11 August 2024

12:35 P.M PDT

Glowgen Headquarters, San Deigo, California

"WHAT!?" Gabriel shouts as his left-hand compressed a stack of papers.

His right arm twitching raised off his seat. Looking to the only free window without plywood boards. Listening to more of what the other guy on the line was talking about

"THEY WERE IN DENVER BEFORE THEY ATTACKED!? HOW THE HELL DID THEY FOUND THAT BUILDING WAS THE ARMORY?! LET ALONE, DISCOVER THAT SHIT!?"

He separates from the desk. Pausing while he approaches the wall. Sighing in the process.

"Shitshow after shitshow and incompetence on their part. Make sure they don't escape. I want them captured."

He'd continued to stay on the line. Closing his eyes while staring out to the ocean from the view. Slight reflections of water occasionally getting to his eyes.

"At this point, I don't want them in body bags. Make sure they're captured, retrained, and let me know once you do so."

Gabriel returns to his desk, sitting down while he drew out a half-empty cigarette box from a drawer.

"Let me know if any of them have signs of being the spirit my backer warned me about-"

As he was about to wait for a response, another call came in. "Hang on, I got another call."

After putting his current call on hold, he answered it, "What is it?"

"Remember me, Gabriel?" said a familiar voice on the other side of the call.

"Élisée?"

"Mmh. I heard your voicemail earlier on. Woke me up, but, but, but! I replied, in an email about the nature of the person, it was a spirit."

"The phantom that we're looking for?"

"Yup. Although you need to be careful, Experiment S is similar in nature to her and several others not existent in the world you're in. At least five if I recall correctly."

"What am I-"

"I cannot tell you for sure. But you need to be cautious, thorough and do not kill them. As they're tough to kill outright, especially since the technology you have wouldn't suffice."

Gabriel nods, "Anything else of note?"

"Don't assume you're superior. That might get you killed by one." Élisée said, his voice turning deep.

Suddenly, the call ends. Leaving Gabriel an inability to respond. Sitting back in his chair and leaned back, he sighs while staring at the ceiling. Thinking for a few minutes in his posture.

That phantom presence was a spirit. Another presence in there is a spirit. What are the signs of a spirit? Are they invisible like that? Or are there other things I should be careful to look at?

Slowly, he got up, heading down a few steps. Ignoring his fellow staff members, although below him, while he thought about stuff. Sustaining until five floors down when another staffer detected Gabriel's unusual stance. With slicked brown hair and a piercing on the ear.

"Mister Miller," said the person in a very normal tone.

"Hmm." he turns his head and just stares at the slightly shorter person.

"Something's plaguing your work. Where are you heading to?"

"Going for a smoke."

"If you don't-"

"It's nothing of your concern. Everything's alright." he fired back before sighing.

"It's about those kids we've been told to look out for."

He rolled his eyes while looking at the display in the elevator for the floor. "Yes… It's those fucking kids! Now I'm being told by my backer that there's a spirit among them!"

"A spirit? What do you mean?"

"It's cryptic at best, but I don't want to believe it's what I think it is. Something shit like that better stay in fiction and not be our reality."

"Problems?"

"If it's what I think it is. We're fucked, royally fucked. Our backer Élisée's been rambling on about the influences behind this Experiment S and how it connects to that."

"You're overreacting. Spirits aren't real."

"You're right, they aren't. They're only in stories and in those paranormal shows. If there's anything else about it, it's pure bullshit."

"You're not being yourself today," the person said once more.

"Why am I overwhelming my thoughts about something that will never come true." he looked out the elevator doors while it opened up again.

Heading out with the rest of the people there, while who he talked to followed Gabriel. Swiveling through several cubicles and eyes glancing to the man. Looking several directions while vehicles and beachgoers at that afternoon.

"Also, you seemed to be getting paranoid. You said that we needed to work today and not have a day off."

"At least everyone got yesterday off, even myself."

"Still breaking the law."

Taking a cigarette from the pack, he offered it to the guy. Who raised his hand and shook his head.

"Hand me a lighter," Gabriel ordered.

"If it calms your nerves," he said before digging his pocket.

As it is raised, a red Bic lighter enters view. Gabriel takes it and quickly ignites his cig. Before beginning his first breath into it. Handing it back several seconds later while he exhales. The smoke exiting from his mouth and scatters with the air. Remaining that way for about six minutes until he decides to say something.

"We might need some of Denver's objects. Their souls will be sweet…" he said while his neutral face transformed itself into a smile.

