Ch. 26: The Rival

A.N.:

As you might have noticed, I changed the story description in preparation for the reintroduction of the main enemy character of my story. She was already introduced but I shall refrain from giving away any spoilers.

Thank you to everyone! 100 reviews? Wow!

I also got my first ever PM! Yay! Thank you to the person who sent it. I sent a reply, which I hope sounded grateful.

Like I said, the evil psychic in this chapter is the main enemy character for my story and will be destroying the world for the rest of the story with only Becket, Alma, and friends having a chance to stop her.

I hope everyone likes the new chapter and where this story is going. As I said in other chapters, I had planned all of this out from the beginning so this was not something random or anything.

You know how demented one has to be for Alma to be the "good" evil character?

Anyway, as always, there will be errors when I first post it. I should have them corrected soon.

Oh, and no…I am making any political statements or any low bullshit like that by placing the city in Russia. I only picked Russia because it is in the Eastern Hemisphere and if one wanted to invade China and Eastern Europe simultaneously, Russia is your best bet. That is all that there is to it. This is a fanfiction story…okay? Calm down.

Please, review…you know…if you want. I like feedback haha.

"Wait, that actually happened?" I looked over at Stokes, who had looked up from the fire with a disgusted expression. She glared at me for a moment before she smiled and shrugged. As she looked back at the fire, she commented, "Eh, at least I got laid." I raised an eyebrow before looking back at Amara, who was as alert and enraptured as ever.

She looked up at me with her shinning grey eyes that were full of wonder as she asked, "What happened next?"

I smiled before I replied, "You know what happened next. You were there; you were the one that gave everyone hope." She pouted in response. I sighed before I said, "Okay…let me think…ah, I guess the best place to start would be the dream that I had before F.E.A.R. contacted us."

I opened my eyes to find myself looking at a dusty photograph in a black standing picture frame on top of a worktable that was covered with various tools and had a red box cooler on the right corner. The photograph was of my old squad. My mentor, wearing the skull ski mask, was standing next to me with his arms folded at the center of his upper chest while I held my arms down by my side. The other members of the squad were disgracing their uniforms by making cute poses. A gruff yet charismatic voice said from behind me, "Yes…they were always in the wrong profession, huh kid?"

I turned around to find that I was inside a garage. At the center of the space, I saw an enormous, pristine, frost white, long wheelbase, pickup truck with shiny black trim. The truck was lifted up and had massive off-road tires. I saw the extensive suspension upgrades and had little doubt that the off-road vehicle could go practically anywhere that it wanted to. Near the brake lights, I saw the designation "FX4" written in bright red lettering.

The cab was a full-sized crew cab. Chrome steps were underneath the doors to allow easier access to the tall vehicle. Mounted to the front was a robust black grill guard that wrapped around the whole front of the truck. A heavy-duty winch was mounted to the guard. Mounted to the truck bed was a black steel tube platform that extended out to rest on the roof of the cab. Four high-powered fog lights were mounted to the platform. The hood was up and a man clad in a worn combat uniform that was similar to the Dark Signal uniform that I was wearing was working on the engine.

Without looking up, my mentor informed me, "My side project. Old school 2014 heavy-duty pickup truck. 6.7 liter diesel. 400 horses at 2800 rpm. 800 foot pounds at 1400 rpm. Aftermarket suspension, bullet resistant composite body panels and windows that should protect the occupants from everything except rockets, missiles, armor piercing rounds, and tank fire, and Kevlar lined tires. Not going to win any races or get any environmental medals but nothing is going to stop her from getting to where she needs to go. You like her, kid?"

Unable to take my eyes off the giant truck, I nodded slightly. He laughed dryly before he remarked, "Yeah, thought you would…her name's Alice. I've been putting her back together from a bare frame that I found when I got here." He looked up from where he was working and looked at me. His weathered face just barely showed signs of emotion as he remarked with a voice that only I would know had a humorous tone to it, "Ah…nice to meet you Mr. Death."

I replied, "I take it that you approve then, sir?"

He jumped down from the engine compartment and leaned against the guard as he wiped the grease off his hands with a grey piece of cloth before he said, "I don't think that you need my approval. Do you think you do?"

I sighed before I replied, "No, sir. I don't."

He nodded with a barely visible smile on his scarred face before he said, "Good. My confidence in you was well placed then. Now, I assume that you want to know why you are here?" I nodded in response.

He replied, "A war is coming, kid. Fires sweeping over the Earth, bodies in the streets, cities turned to dust."

I could not help but to raise my right eyebrow before I said, "Fettel said something like that once."

