Ch. 35: Back in the game

A.N.:

Everyone, I am sorry about the last chapter. I have run into some personal problems that interfered with me typing up quality chapters and just chapters in general. I have worked through them...I think. I am so sorry. It was not fair to you guys. I came to realize that I had become more concerned with views and such than simply doing this for fun and out of love for the games.

I am very sorry. I will do my best not to let it happen again.

I seriously love my characters and my story. So, even if no one seems to read this from here on out, I will still see this through to the end. I can at least reclaim some ounce of dignity and integrity by finishing what I started. Plus, I owe it to my characters...they have at least earned the right to have their story finished.

Like I said, I am so sorry.

The figure at the end is not the one that I am sure everyone was thinking of at first. No, that one is copyrighted and such which is weird because it is an internet meme.

I hope the people who take the time to read this at least weren't let down.

Thank you for your time.

Please, forgive the errors after I first post it. I will correct them soon.

My HUD finished recalibrating as I reloaded my rifle. The massive vortex was still in the sky, though it was slowly dissipating and the lightning bolts that had been arching around its exterior were gone. Amara and Alma in her child form materialized before us. I asked them, "What was that?"

Alma smiled before she replied, "You still don't know?"

Alpha 1 remarked, "I was the one that died and even I don't know what just happened."

"Time is not linear or definite, dear Uncle." Amara explained, "It requires a perspective to have value on the plane of existence. Death is dependent upon time. Without time, death has no power. Time is also like gravity. In space, gravity wraps around celestial bodies like a river around a rock. Time is a river in constant flux. A river branches off and creates a different river occasionally. However, those rivers are always connected. Uncle died in this river, but like a rock, time continued to wrap about him. In another river, it was not Uncle that died. The river became broken because of the identity of the individual that took his place."

I said, "I don't follow."

She frowned sadly for a moment before she explained, "You did, Daddy. Uncle stood up to block the rounds, but you pushed him out of the way. Instead of Uncle dying, you did in his place. Because you died, the universe became broken."

Confused, I asked, "Why? I'm just an Olympian, not a Titan or anything. My death would not cause an entire universe to fall apart."

Amara cocked her head to the right quickly as she gave me a confused look. Then, after she had brought her head back to normal, she replied, "Father, both you and Uncle are Olympians...that's not why the universe fell apart."

I shook my head from confusion before I asked, "Well...then why?"

My daughter paused for a moment as if she was making sure that my question was sincere. Afterwards, she replied slowly as if she had thought that I had known what the answer was already, "Well...you know Daddy...you're the... main charac..."

Suddenly, Alma interrupted her, "It was because you are such a powerful psionic Michael. Your death created a power vacuum that destabilized the universe so severely that it broke trying to fix itself." She looked at her daughter and continued, "Isn't that right, Amara?"

Amara looked at her mother for a moment before she looked at us and replied, "Yeah...that's the reason Daddy. Power vacuum."

Though I was convinced that they were hiding something from the rest of us, I decided that if it was so dangerous that Alma would lie to hide it, then it was definitely best left hidden. I said, "That still doesn't explain what just happened."

Amara explained, "Uncle died in this universe but not in the broken one. So, I reached out and transferred his life force to Uncle."

I replied, "So...you...killed...the other version of him?"

She shook her head before she replied, "Of course not. He was doomed already."

Alpha 1 said, "I think the more important question here is..." He looked at me and then continued, "Were you crying?"

I snorted before I replied, "Me? Crying? I am insulted that you would even ask me that. I am too manly for that."

He shook his head before he said, "No, I think you were crying."

I replied defensively, "I got shot okay. The bullet went through my armor. It hurt."

Alpha 1 said, "Yes, getting shot...I am sure that it is why you were crying."

