Chapter 14:

Chapter 14

FORCES


The group was tired, and weak. Joseph was dead, and that effected Wayne, and on top of that Wayne’s other team member Sam was unconscious. The only one that Wayne had now was Dexter. Dexter’s mechanic was retrieved. Though that was Wayne’s idea. Clive on the other hand had the idea to just leave it, and move on.

“Don’t worry Sam, we are going to get you out of this alive. So wake up soon.”

Wayne was pretty much all alone in his DB, despite Sam being in the back. Now the only dependable mechanic pilots left are Mason, and Sylvia. They are the only ones whose mechanics haven’t been destroyed to a certain degree, and they also pose to be the currently more sane a position than other people in the group at the moment ironically enough. Dexter is also driving with no windshield so he is most vulnerable to attack. Though Clive has renewed vigor, and he intends on finding this man in “paradise” who advised the guerillas to attack them.

“What are you afraid of Clive?” Mason asked himself.

“You must be afraid of something.” Mason couldn’t quite put his fingers on it though.

Clive showed no sign of remorse for Joseph’s death despite being one of the direct causes.

“Is it possible that Clive isn’t even afraid of death?” Mason thought. It would make sense, and add to the lack of remorse.

And at this moment Clive only fears death for one reason. The possibility of not being able to fuel, and fulfill his goals. Clive isn’t sure but he believes that this man in paradise may be somebody he knows of. And he believes this so called paradise to be the legendary city of the West, though not really a city. The logistics of it sound more like a facility, and not a community. Run by one man, opposed to the idea of many people. And Clive… well Clive was going to find this man. If it is who he thinks then this mission will be over, and the war will finally begin. The war for the eradication of evil in the eyes of this man. This man’s name is none other than Clive Crews, the fearless.

“Be honest with me sir. Is “paradise” the place we are looking for?” July tentatively asked Clive.

“What makes you ask that July?” Clive said with a sense of emotional distance in his voice.

“Well it’s because we aren’t going to “paradise” for revenge sir. You aren’t one to jeopardize the mission over that. Maybe Wayne right now. Poor guy, Sam is unconscious, and he as tired as he is, has to drive with Joseph on his mind.” July states.

“Maybe I should have driven, and went with him.” July wondered. “He doesn’t have anyone to talk to.”

“Don’t worry about him. It may be hard to believe but someone as tough looking as him, though sensitive is still tougher than he looks.” Clive states with confidence.

“Oh is that so? What a commander. If I ever become a commander then I think I will take a page from his book if that is okay with you.” July tells Clive.

“It is quite alright, I can’t say no since he is one of the best commanders I know. Since you are better with people’s feelings than me, and since I am the one who killed Joseph then you should try to cheer him up.” Clive told her.

“Sounds like a plan sir.”

Clive started focusing on the road more upon ending the conversation. “Uh… why do I even care so much?” Clive thought to himself.

He has never cared about how Wayne was feeling before, and Clive felt this will be a problem. Because he knew this would be a problem for when he reaches the man in paradise, and inevitably finds what he was looking for. Paradise as the guerilla put it was nearing, and though it wasn’t visible Clive could still feel it coming his way. Mason spotted a giant white wind turbine that wasn’t spinning up.

“That’s like what we are looking for.” Mason says as he picks up the communicator.

“Alright guys I think I found the quote on quote fan that guerilla troop was talking about!”

Clive did some looking around until he saw it as well. The reason that Clive missed it was because he was looking for one that was spinning up, and the fact that this one wasn’t was worrying him. But it wasn’t spinning up because there was no wind but inside the DB it felt as though it was windy.

“Good eye Mason. It is worth a shot if you ask me.” Clive says.

“Mason has been quite a help sir.” July says as Clive continues to drive.

“Mason! Listen closely. When we get to this so called paradise place then I want you to stay next to me the whole time.” Sylvia worriedly demands.

Mason sighs but he does know where she is coming from. “I understand. I am no soldier so I will stick close.” Sylvia then has a sigh of relief.

“I’m glad you understand, I have a feeling this is almost over, and I just want to be careful ya know?” Sylvia told him with a big sound of relief in her voice.

“I too have a feeling this is almost over. I think that Clive knows who this man in paradise is, and I also have a feeling that this is the city we are looking for.” Mason speculated.

“I also can’t help but believe that I know this man in paradise. Even if I do not know him, I think I may know how he operates. He has to be some sort of mad scientist to live by himself in a wind turbine powered facility.” Mason notices an array of Solar panels as well.

“I see. Power… rain or shine. The reason the wind turbine isn’t on is because there obviously isn’t wind but there is sunlight.” Sylvia absorbs all that is being said.

“So it seems we may be dealing with someone dangerous right?!”

