While sitting in the back with Rook. I began to drift back to the memories and what eventually brought me here. I was about to finish my tour of duty and I had no idea what I was going to do next. All I had ever known for the past four years was death.

In two weeks I was headed state side, and then another 3 months and my contract would be up. I was headed to the tent to grab some chow, when I was approached by a suit. Everyone hated these guys, because it was believed that they were getting everyone killed, with their so called intelligence gathering. If I had only known back then…

He had caught my attention simply by stating that he could keep me doing what I did best and getting paid more was a huge plus. He was getting a team together to hunt down some of their most wanted individuals. If this team was a success then it would go on to more missions. I said what the hell I had nothing waiting back home for me.

I remembered the first time I had met the team. Dom and I had been buddies before we even joined the military, but had been in different platoons.

"Oh shit their bringing your ass along too? And here I was hoping to make some new friends." Dom said.

"Like you could make new friends " I said.

"Hey quit the ass grabbing and get on the damn chopper you well be debriefed at the new location" the suit said. Our little reunion had to wait until we knew what the hell we were getting ourselves into.

"There will be more team members at the bunker." The suit mentioned. I had no idea who these guys were, neither did Dom.

The Chopper ride felt like it took hours, but then again I'm not one for being in the air. Dom wouldn't stop smiling like a damn fool, he knew I hated this.

We finally landed in bum fucking nowhere close to some mountains. Looked like and old air force base and there was four other guys there. It didn't look like they were getting along well.

"Hey break it up! We don' want this to end here!" the suit yelled. They immediately backed away from each other turning to the suits.

"Okay boys since everyone is here I can finally tell you what is going on. "No interruptions please and questions at the end" he said smiling.

"You are headed to Baghdad, were fighting there so no one should notice you guys poking around. You are looking for lab and a Dr. Aleeb. He is who we want. Find him, extract him without anyone noticing." He said.

"That's it? then why put a team together? Anyone of guys could do that" one of the guys asked.

"you're really asking that question? Next" the suit ordered while rolling his eyes.

"How are we going to find the Doc?" I asked.

"Excellent! At least one of you is thinking. Our sources say that he is being protected in a basement toward the edge of the city for a quick getaway but that could be wrong. Oh! Look at that! That's all the time we have kids!" the suit said clasping his hands walking away. " Your ride will be here in ten, grab what you need and radio in when have the item, code dead silence. Okay bye!" the suit said as he left.

I turned to the rest of the group and introduced myself, then Dom. The first guy to introduce himself was Six, for a "tech guy" he didn't seem to bright, "Why are you even here?" I asked him.

"Now who's the stupid one? I'm here for the money" he said looking around at the others.

"You" I pointed at the big guy.

"They call me Tank." Was all he said.

"Well that's helpful, I'm called Vector this is my little brother Rook. Got the short end of the stick in genes." He gets interrupted by Rook slapping him upside the head. Vector gives Rook a dirty look "I like making things go boom! Uncle Sam pays me to do what I love." He says Smiling. I turned to Rook expecting him to say something, but just shrugged his shoulders and went to get geared up.

We all followed his lead, no one really knowing what else to add. I had a problem not knowing these guys but having to trust them. My old unit had an LT who almost got the whole squad killed on our first mission. Dumbass. No idea where he is now, don't know what brass did with him. Vector reminds me of him.

Baghdad

Well it was one big shit show I remember that. We had to fly in without any lights. The city was a complete war zone, we could see the fighting in the streets. Explosives going off here and there. No one paid us any notice as flew over them to the edge of the city. After we landed, we were greeted by a woman, I could till we were all weary of her until she said she was deep under cover and for us to hurry our asses before someone else arrives. She lead us to a house, with I guess what you would call a basement. There she told us her informant on the inside had gone quiet about three days ago and she wasn't sure if the Doc was still there or if he had been moved. She gave us a picture of Dr. Aleeb to memorize.