Foxtrot 813, Juggernaut, and Point Man appeared out of the slowly dissipating fog. Upon seeing Alpha 1 standing next to me, Foxtrot 813 ran up and slapped the side of his head as if they were football players on the same team. Juggernaut visibly raised his Hammerhead up in a gesture of comradery. To my surprise, and I am sure to the surprise of everyone present, Point Man walked up and extended his left hand towards Alpha 1. My friend extended his left hand and the two silently shook hands. It was one of the few times that I ever saw Point Man expressing respect for another soldier.

Regretting to break up the reunion, I said, "Seriously though Amara, it is not safe here. Go back to your body."

She replied, "Okay, Daddy." With that, she dissolved into a cloud of ash. I looked around as I tried to locate the Leviathans. The fog had dissipated enough for me to see the outline of the buildings before us. I motioned for my team to follow me as I began to move towards the mission objective.

As I moved, I telepathically contacted my men, "All Teams, report in."

Delta 1 replied, "Wolf Pack reporting in, sir."

I asked, "What is your status?"

He replied, "We have breached the Northern Line and are pushing into the complex. Opposition encountered."

I said, "Understood Delta 1. Report when Wolf Pack has reached the Primary Mission Objective."

He answered, "Roger that, sir."

Foxtrot 1101 said, "Foxtrot Team reporting as ordered, sir."

"What is your status?" I asked in response.

He replied, "We have breached the Western Line and are pushing into the complex. Opposition encountered."

I said, "Copy that Foxtrot Team. Report when you have reached the Primary Mission Objective."

"Roger that, sir." He replied.

As I moved forward, I suddenly heard a loud female voice announce, "Repairs complete." Afterwards, I heard a mechanical noise like the one that the EPA suits that I came across in Fairport made. As I continued moving forward, I came upon one of the Leviathans. The hatch that allowed access into the vehicle was down and I saw the body of the pilot a few feet away. His body was in a pool of his own blood and riddled with bullet holes.

The blast must have compromised the Leviathan and its automatic repair sequence had ejected the pilot. He must have been cut down by the NATO defenders. I contacted the remaining Titans, "Titans, report."

Titan 1 replied, "Titans reporting in, sir."

I asked, "Status?"

He explained, "Titan 1 and Titan 4 proceeding towards objective. Titan 2 is confirmed as KIA. Titan 3 is MIA."

I informed him, "Titan 3 is KIA."

He replied, "Understood."

I ordered him, "Continue the mission."

He replied, "Yes, sir."

I looked back at the unmanned Leviathan. I was trained to operate everything up to a Class B Suit. Unfortunately, the Leviathan was a Class A. I asked Foxtrot 813, "Can you operate one of those?"

He replied, "Affirmative." He moved towards the REV8. As he reached the hatch, he placed his assault rifle onto his back. He climbed up into the vehicle through the open hatch. Afterwards, the hatch closed behind him. As Foxtrot took control of the REV8, the machine's cannons powered up and moved to their combat position. The lights on the massive vehicle's hull powered on as well. Shaking the ground, Foxtrot began to pilot the Leviathan forward.

With our weapons ready, we followed behind the massive weapon as Foxtrot piloted it down the path blazed by the two other Leviathans. Like a channel cut through a shallow bay for barges and larger ships to travel through, the two advancing Leviathans had smashed through the barriers, literally casting the heavy riot barriers aside as they made their way forward. As we passed the wreckage of the two towers, around twenty yards ahead of us, I saw the two Leviathans under siege from at least forty NATO defenders that were trying to overwhelm the bipedal heavy tanks like hyenas trying to take down elephants.

I aimed through my scope and began to unleash a barrage of lead at the enemy soldiers. As I did, I yelled, "Come on Dark Signal, let's get back in this fucking game!" A cry erupted from my team as they joined in on. The fog had completely dissipated and the area was once again bathed in hellish red from the overhead clouds. The enemy soldiers were caught by surprise as our rounds tore into them. My 7.8mm rounds ripped into the lightweight armor of the soldiers and, with a single clip, I had cut down ten of them.

