Ch.16 Part 1: Slit their throat

A.N.:

Hey everyone. I think I got the corrections…well the obvious ones anyway. I completely dropped the ball on the Bravo 2 part. His name is not Bravo 4. It is Bravo 2. Huge fail on my part. Sorry.

"You'll never catch me Daddy! You're too slow!" My daughter taunted as I chased her through the endless meadow. Whenever I got close, she teleported back out in front of me. My body did not tire as it normally would have now that I had been sprinting at full speed after the small child for what I estimated to be at least an hour. It was another example of what my coveter was capable of doing to me.

I had arrived at the conclusion that our daughter may not actually be real in the normal sense but rather was like her mother. Both of them should not have logically existed in the manner that they did but here they were in my life nonetheless. Alma had actually once been alive and simply refused to die with her body. Our daughter, though having never been alive and conceived in a manner that continued to escape my ability to understand, was somehow alive inside of her mother.

My line of thought ventured to the being that was the initiator of my new circumstances. I honestly did not want to know the choking burden of the fathomless anger that was required for an individual to be so obsessed with revenge that not even death would have her soul. Even with how much she had changed from the fragmented spirit that I had lived in fear of, I could still fell the indescribably massive stockpile of untapped rage that she had just waiting to be used against those that sought fit to make her life worse than it could have been.

As much as Harlan had twisted her, I had to hand it to him, he was right about his daughter. Alma would have never had a chance at a normal life. I often wondered about how he had actually felt about her. He was not a complete monster as I had seen the love that Alice had in her eyes when she spoke of him. Furthermore, it had been Harlan that released Alma from The Vault. Perhaps, he had sacrificed more than his first daughter for Project Origin. He may have sacrificed his own soul as well.

His abuse may have been the only way he could face the things that he was doing to her. He probably never wanted her to love him because he knew that he would not have been able to go through with his plans if she had. Broken and unable to face the monster he turned himself into, he lived as a hollow shell of a man for the rest of his life. When Fettel's rampage brought the light of the world to reveal Armacham's crimes, he released her body knowing full well that she would kill him. Perhaps Alma had, on some level that even she was unaware of, forgiven her father once she killed him. That would have explained why the creature born from the memory of his abuse was not as powerful as I would have expected.

Our daughter is the only hope for both of our tragic families to escape the shackles of our past. Alma is the mother of the apocalypse, Point Man is a mute killing machine that only displays the faintest traces of humanity, and I am simply a broken soldier that only continues to live because my job is not finished. The sweet, innocent raven-haired child that I was chasing was the first ray of hope in the sorrow and misery that we lived in.

Her conception was one of violence and cruelty but both Alma and I were determined to ensure that her origin would not define her life. As I chased her, she suddenly reversed direction and ran back towards the tree. I nearly fell as I tried to match her agility but I managed to catch back up to her. As we neared the healthy tree, I saw her beautiful mother sitting against the trunk cradling her doll as she watched us. In my mind, I heard her singing the haunting melody of her music box with her enchanting voice. As her daughter neared her, Alma ceased her humming.

Our daughter ran up to her mother and excitedly hauled her to her feet. Trying not to laugh, Alma tried to discover the source of the excitement. The young girl explained while she was nearly jumping up and down with joy, "Daddy showed me how to salute." She went to attention and saluted the way I had shown her earlier. She dropped her right hand as a wide smile took shape on her heart shaped face. Alma tried her best to match her daughter's enthusiasm as the small child continued, "Next, he said that he will teach me some military lingo. Isn't that great Mommy?"

Alma smiled before she replied, "It sure is. I am glad you two are able to play nice together."

Our daughter said in a confused but still happy tone, "Of course we do. Why wouldn't we? Daddy is so nice…a little too serious all the time but he is still fun to play with."

A strange smile crept onto Alma's lips before she replied, "Yes…he is fun to play with."

Before I could voice my discomfort, I suddenly heard Alpha 1 state, "Sir, Armacham is launching a new offensive." I turned to see him standing about a foot away in the tall grass with his arms at his side and his shotgun on his back.

