. She is dressed in black tactical gear and carries a modified assault rifle with a silencer.

"I'm on-station."

"Copy that. The cell is 15 yards east of your position...one flight down. Be advised...there is activity in the area."

"Roger that." She moves slowly-checking her corners before moving down the dimly lit corridor. The emergency lights illuminate the area providing her with the shadows she needs to use as cover. As she approaches to the center of the wing -she can hear a radio down the hall.

There's a security checkpoint manned by two guards who didn't realize they weren't alone on the floor. They left the door cracked open, exposing them to an attack-a mistake she exploits immediately. Moving in quietly she fires her silencer at the men, killing them instantly before they can react to the door pulled wide open.

"Watchman..."

"Go ahead."

"Stand-by for upload."

"Copy that..."

She moved the bodies' aside and sitting down at the console. She removes a small USB from her pant pocket and inserts it to a port on the console. Suddenly the computers start downloading from the USB. She said scanning through the camera shots on the control board.

"The download is complete. We're executing now. Move to the next objective."

"I copy that-going dark."

"Happy hunting..."

Meanwhile,

Miles places the fob over the reader. The indicator turns green and the door begins to slide open.

"Christ...."

A bound woman hangs from shackles on her wrists in the center of the cell, near naked. She wears a steel ring around her mouth binding them closed. Her arms covered in blood trickling from the metal cuffs around her wrists now supporting her full weight. She was too exhausted to continue standing anymore.

David goes over to her and checks her pulse. "She's alive, help me get her down."

Suddenly the area goes dark. No lights...no power.

THIP...THIP...THIP....THIP...

Silenced Gun shots zoom past the door. Miles and David both return fire in the blind.

"They found us." Miles said.

"We're trapped if we stay here. The floor's staircase is down the hall. We'd be running in the open but I think we can make it."

Miles walked up close up to David...sensing him in the dark. "What about her?"

THIP...THIP...THIP...THIP...

David returns fire. "Go Miles! Now...!" Dave continues to fire in the dark. Miles moves a few feet behind David, drops down to one knee and provides cover fire.

"Go David!" Miles yelled as he empties the clip while David pushes back. Once he gets to the desired distance, the Marine returns the favor. They move past a set of double doors nearing an exit staircase.

Suddenly there was a cease fire...

"The shooting stopped..." David whispered. "Someone just entered that cell room with the woman."

"We need to move out." Miles said.

The Asian woman with night-vision goggles moved quickly from cover to the cell. Finding it open she peaks into the cell and sees what she has been searching for; her Liberian friend Zana.

"My god...what did they do to you." She removes a tool from her side pocket and starts disengaging the cuffs and lock plate covering her mouth. She places her head near her friend...cheek to cheek and whispers into her ear.

"Zana-it's me. It's Ayumi. Squeeze my hand if you understand."

The young African woman lightly squeezes her hand in response. Ayumi removes a bottle of water from her pocket and lets Zana drink. As the exhausted woman slowly comes to life- the lights suddenly turn on. Full power throughout the facility has been restored. Armed men begin to rush the floor.

Ayumi removes two smoke grenades from her person. She immediately pulls the pins and throws them down the hall. Shots are fired through the smoke as Ayumi grabs Zana and runs down the hall toward Miles and David.

"It's another female helping that captive out." David said. "They're heading this way."

One of the bullets hits Ayumi's calf area...and both of the women fall to the floor. Miles and David instinctively fire their weapons at the guards advancing through the smoke. They move up toward the women to help. David runs up first.

"C'mon... We need to move!" David said as he tries to help Ayumi to her feet. Ayumi is caught by surprise and flinches back for a second.

Miles comes in and stands in front of them firing his calico. "We're not going to hurt you...but we need to get going!"

"Help her!" Ayumi points to Zana who tries to crawl to the side.

"I got her!" Miles goes over to Zana and lifts her over his back. Ayumi stands up on her feet and rolls a grenade down the hall. "Go!"

The four clear the area as the grenade goes off. The explosion rattles the floor. Men are heard screaming and yelling down the hall. "Go, go, go..." David said as they make their way down the staircase.

They walk down two flights until the next exit door to an empty floor. David goes in and scans the area. "Here, this way. We're clear."

"We need to get the bloody hell off this thing." Miles said

David looked right at Ayumi who started to rip the fabric away from her injury. "How did you get here?"

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." Ayumi said as she expects the bullet wound on her leg. "It went through, I'll be fine."

"Right now lady...you'd be surprised at what I believe." David said. "Why are you here?"

"I came for her." Ayumi pointed to Zana.

"Why did they torture her?" Miles asked.

"Those responsible for this place are willing to do anything to get what they want?" Ayumi walks over to Zana and checks her over.

"Miles, how far are we from those DSV docks you said earlier?"

"We'll need to go down further on the south end of this facility. We can walk down the hall to the other side and take the stairs."

Ayumi and Zana just stare at each other. Ayumi lightly shakes her head as if to imply she wasn't going to do something Zana expected her to do, leaving the Liberian woman confused.

On the deck of the large platform- three helicopters touchdown on the pad. Spitfire and his team return in response to the mayday calls from the tower. "What's the status?" Spitfire asked the watch commander.

"Our power grid began failing when several of my men fell seriously ill. Vomiting, fever and worse; four guards and one scientist were found dead." He handed Spitfire a tablet with a video confirming his reports. "The patient you brought in is missing-as well as the British prisoner."

One of Spitfire's men approaches quickly. "Sir...you might want to take a look at this. The MREM alarms we installed are all active, he's up and about."

"We need to contain him now." Spitfire said. "Get the men ready to go in. Chief-have your guards regroup on the deck; order them NOT to engage; just defend their perimeters."

"Sir...there is something else..." the chief says. "An unidentified woman gained access to sector 4-7. My men tried to stop her but they were overwhelmed. She has been joined by the other two escapees in our secure holding wing."

Spitfire looks at the video footage taken of the fight. "Where are they now?" Spitfire asked.

"Camera feeds show them heading for the DSV docks several minutes ago."

"Good because all our DSV's are gone. I need live feed of this area sent over to my tablet now." Spitfire ordered as he walks over to his team of eight; all former Special Forces tier one operators.

"Knight- Two-take your team down the stairway and wait for me to breach; let me know when you're in position." Spitfire moves over to the side and looks down at his tablet. He can see David, Miles, Zana, and Ayumi. "We're going to set up fire teams here, here, and here. Box them in and use our tranquilizers only."

"Sir..." a platform guard runs over with a cell in his hand. "It's command."

"Thanks." Spitfire takes the cell and walks a few feet away. "Go for Spitfire."

"What's the status?"

"We have a Level Five situation here. I'm requesting kinetic clearance at this time-to address the situation accordingly."

"Granted-Dragon team is in route. You are clear to engage, non-lethal only. Copy...?"

"Copy...another thing. She's here-she's come for the girl."

"Ayumi...?"

"Affirmative; she's with our two targets right now."

"Do what you have to do Spitfire. Just contain the situation as quick as you can."

"We're on it."

Spitfire walks over to the rest of his team and signals for them to get into the lift. "We're clear to engage. You know what we're dealing with- eyes open and don't hesitate. If you have a clear shot, take it."

Down below Miles, David, Ayumi, and Zana arrive at the lowest level of the platform. Miles and David scout the area while Ayumi tends to her friends wounds.

"We're clear-no one but us on this floor." David said. "Miles; any luck finding a ride out?"

"The DSV's are gone." Miles said pointing to the heavy duty glass panels that reveal the area right outside the dock doors.

"Now we got a problem." David said. "...and I'm sure they know." David points to the cameras on the walls positioned directly at them.

"We'll have company soon and we're low on bullets-we won't stand a chance in another gun fight." Miles said.

"Guys..." Ayumi motions over to David and Miles. "Listen, I can get us out of here, but I need to explain something. It's..."

Before Ayumi can finish her sentence the familiar "ding" from an elevator door opening interrupts her train of thought and puts them all on alert. Spitfires' team enters the area

"Four targets in the open-down the hall!" Knight-Three called out from the point position. Immediately the team fires warning shots at the group who takes cover in the guard station closest to the bay doors.

"Surrender your weapons...and you will not be harmed!" Spitfire yelled over to them. "There is nowhere to go-no way out."

The small group gets low behind cover; trapped in-between Spitfire's team and the bay doors to the missing DSV's. "He's got a point." Miles said. We can't shoot our way out of here.

"They can't flank." whispered Vega. "They gotta come forward. We make a kill box here in front of the station...and hope we get rid of enough of them to make a run for it."

"They won't advance..." Miles said. "They know we're going to run out of ammo eventually. Did anyone see any diving tanks?"

"Oxygen...you mean to dive out of here?" David asked. "Aren't we too deep?"