As I reloaded, I noticed that Juggernaut had dropped five of them with his slow firing Hammerhead. Point Man had cut down twelve of them and was reloading his assault rifle. Beside me, Alpha 1 had cut down ten of them with his Vollmer. Due to the enemy soldiers' proximity to the other Leviathans, Foxtrot 813 was unable to fire his REV8's weapons. It did not matter though. Our surprise assault had broken up the NATO defenders and the survivors attempted to flee towards a nearby two-story office building.

However, they had not made it more than ten steps before Alma materialized before them in her child form. Her hair was down over her eyes but their orange glow could still be seen behind her bangs. From her feet up to her knees, fresh blood covered her pale skin. The hem of her skirt was dripping blood due to how saturated her dress was with the body fluid.

The soldiers skidded to a stop, or at least tried to anyway. One of them lost his footing and actually tumbled forward along the ground as he tried to stop. He stopped, literally, at her feet because she had raised her right foot slightly to stop him. As her foot was against his chest, he slowly raised his head up to look at her. When he had managed to look her in the eyes, she asked him with a soft voice, "Are you hurt?"

With a confused, shaky voice, he replied, "N-No...ma'am."

She smiled slightly before she stated, "Good."

Simultaneously, the soldiers behind them exploded with a sick popping sound, leaving only a large pool of blood and skeletal fragments. Before he could cry out, Alma dissolved into a cloud of rose petal particles. His body began to jerk and shake. After a moment, a red aura surrounded his body. Moving with a smooth, confident manner, the soldier stood and then turned his body so that he would be looking in our direction.

When he opened his eyes, I saw that they had been replaced by glowing red-orange orbs. The possessed soldier bent down and picked up the M4 Assault Rifle that had a M203 grenade launcher mounted underneath the barrel, a true, as Armacham had incorrectly identified the Patten's scope, ACOG scope mounted to the upper rail, and a laser sight mounted on the side near the end of the muzzle. As he raised it up and looked at me, I saw him smirk before he saluted me.

Foxtrot joined the other Leviathans and began to move towards the main building. Meanwhile, I led my team over to the office building. The building was a cube that was two-stories tall. There were six windows on each side, or at least it so appeared to me as I approached it, with three windows for the first floor and three windows for the upper floor. The sides were a dull olive green color. A large white air conditioning unit was located up against the center of the southern wall. There were two entrances, one on the western wall, and one on the eastern wall. A set of short concrete steps led up the olive green doors. Parked in a row on the small asphalt pad behind the southern wall were three American sedans and one Asian import light truck.

As we approached the building from the south, from the upper floor windows, three NATO soldiers removed the wooden cross from the windowpanes and began to opened fire on us with assault rifles. I activated my reflexes as I took aim at them through my Patten's scope. As the men were highlighted, I fired at the middle enemy soldier. My rounds hit their mark in the man's head. His lifeless body fell out of the window and landed hard on top of the hood of the truck while his rifle clattered against the asphalt about a foot away.

Meanwhile, Point Man had taken aim at the man in the left window. As his rounds riddled the soldier's torso, he jerked to the right and fell backwards out of sight. I snapped my rifle to aim at the last soldier. However, to my surprise, the wall in front of him suddenly exploded in a cloud of splinters. I deactivated my reflexes and glanced over to see that the possessed soldier's barrel mounted grenade launcher had a tiny amount of smoke coming from the end. When the dust had settled, there was a large hole in the side of the building.

I remarked, "Outstanding shot, sweetie."

Alma replied, "Thank you, sir."

I ignored the sarcasm attached to the last word and audibly ordered my team, "Point Man, Juggernaut, cover the western entrance. Alpha 1, Alma, form up on me."

They replied, "Yes, sir."

I made my way over to the eastern entrance while I reloaded my rifle. The eastern wall had five windows instead of six because of the door. When I reached the door, I took position to the right of it. Alma took position to the left of it. Alpha 1 stood back from the front of the door. After steeling myself and checking my gear, I ordered him, "Do it."

