The sound of several engines roars above the backyard of the Faraday home, like a pack of dragons staking their territory as they descend to their landing zones. The rear of the ships spill out several soldiers, each differentiating in species, but with a single purpose in mind. They line up in neatly formed rows and columns as a soldier with a high ranking insignia patched onto his uniform barks orders to the platoon.

  "COME ON! FORM UP, MOVE IT! WE ARE WASTING TIME HERE!" The soldiers tense up and form quicker in response before the engines of the last ship finally silences itself into a slumber and the last soldier shuffles into formation. leaving a moment of silence before the leader addresses the soldiers once more.

  "We've all read the debrief, so lets make this quick and efficient as always. The lucky bitch that bags our boogey-creature gets the money pool we betted on. Team 1, you're to secure the first 10 floors. Once we know its clear, we'll make the first few floors our secured CP area, after which the other teams are to proceed as stated in the briefings. Double check your gear and commence Operation: Second-horseman at 0100. Oh! and don't forget, all other experiments are not to be harmed or disturbed if we are able. The brass were VERY clear they don't want-"

  The leaders sentence is cut short at the sight of Osiris quickly approaching across the yard with a slumped lion following shortly behind him.

  "Oh great... Just what i need right now." He leans his head backwards slightly before meandering toward Osiris to address and defuse him. He holds up both hands like a handler attempting to calm down a rabid animal.

  "Listen, you can't be here. This is a restricted-"

  "I know about Operation: Second-horseman and you're not going down there without me."

  The leader lowers his hands as his eyes narrow before leaning to one side and peering at the lion, now actively avoiding his gaze as he attempts to hide behind Osiris's toned frame.

  Half an hour earlier Osiris presses Maytan for more information "Whatever is going on, it involves my father, my brother and something that the U.S.N doesn't want ANYBODY knowing about. SO, instead of boarding this Gravity-craft, why don't you just fill me in before i go and find out myself." The lion shifts his weight uncomfortably as he stews in his own silence before Osiris turns toward his home and takes a step to march off.

  "Wait!" The lion holds up an arm toward him to protest. "alright, I'll tell you. But it REALLY IS in your best interest to leave on this Gravity-craft. It's for your own safety!"

  Osiris turns back toward him with his arms crossed and his head canted to one side. "With all due respect sir, I'LL decide that after i hear what you have to say."

  He sighs before looking straight into Osiris's gaze, resuming his military discipline. "We're here to commence Operation: Second-horseman. Below this estate is a series of experimentation floors, each with its own purpose and filled with valuable experiments. Scientists work around the clock living inside the lab to develop technologies that will help the U.S.N build its power. One of these experiments was successful, however it was uncontrollable. A fear that many of our higher ups were afraid of. In that event, it was supposed to be purged inside a controlled environment, but it seems the experiments were taken place without due caution. Our last report was that your brother and father are trapped down there still, while it's on the loose. Our orders are to secure the facility, lock down each floor, recover any undamaged experiments including the one that broke out known as experiment thirteen and resume control of the labs. If all else fails, we are to seal all blast doors to block the exits, and detonate a controlled payload large enough to bury this facility in its entirety."

  Osiris finger curls onto his chin in thought as his gaze drifts off to into the distance.

  "I suppose these 'experiments' are less than moral, if they're trying not to draw any attention. But if my family is down there, if there's even a CHANCE they're alive, I'm going to get them out, or die trying. I'm going over to those soldiers in the back and YOU'RE coming with me."

  he begins marching off toward his backyard as the lion stumbles after him with his hand raised in protest. "Osiris! you can't! You have to leave right now!" Osiris doesn't turn to face the lion, but speaks over his shoulder while continuing onward.

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  "And why's that? What's so special about me?" The lion finally catches up to Osiris's pace as he continues.

  "It's your family name! You're family is known as our best! a role-model of a perfect citizen and leader in the military! With the current status of the rest of your family assumed M.I.A or worse, if you something were to happen to you, morale amongst soldiers and faith from our citizens would take a massive hit if they found out your whole family died in a single night, AND on our own capital planet! it could spark another rebellion! The U.S.N don't want to risk that!"

  Osiris spreads a cocky determined grin on his face as he speaks over his shoulder one last time before bursting into a jog. "Then you'd better make sure nothing happens to me down there!"