"The depth I'm not worried about...it's the temperature-but I'd rather freeze to death than let these bastards have another go at me." Miles said remembering the torture he endured.

David knew by the look in Miles eyes that he would rather die than be taken alive; the situation was becoming desperate; an exit from here seems highly unlikely. Ayumi goes over to Zana and whispers something in her ear. Zana looks at her and nods her head acknowledging her request.

Ayumi then reveals a small syringe with a clear fluid inside. She braces Zana and prepares to inject the fluid straight into Zana.

"What the fuck are you doing?" Miles looks right at the long gauge syringe.

"Quiet- I need to focus." Ayumi aligns the syringe with the center of Ayumi's chest.

"Okay sweetie-here we go; 3...2...1." She injects the needle straight into Zanas' heart-she takes a deep breath and immediately comes back to life.

"What was that? What did you give her?" asked Vega.

"Adrenaline, we need all the help we can get!" Ayumi said. She then removes some earplugs from her pocket and hands them to Miles and David. "I need you to put these on!"

"What the hell for?" Miles responded.

"Trust me!"

Ayumi, David, and Miles insert the plugs into their ears. Ayumi signals Zana who then stands up, walks out of cover into the open hallway.

Spitfire sees her and immediately yells "COVER!"

He walks in front of his men and moves slightly down the hallway-knowing very well what she is about to do. "We don't have to do this girl..."

Zana stays quiet, her eyes says it all.

"Have it your way..." Spitfire takes in a gasp of air-curls his lips in...and like a Dragon unleashes a line of fire from his mouth.

Zana then extends her arms... and screams out loud.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII"

She unleashes a sonic blast that shook the whole platform. Then impact cuts Spitfires blaze in half. He disengages and dives into the open elevator lift and covers his ears. The water sprinkler system activates and it begins to shower the hallway. Zanas blast pushed Spitfire's team back several yards. It ruptures ear drums and leaves them in intense pain. Spitfire himself lies on the floor in the elevator clutching his head.

Zana walks back to the small group. She opens the bay doors and motions everyone to come inside. After they enter the small area she locks the door behind them. The bay is small and low. There is a large pool of sea water in the center of the room. They all lie on the floor.

"You two okay?" Zana asked to the men who were still visibly stunned by the sonic blast.

"What the bloody hell was that?" Miles said rubbing his temples. "My ears can't stop ringing."

"We can't stay here, more guards will follow". Ayumi said. "Zana- take their hands and don't let go."

Zana walks over to Miles and David and holds one hand from each.

"If you think we're doing a last prayer, you can forget it." Miles said with a hint of sarcasm.

"Very funny..." Ayumi said taking David's other free hand. "...just do me a favor Brit?"

"What would that be?" Miles said.

"Don't puke on my boots-they're brand new." Ayumi closes her eyes and a bright flash of light engulfed the bay; and just like that...they were gone.

Several minutes later....

A second team arrives from the entry staircase to the wing. A tall Spaniard-wearing a tailor cut Italian suit appears from behind the team. His face had a graceful edge; the look of a man who is no stranger to conflict but yet prefers to live in luxury. Wearing a gold Rolex, tiffany cufflinks and smelling of the finest cologne he inspects the scene like a detective at work; as medical personnel treat the injured men that make up Knight-team and their injured commander.

"Sir, they're gone?" said one of the team members surveying the area to the Spaniard. "They went out the bay door at the far end of the wing...and must have dived into the water."

"No they didn't..." Spitfire said walking gingerly toward the Spaniard. "She was here...."

"Ayumi...?" He asked as he surveyed the injuries to the men.

"Yea...and she took the Liberian with her."

"I figured that due to the injuries you and your men have sustained. I'm surprised she didn't cause your heads to explode like the last team that went in after her." He walks back toward the room where they held Zana.

One of his men brings a satellite phone into the cell. "It's command sir."

"This is Diego."

"What happened?"

"Ayumi was here. She took both test subjects and the reporter."

"A second DSA team is on-route and will be joining Spitfire soon. I need you to head to Egypt immediately. You are to meet our district head at his office in Cairo. There is a concern there I need you to address."

"And what of the escapees...?"

"That will be none of your concern- I have a contingency plan already in play. Contact me once you've arrived at Cairo."

"Yes sir." The call ends and he turns his attention to his men. "Team-regroup on me; we're out in ten." Diego pulls one of his men aside. "Have the pilot ready the choppers...we're heading to Cairo."

The commotion of the men moving out moves Spitfire's curiosity. "Where is the boss sending you?"

"That is for me to know- now clean up your mess. You'll have another DSA squad here in a few hours." The arrogant Spaniard leaves with his men up the elevator-having left Spitfire with the bad taste of an insult in his mouth.

Spitfire just stares at the closing elevator doors-with murderous intent in his eyes.

NDJAMENA

Nation of Chad

Within the ruins of a burnt out village outside the city a flash of light materialized in the center of the square. David, Miles, Zana, and Ayumi appeared intact...with the men struggling to stand on their feet- disoriented from the jump. Those that have had the privilege of this experience say that the first time you "port" it feels like you rode a roller coaster in a dream for hours. That you see the normal light of day in different shades of colors, and that sounds are muffled as if you were within the protection of your mother's womb. Everything... objects, people, land, sea, space, it all came at you at light speed.

Miles felt guts inside curl, turn, cramp, and release. His head spun like crazy, leaving him dizzy as if you spun for hours in a circle. "Oh Christ almighty..." Miles uttered quietly to himself "...this is insane."

Vega was down to one knee on the dry dirt. His mind was a complete mess. He held his eyes shut until the world around him ceased to spin. Suddenly images of the past slowly flowed in. The embassy watch room...Gunny...Kevin. Even though they came in bit and pieces-the puzzle of recent events began solving itself. "Kevin...I was with Kevin somewhere..."

"Hey...hey are you okay?" Ayumi's voice rang in his head. He opened his eyes and came back into the "here and now". She stood next to him and helped him get up on his feet.

Surrounded by burnt out huts, mounds of burnt bones, dozens of patches on the ground of dried up stains of blood splatter. The recent scene of a slaughter which fills the air with the aroma of death...

"Oh god..." The smell of rotting corpses in the sun and the effects of the jump was too much for the stomach to take...so they each found a spot and started puking like first time sailors without their sea legs

Ayumi speaks to the men. "It will pass."

David just stares at her wondering "...what the fuck does that mean?"

Ayumi walks over to Zana who is still hunched over on the dirt floor. "Sweetie, how are you feeling?"

"I feel weak...I could use a meal." Zana said softly still trying to get herself together. "Where are we?"

"Ndjamena. We're safe for now." Ayumi said as she scanned the area.

"This village...I knew this place." Zana said as she struggled to stand.

"We were here once..." Ayumi answered as she picked up a small toy truck lying on the ground. "Before the ALR came through here."

"The ALR did this...?" Zana asked.

"Yes. We have eye witness accounts from survivors."

Zana walks over to one of the many mounds of corpses. She kneels down and gently touches a pair of small hands protruding from the bottom of the pile. "They're animals."

"What the hell happened here?" Miles asked as he looks around. "It looks like a slaughter..."

"That is exactly what it was..."Ayumi points to the center of the road. They walk up forty yards and see the extent of the disaster. Block after block of huts and make shift homes destroyed. Smoldering mounds of bodies piled up as a reminder to those trying to figure out who was responsible...

"Who did it?" David asked.

"The ALR...this is their signature for us." Ayumi said.

"The ALR...?" David asked as he knelt near a burned out hut.

"The African Liberation Regime, terrorists who enjoy destroying helpless villages that aren't protected well enough." Miles says walking over to them-wiping the puke from his mouth. "Why aren't you two spilling your guts out like me and the Marine over there?"

Ayumi took the comment lightly...drawing a slight grin. "Zana and I have done this plenty of times before." Ayumi answered. "I'm sure you're pretty freaked out with this whole thing..."

"Oh no...I travel like this all the time." Miles sarcastically said.

"So..." Ayumi looked Miles straight in his eyes.

"Okay?" Miles asked.

"Ask me." Ayumi said walking closer to Miles.

"What?"

"You know what you want to say. Go ahead and ask?" Ayumi said as she stared down Miles.

"She wants you to ask her-how the hell she did what she did Miles." David walks over to them rubbing his stomach and spitting away the taste of sour puke in his mouth. "That's the big fucking elephant in the room."

"You're smarter that you look American..." Ayumi said walking back over to Zana.

"He isn't asking the question because...you've heard of us before. Haven't you?" Ayumi said staring back at Miles.

"What is that supposed to mean?" David asked.

"Exactly what it sounded like..." She said just staring at Miles.

Miles walks over to the bodies for a moment and then turns around and faces the group. "The newspaper I worked for received reports of people doing some... extraordinary things. I didn't believe it at first until a video from Niger came across my desk of a young woman. She created a firestorm with her hands...a tornado of fire that destroyed an entire village. I still thought it was bollocks-but I guess I was wrong."