Alpha 1 rushed forward and kicked the door in. As the wooden obstacle yielded and fell backwards, I cocked a shock grenade and then threw it through the opening. I heard it detonate and took point as I proceeded through the doorway with my reflexes activated. As I did, I yelled, "Breaching! Breaching!"

Behind me, Alpha 1 yelled, "Go! Go! Go!"

I entered the building and found that a staircase was immediately to my right and that there were five rooms with separate entrances. Apparently, each room got its own window. I deactivated my reflexes when I failed to detect any hostile contacts in the main hallway. With the main hallway clear, I turned my attention to the individual rooms.

I took position in front of the first door along the southern wall. Alma took position to the left of the door and Alpha 1 took position to the right. After everyone was in position, Alpha 1 said, "Do it." With a burst of speed, I moved forward and kicked in the door with my right combat boot encased foot. Alpha 1 charged into the room and after a moment, called out, "Clear!" He exited the room and we moved to the first door on the northern wall.

As we approached the door, it suddenly flew open to reveal an enemy soldier clad in bulky, heavy, black, riot armor complete with a black helmet with a clear ballistic shield in front of the soldier's face. As I activated my reflexes, I saw that he was wielding a Vollmer VK-12 Combat Shotgun with a fixed stock. The trooper went to fire his shotgun, but instead, cried out in shock as his body levitated off the ground as it was enveloped by a red aura. I noticed a red tendril flowing from his body to the Alma possessed soldier's out-stretched left hand.

As I deactivated my reflexes, the levitating soldier exploded and the hallway became covered with his bloody remains. I looked over at Alma and noticed that the soldier's skin was beginning to discolor as red patches were beginning to appear on his skin. I remarked, "That's an interesting trick."

With Alma's adult voice, the soldier replied, "You should be able to do it too."

Alpha 1 searched the room and called out, "Clear!"

We moved to the next door. This time, I took position to the right of the door while Alpha 1 took position to the left. Alma stood back from the door. After quickly checking my gear, I told her, "Do it!" She rushed forward and kicked the door in. With my reflexes activated, I charged into the room. Inside the room, there was a bookcase against the left wall, a small desk in the center, and a small refrigerator against the right wall. A NATO trooper armed with a Sumak 9mm RPL Submachinegun was waiting for me behind the desk.

He went to fire his weapon but I raised my left hand up towards him. As my hand became enveloped by a red aura, a red tendril shot from it and to the enemy soldier. The grunt cried out as his body became enveloped by a red aura and I levitated him into the air a few inches. As he flailed about in a vain effort to break free from my psychic grasp, I attempted to cause his body to explode as Alma had done to the other soldier. Instead, I was slightly startled when a loud sonic boom rocked the air as the man was sent flying through the side of the building and deep into the sedan parked beyond it.

With my ears ringing, I deactivated my reflexes and approached the giant hole in the side of the building. Outside, the sedan was giving off its anti-theft alarm while there was a bloody, human-sized, crater with jagged edges starting from the, now broken, front windshield back into the second row of seats. There, a collection of bloodied remains was wedged into the seat. I called out sheepishly, "Clear."

Alma walked up and stood beside me to my left. She remarked, "Wow, that was brutal even by my standards. Oh well, good job Michael." We exited the room and moved to clear the remaining two rooms on the first floor.

Nothing eventful happened as we cleared them and after we had cleared the last one, I said, "First floor clear. Move onto the second floor." I took point as we went up the flight of stairs. I reached the last step and turned to the right to face the hallway. The first room along the southern wall had been demolished by the grenade round from Alma and wood splinters littered the floor of the hallway. I heard a soft moan coming from down the hallway and saw that the defender that Point Man had riddled with bullets was still alive.

A blood trail ran from the window to where he was sitting with his back leaning against the opposite wall. His G2A2 Assault Rifle was lying abandoned just beyond where the blood trail began. I approached with my reflexes activated. When I neared him, he aimed an AT-14 pistol at me. However, I fired a round straight down the barrel of the pistol. The weapon was compromised and metal shrapnel flew through the air.