“It isn’t likely this guy is very dangerous actually. We scientist types aren’t usually very confrontational. If he was then he wouldn’t be having people like the guerillas doing his dirty work for him. He may have a wicked strong defense system though so caution is of the essence.” Mason told Sylvia as he then switched the communicator to public as to contact every member.

“Guys there was a set of solar panels which means whoever is here is drawing power at the moment. He may have tight security so Dexter you stay back.”

Dexter then started to get defensive “Why do I have to stay back, and why should I listen to you!?” Dexter yelled as Clive silenced him.

“Even though you have the ability to see clearer now it seems you are still blind. You have no protective windshield Dex! Mason is right, you stay behind us. Team! Look all over the ground for mines, and check for trip wires or any type of technology that seems suspicious. The group continued to roll in. a little red light on the ground began blinking as the group rolled through it. A signal they couldn’t see.

A dark room within the facility had a small, and quiet alarm go off as a small pod like chamber opened as fog began rolling out of it. A man shrouded by the darkness of the room sat up then walked up to a wall of monitors to see the military vehicles. He frowned then put his hand on his bearded face, and began massaging his jaw. He then tampered with his keyboard allowing him to have a closer look at one of the drivers. He knew the driver. The man smiled then turned off all his turret defense systems he had in place. He had approximately 63 turret systems taking place in that particular entrance.

“Well there haven’t been any explosions or loud alarms so I think it is safe.” Dexter pointed out. The team started prepping for the infiltration by packing grenades, and extra machine guns.

“Alright team!” Clive said. “This is it so gather round. We won’t need any flash, and or concussions grenades on this one. Instead we will bring this.” Clive grabbed a small cache, and as he released each latch, and opened it up he revealed a special grenade that was unfamiliar to the rest of the group. The rest except Mason, whose eyes lit up. Though with a sad expression

Wayne asked “What kind of grenade is that.”

Clive then got a huge grin on his face. “Why don’t you explain Mason? You could do it better anyways.” Clive insisted.

Mason picked the grenade up. “This is a chaff grenade. It disperses aluminum foil strips into the air in order to disrupt electronically controlled systems. Any Metal Gear Solid handbook would tell you that.” Mason said with quiet excitement. “Though it wasn’t a real grenade while I was around. But we were working on making it in to one. Looks like we’ve succeeded.” Mason said looking at Clive.

“We might need these with the person we are dealing with.” Clive said.

Clive lay his head down, and then whispered “Soon it will all be over. Just this one last thing to do before fearlessness.”

Dexter then rose his hand. “I thought we were looking for a city sir.” He said.

“This is the city we are looking for Dexter. Welcome to paradise, population… one.” Clive then continued to cock his weapon.

“Someone will need to stay behind, and watch Sam.” Wayne said.

Clive then stopped in his tracks. “Shit!” he thought. He looked around, and for the sake of hurrying up he pointed at Sylvia.

“This is a direct order. Stay behind, and watch Sam.”

“But I have to stay with Mason!”

Mason then put his hand up to silence her. “I will be fine Sylvia. I swear!” Sylvia had glossy, watery eyes. She didn’t want to let Mason go in there without her but she bit her lip, and sat with Sampson.

The group converged on the main entrance. They entered a room that seemed to be the lobby. It was Dark. “Well which way do we go?” Wayne asked.

“It shouldn’t be so dark. This man has wind, and solar power, Where are the lights?” Mason pointed out, and Clive agreed.

“Well we will have to split up.” Clive said. “Me, and Mason will go down this hallway, and you three will go down that hallway.” Clive ordered while pointing. “If you find the man we are looking for then radio me. That is why we brought radios along after all.” Clive also ordered.

July then grabbed Clive’s sleeve. “Shouldn’t I stick to my squad sir?” July said. Clive believed that the less people attached to him at the moment the better, and Mason was the most devoted.

“Now is your chance to cheer Wayne up, and give him some better company other than Dexter. This is the opportunity.” Clive whispered to her, and it seems as though she understands. She smiled, and gave a thumbs up as she went in the same direction as Wayne, and Dexter. Clive, and Mason went the opposite way.

“So what was all that about cheering Wayne up sir?” Mason asked.

“Joseph is dead, or maybe you forgot.” Clive reminded him. Mason could tell that Clive wasn’t in the mood for talking. The halls were dark, and they were using flashlights to navigate their way through. It was almost like a maze with all the different turns, and completely white halls that are pristine, and sparkle.

Mason paced slowly behind Clive, and was keeping his distance. Clive felt unusually distant. “Clive.” Mason said in order to get his attention but Clive ignored it. “Clive.” Mason asked again in a polite manner again as not to seem upset.

“What is it Mason?” Clive asked knowing that Mason would more than likely just speak until acknowledged, and or until he loses his own voice.

“Clive I need to know this, and it doesn’t matter either way but. I was wondering if you consider yourself my friend. Do you?” Mason asked with hope that that may be the case. Mason could only be hopeful though.

