The entrances to Tranquility.. Definitely something to be amazed by.. Gates over ten feet tall, one foot thick, and made of high grade titanium, grafted into the sides of the dome protecting the city from the outside world. The gates were guarded by high ranking marines, all of which had the security clearance that surpassed even those within the FBI. On both sides of the gates stood two pillars, both outlining the gateway, upon which auto-defense turrets had been set. These prevented unwanted individuals from getting in, or out. Only vehicles with special clearance could get through these points, most of which contained high-priority scientists, their families, and college level scholars wishing to attend the grand universities in Tranquility. All of these people were thoroughly checked, within reason, by the marines stationed at the gates.

It was through here that Sage and James would meet their first real challenge… The PSCTF agents were burdened with the task of infiltrating the grand city of Tranquility while keeping them-selves completely under the radar, as anything could alert their targets to their presence. In order to fill this guideline, they had boarded a bus in a city close by that was transporting university students into the domed city. Inside, they were in danger of being caught, as armed as they were, by the security check, but as the marines had searched through Sage’s suit, he flashed his badge and identification. This, of course, gave the two the “all clear” to enter the city, at the discretion of the residing military.

Sage sighed deeply as he returned to his seat on the bus, resting his feet carefully on his fully loaded bag as he slipped his thin wallet back into his jacket pocket. “Heh, that was close, huh?” James said with a smile as he took his seat next to Sage. “I thought for sure that we’d be held up here. I guess someone called ahead, huh?” Sage sighed again and leaned back his head, closing his eyes as he did, at these words. “I don’t think it would have mattered if they had or not. Those marines would have let us in either way.” Sage said quietly, indicating that James should do the same. They had succeeded in the first level of their infiltration, and were now speeding along on their way to the university on the edge of the city, twenty miles from their target location. They’d take roughly ten hours to prepare themselves before moving on to their third step, their infiltration and termination of the STORM laboratory, where they were known to be developing a weapon that could mean the end of civilization as they knew it, or at least of America..

They got off the bus at around ten thirty on October the nineteenth, after just under eight hours of riding on a bus. They weren’t feeling quite comfortable now, after not standing for so long and sitting with their unseen armor putting pressure on their skin, so they were a might bit irritated by the awkward cheeriness of the students around them as they stepped onto the campus before them. The irritation was not unlike what someone might feel when talking to a rather upstart morning person after a long night of doing reports for an illiterate boss.. Just one of those moments when you want to grab the nearest brick and turn their faces into hamburger meat.. Somehow, the two managed to avoid doing this, and snuck off without being noticed by anyone important. They’d have to find a hotel where they could arm themselves, now, or at least a house.. Somewhere out of public view…

The male arouse, as he did any other day; cold sweat sitting bolt right up clutching the rifle close ready to pull the trigger at a seconds notice, and again just like any other day. He was safe, in his own bed, in his own home far away from the any kind of conflict. He groaned wiping the sweat from his forehead and placing the gun against the night stand by his bed as he threw the comforter off himself and slipped out of the bed. He rubbed at his face before ripping the alarm clock from the table and pitching it against the wall. It was a good thing he had stocked up on them, because either he shattered them, shot them, or stabbed them he always seemed to need a new one by the next day.

He rose to his feet slowly, gripping his head as the memories seemed to grasp at him like dark talons ready to rip his already spooked mind right back into a blackout of pure insanity. He was told by several therapists that he was no more then a time-bomb just waiting to be set off by conflict, he scoffed at their notions and advice, but all the more it seemed to becoming real by the days that passed. He was losing his grasp of the reality, the unfinished business he had in himself, the war raged inside his own mind his sanity was losing to the blood-lust. He faltered becoming dizzy and leaning against the door frame of his bedroom, his hair blocking view of his face as he breathed heavily, sweat still glued to his skin, he needed to relax and first on that order would be a hot shower.

So after his shower, and getting dressed he slumped down onto his couch. His coffee table covered in pill bottles, many of them different psychotropics and over the counter anti-depressants. He laughed out loudly in his empty home, he truly was fucked up beyond repair. He took the prescribed ones, tossing the empty pill bottles away as he rubbed at his forehead before his eyes caught the gleam of the metal on his walls. his entire living room looked like an armory, covered with swords, and knives from several different countries. His room was the same way, though littered more with knives then swords. He had, a friend over; if you call the man that, and now the man was to terrified to step into his house with all the sharp-pointy objects that could so quickly end his life. Oh life was perfect for Luke the way it was, everyone stayed away from him, he never had to worry about any type of problems from others, and he had all the bladed weapons he could want. He grabbed the remote for the large flat screen that hung on his wall, flipping it on and began to do what he always did. He flipped through the channels endlessly until something interesting caught his eye. It was just another day in the life of an Ex-marine that had lost his mind in the middle of a battle.

