Chapter 1: Ashes Remain
"The right man in the wrong place can make all the difference in the world. So wake up and smell the ashes."
"The sequel to the Cannibal Holocaust? Honestly didn't expect it to be getting one" Michael 'Hox' Kramer mused as he entered the control room. Michael was built like a tank, he had long brown hair and deep blue eyes. He looked to be in his mid-twenties although his real age was unknown to everyone around him.
F.E.A.R was a strange military unit one not taken seriously by most people in the military. The only constant since its creation had been Michael.
"I see you decided to grace us with your presence Hox," Jankowski said sarcastically.
"Read the file on Fettle, piqued my interest. Besides considering you're taking noobie over there I decided it might help" he said sarcastically throwing his arm around Point Man who ignored him.
"Okay, let's focus." Better said clapping his hands.
"What's his story?" Jin asked.
"Property of Armacham Technology Corporation. They're working on a military contract developing an army of clones that respond to a psychic commander. Top secret, of course, Fettle is one of the commanders."
"We sure this isn't just the plot for some shitty 80's action movie?" Michal mused with a slight chuckle.
"This is why no one takes us seriously" Jankowski muttered. "Military clones?"
"A full battalion of them" Betters added.
"Oh, fun! Sounds like the good ol days" Michael said chuckling.
"Just how old are you?" Jankowski asked.
"Not saying!" He quickly answered. The question of Michael's age was one of the biggest contentions in F.E.A.R. No one had an estimate on it at that point the only thing they knew for sure is that his appearance was way off. And so as a joke a bet started on who could find out how old he is with the prize money growing each year.
"How do we put such an insurrection down?" Jin asked.
"As I said we put Fettle down and this all ends." Betters said.
"Cut the head and the body dies?" Michael asked.
"Exactly."
"And how will we find him?" Jankowski asked.
"Armacham planted a transmitter in his head. It should lead us right to him."
"Well isn't that convenient?" Michael said sarcastically.
"Any other question?"
"Are you sure of putting him on the ground on this mission?" Jankowski asked.
"Me or him?" Michael asked pointing at Point Man.
"You know who," Jankowski said rolling his eyes.
"You've seen his results, his reaction speed is off the charts. I think he can handle himself." Betters argued.
"I second that. Those results make you look like a rookie Jankowski" Michael snickered as Jankowski flipped him the bird.
"Bite me"
"You wish."
"Okay enough, both of you!" Betters ordered. "Ready up we leave in 10."
Michael went over and readied himself. His armor out of what most would consider standard. He had a small desk filled with medals and pictures of past actions.
The pictures varied a lot age-wise. 'Gulf war, Kosovo war, Rwanda, Afganistan' pictures of when he was a kid. Those years we're fuzzy. According to his father one of his surgeries went wrong and that explained the hole.
Every time he tried to remember it felt as if trying to push through barb wire. He held the dog tags of his fallen comrades closely and put them in his pocket. The real reason he volunteered for this job was still out of his reach.
It was out of instinct, something told him he had to participate, something told him he needed to be there. He pushed those thoughts away as he finished getting ready and stepped out.
In a surprising turn of events Point Man was to enter alone, Betters himself giving him a ride. Meanwhile, he was stuck with Jin and Jankowski. They would surround the building and stop any means of escape for Fettle.
Michael's cheerful mood had left him. He kept checking his guns he kept spinning the barrel of his revolver. He felt on edge, he felt as if he had just made a horrible mistake.
His mind blurred for a second, he was still in the truck but he was alone. A soft song played, a song that although he didn't know he felt oddly attracted to. He looked on his side and saw a music box, a small curious thing. He slowly picked it up and examined it.
He knew he had to be sleeping, although he was part of F.E.A.R he though of paranormal activity as some sort of bullshit that belonged in movies. The music stopped as he felt dread mounting, he slowly pulled the hammer of his revolver back.
He heard a scream and something pinned him, before he could even react he was thrown back to the real world.
"Shit Hox, looks like you've seen a ghost" Jankowtz joked.
"Yeah I was remembering when I shagged your mother" he said flipping Jankowtz off.
"Boys would you mind keeping it professional?" Jin asked.
"Yeah mom" they both said in unison much to her distaste. They arrived at their destination. A run-down building. Didn't look like much to be honest.
"Well, Jin We'll call you in once we know it's safe. Jankowtz take this entrance I'll take the north one. With Point man south we are bound to run into Fettle."
"Roger, I'll link up with Point Man. Good luck"
"As if I needed any luck" Michael mused. "But... Thanks..." Michael broke off and headed to the north entrance. He looked through the glass on the door and saw it had been blocked with furniture.
"Of course..." He muttered. With inhuman strength he kicked the door open sending the furniture flying. He snorted as he slowly made his way down the hallway.
"What was that?" Jankowski asked on the radio.
"The way was blocked," Michael said nonchalantly. "Now let's get this over with. I have stuff to do.
"Let me guess you're going to go back and paint your toys?" Jankowski asked mockingly.
"Excuse me? Warhammer figures are more than just toys!" Michael argued.
"Could you two keep it down? You're going to give me a headache." Better ordered through the mic.
