《How Far Will You Go?》


 How Far Down?

    "Hey, Sweetie. How are the Rugrats so far?" Gideon asked, the crowded airport practically setting off mental alarms in his mind as he watched everyone and everything. Habits always died hard after all. The Sig concealed in his inner pocket making itself known for the dozenth time as he caught the end of his wife''s statement.


    "Brandon finally learned to walk! and Lexis began preschool a few days ago as well." The love of his life, Alex, a petite and kind woman. The cliche meet up at the bar, a rough night of sex, and then there he was in a relationship, not even a few days later.


    Learning he was in the military was not a deterrent for her and they lived the long-distance style of love life for pretty much his whole career. She was what most men wanted in the Service.


    "So when will you be home?" At the query, Gideon peeked over at a large board that showed the traffic flight times. Eyes going down the list.


    "Couple hours not counting the board time as well as taking off." Said back.


    "So shoot for maybe...3 hours? I got Jen coming over to watch the kids so we can leave." A purring voice that had his body tingling in all sorts of the right places had him smiling, that vixen side of her showing.


    "Down woman. " Gideon chuckled into the phone. "Love you too."


    Before he could fire off another comment or answer another question the speaker overheard began calling.


    "Honey I have to go, Love you and will see you soon!" Quickly stuffing the small device in the opposite pocket of his weapon. Picking up his small bag he walked forward to the small line.


    One of Gideon''s buddies as a parting gift gave him first-class seating in the small aircraft. Even pulling a couple of strings and allowing him to carry on board. Extra Magazine and Knife included of course.


    The transition from seat to seat was a painless effort except for the mental stress of being in a more confined space with people he didn''t know. "Glorious.." the mumbled comment escaped his lips as ass met cushion.


    The flight was mind-numbing. Having music pumped through one of his earbuds helped, sleep impossible. As more than flight attendant had come over and whispered a question or two his way. The rumor got around fast about Gideon was someone ''Special''.


    "Have you..uh..killed anyone before?" From a curvy blonde.


    "How many man?" This one was from a skinny fellow, this one Gideon hated already.


    "What did you do?" From a Brunette female who seemed to love makeup a bit too much.


    These were just a few but luckily Gideon''s patient was high and they were not hitting the wrong buttons. A shrug and grunt there made most disinterested.


    2 hours of flight ended and Gideon was off the plane in record speed. Small bag in hand and not a wave goodbye to the staff. His brisk walk had him in the luggage area with a large duffle over his shoulder and briefcase pulled behind him. The bag set over the handles.


    The flight had taken him from the east coast to his home state of Alabama. "Oy! Fatass!" The familiar voice of a long-time friend made Gideon perk his ears up.


    "H-o-l-y Shit. Is that you John?" Gideon walked up and gave the slightly taller man of six one a giant hug, followed quickly by a pat on the back hard enough to make casual people wince from the sound alone.


    Jonathan Henderson. A friend since middle school after a fight that had them both suspended and with a few bruised bones. Later joining Gideon when both of them enlisted.


    They were both lucky enough to be put through the same Company for basic and even Unit when deployed as 11B together. Though Jonathan was discharged about three years after an IED had blown his left leg off.


    "Damn straight it is!" Giving a hearty laugh back and returning the clap with something just as fierce they pulled away.


    "So enough of the girly catch up time, rather not have Alex shoving her fireplace poker up my ass. She threatened me by the way." Gideon only snorted at John''s statements.


    "Where did you find her again? A fucking bar? Lucky son of a.." Gideon merely grinned as both men jumped in the gray-colored car. Duffle and Briefcase in the trunk while the small bag stayed with him.


    "Keep that up and I will let Jen know you insulting me, you know how she is with that kind of talk." John quickly quieted at the statement. Murmuring a "Bastard.." Somewhere along the drive that had Gideon chuckling again.


    The twenty-minute drive home was filled with a couple more, very pointed, jokes. Gideon barely coming in for the win with a particular insult. "So out of all the dudes, Jen had your sperm won?"


    "Fucker!" Insult and laughter ensued again.


    "But you glad to be home? I know the transition was a bitch for me. One leg down and that seems to disqualify you from any and everything. Being Ex-Military seemed to help on a resume."


    Gideon sighed and nodded. "Yeah, luckily I have some Tech skills for a simple grunt. Maybe pick up a fancy new job that pays better yeah?"


    Both men grinned before John turned down the street his house was at, the line of one-story houses with lawns and actual people in them a nostalgic sight. "Been away for a long time haven''t I?" The once cheery in the vehicle died down as John merely smiled half-heartedly and nodded.


    "Alright man, this is your stop. Tell Jen I will in there soon, got to make a call."


    Gideon nodded as he popped open the door and got out, the open neighborhood was such a great sight yet it tingled against a sixth sense that said something was wrong. That he was out in the open and vulnerable.


    Shrugging that down with silent groan he went around to the back of the vehicle, looking both ways before quickly reaching in and grabbing his stored luggage. Duffle over the shoulder and briefcase held by the handle. The sixth sense once again assaulting him mentally.


    "Nothing is wrong Gideon, just not use to being without armor and toating a rifle hundreds of miles.." Even with that incouragement statement, he began walking across his yard before John yelled out behind him.


    "Hey Gideon I will be back soon, just got the text that Jen wanted me to grab some stuff before stopping! Distracting Fatass..."