My mentor nodded before he replied, "I know. It is true too. A war is coming. This one, humanity will be lucky to see the dawn afterwards."

I said, "The war has already begun."

The grey haired veteran laughed dryly before he informed me, "No…no kid, it hasn't. You have all played right into her grasp."

Confused, I asked, "Who? Alma?"

He shook his head before he said, "Even if I told you her name, you wouldn't believe me nor could you do anything to stop her."

Undeterred, I replied, "Just another enemy, sir."

He sighed before he said, "Listen son, I think that you are underestimating the gravity of the shit that is about to go down. This enemy is one that humanity has never had to face before. People are going to die, lots of them, and there is nothing that you can do to stop it. There will come a time that you will have to face the fact that you are the one that set things into motion for what is about to happen, but until that time, people will need you. Steel your mind, son. Only you, Alma, Amara, Athena, and your Spartans will have a chance to push back the tide of death that is about to unleash itself upon the world."

Alarmed at the sheer strength of the enemy that was coming, I asked, "Is there nothing that I can do?"

He shook his head slowly in response. I looked down at the polished white floor while I thought to myself.

I looked up when I heard Alma comment, "Wow, big truck."

I saw her examining the front of the beast's guard in her child form. My mentor looked down at her as he said, "Ah, the mother of the apocalypse. Pleasure to finally meet you Miss Wade. I wondered how long it would be until you showed up." She looked up at him with a curious expression on her face. He informed her, "The same goes for you. A war is coming. Even you cannot stop her now. Steel yourself you foolish girl. They are going to need you."

He looked over at me and gave me a faint smile before he said, "Time to go, kid. Just remember, the mission is all that matters. Your personal feelings are not part of that mission. Oh, and here." He tossed me a set of ignition keys. I caught them with my right gloved hand and examined them for a moment before I looked back at him.

He shrugged before he said, "Take them, I have a few more upgrades to put in her but I should get her to you in time to be helpful." I started to pocket the keys and he added, "Oh, and son?" I looked back at him and he smiled slightly before he said with a voice that had the barest traces of humor in it, "Try not to wreck her okay?"

My vision faded into darkness. My time floating in the darkness ended when I heard Alpha 1 inform me, "Sir, we have a problem."

I opened my eyes to find myself back behind my desk with my head lying on top of the artificial hickory patterned surface. I lifted my head to find Alma and Amara playing together on the carpeted floor and Alpha 1 standing in front of my desk. I groaned before I asked, "What is it?"

He replied, "F.E.A.R. has contacted us."

Concerned, I stood as I asked, "About what?"

He replied, "Not sure, sir. Betters requested to talk to you."

I nodded as I walked around my desk and started to head towards the door. Seeing the look on my face, Alma stood and followed me. Alpha 1 walked beside me as we made our way towards the control room. As we entered, Jin called out, "Sergeant, over here." I looked over at the former F.E.A.R. operative and she pointed up at the large flat screen mounted to the wall.

I looked up and saw the F.E.A.R. coordinator Rodney Betters on the screen. He was still wearing the same outfit that he had been when I first met him. I addressed him, "You requested to speak to me, Mr. Betters?"

He replied, "Yes, Sergeant Becket. We need your help with something."

I crossed my arms before I said, "Alright, go ahead."

He nodded and typed on the keyboard in front of him. The image of a low-income industrial section of an abandoned city that appeared to be somewhere in Europe or Russia appeared on the screen. He informed me, "Our sensors detected a massive energy spike somewhere in the industrial section of this city located in central Russia. Due to the recent war against ATC, the area has been mostly vacated. We contacted the Russian Government but their forces are too strained to spare a squad to investigate. However, we have obtained permission to send a F.E.A.R. team in to investigate."

Somewhat impressed, I asked, "How did you manage that?"

He replied, "That is where you come in. Sparta is considered a neutral party with no alliances or ties to any other country. So, the Russians agreed to allow a F.E.A.R. team to investigate on the condition that a Spartan team accompanies them to ensure that all party interests are observed."

I scowled slightly before I said, "We aren't mercenaries to be volunteered for someone else's interests. Consider us not interested."

I looked over at Jin and motioned for her to cut the feed.

However, Betters called out, "Wait, sergeant! The energy spike, its signal is ninety-five percent synchronized with Alma's!"

I paused for a moment before I looked back at the screen as I asked, "What?" He nodded and started typing on the keyboard. Moments later, an analysis of the energy spike was displayed next to a known sample of Alma's energy signature. The two were nearly identical except for a few parts that did not line up exactly. Beside me, Alma gasped as she placed her hands up to cover her mouth. I looked down and asked, "Alma, what is this?"

