The Troops Arrive:
So here I was, 150 years post-legend, heading a small reconstruction group in the midst of this dark forest.
"Hey Jones!" came a call, no one ever used my first name on site.
"Yeah?" I asked, glancing up from the forms I was filling out.
"What was it you said this place was gonna be called, M... somethin'... I can't ever remember, some of the new guys wanna know."
"Manticore." I responded bluntly -- and how many more times was I going to have to explain that...? Who knows. Probably a hundred. Manticore. The name intrigued me. I had read the definition a hundred times or so: 'a monstrous creature, which inhabits the forests. The Manticore, considered to be a dangerous predator, body of a lion and a head with human resemblance. The mouth is filled with three rows of razor-sharp teeth and the scaled tail ends in a ball with poisonous darts. The monster stalks through the forest in search of humans. Upon an encounter with a human, the Manticore fires a volley of darts at the victim, who dies immediately.' Now I'm asking, why the hell would they name a building that?! Were they trying to curse it right from the get-go? Ironic though. Cat/human monster, well, that was probably just an interesting coincidence.
Anyway, construction and repairs were almost finished; the place would be operational in a week or so. 'I wonder what they're going to do with this place,' I often thought.
The big, six-story high building looked a bit out of place out here, in the middle of nowhere. It should've been in a city, not in the middle of a forest! After some thought, I decided the structure was quite a bit like that of a prison -- lots of different blocks, many single cells, long hallways, and small office areas. Not to mention the security measures and the perimeter fence. And the parts that didn't give the appearance of a prison were built like a military barrack: huge gyms with obstacle courses and training facilities. Nothing I would want to run through! Not to mention the padded sparring rooms, a large pool area/water complex... and that was just the inside! Outside there were more training fields, obstacles, pools, and of course, the ever present forest.
One hallway lead down to another section, not designed like the rest. The doors had special clearance locks; the rooms were white, too white. The environment was so sterile I felt bad walking in there with my work boots on. Minus the equipment and the smell it could've been a hospital. But I dismissed that notion -- what would they need a personal hospital for anyway?
I had just finished the final paint touches on the helicopter pad when a familiar hovering sound filled the air. I'd finished just in time apparently. Three black helicopters landed within minutes. Men in black uniforms jumped out, filling into line. One man, looked to be about 30 maybe 35, clad in a leather jacket stepped out more slowly. He was obviously in command. He had the air of a confident young commander. He glanced at me and asked;
"Who's in charge here young man?" In a curt, commanding tone.
"I am sir." I replied, and I was, sorta -- if anyone was.
"What's your name soldier?" He asked in the same tone.
"Jones, sir." Soldier? Must be military habit to address everyone in that manner...
"Lydecker." He introduced himself coolly. Turning to his men, "move out," he ordered and they filled towards the building in the classic, well-trained military fashion.
"Is the building ready for us Jones?" He asked, turning back to me with one eyebrow raised.
"Yes sir, final touches were finished today." I answered in my best confident tone.
"Good work," he nodded curtly and started to turn away, then "Jones, show me around a bit, I'll need to know every inch of this place." I nodded in response and lead the way inside.
So here I was, 150 years post-legend, heading a small reconstruction group in the midst of this dark forest.
"Hey Jones!" came a call, no one ever used my first name on site.
"Yeah?" I asked, glancing up from the forms I was filling out.
"What was it you said this place was gonna be called, M... somethin'... I can't ever remember, some of the new guys wanna know."
"Manticore." I responded bluntly -- and how many more times was I going to have to explain that...? Who knows. Probably a hundred. Manticore. The name intrigued me. I had read the definition a hundred times or so: 'a monstrous creature, which inhabits the forests. The Manticore, considered to be a dangerous predator, body of a lion and a head with human resemblance. The mouth is filled with three rows of razor-sharp teeth and the scaled tail ends in a ball with poisonous darts. The monster stalks through the forest in search of humans. Upon an encounter with a human, the Manticore fires a volley of darts at the victim, who dies immediately.' Now I'm asking, why the hell would they name a building that?! Were they trying to curse it right from the get-go? Ironic though. Cat/human monster, well, that was probably just an interesting coincidence.
Anyway, construction and repairs were almost finished; the place would be operational in a week or so. 'I wonder what they're going to do with this place,' I often thought.
The big, six-story high building looked a bit out of place out here, in the middle of nowhere. It should've been in a city, not in the middle of a forest! After some thought, I decided the structure was quite a bit like that of a prison -- lots of different blocks, many single cells, long hallways, and small office areas. Not to mention the security measures and the perimeter fence. And the parts that didn't give the appearance of a prison were built like a military barrack: huge gyms with obstacle courses and training facilities. Nothing I would want to run through! Not to mention the padded sparring rooms, a large pool area/water complex... and that was just the inside! Outside there were more training fields, obstacles, pools, and of course, the ever present forest.
One hallway lead down to another section, not designed like the rest. The doors had special clearance locks; the rooms were white, too white. The environment was so sterile I felt bad walking in there with my work boots on. Minus the equipment and the smell it could've been a hospital. But I dismissed that notion -- what would they need a personal hospital for anyway?
I had just finished the final paint touches on the helicopter pad when a familiar hovering sound filled the air. I'd finished just in time apparently. Three black helicopters landed within minutes. Men in black uniforms jumped out, filling into line. One man, looked to be about 30 maybe 35, clad in a leather jacket stepped out more slowly. He was obviously in command. He had the air of a confident young commander. He glanced at me and asked;
"Who's in charge here young man?" In a curt, commanding tone.
"I am sir." I replied, and I was, sorta -- if anyone was.
"What's your name soldier?" He asked in the same tone.
"Jones, sir." Soldier? Must be military habit to address everyone in that manner...
"Lydecker." He introduced himself coolly. Turning to his men, "move out," he ordered and they filled towards the building in the classic, well-trained military fashion.
"Is the building ready for us Jones?" He asked, turning back to me with one eyebrow raised.
"Yes sir, final touches were finished today." I answered in my best confident tone.
"Good work," he nodded curtly and started to turn away, then "Jones, show me around a bit, I'll need to know every inch of this place." I nodded in response and lead the way inside.