I kept my rifle aimed dead steady at him as I kicked the G2A2 back behind me to prevent the soldier from trying to reach it. I deactivated my reflexes as I stood before him. He raised his hands up in surrender as he begged, in German, "Ich ergebe mich. Erbarme dich meiner." I scowled, because what he said was, "I surrender. Have mercy on me."

The anger that I had been able to contain boiled over and I growled, "Nach dem Mord an meinem Bruder, verdienen Sie nicht, die einem Soldaten ein gewährten Sonderrechte!" I heard Alma gasp slightly because what I had said was, "After the murder of my brother, you do not deserve the privileges granted to a soldier!"

Before the soldier could reply, I executed him with a point blank shot to the head. In a perfect world of rainbows and sunshine, soldiers were expected to treat other soldiers not as enemies, but as opponents. By the rules of war, I had technically committed a war crime by not honoring that man's declaration of surrender. However, as this is the real world where things are not cute and soft but disgusting and harsh, I did not have to follow said rules strictly to the letter. Besides, as far as I was concerned, none of them deserved mercy anymore.

I called out darkly, "Clear." I went so far as to kick his feet out of my way as I moved past him to check the remaining rooms. When I failed to find any remaining NATO defenders, I called out, "Second floor clear." I exited the room that I had been in to find that Alpha 1 had removed the soldier from the wall and had laid him down on his back with his arms and legs straight. He was placing the G2A2 down on top of the man's chest when I first saw him.

As I approached, Alpha 1 stood and saluted the fallen soldier. As he continued to salute the corpse, I heard him say to the deceased soldier in Latin, "Requiesce in pace." I was stunned both by his actions and because what he had said was, "Rest in peace."

I asked him, "What the Hell are you doing? You died because of bitches like him!"

My Brother dropped his salute, turned to face me, and replied, "Affirmative, but it was nothing personal. They are just doing their job, Brother. Just like us. I do not harbor any resentment for them, and neither should you."

I replied, "Alpha 1, you are either a saint or have shot your bolt."

"Neither, Brother. I am simply a Replica." He said in response.

I went to reply but I suddenly heard the unmistakable sound of a tank's tracks turning. I jerked my head to look out of the window in the room behind me. A stab of fear went through me as I saw an American M1 Abrams emerging from behind another office building that was closer to the main building. It grinded to a halt and aimed its 120mm cannon towards us. I yelled, "Look out!" As I did, I jerked my head back to face forward as I leapt forward and tackled Alpha 1 to the ground. Seconds later, we were showered with wooden splinters as the majority of the northern wall exploded. I continued to shield my friend and moments later, a second explosion caused the entire upper floor of the office building to collapse.

I heard giggling and opened my eyes to find myself lying prostrate on a soft patch of soil. I noticed that Alpha 1 was gone and when I got to my feet, I realized that I was in a meadow. For a moment, I thought that I was in Alma's "happy place" but I quickly realized that I was not. The healthy green stalks of tall grass had been replaced by dead tan stalks of grass. The tree swing that was supposed to be at the center of the hill had been replaced by a rusted metal swing set with a single seat supported by rusted chains.

Slightly frightened, I looked around only to find, to my dismay, that like Alma's meadow, this one appeared to be endless. With nowhere to go but towards the swing set, I slowly began to make my way towards it. As I did, I retrieved my stainless steel .44 magnum Super Red Hawk revolver from its holster. I noticed that my HUD was gone as I walked towards the swing. When I reached it, I failed to detect anyone and moved a little closer to the uncomfortable looking swing seat until I was effectively standing over it.

I suddenly heard a giggle coming from behind me. Activating my reflexes, I turned with my revolver at the ready. There, I found Akira standing a few inches away from me. I started to shoot her in the head, but she sent a psychic blast to stop me. The blast sent me backwards and I tripped over the swing seat. I landed hard on my back and attempted to get up but found that some force was keeping me from being able to move.