I nodded before I commented, "I didn't know that you could enter this world."

He replied, "I didn't either sir."

My daughter walked past me and stood before the Replica. He kneeled at her feet momentarily before he stood back up. He then addressed her, "It is a privilege to be in your presence your majesty."

The child giggled before she commented, "I like you. You are like a knight in shining armor like in the stories Mommy tells me. What is your name?"

He replied with a confused tone, "I don't understand the question."

I informed him, "She wants to know your call sign."

He addressed the young girl looking at him with admiring eyes as he went to attention and saluted her, "Alpha 1 reporting for duty your majesty."

She giggled before she returned his salute. When she dropped her right hand, she ran forward and hugged the armored soldier's right leg. Alpha 1 stared at her as he tried to understand what she was doing. Finally, he asked, "Permission to touch?"

She smiled up at him as she replied, "You sound like Daddy. Granted."

He bent down and did his best to mimic what she was doing except around her torso. With his genetically enhanced strength, he barely allowed himself to wrap his arms around her body. After a few seconds, he retracted. She also retracted from him and returned to standing before him.

Innocently, she asked him, "Can I see your face?" Despite a few moments of obvious discomfort with the request, he raised his arms up and grasped his white ceramic mask. Carefully, the Replica removed his mask. His face was revealed to the world for the second time in his life. The gash below his left eye had healed into a noticeable serpentine scar that stood out against his pale skin. As he looked at my daughter with his real eyes, he smiled at her slightly.

I could not help but wonder at the sight as once again, Alpha 1 demonstrated that, out of all of us, he was perhaps the most human. She smiled back at him and asked, "Where did you get that scar?"

He cringed briefly before he replied in his unusually deep voice, "While your father and I were fighting a powerful dragon that was terrorizing the kingdom." For a moment, I was dumbfounded by his answer. He was always matter-of-fact and straight to the point whenever he spoke.

My daughter's eyes comically widened as she was instantly enthralled by the tale. She asked, "You fought with my Daddy? Against a dragon? Did you win?"

He smiled before he replied, "I fight alongside your father whenever he goes out on a heroic quest. Oh yes, we won. It was a dangerous fight and a few times the dragon thought he had us but we worked together. We slayed the dragon and saved the kingdom." She clapped happily as she rocked back and forth on the balls of her feet.

She said, "That is so amazing! Do you have any more stories…Alpha 1?"

Once again, he smiled at her before he replied, "Yes ma'am."

She eagerly requested, "I want to hear another one."

Alpha 1 started to tell another story but I regretfully interrupted, "Another time. It is time for Daddy and Alpha 1 to go to work." He nodded before he lowered his mask back into place.

My daughter pouted and complained, "But I want to hear more stories."

I sighed before I explained, "We can't always get what we want when we want it. Sometimes, we have to be patient. Okay?"

Though clearly disappointed, she smiled before she replied, "Okay Daddy. I'll wait."

I smiled before I said, "That's my girl. We will be back soon. I promise."

She nodded and as I left the created world, I heard her call after me, "I love you."

I found myself in the sleeping area of the tower. I made my way to the control room with Alpha 1 walking beside me. There, I found Morales and Jin going over the holographic overview of the war raging in the continental United States, China, Russia, Britain, and other various countries throughout the world.

When they saw me enter, Morales said grimly, "Becket, ATC is growing increasingly desperate by the day. It seems that the remaining members of the board of directors have either retreated to their own private castles in neutral waters or simply disappeared. Carson Slayers is still pulling the strings of the mercenary forces but he knows how to hide his tracks. It is going to take us some time to triangulate his location from here. Meanwhile, the troops under his control are acting more like terrorist groups than a fighting force."

Jin commented, "I don't understand why they continue to do the horrible things that ATC tells them to do. I mean, back when the company's crimes were unknown to the rest of the world I understood that they were simply doing what they were being paid to do. Now…why? Short of diehard devotion, there is no reason for them to continue to work for the company."

I thought aloud, "Fear might be a factor. I know those tin soldier phase commanders have diehard loyalty and they abuse their own soldiers. Plus, they all know that we are coming for them. In their minds, they have no way out. They are wounded animals backed into a corner."

