Zone 10

Chapter 1

Prologue.

The year is 2036. Times have changed and earth is just taking it's first steps into the future.

Space.

Much is still unknown to humanity and it's countless attempts to comprehend the dark void beyond them, but in 2021 they stumbled onto an advanced alien structure. A structure that was far beyond their reach of technology and one even further in it's attempts to reach anything beyond the moon above them.

This structure was, in scientific terms, a "new beginning" to whomever built it. Because, as humanity discovered more then ten years ago, this structure contained the means to reach a planet far greater then their own.

The planet was cold as humanity took it's first steps onto it's surface. The planet was docile and lonely, with nothing more then a few rocks beyond it's atmosphere. Humanity reacted to this discovery and took it's time to sample and scan the planet, over and over and over again, till they knew they were the only ones alive on it's bleak, dark, surface.

Since this discovery, humanity has spent years conducting research out on the planet. Testing everything from simple guns, to bombs, to the littlest science project.

Now as the year 2036 approaches, humanity decides it's time to see what the planet holds for them.

Started no sooner then January 8th, 2036, humanity began to dig up the planet, hoping to find something that may give them an idea of what had happened to the civilization who use to inhabit it.

Much is still unknown about the planet, but scientists are sure within a year's time, they will find something to answer all their questions.

The only solid thing known about the planet is it's given name.

Zone 10.

Dr. Hemer's POV, Zone 10, June 23rd, 2036.

"Aghhhhhhhh!"

My head spun as I ran, and looking back I found my team running after me.

As we ran, you could hear the growls closing in on us. They struck the walls like a drum and as they got closer I turned a corner nearly falling to my side.

"RUN!" Screamed Davis as he helped me up.

My team remained behind me as I took off for the lab.

The growls got so close it felt like they were breathing down my neck.

As I was afraid for my life, I looked back to see Eva get grabbed by the leg and dragged back.

"HELPPPPPPP!" She begged as we continued to run.

Davis held by my side and as I went to look ahead, I felt the swift air of someone grab him.

I looked to watch Davis vanish in a dark corridor.

"AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" He screams of unrelenting terror pierced my brain as I just kept running for the lab.

My heart was beating so fast I could feel it in my head pounding at the noises closing in on me.

"Dr. Hemer!"

My head quickly looked back to see Roberson no more then a few feet behind with Ken on his tail.

As I looked back at him, I widened my eyes to see him get nabbed by the face and lifted up to the vents.

My mind snapped as I heard him scream in gut wrenching agony.

"NOOOO! AGHHHHH! N...OOO...AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Immediately looking back at what was in front of me, I made the sharp turn and widened my eyes to see the lab no more then a few feet away.

As fast as I could, I ran inside and got out my key card.

Ken quickly turned the corner as I placed it against the scanner.

"DR. HEMER!" He screamed as I entered the code to shut it.

"DR. HEMER! WAIT! FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, FUCKING WAIT!" He begged as I began to watch the door close.

Ken ran as fast as he could as the blast doors neared shut.

"DR. HEMER PLEASE!" He screamed as the door shut in his face.

I heard the sound of his body hitting the steel and immediately I ran for the nearby laptop.

As I turned it on I heard.

"AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

"BASH!"

My head turned to hear Ken go silent, and as soon as I went to look back at the laptop I heard it again.

"BASH!"

My eyes widened as the door began to dent from the other side, and as fast as I could I recorded the message.

"This is Dr. Hemer, research team 1! We have encountered a level five breach and I'm declaring a full lock down of the facility!"

"BASH!"

The door neared to opening as I looked back into the camera of the laptop.

"Begin quarantine procedures immediately!"

The message sent as I looked back at the door.

"BASH!"

My back hit the table that rested the laptop and I watched in complete fear as the door was forced open.

In no longer then a second did I watch it charge at me.

"AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

…

Normal POV, Marine Corps Special Forces barracks, June 23rd, 2036.

"Less then two hours ago we lost contact inside one of the research wings on Zone 10. Reports read that it was just a false alarm, but later confirmed by this."

The wolf watched as his commander relayed a video message to his private terminal.

"This is Dr. Hemer, research team 1! We have encountered a level five breach and I'm declaring a full lock down of the facility!"

The wolf watched as the door behind the doctor was being dented. His eyes widened as it happened and yet he continued to watch in a calm attitude.

"Begin quarantine procedures immediately!"

As the wolf watched, the video was quickly stopped.

"That was the last message sent from the research team."

The wolf held his chin up and quickly asked.

"Any idea how many are in there?"

In seconds the man replied.