    Snorting, Gideon merely waved him off. "Go, do your Mistress''s bidding!"


    "HA! I wish I had one of those." Grinning, John hopped back into the vehicle and was down the street the moment Gideon hit the door. Yet, something familiar hit his senses. So faint that he did not pay attention. Pushing down his blaring senses that said something was off.


    "It''s all normal. Just get used to it Gideon.." And yet he was dumping his bags on the brick porch and unholstering his sidearm. Sig Sauer in hand at a low ready, both hands tight on the grip as his boot slowly pushed open the door.


    "No.." The words left his lips like a man having lost a part of him. Gideon wanted to rush in, check on his loved ones but his senses and experience reigned. Dominating his actions as he stared forward into the dark living room of his home.


    His breathing ragged now slowing down even as he felt the rush of adrenaline and the beat of his heart pounding against his chest. That hopeless feeling turning in to fuel for anger, rage, and hatred against an unknown enemy who had possibly hurt his family.


    Gritting his teeth he pushed forward, his mental stability had only lasted for the barest of moments as Gideon went forward. Wishing that John had stayed and he would not need to do room clearing by himself.


    The first thing that hit him was the smell, copper, blood. The second was the soft music playing in the background. An unknown Electronic artist. Something about ''Beating The Odds''. A fitting name Gideon thought about later.


    Gideon''s attention was straight ahead and to the left. The large Family Room combined with a Dining Area and Kitchen gave him a clear line of sight all the way forward. Beginning slicing the pie to the left slowly he rapidly turned his head to look right occasionally.


    Making sure no one would sneak up on him by the small wall that did partially cover some of the kitchen and the bedrooms that were a few feet to the right where a hallway was.


    Bob in, bob out with quick peaks to the left of the doorframe before ''Shooting out'' his sidearm to aim down the empty Living room. Closed curtains that kept the outside world from looking in. Exhaling and breathing as he was holding his breath for that moment of possible contact he moved inside his house finally.


    Handgun switching between the open kitchen area and to the hallway as he scooted around the left side, wall to his back and couch in front of him until he got to a point he could see down the hallway. The smell of blood getting stronger as he used the small kitchen wall to his left for concealment.


    Gideon was also cursing the mental layout of the map by this point as well. The designer definitely not planning for someone to sweep and clear as the minute he went to turn in to the kitchen his side was exposed to the long corridor of three bedrooms, the laundry room, and a bathroom.


    Yet if he did not clear the Kitchen someone could sneak up behind him. Cursing silently to himself he made sure to breathe, the adrenaline still running strong through his system hard. Chancing it he advanced forward. Keeping his Sig aimed down that hallway until the last possible moment and he cut to the left, hard.


    The sweep over from the Hallway left him few seconds be he needed to do it yet he could not prepare himself for the thing he saw.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    The slumped over and possibly once female corpse judging from the two bumps on the chest, seemed to be partially eaten. Eyes missing and a giant chew out hole in the stomach area where the smell of intestines had him almost wretching. Only the thing MOVING inside this cavity had him raising his sidearm and stare, wide-eyed.


    An Insect at best guess, overlapping plates of onyx colored carapace with spindly legs piercing into the thighs was eating. The soft, smacking of mandibles and gooey flesh now noticed to Gideon''s ears.


    Gideon was frozen at the spot. His mind trying to mentally explain to him without breaking him mentally. What was this thing, what was it doing here, is this real?


    He stood there for almost two whole seconds until the ''Thing'' turned its head. Eight, small green eyes staring at him with almost foot-long mandibles clicking at him, the once dog-sized creature skittered out of the stomach of what he was hoping was not his wife and friend''s wife to be not just dog size but centipede in length.


    Hundreds of those spindly legs clattering against the tile floor as Gideon hearts almost lurched out of his chest in a scream, but not before he pulled the trigger. The deafening sound of the handgun going off had his ears ringing, the creature screaming, and the casing hit the floor followed by another..and another until he emptied the entire Sig''s 10 round magazine of .45 ACP into the now twitching form.


    His once steady breathing was ragged and out of pace as his finger kept pulling the trigger, the second click of an empty chamber is what got him out of his stupir as he dropped the magazine from the gun. Reaching into his back pocket for a fresh one before slamming it home and letting the slide go forward.


    "W-what..the actual fuck.." Gideon said while almost hyperventilating.


    His body was shivering the longer he gazed at the occasional twitching form of the dark creature. A hissing sound coming from it as green ichor was spread all across the tile floor and walls. The rounds having done their job properly of doing large scale bug extermination.


    His stupor was cut short by more, barely audible mandible clacking coming from behind him and to the left. "Hallway." He muttered as his wide eyes looked that way all the while he was dashing forward, practically loosening the door frame as Gideon burst through the door that connected the garage from the kitchen.


    Gideon not even noticing how he stepped on the dead creature as he was frantically opening a gun safe that contained one of his only two rifles. One of them being in his bedroom.


    Punching the code in rapidly all while the skittering and clicking got louder he turned the handle, yanked the door, and grabbed his rifle.


    The DDM4A1 came off the rack as Gideon quickly put his back to the safe to watch the door and shoved his sidearm into his pants pocket. Both hands now on the rifle he pulled the charging handle back to chamber a round and brought it up to his shoulder.


    Right hand around the grip while the other pushed the button on the side to activate the CCO dot. Zeroed in for him a few years ago when he came back from his second to last deployment.