Keane scowled to himself, sitting on the hood of his 64 Camero, staring off in the direction of this so called Tranquility. More like a bloody fortress is what it looked like to him. Keep the low class criminals and scum out while the high and mighty reside within, at ease with their Armani suits and twelve course feasts. Well, now that he thought of it, it wasn't his. But that was beside the point, he wanted in that city for whatever reason, and he had been watching on and off while chatting with the service guys working at the gas station he was parked at. Seems they got a lot of travelers who couldn't get in and pass through town, due to its high level security. And talk was, that was THE way in, and THE way out. Well, wasn't that a problem? Sewage was self contained, or at least no one saw it leaving town, though that prospect did NOT interest him in the least even if it was available. Same with power, supplies, ect ect. Only thing anyone saw was those rich scientists and college students, buses and nice cars, passing through with security cards and other such nonsense. The most obvious answer was obtain one, but that was more work than it was worth. He mentally took a pair of dice and threw them, hoping Lady Luck would be here for him.

Snake eyes, and just as he was about to give it up and head elsewhere, a white car of indistinguishable design pulled in, steam billowing from under the hood, pulled in, and a rather angry looking scientist fellow stepped out. Opportunity, at her finest, and he almost wondered why he had mentally though of snake eyes. While the man stared at the overheated car, Keane made his way over, that easy smile that said hey, I'm a friend, and boy do I have a deal for you. The conman smile, one that those who hadn't seen it before would be willing to trust, at least once. The scientist turned, and Keane gave a friendly nod. "G'afternoon mate, couldn't help but notice your having car trouble, and you seem in a hurry. Now, I'm a roving reporter, recently off case due to the event being canceled. Bugger ain't it? But anyways, having dropped off my equipment already, I have some free time. Y'know, I could give you a ride into town, if your heading that way. Boys here fix up your car, send it on in, and you don't miss a beat. And don't worry about fee's, consider it a good Samaritan gesture."

The man's judgment was clouded by his anger at the piece of junk American car, and that he was dangerously close to running late for his appointment, so this odd reporter, most seemed to be odd in some way, was practically a godsend, so to speak. Telling Keane it would take a few minutes to get his items together, the man went back to the white car, and Keane promptly went to work. He hid his two weapons, a Strayer Voigt and his push dagger in a compartment under the steering column, no cop had found it yet, and he would get those items together after dropping the good doc off. The doctor came over, setting his bag onto the floor in the front seat, and calmly told the so called reporter what to do, and he followed instructions, driving up towards Tranquility. Pulling in, he didn't act like he was not supposed to be here, and let the doctor do the talking, and the angry ranting passed them through quickly, the marines having done the checks and didn't want to deal with the ranting scientist. Following the man's instructions, he lifted an extra pass out of the man's pocket as he got out and thanked Keane, who nodded in a vague and friendly manner, before driving off. Time to take the sights in, and figure out if anything here was worth running a job on.

Another day another dollar, her father had told her before his death. Rising from her bed she knew it was already late, the small town was already bustling with noise which had woken her in the first place. Slowly she stumbled through her apartment that lay above the shop, she'd left the window cracked open slightly to allow fresh air in and keep the stale greasy smell that lingered. Stretching with a soft yawn Svena moved into the bathroom and took up her comb running it through her incredibly straight onyx hair and slipped it into a ponytail. After completing her toiletry Svena returned to her room and slipped into a pair of work jeans that already had a few stains that would never come out in the wash and a tear in the knee. Taking up a clean forest green tank top she slipped it on and snatching up some socks walked to the couch that made up her living room. Studio apartments were the thing them for single people to live in, and she was comfortable with that lifestyle.

After readying herself for the work that waited downstairs now banging at her garage door Svena snatched up a nutrition bar and opening the wrapper stuffed the corner into her mouth while slipping her boots on. Locking up she headed down the single flight of stairs to the office of her business and sighed when she saw the familiar face standing there. Scoffing she rolled cocoa brown eyes at him and unlocked the door, stepping back quickly to get out of the way when he bustled in and began chattering on. "Hello Brinson, car trouble?"she mumbled and moved behind the counter, taking up another bite of her bar. It appeared Brinson's car had once more stopped working, she'd tried to tell the idiot that an oil change was a good thing for a car, but he'd tried arguing that work demanded too much of his time therefore remembering such a thing was inadequate.