“Tell me this Mason. Would you take somebody out for a drink if you didn’t consider them your friend? Just let that sit a while.” Mason did think about it right away, and Clive took him out to go drinking in the past.

“Though it isn’t like I am your replacement for Miles or anything. Because I’m better than him.” Clive told Mason.

Mason would usually get mad at somebody down talking his friend Miles, but he didn’t. He didn’t because he considered Clive to be what Clive said he wasn’t. Clive was that replacement for Miles as a friend. Though it was obvious that Clive wouldn’t be the nice buddy-buddy type of friend that Miles was, but he had somebody’s dream to help accomplish so it all worked out. They had a somewhat similar relationship in that regard.

“I think that I understand sir.” Mason said with a smile on his face. They kept going down the hall until Clive saw a white door that completely matched the wall as it rose up.

“I will go first Mason.” Clive side stepped his way in front of the doorway then aimed his weapon into the opening. He saw nothing and then slowly stepped his way in. The door then shut behind him. Mason was freaking out, and banging on the wall.

“Clive, Clive!” Mason said as he smacked the door repeatedly. Clive was doing the same on the other side.

Neither of them could hear each other. Mason then saw a wall fall down then block the direction that they came from. He looked ahead of him to see that that space was being blocked as well. There was one open hallway up ahead though. Mason decided he had no other options. He started off walking, and aiming his weapon till he headed around the corner to see absolutely nothing standing there. He loosened up a little as he started walking at constant rather than slowly walking his way around each turn. Then his caution disappeared, and he found himself running straight ahead through his path determined by one man other than himself. But Mason didn’t know that.

“That’s right Mason. There is only one direction so keep pursuing it. You will find your way to me soon my friend. This I promise to you.” A man watching Mason’s progress as he trudged throughout the hallways. Wayne, and his little group weren’t making any progress either.

“Damn it! I could have sworn that there was a hallway here!” Dexter yelled.

“Come on commander! I ain’t crazy kay! You just have to believe me man!” Dexter kept spouting at the irritated Wayne.

“Calm down Dexter, this is a big place. I’m sure we are just lost.” July said to calm him down.

“That’s right Dex, this place is huge… I think.” Wayne told him but Dexter was sure that they were being messed with. He was positive that the scenery was changing.

“Huh… that guy I tell you. He has to be delusional. I hope he is anyway.” Wayne said. July leaned up on the wall next to him. July looked at Wayne a moment before finding the right time to speak.

“So sir, about…” July was then stopped by Wayne.

“Listen girly. I appreciate that you are trying to cheer me up here but I have dealt with the death of my men before. Surely you see why Clive sent you with me don’t you?” Wayne said. July stared at him a while.

She did find it strange that while the mission was going on Clive was going to encourage her to lighten somebody up. That he would go alone with a rookie who has almost no combat experience or training. Although really Clive wanted to go alone but that would have been even more suspicious.

“Well he told me to be there, and support you, and that’s why he sent me.” July told him but Wayne wasn’t having it.

“Wrong.” Wayne bluntly told her. “I don’t know for certain but the first thing you should know from when I punched Clive at Mason’s house in Requiem is we aren’t on the best of terms. In fact. Forget all that bullshit I was thinking about wanting to bring humanity back to his heart, I just hate him. He killed Joseph, and I hate him. This isn’t the first time he has gotten some of my soldiers killed, and yet every time he comes out of it without a scratch. In fact he comes out of it better than before, and I am sure now won’t be any different.”

Wayne then put his cigar in his mouth, and pulled out the lighter of his brother’s finger, and lights his cigar. It was the same cigar from when he picked up Mason for the first time. And soon it will be no more than a butt. Wayne only smokes it when he has a thought about his brother whether it was good or bad. Almost an impulse. The smallest thought of brotherhood and he will smoke. Though this occurrence has been happening less so recently.

“I don’t think you should speak so harshly of Clive sir.” July said but was ignored by Wayne.

“Listen July. I am going to give you a piece of advice that I soon will start living by myself. You get out of that man’s team. I have been trying to convince Rus… I mean Sylvia of this for a while now with no luck. You stay in his team any longer then you will most definitely end up dead.” Wayne told her this, and went on to talk of how often people die in Clive’s team despite all the precautions that Clive goes through, and despite how much it seems that Clive cares for his squad mates.

“Well sir, I think I will stick with it. I have a feeling that I in particular am going to die in this fight regardless. Finish what I have started and all that.” July then said to Wayne with a smile, and a thumbs up.

This ignited a slight smile out of Wayne. He pulled his cigar out of his mouth, and blew a smoke ring into the air. He then gave a big wide smile, and a thumbs up as well. This made July laugh of course, and she followed up with something polite to say “Thanks for the advice sir.” She said as Wayne told her it was no big deal, and they fist bumped their problems with each other away.