I deactivated my reflexes to conserve my energy. Seconds later, I was levitated back up over the swing seat and into the air in front of Akira a few inches off the ground. Unable to move, all I could do was frown at the demon. She smiled darkly at me before she said, "So...Father..." She began to walk slowly around me in a circle. She continued, "You have pledged yourself to Mother as her mate." She stood before me again and then asked, "Why? Don't you see that she is weak? She is nothing compared to me, Father." She moved closer to me and then said with an alluring tone, "Forget her. Fight by my side."

I growled, "Never."

She frowned briefly before she said, "I know you want power Father. You want to be able to protect those you love. I can give you that power."

I replied, "You're lying. Besides, it has never been about power, Akira."

She said, "Father, I am many things...none of them good. However, I am not a liar...unlike Mother."

I snapped, "Watch your mouth you little bitch! Do. Not. Ever! Speak. About. Your. Mother. Like. That!"

Akira's black eyes narrowed as she frowned for a moment. Then she asked, "Why do you love her? Why do you look at her like you do? Why don't you look at me like that?! Am I not good enough for you?"

Shocked, I replied, "Akira, you are fucking insane!"

She retreated away for a moment as she placed her hands to the side of her head. As I watched horrified, she screamed, "WHY?! WHY?!" Then, a flash came over her body and my vision was temporarily knocked out. When my eyesight returned, I felt my blood run cold as I saw the young woman before me. As a splitting headache erupted inside my head, I looked at the extremely attractive adult version of Akira. Her body was perfect and vaguely resembled Alma's seductive form except for the minor skeletal differences of Akira, the white dress that was noticeably a few sizes too small, and her jet black eyes.

However, I felt something familiar radiating off her body. Upon realizing what it was, I scowled before I yelled, "YOU!" There was no mistaking it. That icy cold feeling of unimaginable anger and homicidal rage could only come from one being. I growled, "Get out of my daughter you ugly fucking emaciated heartless cunt!"

The incarnation of Alma's misery and rage smiled darkly at me before she said, "Long time no see, Michael. Did you miss me?"

I replied, "GO TO HELL!"

She laughed darkly before she said with her snake-like icy voice, "Haven't you heard, Michael? I now rule it. I see that you have fallen for the weak 'good' me of your universe. You are wasting your time with her, Michael. I know those dark desires of yours. Give into them and fight for me. We can destroy the pathetic inhabitants of this planet and then rule this universe like the Gods that we are."

I replied, "Never!"

She laughed before leaning in and kissing me deeply. Forcing the bile back down my throat, I bit down hard on her slimy tongue, causing her to moan slightly. When she retracted, I threw up all over her white dress. She smirked in response after she looked down at her soiled dress. Then she said, "You WILL learn to love ME, Michael."

I screamed, "NEEVVVVVEEERRRRR!"

Suddenly, her voice changed back to Akira's as she said, "Daddy, please, help me!" A flash came over Akira's body and when my vision returned, I saw that she was in her child form again. I fell back down onto the ground. I scrambled to my feet to find her smirking at me.

With a heavy heart, I asked, "Akira, what did she do to you?"

Akira giggled darkly before she replied, "She gave me POWER, Father! Now, nothing can ever hurt me ever again."

Her head suddenly shook and when she looked back at me, I saw that her jet black eyes had been replaced by grey eyes like Amara's. She begged me with an innocent voice, "Daddy, help me please!"

Before I could do anything, she gave off a kind of growl as her eyes became jet black again. She glared at me briefly and then screamed, "GO AWAY!"

I opened my eyes to find myself on top of Alpha 1. We were pinned beneath rubble and unable to move. However, before any panic could set in, I suddenly felt the rubble on top of me being lifted off. Finally able to move, I pushed myself up and stood. I bent down and helped my Brother to his feet. He nodded in gratitude. I looked around to find that we were in the center of the remains of the office building. I turned to find Alma behind me in her child form.