The fighting never stopped, since we were dressed as US soldiers we always had a target on our back. We left the little house and traveled on foot a good two miles to the "lab". I don't know how many shots we dodged or even what miracle it was to make it to the next "safe house" where we could breathe easily for a bit then head out. Tank headed to the roof after he had said "tired of this bullshit" I had no idea what he was doing. Rook followed him. We stood in silence after we heard a shot ring out. then 20 mins later another. We heard chatter over the mics. Our guide was seething.

"what the hell you just gave them our positon!" she screeched at us.

Tank came walking back down "You son of bitch! I hope it was worth it!" she yelled at him.

Tank only smiled at her and nodded to us.

The shots definitely perked up a few guys, I was hoping no one saw where the shots came from. It was hard enough to navigate through the houses, but surprisingly no one was firing shots off at us anymore.

Turning a corner, Saline said the house was just ahead of us, Saline wouldn't go any further to risk her cover. The house looked deserted, no one was inside, we searched thinking that this lab had been moved, until Dom found a door hidden in the floor under a few dozens rugs.. Aiming our guns at the door, Rook opened it reveal stairs. One by one we headed down the stairs. Ahead of us motion activated lights came on. I could feel it in my gut something wasn't right here. The hallway we were in opened up to reveal a huge room with lab equipment on tables but no Dr. Aleeb. It looked like someone had gotten attacked, one side of the room with an operating table was trashed and there was blood leading to another room. Again Rook took point to open the door. The lights were on in this room, it looked like a morgue and in the corner was something eating Dr. Aleeb intestines. We all stood in stunned silence as this thing was thoroughly enjoying Dr. Aleeb.

"what the fuck" were the words that tumbled out of Six's mouth.

That got the things attention, it looked up at us, looked at its meal and choose to ignore us. We all looked at each other than wondering who would try to talk to it.

"hey" I said.

The thing looked up again eye's glossy, I stepped forward a bit but it growled at me so I stepped back. "tell us what happened?"

"Mine!" it yelled. "Hungry! GO!" it yelled while trying to bring the body of Dr. Aleeb closer to it, as if it was protecting it's meal. We walked back into the lab leaving the thing to its meal.

I radioed in "dead silence come in".

"Package ready?"

"negative package is expired"

"Confirmed?"

"confirmed."

"Hold." Was the last transmission. Thinking we had been left to die until,

"is room intact?"

"mostly" I say.

"15 minutes out, secure it over and out." Great they were coming. I send Tank and Rook to the roof, Vector to set explosives to bring this place down, Dom and Six to wait for the suits. I stand by the door to make sure that thing didn't try and get out.

I can hear when the suits arrive. I had time to look around this place. I have no idea what the hell they were trying to develop, but they either succeeded or failed miserably. I was brought out of my thoughts by the suits walking down the stairs. There was three of them the first one was the one who briefed us the other two I didn't recognize.

"Check everything" he told them." Why aren't you securing this place?" he asked me.

"I am" I told him. He raised one eyebrow at me. "You have a weapon?" I ask.

"Of course" he answered. I was getting tired of his attitude. "draw it" I tell as I start to open the door for him and his crew.

He walks in, like a smug bastard, but I hear him curse all the same. He walks back out, motions for me to shut the door.

"It is here?" he asked the other two.

"Negative, whatever happened here was not an accident." One said. " The safe has been unlocked and the contents have been taken, presumably the notes and serum" the other says.

"fuck!" he all but shouts as he runs his hand through his hair. He take a deep breathe "Looks like your mission is not over yet." He smiles at me "take care of that thing and meet us at the helicopter" he says.

I nod as the three leave. I take one final look at whatever it is before I pull the trigger. Poor bastard. I tell the group to head out and as we leave I look down at the building as Vector blows it.

Thinking back I can't believe that how all of this had come full circle, spending the better part of a year chasing down this virus, seeing it manipulated to become this. I thought we had finally gotten rid of it.