She removed her hands from her mouth and hugged herself before she replied, "I don't know. I didn't feel it either. Michael, what your mentor said…"

The implications of what my mentor had said hit home and I looked back at the screen. I informed Betters, "Betters, we have a very good reason to believe that the psychic responsible for this spike is planning to kill a lot of people. You have to convince the Russians to allow several full battalions of Spartan troops to accompany the F.E.A.R. team."

The F.E.A.R. coordinator laughed before he replied, "The Russians? Are you mad? They would never allow that many foreign troops anywhere near their borders…Spartan or otherwise. Look, I might be able to call in a few favors to get a second Spartan squad authorized but there is no way Russia is going to let you have anywhere near the thousands that you are talking about."

I replied, "Fine, what are the mission specs?"

He informed me, "Rendezvous point is the city's abandoned amusement park at the base of the large Ferris wheel. Rendezvous time is 2300 hours."

I replied, "Copy that, and Betters?"

He replied, "Yes, Sergeant?"

I informed him, "I would be contacting your superiors and warning them to begin mobilizing whatever armed force units that the United States still has in reserve. Contact the Russians and any countries in Asia and Europe that will listen to the United States and warn them to do the same. We will try to stop the psychic but our chances of doing so are small. A war is coming, Betters…one unlike any that humanity has experienced before. A lot of people are going to die and there is nothing that we can do to stop it."

He seemed convinced but replied with a helpless voice, "I will pass it along to my superiors but you know that no one takes F.E.A.R. seriously."

I started to curse but stopped because Amara was in the room. I sighed instead before I said, "Yeah…you guys are a bunch of 'specialists'…okay just do what you can."

He nodded before he said, "Good luck, Sergeant."

I replied, "Same to you." The screen went to black and I looked over at Alpha 1. I informed him, "Contact Replica Command. I want all the battalions mobilized and prepared to fight anywhere at a moment's notice."

He nodded but informed me, "Yes, sir. Just, there is not much that twelve battalions can do that several nations' armies could not."

I looked at Alma but she shook her head before she said, "Sorry Michael, but I am tapped out on creating Replica soldiers like I did before. I didn't just pull them out of thin air. I had to get the raw materials from somewhere. You know the old physics saying: energy cannot be created nor destroyed. The city's population and resources went into those 12,000 soldiers and equipment. Fairp…Sparta doesn't have any more natural resources left. I'm sorry Michael…"

She looked down at her feet. I smiled slightly before I placed my left hand on her right shoulder as I said, "Don't worry, Sparta has a few tricks up her sleeve."

I looked over a Jin and ordered her, "Miss Kwon, take the Replica Core of Engineers and get down to the Perseus Compound. I want that facility operational and producing Variant VII Replica Soldiers by 2300 hours. The facility is automated and should still have enough raw material banks to produce the soldiers that we need. Just get the facility operational and its systems will do the rest. I hate selling out and using the ATC facilities to produce the things that we need but the circumstances that we find ourselves in have demanded that we do so."

She replied, "Roger, Becket. I will do what I can, but that facility has been mothballed for years. There is no guarantee that the systems will still work."

I sighed before I said, "I know, but just do what you can."

She nodded and Stokes added, "I will go with Miss Kwon. My technical skills might prove useful."

I replied, "Good idea Keira. Go with Miss Kwon."

I looked over at Morales and said, "Manny, prep the APC for an air insertion."

He nodded before he said, "You got it man." He stood and walked out of the room.

Telepathically, I contacted Delta 1 and ordered him, "Delta 1, commandeer a C-130 Hercules and get it prep'ed for takeoff with the Dark Signal APC onboard. We are going to take a trip to Russia to confront the devil herself."

He replied, "The devil huh? Well, I guess I will have to grab a few more spare clips then."

I laughed briefly before I said, "We are wheels up in an hour. Get the plane prep'ed."

He replied, "Roger that, sir. Wolf Pack is at your service."

Several hours later, I was inside the APC with the members of Dark Signal including Foxtrot 813, Juggernaut, Bravo 2, and Alpha 1 along with Point Man sitting in the cramped interior on either side of me. The warm crimson interior bathed us all in a shade of red as we sat in silence. To my left, Point Man was inspecting his G2A2 Assault Rifle and to my right, Alpha 1 was sharpening his K-BAR Marine Corps fighting knife. Across from me, Bravo 2 was inspecting his .50 caliber Barrett and his new IR scope. To the right of him, Juggernaut was calmly waiting with his Hammerhead placed between his legs. To Bravo 2's left, Foxtrot 813 was inspecting sections of his armor.