Michael made his way through the building. It looked like nothing special, no real reason why Fettle would be attracted to it. He kept making his way through. As he continued he heard static on the radio as the lights flickered in the room.
"You promised..." A voice whispered as Michael stopped dead in his tracks.
"Hmm you must be close Fettle" Michael snorted. "You know I don't appreciate people digging in my mind!" As he kept going he slowly started hearing the cries of a baby. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up. As he kept walking he saw a figure. It looked like Fettle. Without wasting a second he ran towards it. Or at least tried as he felt his feet glued to the ground.
"So you are the one she talks about?" The figure said as it kept walking. Michael broke free of the trance and ran as fast as his legs allowed. But once he got to the hallway there was nothing there.
"Fuck... What the fuck is happening here?" Michael muttered softly. He heard a loud bang and ran towards it's origin. He saw Point Man and Jankowski breaching a door. As he walked into the room he felt his chest tighten.
Soft whispers could be heard. He felt his head screaming he felt his eyes grow heavy. The room looked dark and with a dark ashy substance floating in the air.
"Even here at this moment she held out hope you would save her" the voice said.
"The fuck are you talking about?" He muttered.
"You okay Hox?" Jankowski asked snapping him out of the trance. Michael walked to the room Jankowski and Point Man were. He saw a man in a blue shirt or at least what was left of him on a chair. His face looked mauled off by some kind of wild animal. "Jin we need you over here."
"Boss we made it too late" Michael said over the coms.
"The signal is still coming from that location. Fettle must be close." Better said.
"Me and Point Man will check it out" Michael said. "You hold the fort Jankowski."
"Got it Hox."
Michael and Point Man headed towards the stairs. The door was semi open. They saw a small girl walk by. Michael felt a shiver down his spine. He turned to Point Man and saw he had the same reaction. "You saw that?"
Point Man simply nodded. Michael shook his head and put on a smile. "Shit Rookie you must be pulling my leg." Michael joked trying to lighten the mood. As they made their way through the buiding it became clearer to him that this wasn't just a random location. What it was? He wasn't sure but it must connect with Fettle somehow. They were on the roof. Michael signaled Point Man to check the other side of the roof. He nodded and went that way. As soon as he was out of view Michael heard a loud thud. Revolver in hand as he turned the corner he saw Point man on the ground Fettle standing over him. Before he could react a shot threw him backwards. Michael gurgled as he saw blood gushing out of his chest.
"The dead man's name is Charles Habegger. I remember him but are those memories mine or hers?" Fettle asked.
"The fuck are you mumbling about?" Michael groaned as his wound closed himself.
"You gave her hope. Yet you never came." Fettle said not answering his question. "Doesn't matter... They will all die, they all deserve to die."
Michael lost consciousness only to be woken up by Point Man. Michael caught the tail end of a transmission something about the clones being at the pier. Point Man helped Michael onto his feet. He coughed violently and saw blood. He cleaned it up and let out a sigh.
"Must have been a dirty bullet, fucking asshole" he said to no one in particular. Point Man looked at him as if expecting some sort of answer. "I'll explain later." Michael tried to walk but Point Man stopped him. "Okay want an explanation? I heal fast, I'm older... Much older than I look. And that's about all you'll get out of me for now. We have a psycho to stop" Michael said.
"You guys back already?" Jankowski asked.
"Yea, roof is clear" Michael lied.
"You guys go on ahead, I have much to do here" Jin said.
"Before we go, got any insight on why he died? Besides the face mauling and stuff I mean." Michael asked.
"I have to investigate further. You three have other things to do. So I suggest you move." Jin said clearly not in the mood for chatting.
"So cold" Michael whined. Michael got in one of the helicopters. Once again they would be splitting up. He would be leading a bunch of military. He felt a bit nostalgic at the idea. They were dropped fast, hopefully he would run into Point Man or Jankowski later on.
"So kid, have you found any ghosts?" One of the soldiers asked mockingly.
"Ah yes totally, found Casper" Michael shot back sarcastically. One thing he did not enjoy how mockingly people treated the whole idea of F.E.A.R. Then again this was the first time there was a real crisis that needed them.
"Shit door's locked," Michael said looking at the garage door.
"Think you can get it open? We'll wait for you. Because you know. You're the specialist here." One of the soldiers asked.
"Sure, I'll try to find another entrance." Michael said biting his tongue. There was a lot of things Michael would tolerate but the whole holier than though act was getting tiresome in his opinion. Michael jumped onto the roof and opened a skylight. He slowly jumped down. He saw a room with some controls. "Probably my best bet." Michael said as he walked inside. As soon as he stepped inside he saw the lights flicker.
A loud screech made him drop to his knees. He cupped his ears as he tried to mute the sounds. Whispering, so many people... The word why being repeated over and over again. And then... Nothingness.
Michael found himself in a white room. And empty white room or so it seemed. He saw two figures in the room. A boy and girl. But from that dista,nce he couldn't make out much of what they were saying. As he got closer he felt something closing on him. Before his vision turned black he heard on phrase. "I promise!"
And Cut! Yes this is another story I've had in the back burner. So yes I am indeed working on 3 stories now. As always feedback is welcomed! UltimateMetroMan out!