I tried to smile but I was still shaken from what had just happened. Reading my thoughts, Alma gasped and hugged herself. A few tears flowed down her cheeks before she said, "No...little Akira. Michael, we have to help her."

I sighed before I remarked sadly, "I don't think that we can. She is too far gone. Come on, we've got a mission to complete." She nodded and we made our way out of the rubble to where Juggernaut and Point Man were waiting. I noticed that the Leviathans were not nearby and I looked towards where the Abrams had been. There, I saw the three REV8s stomping towards the enemy battle tanks that had formed into a line in the middle of the path that led to the main building. I motioned for my team to follow as I made my way towards the main building.

As we approached, I saw one of the Abrams fire it its cannon at Titan 1. The Leviathan lurched backwards slightly as the round ricocheted off its hull and left a huge dent before exploding a few feet away. The Titans thundered their response with a simultaneous massive rocket barrage. The warheads screamed through the air before slamming into the Abrams. The explosions were enough to shake the ground and a massive fireball covered the tank momentarily. When the tank became visible once again, I saw that it had been reduced to a flaming hulk of twisted metal.

The other three tanks attempted to maneuver but the Leviathans unleashed their laser cannons into them. The high energy pulses burning into the tanks, literally eating through their armor plates. I saw the chain drive tracks pop as the lasers cut them. The tanks rolled off their own tracks and were left non-maneuverable as a result. Meanwhile, the lasers cut into the tanks' turrets. Their cannon barrels fell to the ground as the pulses literally burned off the front of the tanks' turrets. The defenseless and immobile Abrams were powerless to prevent the Leviathans from advancing towards them.

At the last second, the surviving individuals of the tanks' crew jumped out of the hatches as the REV8s stomped towards them. When they reached the tanks, like they were mere speed bumps, the Leviathans stepped on top of the Abrams and flattened them before stepping down onto the asphalt behind them. I remarked, "Well, Patton just rolled over in his grave."

Alma asked, "Who?"

I replied, "Seriously? You don't know who General Patton was?"

She shook her head. By then, we were passing by the remains of the once formidable M1s. I said, "General Patton invented mechanized warfare! You know what, just read my thoughts because I am a little ashamed of you right now."

She replied defensively, "Hey! I was in a box for forty years. Excuse me if I don't know very many history things."

By then, we had reached the front entrance of the main building. There, I saw Wolf Pack and Foxtrot Team. I said, "You were ordered to inform me when you had reached the mission objective."

Delta 1 and Foxtrot 1101 replied, "Tried to, sir. We did not receive a response."

I realized that they must have tried to contact me while I was in Akira's world. I nodded before I replied, "Very well. Okay, we need to clear this building. Wolf Pack, clear the third and fourth floor. Dark Signal will clear the first and second floor. Foxtrot Team, start setting up a perimeter. Bravo 2, get over here and assist Foxtrot Team. Foxtrot 813, you have had your fun. Now form up with Dark Signal."

They replied, "Yes, sir."

Foxtrot 813 emerged from the Leviathan and formed up with my team. Wolf Pack and Dark Signal moved inside the building while Foxtrot Team began to establish a perimeter. We entered the main lobby. It had the air of a parliament building with its fancy polished, shiny marble floors and walls. Before us were three hallways that went off in different directions. I mentally sighed as I realized that we had a lot of searching in the near future. Wolf Pack moved towards the staircase while I led my team towards the first hallway.

It was definitely eerie inside the tomb like building. Every sound seemed to echo through the silent hallway. It was so dark beyond the main lobby that we had to activate our flashlights in order to see. We came to the first set of doors. Foxtrot 813 and Juggernaut moved to take the first door. Point Man, apparently being too badass to need back-up, went to clear the second door by himself. Deciding to let him have his fun, I led Alpha 1 over to the next door.

