Prologue

Cherry scented smoke arose from behind a tall expensive leather chair. The room was silent and dark. No dimensions could be determined through the heavy darkness. Only a small desk lamp emitted a small scope of light on the desk polished surface.

A knock from the door echoed in the silent room. The perfectly oiled hinges didn't make a sound as the door released a rectangular splash of light across the floor.

"Ah.. Mr. Smith... what news do you have for me?"

The door shut and the one called Smith sat affront of the desk. Without a word Smith threw a long cigar on the desk. The chair turned around, a burning cigar floated in the darkness.

"You must have bad news.." the burning cigar grunted disapprovingly.

Smith seemed to shutter slightly, "The feds are getting suspicious and want direct action from us."

The cigar gave a low chuckle, "The feds are only pretending, to cover their own ass. However..." the voice seemed to deepen, "we don't want to arouse any more suspicion." A plume of smoke arose from the invisible mouth of darkness.

"Send in the mercenaries..."

Smith shifted uneasily, "Sir.."

The shrouded cigar man slammed his fists onto the desk. Smith jumped, fearful of the man's rage. The man moved forward into the light of the desk lamp. His deep-set eyes gave a cold glare at Smith.

"I said, send in the damn mercenaries!."

Smith nodded, a shudder in his words, "Y-yes Sir."

The man faded back into the darkness, then sending up another plume, he added, "Set trusted Nicholi as head. Make sure they find all the evidence and destroy it while he's at it. Also," he said with a dark grin, "I want the new project deployed, inform Nicholi. I want him back alive."

Smith dared to inquire, "and the others?"

"Test subjects," the man said dismissing him with the wave of his hand.

Without a word Smith left the dark room. The man puffed another pillar into the air, "I want to bask in the fruits of my labour..." A deep maniacal laughter filled to darkness.