1:42 P.M MDT

Glowgen Armory Denver, Denver, United States

Subfloor 03 Hallway

Freer in space compared to the waste disposal section and didn't reek of a military complex's garbage being sent up in flame. The four comrades split from each other, each providing overwatch to each other's flanks when necessary. Sirens at full volume extend into the area.

The elevator a hundred meters to the left open up with a few armored Glowgen units. Sending suppressive fire.

"DOWN!" Jaraslav shouts.

Drahoslav hid behind a door before his position would've ensured his death. A chip of metal breaking from the door as a result of a few rounds. Dvinaslav dived into a depression in the middle of the floor to hide her presence. Zelislav tripped on his rope while it unraveled in his attempt to get out of the way and fell to the floor. Jaraslav managed to get out of the way before he would've made a splendid target practice.

"Hovno-" Drahoslav notices, grunting while an unconscious man's ballistic shield slides to his vision.

Strapping it to his arm, he gets up and starts running to Zelislav's location. Shield in front while watching for anything else he should notice. As well as immediately thinking of something to do to retaliate at them for risking Zelislav's life.

"Draho! Nie próbuj tego!" Zelislav shouts, quickly turning his hand while he watched Drahoslav's aggressive actions.

"Vstať!" Drahoslav replies, now standing in front of Zelislav.

"Don't let them flank you!" Dvinaslav shouts upon noticing a few individuals attempting to spread from a tigh.

Drahoslav stares behind for a moment, forcing Zelislav's up on his feet while picking up some of the rope and throwing it towards Jaraslav's cover location.

"Sorry for doing this, but!" Jaraslav grasps it mid-air.

Pulling with both arms, Zelislav's body jerks severely to his left. Away from harm despite his chin hitting the floor several times with an occasional release of spit.

"I'm not going to allow you to die at the hands of these individuals. Nor from a stupid mistake under stress. Pay them back, Draho!" he said while Zelislav's body reaches him.

Noticing none of his comrades were in the range of what he'll do next. Drahoslav pushes his arm forward. Tightening the straps on his arm and freeing his hand. A cold, determined look turns onto his head while he examined the room as of Zelislav's withdrawal.

They're spreading out. That would make a concentrated attack less effective. However, AOE would make it difficult for them. Infernite's too focused, I can't home them right. Even with firing ten Infernites at the same time. Dante's too destructive and would just be overkill. My typical stuff wouldn't be useful to keep my guard up.

He followed the motion of the enemy. Tilting where the shield covered in case one of them got the smart idea to try and fire at him.

Think Drahoslav, Think. Is there anything you can do that wouldn't- You know what, fuck it, it's time to prove how dangerous we are!

Fixed on his decision, he halts his movement. Quickly signaling to his comrades to spread out while he noticed several more Glowgen personnel arrive by elevator.

Jaraslav picks Zelislav up, beginning to sprint away. Dvinaslav at her location does so too. While behind the planting of the blast doors. An uttering of one of his commands begin.

" Activate Command… "

"What is Draho planning on doing?" Zelislav asked, getting out of Jaraslav's arms.

Jaraslav looks to Zelislav as he'd fix his rope and tighten it.

"I can't say for myself, but as we've been fighting, I've started to notice the stronger personnel seem to have extensive experience in combat."

"Why is that? Less armour equals stronger?"

"In my world, no. In fact, less armour is more formidable combat power. Their way of fighting also seems to be quite similar. Their conviction's far greater too, especially once we've unleashed our FLIC's abilities."

"Who are they anyway…"

"By the looks of their faces and the general style of their equipment. Either they're something entirely different, or they could be stranded members of the fictional AST who somehow got here."

"Fictional? Why, are you saying they could be real?"

"The unleashing of a real spirit close to two years ago and her appearance in Lviv convinced me. If my assumptions are true, Glowgen would be aware of her. Hell, if some of these "lost AST" knew something was up, they would be sent into a frenzy they have to deal with one for so long. Let alone Phantom."

Zelislav checked the hallways but shaken by Jaraslav's explanation. "Why isn't Draho-"

"He might be a fool to not believe what I could say is true. But I trust Lieutenant Jelusic's belief they are real. True outside of the story I told for an April Fool's troll."

Suddenly, a giant steel door blocks off entry into the main hallway where Drahoslav made his stand against the overflow of individuals. Forcing Zelislav on his feet while grunting. Without much to see as darkness seeped into the narrow two-direction hall.

Translations:

Slovak:

Hovno: Shit

Vstať: Get up

Polish:

Draho! Nie próbuj tego: Draho! Don't try it