    Gideon also believed in backups to his backups as his Iron Sights was lined up with the dot in case the optic was to break. Which it very much might as another one of the creatures barreled over it fallen species like it was nothing more than trash.


    But Gideon was ready this time as he squeezed the trigger and efficiently put a total of five rounds of 5.56 into what he assumed was the head front body of this thing, all while scooting right and using the hood of his car as a stabilization platform and cover.


    Yet again his ears were ringing as the enclosed space of his garage, brass casing hitting the floor rapidly as the body of the creature hit the floor with a harsh thud. One that he did not hear but feel, as the concrete floor of the garage seemed to buckle, even cave in slightly. This one much bigger than its brother or sister.


    Gideon put an extra five rounds into the head before staying exactly where he was and watching. Seeing if it even so much as twitched. After a very long and intense 5 seconds of his life, he slowly backed up to the safe. Eye still staring at the door leading into the kitchen as he let go of the rifle with his left hand and reached in, grabbing a vest.


    A Rapid Assualt Vest by Condor Tactical to be exact, filled with six more magazines as Gideon beginning to put it on one-handed. Rifle sight never leaving that damn doorway before he had to drop it for the briefest of seconds to pull it down snuggly.


    Hard to believe this all took place in the span of a couple of minutes. Combat always felt like forever. The stray thought quickly removed itself from his head as he did a combat reload, banana-ing the shit out of those two magazines. Kind of like his life depended on it.


    Shoving the partially emptied magazine into the slot on his vest he moved forward. Rifle switching from dead creature to doorway as his boot came out to kick the ''Holey'' head. Notting the lack of movement he shook out the combat high and shudder that was now the highest it had ever been.


    Moving up the two steps to get back into the kitchen he began slicing the pie again. Though the form of the creature in the garage was long enough to still be partway in the kitchen.


    [One area left] Was his mental note. The music in the background from before running from Youtube on the TV switched over. A song by a rock band coming on talking about ''Dead Flowers for the torn apart''.


    Quickly clearing the pantry in the kitchen and the Living room once again he kept his left shoulder against the wall before slowly stepping back and to the right before ''Shooting'' his muzzle down the corridor. Bathroom dead ahead, 2 bedrooms to his right where his children slept along with a closet, Laundry to his left down partway, and the Master Bedroom all the way at the end to the left.


    Gideon took a moment to breathe, calmingly himself as he tried to clear the tunnel vision he was giving himself. Looking to the right and out the doorway, noting the highly strange and empty street from what little he could see. Someone should have been calling for help right? Hearing gunshots would definitely attract citizens who wanted the police here stat.


    [That is next] Gideon thought before switching quickly from the left of the hallway door frame to the left. Easily clearing out the Laundry room from this angle as he began advancing.


    Muzzle switching from the four available places a ''Thing'' might come out at him. Though he was sure the bathroom was clear from his clear view inside and lack of closet made it impossible to hide. He would still check.


    Going forward with his form hugging the right of the hallway. Grabbing the handle of the closet he opened it to reveal a few jackets. [Clear].


    Closing the door he went forward again, remembering his Daughter''s bedroom was positive feed, meaning when coming in to look he got to stare at a wall and only had to worry about his right side. Though the Angles from the other room had him worried, [Though rounds getting fired at me seems to not be a concern here.] He thought darkly.


    Breathe.


    Gideon took that moment before going in hard, much like the military taught rather than nice and precise room clearing. The dark yet pink interior from the walls still did not hide the small form of his daughter''s deformed and destroyed body on her gore covered bed, backed up into a corner his tactical mind said.


    A tear streaked down his cheek to mix with the large amount of sweat that covered his face. "Fuckers..." He cursed, loudly, repeatedly as he stared for another second. Right before something shift on the wall directly above the body and flew at him. Faster then what was humanly possible even with Adrenaline and expecting something to pop out Gideon managed to not get his arm removed.


    A jerking motion had him moving to the left with his back wedge between a wall a Lexis''s wooden dresser. Liquid running down his arm as he went did not even bother raising his rifle up to his shoulder at range as he began letting rounds loose at almost point-blank range.


    Green ichor spurting out as five rounds left his magazine, the brass clicking against the floor as his mostly useless ear''s by this point from shooting in confined rooms did not make them ring. What looked like an oversized stag beetle the size of his whole arm was lodged into the wall still struggling.


    Another five rounds joined the wounded form of the bug before it stopped moving. An extra two for safe measure. Breathing heavily he began giving the darkroom a quick once over, spotting no more of THOSE.


    Looking at his left arm a light gash was there from whatever the beetle used to take a chunk out of him, the wound itself luckily not being too deep but still bleeding. "Shit.." Removing a hand from his rifle he stepped deeper into the room for cover and began a makeshift tourniquet with his belt.


    Checking his arm to see if he could still move it, he luckily could but with some difficulty, he advanced again. Wanting this finished and..and...


    Gideon was almost fighting the urge to sob and cry at the sight of his baby girl..one he had only ever had to hold once since she was born, dead.


    Raising his rifle he got a double negative type of hallway. Though the bathroom was still now easy to see all the way through he reached out and closed the door silently. His eyes getting used to the dark lightening of his home.


    His son''s room was next, one that he only ever saw over Video or heard over the phone. The oddly shaped room proved no real difficulty. His son''s form was luckily not there, giving him just a glimpse of hope that maybe, just maybe he was alive.