"Did the village look kind of like this one?" Ayumi pointed to the ruins surrounding them.

"...I suppose." Miles responded.

"Manaji..." Zana said walking toward them.

"Who...?" David asked.

"The woman he speaks of...her name is Manaji." Zana said with familiarity.

"I'm sure you two have plenty of questions to ask and I have answers but we need to do this somewhere else." Ayumi said walking over to Zana and taking her by the hand.

"Where exactly do you recommend we go?" Miles asked.

"Wait...you just don't start the conversation and not throw us a bone?" David interrupted. "You need to talk to us about what you two are- because this is totally unreal. Normal humans...can't do what you two can do."

Ayumi just looked at David; annoyed and irritated by that statement. "I don't need to say anything about what Zana and I may or may not be until I feel the time is right. You owe us at least that much since I saved both your asses. Remember?"

"That's not how I see it darling. You were outgunned and shot up." Miles pointed out. "...and we could have just left you two to fend for yourselves..."

"Then we'd all be dead now wouldn't we." Ayumi sharply said back to Miles.

The sound of a horn beep in the distance captures the attention of the small group. A convoy of four jeeps can be seen approaching the village from the west. Tensions rise within David and Miles- Ayumi and Zana remain noticeably calm.

"Thank god..." Zana muttered quietly.

"Are these friends of yours?" Miles said as he looks for hiding places. "If they're not- then saying so now would be wise."

Ayumi walks toward the oncoming path of the vehicles waving her hands in the air.

"Heads up mate; look sharpish." Miles looked to David.

"Shouldn't be just make a run for it?" David asks pointing to a clearing that leads into a dense forest area.

"With no food or water... physically we won't last long. We're already at half a tank...and there are things out there that won't hesitate taking a bite out of both of us. Savvy?" Miles said.

Four jeeps park just beside them-each carrying two passengers. In the lead vehicle rode a woman with caramel skin...and the figure of an athlete. She steps out of the jeep and walks over to Ayumi. "Someone looks like they've had quite a day!"

"I wasn't sure if you were going to able to find me Rochelle." Ayumi said as she embraced her in a friendly hug.

"We never lost you; are you okay?"

"Got banged up a bit, Zana got the worse of it."

"We'll make sure she gets all the attention she needs." Rochelle said.

"You see this?" Ayumi points out the disaster that surrounds them.

"It gets worse if you head toward Sudan; a long trail of bodies- all the way to Khartoum." Rochelle said as she motioned to her armed escort. Four African men disembark from the jeeps with M-4 Carbines and point their weapons at Miles and David. "Who are these men?"

Ayumi motions to the armed men to lower their weapons. "They are okay...these men helped us escape unfortunately. It got pretty ugly back there, we were outnumbered..."

The men slowly lowered their weapons as the woman approached Miles and David slowly. Ayumi walked up next to her and made the introduction. "This is Rochelle. She is a friend from the French Foreign Aid group. These men are her personal guards." Ayumi said. "She's helping protect villages from the random acts of violence taking place all over Africa since the bomb in Gabon."

"What bomb?" David asked.

"Do you not know?" Rochelle responded.

"What is she talking about Ayumi?" Miles asked.

"A nuclear explosion in the center of Libreville in Gabon almost 72 hours ago...more powerful than the world has ever seen." Ayumi answered.

"How long have both of you been held captive?" Rochelle asked.

"I don't know...I mean I don't remember. I woke up tied down." David said. "I'm just trying to put things together." David's mind once again went blank. Flashes of the fight and white light appeared back to him. He bit his lip and fought through the flood of memories coming back to him. "Pardon me..."

"What is wrong with you? Are you sick?" Rochelle asked.

"I haven't felt very well since I awoke." Vega answered.

"Where did you come from?" Rochelle asked. Her line of questioning was becoming very annoying to David. He was on edge. Adrenaline levels were spiking up, making it hard to remain calm.

"She's a friend David, she can help you." Ayumi calmly said.

"My name is David Vega, a United States Marine." He said as he stretched out his hand as a gesture.

"U.S. Military... What's your rank? "Rochelle asked while shaking his hand firmly.

"Lance Corporal, 3rd Marine Embassy Guard Battalion."

"Embassy guard, that's strange?" She walked up to him real close, and stared into David's eyes. "Why aren't you at your post Marine?"

More memories jar his thoughts, leaving David with a blank stare. Right then Vega feels Ayumi's hand slide in-between them. "Rochelle, let it go. There are not the enemies." Ayumi said.

"It is a very dangerous thing to hold an American captive...especially Military. No one would do so lightly unless that had cause. Now what's the deal with this one?" Rochelle then walks over to Miles cautiously. Miles stands up firm, like he's been through this before.

"And you? What is your name?" She asked.

"Miles...." He answered plainly with a slight smirk.

"You're British..."

"Né et a grandi dans le sud de londres mon cherie." Miles answered in perfect French proudly stating his South London roots.

"You're French is very good." Rochelle said fully amused.

"I'm very familiar with the French. Let me guess, you're from Paris?"

She nodded her head with a slight smile, impressed that he could tell that about her.

"Montpellier. What brings you so far from home Mr. Miles?" Rochelle said with a hint of curiosity.

He smiled at her...then spoke softly. "I'm a reporter fishing for a story. I was looking into a lead when I got nabbed for snooping."

She walked up to him and did this swirled a pointed index finger in the air, heading straight at him until finally the point of her finger found its way to the center of Miles chest. She then spoke directly into his ear. "Snooping? What was so interesting about your story that you felt compelled to snoop, mon ami?"

"I think we both know what compelled me to look further into what is happening out here. I mean, what me and my Marine friend just experienced here isn't exactly NORMAL, now is it?" Miles answered right back.

Rochelle just stares at him...smiles... then walks away to greet Zana. She hugs her and whispers into her ear. Zana looked over to Miles and Vega and then nodded to Rochelle. "Be thankful gentlemen. Our friend Zana here has one of the warmest hearts in the entire region. Ayumi, bring your friends; we're going to the university."

"The university...? I can't..." Ayumi pulls Rochelle aside and speaks quietly into her ear.

"I'm going to a remote village near Kisangani off the Congo River in Zaire where we think Zanas brother may be Rochelle."

"You're going to see our team in N'Djamena with your friends here first. Something tells me there is more to their stories." Rochelle responded. "Besides...I have a lead on Zanas brother...we won't be far behind."

"I promised Okeje-I told him I would look after both of them while he was gone." Ayumi said as she just looked at Zana.

Rochelle walks over to her and speaks to her quietly...away from Zana's ears. "Ayumi...Okeje can't hold you to that. He lives in America and isn't even aware of what happened to his family over here."

"I gave him my word Rochelle..."

Rochelle walks over to the convoy of jeeps with Ayumi. She reaches for a tablet and pulls up a map of Chad.

"You need to head here to the University of N'Djamena. Gupta arrived yesterday; bring these two to him." Rochelle scrolls the image to another map of an area off the Congo River. "This is where we are headed. We believe Zana's brother is there."

"That place is crawling with ALR." Ayumi said.

"Which is why I need you to hurry back from the university; I'll wait for you near the base of the Congo here at this village outpost." Rochelle said showing Ayumi where they will regroup.

"Okay, we'll do it your way." Ayumi gave in. Rochelle is experienced and can handle herself very well in tactical situations. She wouldn't have advised that Ayumi escort David and Miles to Ndjamena if she didn't feel it was a tactical decision.

While the women continue their discussion; Vega walks over to Miles. "That's bullshit...you know that" Vega said. "You're lying."

"Keep your voice down yank" Miles responded as he motioned with his hand for David to keep it down. He walked closer to David and stood right next to him. "What are you getting at?"

"You ain't just any fucking reporter...you handled yourself on that platform like you've done this before. The way you moved...the way you managed the situation...you're no reporter. C'mon...really Miles...somewhere in your past you wore a uniform before."

"Why? What is it to you yank?" Miles answered.

"What is it to me? Listen...I just woke up at a prison, had people around me keel over and die. I killed a few, and saved ONE that was locked up for God knows what. Then WE get into a gunfight that leads to these two women- one of whom can open her mouth and say "Ah" busting your ear drums, and the other one who can grab your hand and transport you like the Starship Enterprise." David stopped talking. He took a breath and tried to keep himself from letting his anxiety take over

"Relax David...take a moment..." Miles answered putting his hand on David's shoulder. "Don't attract any attention."

The things that we just saw...this place...it's more than I signed up for." David said.

"I understand. You have a point but for now we need to keep ourselves dialed in on who's around us at the present moment." Miles said as he kept scanning the area. "None of this registers right."

"You think she's on the up and up- the French woman?" David asked.