"The research team held five and there are seventy total personal under lock-down in the main atrium awaiting standby."

The wolf nodded and then asked.

"What's the mission?"

"We need your team to enter the facility and make contact with any survivors of the research team and escort them to the atrium."

"What's the cause of the breach?" Asked the wolf in all seriousness as the man quickly replied.

"Unknown. That's why we're sending you and your team to find out."

"Rules of engagement?" Wondered the wolf as the man immediately replied.

"Only fire if fired upon."

"Yes sir." Replied the wolf as the man summarized.

"Get your men to the facility, search for the research team, and neutralize the threat. I trust you understand Captain."

"Yes sir, I do." Stated the wolf as the man quickly replied.

"Then get going. Good luck."

"Thank you sir." Replied the wolf as he hung up the call on his laptop.

As soon as the wolf shut his laptop, he took his leave and went for the door.

Shadow's POV.

The transporters ran late as we waited in the barracks. It's been six months of hard, boring work and it's about time we get some time off, but of course when the time comes our ride is missing. All of us have been working non-stop and I can tell the tension is rising for the lift home.

As I waited, I rested my head on my cot and tried to zone out my team as they all did their own thing.

"Hey Shadow?"

Gently I opened my eyes to find Rosin next to me.

Rosin was a tall fox. Came in at five elven and one hundred and sixty pounds. Wore a nice coat of brown fur and had the smartest brain out of everyone I knew. Rosin was also the team medic. Can't begin to tell you how many times he's saved my ass and everyone's here.

"What is it Rosin?" I asked as he smiled slightly.

"Nothing really Lieutenant. Just wondering what you plan on doing with your short time off is all." He replied as I adjusted myself to him.

Giving a slight cough I replied.

"I think I'll be heading back home to see a few buds of mine. God only knows how long it's been."

Rosin nodded as Foley quickly interfered.

"Right there with you Lt! I can't begin to tell you the last time I checked in with my friends!"

I quickly gave off a small smirk.

"Excuse me Foley? What did you say? It almost sounded like you said you had friends." Stated Rosin as I quickly laughed at his comment.

Foley immediately replied.

"Fuck you Rosey!"

Rosin gently chuckled as Foley looked at me.

Foley was a skinny hedgehog, but tall as shit for it. I think he was six three. Along with that, he had a solid white coat and wore the face of the team clown. Guy always likes to make jokes. Sometimes he's funny, but other times he's better at sticking to his job. Demolitions.

"You gonna allow that Shadow?!" He asked me as I slowly looked at Rosin who still hoovered above me.

"I plan to so long as his jokes keep being better then yours Fole."

Foley quickly looked away and towards the corner of the room.

"Hey Hopper!? You hear this shit over here!?" He asked as we all glanced to Hopper who packed his bag for home.

Hopper was a sharp wolf. Came in at six foot and two hundred pounds. Wore a mix of gray and black fur and had the soothing voice of an angel. Guy made me fall asleep, in the good way. Kind of goes with his role in this fucked up team we have, communications.

"I didn't hear shit Foley. And trust me if I did I would tell you."

Foley quickly replied in sarcasm.

"Yeah, I bet you would Hop."

Hopper let off a soft smile and shut his locker as soon as he was packed.

As we all went silent for a few seconds, I asked everyone.

"So where's everyone going?"

Rosin who stood next to me was the first to reply.

"I'm off to see my parents. I haven't been home for while and I'm sure they changed the place up a bit. Besides that, I ain't got nothing going on Lieutenant."

I nodded and looked at Foley who came in close.

"Off to Mexico! Land of the free and glory hole of men with a bit of coin and a whole lot of spirit for the Mexican society!"

"Why the fuck you going there?" Asked Hopper from across the room as Foley smiled widely.

"I plan on getting me a hotel room and a few senoritas, and having me a taste of the southern border for a few days straight!"

Hopper smiled slightly and replied.

"Your sick man."

Foley laughed and quickly replied.

"Coming from the wolf!? So where you off to then big man!?"

Hopper took a moment then replied.

"As far away from you as possible."

"Oh come on Hop! You know you can't get enough of me!"

Hopper immediately replied.

"I bet I can."

Foley chuckled slightly then replied in a slight whisper.

"Well, I'll bet you, once I hit the border there will be more then a few hogs coming in due time."

I gently shook my head at the remark as Borne jumped in.

"You should learn to be a bit more respectful of women Foley."

Foley quickly looked to see him over by his cot reading a book.

"Why's that!?"

Borne was another fox on the team. Standard size for his age. Twenty three, coming in at five ten and one seventy five. Borne was a god caring man, but you could see it in his eyes, he's not dumb. Man never crossed the line with anyone since he joined the team as one of our riflemen.