    Checking the closet he found nothing as well. Five minutes had gone by as Gideon did another combat reload in Brandon''s room. Stuffing the partially emptied magazine into his vest. Arriving in front of his bedroom that was closed he stopped.


    Breathe Gideon...Breathe.


    Behind this door would either break him or destroy him he thought.


    With that, he unlocked the door and kicked it open with enough pent up fury and loss it slammed in the wall hard enough to raddle hinges.


    What stood before him was cloaked form of a person hovering over the same, emptied eyed, the half-eaten form of his wife Alex. What looked like her SP-101 clutched in hand, several things moving across her lower half and working their way upwards.


    To say it destroyed him was putting it lightly as over in the left corner of the room was a pile of bugs moving over an unseen form of his son.


    "YOU MOTHERFUCKER!" His scream, his pent up anguish was let loose as he dumped his whole damn magazine into the form. His muscle reflexed kicking in as he dropped the magazine while backing up and putting another thirty rounds into surroundings creatures, bugs, whatever the fuck they were.


    Another magazine slid home as his second one hit the floor, Gideon not bothering to pick it up as he was out in the hallway shooting continuously, wishing oh so much his rifle was Automatic. It was not until he was using his partial magazines that he breathing heavy and the movement down the corridor was still.


    Dozens and dozens of varying size creatures laid still with bullet holes adorning there form. Gideon''s boots crunching over their form and splattering green blood and ichor all along his pant legs and walls. His walls painted in there gore and blood as he stepped into his bedroom once more.


    The once still form of the robed figure now twitching as it used its arms to push up off the carpet, blood slick floor. "Y-youuuu.." It hissed at him.


    "Yeah..me.." Raising his rifle Gideon shot it in the head eighteen times. Dropping the magazine and pulling out his last and only partial magazine, slamming it in as he now watched awe-struck as the form began moving again.


    "You..can..not kill...meeee.." It garbled out in a hissing, almost laughter-filled voice.


    Molten rage flooded his Veins as Gideon got close, put a boot on the back of this ''Things'' back and stepped down Emptying his last and final magazine into the now tattered robe. Brass casings littering his bedroom floor as the hood finally fell away.


    A human face was there, only it was bad and when it turns it mutilated head it was regrowing at a highly visible rate. Another chuckle escaping the garbled throat of the man before Gideon began beating it with his buttstock. Over...and over...and over.


    Blood covered him by this point, bits of brain matter splattering across him as he repeatedly broke the skull and scattered the brain. He did not know how long he beat on the man. When he switched from the ruined buttstock to his barrel. Or when he pulled out his knife from his back pocket and stabbed.


    But when he did come down from the fury he was tired. Oh so tired as he got off his straddled position from the man that he seemed to have killed. The once regular form of the man now a shriveled husk as Gideon slid over next to his dead wife.


    "My Wife...My kids.." So tired that tears refused to come out as his back was pushed up against his bed and to the right of his wife. His hand reaching out to grasp her only remaining one that seemed to not been touched by the creatures. One grasping the SP101 as he pulled it from her grasp.


    "No worries hun. I-I am here to protect you..right?" His quivering voice echoed out in the silent room as his mind was in shambles, shuddering he stared up at the ceiling. Clutching the gun as thoughts flooded his mind, happy memories, bad memories, even childhood.


    Laying there, physically exhausted, mentally and emotionally broken, he did not even hear men in what looked like high tech gear flood inside his house. Callouts loud and clear as people checked from room to room until arriving in his bedroom.


    Dark tactical gear with what looked like rifles in a bullpup style came in ready for a fight until they saw Gideon next to his wife Alex. "Clear! Got one survivor!" With his destroyed rifle to his right and the revolver in hand, he peered up at the armored man. Lifeless eyes peering up. "I protected her..right?"


    All of the forms stilled in the room before one kneeled before Gideon, a deep masculine voice muffled by a clothed face mask answered him. "Yeah. You did. Come.."

 The Receptionist

    Mr.Smith, a cliche alias but needed for this particular job. It was a name Smith had gotten used to over the many years since he began working for the Organization. His Coal colored suit and black shades that hid dark-colored eyes were all just for appearance.


    Mr.Smith preferring the casual attire to the formal. But the appearance was just one part of today for him. The two, thick vanilla folders laid before him were, the top one having a picture clipped to the front.


    The very clear image of a male in his thirties with brown hair cut short with gray appearing near the ends already, dark green eyes, and angular features. Moderately handsome on the human appearance scale.


    The table inside the Gray-colored, boxed shape room, was just one of the four pieces of furniture. One of which Mr.Smith was sitting in. Laying unconscious in another was Gideon Price. The white sheets of the bed matching his White jumpsuit.


    He was a Veteran that came home on his first day of retirement to find his family slaughtered by a Class One Entity. The lowest on the totem pole for the Organization threat chart but something this soldier still managed to kill.


    What made this case oh so special to the point that a contract was drawn up by Admin to hire Gideon was what seemed to be his ''Luck''.


    The Organization was not the biggest but they did keep eyes on Entities that tended to spread. This one classified as a B since it had already eaten its way through the whole neighborhood in a matter of half an hour.


    Terrifying to say the least.


    Mr.Smith sighed heavily as he looked around the room, the table his folders were on had a chair opposite of him for when Gideon woke up.


    "Doctor. Has the Class 1 Sedatives taken effect?" He said out loud.