"I think we're fucked." Miles responded. "But you ain't stupid and I may not be just a reporter. So we wait for the right moment to make our move out of this mess."

Rochelle calls over to a couple of her men and gives them instructions. Ayumi walks over to Miles and David. "So, I'm sure there is a lot to discuss and we obviously cannot do it here." Ayumi said.

"Are we going to do the porting thing again?" David asked.

"You two look like hammered shit. I don't think you guys are strong enough for another go. Unless you really want to...?"

"No-no thanks. I'll take the scenic route if you don't mind." Miles responded.

"Suit yourself. We leave in five." As Ayumi walks away Miles looks at David. "When the time is right...you with me yank?"

"Yea man...I got your back." David said.

Rochelle leaves the group with her armed escort. As she drives away...she gives a stern look at David and Miles. "Yea we love you too sweetheart..." Miles muttered under his breath.

"Where do you think she is going?" David asked.

"I wouldn't worry about her right this minute." Miles just stares back at Rochelle. "Since I'm pretty sure she just screwed us good."

THE OVAL OFFICE

It is after 7 pm and President Richards sits there at the resolute desk mapping out the many thoughts in his mind. The house is voting on legislation for the aid package to Gabon, he also had to address Russia's presence in the region with their President. Most importantly, with all the new information flowing in from the investigation, he tries to understand how all of it slid under the noses of the different agencies in the US Government. Most importantly, his intelligence agencies that obviously had no clue at all. "There are so many holes here, how can we plug them all? He skims through briefing reports when there is a gentle knock on his door. "Yes...?"

The door opened and one of his aides peaks her head in. "Mr. President...the first lady is on her way."

"Thank you." He said as he puts away all the paperwork on the desk. A minute later his 38 year old wife, Maria-Isabella Richards walks into the Oval. The former lawyer and college model has a graceful stride that caught the Presidents eye since the first day.

"Hey baby..." He said as he stood up and met her in the center of the room. He held his wife gently taking in the soft scent of her perfume. "I missed you."

"I missed you too." She said. "You okay?"

"A little tired....how was your flight?" He asked. The President walked his wife to one of the couches and they sat comfortably next to each other.

"A little long...the girls were a little nervous when the secret service rushed us out of the room in Buenos Aires and into the cars." Maria said as she held her husband's hands on her lap. "I spoke with them. They were really worried that something happened to you."

"I know...I'll make sure I see them before they go to bed tonight." He said.

"How are you doing? Any idea on what happened in Gabon?" She asked.

He kisses her neck softly. "Just theories and follow-ups right now, we're really nowhere near a solid answer."

"The news of all the dead is frightening. They say it's only going to get worse. What are we doing on our end?" Maria said as she wrapped the Presidents arm around her neck and leaned into him. She kicked off her heels and put her feet up on the couch.

"The Red Cross is sending as much medicine as they can. We have Naval Medical ships offshore for the critical patients. Our biggest concern right now is the Russian subs in the water."

"Russians submarines in the area?" The First Lady asked. "Are they planning an attack?"

"The Russian President claims they are there for security reasons. The Joint Chiefs don't buy it. For now we're just monitoring their movements."

"Did you eat today?" She asked him as she kisses the back of his hand.

"I had some pear slices and a piece of cheese an hour ago."

A knock is heard on the door linking the Chief of Staff's office with the Oval.

"Come in Neil..." The First Lady said aloud.

Neil opens the door to the office. "Hey Maria; it's nice to see you back." Neil said.

"It's nice to be seen Neil. How's the family?" The First Lady asked as she sat up and put her Italian heels back on.

"Everyone is fine, thank you. My apologies, should I come back later?" Neil asked.

"No don't be silly Neil. I have to go check on the girls." The First lady said. "Are you going to be long my love?"

The President yawns and stretches his arms up. "No dear, let me just check in with Neil and I'll be right up."

She walks up to her husband and kisses him gently on the lips. "Don't keep him up late Neil" She jokingly said as she walked out of the office.

"I'll try not to." Neil said.

The President stands up and walks over to the resolute desk where he sits down and motions to Neil to take the seat next to the desk. "What do we got?"

"The Fed Chairman would like to see you tomorrow regarding the national debt ceiling. We also have some developments regarding Gabon that you need to see." Neil hands the President a thumb drive. The President opens the top left hand drawer of his desk and removes a tablet and injects the USB into the side port. He then opens the only file and sees images of federal employees. "What am I looking at Neil?"

"Sir; these images are those scientists involved with the bio- initiative project we were looking into."

"Okay...?" The President asked as he scrolled through the images.

Neil leans closer to the Commander in Chief..."Mr. President-each one of these scientists are dead."

The President lays the tablet down and leans back on the chair. "Dead...?"

"Yes sir...each died of natural causes according to the coroners reports."

The President stares up to the corners of the ceiling...still absorbing the new development..."Where did you get with Wayne Mercer?"

"He's avoiding me. I don't think even he wants to get his hands dirty with this."

"I know, but he will."

"How do you know sir?"

"Because the NSA Director set up the meeting between the two of you tonight at ten; so be at the portico at 9:30."

"How....what...?"

"Wayne owes me a favor, and I'm calling it in. Don't be late."

NW 17th street & K Street

Washington D.C

10pm EST

He's sat with Presidents, Prime Ministers, Princes, Kings, and Queens. All on behalf of the most powerful business executives in the world; he's a lawyer by trade who can find backdoors into the most sophisticated network security systems and uncover the secrets worth billions in the markets. Wayne Mercer spent the last thirty years of his life shedding light on those dark corporate corners on behalf of anyone with a deep check book. Senators running for re-election, campaign managers looking for an edge to bring down a giant, lobbyists looking to kill a bill on the senate floor; Wayne is no stranger to world of corporate espionage, he will take a meeting with anyone willing to do "think outside the book".

Yet, this meeting with the White House Chief of Staff who earlier was instructed him to wait at the Farragut Metro station- is one he has tried to avoid. After the incident in Gabon, there have been rumors on who may have been responsible. Many of his former clients are looking into their closet of skeletons to see if they might have been linked somehow, and Wayne assumes the President knows this. His old "buddy" is looking to tap him for Intel, looking for Wayne to betray the "discretion" promised in every deal he makes. He had booked a hotel under a false name, and prepared a plan to leave the country-that is until the Director of the NSA came knocking with a message from the President a few hours ago. "I need you; call me now." So now he stands on a street corner, waiting for Neil Todesto.

A black Dodge Durango pulls up to the corner in front of him. The rear right door opens..."Good evening Mr. Mercer..." Neil said as he motioned to Wayne to get inside. "I like your Baltimore Ravens attire."

"You told me to dress casually..." Wayne said as he entered the SUV. "I have what the President asked for Mr. Todesto" Wayne handed Neil a small USB containing a file with collected images of Naomi Wright "The subject in question arrived in Africa three weeks prior to the incident. State files and local offices also showed she was working in Africa almost a decade and a half ago. She worked with a special medical outreach program designed to vaccinate the children of poor villages."

"Was she a Daltrix employee at the time?" Neil asked as he loads the file on a tablet and looks through the photos.

"She may have been there on behalf of Daltrix; it will take some time to verify that fact." Wayne answered taking a sip from his Starbucks coffee. "A word of warning Mr. Todesto-Daltrix is a company with a broad reach into many different agencies."

"What do you mean?"

"Daltrix is a hornets' nest many in my "community" steer clear from. Their secrets are buried deep in the hive; so far in and those that wander about are never heard from again. If I do this...I'll need reassurance that I'll have the protection of the White House."

"What is this going to take Mr. Mercer?"

Wayne hands Neil an envelope with details on what he'll expect in return for his services.

"Very well Mr. Mercer- thanks for your help on this. We'll be in touch." And with that Wayne exits the vehicle a few blocks down on K Street in front of a deli. He scans the area and then walks down the street to hail a cab back to his St. Regis room.

"Damn you John. Out of all the things you could have asked for; you give me this instead."

Wayne immediately begins to regret the phone call he made from a jail in Argentina to the embassy. Often riddled with a drinking and cocaine problem over the years, he was caught with a well-known prostitute at a Buenos Aires hotel. When the police busted in, they found him in the middle of snorting a line off the woman's breasts. A woman who had an open warrant for trafficking and a gun in her purse linked to a homicide.

He's been clean ever since then.

Wayne enters the grand lobby the hotel that mostly empty except for the desk attendants that greets him. He walked down the hall to the elevator and to the 5th floor. There was only one roving security guard, and a cleaning staffer walking around when he went into his room. Wayne tossed his keys and wallet on the bed and turned on the flat screen on the wall. He began getting undressed when the phone in the room rang. "Yes...hello."

"Mr. Mercer, this is the front desk. We're just confirming your eleven o'clock massage with Raina for tonight."

