Return of the World's End

Chapter 1

Myka Bering had fallen into a mundane existence since leaving the Warehouse. All her work had devastated her emotionally, and the simple life of books and sales gave her a warm comfort. Leaving the Secret Service, Myka couldn't function in her previous occupation in any capacity with her current prognosis. Weeks passed, and she slowly became numb and downcast. Having abandoned her job and friends, she felt worse sitting in her room alone and desolate. Walking the rows of filled shelves, the books became like a gallery of judicators condemning her decision and actions.

It was on a gloomy rain-soaked day, which Myka found herself plagued by her thoughts, with the weather only added to her looming depression. Sitting in the far corner out of sight of the front door, she sits crying mercilessly. Time became meaningless as her thoughts overwhelm her senses. As she sinks further into oblivion, the bell on the door snaps her out of her lull and she wipes her face of any evidence of her loathsome existence. Striding to the front, she skids to a stop seeing a familiar tall brunette standing at the counter wearing a warm smile.

"Hello Myka."

Myka eyes flash exhilaration, and then she subdues her momentary loss of control.

"Helena, what brings you to Colorado Springs?"

The brunette smiles having noticed Myka's loss of composure.

"I'm here to talk to you actually."

Myka angrily pulls away.

"Look! I told you all, I'm not going back the warehouse, and that's final!"

Helena rushes around to the side of the counter to intercept Myka before she can get away.

"I'm not here about the warehouse! Please! I'm here to ask you a favor! A special situation has just risen which hasn't been an issue since before I joined Warehouse 12. It's probably the reason I was exposed to the warehouses in the first place. I wrote a book about what I saw; and because it was so science fiction, I got away with it being published. I used exaggeration and changed the location, but it was based on a real event. And now, it's become an issue again. I've been asked to build a team to counter this old threat once again. I need reliable people who will not be surprised by the incredible situations we might face. Even better, we won't have to collect or investigate artifacts. Please I want you to join me on this. I couldn't imagine anyone more suited than you…and I was hoping you felt the same way about working with me again."

Myka stops and shakes off the emotions welling inside of her. Rolling her eyes around the room, she finally finds Helena staring intently at her, forcing her to address the situation before her. Helena Grabs Myka's hands and pulls her forward to face her directly.

"Listen to me. I'm not interested in why you left or that you still have a bunch of emotions contorting your every thought. This thing I have to deal with. If you are with me, I think I can stop it before it destroys the world. I could try and find someone else, but I'd prefer to have you at my side. I think I can promise we won't have any beds which are artifacts, so we won't have any unplanned or awkward wakeups."

Myka turns all shades of red in seconds.

"Hey! Neither Claudia or I have ever spoken about that mission!"

Surprised, Helena immediately apologizes.

"I'm sorry! I had gotten past that years ago, I thought you had too. My fault. So, are you interested?"

Myka shakes her head and paces the floor.

"I don't know. This sounds so much like the Warehouse, that's all."

Helena shakes her head as she replies.

"I assure you, the only artifacts we will see are those which we use, which aren't that many. I like to keep my Tesla and grapple hook on hand, and I sometimes have an artifact to get me out of trouble now and then. That's it. The weapons we will use will be supplied by our sponsors. Our first mission is entirely a scouting mission, and we shouldn't have any contact. I need your keen mind and reflexes for this; and though I'll be strapped to find an adequate replacement, I must have five people in a team. They chose me because I have faced them before, and I said I could assemble a team in 19 hours. I have two in the car, and one on the way. All I need is for you to sign on, and I can get going."

Myka, confronted with imminent death by depression, cancer, or an opportunity to be killed on the job, she is drawn to the latter.

"Fine. Alright. I'm in. When do you want to go?"

Helena can't constrain the passionate smile creeping over her face.

"Now…as you are! Everything you need will be provided."

Wearing a confused expression, she follows Helena out to a waiting limousine. Like the limousines she'd walked next to on presidential details, its ominous black exterior and windows concealed both its purpose and occupants. The door opens as they approach and Helena motions for Myka to enter. Sitting, she makes out a woman sleeping in one corner and another woman sleeping across from her. As her eyes adjust, a tall figure reaches out with his hand to shake. In a hoarse voice, he waits for Myka to shake.

"It's a pleasure miss Bering."

With slight hesitation, Myka finally reaches and accepts his hand. The moment his hand closes around hers, she feels a jolt of electricity pass through her, putting her firmly asleep.

Slowly letting her slide back, the man lets go only until Myka is completely back her seat. Running his hand through her hair and face, he empties Myka's pockets and exits the vehicle as Helena waits outside. He pauses to bow to her as he strides into the bookstore and locks up for the day. As the limo pulls away, he walks into the bathroom. Taking off his jacket, he turns to look in the mirror. Instead of the dark skinned complexion he wore in the limo, he now completely resembled Myka both in appearance and height. Practicing his voice, he nodded in appreciation for his gift and sat down to read: "The War of the Worlds."

She mutters to the surrounding books:

"I hope we do better than the last time."