    The air behind Mr.Smith merely seemed to shudder before a response came, a paper-thin voice at best.


    "They have. He should wake in five minutes."


    Nodding, Smith reached out to grasp the first folder on the two vanilla high stack of paperwork. Even though he had read it before it never hurt to have a refresher.


    Opening to the first page Mr.Smith silently read.


    Gideon Price


    Age 35


    Height of five foot eleven


    Weight is 197 (Last Physical)


    Start the service at 17 with a school friend named Jonathan Henderson. Same boot camp and passed with close to top PT and Marksmanship scores before being deployed to the same unit. Gideon was given the option of going to Airborn followed by Rangers but declined after passing the first school.


    Went on to be deployed in Iran, Afghanistan, and South America. Declined the rank of NCO twice to stay in the field before being forcefully promoted.


    Mr.Smith decided not to reread the interesting list of things Gideon did in those places and instead continued farther down the page.


    A list of Friends, Family members both dead as well as alive, bank accounts, and juvenile records pulled.


    "Hmm.." Mr.Smith flipped to the next couple of pages that merely showed previous medical history from the start of his life as a newborn to current date ones.


    Stirring caught Mr.Smith''s attention as the man named Gideon groaned and shifted in his prone position, his awakening a minute or two away no doubt.


    Setting down the thick, vanilla folder he grabbed the other. This on containing only three sheets of paper.


    These contained the exact sequence of events that happened in not only the household but actions took by Gideon himself during the killing of the Class One Entity.


    The last page showed charts and statistics on the possibility of how likely the Entity would have spread if it had not been slain. The outcome showing an unsightly picture of at least a city-wide disaster.


    It was as if on cue when Mr.Smith set down the thin Vanilla folder that Gideon rose from his slumber. Eyes blinking wide away as he looked around, the new environment unnerving.


    "How did..I get here?" Gideon spoke for the first time in what only Mr.Smith knew was a week.


    "Quite an interesting question, most ask where or who." Mr.Smith responded. His voice and face void of all emotion.


    "Well...I remember someone picking me up.." Gideon''s gaze was locked on to Smith.


    Gideon''s feet hitting the firm, gray tailed floor lightly as he stood up from the bed. Walking over to the table before pulling out the chair and sitting down across from the unknown man.


    "Good Morning Mr.Price. You may call me Smith or Mr.Smith depending on how polite you wish to be."


    "Now that you are awake I have a couple questions for you and I am sure you have questions for me. First, I must ask you to sign some paperwork for me before you can ask me anything."


    Smith''s words kept flowing as reached into his suits inner pocket and withdrew a literal scroll, wax seal and ribbons to boot.


    Gideon looked between the man and the piece of rolled parchment. "Are you..fucking with me?" A tick already began to form in Gideon''s jaw Smith noticed.


    "Please Mr.Price, calm. This is needed for you to ask your questions and even leave this place." The monotone voice seemed to turn soothing at the last word.


    "To even leave? Am I a prisoner now? Trapped not only just in this hell hole but with...with..." Gideon''s voice trembled as he tried to remember. Remember something important.


    "What did you do. Did you fuck with my mind now too?!" Gideon''s voice growled out the sentence, anger infused.


    "Calm. Please. It only temporary as the state you were in was..unable to function in a civilized manner." Smith merely raised a hand to motion to calm as he went into his pocket once more.


    Withdrawing a quill with feather painted black. So black it seemed to be a small tear in the realm as if not meant to be.


    The Quill was set next to the scroll as Smith withdrew his hands and intertwined his finger on the table. Leaning forward ever so slightly.


    Gideon merely stared at Smith with almost palpable hatred for some unknown reason. It was as if the back of his mind was saying it what he should do.


    "What happens if I sign that.." Gideon forced his emotions back under his control as he attempted to dig.


    "Why it is an agreement Mr.Price. Simply put you will be able to ask questions and be able to leave the facility under a nondisclosure agreement." Smith gave a reassuring smile that looked very odd with his tone of voice.


    "As well you shall be unable to talk about the events that happened precisely one hundred and seventy hours, thirty-two minutes, and fifty-three seconds ago. Should you attempt to the contract shall take effect." Smith ended the statement with another smile.


    "Effect..? What the hell do you mean? Are you talking like..supernatural shit you read in books? Geas?" Gideon slowly said the last word.


    "Precisely Mr.Price. This contract will put one of those on you. Failure to follow it will allow it to take control and make your death look..accidental at best. Gruesome at worst."


    "Fuck me.." Burying his face into his hands as if to scrub away the bizarre things happening in front of his very eyes.


    "Anything else..I should be aware of?" Gideon looked up to stare again.


    "Why yes Mr.Price. should you accept the agreement and wish to..explore further we may have a job offer for you. I am your interviewer and Receptionist." Smith said.


    Silence reigned for almost a minute as Gideon tried to stare down the man, but Smith was practically immune behind his immaculate suit and dark shades covering his eyes. The expressionless face helped a lot though.


    "Fine. I shall sign. You leave me little to no choice at all anyway." Reaching out to grab the scroll he quickly broke the wax seal, something uncomfortably easy to Gideon as he unrolled it.


    The once small scroll unfurled until the end of it landed on the floor and rolled for another few feet. "What the.."


    "Ah, yes. Those are all the clauses and things you can not do. Mostly do not speak about it, write it down, make a video or movie of it. Anything with the idea of..conveying it should activate the Geas." Smith said.