Morales said, "They are too spread out around the globe. Without their communication network, they would be forced to fight as local chapters."

Examining the hologram, I replied, "Hmm…yes. Their network is extensive and advanced but it must have a weak point."

I looked up to see Stokes enter the room. She walked over and stood next to Jin. I asked them, "Miss Kwon…Keira, diagnosis of their network." Both technical officers scrutinized ATC's communication system.

Jin remarked, "Hmm…it may be advanced software but they are running off old hardware."

Stokes added, "Yes…I bet it if we overload…actually, it appears that all the channels route through this facility in South America. The facility is acting as a kind of switchboard. If we destroy it, ATC's communication systems will go down."

Alpha 1 commented, "Seems lazy."

I shrugged before I said, "Eh…they probably never thought that they would wage war with the world."

He replied, "True…"

I smirked before I said, "Well, time to flex our global muscles. Alpha 1, status report on the new battalions." He nodded and contacted his brethren.

After a moment, he informed me, "Battalions 1-10 on standby sir."

I nodded before I ordered, "Have 1st and 2nd Battalion assemble for an assault on the facility in South America. We are wheels up in four hours."

He relayed my orders and I looked back at Morales, Jin, and Stokes. They looked at me expectantly. I ordered Morales, "Manny, have Persephone and the surface fleet on standby just in case shit goes south."

He replied, "You got it man."

I looked at Jin and said, "Miss Kwon, schematics."

She replied, "I can do that."

I looked at Stokes and said, "Keira, in-field advisor patched in with my squad."

She smiled before she replied, "Gladly."

I nodded before I added, "You have four hours. Get to it."

Almost seven hours later, as I sat strapped into one of the seats of the Hind gunship's cargo bay as we neared the roof of the multistory ATC facility, I idly observed the overcrowded shantytown surrounding the imposing building. In the air behind the Hind, large transport helicopters carried the two battalions that would assist us along with the orbital dropped Elite Power Armor units. Various flights of F-22 Raptors roared past us on bombing and strafing runs against our target to soften the defenses.

This was the kind of environment I was used to fighting in: foreign, full of ungrateful ignorant masses, and the kind of place that good soldiers died without anyone giving a damn. "Your old squad?" I looked up to see Alma carelessly dangling her feet over the side of the open cargo bay.

I replied through our bond, "Yeah…fucking villagers butchered their bodies on worldwide television and no one back in the states fucking cared. Hell, the fucking Russians were more sympathetic about the whole thing than my own countrymen."

She replied, "I'm sorry."

I smiled briefly before I said, "Don't be, it wasn't your fault."

She simply observed me with her haunting eyes for a moment before she said, "It is not a burden that you need to carry."

I shrugged and by that time, we were within eyesight of the building. We unstrapped ourselves and prepared to rappel down onto the rooftop.

As the Hind maneuvered into a hover, the gunner covered us from the waiting security personnel with the gunship's cannon. Holding my assault rifle with my right hand and operating the rappel with my left hand, I lowered myself down onto the helipad. I was the first one to land and before the rope even detached, I had my rifle up with my reflexes activated. The rooftop was similar to the one on the ATC headquarters in Fairport, which did not surprise me because it was likely a reused blueprint.

While the gunship kept the guards back in the interior of the building, I moved forward and secured the small reception area just in front of the helipad. I deactivated my reflexes when I failed to encounter any guards in the small space. By that time, Alpha 1, Point Man, Holiday, and Stokes had joined me.

Gamma 3 and Juggernaut would spearhead the pacification of the surrounding area with 2nd Battalion. The Hind gunship maneuvered away to allow reinforcements to arrive in the awaiting transports. From the sky, what appeared to be meteorites landed in the surrounding area at designated drop zones. The Elite Power Armor units would quickly pacify the area even if the ATC guards had their own power armor.