“Hey guys! I knew it!” Dexter yelled. The two of them looked at him as he was scratching at the corner of where the walls intersect.

“Whoa you were right. It looks like the wall came down just to block this pathway.” July pointed out.

“I told you dumbasses that we were being f’d with.” Dexter said with pride.

“Who are you calling dumbasses Dex? It took you all this time to finally check the crevices and the corners and you had the suspicions.” The group examined it further, and began questioning why someone would mess with them like this not to mention who would.

“It has to be the person we came here to find. It is obvious that he doesn’t want us to find him.” Wayne states.

“Or her right?” July says.

“Dumb bitch. There’s no way a bitch is smart enough to have a setup like this!” Dexter tells her.

“Uh! How rude, I bet I…”

“Cut it out you two. We will just have to keep moving. Maybe there is a flaw in this person’s little maze here.” Wayne said while ending their little squabble.

“Clack, clack, clack” Mason was close to his destination, and would soon be able to meet this man in paradise. He knew that this man was guiding him. That or this guy was laughing in his chair as Mason ran around in circles. Mason’s feet kept clacking against the floor as he ran his way through this crowd-less, empty hall.

“Is that it!?” Mason said as he was coming up on a dead end.

He slowed down as he started coming up on the dead end, and felt around the wall. Mason stood there a while longer feeling the wall, trying to depict if he was fooled or something of that nature. The man who was leading Mason to him sat on the other end of the door taking deep breaths, and taking swigs of water. He was nervous to see Mason. Mason who was the only guest that this man would ever attempt to entertain. Mason kept feeling up the wall until finally a door raised open, and the bright florescence blinded Mason’s eyes as he entered the room for the first time. He stepped forward as if he were stepping into the light of heaven.

“It has been way too long my friend!” an old man said with a huge smile on his face.

Mason waited for his eyes to adjust to the light, and everything was all fuzzy as Mason wiped his eyes but nothing about his line of vision was changing.

“Come friend! Er Um, uh have a seat, by all means.” Mason found himself seated by the man.

“Who the hell are you?” Mason asked him as the man acquired a frown on his face.

“You do not recognize me?” the man said sadly.

“I guess that makes sense. Though in all honesty you should be the one who recognizes me right away, and I should be the one who doesn’t know who you are! I should just be a senile old man at this point.” the man tells him. After a bit more blinking as Mason starts to regain his sight. He asks for a bit of water which the man gives him as he takes a drink then rubs some of the water in his eyes. He looks up at the clean cut man with the short beard, and he wipes his eyes again. He looks at the man again astonished.

“Miles!?” Mason says as the man smiles.

“Yes it’s me, Miles! Your friend!” the man said as he threw his arms open for a hug. But Miles was ignored, and instead Mason buried his hands in his face.

“No, no, no, no, no.” Mason kept repeating, and Miles was getting a bit scared.

And he felt even lonelier since his hug was completely ignored by the only person he had considered his true friend. Mason stood up. And the man’s face lit up along with him doing so. Mason reached his hands around the back of his pants as he ripped Romeo’s magnum from behind his back, and aimed it directly at the man.

“For the crimes you’ve committed, and the peoples whose bloods stained on your hands! I will restore justice, and order through your death!” Mason now yelled with tears flowing down his face.

Miles stood up, and walked over to the now trembling Mason who obviously wasn’t going to pull the trigger. He gave Mason a hug. It surprised Mason who hadn’t known how to react. Mason’s arm dropped with the gun still firmly gripped. Mason didn’t hug him back but he did put the gun away, and then proceeded to sit back down freeing himself from Miles’ grip. Mason then just stared at him a second. Taking in the image of the old man.

“I wake up, and all of a sudden I find out the world has gone to hell, and it was all your fault.” Mason says with a tired look on his face.

“Now how do you think that made me feel?” Mason told him with his hands buried into his face.

“It must make you feel like shit.” Miles told him as Miles pulled up a chair to sit with him.

“You look dirty. You a dog of the army now or something?” Miles asked. Mason put up his hand, and gave a hand motion signaling that he kind of is but really isn’t. “Well nothing is official or anything but I am basically a soldier now.” Mason told him before taking another drink of water. Mason at this point had wiped away all his tears already.

“Done sulking already Mason? You used to sit, and cry for a longer period than that at something trivial like the loss of a girlfriend or something. Now you live in a world of death, and destruction but you cry a lot less, go figure.” Miles told him.

“Sometimes you don’t have the time to cry as much anymore. Besides I have always been well at adapting to my situation pretty quickly. Besides something horrible happened, and robbed the rest of my tears from me.” Mason said while gazing at himself in the shiny floor.

Miles grabbed his chest, swiped his hand across his face. He put his hand out to comfort Mason but pulled back immediately.