By my estimates, we had to be approaching the city and sure enough, moments later, Delta 1 contacted me and informed me, "Sir, we are nearing the city's airport. Beginning final approach. Standby for touchdown."

I replied, "Copy that, Delta 1. Once we are in route to the rendezvous point, set up a command post."

He said in response, "Roger that, sir. Good hunting."

I replied, "Thanks." I looked over to Morales and informed him, "Manny, we are beginning final approach."

He replied, "Copy that, man."

Moments later, the APC shook slightly as the sound of squealing rubber could be heard. When the squealing stopped, a loud thud filled the air. Afterwards, a loud buzzing indicated that we were loose from the cargo bay. Morales cranked the massive diesel engine, which thundered to life, and then piloted the APC out of the cargo bay of the C-130. I stood and walked over to the elevator that lifted the turret operator up to where the turret was mounted. After I was lifted up, I grasped the controls of the APC Turret Gun.

Without the illumination of the APC, the city was pitch black. Not even the ancient looking streetlights were active. The word "abandoned" was not a proper designation for the eerie city. It was as silent and devoid of signs of life as a graveyard. The lackluster grey concrete apartment buildings that we passed stood tall and silent like tombstones. The only living things that I saw as I maneuvered the turret in its housing to sweep our surroundings were the trees that were growing either inside or into the buildings.

However, even the durable trees were sickly looking. The streets that the APC navigated down were wider than I had expected for an old Soviet Block city. The cracked asphalt ejected steam in some spots. Something was off about the city. It was the middle of winter, yet the bone shattering cold of the Russian winters failed to touch this city. It was warm and humid here. I wondered if there was some natural geological structure beneath the city that provided the unnaturally warm conditions.

Delta 1 contacted me and said, "Sir, command post has been set up and is online. We have received a communication from Miss Kwon. She reports that the Perseus Compound is online and creating new Replica battalions. The facility's industrial section is producing weapons, ammunition, armor, medical supplies, and equipment at maximum efficiency. However, she instructed me to inform you that it will take time for the clones to mature before they are battle ready so you had better make do with what you have for now."

I replied, "Copy that, Delta 1."

I contacted War Dog 1-12, the Replica Commanders, and said, "War Dog 1-12, report."

They replied, "All twelve battalions are mobilized and battle ready, sir. Just give the word and we will be there."

I said, "Copy, standby." I then contacted Poseidon and said, "Poseidon, report."

The flagship of Task Force One reported, "Task Force One is mobilized, sir. Standing by for orders."

I replied, "Copy, stay ready."

Finally, the iconic large Ferris wheel of the local amusement park came into view. As we neared the decaying structure, I noticed the American M2 Bradley parked with red flares around it. When we approached, I saw the turret swiveling around as its operator scanned the surroundings for threats. A black haired older looking man clad in armor identical to Point Man's exited the M2 and raised his G2A2 Assault Rifle above his head. My com link activated and I heard the man say, "Over here Spartan."

Morales maneuvered the APC to a standstill beside the M2. The older F.E.A.R. operative lowered his rifle as two more men joined him. He addressed me, "Nice to see you again Mr. Death. Thought you got put on ice. Nice to see that you are still amongst the living."

I replied, "Mr. Death was my mentor. Name's Sergeant Becket, ex-Delta Force, Dark Signal."

The operative said, "Ah, he spoke of you…glad to have you with us then, Sergeant. I am Captain Raynes, this is Lieutenant Chen, and he is called The Sergeant."

Confused, I asked, "Why do you call him The Sergeant?"

Captain Raynes explained, "He has a name, but we just call him The Sergeant to mess with him because he never gets a promotion."

I nodded before I said, "The energy spike appears to have originated in the industrial section of the city. Let's mount up and investigate the area. Just as a warning, we have a very good reason to believe that we are dealing with an immensely strong psychic that rivals Alma Wade in terms of power."

The captain replied, "Copy that, sergeant. We will follow you guys." The F.E.A.R. team entered their M2 and moments later, the vehicle's diesel engine roared to life. Morales piloted our APC towards the industrial section of the city and the American M2 Bradley followed close behind.

The industrial section of the city had a darkness about it, as if some evil presence had taken up shop inside of it. The deserted warehouses were dark and foreboding as we passed them. For nearly an hour, we circled the area with our scanners active. After nearly an hour without even seeing a blimp in the frequencies, we approached a gated warehouse complex.