    "There are more but those are the basic ones."


    Stunned for a mere moment Gideon pulled it together as he began pulling the bottom up to the table.


    Gideon had never been truly good st reading contracts but he made it his job to read it. Especially if his life relied on him to not fuck up.


    The amount of time passed was unknown as Gideon read, glancing up at Smith who had not moved a mere centimeter the entire time. "Mind if I get some water?"


    "Why of course Mr.Price." Smith said.


    With just a mere blink a plastic cup that could be found in any office building was placed to the right side of Gideon, three-quarters of the way full with water.


    "Thanks.." Gideon said, picking up the cup and sniffing at it. Still untrusting before taking the smallest of sips. No immediate effects displaying themselves as he drank it all in a few swallows.


    Parched throat gone he continued to read the last few lines before setting down the scroll and picking up the Quill. "Ink?"


    "Ah, just merely prick your finger and the Quill shall withdraw the needed amount for your signature." Smith nodded slightly, his voice still monotone.


    "Freaky shit.." Gideon muttered, hesitantly raiding his finger to prick the quill after dropping the parchment. A sudden spike of pain arrived then faded.


    The once metal-tipped instrument a faint red as Gideon held it and looked.


    "Please sign anywhere at the bottom." Smith said.


    Looking from the paper to Smith a few times Gideon slowly signed his signature. Mostly the capital letters of his first and last name with scribbles.


    After the quill was pulled away the scroll rolled itself up rapidly before ''popping'' from existence as if it was never there.


    The tip of the quill fading quickly to its regular hue before Smith held out his hand, gesturing for it to be returned.


    "Also, I would advise no hostile actions in this place while holding that a potential weapon. It is pointless Mr.Price." Smith said.


    Gideon did not quite freeze but his actions slowed as he put the quill in the outstretched hand. One that made the writing instrument disappear into his coats inner pocket where it retrieved from.


    "Good, we may now talk Mr.Price. I will let you ask your questions first since the memories of before should be returning any moment now."


    Gideon spaced out during those words. Memories flooding into him slowly, gingerly even as if to make sure he did not have another breakdown.


    His wife, two kids, insects much to large to live on the planet according to his old school lessons, and the hissing man. It all came back in pieces that made Gideon groan and wince.


    Another unknown amount of time passed as Smith motionlessly watch. Gideon raised his head before he shuddered and asked his first question.


    "Who are you?" Gideon spoke.


    "A standard question. My name is Mr.Smith or Smith depending on the formalities in place. I work as the Organisations recruiter and a field agent when the need arises. Your case being such." Smith said.


    "Organization? Which one? NSA? CIA? I know they have secret counterparts." Gideon crossed his arms before leaning back in the wooden chair.


    "A better question. No, we are not part of those even if they do work with us and answer to us depending on the situation. For simplicity''s sake, we are referred to as GSCA. Global Supernatural Counter Agency or FFSA for the regulars recruited by us. For Fuck''s Sake Agency."


    Moving for the first time Smith shifted his hands into his lap, the perfection of etiquette.


    "They think we do not hear and yet they are right. Many of the other alphabet soup agencies think they can handle the entities that arrive in this world without our help. Resulting in more lives lost and many more people are being put under contract. Like you are."


    Gideon only stared and digested this information as he nodded for Smith to continue.


    "It is also why you will figure out very quickly that yes we may be powerful, but always short-staffed. Even with the best gear to face the entities from different realms, we lose people. It is why we took such an interest in Mr.Price. you fought off an Entry-level or Level One entity all by yourself."


    Nodding in slight understanding Gideon asked another question.


    "What was the thing that killed my..family? You said it was just an Entry-level thing? Level one? Going to assume there are much more dangerous and levels of this?"


    Smith nodded. "You would be correct. We in the Organization run off a two chart system to determine the Entities threat level. First is the initial threat. How powerful or how fast for example? Does it have magical powers or such? This scale only goes up to three."


    Raising one of his hands with a single finger Smith continued.


    "Level ones are usually anywhere from between a house to a neighborhood level threat. Dangerous but nothing a single team or two can''t handle."


    Smith raised a second finger.


    "Level twos are where we begin sending on multiple teams with better tactical support. Armor and weapons either geared towards that particular threat or with heavy ordnance. This is usually a city to multiple state-level threats."


    Raising the final finger Smith''s view seemed to grow a bit serious.


    "The final is considered National to Global level of threats. These...Entities are powerful enough to wipe cities and can extinguish life as we know it. Yes, we know of one and it has never been killed. Yes, we have thought of nuclear and many other strategies."


    Gideon''s brow raised higher the more Smith talked about it. "I see..and the other chart as you said?"


    Smith nodded. "Yes, sometimes the Entity that arrives in this world comes with a harmful disease or way to spread. We run off an A to D chart. A being the highest."


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Stopping for a moment to think Smith lowered his hand back into his lap.


    "Example. Zombies are an infection level of C to B. The rating has lowered since we found more effective counters over the years. A initial outbreak is quite hard anyway as we watch closely for them. A single bite infects you and the casualty rate is near ninety-nine percent. Few are immune to it."


    Gideon looked stumped for a moment. "Zombies are real?"


    Smith nodded. "Of course Mr.Price, there are even several types like Rage Zombies and Spore ones. Nasty things those two are."


    "Uh-huh.." Gideon shifted in his seat. "Well. You said you are interested in me? How so?"