He took position to the right of the fancy hardwood door that had the gold nameplate, "M. Suave." I thought to myself, 'I don't care if this douche is important. If he is in there, I am going to kill him just for his name. M. Suave...what the fuck kind of shit is that?' I stood back from the door. However, I began to get second thoughts as I studied the heavy hardwood door that was surrounded by marble walls. Perhaps trying to kick in the door was not the wisest approach.

Alpha 1 said, "Do it."

Instead of risking a broken leg, I sent a psychic blast into the door. The blast succeeded in sending the door backwards onto the carpeted floor beyond. Alpha 1 charged into the room. I went to join him, but as I went to move into the room, out of my peripheral vision to my left, I noticed movement. Snapping my rifle, I unleashed an entire clip towards where I had seen movement. I did not stop until my ammo counter indicated that I was out in my current clip and the rifle clicked. I heard something slump onto the floor. Alpha 1 rushed out of the room and asked, "What is it?"

With my rifle's muzzle emitting steam and glowing red from the heat of an entire clip being emptied without letting up on the trigger, I replied, "I'm...not...sure." I glanced at him and he nodded to indicate that he had my back. I quickly loaded a new clip into my rifle and then we cautiously approached the black figure on the ground. As we drew closer, my heart started pounding painfully in my chest.

When we finally reached the figure, what I saw illuminated by my rifle's flashlight stunned me. Alma materialized beside us and remarked with an equally stunned tone, "No...fucking...way."

We both looked at her quickly as it was the first time that either of us had heard her curse. Then, we went back to looking at the man-shaped figure on the ground before us. Before our very eyes was the body of an unnaturally tall man that was wearing a black suit.

"Mommy has cursed before Daddy."

I replied, "Stop interrupting the story, sweetie. It was the first time that she cursed for the sake of cursing and not as part of a saying or as a verb."

I stammered, "Am...am I-I seeing this right now?" I turned to look at my companions and asked, "You...yo-you guys are seeing this...too. R-right?"

Alpha 1 replied with flat tone that hid his fear, "Affirmative."

Alma suggested, "Maybe it isn't one?"

Steeling myself, I replied, "Only one way to make sure." Then, I reached down and quickly flipped him over. I cried out, fell backwards onto the floor, and then backpedaled away about a foot as I said, "Holy fucking shit! It is one!" The figure's identity was confirmed by its, literally, blank face with black sunglasses covering its eyes. I stood and went back to standing by Alpha 1's side.

The commotion had drawn the attention of the rest of my team, who, besides Point Man who took his time, rushed over to investigate. Upon seeing the figure on the ground, Foxtrot 813 remarked, "No fucking way! You killed him, sir!"

I asked, "Wait, are we sure that he is dead?"

Alpha 1 stomped down on the figure's chest with his heavy armored boot encased right foot before quickly retreating back to my side. We waited with our weapons at the ready, but the figure failed to move or make any signs of a response. Stunned and somewhat proud, I remarked, "Holy shit! I did kill him!"

Feeling badass, I moved over to the body as I said, "Hey, someone take my picture so people will believe this story."

Materializing a camera, Alma said, "I got you."

I posed over the body with my boot encased left foot on top of its chest, with my rifle's scope resting up against my right shoulder, and giving a thumbs up with my gloved left hand. Alma took my picture and then made sure that the photo was a good one. Then, she nodded at me and we all went back to clearing the floor.

"You are so full of crap Daddy."

I looked down at Amara who was giving me a look. I smiled slightly before I said defensively, "Hey, that actually did happen. Your old man killed him."

She looked at me with an unconvinced expression for a moment. Then, she said, "Prove it."

I shrugged and then replied, "Okay." I stood and went over to the mantle above the fireplace. I grasped a certain picture frame and went back to my seat. Then, I handed the picture to Amara, who took it. Her eyes comically became the size of hubcaps as she saw that indeed I had not made that part of the story up. There in the photo was me, in dirty blood-stained Dark Signal attire, posing with a certain strange looking individual that was dead.

A.N.: It was a government agent. "Men in black" type thing. Not the movies, the urban legend.