Mercenary Squad 9 Chapter 1

Mercenary Squad 9
Chapter 1: A Wolf is Born

A quarter of a second…the time it takes for a normal human to perceive something is coming toward them. Half a second…the time it takes for a normal human to perceive that something is coming at them, and to get out of the way. Gabriel could literally feel the air vibrate as his opponent’s fist went rushing past his face narrowly avoiding knockout punch. His right hand shaped into a fist, cocked back and fired into his opponent’s chest sending him reeling to the ground gasping for air from the punch. Instinct followed as Gabriel brought his right elbow down on top of his attacker’s skull flooring him easily. “ENOUGH!” The command to cease fighting echoed across the ring as men in white suits, medics, came and took Gabriel’s opponent away.

“Gabriel how many times must I tell you that this is a training exercise, and you are not trying to kill your opponent!” The commander’s bald head and gray eyes stared down at Gabriel from a row of seats above the ring. “You could have killed him Gabriel.”

“Yeah…but I didn’t.” Gabriel spat as his grabbed the top rope of the ring and leaped over it onto the floor. The 20 year old recruit wiped his black hair from his green eyes and looked over to his sister sitting in the front row of the ring opposite to the commander. “Nice work bro.” The black haired 19 year old tossed her brother a towel as he sat next to her wiping his face of sweat and dried blood.

“Shut up Macha.” Gabriel said playfully as he wiped his eyes from the burning sweat that had entered them. “Gabriel Ames…for 8 years we’ve been in this hellhole and never once have you called me by my real name like that.” Macha said smiling at her brother who merely smirked at her. “We’re soldiers now. Kid names don’t belong here.”

Soldiers…the word still sounded funny on Gabriel’s lips, it seemed like only yesterday that he and his sister had been young children at home in a small town with their two parents learning the ways of the Arcana people. Their life had been normal, until the Imperial Army designated them to become mercenaries stripping them of their childhoods and 8 years of their lives. From day one they had been treated like soldiers, not children in the camp. Years of drilling, combat practice, weapon practice and tactics had shaped the brother and sister into warriors. Gabriel with a build most athletes would have killed for knew no magic despite his family, and had been mocked his entire time by fellow recruits and commanders alike. So instead he turned to a more hands on approach strengthening his body and mind rather than his magic. His hand to hand skills were greater than anyone could have expected, not once had he lost in the fighting arena and his fighting skills were only matched by his fiery temper and stubborn attitude. He refused to make friends or show any weakness, his sister was the only person he cared for, and they never separated.

Macha herself with a tall limber build, wasn’t as strong as her brother, but faster and her eyesight sharper. She had proven to be a master of firearms and had tested perfect on all standard firearms tests. She, like her brother, was cold and unapproachable but it was mainly because of the fear she radiated. Nobody wanted to stare into the blue eyes of the marksman Macha. Like her brother she also knew no magic and was ridiculed as a recruit, causing her to retreat inward instead of rushing outward in rage like her brother, which led to her cold attitude toward everything except family. “We’re not soldiers yet Gabe; we still have to survive the Gene Mods.” Macha said looking up at the ceiling. “And the chances of that are…”

“20% yeah yeah, I’ve heard all this before sis. Forgive me if the whole idea of the “perfect soldier” doesn’t really sound like a big deal to me. I personally don’t like the idea of those eggheads messing with my DNA just to make themselves a soldier to fight with. I think I’m good enough on my own.” He said looking at his human hands. “I don’t want to be some…freak.”

“Freak eh? Seems like a pretty harsh choice of words for someone who hasn’t even seen what it can do.” A seductive voice said from behind the siblings.

“Melissa nobody asked for your opinion so beat it.” Gabriel said without looking up. “Rawr…so feisty, I think they’ll like that.” Melissa said as she walked around and stood in front of them, her arms on the railing separating the two from the arena floor. Melissa was the ace of the class. She was 21 years old and had the body of a supermodel, with a rack to match, but despite her beauty her talent was in fighting. Her hazel eyes sparkled as she tossed her blond hair back over her shoulder which made Macha roll her eyes. “Any particular reason you’re here Melissa?”

“No, just to tell you guys that if you don’t hurry you’re going to be late for your A.D.M (Animal DNA Merging) tests. That’s how they’ll find out what animal to mix your DNA with.” “She’s right Gabriel, we need to get moving.” Macha said grabbing his arm as she got up. “Wait you knew? Then why are you here in the fighting ring?” Melissa asked raising an eyebrow.

“Because I wanted to get one last fight in before I gave up my humanity.” Gabriel said getting up and following his sister and leaving Melissa behind. As Gabriel walked with his sister he couldn’t help but feel nervous for both himself and his sister. He had been trained to show no fear, but he could still feel it, and as they both approached the massive steel door labeled: A.D.M. his fear only increased. The same commander who had called of Gabriel in the Arena stood in the room as they entered. The room was barren and empty containing only three doors one of which was for employees, while the others were marked male and female.