"Yes...please. Thank you" Wayne hits the shower and after a few minutes he opens the door to welcome the young Brazilian beauty to his room. Her skin perfectly tan, her body is athletic. Even though Raina wears a hotel uniform, she gives away enough to liven up her client's imagination

"I wasn't sure you would keep our appointment tonight." She said through a delicious accent that keeps her client list high. Her vocation is a necessary skill in the stress filled capital. She carried with her a mobile massage bed which she set in the center of the large suite.

"I make it a rule not to miss our sessions Raina. I'm sure in this city I am not the only one."

For special clients like Wayne, she'll operate in bra and Brazilian thongs tonight. "Would you like a hot towel tonight?"

"Yes...please."

Raina extends the bed and places a clean sheet over the mat. She removes two towels from the side of the travel bag. She walks over to the sink and wets the towels. Then folding it nicely before she microwaves it for thirty seconds while he strips down to nothing -gets on the bed and under the top sheet. He turns over for her to work on his shoulder area first.

She covered her hands in warm organic oil, scented with lavender flowers. "So what was on your plate this evening? A man like you should be at a bar with a pretty woman, drinking and dancing."

"Work Raina-it never ends for people like me."

She rubbed deep into his back speaking right into his ear. "Just relax for me..."

The moment is interrupted by the soft buzz of her phone in her pocket. "Do you need to get that?" He asked.

"It's only a text. I just need to see it really quick." She walks a few feet away to look at the message.

You're clear...area is secure

She deleted the message and walked back over to Wayne. "Everything okay Raina?"

"Oh don't worry. It was just the downstairs desk for a client confirmation for tomorrow. Close your eyes and relax your breathing. I am going to work on your temples."

"You're the boss." He said. She stood over his head and placed her hands around his temples. Raina began to breathe deeply. Suddenly Wayne Mercer went stiff, his body rigid. He opened his mouth as if to scream but no noise came out. His face is contorted by a horrible deep pain, causing his veins swell up.

After two minutes she removes her hands; his body goes limp...and unconscious. Raina walks over to the bed and removes the SIM card and memory chip from his phone. Raina then takes out a syringe from her massage bag and injects Wayne with a clear fluid. There is a knock on the door. She peers out and sees it's her bodyguard who walks into the room and hands her a cell phone.

"This is operations."

"Identification..."

"Bravo-1075...."

"...report."

"We have a situation..."

NDJAMENA

The drive was long; Miles and David were both anxious to see a clean toilet and shower. David hasn't fully regained his memory, but the trip through the lush jungle and quiet country side helped clear his mind. The city here has improved vastly since corporate business introduced labor factories several years ago. A new generation came into power-eager to rebuild a staggering economy through skilled labor and higher education. Although some remnants of poverty and crime still exist-for the most part the city is a success story. Yet no one can deny the air of fear saturating the citizens as the ALR attacks increase in frequency. The African Liberation Regime has dropped leaflets announcing their coming, bringing promises of hope and prosperity through its rule to all of Africa.

The University of Ndjamena is the center point of this area. The school has come a long way-now a major institution in the continent attracting the brightest minds from all over Africa. Their prize jewel-the Bio-Science department is known for advancing studies in several areas in the medical field, most notably in the study of viral diseases and germ outbreaks.

The jeeps circles around the campus and come to a stop directly outside the delivery entrance in the rear of the building.

"We're here- stay with the Jeep while I announce us." Ayumi and Zana walk up to the double doors where a guard greeted her. She pointed at the vehicle while explaining the situation.

"So what now...?" Vega asked...speaking quietly since they had two of Ayumi's men keep a sharp eye on them from the Jeeps.

"I figure if we made it this far without being killed we should just let this scenario play out. Find out what they might want with us." Miles said.

"What if they plan to kill us?" David asked as he stared at the armed men coming out of the back door. "That's a lot of guns for a school?"

"I noticed; modified Israeli Tavor SAR rifles off the black market." Miles said

Two more armed men walk out from inside the facility and approach Miles and David slowly. "Come with us please."

"Why the guns friends...?" Miles asked. "Isn't this JUST a university?"

"We are still in Africa." One of the men responded. "Come with us now."

They're escorted inside the school-to a staff cafeteria at the south wing. "Make yourselves comfortable guys, we'll be right back." Ayumi said as she walks out with Zana while David and Miles are lead to a small round table near the kitchen where hot bowls of stew vegetables, lamb and fufu dumplings are served for them.

"Eat...your host has provided this food for you." One of the men said as he motioned David and Miles to sit down They are left at the table by the men and placed under light guard.

"All this shit and then we're treated to a thanksgiving feast. " David said as they sat down. "This is insane."

"Yea...well-might as well eat mate. Drink as much water as you can." Miles said as he dipped his dumplings in the stew.

David looks at the stew and can't remember the last meal he ate, and that bothered him. Between bites David looks up at a flat screen HD mounted on the wall near the kitchen-the newscast was airing images of the disaster in Gabon. He gets lost in the images of lines of sick citizens waiting to be treated by doctors with children crying and a pile of wrapped bodies being prepared for mass burial. Images of the fight start coming back to him, like a flood of water let in through a narrow door.

"What's wrong with you mate?" Miles asked. David just sits there still watching the images. "David!"

"Sorry brother..." Vega said coming back to. "Phased out...for a second. I'm starting to remember things here and there."

"Anything helpful mate...?"

"No, I don't think so. It's still too jumbled up to make any sense of it."

"Eat mate." Miles motions for David to finish up the rest of his meal. "God knows when we'll get another hot meal like this one."

David begins to eat again; he looks around the cafeteria and sees armed men posted at every exit. A young student from the kitchen walks in with an ice- bucket filled with cold German beer.

"Thank you." David told the young girl who opened the first two and left a bottle opener on table; she was then promptly escorted out.

"They are being very nice to us son." Miles immediately grabs for a beer and hands a bottle to David. "Cheers mate."

"Yea...you bet." David said as he took a swig from the bottle. The taste of cold beer brings a slight smile to his face. "Beers are pretty good." Twenty minutes and twelve beers later- The front door to the cafeteria opens-with Ayumi and an older male walking into the cafeteria.

Miles tapped David on the shoulder. "Heads up mate, we got company." David holds his fork tight in the hand. The combat training on Parris Island starts to take over. He looks for any and everything that they could use as a weapon.

"I hope the stew was good." said the male as he sat near the two. "I picked the Beer out myself-from my personal list of favorites."

"Thank you for the food..." Miles said as he takes swallows the last of the beer. "And the beer- we approve."

"You're welcome. My name is Doctor Rhodri Gupta. I teach bio-science here at the university. You have already met my associates Ayumi and Zana. From what Ayumi tells me it seems like the both of you have been on quite a journey." The gentleman was a Pakistani- late 50's to early 60's with salt and pepper hair and a light beard.

"You hit it right on the head Doctor." Miles said sitting back on the chair. "I'm wondering if we still live on earth?"

The Doctor offers a slight grin of amusement at the question. "I would suppose that would be the first thing that comes to mind. Mr.....?"

"Miles...." He extends his hand to Miles and offers a warm grin.

"How may I call you?" asked the Doctor who extends his hands out to David politely.

"David's fine." He answered. David quickly throws a glance at Ayumi who sits there quietly near the Doctor. She catches his eye but quickly glances away.

"I'm told you are US Military?" Doctor Gupta asked as he settled into the table.

"Marine Corps, sir..." David said sitting up and chest out.

"I admire a man who gives up a portion of his life in service to his country. It is an admirable journey to take." Doctor Gupta said as he motioned to his men to give them some room. "Now on to the business at hand... regarding the recent experiences both of you had with some of our gifted individuals."

"Are we getting the whole truth Doctor?" Miles asked. "All due respect but I have a mouth full of questions and no real answers to start."

"Spoken like a true reporter." Doctor Gupta smiles at Miles, trying to disarm any hostility. "All your answers will be given in due course. First- for the sake of protecting our dear friends we have some answers of our own to seek from you."

The Doctor stands up and invites a young woman to enter the room. She is Filipino-no more than 23 years of age. She pulls up a chair and sits next to Doctor Gupta. "This is Julia; she is my assistant here in the university. One of her jobs for me is conducting our background checks."

"Background checks, here with us?" David sat up in his chair.

"It's just a routine procedure gentleman, that's all. There is a lot we have to protect here." Gupta said giving a nod toward Julia. "I will be happy to answer all of your questions right after."

Julia extends her hands in Miles direction- who suddenly becomes rigid and motionless. His eyes roll back to their whites; Miles is rendered completely incapacitated.

David stands up and picks up a chair to throw at the woman. "Get her to stop!" David yelled holding the chair up. The guards aim their rifles at him.

"David! Relax; it's going to be okay. He's not being hurt." Ayumi said running in front of David.