Alma said in my mind, "Michael, there. I sense something."

I spoke into my com link, "All teams, target may be in that warehouse complex."

Morales replied, "Copy." He piloted the APC and mowed down the chain-link fence with the vehicle's immense weight. The complex was shaped like a horseshoe with three separate aircraft hangar looking buildings forming a "u" with a large open area between them.

We slowed to a stop in the open area and exited the APC. The F.E.A.R. team parked their M2 to the right of our APC and exited as well. Upon seeing Point Man, Captain Raynes said, "Holy shit, you're still alive. We might actually survive this mission now."

Point Man gave a slight nod in acknowledgement. I informed the F.E.A.R. team, "This is Alpha 1, Foxtrot 813, Bravo 2, Juggernaut, and our driver is Sergeant Morales."

Alma materialized between us in her child form as she giggled in her creepy, unnerving manner. The operatives gasped and recoiled slightly in response, much to my companion's amusement. I smirked briefly before I said, "I assume you guys know Alma Wade. She is my side kick."

Alma glared at me for a moment before she looked at the operatives and said, "Please excuse my pet. He has a very high opinion of himself."

I laughed sarcastically before I replied, "Your pet? Oh, that's cute sweetie. Hey, you want to tell them how you are a scared, vulnerable girl beneath that façade of your's?"

My goddess and I went back and forth for several minutes before Captain Raynes asked Alpha 1, who was standing next to me, "Do they always do this? Who are you guys anyway?"

He replied, "No, sometimes they fuck too. Becket and I are childhood friends and Alma basically raised us. I am a rare Replica that was born with free will. Point Man is Alma's first son. Foxtrot 813 is a clone of Alma's second son. Sergeant Morales is one of the last surviving members of the original Dark Signal along with Becket and Lieutenant Stokes. Juggernaut and Bravo 2 are just Juggernaut and Bravo 2…no offense guys."

Lieutenant Chen commented, "Wow…now I see why everyone says that you guys are a fucked up family."

Captain Raynes said, "Chen…"

The operative replied, "I'm just saying."

Meanwhile, Alma and I were wrapping up with my statement, "…it's not my fault that the sky is blue and not red damn it."

Alma replied, "I never said it was your fault Michael. I just said that it would be better red."

I said, "Not everything looks good in red you crazy little girl."

Alma smirked briefly before she remarked, "You seem to enjoy the red color of my dress when you caress my body."

I paused with a disgusted look beneath my skull ski mask for a moment before I replied, "Oh, suck my…"

Captain Raynes said, "Sergeant!"

I looked up and asked with a confused tone, "What?"

He motioned around and I said, "Oh, right…"

I ordered my men, "Bravo 2, find a vantage point and cover us. Foxtrot 813, spot for Bravo 2. Manny, stay with the APC. Alpha 1, on me. Point Man, form up on Juggernaut." I looked at the F.E.A.R. captain and said, "Captain Raynes, you guys form up on us. Let's search these buildings for the psychic that gave off that energy spike. Stick together. No one goes off on their own. This is not the day for heroics."

The men, except for Point Man, Juggernaut, and The Sergeant, all replied, "Roger that."

Bravo 2 and Foxtrot 813 went to find a vantage point to cover us and the rest of us moved towards the first warehouse with our weapons at the ready. We arrived at the side door that allowed access to the warehouse and we lined up against the wall around the door. I glanced at Alpha 1, who was on the other side of the door, and he nodded. He moved off the wall and fired his shotgun into the sections of the door where the hinges were located on the other side of the wall. Then, after stepping back slightly, he charged forward and kicked in the door.

I activated my reflexes and charged through the door with my Patten PK470 Assault Rifle at the ready as I yelled, "Breaching! Breaching!" Behind me, Alpha 1 yelled, "Go! Go! Go!" On the other side of the door, I saw five ATC Mercenaries with their submachine guns at the ready. As the rounds whizzed through the air around me, I aimed through my rifle's scope.

I took aim on the first dark blue armor clad mercenary's head and fired a five round burst. As he dropped to the floor, I snapped my aim to the next. I dropped him with a five round burst as well. I snapped my aim to the third man and dropped him with a five round burst to the head. Meanwhile, Alpha 1 liquefied the fourth man with a blast from his shotgun. The fifth man screamed as his body shook briefly before a red aura surrounded him and his eyes changed to be orange orbs.

I deactivated my reflexes and approached the Alma possessed mercenary. Behind me, Lieutenant Chen said, "Holy fucking shit, you guys sure don't fuck around when it comes to combat."