  The leader soldier sighs while listening to Osiris's recounting of the explanation to him, as he stands at attention waiting for a reply. "Listen, i know it's your family down there, and honestly? I'm not here to babysit. If there was no punishment for it, id let you go down there while we did our mission, if you didn't get in our way. but those pencil pushers who gave us our orders would spin like a twister if they found out. I just can't allow it. I'm sorry."

  Osiris teeth begin to bare in desperation and frustration. His fist shakes under his own grip but then softens as his eyes widen with a new idea.

  "Listen, my father and brother are in danger, I know you're just trying to do your job you were sent here to do, but as the next of kin after my dad AND next in command at this household, i am assuming control of this operation as commander as my father would have done if he were still here, so i'm ordering you to allow me to accompany your squads on their mission to find this... experiment and possibly, my family."

  His face tenses into a stern look, hopeful that his idea might just work. The leader of the soldiers raises an eyebrow toward Osiris, letting silence fill the space between them before gazing downward with a defeated sigh.

  "Fine. But if you make it out of this, I'm telling them EXACTLY what you just told me. If the hammer comes down, YOU'RE the nail it'll hit. If you don't make it out, then you went down there before we arrived got it? Lastly, you're not going down there dressed like that. We have some uniforms and protective gear with us as well as a prototype weapon we brought on one of the gunships, you're at least going to use those, now get going!"

  Osiris's eyes widen as his shoulders relax in relief but quickly rise once more in determination as he snaps to attention. "Yes sir!" He marches off toward the gunship with a sense of urgency, and removes the lids off one of the military crates, revealing a sleek black uniform perfectly folded and a neatly packed protective chest rig alongside armored plates labelled with 'Energy Dispersal and Trauma Plates'.

  One by one, he quickly slips into the gear then proceeds toward the next crate. A tightly strapped case with electronic displays and a number pad adjacent to it. A frown and confused look slips onto his face as the leader shouts from the opened door of the plane. "The code is two zero zero zero, two four, zero seven! Come on! We've waited long enough, wouldn't you agree?!"

  Osiris simply nods in agreement, punching in the code quickly. The case responds with a depressurizing swish as a small amount of air gets sucked into the case, releasing its bolts and propping itself open slightly. Osiris reaches just into the cases lid and hauls it upward to reveal two blue armor plated gauntlets with hoses and valves running through the plates. A strange liquid is pumped through the valves giving the gauntlets a slight purple hue amongst its ocean like sheen.

  After analyzing the weapons for a few seconds, he quickly equips them onto each hand before closing and openings his hands. the gauntlets whir and hum in response to its new user, like a well trained servant responding to it's master. After disembarking the gunship the leader lets out an impressed whistle. "Looking good rookie. Those gauntlets are powerful, don't let the weight fool you, It'll pack a punch. Look I'm not a scientist, one for those egg heads back at base can go into the details, but just a few hits from this should be enough to take down the big ugly. Now lets move! Hustle, hustle! Squad one, you're first up, and you've got a powerful ally backing you up!"

  a small group of the covert soldiers step toward the large cargo elevator revealed from the opening in the backyard. The tighten the straps around their bodies, their specially fitted masks begin to whir as an active heads up display begins to materialize. Their weapons power up in unison with a harmonizing zing as they brace their weapons on their shoulders. an uneasy silence accompanied by the whistling wind breezes past the squad, interrupted by the clunking of their boots as they hit the metal walkway on their approach.

  Osiris's gauntlets clank and crunch when the gears move to match his hands movements. The large blast doors slowly open after the technical member of their squad raises a thumbs up when interacting with a nearby electrical pad. Wind is sucked into the large opening as the doors reach the end of their rails, stopping with a sudden thud. A miasma of flesh wafts through the open air, causing some of the squad to gag, even with their filtered helmets on.

  Osiris, however, stands strong but concerned, realizing just how much danger his family may be in. After a few seconds of consideration, he takes a step forward as his arms raise, his fists clenched in preparation before resting in front of his lower jaw. The rest of the squad follow suit, their weapons aimed toward the corners of the elevator, ready for threats as flashlights illuminate the platform, originating from their weapons. The blast doors come to life once more as they seal themselves behind the squad, ensuring that no escape is possible, not for any experiments, or those that could be their victims.

  If you have the time, please leave a comment telling me if you like the way it is, or if you prefer it shorter/longer! id love to try and accommodate to as many readers as i can! And leave your thoughts as well as to the story or my writing in general! I'd love to hear your opinions! It will all help me not only to grow but more importantly to engage with my readers!!! :D

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