CHAPTER 1

Reenlistment

'Heracles' compound, Nevada desert

Sam Winston wasn't very happy with his life. His wife was the most hideous creature in the world, his mother had died a year ago and on top of all he had the dullest job in the world. He sat in his chair in the security office, legs crossed, wondering just what the hell was he doing here. This was one of the most secure places in the nation: state-of-the-art defense turrets, infrared scanners, motion detectors, the works! Even so 'Armacham' felt the need to make his life even more boring than it already was by putting him on the night watch. If it wasn't for the handsome paycheck which he received every month he'd be long gone. Sam checked the security feed from the…'Storage facility'. It was the same creepy sight. They were just standing in the dark, hundreds of them. Armed and ready for action. Sam had heard from one of the other guards that some sort of incident had occurred two years ago. During that time he was still working in a bank in DC but he remembered that broadcast in the news about a small nuke going of in an abandoned part of the city. Maybe there was a connection. He tried not to think about it.

'Might as well get some coffee.' He thought and got up.

Sam yawned and went outside. It was already 5 a.m. He groaned and proceeded towards the coffee machine at the bottom of the hall. He was in the mood for a hot espresso. His shift ended at in an hour. Sam closed his eyes and tried to picture the breakfast which his wife was going to prepare for him when he got home. He smirked.

'At least she can cook!'

Suddenly he stopped. He heard footsteps. The guard turned around startled but saw nothing.

'Is someone there?'

The sound of footsteps was getting stronger. Someone was coming!

'Nobody's supposed to be here!'

Sam drew his handgun and took cover behind a large plant. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and waited. Soon a short silver-haired man appeared from behind the corner. He was dressed in black and held a card key in his right hand. Sam recognized him immediately. It was Marshal Disler, a senior 'Armacham' employee. He had seen him before. Disler was a biophysicist who worked on project 'Heracles'. But what was he doing here this late? Sam studied him as he used the keycard on a security panel. The grille, blocking the passage to the elevators, was lifted. Sam was confused. Usually when someone had to work here overnight the guards would be informed. He cautiously stood up from behind the plant and started:

'Um…mister Disler?'

Disler did not reply. He just stood next to the panel, stiff as a board.

'Mister Disler, what are you doing here?'

Again there was no response. Sam was starting to worry. He slowly approached him and tapped him on the shoulder. Nothing. The guard studied his face. Something was definitely wrong. Disler was completely motionless. Sam looked into his eyes and was startled. It was like looking into the abyss: there was nothing there. Suddenly he heard a 'Click' noise behind him and felt something pressed against the back of his head. The guard turned pale. Someone was holding a gun against him.

'Move!' A cold voice behind him ordered.

Horrified, Sam raised his arms and slowly proceeded towards the elevators.

'How the hell did he get pass the defenses!'

It didn't matter. Whoever he was he had the upper hand. The guard decided to play along. When they reached the elevators the man behind him said:

'Activate them!'

Sam hesitated for a moment but then he came to his senses. His life was on the line. He took out a key from his pocket and used it to unlock a panel on the wall. He opened it flipped a switch, diverting power to the elevators. A green light went on, indicating that they were now active.

'Turn around!'

Sam slowly turned around and saw his assailant. He was a tall man, probably in his early thirties, with short black hair and pail skin. He was dressed in a gray mackintosh and held a Glock 22 pistol in his right hand.

'Who are you?' The guard finally asked.

A smirk appeared on the man's face.

'Some riddles are best left unsolved.'

The last thing that came to Sam's mind before he was knocked unconscious was:

'I should have called in sick today!'

The stranger put his gun away and stepped inside the elevator. Then he closed his eyes and focused. The telepathic link between him and Disler was reestablished. He ordered the scientist to join him. The other man obeyed and slowly stepped inside. As the doors closed the stranger issued his next order:

'Take me to them!'

Disler approached the call button panel and pressed the one labeled 'Barracks'. The elevator started the descent into the underground complex. The stranger was pleased. This would mark the beginning of his triumph. In a few moments he would finally have the means to set his plan in motion. Three minutes later they stopped. The doors opened and the two men stepped outside. They were now facing an enormous steel gate. Disler approached a nearby security console and entered a code. A 'Hiss' noise was heard as the gate slowly moved aside. Apparently it was air-tight. It didn't matter. The stranger was amazed. They were more beautiful than he had imagined. He slowly entered the enormous chamber, shaking from excitement. This was more than he had hoped for. There were hundreds of them. Row after row. Just standing there. They were called REPLICA, highly trained and heavily armed clone soldiers. And they were now his. All he had to do now was to activate them. This would require all of his mental strength. He turned back to Disler, who was still standing next to the console.

'Thank you, mister Disler.' He said with a cold and somewhat sarcastic tone.

The sound of gunfire echoed throughout the huge facility and Disler fell dead on the ground. He had no more use for him. The man now focused all of his power into one goal: to awaken the clones. He felt horrible pane as he channeled enormous amounts of psychic energy into the brains of the soldiers in an attempt to free their suppressed minds. He fell on his knees and started screaming. And just then the soldiers raised their weapons. They were now active. The man carefully stood up and studied them. There were different models-some with visors, some with gas masks, some with heavier armor. The bottom line was they obeyed only him now. And that thought filled him with joy. One of the soldiers stepped forward and yelled in a military fashion:

'Lt. Commander Sigma-Ten reporting for duty, sir!

'Sir. I like the sound of that!' The stranger thought and replied out loud:

'Excellent! My name is Riddle and I will be your field commander until further notice. Is that understood?'

The soldiers replied in chorus with a quick 'Sir, yes, sir!'.

'Now, grab any piece of equipment you can find and prepare to move out. We leave within the hour.'

Before he had even finished the soldiers were already on their way. Sigma-Ten approached Riddle.

'If I may ask, sir, where are we going?'

Riddle in return smiled and stated:

'Heatherfield, lt. commander. We're going to Heatherfield.'