I stood before the possessed ATC grunt and was joined by Alpha 1. I asked Alma, "He have anything to tell you?"

The man's eyes closed and she was silent for a moment. Finally, she opened the man's eyes and said, "Armacham installed a facility here long before the war. When the city was abandoned, this group of ATC mercenaries took refuge here. Michael, Salyers…"

I asked eagerly, "What?"

The man smirked before she said, "He is here. The center warehouse…there is a service elevator that goes down to it."

Captain Raynes asked, "Salyers, the ATC Chairman?"

Alma nodded at him in confirmation. I asked her, "Does he know anything about the psychic?"

She frowned as she shook the man's head. I said, "Alright, you heard the boss. Center warehouse, service elevator. Let's go finish this. The psychic may be Armacham's prisoner."

They nodded in response. The possessed man suddenly asked with his regular voice, "Why? Why are you letting her do this? Don't you see that she is going to kill everyone?"

I replied, "I think that you need to get your story straight. We are the ones saving the world; you guys are just a bunch of assholes that need to die."

Before he could say anything else, the man suddenly started screaming in agony as his body began to swell. Seconds later, his body exploded and Alma was left where he had been standing. She looked at us as she remarked, "Say hello to Aristide."

She then giggled darkly as she skipped through the bloody remains as she headed towards the open door.

As she passed him, Chen remarked, "You guys are fucking crazy man."

The red dress clad child paused and looked at him for a moment before she bowed in a courteous manner. She then said with her eerily innocent voice, "Thank you." Afterwards, she resumed skipping towards the door.

I led the men as I followed behind her. We made our way to the center warehouse and moments later, we breached the side door in a similar manner as we had the other warehouse. This time, as I charged through the door with my reflexes activated, I saw a Phase Commander and five standard ATC mercenaries waiting on us. As I fired my assault rifle at the first one's head, Alpha 1 charged the Phase Commander with his automatic shotgun placed on his back.

Two of the mercenaries tried to intercept him, but the Heavy Trooper grasped their skulls with either hand and smashed them together hard enough for a wet, cracking sound to fill the air. Using the two slumping bodies as leverage, the armored veteran jumped off their shoulders and flew through the air at the Phase Commander.

Alpha 1 tackled the cyborg and pinned him to the ground. As the shiny armored man flailed about beneath the Replica, my friend drew The Hammer from its holster and placed the end of the red barrel against the commander's head. The veteran finished the cyborg off with three point blank shots from the powerful revolver.

By then, we had cut down the remaining mercenaries and I deactivated my reflexes as I helped Alpha 1 get to his feet. When he stood, he placed The Hammer back in its holster and retrieved his shotgun from his back. After noticing the look on the F.E.A.R. operatives' faces, I explained, "A Phase Commander tortured and killed one of his brothers right in front of him." Captain Raynes nodded in response.

I asked my companion, "Alma, where is the elevator?" She materialized over by the far wall where a red phone was mounted. She picked up the receiver and pressed a sequence of numbers. We recoiled and retreated to the sides of the warehouse as the center of the floor began to slide apart. After about a minute, an elevator rose up through the opening.

We approached the elevator and when we had all gathered around it, I remarked, "Holy smokes, Batman."

Alma groaned before she said, "Michael, we have talked about you trying to make jokes. Just stop."

Alpha 1 shrugged and said, "I thought it was funny, sir."

I replied, "Thank you, brother." He nodded in response. I pressed the call button and we waited for the service elevator. Seconds later, the metal platform appeared and the grated door opened.

We entered the elevator and I pressed the only floor option. As we began to descend, I contacted Morales through my com link and informed him, "Manny, we have located a service elevator to a hidden ATC Facility. Salyers is believed to be located inside the facility. We will probably be out of contact for a while."

With the signal beginning to fade, he replied, "Copy that Becket. Good luck man."

The signal was lost seconds later and I cut the transmission. As we descended through the darkness, I said, "Let's kill Salyers, locate the psychic, deal with her, get topside, and get the fuck out of here."

We arrived at the facility and two ATC guards were facing away from the elevator opening. As the door opened, Alpha 1 shouldered his shotgun before quickly unsheathing his K-BAR. With the knife in his right hand, he ran out and hit the guard on the right in the side of his head with his right elbow. As the guard on the left turned to face him, Alpha 1 plunged the knife blade into the man's chest where his heart was.