    "This is where we tiptoe the gray line for the second contract Mr.Price. We are interested because of your ''Luck''. Something so..undescrible and yet so powerful. Yes, we believe in it and it makes for the best people most of the time. Fate is fickle yet it has ones she likes. You defeated a Class One. Killed it by yourself with limited resources. Maintained a level head during this except for the end of course. And you are currently rationalizing everything I am telling you."


    Smith once again brought up his hands as if counting.


    "Something this world tends to very badly react to. To the point most Entities break a person''s mind at the mere sight, they should not exist."


    Gideon slowly nodded.


    "So, in the end, you have made me happy enough to offer you a job Mr.Price. I currently have two options for recruitment that may interest you. One falls more in line with your old job but with more freedom and the other is close but widely different." Smith said.


    Reaching into his coal colored suit he pulled out another scroll from the same inner pocket. One that should not have been Gideon noted.


    This one appeared newer than the older looking parchment from before.


    "This will allow a bit more direct questions about the organziation," Smith said.


    "Question, what is the organization''s goal with the ''Entities''?" Gideon glanced at the scroll then back to Smith.


    "Good to know you are not missing valid information Mr.Price. most do no ask the correct ones." A smile graced the lips of Mr.Smith''s facial features.


    An eery thing.


    "We do more than just deal with Entities Mr.Price, everything from supernatural beings, realm incursion, and even protection services. Yes, werewolf and Vampires exist but they may be a bit more different than the legends or stuff in books people read about."


    Gideon was yet again stumped but his mind quickly shifted back to focus. "I see. We talking like Diplomats and security guards kind of thing?"


    Smith nodded. "Of course. Not all entities that come to our world are powerful beasts that wish to eat us all. Some are civil and wish to trade. No, I can not say who or what until the second contract is signed and you have the proper clearance."


    "In rare occurrences, we bring certain individuals to trade agreements on another homeworld as a symbol of peace and trust. We are in charge of that entire detail."


    Letting out a long sigh Gideon''s head started aching at the sheer scope of things this ''Organization'' did.


    "This is..quite a lot. You said before you were short-staffed? How? I am sure you can hire some more fellows like me if your a global organization right?" Gideon asked another question.


    "We are not all-knowing and powerful Mr.Price. We have our limits as others do, we can not find every single person of your type or who can handle entities with ease. They are rare and it is another reason why some of our staff in the Organization are not completely human." Smith said.


    "Not human?" Gideon arched a brow at that.


    "Of course. You can not assume humans are the most powerful things to roam this planet, can you? Werewolves make a good part of the combat side of our Organization along with a vampire or two. They are rare and most do not wish to venture from their groups."


    "Alright well...I won''t lie. The recruitment interests me since I have..nothing left to go back to really. Did Henderson survive?" Gideon asked hopefully.


    "No Mr.Price he did not. Most of that neighborhood had already been eaten the things outside were the Entities way of hiding itself. It was until you began murdering its kin and it acted before our sensors picked up on it. On that action, it sent out a small one of its brood to murder him." Smith shook his head.


    "If it is of any importance he went without pain. The brood went through the windshield and decapitated him. My condolences Mr.Price, if you need a moment I understand."


    Sitting there Gideon shuddered, another one of his loved ones passed. Murder and killed by these entities that seem to come from another place and on to earth. "So..if I accept the second contract would I be able to kill them often?"


    Gideon''s voice had a hint of tremble at it. The words that escaped his mouth ones of barely contained grief and vengeance.


    Mr.Smith merely smiled and nodded. His once robotic style of mannerisms fading as if to understand.


    "Yes, Mr.Price. Most join for this very reason. Lost of loved ones and revenge, just do not let it control you. Focus and harness it for the greater good. Maybe even help a family to keep them away from what happened to yours."


    At the end of Smith''s statement, he once again brought out the very same quill from before. Gideon taking it and pricking his finger.


    Breaking the wax seal the parchment was much smaller and looked its actual size when unrolled, an x and line at the bottom for his signature.


    He gave it a quick read over compare to the slow and meticulous from before. His signature on the paper not even two minutes later.


    The same sequence of events happening as the scroll ''popped'' put and the quill returned.


    "Welcome abroad Mr.Price. We of GSCA hope you do us a great service as well as protect the world as a whole. Now on to your job Mr.Price we have two selected." Smiling still Smith looked up to the ceiling.


    "We may release the wards, Doctor." Silence reigns before the once gray walls shifted and churned, Gideon, sitting in an office instead of his once window and doorless prison.


    Still, in his white jumpsuit, Gideon looked around inside a decent size office, a beautifully carved desk before him that had Mr.Smith sitting behind it. Walls careless besides the few shelves filled to the brim with books.


    The desk itself was perfectly clean of any and all dust, paperwork neatly stacked and only a name plank and cup of pens placed there. No family pictures no personal effects, it was strictly for work.


    "Better accommodations I say Mr.Price, the two jobs are as followed. We have are standard security force that deals with both Domestic and extraplanar threats. The job of a soldier and something we recommend more so than the other job."


    Smith reached into one of the drawers behind the desk and withdrew a vanilla folder, placing it before Gideon.


    "Next we have our field agents. People who are like supernatural police or who deal with covert operations." A thicker vanilla folder made itself know besides the one already there.


    "We recommend the soldier route as you already have experience but you get better equipment and then moved into a task force. Be it one missing member or a newly formed one. Questions?"