“I, I am truly sorry my friend. I wanted there to be a perfect world by the time you woke up but it just didn’t happen that way. I extended your sleep to fifty plus years, and decided I would wake you up when it was necessary.” Mason didn’t acknowledge his friends words, and he just kept his blank stare.

Miles stopped talking altogether. He knew he couldn’t explain to his friend what was going through his mind because even though Miles remembers what he was thinking, he still couldn’t believe what he was thinking. Miles however did plan on finishing what he started from so many years ago. Mason with his face buried deep within his hands looks up to see a shiny white pod with a touchscreen interface. It looked oddly familiar. He then looked at his friend who was almost thirty when he went to sleep sixty-seven years ago. And Miles looked almost as if he were only in his sixties. Mason then pointed his finger at the pod.

“What is that? Because you shouldn’t be alive right now, or at least you should be getting ready to die of old age.” Mason asked him.

Miles looked over at the pod. He then smiled, and looked back at Mason.

“I almost forgot to tell you. I have been substituting real sleep with the same cryogenic sleeping technology used to freeze you all those years ago. I feel as though I’m immortal!” Miles said while laughing. “Time just keeps passing and I feel as though I have been here for quite a while.”

“There is no way that actually worked.” Mason said as Miles cheerfully went on bragging about it as Mason sat there getting even more pissed off. “Why the fuck are you laughing!?” Mason thought to himself.

“You destroy humanity almost single handedly then sit there, and brag to me how you’ve survived!” Mason thought. He was beginning to lose his temper as his old friend just kept talking.

“Shut the hell up!” Mason yelled as he jumped out of his chair knocking the chair to the ground. He then pulled a gun to his former friend.

“How can you sit there, and brag!? You have ruined the lives of billions of people including your “best friend” or have you forgotten? I can’t believe that I believed in you this whole time. “No he couldn’t have done this” I told them! I told everyone, and then I beat myself up secretly whenever I doubted you! You are so smug aren’t you!? Shut the hell up!” Mason rambled in anger like that for a few more seconds, and was unable to calm himself.

Miles stood up to defend his motives. “Don’t you say that to me! My motives were pure, and were for the betterment of this earth. I created the irons with human DNA so in a sense our species would still survive, and then I created this facility so I could create the formula, and change the surviving humans into the “perfect” creature!” Miles yelled back.

“The perfect creature?” Mason said with curiosity.

“Yes! A serum that would make us biologically Immortal, and indestructible! Virtually we would be unable to kill each other! The serum doesn’t discriminate.” Miles informed Mason all this with excitement. Mason was beginning to feel that nothing could be real anymore.

“I am using the aesthetics of certain species of jellyfish who are fundamentally immortal as well as creatures that can regrow their own limbs like reptiles, and more importantly the axolotl.” Miles told Mason.

“An axolotl. That is insane. There is no way you would be able to even get a creature like that from here! Besides I don’t think you would be able to make it work, a human eye, and organs are a bit more complex for us to just regrow them.” Mason informs him. Miles then smiles.

“Oh Mason, you are a poor fool. I have already retrieved an axolotl with my metal drones. And my serum has already been perfected to the point where besides the obvious brute strength, you will be biologically immortal, and reptile DNA will allow for the regular regrowth of limbs as well.”

Mason still couldn’t believe any of what he was hearing. If the axolotl DNA (among other creatures) were perfectly implemented with the serum then he could possibly create a near invincible creature.

“Why couldn’t you just leave it alone Miles? A creature like what you are trying to conceive would be unnatural.” Mason says. Miles looks up at Mason then gives a smirk that is something of evil, a children’s nightmare.

“It would be unnatural wouldn’t it?! It would be perfect!” Miles walks up to his monitor screen to see that Wayne’s group is still trying to navigate their way out of their situation.

“A perfect creature that is free of pain, and powerless against each other, and yet all powerful at the same time. I shall call my new world Olympus!” Miles begins laughing like a madman.

He continues laughing as Mason stares at him baffled. Miles’s laugh then started boiling down to small chuckles, and he eventually stopped. There was a bout of silence that sat in the room. That feeling just hovered there for a while as things between the two of them just sort of grew awkward. Miles then looks up at Mason then just stares at him for a second before continuing his ramblings.

“Of course I would be choosing the guerillas to join me. Those sheltered people at Requiem are not worthy of my gift.” Miles explains.

“So what then, you give them specifically this power, and me too, and then the rest of humanity is hung out to dry!? Or is it maybe you want to rule them with an iron fist instead right?!” Mason angrily inquired. Miles looked over at Mason.

“It would seem you don’t get the point Mason. I wouldn’t leave humanity out to dry. Quite the opposite of leaving them alone really. With my new found power, and invincibility, I would SLAUGHTER THEM!” Mason’s eyes widened as he looked over at the prototype of the serum.

“What do I do now!? If I contact Clive now then he will most definitely use the serum as is. He won’t have the complete invulnerability that he wanted but he would still be too powerful for us to handle!” Many thoughts like that one kept racing through Mason’s mind.