Leaving the knife in the man's chest, my friend turned back to face the guard on the right. The man swung his sub-machine gun at him, but the armored veteran swatted the gun away with his left hand. Swiftly, he grasped the guard on the back of his head and under his chin. In a smooth motion, he broke the man's neck and unceremoniously dropped the body onto the floor.

I removed the knife from the other guard and tossed it to him. My friend grabbed it and wiped the blood off the blade by running it along the armored surface of his right thigh. He sheathed the knife and retrieved his shotgun. After everyone exited the elevator, I studied my surroundings. From what Alma had told me about the Origin Facility, I would imagine that the two were similar interior wise.

The intercom activated and I heard Salyers say, "Ah, so you finally found me Sergeant. I see that you brought some friends too. No matter, not even you and Alma together can stop it now."

I yelled, "Give it up Carson! It is over you goddamn lunatic! Face me like a man!"

He laughed before he replied, "Like a man? If only you knew the irony in that statement. Still, I believe that congratulations are in order, Becket. You have finally cornered me and killed the last of my guards. I am defenseless and there is nothing that I can do against all of you. So, how about you and I have a chat Becket?"

I scowled as I started to search the facility for the lone man. As I walked, he said, "My, aren't we in a pissy mood today. What's wrong Becket? Aren't you happy to have found me? You have spent so much time looking for me; faced countless dangers to have done so and now you don't even want to gloat or mock me?"

I ignored him and continued searching. The facility was small and was likely only intended to be an auxiliary storage facility. I finished my sweep of the first floor and proceeded to sweep the second floor. All awhile, I failed to detect any trace of another psychic, let alone one that rivaled Alma.

Under different circumstances, I would have laughed at the fact that I had spent so much time hunting Carson only to find him by happenstance while I was on a completely different mission. Finally, I found him in the main control room. He had his back to me and he was casually examining the security camera monitors that showed images of dead ATC mercenaries and various parts of the city. I realized that he had known that we had been in the city since the moment that we arrived. Yet, he had not run or attempted to flee.

As I approached the clear ballistic plastic door, he remarked, "The assassin has overcome all of the mighty armies that I have sent against him. You are stronger than I remember Becket. A lot more." He pressed a button on the keyboard and the door opened. He returned to examining the monitors as he said with a calm voice, "Come in."

With my rifle aimed dead steady at the man's head, I slowly entered the room with Alpha 1 and Point Man on either side of me. I ordered the lone man, "Carson, turn around and face us."

Carson ignored me and said, "I suppose in a story, this would be the climax. Where the protagonist finally finishes off the antagonist and everything gets tied up in a nice big bow." We advanced on the ATC Chairman. He continued, "Or…is it merely the middle of the story? Where the true villain is revealed and the events thus far are shed in a new light."

I asked the delusional man, "The fuck are you talking about man? It's over! Don't you get it? We won…you lost."

He laughed as he shook his right index finger for a moment. Afterwards, he asked, "Did it never occur to you that it was never about winning or losing?" I did not reply and he continued, "Like I told you before sergeant, a winning strategy often requires sacrifice. Look at these men that you killed, think about all those people in Mogadishu…do you really think that all just happened like in the linear plot of some video game?"

I replied, "I'm done listening to your ramblings, Carson. Last warning, turn around and face us." He laughed in response. Having run out of patience, I fired a five round burst into the man. The rounds tore into his body and coated the monitors with his blood. The man slumped to the floor and I turned to walk out of the room as I said, "Fucking lunatic. Come on, we still need to find that psychic."

Before I could exit the room, I heard giggling, but it was different from Alma's and it even sent a cold shiver down my spine. I swiveled around to see an ash cloud leave the body of Carson and float over to the middle of the room. Alpha 1 and Point Man flanked the cloud and aimed their weapons at it. The door to the room closed, which effectively cut us off from the F.E.A.R. team and Juggernaut.

The cloud began to take shape and moments later, I stuttered, "Y-yo-you! But…ho-how?"

The jet black eyed young girl clad in a familiar white dress gave me a twisted, cruel smile before she said, "Hello Daddy Dearest, did you miss me?" The evil version of Amara from the other universe smirked at me as she waited for my response.

I replied, "We saw you die…how are you here?"

She giggled before she said with a mock panicked voice, "Oh Daddy, Daddy please, I don't want to die. Please, help me…"

She giggled with a cold tone before she said, "Hello dear Mother, did you miss me?"

Alma appeared beside me in her child form. The two evil deities stared each other down for a moment before Alma said, "You followed us back to our universe."

The evil Amara replied, "Correct, and no dear Father, I am not your precious Amara. Mother named me Akira."