Motioning for everyone to follow, I made my way to the lower level of the roof. As I made my way down the flight of stairs, I saw five ATC mercenaries taking cover behind air ducts near the entrance to the maintenance section. I activated my reflexes and killed all five in quick succession with headshots. I deactivated my reflexes as the last body fell to the ground.

Not seeing any enemy reinforcements, I paused at the door to allow everyone to regroup. While everyone was checking their gear, I said to Alpha 1, "Contact 1st Battalion and inform them that the LZ is clear." He nodded and relayed the information to the Replica commanders. The large transport helicopters began to systematically offload their Replica squads on the helipad. As they did, I ordered Stokes, "Keira, stay here and coordinate the squads." She nodded and returned to the reception area.

I spoke into my replacement com link, "All squads, check your targets. Do not shoot any civilians."

In unison, they all replied, "Yes sir."

I motioned for Point Man, Holiday, and Alpha 1 to follow me. I turned and opened the door that led into the maintenance area. We made it through the entire maintenance area without encountering any resistance. On the other side of the area was a kind of skylight for the offices below us. It was in the shape of ATC's logo and the three square sections were just large enough to allow a man passage to the floor beneath us. As we neared it, a group of security guards opened fire on us from behind cover.

Before we had to waste any ammunition, the nearby Hind gunship saw the tracer fire. As we took cover, the ATC guards were shredded by the gunship's cannon fire. As the gunship moved away, I spoke into my com link, "Yankee 2, thanks for the assist."

The Replica pilot responded, "Any time sir." As we moved towards the skylight, I took the opertunity to look over the edge of the tall building. As I did, I saw 2nd Battalion's heated firefight with ATC security teams attempting to reinforce the teams inside the building. The mercenaries were no match for the Replicas' equipment and training. Apache helicopters provided air support and flights of Raptors occasionally performed bombing runs.

I looked back at the skylight to see Holiday examining the glass. After a moment, he informed the rest of us, "Safety glass. Give me a moment."

As we waited for him to finish rigging demolition charges, Stokes reported, "Becket, the building is locked down. We need you to find a way to override the security lockdown so our troops can advance."

I replied, "Copy that. I will see what I can do."

Holiday finished and said, "Stand back." We moved a safe distance away and he detonated the charges. The explosions were just powerful enough to cleanly blow away the glass panels without causing any further damage. I moved forward and attached an anchor for the rappel line.

"Couldn't I just transport everyone down there?" I looked over to see Alma giving me a bored expression.

I sighed before I relented and said, "Fine. Let's go." Once again, it felt like I was being ripped across the fabric of space and time before I materialized below the skyline. I forced back the bile in my throat as I shook off the feeling of nausea. I looked around to see Holiday vomiting, Point Man silently scanning our surroundings, and Alpha 1 shrugging as he looked at me.

I asked Point Man, "Nothing ever bothers you does it?" He looked at me briefly before continuing his scan. I said in response, "Right…" I looked over at Holiday to see that he had finished but still seemed a bit woozy.

Alma materialized in front of us near one of the information terminals. When she noticed the vomit on the floor, she remarked, "It is not that bad."

Holiday replied defensively as he clutched his side, "Speak for yourself."

I cut in, "Break it up you two. We need to find a way to deactivate the building security."

Alpha 1 suggested, "We could try rebooting the local server."

As I proceeded towards the offices, I remarked, "No…that won't do us any good. The security system is on a separate network." Just as I passed the security gate, it closed. Annoyed, I turned to see who was on the other side. Of course, Point Man and Holiday were looking back at me from the other side of the metal barrier. I went to unlock the gate with the console against the wall, but found that it was offline.

Irritated, I said, "Oh give me a break." Looking back at the pair on the other side, I said, "I guess you two will have to find a way around."

Holiday inquired, "Can't I just use a demolition charge?" As if in response, a heavy metal security door dropped behind the security gate on our side.

With visual contact between us broken, Holiday spoke into his com link, "I guess not. We will hook up down the road. Watch yourself Sergeant."

I replied, "Once we get the security offline, we should be able to link up. If you find anything, report in."

As I turned and proceeded down the well-lit hallway, I heard him reply, "Copy that."

