"Glad you could all make it to this urgent meeting, it regards a new job we've been given." Began Brenton. He concealed a small smirk; he knew that no matter what his team would show up for any meeting he called. Their jobs depended on it.

In front of him standing in a small group was his team of mercs which he had worked with for the past 10 years ever since he had left the CIA. Alan, Ellen, Will, David, Kate, Gregory and Flak. It was almost 4 in the morning but this didn't matter to the group, they had been in situations which required them to stay up for days on end. Each one had their own distinct personalities and advantages which Brenton was perfectly aware of. For example Alan was a good shot with any weapon but he lacked advanced intelligence. Ellen was excellent in seduction and speech but was no more than average with a weapon. The reason that he had hired them despite these weaknesses was to build trust and to improve. The team had made significant progress in both after 10 years.

Gregory was the newest member in the team; he had replaced Brom (who had died in action while in Somalia) as the newest hacker. While highly effective in his job, Gregory was disliked by every member of the team (except for Kate perhaps) simply because he had a bit of a personality problem. He seemed to think of himself as the best of the team, forgetting the fact that the team was a single machine not a rulership. Besides that he was better at Brom in hacking but the team seemed to think that Brom (who was beloved by every member of the team) couldn't be replaced by this cheeky asshole that was barely out of college.

"If he was so great, he wouldn't have gotten himself killed!" Gregory had said once. A while later Will punched him so hard he had to get taken to the hospital. Even Brenton, who saw his whole team as equal, disliked Gregory and had once or twice considered firing him-or worse.

"The job is simple" said Brenton, "We're going to Antarctica, find this base named Outpost 31 and retrieve a sample of this Thing that our client, Mr. Richards, believes is there. Then we pack up and head home. If it all goes well, our worst enemy in this will be the cold."

"You gotta be fuckin' kidding." Said Gregory. Immediately the team members groaned in annoyance. Brenton turned his head to Gregory.

"Is there a problem here?" asked Brenton.

"Yeah Gregory is being an asshole as usual." Said Will, the team gave mutters of agreement.

"Now look here, why are we wasting our time with this job? What does our client expect us to find out there? It's a fucking wasteland out there filled with Polar Bears and shit!" exclaimed Gregory.

"Polar Bears live in the Arctic dumbass." Said Alan.

"No one asked smartass." Said Gregory.

"And no one asked you for your opinion so shut the fuck up Greg!" argued Will.

"Look guys" began Kate "I'm going to have to go with Greg on this one. What does our client expect us to find there and why? I mean if he's wrong, we're wasting our time and effort on this one job when there are other ones that are worth more of our time…"

The team talked in agreement, Greg mouthed 'Thank you' to Kate. She mouthed back 'shut up'.

"Alright everyone listen!" called out Brenton, the room became quiet.

"I understand that you want more details so listen. Basically a few weeks ago, contact was lost with a research post in Antarctica named Outpost #31. From what I can tell, the personnel there came in contact with an organism not of this world."

The team stood in silence, stunned at what Brenton had just said. He kept on talking.

"We don't know much but there was a single survivor. When our client found him, he was suffering from hypothermia and frostbite. They managed to find out that whatever this organism is, it killed the rest of the people at Outpost #31. He died a while later. Now my opinion in this doesn't matter but our client wants us to find out if this creature was real or not. If it is, he wants us to bring back a sample; if it's not…well we're getting paid a million dollars either way."

Ellen whistled, Will, Alan and David began to talk. Gregory raised his eyebrow while Kate pulled out a laptop and began typing furiously.

"Everyone in agreement?" asked Brenton, "Raise your hands."

6 hands went up.

"Good, we leave tomorrow."

The warehouse was only 5 years old yet it already showed signs of decay. The floorwork had been torn up as if a twister had come through, the paint on the walls was peeling and the air itself was musty.

None of this mattered to the woman there though; she could care less she thought as she lit a cigarette. It was private and secure, that was all she needed. She held a brown file in one hand while her other hand held up her cigarette.

Outside a car pulled up, its doors opened and she heard some footsteps. The door to the warehouse opened and a bald man in a leather jacket came in.

"On the cigs again Ida?" he asked. She smiled and threw it to the ground, the man stepped forward. She could smell the strawberry-flavored gum he was chewing.

"They're only a guilty pleasure for me."

"Yes I know all about you and your pleasures."

"Unfortunately yes."

"Who would have known you're one to like being choked during-"

"I did not ask you to come here for innuendo, this is actually something that could affect our future."

She passed him the folder. He took it casually and gave it a glance, then his eyes widened and he flipped through the file quickly.

"We need to find out what's there."

After a few more re-reads the man looked at her squarely in the eyes. They were as black as midnight.

"I'll leave tomorrow."