“Should I try to kill him now!? Miles was my friend, I can’t just kill him! I should detain him! Or maybe I should stall him until the others arrive!” Mason looked at the computer screen, and Miles had them trudging through a maze that could be changed at Miles’ own will.

“That won’t work I have to detain him, and or talk him out of it.” Mason thought to himself as he edged closer to Miles who had the experimental serum next to him.

Mason could feel his heart beating as he grabbed at his chest, trying to keep his breathing normal. He was only now starting to realize the gravity of the situation. He knew that if Miles finished or even used this serum as is that they could never win. Even if it were only Miles, his combination of brain, and brutal strength would be far too much for anyone to handle.

“Maybe I’m overthinking this whole thing. There’s no way of knowing that some freaky Frankenstein inducing serum would even work.” Mason thought.

“Miles! Don’t you think you may be taking this idea too far!?” Mason asked.

“Ha! Too far!? I have already created a creature that put humanity on the brink of extinction! Even more, I have developed that creature further with biological enhancements!” Mason’s mind upon hearing that flashed back to the giant iron they had to fight earlier, the kind that killed Romeo, and Dean.

“It would only be right by finishing what I have started all those years ago!” Miles began laughing like a madman once more.

“It was all to eliminate the one species that causes the most pain! Physically, and emotionally!” Miles yelled as he stepped closer to the unfinished serum.

“Miles!” Mason yelled as he ran straight for Miles to tackle him into the ground. They toppled over as the serum vile fell to the ground, and rolled under the table it was atop.

“I have to keep him from that vile! I will knock him out, and detain him. Then I will find a way to work his equipment, and get my teammates here as fast as possible!” Mason thought as he wrestled with Miles on the ground.

Mason went to punch Miles but Miles moved his head. Mason’s fist smashed into the ground causing his hand to bust open, as his blood seeped out of his hand onto the floor, and a little on Miles’s face. With the arm that wasn’t under restraint Miles went on to punch Mason in the jugular. This forced Mason back as he grabbed his own throat, and choked. Miles went for Mason’s gun in his back pocket, and upon grabbing it Mason smacked it across the room. The gun went off, and made a shot. The gunshot freaked Mason out as he punched Miles in the gut.

“He’s just an old man. How did he get the upper hand so quickly!?” Mason thought.

“I have to admit Mason. You have become a much more capable brawler than you used to be!” Miles said as he got back to work fighting Mason.

They threw several punches at each other. They got bloodied, and beaten, and above all else they got tired. So much choking, smacking, scratching, and finally punching. What Mason didn’t know however was that Miles actually had a few small cybernetic enhancements made on his own body to keep up his physique. The enhancements didn’t turn him into a Terminator, but it did make him capable of keeping up with a Mason who was in his mid-twenties.

“Why couldn’t you just go along with it Mason!” Miles said as he was able to spin around behind Mason, and get Mason in a choke hold. Mason began coughing, and fighting to get out.

“If you would have just accepted my kindness then you would have been crystal! I have to wipe out the humans! They are weak, and pathetic, selfish creatures! And I had to choose the guerillas, because they have been loyal to me! And I am sick of watching them grow up, and get older, and finally die!” Miles complained.

Mason began to tear up a bit.

“I understand why you feel the way you do.” Mason said calmly before his face then grew to a more hateful look.

“But that still doesn’t give you the right!” Mason screamed.

“I woke up to nobody! I have lost people as well! I watched new friends, and children die! Sometimes by the hands of somebody else who didn’t want to do it!” Mason complained as he plowed back into Miles.

“What do you know Mason!? I am trying to save a rotting world, and you would knock on my idea to save the world!” Miles yelled at him as they quickly went back to brawling.

They were both back on their feet. Mason was staring him down gasping lightly. Miles was looking at Mason only gasping a little more heavily. He had done his best to stay in shape but he was old, and his cryogenic freezing was hardly a substitute for sleep. Miles’s sight was beginning to fade away. Those cybernetic enhancements were only temporary fixes to the problem of his health after all. Mason rushed in for another punch.

The punch forced Miles to the ground. “I win.” Mason said as he walked over to the vile, and as he reached for it he saw his gun barely a foot away. He switched what he was aiming for, and picked up the gun. He then leaned in for the vile. He picked it up then he stared at it for a while. It was an orange ooze. He stood up then pulled out his standard issued hand-held communicator, and pressing each button with force as to make sure each button has definitely been pressed. He waited a while but no one responded.

“What’s going!? It isn’t working.” Mason said as he tried again.

“It won’t work.” The battered old Miles said as he lay on the ground. “This room is running interference signals… so too bad.” Miles told him.

“Well then let me out!” Mason yelled at him.

“Well you won’t get anything by yelling about it now.” Miles told him while giggling.