As I proceeded down the hallway with Alpha 1 and Alma, I could not help but wonder what it was like to work for Armacham. The first office had been deserted with noticeable haste by the occupant. When we passed the second office, I noticed the overturned wheeled chair and tiny blood smear on the clear desk. I wondered aloud, "Hmm…"

We continued onward only to find more deserted rooms occasionally decorated with blood. Alpha 1 commented, "I don't like this…where are the employees?"

Slightly disgusted at the stark reality, I replied, "Weak links…they were probably silenced by the guards when the shit started in Fairport."

Alpha 1 said, "Hmm…sad."

I snickered at his comment but stopped in mid-step when I caught movement inside the office to my right. With my reflexes activated, I swiveled and fired a burst into the room. Shimmering and electrical sparks revealed the identity of the assailant. The Replica assassin dodged my rounds and struck me with its claw like hand. My body locked up as electricity arched along my exterior. Alpha 1 unleashed his shotgun on the rogue Replica and scored two hits on the cyborg.

With a strange mechanical noise, the assassin tried to flee but was stuck by a large tentacle that had been manifested by Alma. The strike knocked the cyborg through the glass wall of the office space and into the little cubicle wall separating the workspaces. The agile assassin managed to get to its feet only to come face to face with one very angry Alma. Though she was in her child form, the anger twisting her face sent a shiver down my spine. She muttered something that I could not make out as she melted whatever material served as the being's skin, leaving only a metal frame.

I recovered but still found myself unable to move as I watched the assassin's demise. As frightening as it was, I always watched my coveter during such attacks with childish wonder. She knew I was watching her so she gave me a devilish smile that gave her a hypnotic quality. I felt as if I were in some trance as I continued to stare at her.

She advanced towards me, never breaking eye contact. Her will replaced mine and I reached out to embrace her.

However, at the last second, Stokes interrupted by reporting, "Becket, Holiday reports that he and Point Man are on the wrong side of the lock down. It is up to you to get the security offline."

Shaken out of my trance, I replied, "Copy that Stokes."

I looked at Alpha 1 and said, "The mainframe farm should be nearby." He nodded in response.

I started to continue down the hallway, but stopped when Alma addressed me with a chilling voice that nearly gave me a panic attack.

"Am I not good enough for you?"

I turned back to find her inches away from me. She was in her child form but not the one I had grown accustomed to. Her raven hair covered most of her face save the predatory glowing eyes and emotionless expression. The blood on her legs looked noticeably fresh and the faint scent of iron filled the air. Her eyes bored into me and left me with an inescapable feeling of being exposed and vulnerable. The air around her pulsed with raw energy as she gathered her power.

My eyes dilated as fear took hold in my mind. She was back. The demon that stalked me in Fairport was back. She demanded, "I asked you a question Michael. Am I not good enough for you?"

Fighting the urge to flee, I replied timidly, "Y-yes…of cour-course you are…Alma you're scaring me. Wha-what did I do?"

Her eyes glowed dangerously as she advanced closer. I instinctively backed away from her but found myself up against the wall before I realized my predicament. I was trapped and she knew it.

As she taunted me with her proximity, she said, "You are upsetting Mother Michael. Good children only listen to Mommy. You are letting that blonde temptress distract you from me."

I tried to say, "No, she is just a friend."

However, I no sooner opened my mouth than she silenced me by saying in a low but menacing tone, "You do not interrupt Mommy when she is talking." I looked over at Alpha 1 only to see that he, along with the rest of the world, had frozen in time. The palm of a cold tiny right hand stuck me across my face.

As I looked back at the sadistic child, I dropped my rifle in fright. She instructed me, "Look at me when I am talking to you."

I replied in a submissive tone, "Yes Mommy."

She smirked slightly before she said in a disturbingly sweet voice, "That's a good boy." She then asked, "Who do you love?"

I replied in the same submissive tone, "Mommy."

She smiled as she hugged me around my torso. As she held onto me, she remarked, "That's right. Mommy loves you too. No…girl will ever love you like Mommy does."