    "So Grunt or Detective gone beat cop?" Gideon asked.


    "More or less Mr.Price. Though we do so much more." Smith smiled.


    "Yeah...I will do what I did before. Comfort zone and all." Gideon picked up the vanilla folder that represented it.


    "Rather not go solo against the things you have told me about, no offense." Gideon said.


    "Perfectly understandable Mr.Price. With your choice, we shall have you clothed, outfitted with gear, and a place to eat and sleep. Keep a hold of that folder Mr.Price. It talks about your Orders and things you will be required to do and maintain while in service."


    Smith then reached up and motioned towards the door. "Good day you Mr.Price. it was a pleasure to meet and speak with you. The exit is there in place should be your guide around the facility."


    Gideon merely grunted and tucked the folder into his arm, trapping it between arm and peck before he exited.


    He was expecting an office style of building and got it. It was one of the more open styles as well, reminding Gideon of a police station in the movies.


    Multiple desks with sides office with black name plank hanging from them. Meeting rooms behind the regular glass were situated in the far corners of this place.


    Most of the men and women looked up to merely give Gideon a glance before going back to their more important business.


    It was a surreal moment for sure as Gideon almost jumped out of his skin as a man stood beside him, sneak up on him without his notice.


    "Mr.Price.." A blonde, crew cute male spoke up.


    Gideon slowly turned and tried to bury his shocked emotion. Gideon staring at the man who was impeccably dressed in a suit much the same as Smith.


    Only his was black, all of it was.


    "Mr.Price my name is Daniel. I will be escorting you and showing you around the facility today. Please come with me." The tone gave no room for anything else as Gideon followed behind.


    The first thing that got Gideon was the pointed ears, pierced in a way that was appropriate for the workplace along with the slight bump on his left hip.


    "You are currently in the workplace, reserved for field agents, those are getting hired, and anything specifically wanted by the agents." With a brisk walk that had even Gideon struggling to keep up from the taller man, they reached the elevator.


    "This is the main thing need to know in this facility. An elevator can take you to where ever you need. Find the button with the associated tag like where we will be heading."


    Daniel reached out and pushed a button near the middle of a dozen selections. The elevator opening up with a ding before Daniel stepped in, Gideon behind him.


    "This tour shall be fast and more common sense than anything else." The elevator shut silently and without even a second of passive they stepped off into what looked like an extremely large military complex. Only indoors.


    It looked almost like a small town as men and women patrolled in different uniforms and armor. Some look like just a high tech version of today''s modern armor only more coverage, appearing as a multi-layered plate.


    Others in what appeared to be slick exoskeletons on top of the previously said armor. Extra slots for pouches, armor, and some heavy ordnance like grenades hung on their sides, backs, and fronts.


    It was surreal as Gideon continues to look and almost forgot to catch up Daniel as what looked like a heavily modified APC rolled by. The engine almost silent until it got within a dozen yards.


    "Like a Sci-Fi movie.." Gideon said silently to himself.


    The walk took them inside the town, bypassing what stood as a security checkpoint manned by a single solider. One decked out in the same exoskeleton looking armor from before.


    The AR-10 clutched in gloved hands had a weird and custom muzzle break at the end of. It looked like Gideon''s DDM4A1 but chambered for something bigger.


    7.62 if Gideon had to guess, the regular magazines used by the military had a slight curve to then while these were rectangle-shaped. Twenty to twenty-five rounds at most.


    The man himself was in full battle Rattle as well. Eight rifle magazines hung from the vest in the front. A matte black sidearm in a thigh holster with extra magazine attached to the side of the vest.


    The camouflage was a mix between grays and black digital ACUs. What made it even higher-tech was the full and robotic looking helmet attached to the whole uniform by what looked like clamps.


    The guard turning his head from the stare Gideon was giving hin and from when he walked by. The two pairs of eyes hidden behind dark blue, glass-like material stared back.


    All in all Gideon kind if compared them to ODST''s from a Sci-Fi game he played back a few years ago. Only more hopped up and more coverage with the armor.


    "Mr.Price, you will be reporting to Platoon Commander Evergreen. She will instruct you from here since it seems I have been called." Daniel turned around with what seemed to be his standard, serious face.


    Walking off after pointing to a rather large two-story building, remind Gideon the supply depots you picked up the new or old gear from while in the service.


    "Huh..a lot like the military."


    Striding forward with a purpose to his step he pulled open the windowless, metal door that brought him into a small waiting room. One with a blonde-haired woman behind the counter looking bored out of her mind.


    But bored no longer as her eyes lit up like lights and she sat up straight from the previous leaned position in the chair behind a desk.


    "Well hello! My name is Savannah how may I help you today?"


    Her cheerful voice sounded out.


    "Names Gideon. Here to report to Platoon Commander Evergreen?" Gideon responded with.


    "I understand, new recruit I take it? Have the white suit going on along with the folder I see. We haven''t had one in about a week or so"


    She droned on for a few more minutes as Gideon filtered out the unnecessary stuff.


    "But first while you''re here we will get all suited up! Please go over to the far door to my left and go through after you hear the latch disengage."


    Nodding at that Gideon stepped towards it and through the fore mention latch moving. The new area a very..very large armory that went out a bit to far compared to the outside of the building.


    "Space wizards..fucking space wizards.." Gideon muttered as everything he had seen so far seemed to either increase space or make stuff pop out of nowhere.