"No! Look at that shit! Tell her to leave him alone!" David said as he stood his ground. The Guards cocked back on the receivers of their rifles. David knew the bullets were now in the chambers.

"David, please calm down." Dr. Gupta asked while motioning to his men to come closer.

"Leave him alone!" David's eyes begin to glow bright causing everyone bringing everyone to their knees.

"What...what is happening..." Ayumi mutters as this overwhelming dizziness overcomes her. Doctor Gupta and Julia both fall to the floor.

The guards drop and begin to throw up. "What the fuck?" David thought to himself. He dropped the chair and ran toward Miles. Julia, suffering from painful cramps to her abdomen uses a small tranquilizer gun and fires at David; hitting him in the shoulder. His mind suddenly shuts down-and he passes out on the floor.

"Everyone calm down." The Doctor said. "Ayumi get the medical staff here...go."

"Doctor Gupta...what just happened?" Julia weakly asked.

"I'm not sure." The Doctor struggles to stand. The effects are still running its course. "It looks like our American friend is more than what he appears to be."

Three Hours Later....

"Radiation...are you sure?" asked the Doctor.

"Yes Doctor..." The Nurse said showing the Doctor readings taken by a state of the art Bio-Sensor. "The readings are consistent with radiation poisoning, a very light grade. Non-lethal to everyone but I will have to insist you all take a series of Iodine pills for the next 48 hours."

"Yes...of course. Whatever you think is best." He answered as Julia walks over. She rubs her temples-still suffering from the pain brought on by David's outburst.

"Are you okay Doctor?"

The Doctor waves the question off with his hand..."Yes...yes I will be fine. Old age hasn't gotten the best of me yet."

"I was able to see recent memories belonging to Miles. Are you able to ...receive?" Julia asked motioning to her temple. He acknowledges her by grabbing her hand and closing his eyes.

Julia-a mind reader who has been honing her ability since discovering them several years ago has mastered the art of transferring thoughts and memories to anyone who she makes contact with. She calls it-receiving.

"Oh my..." The Doctor said. "This is troubling indeed. Show this to Ayumi."

Several hours pass since the incident in the cafeteria. Both Miles and David have been kept sedated and under close watch in a secure lab away from the student body. David is connected to Bio-Readers for his vitals-and radiation monitors in case he begins to emit again. Doctor Gupta and Ayumi stand near; discussing what would be the best way to move forward.

"I don't feel safe with him here Doctor." Ayumi said looking right at David.

"We will keep him sedated and monitor his vitals." Gupta said. "I need to know more about him and what he is capable of."

"Are you sure I can't talk you out of keeping him here. I would feel better if we jumped him to a far safer location-away from the University." Ayumi packs up ammo and water into a small field bag.

"We will take the upmost care, now hurry and make it back Ayumi." The Doctor said. "Rochelle will need you."

Ayumi walks over and places her hand on Miles chest; then they both port out of the room. The Doctor walks over to David and looks at his medical chart. Julia walks into the lab and right up to David's bed.

"Are you sure this is safe Doctor?" She asked.

"No...but we have no choice." He said as he took David's wrist and timed his pulse rate. "He's in a calm state and we need answers...so begin when you are ready..."

Julia is known in her circle as a walker. Her ability allows her to travel deep into the sub-conscious mind and interact with the subject. When the subject is awake she can access their most recent memories; although it causes the subject to go into a temporary state of unconsciousness. Within their dream state Julia can look at the subjects' whole life history once REM sleep is achieved. They injected enough drugs into David Vega's body to lay a horse out for days-assuring that Doctor Gupta's worst nightmare doesn't come true. Julia sits in a chair next to David...her hand upon his forehead.

"1...2...3...4...5...6......7........8...............9..................."

When mind walking Julia appears to be in a sub-hypnotic trance; if she is ever pulled away abruptly from whomever she is connected to, or physically harmed it can prove fatal to the both of them. To prevent any harm coming to either of them, Doctor Gupta surrounds the lab area with armed guards while he stands next to Vega's sedated body.

Julia negotiates the fragile terrain within David's mind. As she enters-everything just spun like a merry-go-round. No discerning time or place. Bits and pieces of memories and thoughts like a puzzle with missing pieces. With intense focus she stops everything in his mind and reduces the memories into one small ball of light which she holds in her hand.

Everything projects itself like a room with black walls and black floors, and in the middle of the room was David-lying on the floor dressed in his Marine BDU's. Julia walks over to him and taps him on the shoulder.

"David...David Vega. Open your eyes."

He moves slowly...opening his eyes and looking around. He takes his hand and passes it over his face. "Am I dead?"

"No, you're not dead. Just locked in a deep dream with me keeping you company." She said kneeling next to him. Julia grabs his arm and helps him stand. "This will work a lot better if we did this standing up."

As David rises he gets a good look at Julia and recent memories kick in. "Easy...easy David, relax your mind." Julia said to him.

"I remember you from the cafeteria with Miles. You...were doing something to him." David stepped back from her, anxiety building up within him as this dream state begins to feel very real. "What do you want with me? Why are you in my head?"

"Doctor Gupta sent me to help you David. Help you...put back the pieces you are missing." She said to him with a calm demeanor. "When I entered your mind...your memories were all scrambled. I'm trying to help you bring it them all together. First we need to build trust with one another."

"What do you mean?" David asked.

"This thing I do...the gift I have; allows me the ability to lock our minds together. To phrase it simply...we're taking a ride in your car. You're in the driver's seat and I'm your passenger but I'll give you directions in which way to go." Julia said walking over to him slowly. "Now, you need to stay calm, because if you lose control in here, it can cause damage that neither one of us will recover from."

David just stares at her...unable to speak or utter a simple sound. He just stands there in the darkness of the room. Floating in his head trying to piece it all together like one does when they are really immersed in a dream; except for David this dream feels all too real.

"I know this all must seem...unbelievable to you but If you let me I can show you long forgotten things; memories that will...refresh your existence." Julia extended her hand. "Take my hand David."

David took a deep breath and took her hand like she asked.

"Good, now close your eyes and allow your heart to guide the way."

"I don't understand. What is that supposed to mean?" He asked.

"The heart is the key that unlocks the mind David, emotions can help guide the way." She said placing her right hand on his heart. "Now...close your eyes and breathe slowly...take us to a happy place in your heart. Find the space within that brings back the inner child...your inner child. Imagine the sounds of children playing...and the rest should work itself out."

He closed his eyes and tried to imagine the sounds. At first he hears them faintly...then the laughter gets louder, and familiar voices are heard. When he opens his eyes he discovers that they no longer stand in a black room. They're standing on right field at the diamond at Saint Mary of our Lord catholic school, the baseball field where he hit his first home run as a kid. There was Father Harry behind home plate calling balls and strikes, a short pudgy man who would root for you even when he knew you couldn't hit a baseball if it were to save your life. There was Kevin Wilkes at first, Juan Ortiz at second, Israel Baez at short, Isaiah Jackson at third, Bobby Mueller pitching to Johnny Paniello catching behind the plate, Hudson Mackey at left field and 28 year old Father Tommy playing center field.

"Where are we David?" Julia asked as she looked around what he was projecting.

"Saint Mary's...the only home I knew..." David said as he took a knee and grabbed a handful of sand off the diamond. "You know-I remember this day. It was the first day of spring...we were so excited to get to go outside and play. All winter Sister Beatrice had us watching movies on history or nature. All I wanted to do...was be right here playing baseball with all my friends." David said. He turned his head toward the sun and felt the warmth hit his face. He heard the sounds of birds singing, and the insects buzzing aloud. It was...all perfect. Father Tommy jogs over to David...catching him by surprise. "David...you ready to take a swing son?" He said with an Irish accent.  "Go on son...don't be shy."

The act caught David by surprised. Father Tommy was interacting with him. "I don't understand? He can see me?" David looked at her with a face full of confusion.

"This is your memory David; he sees you exactly as you were the day this all took place. Go ahead-indulge yourself." Julia said as she motioned with her arms for him to join the Father.

"C'mon David, you've been practicing your swing in your room with the whiffle bat. Go show them what you got kiddo." Father Harry waved at David to hurry up. "Quickly son; before the lord cometh to Queens."

"Okay Father Tommy..." David said as he runs toward home plate. He heads to the dugout and picks up the small wooden bat that all the boys shared. He took a couple of practice swings while he heard the boys teasing him. "Don't strike out Davey!"

David smiled; he hasn't been called that since he was a kid. Davey just kept swinging the bat, feeling the excitement of getting a chance to hit. He walks up to the left side of the plate since he bats right and digs in for the first pitch.

"You ready David?" Father Harry said under his face mask.

"Yep..." David said feeling the excitement of standing in the batter's box.

"Play Ball...!"

Bobby Mueller gets in his set position, winds up, and sends a laser toward home plate. The ball came at David incredibly fast, almost catching him by surprise.

