Prologue: [Baghdad, Iraq]
[23rd January, 1991]
[Operation Desert Storm]
The Iraqi desert was a mere silhouette when compared to the backdrop of the slowly wakening sky, and the desert sun was beginning to peer, almost hesitantly, over the eastern horizon. Small towns just a few minutes away were beginning to develop a steady hum of people, but perhaps the more alarming part was the metallic roar that caused even the sands to shudder. A Merlin HC3 zipped overhead at a low altitude, heading towards a row of blinding white lights over in the distance, and on its tail was painted the American flag. The attack helicopter moved quickly, but with much grace, as though it were searching for something or someone; the former was probably more likely. As it approached the white lights- which turned out to be an Army base- the landing gear dropped down, and the aircraft began to lower onto a black pad with a large white h on the middle. About 4 workers waved their two glow sticks to aid the aircraft in lowering safely, before the engine cut off, and two figures-the male pilot and a female- stepped out.
"General Lee!" a man dressed in an officer's outfit greeted the female in a glad tone. "Sorry about the short notice about flying up here from Kuwait, but we needed you here as fast as possible. Nice flight coming up here?"
The female was about 5'4" with dark, wavy black hair and was oddly broad-shouldered and solidly built, and her dark blue eyes shone in the blaring lights. Saluting and grinning, she replied, "Bit too much sand for my taste, if you had to ask, but other than that everything went fine."
"Good to hear. Follow me, and I will take you to Colonel Higgens. He has a plan he wants you to overlook before he sends it off." With that, he turned and headed to a smaller looking, tan colored building located in the center of camp. A few guards escorted them to the building, and once they entered, the door shut tightly behind them. The building on the inside was dimly lit, and on either side of the corridor leading to the main room were several guards, standing at attention. As General Lee passed one particular guard on the way to the main room, she noticed that he possessed a small cut on the outer part of his left hand that was still bleeding lightly; she began to feel odd, and she ducked her head to prevent anyone from seeing her face, with her eyes now reddish and her teeth possessing a set of what could only be described as fangs. When the feeling passed, she raised her head up again and followed the officer into a large conference room, complete with a large rectangular table and a map on the wall behind it. In the head chair sat a tall man with dark blond hair and light hazel eyes. When the officer knocked on the door, the man looked up, confused at first, then he grinned. "General Lee! How incredibly great of you to be here!" He stuck his hand out. "I'm Colonel Higgens."
The General smiled warmly and shook his hand. "Pleasure to meet you, Colonel. I understand that you have a plan that needs overlooking?"
"I do indeed." Turning to the officer who had been with them, he asked, "Would you mind if I had a private conversation with the Lieutenant General, Captain Alexander?"
The Captain nodded, and turned and walked out of the room. Once the door had been closed, Colonel Higgens turned to the General and stated, in a low and serious tone, "Balthazar sent me here to see how you were, Abira."
"I've been doing fine, Leniel," Abira replied, also in a low tone. "I have the reports on the last movements of the demon troops; would you like them?"
Leniel nodded, and Abira handed him a thick set of manila folders. Smiling, Leniel nodded to her. "When does your deployment end?"
"Only in a week or so. They send me back to Atlanta on Wednesday." She looked at him curiously. "Why?"
"Balthazar and his dispatchment have been receiving reports of various killings in New Orleans. Some have been speculating that it was demons, but the nature of the killings- large, infected wound on the side of the neck, blood drained- it's all very odd."
Abira nodded, but now she felt more on edge.
"Have you been controlling your cravings?"
"Yes. I still get flare ups now and then, but I haven't harmed any single person." She paused. "And I think I know of what is behind these killings. Give me some time; this investigation is gonna be a while."