She took the keys from him and watched just as quickly as he'd entered he was gone and slipping into a rental car he'd apparent had pick him up. Scientist she mused but finished her bar and headed outside to examine the car. She was the only one working today, she'd given Jasper the day off which now looked like a bad idea. It took about thirty minutes just to get the blasted car into the garage so she could work on it. Taking a break she drank down her favorite beverage, cream soda, before continuing. Truth be told Brinson paid her well for working on his car so she couldn't complain too much, but as a scientist he proved that sometimes brain over street smart was a bad thing. It was nearly two hours later she had the oil changed, and a few other things tweaked on the car that she heard the phone ringing. Hustling through the doors from the garage to her office she snatched up the phone and answered. "Svena's grease monkey shop, Svena speaking how can I help you?" the soft tone over the phone made her smile. "You really need to change that number missy" she laughed and commented back. "It sounds off, but it is true. I always come out lubed up enough to oil twenty cars. You got a squeak in a door I can fix it" she winked as if the person on the other side could see.

"Are you coming for dinner tomorrow?" she thought about it and sighed. "Yeah but don't try to set me up with anybody again okay Val" the pleading in her voice told her old friend she was tired of the dating ritual. "Aright alright dinner is at seven."hanging up the phone Svena nestled herself into her seat and picked up a comic book she'd been reading and delved in, zoning herself into the story's plot. Flicking on the small radio near her the let some music play in the back round. Other customers would pour in later today they always did.

Roughly twenty-five miles from the center of the city, and their objective, the agents had taken up residence in a large and luxurious (too luxurious for their tastes) hotel. For the entire half hour after they rented the suite they went about arming themselves. Sage was slowly loading the last magazine for his Colt 45’s when James decided to speak up, he having just finished loading his revolver, “So, how and where will we be entering the facility? I imagine it won’t be as easy as getting through the gates, most likely twice as uncomfortable as well…”
Sage slid the magazine into his fourth customized Colt1911 cocked the gun, the sound making Carmine flinch a bit. “We’ll be using one of the entrances in a hospital basement. It seems STORM has quite a few set around the city, but this one is the least used. It’s only known usage is for bringing in supplies, which is how we’re getting in. We’re going to help them bring in a shipment.. From there, it’s simply a matter of sneaking through a high security facility, stealing their data, and perhaps a sample, then killing the people on our list. By the way, you get to handle the women. They’re all well over the age of fifty, but it still conflicts with my morals..”
Sage said all of this quickly as he holstered his gun and slid all of his blades into places. James just gave him a blank stare as he listened to the part about him having to kill the women. How did he always get stuck with the dirtier jobs? “Wouldn’t it be easier to just rig a charge and hope for the best?” He asked hopefully. His hopes were crushed within a few seconds as Sage shook his head and spoke, “No, if we set a charge large enough to get the job done, it’ll rupture the foundations of the buildings just above, causing structural collapses that will cause many civilian casualties. It’s better to do it the old fashion way.” Sage then got up and grabbed his second bag, the one with all of his extra weaponry in it. He checked his watch. It was now Noon.. At three, they would begin the operation. “Come on, let’s go..”

The day, was just like any others. He sat on the couch searching through channels knowing nothing was on, though today he did feel alittle different, like maybe he should step out of the house for once. Instincts starting to dull, he grabbed a pack of cigarettes that sat on the table and reaching for his trench coat as he shoved them on the inside pocket. He slipping into the coat, and running his hand through his hair brushing it back from his face. He walked back into his room taking in a deep breath as he picked up his two favorite carry-on weapons; one that rested on his left hip. The other on his lower back hidden by the trench coat, both taken care of to the best of possibilities. He slipped on a pair of sunglasses turning towards the door of his house as he slipped out of it shutting it behind him.

The sun felt almost scorching, due to how he never seemed to escape his house to often, with the exit now he did out of more feeling then out of real reason. He took a moment to adjust to the outside before he pulled out the pack and a cigarette all in one quick motion; within a few seconds he had it lit as well the pack hidden back in his pocket and without missing a beat he was off. he had no real idea where his feet were taking him, but he'd enjoy the walk while it lasted. his steps leading him in a strange path, near one of the hotels, though he didn't plan on stopping here, his feet carrying him onward only for him to stop and watch a few people pass him. His shades hiding his eyes, he tilted his head as they passed him. everyone of them seemingly hurrying their steps as they passed making him chuckle as he just stood there.

When the last customer left her shop a few hours later Svena glanced at the clock and saw it was close to three thirty, her stomach rumbled when she realized she'd not eaten yet. Moving from around the counter she locked the door, flipped the sign from open to closed and with a yawn trailed through the door that joined to the stairs to her apartment. Once upstairs she stripped off the greasy jeans and tank top and adorned a clean pair of jeans that had a tear in the back pocket and another clean red tank that instead of two straps it had one that fell around the neck exposing her back and variety of tattoos she had. Leaving her hair in a ponytail Svena went to her kitchen and began preparing something to eat. She'd overly stocked her shelves which was something her mother had taught her from childhood. When she finished she returned to the ajoining living room and flopped on the couch, turning on the small television she settled in with her sub and chips as the news came on. It was fifteen till four and she was hoping to catch a new episode of whose line is it anyways.

