sense of self-worth back then. I heard once that good fathers instill a sense of worth and a positive sense of pride in their kids. I couldn’t imagine what it would be like to not have a good dad.
My thoughts eventually took me back to the summer I worked for a man named Rodney Kratz. He was the worst boss I ever had. He belittled and berated me constantly in front of the other workers. To make matters worse, he never paid me the “bonus” he said he would when I first agreed to come to work for him. I endured his abuse month after month because I was saving up for a car. Finally, I had enough. I walked up to him one morning and told him I was quitting; he turned beet red. It was as if he had lost – it was as if he wished he would have found an excuse to fire me before I had the chance to fire him, but he couldn’t because I was a hard worker and followed his orders completely. Also, I had earned the respect of my coworkers and other supervisors. I bet he had a lot of explaining to do after I left…
My dad used to tell me that it was for the best that I had spent some time under such a harsh tyrant of a leader. He said that I had learned all the things not to do in leadership. He was right; my time at boot camp and at the Academy was a breeze all thanks to Kratz and his ridiculous ways. If I ever should happen to run into him (if he is still alive) I will be sure to thank him.
As I put on the gauntlets of my ShockSuit and switched on the EAS (Energy Absorption System – a technology developed by AMC that absorbs enemy fire and converts it to electrical energy) it occurred to me that nothing happens by chance. Everything – even pain and turmoil, happens for a reason.
Embracing Death
The mission was a go; we had been given the green light to infiltrate LB127. We would descend to the lunar surface using the revolutionary fusion propulsion technology built into our ShockSuits. We were to land on the Far Side (the side of the moon turned away from Earth – and out of sight to AMC’s Orbiter and monitoring equipment) and sneak aboard LB127 via the underground labs. For all intents and purposes, our chance of success was nil. Stephan would obviously be expecting some attempt at a hostage rescue.
Dyas, Baaz, and I were joined by four more Alpha troops: Lt Ed Rikes (medic), SSgt Bill Pope (sniper), MSgt Mac Lawrence (explosive tech), and TSgt Kip Green (signals intelligence). Our mission was to deliver the antidote to the population and eliminate Stephan and any who chose to side with him. Though I was prepared to execute my orders, I couldn’t shake the hope that perhaps he would listen to reason and that we could put an end to this peacefully and go home.
The deep graphite gray of the moon’s mantle closed in as we inched toward the lunar surface. It was much like skydiving but in slow-motion. We touched down in a flurry of dust and I motioned to the men to move forward. Since we had to go silent (no radio transmissions) we would have to rely on hand signals to communicate for the time being.
As we neared the entrance to the underground labs, I felt my heart pounded audibly through my temples. Did I have the courage to do what needed to be done if Stephan refused to negotiate? I thought of Kate. She wants to get married and start a family. That thought alone scared me more than the possibility of having to kill my best friend.
“Get it together, Xander!” I thought to myself.
We dug through the lunar grit until we reached the metallic hatch covering the opening to the labs. Lawrence and Baaz mounted a small breaching charge and we quickly backed away. A tiny shockwave later and we were able to descend into the deep blackness below.
“That wasn’t so bad.” Baaz remarked. He seemed remarkably calm as usual.
“Right – Baaz, you and Green stand guard here and keep an eye on your sensors.” I said. “We can now communicate safely on the encrypted channel. The rest of you, follow me and set your Mk5’s to stun. We want to save as many lives as possible.”
We slowly moved in unison down the dark and dusty corridors of the labs. Our ShockSuits were equipped with enhanced night vision with full-color capabilities but there was no color to be seen down here, just the dull metallic gray of oxidized aluminum. A faint electronic hum along with the distant clatter of machinery indicated we were getting close to the manufacturing facilities.
“Alright, men – this is where we split up.” I said. “Pope, you come with me. I’ll need your support to engage Stephan and his men. Rikes, you and Lawrence try to locate the women and children and administer the antidote as soon as possible. We will rendezvous at the hatch in exactly two hours – Godspeed, gentlemen.”