"STRIKE..." called out Father Harry. "The lad has an arm."

"Wow-I forgot how good of an arm Bobby had." David softly said as he got back into his stance.

"This is baseball...not softball Davey." Johnny Paniello said under his catcher's mask. "The Sisters play softball here tomorrow at 3 pm of you're interested."

"Ha...ha very funny Johnny..." Father Harry said.

David smiled...it's all coming back to him. He dug in his feet and shifted his front leg-leaning back slightly. Bobby set in...here's the wind up, and the pitch. David zeroed in, and with all his strength pulled back and swung the bat. The sound of the crack of the bat when it met the ball was loud. He knew the moment he hit it the sweet spot that it was gone-sending it sailing past the head of Hudson Mackey out at left.

"That balls outta here...!" Father Harry joyfully yelled out. David rounded the bases with a smile bigger than the Queensboro Bridge. When he made it back to home plate Father Harry was waiting there with a big high five and a hug for him. "You see Davey, the lord loves you son." Father Harry said to him into his ear. This was the closest David has ever felt to having a Father.

Suddenly, everything around him starts to spin. He closes his eyes for a second; when David re-opens them he finds himself alone in the place where he worshiped as a child. The Church of Saint Mary our Mother; where he once served as altar boy, then as an usher. The doors to the pews are wide open and the Church is empty and silent. There is a large bronze cross of Christ in front of the altar where a figure lies on the flat surface. He walks closer down the aisle to the altar. He catches a reflection of himself in the brown marble walls; he's wearing his olive green dress uniform. He remembers this day...it was the first time he came home after he graduated basic training and right before he was to report to advance combat school. He received a letter a few weeks before graduation at Parris Island from Father Harry that he wanted to see him before he went to San Diego. He took a bus from South Carolina back to Queens and hurried home. He walked pass the altar and through the private doors to a small lobby area.

There were doors leading to a bathroom, two small storage rooms where they kept stage props for the various holiday shows the church hosted. There was a winding staircase leading up toward the second floor where the Father's private office was at. He walked up the stairs and into the small waiting area where young Sister Drusilla greeted him with a warm embrace. "Welcome home David." She said smiling. "How was your trip?"

"Okay I guess. Father Harry asked to see me. Is everything alright?" David asked.

"I'm sure it is. He just misses you. We all miss you Davey."

The door to the office opens and Father Harry, now a lot older with a good amount of grey to his face comes out.

"David...come here son. Let me look at you lad." The Father said opening his arms for him. David hugged the Father, remembering the way it felt to be loved by him.

"I came as soon as I could. Is everything alright Father?" He said- his words exhibiting the new found strength the Marines have instilled in him.

"Everything is fine my son. Come in, have a seat." Father Harry said as he led David into his office. A beautiful room surrounded by red wood book shelves, containing books about history, philosophy, and religious teachings. Paintings of the Vatican, temple mount, Jerusalem, and the last supper of Christ hang from the walls with pictures of all the kids that grew up here. On the desk there is one picture he holds dear. It was a picture of David and Father Harry taken inside the church. It was the day he received his first holy communion.

"So David, how do you feel?" he asked.

"I feel good Father. Different, you know because of the training, but good." David said. He adjusted his uniform while trying to make himself comfortable.

"I can't begin to tell you how proud we all are of you here. You've become a role model for our young children. Father Tommy still tells the tale of how you hit your first home run." The Father said. "Oh and by the way. Before I forget to mention it, Sister Beatrice would love for you to stop by the classes and talk to the kids. She thinks the uniform will-inspire them in their studies."

"Aye, aye sir..." David responded with a salute bringing a smile to the Fathers face.

"Well then...on to why I called you here." Father Harry opens up his side file cabinet and pulls out a manila folder. He lays it on the center of the desk. "David...you were five years old when the Lord brought you to us here at the orphanage. You grew up amongst the other boys, well-mannered to everyone, with a heart full of kindness. Now you sit before me a man, an honored Marine serving our great nation. So now...it is time to tell you the truth of your life."

"The truth, Father...?" David asked. "I don't understand."

The Father opened the folder and pulled out a photo of a young woman holding a little boy. She was beautiful, light in complexion with dark hair. Her eyes filled with sadness as she held a smiling little boy in her arms. "This is picture...is of you and your mother David"

David just stares at the photo-his mother was young. She couldn't have been any more than twenty two years old when this photo was taken, she was slim and fragile. "She was beautiful Father."

"Oh she was Davey, both inside and out. She was an Angel."

"How did you get this photograph?"

"It was left here by your paternal Uncle-who asked that we give this to you when you were old enough to understand."

"Understand what Father?"

"The story of your parents..." Father Harry answered as he leaned back on his chair.

"Your mother's name was Vanessa Vega. We met her through an outreach program Sister Maria was conducting to help young girls on the streets."

"On the streets...?" .

"David, it pains me to have to tell you this so I'm just going to come out with it. Your mother was sold into bondage when she was a little girl. She was smuggled here from a small town in Southern Mexico by a drug cartel. She was very young." David sits there in stunned silence. He closes his eyes and looks upon the photo once more. Why couldn't he remember his mother? He kept asking himself over and over again. "What happened to her?"

"The cartel sold her to a local drug kingpin in New York. He took her to the Bronx and well, she lived a hard life for four years. It was during that time that she met a man, a DEA agent name Armando. This man rescued your mother and sent her here to us. He fell in love with Vanessa, and the product of that love was you." Father Harry removed a newspaper article from the folder; it was of a murder out of the NY Post. "DEA hero killed." There was a picture of Agent Armando Nieves of the DEA Cartel Task Force in the small box under a larger picture of the crime scene where there were three body bags on the floor.

"The men who sold your mother found out about the relationship between her and your father. They came after Vanessa to kill her; instead they found themselves in a gun battle against Armando who killed them all. Unfortunately, he was shot in the process. The bullet hit an artery and he bled out before help arrived. You were born soon after."

David stands up and walks to the other side of the room...reading every word on the article while the Father continued the story..."Your mother spent the next four years working odd jobs here and there to provide for you. Word got back to the cartel in Mexico that she was still alive. They threatened to have you killed. Your mother came here and asked the church to watch over you while she fled to Puerto Rico where your father had a brother, also in the DEA. She had hoped that the cartel would follow her, assuming you were by her side. We never saw Vanessa again."

"Did anyone say what happened to my mother?" David asked, tears building up in his eyes.

"No one really knows David. Years later your Uncle Jose came by to see you. He talked of adopting you but the cartel had Jose marked for death because of your father. He couldn't take you because of the hit order, but instead he left this file with me explaining everything in case he didn't make it back."

"...and?" David asked.

"I asked him what happened to your mother. He said rumor on the street was that the cartel had caught up with poor Vanessa on her way to San Juan. Some said they took her back to the small town where she came from and killed her there; others say they killed her in Puerto Rico. A small few...like Sister Beatrice thinks she is still alive and on the run somewhere in Omaha, although I don't believe that myself."

"Why...Father?" David asked.

"She loved you with all her heart David-you were the best thing in her life. If she was still alive...I have no doubt in my mind the first thing she would have done is returned here for you." Father Harry said. He removes an envelope from a box and stands up, walking over to David. The emotions caused by his parents' fate were strong; he fought the urge to break down. Father Harry puts a hand on David's shoulder to comfort him. "It's a hard truth my son...one your Uncle didn't want you to hear until you were a man on age."

David wipes the tears from his eyes and turns around to face Father Harry. "My Uncle...what ever happened to him?"

Father Harry hands him the blank envelope, still sealed. "I don't know...but I suppose the answer may be in here. It was sent by the DEA on behalf on your Uncle when you were eleven years old with specific orders on when it was to be given to you."

Father Harry walks back to his desk and takes out a small tablet. "I'm going to speak to Sister Patrice for a moment regarding this Sundays sermon...the office is yours to read the letter in privacy."

David is left alone...holding the letter envelop in his hand. He returns to his chair and opens it. He pulls out the handwritten note on graphite paper and begins to read.

"Dear David,

If you're reading this letter then the Church has told you the truth about your parents, and about me. All I can say is; I'm sorry, I wanted to bring you home to San Juan where your father was from, but the job made it too dangerous. Finally, when I thought the time was right, I was told I got stage four brain cancer. I didn't want you seeing me like this, a small portion of the man I used to be. I wanted to tell you about your mother, Vanessa. I searched for a long time for her...for you. She was captured by the same cartel that killed your father and taken to a town called Chuwilachulapanga in the southern part of the country. Mexican police reported back to some of our agents that the Cartel tried to torture your mother for information on your location. She took her own life instead. Her body is buried somewhere there in a small field near the church where she was born. I fought with myself for years on whether to tell you the truth. In the end, it was only right that you know everything there is to know about what had happened.