“You are sick Miles. I heard that you actually cured cancer. You had so much to live for.” Mason said as he sat down. “Everything is so messed up.” Mason said as Miles started crawling his way over to Mason.

Miles kept crawling for a while. Mason pointed the gun at Miles, and persisted him to stop. Miles kept coming at him while Mason with watery eyes shook the gun angrily telling him to stop once more. Miles stopped right where he was.

“I know everything isn’t exactly alright or anything Mason but they will get better if you just continue to let me work on that serum!” Miles was urging Mason to let go of the vile. It was unfinished, and Miles had already dedicated the entire rest of his life to it.

“I’m sorry Miles. I cannot let you kill off the human race.” Mason told him.

Mason sat looking at Miles on the ground.

“Why are we here?” Mason says. “When we find the lost city in the west, then it will be one more step to the elimination of all the evils in this world!” Mason thought of what Clive was saying.

He was wondering just what Clive was looking for here. Mason once again looked at the vile in his hand. He stared at it for several more seconds until he looked over at Miles on the ground. He looked at the vile again. He then sat shaking his head.

“What else have you been working on Miles!?” Mason asked loudly, and nervously. “What else was there!?” he asked again as Miles looked at him confused.

“Don’t give me that look Miles, there had to be something else! Some sort of miracle drug or contingency plan weapon of some sort or something!” Mason was now yelling.

“What else was I working on? Mason that was all I was working on! There wasn’t ever anything else!” Miles told him.

“Then why am I even here!?” Mason said pointing at himself as his finger presses into his shirt, and leaves a red, almost bruised mark on his own chest. The two of them frustrated were staring at each other.

“I’ll extend Mason’s slumber a little more, I want to share this perfect world with him. Hopefully it will be done before he wakes up.” Someone said as Miles and Mason keep looking at each other. Then Miles looks to the floor as Mason looks over. Two booklets get slid over to Miles, and into his line of vision. It was his notes, and Daikov’s journal.

“I have successfully constructed the first of an organism that I believe will help mark the end for humanity. Next I start working on a draft for the serum.” Miles looks up to see a long haired soldier holding a green notebook. “Clive!” Mason spouts with a small bit of worry, and a small bout of possible excitement.

“How’d you get in here!?” Miles yelled at Clive. Clive had a crazy smile.

“I’ve seen that smile somewhere before!” Mason thought. Clive points upward.

Miles, and Mason both look up. “Of course, the ventilation system, and here I thought I trapped you. Where did you get that book?” Miles then asked him.

Clive still holding his smile had begun to lift his finger then put it over his mouth. “Shush.” Clive inquired Miles to stop talking. Clive then began to laugh. It didn’t sound maniacal, and that was what scared Mason. It was a genuine laugh, and that was what worried Mason. It was that Clive actually found the situation they were in funny.

“It is so nice to finally meet you sir! I haven’t only heard so much about you!” Clive then proceeded to raise the green notebook into the air to put further emphasis on it.

“I have also read so much by you!” Clive said.

“Where did you get that book!? Don’t make me ask you again!” Miles demanded.

“You are in no position to be making any demands to me! Not now, never!” Clive said. Clive looked over at the monitor.

“Those clueless fools don’t have any idea what is going on right now. It’s kind of funny.” Clive said as he stood giggling, and then Clive looked over at Miles while smiling. “Do you want me to read more old man?” Clive asked. Miles gave him an evil stare while Mason was just lost in the middle of it all.

“No thanks. You gave me enough clues to what notebook that is. Where’d you steal it from is what I want to know?” Miles then said. Clive laughed some more.

“I never stole it!” Clive said while laughing.

“What is that book?” Mason asked Clive with urgency.

“Honestly I thought it would take much longer to find you than this. This notebook Mason was his direct journal. The ones I passed over to him were the ones that you were examining back at Requiem. You see I needed some opinions before I trudged out here looking for him.” Clive said.

“You knew he might still be around already? You didn’t share this with me! Were you even going to!?” Mason asked angrily.

“I needed you Mason, to confirm that Miles was actually working on a serum or may have left behind some sort of legacy, and low and behold it was true. In his journal it mentions things about a new world, and all I needed was your deciphered opinion of his notes. Once you said he may have a god complex then I knew for sure what he was up to. Good job Mason. And if it weren’t for that gunshot then I never would have made it through this maze of a tunnel shaft, so thanks. The notes could have been a lie. It wouldn’t have been the first time Miles had thrown people off in such a manner.” Clive said.

“Why are we here Clive?” Mason nervously asked. Clive looked at Mason with intensity. He smiled even harder as he pulled his sidearm out, and pointed in-between Miles, and Mason in case he has to use it.

“I am here to eliminate evil, and the only way to do so is to become God!” Mason immediately gasps, and glances quickly at the vile. He threw his gun up but it was immediately shot out of his hand.