I suddenly heard her voice but from a distance, "Michael? Michael!" I opened my eyes to find myself lying prostrate on the tiled floor. Two strong hands helped me to my feet. I looked around to find that we were still in the hallway. "Michael?" I nearly jumped at the sound of her voice. I wheeled around to look at her. She had a terrified expression as she looked at me.

In a broken voice, I asked her, "Al-Alma, wha-what…why did you do that?"

She shook her head before she explained, "Not me…you blacked out when that assassin hit you."

Despite what she said, I was still trembling from the hallucination. Beside me, Alpha 1 asked, "Sir, can you continue the mission or do I need to call in a medevac?"

I shook my head as I retrieved my assault rifle. The soldier inside of me took charge and forced me to continue onwards. The mission took precedence over everything.

As I raised my rifle up and proceeded down the hallway with caution, Alma tried to taunt me, "Momma's boy." I ignored her as I continued forward.

Recalling the floor plans, I navigated the maze of offices and security gates. Several times, I had to use air ducts to bypass the irritating metal barriers. Alma offered to transport us to the server farm multiple times but I continued to ignore her. I was tired of having to second-guess everything because of the chance that it was not real and only a hallucination born from the degradation of my mind. For all I knew, I was still in that horrible amplifier and everything that I had been through was another one of her warped mind games.

Finally, after being forced to go down an elevator shaft and climb up another, I saw the door to the server farm. As I went to open it, I paused when I heard the sound of muttering and pressing of a keyboard. I glanced at Alpha 1 who nodded at the unspoken signal. With my rifle in my right hand, I opened the door with my left hand. I moved back as Alpha 1 stormed into the room beyond with his shotgun at the ready.

I followed close behind with my rifle raised. Before us was a decontamination chamber and beyond that through the clear glass panels, I saw a thin old Caucasian man in a lab coat with his back to us. Startled by the noise we made entering the room, the man looked back at us.

He addressed us with a voice that caused me to want to shoot the man where he stood, "How did…well, that doesn't matter. You are too late. The purge is almost complete. By the time you get through the decontamination chamber, the memory banks and their backups will be completely blank."

I smirked before I requested, "Hey boss…"

I heard her say in my mind through our bond, "On it."

As both Alpha 1 and I casually entered the chamber, I saw Alma materialize a few inches from the man.

As the chamber's cleansing spray obscured my view into the server room, I heard the man yell in fright, "You! What the…get the Hell away from me!"

I heard her taunt him with her facade innocent voice, "No, stay. Play with me."

At first, I thought Alma had screamed but then I realized that the man had screamed like a little girl.

Alpha 1 asked, "Did he really just?"

I laughed darkly before I replied, "Yes he did."

The chamber finished its cycle and opened the sealed doors. I walked into the server room to find the ATC employee cowering on the floor in the middle of the room with an amused Alma happily skipping around the terrified man in a circle. I looked over at the terminal the man had been working at to see that the screen had the words "System Error" across it.

I ordered Alpha 1, "Alpha 1, secure the hostage."

He replied, "Yes sir." As he was making his way over to the employee, I located another terminal and rebooted the servers.

I spoke into my com link, "Stokes, servers have been rebooted."

She replied, "Copy that Becket. Point Man and Holiday are in route to your location with the demolition team. 1st Battalion's squads report that all sectors have been secured. With the security gates open, the squads can link up. Also, we appear to be ahead of schedule."

I smiled slightly before I replied, "Outstanding. Let's hope that things stay that way."

She commented, "Fingers crossed."

I looked back at the employee to see Alpha 1 hauling him to his feet. I walked over to him and stopped when I was a few inches in front of him. I studied him briefly and had to shake off a feeling of déjà vu before I addressed him, "I am going to ask you some questions. You will respond with yes, no, or specific details. Start ranting: I start breaking. Refuse to answer: I start breaking. Got it?"

The restrained employee responded by spitting on my vest. I chuckled and nodded my head before I calmly requested Alma, "Sweetie, hold my rifle please." She took my primary firearm from my grasp as she gave me an evil smile. She sat down on the clean, white tile floor with her legs folded as she once again examined my rifle with curiosity.