Pope and I headed up a stairway past the cloning facility. Glowing green pods by the dozens filled the warehouse-sized room below. There was a stench that even our ShockSuit filtration systems couldn’t handle. This place was completely evil. I don’t know quite how to explain it but it was as if I could feel hatred and malice in the atmosphere. We slowly crept past the clone room when I instructed Pope to activate cloak mode. We were now invisible to any and all forms of surveillance – optical and radio. We still had to tread lightly as our footsteps could be heard on the metallic grates of the walkway.
The clatter and buzz of machinery became louder as we approached the BioHybrid facility. Gasps and moans of agony began to fill the air. The Hyans were surgically implanting mechanized weaponry and tools into living creatures. The creatures did not appear human, but still I could not help but grieve for what was being done to them. “We have to stop this madness!” I thought to myself. I was beginning to feel the need for justice outweigh my desire to rehabilitate Stephan. I quietly switched my Mk5 to the kill setting.
Pope and I had several canisters of STRIPES with us in the event we came across any victims infected with LYCCYX. I couldn’t help but wonder if STRIPES could help those poor creatures. Dr. Brason said it had several positive benefits. Nonetheless, I had a mission to complete – eliminate Stephan.
We neared what looked like a secure conference room. I disengaged my suit’s cloak in order to use my listening device.
“Captain, you could be spotted!” Pope said.
“At ease, Pope; remain cloaked and watch the door.” I replied.
“Stun or kill, sir?” he asked in reference to his Mk6 pulse sniper rifle.
I hesitated for a second. If anyone was going to execute justice on Stephan, it would be me.
“Stun.” I replied.
Liberty and Justice For All
My eyes scanned the corridor leading to the conference room. A ventilation shaft above would likely be my best ingress. The only problem was that the shoulders of my suit were just a bit too wide to fit through the opening; I was going to have to remove the upper part of my ShockSuit. I powered down the EAS and began unbuckling the gauntlets.
“Captain, what are you doing?!” Pope demanded.
“There is no other way, Pope. I have to confront Stephan and this suit won’t allow me to fit into the ventilation shaft. Remain cloaked and stand guard by the door.”
“Roger.” Pope reluctantly agreed.
I managed to remove the upper portion of my suit and was able to pull myself into the ductwork. I heard voices below.
“Everything is right on schedule, sir. The clones and Hybrids will be ready in a few days and the weapons manufacturing facilities are running at full capacity.” Madras reported.
“Excellent, Kent; we’ll be ready for the UCM when they arrive.” Stephan said in what could only be described as a gurgling, beastly voice.
I peered down through the slats of the vent below to see my best friend John Stephan about fifty pounds heavier (with muscle) and about a foot taller. His face was nearly covered in coarse grayish white hair. His ears were further back and pointed and his nose and mouth were slightly elongated with large canine teeth gleaming in the artificial light. He looked like a combination of a wolf, a bear, and a wild boar. Madras – well, he looked a bit more weasel-like than usual but not at all intimidating.
The dull, electronic hum and mechanized buzzing provided just eno
ugh noise to allow me to remove the vent and slide it out of the way. I waited until Madras left the room and noticed that he left the door open. That would make for an easy escape route once I dispatched Stephan. I would probably need to drag his body with us to keep his minions from reanimating him with the BioHybrid technology.
I slowly lowered myself down onto the conference room table while Stephan had his back turned working at the display panel in the corner. He has still wearing his Alpha uniform which had now become humorously small. His boots were gone, replaced by large, hairy dog legs. I shouldered my Mk5 and took aim at the back of his hideous head.
“It’s that easy, is it?” he snarled.
I gasped in disbelief; he knew I was there…
“Shut your face, you monster!” I growled back. “I can’t let you live after what you’ve done!”
“So you’re my judge, jury, and executioner? Ha, ha, ha…” he mocked in a coughing evil tone.
He slowly turned around and the lighting illuminated the yellow of his eyes. They were still human, but barely so. When I looked into them, I thought back to the John I knew sitting at the dining room table with me, my mom and dad and my sister, Tabitha. He always loved her; everyone knew it but she was involved with some doofus who later broke her heart.