“Don’t do anything stupid Mason.” Clive said with the gun now centered on him.

“Is this the only prototype of the formula… the serum Miles?” Mason asks looking at Miles. Miles stares at him nervously, and gives a tentative nod.

The moment Mason figures that out, he then picks up the serum and smashes the glass onto the ground in that instant. The vile was seen by Clive nervously as the vile Mason threw was being hurled toward the ground at such speed. It was moving in slow motion for Clive as he stretched his hand out as far as he could as he then heard the cracking of the glass as the vile hit the ground.

The vile had a small crack in it but that was all. It didn’t break. Clive had a worried look on his face, and was breathing excessively even after it still hit the ground. His worry soon turned to laughter till it hit him that the serum was still in one piece. He jolted forward, and kneed Mason in the face, and Mason flew back in pain. He grabbed his mouth as a tooth flew out, and he was bleeding pretty badly.

“Don’t hurt my friend!” Miles protectively yelled as he rushed over to Clive only to be kneed in the stomach, and tossed to the side with one hand on Clive’s end.

“A pair of foolish old men.” Clive said as he picked up the vile.

He looked at it with great intent in his eyes. You could see the flaring passion he had looking into that vile as the neon orange liquid bounced around. Almost as if he were thinking that all the hard work had finally paid off. And boy didn’t it for Clive whose goal was to be God all along.

“I will finally become god of my new world! Not your new world old man, I’m sorry to say… except I am not. And I assume just like in your notes that I will have the ability to control irons! I will lead the irons into the enslavement of humanity! After all I wouldn’t get rid of them. Odds are I will still be more sexually attracted to humans after all.” Clive said laughing.

“Now who will I make my queen after I rule the world? Maybe Admiral Stacey? I bet she wouldn’t mind being put in her place by a god!” Clive said laughing.

“Are selfish things like that the only reason you want that power!?” Mason yelled, and asked in disbelief, and also in a fair amount of anger.

“Of course it isn’t. But I have been working so hard, and I still have a fair bit of work to do! It isn’t wrong for me to think of ways that I might have fun now. Now who will be my first bride? Maybe old childhood friend I told you about Mason! I would sure like to see that side of her.” Clive’s eyes lit up clear as day as he then stared at Mason with another smirk.

“Or maybe Rust would be a nice choice!?” Clive said as he licked his lips.

“Sylvia!” Mason thought. “You don’t touch her! And her name is Sylvia now!” Mason screamed at him.

“Chill out Mason I was just kidding, and besides I will need you to help perfect the serum. I mean why do you think I rescued you in the first place?” Clive said as he laughed again. “You thought you had a friend! How hilarious. You were betrayed by your best friend twice.” Clive told him, and Mason was getting pissed.

“There never even was a West city was there Clive? That was an excuse you made to get this mission rolling, and get everyone fooled.” Mason pointed out. Clive shrugged.

“I never knew whether or not there was ever a city in the west. Doesn’t mean it wasn’t possible. I mean our military has the records to prove there was supposed to be one but it didn’t matter to me either way.” Clive stated. Clive then started laughing yet again.

“This is the most I have ever laughed without being drunk. It’s just funny that I tricked two A-class scientists. Fooled Mason with false friendship, and found this old bags secure hideout sooner than expected. One giant merry Christmas to me!” Clive gloated.

Clive pulled the top off the vile. “Cheers!” Clive says as he starts to throw back the vile, and is then stopped by Miles.

“It’s pointless boy. I used my blood for that batch of the formula, and it will only work for me.” Miles said with certainty. Mason looked at Clive’s face upon hearing it, and it appeared to have stopped Clive. “If you drink it then you will most certainly die!” Miles warned him. Clive stood there with a stupid look on his face till he finally face palmed, and started cracking up.

“I can’t believe you haven’t figured it out! It is why I was given the journal in the first place pops!” Clive said as he then started to drink from the vile.

“This is bad Mason!” Miles told him.

“Why? What’s wrong!?” Mason then asked despite the fact that he had a pretty good idea.

“Run! I will use the security system to stall him!” Miles said as he rushed Mason out.

Mason wasn’t having it as he picked up the “LADY KILLER”, and shot the whole clip into Clive’s painfully morphing body. It was ineffective. “OH shit!” Mason said as Miles then forcefully pushed Mason out the door.

“Go find your squad, and run!” Miles then closed, and locked the door. “Sorry.” Miles whispered as the door shut.

Mason banged on the door to get Miles’ attention but it was useless. “Miles! Miles!” Mason said before noticing just how massive Clive was becoming. Mason then clutched his fist, and gritted his teeth while eyes closed. Giving it brief thought he finally turned around and ran. Never again will Mason ever see his friend Miles, and he knew that. Though he could still accept it for that was already a truth to him from before he arrived here in “Paradise”. Now it would just have to become a truth all over again.

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