A/N – I know that Captain seems really OOC, but this is before he became Captain and lost his mind. Also, the operation = "We've altered your DNA, we've twisted your chromosomes" from the Que Sera video. And this is my first story, sorry if it sucks.

Chapter I- The Beginnings of the Mug

It's World War Three. In every country, there are rebels. This Conspiracy has been hidden for many years. And it turns out I was born into it.

My parents are somewhat high in the German branch of the Conspiracy. It has a longer name in reality, but it doesn't matter to me. I hate it regardless. We live on the edge of the Dead Zone. It's scary at times, like when I was six and had my eyeball juices put in danger by a filthy radioactive hippy. And he thought I was a girl. I'm somewhat worried about that. Then again, I was wearing my gas mask, so it's hard to tell.

The point is that I don't want to be one of the Rebels. I would gladly join the Directorate Forces. They are doing good, not evil. The Conspiracy kidnaps and tortures Directorate soldiers until they spill their secrets. They attack without purpose, their only wish to rule. I get the feeling it would be horrible to live under the Conspiracy's rule. They're bad enough as it is. They talk of the things the Directorate has done angrily, not realizing that they are doing far worse.

But now it's too late to leave. My parents have had planned for me to be the next leader of the rebels. And they are engineering me to be unstoppable.

They summoned me into their chambers today. "Z," Mother said, "We have something to tell you." I tensed. They would usually just leave me to the tutors. It was rare for them to even speak with me.

My father stood. "We have set the date for your operation," he said quietly.

A chill ran through my body. "My… Operation?"

"You are Recruit Z, son," Mother said. "We didn't name you, the Conspiracy did. You are part of the Conspiracy's plan, named specifically so you could be identified. We were against this, but it's for the good of the world. You will undergo a procedure that will make you, how shall I say… Superhuman. You will lead our armies. You will make us win."

That was definitely a shock.

"I- What?" I shouted "No! I don't want to be a mutant!"

"I'm sorry, Z. It's a done deal," Mother said sternly. Father looked at me apologetically.

"I- I'd rather DIE!" I screamed, and ran. I dashed through the wastes, not even caring that I had no gas mask on. I wasn't sure where I was until I stopped, breathless, at a chain-link fence: The only border separating rebel territory from Directorate land. It was there I sat for a while, contemplating my options. My only choices were to be operated on or die. I briefly thought about running to the Directorate, but I knew I was too cowardly for such measures. Stupid, stupid me.

A rustle of dead leaves and garbage woke me from my thoughts. I jumped, and then sighed from relief. Sarah.

Sarah was a girl born to the Directorate. She is my only friend in this world, probably because she is the only other person my age that I have met.

"Hi, Z. I was hoping you'd be here," She said softly.

"Good. Save me," I said glumly. A look of concern came over her face.

"What's wrong?"

"My parents are evil! They're trying to turn me into a mutant weapon!" I burst out, the covered my mouth. It was important not to be heard in the wastes, and I probably had just blown my cover.

"Oh my… Well, then this is probably well-timed." She smiled, and produced a package from her coat. She passed it through one of the many holes in the fence. I opened it to reveal a mug with a rough black strip painted around it. One side had a roughly-painted red heart on it.

It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. I smiled. It somehow managed to cheer me up immediately.

"It's great!" I said.

All of a sudden, a shout disrupted the scene. "Found him!" A voice echoed through the broken city. I whirled around and ducked just in time. Bullets ricocheted off of the remains of houses destroyed by the bombs. Sarah ducked too. Men flooded into the area surrounding the border. Before I could escape, they grabbed me by the arms. I saw that some of them had climbed the fence and had grabbed Sarah. All I knew was that I had my mug and that was all that mattered. "You're going to the surgeon, kid!" Someone said. I felt a pinch in my neck. Then everything faded to black.

New Chapter coming soon!