Magnus and a few other mercenaries if you could call these thugs that were sitting in the sewers six in total including Magnus, each looking at their wrist watch. They had infiltrated in civilian clothing than waited down in this slum for days. Magnus had to suffer through the smell and ever worse the complaining, but he had sat silent, occasionally checking his watch, and with a low gruff voice he commanded over the radio. “Almost 4, ensure you’re ready to go.”

Every merc nearby pulled on their gasmasks, and nodded to each other, some were trying to speak with tough bravado fueled comments, but Magnus merely glanced in their direction, his face even more stoic now that it was covered by the mask. Pulling out his UMP .45 he did a quick one over of all the weapons and equipment to ensure maximum performance.

Looking up at the dark dimly lit ladder leading up to the world above, he briefly went over the mission objectives in his head.

"Everything primed?"
"All systems ready to go Professor, it's almost initation time." Tanya said, turning to the head scientist of STORM Laboratories.
"Good job Lakeworth." He said before turning to look at the other scientists. "Okay, listen up everyone. The launch will be happening soon, our greatest work finally tested properly. I know that we've worked a long time to achieve this..."
"You're not kidding!" Professor Smith said. "Half of our careers have gone on this project."
"Yeah but think about what it will mean. After all this will be a great asset to the military, what threat are a bunch of brainless bags of flesh to a well-armed military force?"
"You're thinking too small Jeff, this is going to be a breakthrough for medical research. If we can reanimate dead flesh, there will be less strain on the organ transplant system and surgeons will never need to amputate again."
"Both of you have no idea of the real potential of this product. The fact that science has broken the barrier between life and death is enough for us all to retire right now!"
Tanya sighed to herself as the men bickered between themselves. If this project was a success, they would probably forget immediatly that half of the ideas were her own. That's what happened when you were not only the youngest on the team but also the only woman.
"Hate to burst your bubble fellows but what about the repercussions that may occur if this fails?"
"Don't worry about stuff like that. This project is going to be a success. Just tell me how long until the release occurs?"
Tanya rolled her eyes in disgust.
"30 seconds to 4 o clock Professor."
She turned her back on the others, concentrating on the count down. She wouldn't be here forever, she had got this far she could get higher, where people treated her with respect. She would get her reward for all her hard work and effort. And she would laugh in the faces of those who laughed at her.
"10 seconds to go."
9... 8... 7... 6... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1...

The agents were now mere yards away from their target, just outside the hospital that led to the entrance on the very edge of the STORM laboratory. They were spying out the large medical facility from a small coffee shop down the road, positioned there by the owner out of the belief that the doctor’s would commonly visit it. They had their timing down perfectly.. STORM had resources shipped to the lab every other day at four thirty sharp. All they had to do was wait.. They would ambush the workers, steal their uniforms, and slip into the base unnoticed.. All they had to do now was wait a half hour and act without delay. They were completely prepared for any delay, and were carrying enough firepower on their person and in their bags to wipe out the entire base’s known staff, and then some.

He continued on his little walk, passing several citizens that minded their own business as he passed. He soon stopped off at a Coffee shop, feeling the need for his daily dose of caffeine. He removed his shades sliding them into the hidden pocket inside his coat and found his place in the small line. Once it was his turn to order; he ordered the usual, a french vanilla cappuccino his favorite. He settled into a seat near the back of the small shop, sipping at the hot drink. He didn't figure much about anyone around him, it wasn't like he was bothered by people. He was always left to his own business, no one seemed to care about him being there, nor what he did. That was the easiest part about living here, he was nothing more then a ghost to most. He settled into his seat and let out a relaxed sigh leaning his head back against the wall and closing his eyes, perfectly at ease.

Bored with the television she clicked it off and rose from the couch, trailing to the kitchen she opened the fridge and rummaged through the over stuffed shelves until she found the jar of cherries. Smiling she pulled them out and shut the door only to lean on the counter and pop the lid off, a wafting scent of cherry filled her nostrils and she moaned in contentment. She had an addiction to cherries and even as a child her mother could tell her nothing to keep her away from them. Dipping two fingers into the jar she extracted a couple cherries and popped them into her mouth, the sugary goodness enveloped her mouth and the juices drizzled down the inside of her throat. Her jaw worked on chewing the cherries up and seconds later she swallowed, her fingers dipping inside to pull more out. Nearly five minutes later she had the entire jar gone and both fingers were now stained red. Licking her lips she tossed the jar into the trash can and peered out the kitchen window. Off in the distance she saw the facility which housed the many scientist who'd often more than not brought her business day to day. Today they were doing some big testing, if all went well things could change around here, she hoped for their sake it went well. Shrugging she knew she'd take the chance when they made her sign a contract and breezed her through other legal documentation.