Akira continued, "I have to admit, it has been so much fun messing with you Father. After I entered your universe, I possessed Carson and have been egging you on ever since. I was the one that convinced the U.N. to annihilate Mogadishu, knowing that you would survive and destroy the U.N. I had to keep myself from revealing my presence as I watched you play your little games in South America, France, England, the United States, Vietnam, and now here in Russia. Meanwhile, I was egging on Armacham. I convinced them that my dear Mother was planning to destroy all of humanity as part of her revenge."

She smiled at me before she said, "I loved that little bit that you and I did in France dear Father. Blitz Chess? You and I should indeed play a game before I kill you. I rather enjoy intellectual duels."

She looked over at Point Man and lowered the barrel of his assault rifle with her tiny left hand before she said, "Older Brother, how nice it is to see you again. I killed you last time we saw each other. You are a hard man to kill, but even you have your limits…human."

She looked at Alpha 1 and said, "Hmm…you're new. I don't remember you. You are a Replica…yes?"

My friend remained silent and warned her to stay where she was by holding his shotgun tighter.

She purred slightly before she remarked, "Oh…a fighter. Such a strong mind too. I have never met a Replica as strong as you…perhaps I can find…other…uses for you."

Alma snapped, "You will do no such thing Akira. Obey your Mother and stop this at once."

Akira frowned slightly before she replied, "Oh Mother, that's where you are wrong. You and I are very alike. Both of us seek destruction and death. Both of us are evil goddesses who possess powers greater than any mortal creature. Yet, you are not as evil as you lead others to believe. You yearn for nothing more than love and a family. I, on the other hand, yearn for nothing more than to watch others die in agony. Well, let's see who is superior shall we?"

Akira suddenly sent a massive psychic pulse at Alma, but I pushed my companion out of the way and took the full force of the blast. I flew through the air and smashed against the far wall almost hard enough to pass through it. Akira asked with a slight squeal in her voice, "What fate is this? Dear Mother, does Father love you in this universe?"

As chunks of concrete fell around me, Point Man charged the young girl who vanished. He looked around only to have her rematerialize behind him. He swiveled around just in time to be blasted through the security door. Alpha 1 grabbed her with his free left arm, much to the enjoyment of Akira who taunted, "Do you like the feel of my body…Alpha 1?"

She giggled perversely before she used a blast to launch him into the ceiling. He smashed into the ceiling hard enough to dislodge some of the panels. With a hard thud, he landed prostrate on the floor, while his shotgun clattered onto the ground a few inches away from him. He managed to push himself partially up onto his feet before she suddenly materialized before him. She bent down and lifted his head up to look at her with her left hand. She leaned in and kissed him on the top of his ceramic mask in a manner that was unfitting for a child.

Getting to my feet despite the pain, I grunted in my demonic voice as my body was enveloped by a red aura, "Get away from him you bitch!"

She turned just in time for me to roundhouse kick her in her face. While she was disoriented, Alpha 1 scrambled to his feet and punched her full force with his right fist. The strength of his blow sent her staggering back a few feet. As she recovered, she was suddenly thrown violently up against the monitors by Alma. Point Man returned with the F.E.A.R. team and Juggernaut. I handed my friend his shotgun and we surrounded the downed girl. She groaned as she lifted her head up to look at us. One of her eyes was swollen shut and blood trickled out of the corner of her mouth.

However, to our confusion and surprise, she giggled before she said, "That was fun, but I have a schedule to keep so I must be going. See you around Mother, Father, and dearest Brother. I look forward to slowly killing you all after I destroy every living thing on your Earth." She stood and as she did, her wounds suddenly healed. She turned her head to look at Alpha 1. With a strange, alluring voice, she taunted, "Oh, and Alpha 1…I especially look forward to playing some games with you."

He replied with a flat tone, "It will be a cold day in Hell before I let you have any form of pleasure at my expense."

She stared at him for a moment before a smirk formed on her pale lips. Before we could stop her, she dissolved into a cloud of ash as she teleported to another location in the facility. With Akira gone, I grasped at my right side where I undoubtedly had sustained a broken rib or two.

Alma placed her right hand against the spot and I felt instant relief. I smiled at her and she smiled back. I looked over at Alpha 1 and asked, "You okay?"

He replied, "Other than being threatened with rape, I'm okay, sir."

I laughed slightly before I replied, "Been there. Just don't get strapped into an amplifier." I looked around before I said, "Okay, we need to find a way to stop her. This facility likely uses the same type of reactor as the Origin Facility. I think that it is time for Origin Round Two."