David, me and your Dad didn't have much, but whatever we had, is now left to you. The church has the deed to the house where we grew up in Bayamon, as well as information to a trust fund set up in your name. It's not much, but hopefully it could help. The house needs work, but its home. Es tu casa sobrino mio. I hope you have all the answers you need. I've met Father Harry and he is a good man. I know you will grow up right. Make us proud Nephew y que dios te bendiga. Always know that you were loved by all of us.

Your loving Uncle,

Jose Nieves.

Everything goes pitch black again He stands there in the darkness, hearing nothing, seeing nothing. A door opens farther into the blackness. He hears Julia's voice calling out to him..."David...this way David." He follows her voice toward the door and into a bright light; David walked through and everything around him changed. The scene shifted to a clinic. There were a few boys from the church there. Julia walks up to him and points out a familiar face.

"Remember him...?" she asked. David walked up to the little boy and realized that it was him. He was there to get booster shots before his first day in sixth grade; he must have been only ten years old. He walked up to his child-self and took a knee in front of him.

"God, I had some chubby cheeks. I looked like a chipmunk." He said. David sat next to himself. The boy flipped through comic book pages as he waited to be called in.

The door to the doctor's office opens and Father Harry walks out. "Thank you Doctor for helping our boys; this means so much to the church savings."

The Doctor walks out behind Father Harry. He's a taller, middle aged white male with a balding scalp. He wore glasses and had a black beard. "Anything we can do to help the church Father Harry."

Julia takes a step back and mutters softly under her breath. "It's him..."

"What's going on? You look like you've seen a ghost..." David said walking to her.

"That man...the Doctor. That's Matthew Rhodes." She said placing her palm up for him to give her a moment.

Doctor Rhodes kneels in front of David's child self and teases the boy with a lollipop. "Father Harry tells me you are a very special boy. Come into my office so we can give you the medicine that will make you big and strong? Like the super hero inside that comic book...would you like that?" Doctor Rhodes said to the boy. Little David smiled and nodded his head yes. The Doctor gave him the lollipop and took him by the hand into his office. Julia followed them inside. "David, please sit on the edge of the bed...right over there like a good little hero and I will be with you in one minute." Little David does what he is told as the doctor walks over to a sealed metal cooler. He enters a code into a keypad on the door knob and speaks his name into a small voice analyzer. The door to the cooler unlocks and he opens it wide. The gas from the dry ice slightly escapes as he removes a small aluminum box. He closes the door and walks over to a table.

David walks into the office and stands next to Julia. "What the hell is going on?"

"Wait...David. Wait for one minute." She answered intently focused on what was happening in the memory.

Doctor Rhodes opens the box and removes a small vile of clear fluid. He injects a small gauge syringe into the top of the vile, flips over the bottle, and retracts the desired dosage.

He walks over to little David and begins to roll up his right sleeve. "You're going to feel a little pressure in your arm. You're a big boy David?" He asked rubbing an alcohol pad on his arm.

"Yes sir..." The little boy responded. The Doctor then proceeded to give him the shot in the arm. The boy grimaced in pain slightly but made it through.

"David..." Julia said.

"Yea..." David answered as he understand what was the big deal.

"Remember this moment...this exact moment." Julia said pointing a finger to the floor almost as she was stabbing the scene before them.

"Why...?"

"Because one day you'll want to know who, what, when, where, and why it all happened, and it will all bring you back to here." She said grimly.

"I don't understand Julia, what do you mean?"

"Back in the cafeteria...did you see what you were doing to us? Did you notice?"

"No...why...?"

The scene returns back to the cafeteria of the university. David sees Ayumi, Julia, and Doctor Gupta lie on the floor writhing in pain. His eyes shine bright with white fire. "David...you did this." she said.

Suddenly the scene shifted to the embassy, back to where this dark journey began. The sounds of battle fill the room. The building is on fire, everything is coming down on top of them. David just moves through the gunfire and explosions like sleepwalking with Julia close by. He walks toward a staircase where he sees his friend...Kevin lying lifeless. His arm then begins to burn bright; Julia could feel the searing heat he is generating.

"David...what is happening?" she asked- stepping away from him. He burst into a white ball of fire which blinded her. She fell to the floor crawling rapidly away from him. Suddenly everything is blown away from them as they literally stand in the middle of a nuclear explosion. David's power is unleashed before her very eyes, leveling anything that stands in its path. She covered her eyes unable to bear the destruction and chaos before her. Julia could hear the screams of those who burned in the nuclear fire.

Finally the noises quieted down. She opened her eyes and ash and rubble are all that's left. David lies in the center of a large smoldering crater, naked and unconscious. She closed her eyes once more and breathed deep. When she re-opened them she was awake back at the lab, sitting in a chair nearby.

"Doctor Gupta..." she called gingerly. Rhodri hears her and rushes to her side with a glass of water.

"Here...drink the water and take a moment." He said.

"The explosion...in Gabon; it was him Doctor...it was all him." She said anxiously. Julia experiences bouts of anxiety when she returns back into consciousness.

"It's okay Julia, you're okay." The Doctor said as fills a syringe with a calming mix of painkillers and anti-anxiety medication for moments like this.

"Doctor you don't understand. He has to die! He'll kill us all!" She screamed out as he was readying her arm to receive the injection. He motions for two of the lab assistants to hold her down while he injects the medication.

"You....have...to...kill...." Finally she was down.

"Watch over her, I'll be in my office." He instructs his nurses as he walks out of the lab and across the hall into his office. Doctor Gupta quickly pours himself a stiff drink and sits down on his couch. His hands tremble as he sips the Scotch, trying to make sense of what Julia said to him.

"The explosion...in Gabon; it was him Doctor...it was all him."

UN Forward Operating Base Victor

Franceville, Gabon.

Hundreds of homeless residents of Gabon travel here to the corporate airport turned UN forward operating base daily. C-130 airships have been arriving every hour, filled with relief aid supplies from member countries for the surviving communities near the disaster zone. There are rows of UN relief trucks line dropping off relief volunteers working around the clock; busy loading the vehicles with water, medicine, clothes, and food. With dusk approaching, a dinner break has been called, and with everyone rushing the food tents for hot stew and bread, no one notices the sudden flash of light appearing near a green fuel container at the far south side of the base, near the runway. Ayumi arrives covertly behind the container-with Miles in tow, lying on the floor. She removes a syringe from her side pocket and injects him in the neck-suddenly rousing him from his unconscious state. Once done she scans the area for patrols.

"Take care of yourself-Brit." And with a sudden flash of light Ayumi was gone leaving Miles there...as he slowly regains his senses after enduring an experience that left him feeling swallowed, chewed, and spit out all at once.

Miles opens his eyes and sees the blue sky above him. "Oh...bloody hell." He finds himself lying in warm dirt, under no cover. "She could have least left me somewhere indoors." He stands up and gathers himself together...patting away the dirt off his clothes.

"Where the bloody hell...is this?" He says to himself. Miles looks around him...and sees vehicles bearing the UN flag patrolling the runway area. "No she didn't...the bitch." He wipes the sweat off his forehead and walks slowly toward the patrol. There is no way he is going to maneuver through this base undetected so he waves his hands in the air...immediately grabbing the attention of the roving units. A small security team converges on his position...weapons aimed- surrounding him at all sides; bearing the UN patch on their BDU's as well as the flag of their home country...Spain.

"Manos Arriba!" yelled one of the soldiers as Miles instinctively puts his hands in the air.

"Yo soy British!" he responded back to the guard. "Inglaterra...!"

One of the Spanish soldiers comes closer to him, still pointing his rifle at Miles. "Get on your knees-keep your hands up." Miles does what he's told, allowing the soldiers to pat him down for weapons and secure him. After they determined he is un-armed he is allowed to rise to his feet. "Put your hands behind your back".

They load Miles onto one of the jeeps and drive him down to a secure wing of the airport. They then escort him to a private office where he is sat down at a desk and put under watch by three guards.

After about 15 minutes of waiting, the door opens and a tall Spaniard officer walks through. "I am the detail commander...Sergeant Alejandro Pena. You have no identification and just appear out of nowhere within a secured area. So the two most obvious questions on my mind are -Who are you Englishman and why are you here?"

"Okay, fair enough amigo. My name is Miles Conner and I'm British intelligence. So get me a bottle of water and some aspirin, I got a bloody headache."

...to be continued.

Continue the adventure with

Pete Hernandez III "COMPANY MAN"

www.companymancomic.net

Kerry Cepero is a Bronx born- Queens raised Author who enjoys a ton of tv, movies, and loads of Football. He writes on Moviepilot and Goodreads.

Follow him on www.facebook.com/KerryCeperoAuthor for all the latest news and book releases. Kerry currently resides in Florida with his wife Monica and four children.

Check out his latest novel "Looking Back"

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