“Gabriel and Macha Ames.” The commander began his gray eyes staring holes into both of them. “This test and procedure are meant to endow the two of you with animal DNA much like the humans from the Anima tribe. Your animal will be chosen based on your record here at the training camp, and a set of questions that you will answer.” The man suddenly ceased talking as he suddenly grew quite somber. “You…may not survive the transformation, but if you do, you will be half way through your transformations as the Emperor’s mercenaries.” He saluted both siblings his medals dangling on his dark grey uniform. “Now…say your goodbyes…and enter the doors.” He said quietly as he exited the room leaving the two alone.

“Gabriel…listen…if…I don’t make it out of this.”

“Fuck that Macha…you’ll get through this. We both know you will and…if you get out before me…promise you’ll wait for me okay?” Gabriel said grabbing his sister into a hug. He had tried to be strong, he had tried to be tough for his sister but he couldn’t…not like this. When faced with death, no amount of training could keep either of them calm and collected. With a small wave of goodbye, Macha walked through her door leaving Gabriel to enter his…alone.

“Please take off all of your clothes and other personal belongings before entering the chamber.” A voice echoed as Gabriel stepped into the cold pre merging room. It was nothing but white walls and a table with a small box for him to place his clothes in, which he did as instructed.

“Please step forward.” The voice instructed as Gabriel stepped into a larger room covered in cameras and lighting. In his mind it almost looked like one of the old operating rooms he had read about in some of the books he had read. The only thing inside of the room was a small computer like device on a stand over two glowing footprint indicators which he stepped on. As he did so dozens of tube devices descended from the ceiling each one supported by a robotic arm. The computer device indicated for Gabriel to extend his arms to the side which he did. A sudden pain shot through his arms as two of the tubes were now stuck into each one. He winced in pain but grunted as more the tubes descended. One by one, each tube stuck into a part of his body, from his spine, to his legs, and his chest. A normal human would have screamed, but Gabriel felt no pain, largely in part he believed to the strange silver liquid being injected into his body. The computer device then hovered up to his eye running a beam of light over it before displaying his name on the screen. “Please answer all of the questions truthfully. They will be measured against your personal files, and known actions to determine your animal.” The voice echoed from all around him. The device glowed in front of Gabriel’s eyes and began listing questions.

“Your fellow mercenaries are in danger of being killed by Rebel Forces, you could save them if you move quickly, but your mission objective to rescue a hostage is also in danger. What do you do?”

“Leave them…the mission comes first. We can make more mercenaries.” Gabriel answered normally.

“Two of your fellow mercenaries have broken into an argument on the way to the mission area. If the fighting continues it could endanger your mission. What do you do?”

“Tell them to stow it, and save it for after the mission, because if they end up blowing it because of their bickering, I’ll kill them myself.” Gabriel spat.

“You have discovered that an elite team of mercenaries is actually working for a group of Rebel Soldiers. You are easily no match for them and they have offered you a hefty sum of gold to not mention it. What action do you take?”

“Take the money and run. I look out for myself and nobody else…except my sister.”

“Final Question: If you had to make the choice between yourself, and family…who would you choose?” Gabriel gasped. “I…I can’t answer that! You can’t ask me that!!”

“Answer the Question.” Gabriel cursed under his breathe, his family was all that he had left, but he didn’t even know if his sister was alive anymore. If she didn’t survive the animal merging then he would be alone for sure but…could he really say he would save himself over family? “If…if my sister was gone…I would choose myself. Yes…I would choose myself over family.” He said his heart aching at having to say those very words.

“Test complete animal chosen. Begin merging procedure.” The screen pulled away from Gabriel’s face as a small breathing mask latched over his nose and mouth. At first Gabriel wasn’t sure what to think, until a long, clear, cylinder descended over and began filling the area around him with water. His heart rate spiked as he began to panic, his breathes shallow and frantic and then…pain. His whole body felt like it was on fire as he saw different colored liquids flowing down the tubes that were stuck inside his body. His body burned and twisted in pain, his body contorting and thrashing in an uncontrollable spasm. Gabriel tried to scream but the pain was so great he couldn’t get the scream to leave his lungs as the water fully submerged him. He thrashed about in the water his hands clawing on the cylinder he was trapped in, as the burning and agonizing pain continued. His vision began to turn red as the pain blinded him to all else, he felt like a giant sword was being pressed into his body or that he was being bitten by ravenous animals and torn apart, and slowly his vision turned black and the world faded away…the pain his only companion.

“SEQUENCE COMPLETE. SUBJECT MERGING SUCESSFUL, DRAINING TRANSFORMATION TANK.” A voice…echoed inside of Gabriel’s head. His eyes slowly opened seeing the water drain from the tank he was in and one by one he felt the tubes detach from his body causing him to crash face first onto the cold floor. His energy was ebbing, he felt like his life and been sucked out of him, his body twitched as he struggled to stay awake long enough to at least look at himself, but it was not to be. His vision fading, he could only feel the presence of other humans carrying him and speaking in hushed tones.

“He actually did…didn’t think he would…he’s so different now…look at his ears and tail…what is he...I think he’s a wolf. “A wolf…” Gabriel’s mind repeated over and over.

“I am…a lone wolf.”