Borne calmly replied.

"If it wasn't for them, none of us would be standing here today. That includes you Foley."

Foley nodded slightly, then added.

"Oh trust me bro. I know where babies come from. My mother, god rest her soul, gave birth to me the night of my father's passing."

We all went silent and watched closely as Foley approached him.

"I respect women just as much as the guy standing next to me. It's just I happen to be in the game where if a woman feels unwanted or worthless, I come in and take it as my chance to save her from the gloomy threat of self pity and the cold sting of low self-esteem. Know what I mean?"

Borne gently stared into his eyes and replied.

"Ever think of leaving this gig to be a poet?"

Foley immediately laughed at the thought.

"Only when hell freezes over will I leave this team Borne."

"Not even for that special someone?" Asked Hopper as I continued to watch Foley defend himself.

"The last time I thought about that special someone, I got my heart broken in four pieces." Stated Foley as Borne then asked.

"So you just gave up?"

Foley immediately shook his head.

"Not as much give up, as just staying on the safe side of relationships."

Borne nodded as I went back to sleeping.

As I closed my eyes Foley asked.

"Not like any of you would know what it's like to find that special someone and lose them before you even saw it coming."

I felt a bitter sadness as I heard.

"I'd watch your tongue Foley."

Gently I lifted up my eyes to see Reaper over by the weapon lockers checking his rifle.

Reaper was our most able body when it came to recon and accuracy. Young, smart, and quick, Reaper was more like an assassin then a soldier at times. He even had the dark coat a hedgehog is known for. All black. Besides that entered his height and weight. Reaper was five elven and a total of one hundred and fifty pounds of muscle. No one on the team matched his speed or reflexes. Guy made it seem natural. But don't let it get to you, Reaper has a habit of being a stubborn hog. Guy gets on my nerves at times when it comes to some missions we take. Still though, I'd rather have him watch my back then any other guy on the team.

"The lieutenant doesn't want to hear it." He stated as I lowered my gaze to my lap.

Everyone looked at me as I clearly gave off the signs of sadness around me.

Gently Foley approached and waited as I looked up in ease.

"Before I joined the corps, I was dating this girl I knew for a while. I would have to say we were going out for maybe two...three years, before all the sudden she dumped me."

Foley lowered his head as I heard the million dollar question from our last teammate.

"Why she leave?"

Everyone looked over to see our newest squad member defend himself in confusion from the looks he was given for asking that.

His name was Anthony, but we all called him Kid for short. Eighteen years old and a good five ten and one hundred and fifty pounds. This hedgehog was fresh in from basic, but from what I've seen of him he has the potential of proving to be a great soldier.

As Kid went silent, I took a deep breath and replied.

"She decided her work was more important then our relationship and ended up leaving to god knows where on some government paid project."

Kid nodded slightly then asked.

"How long has it been since you've seen her?"

Giving it a quick thought I replied.

"Has to be about a year now since I last saw her."

"Do you miss her?" Asked Rosin as I glanced at him.

"Yeah."

As everyone got a feeling for my pain, we heard from across the room.

"Attention gentlemen!"

Everyone in the room went silent and turned to towards the stairs leading into our barracks, to find our commanding officer waiting with a deep look in his eyes.

Our CO was Captain Cruz. This man is a born leader, and one of the smartest men in the corps. He earned his rank through years of training and has been in charge of our team for nearly two years now. Cruz is a diesel wolf, with sharp claws, and bright green eyes. He stood tall at six foot and wore a natural gray coat of fur.

"Leaves canceled." He stated.

Everyone but me let out groans of anger as our CO watched.

"Man fuck this shit!" Stated Foley as he was quickly asked.

"Got a problem with that Foley."

Foley gently turned to Cruz and replied.

"No sir, just excited to get back to work is all.

Cruz slowly nodded then replied.

"Good, cause we got a game to play. I want all of you geared up and at the chopper within the hour."

Everyone took deep breaths of anger filled sadness then replied.

"Yes sir."

Slowly my team began to head towards the Captain to make their way up the stairs, and as I got off my bed to follow, I was quickly stopped by Cruz.

"You ok lieutenant? Seem a bit off." He stated as I stared into his eyes.

"I'm fine sir. Just thinking about the past is all."

Cruz gently patted my shoulder then replied.

"Don't let it cloud your judgment. I need you ready for this mission, understand?"

Quickly nodding my head in approval, Cruz let me by and in a matter of seconds I began to get my gear and head for the chopper that was stocked and waiting for our departure.