I deactivated my com link so I would not be interrupted. After stretching my back, neck, and arms calmly, I suddenly punched the ATC employee in his left eye with a single, swift, and brutal movement. The blow caused the man to give off a strange noise that sounded more like a wheeze than a grunt.

I resumed my calm demeanor as I addressed the man once again, "I am going to ask you some questions. You will respond with yes, no, or specific details. Start ranting: I start breaking. Refuse to answer: I start breaking. Got it?"

This time, the man replied, "Yes."

I said, "Good." I started by asked, "What is your name and why are you here?"

He replied, "My name is Marshall Disler. I am a…"

I sighed before I nodded at Alpha 1 who proceeded to firmly grip the man's left index finger and forcefully break it.

Over the man's cries of pain, I demanded once again, "What is your name and why are you here?"

He whimpered before he managed to say, "Marshall Disler. Armacham paid me to wipe the memory banks at several facilities."

I recognized his name but could not remember its significance exactly. I asked my little companion, "Disler…say Alma, isn't he the one that…"

She nodded as she finished, "You might remember him by the name Dr. Marshal Disler."

The name clicked in my mind and childhood memories momentarily flashed through my mind's eye. The science lectures at Wade Elementary and his not so subtle interest in me; I remembered him then. Fighting to remain calm, I addressed the man with a strained voice, "So…Mr. Disler, do you know who I am?"

He replied, "Paragon and Harbinger subject: Michael Becket."

I remarked sarcastically, "Aww…you remember me."

Before I could interrogate him further, he suddenly taunted, "What do you see in that thing? She is a fucking monster you fool. Why? Why have you always been her loyal dog?"

Before I could respond, I heard a set of boots enter the room on the other side of the decontamination chamber. I looked over to see Point Man, Holiday, and Foxtrot 813 along with the Replica demolition team. I addressed them, "Welcome to the party guys. Good to see you Foxtrot."

After passing through the chamber, the men entered the server room. Point Man eyed the bound man so I informed him, "His name is Marshall Disler. He was the one that first suggested that your mother was a psionic to your father." I ordered Holiday and the demolition team, "Rig the charges and then evacuate Mr. Disler as you leave the building. He might be of some use to us."

The Replicas gave their standard response and Holiday replied, "Ha…you want me to strap him with explosives too?"

Not knowing the reference or joke, I said, "If you want to…"

Stokes interrupted me when she said through my com link, "Becket, come in, over."

I replied, "Becket here, what is it Stokes?"

She informed me, "Becket, we lost contact with Bravo. They have not reported in for ten minutes and they are not responding to our hails."

I responded, "Copy that, standby."

I spoke through my link to the Replica soldiers, "Bravo, this is your commander. Sound off." I could not see through their eyes but I felt something. Since I could not see through their eyes, I had to assume that tragedy had befallen the squad.

Finally, I got a weak, static riddled response through my com link, "Sir…Bravo 2…porting in…ne…d…back up."

I demanded, "Bravo 2, hang tight. We are headed to your location. What is going on? How many are there?"

I heard what sounded like a sniper rifle fire before he responded, "One. Unknown female hostile…die motherfucker!" I heard more sniper rifle shots and the faint sound of running footsteps.

Alarmed, I instructed the Replica sniper, "Bravo 2, get out of there! Reinforcements are inbound."

He replied, "…no! Get…away! What…re…ou?"

After cursing, I ordered, "Point Man, Foxtrot 813, and Alpha 1, on me!"

Both Replicas replied, "Yes sir!" Point Man nodded as he remained mute. Alma teleported before me and handed me my rifle. Smiling, I took it from her gently. Exiting the room, I led the way as we charged towards the last known location of Bravo on the floor beneath us. As I rushed down the staircase, I said to Stokes, "Keira, Bravo has encountered something bad. There appears to be only one survivor. Point Man, Foxtrot 813, Alpha 1, Alma, and I are making our way to their last known location. I will check in when I know more."

She replied, "Copy that Becket. Please, be careful."

I assured her, "I will."