Round 3 - Ken Rhee (Marc)

The periscope broke the surface of the water for the fifth time this hour, each time in a different location, but always in the same vicinity of the bay near old Markham base.

"Still no sign sir" came the hushed voice of the young Russian officer. Raising one's voice on a submarine trying to remain hidden was grounds for latrine duty, and the fresh recruit wasn't about to make that mistake.

The Colonel in command of the Tchakovsky took the periscope away from the officer and scanned the ice shelf himself. "Keep scanning every 15 minutes. He's bound to show up."

Inside, the Colonel was beginning to worry. *Where are they?*...

---

Months earlier...

"I do believe you are mistaken, Dr. I know nothing of such a man, this 'Ken Rhee' of yours." The squat yet still imposing figure spoke English with a thick Russian accent.

"Come now, Colonel. You surely remember the young man you sent to spy on me. Or perhaps you will recall his actual name, Kenskei Rheenovsky?"

One of the Colonel's eyebrows rose a quarter of an inch in what could equally be described as surprise and concern.

"What do you want Doctor Donahugh?"

"I want you to know that I know. I want you to know how I know."

"Alright I'll play your game." The Colonel took a long sip of his vodka before continuing. "Supposing I do have an operative working undercover in your lab, which I don't, how do you know about him?"

"I read his mind."

"And you expect me to believe this?"

"How else would I know to contact you? You sent your operative to spy on my work for a reason: you want to steal it for your own. You wouldn't be doing this unless you knew what I was after. Well, I've done it Colonel. I've found what I was looking for, and now you're the first outside of my lab that knows it."

"Why would you tell me this? And why do you still employ this Ken if you are convinced that he is a spy? None of this makes any sense!"

"Very soon, Ken will be sharing my discovery with you. When he does, I want you to come for him in your submarine as you have planned. You won't just be retrieving him though. You will be giving myself and my retinue a sub-oceanic trip to Mother Russia, so that we may continue our work unabated on your soil." Donaghue now took a sip of his own drink, Earl Grey tea, hot, while he let his words sink in. "I can't perform my work in America, Colonel. It just won't fly there. But in Russia, ah but we could do amazing things!"

The Colonel jumped in "I don't understand you Americans. You claim you have found a spy in your midst and not only do you not kill him, but you decide to do his job for him? Yes, I'm sure my superiors would be interested in your work, so why continue this charade. Why keep Ken in your lab, letting him think his cover is safe? I could arange for your transport regardless."

"Ah but Colonel, that wouldn't be any fun. You see, my research is only just scratching the surface of what's possible. You've trained your operative well. He is very mentally resilient. It took a fair bit of effort on my part to learn what I now know about his intentions and your identity. This effort has done more than just inform me, it has also served to sharpen my skills. Ken's mental toughness has made him the perfect whetstone for my newfound abilities, and I will need him going forward. He must continue to keep his mental walls up, so that I may learn to break them down. Do you understand?"

The Colonel sat back in his chair, draining the last of his vodka and setting the glass down on the table, upside down. "I think so, Doctor... So in exchange for giving you asylum and a place to complete your work, you will share all your findings with us?"

"Every last bit, yes. As long as we get to keep the spy game going, until Ken contacts you for extraction. I will ensure that doesn't happen until we are ready."

"I will bring this to my superiors and give you an answer within the week. Check your spam filter for one of those penis enlargement scams. Our answer will be in the fine print."

"Clever, you Russians." Donaghue winked at the Colonel playfully. "I'll look forward to hearing your decision. Good day to you good Colonel!"

"One more thing, Doctor. If we agree to this, it will be on one condition: I want my man back in one piece."

"Not to worry, Colonel! He's no use to me dead!" 

---

"Sir! We've just detected seismic readings coming from the direction of the American base!"

"Agent Rheenovsky must have detonated the explosive device! Something is wrong. This should never have happened. Get a skiff ready. I'm taking a squad out to the surface. Let's find out what's going on at this base. We will retrieve the good doctor and his work come hell or high water, for Mother Russia!"

Round 3 - Marcus Jones (Justin)

Marcus Jones watched, too late to intervene as Ryan stabbed the Dr. with the syringe.  His mind instantly dulled by the sympathetic morphine effects coursing through Donaghue’s own body, he struggled to comprehend what was going on around him.  

 

The blast of Xyctexyct’s idol sent a shockwave of debris flying outward.  A chunk of shrapnel from the idol buried itself in Marcus’ forehead, snapping his head back at the same time as he was blown off his feet.  Marcus blacked out.

 

Fish woke up in his dream.  He was at the base of a stepped pyramid cluttered with alien vegetation.  The sky was a dusky purple mixed with streaks of white light.  Marcus was surrounded by thousands of other beings, indistinguishable in his dream haze but for their body language which conveyed one thing: worship.  At the top of the pyramid, preaching an alien sermon to the massive crowd was Xyctexyct, massive and insect-like.  Suddenly, Marcus rose from the prostrate worshippers, floating and pulled as if with unseen strings up to Xyctexyct’s black mandibled mouth.  Xyctexyct opened its mouth and emitted an ear-splitting buzz that violently shook Marcus’ body.  He knew what he had to do. 

 

Marcus woke up on the floor of the lab in a pool of his own blood.  Still dazed from the explosion, his head pounding, Marcus got to his feet and staggered into a table.  Everyone in the lab was either unconscious or crawling around on the floor, Marcus couldn’t tell them apart thanks to the blood streaming down into his eyes.  He steadied himself and tried wiping the blood away but it made no difference.  No matter, Xyctexyct itself had favoured him with his attention.  He alone was entrusted as the mid-wife for Xyctexyct’s awakening and re-birth.    

 

“He is free.  He is coming for us all” echoed through Marcus’ head and he exhulted in his special responsibility.  He would get Xyctexyct what it needed.  He would feed it the energy it needed to sustain it’s magnificent freedom.

 

Marcus sprinted out of the room and down the hallway to the garage area.  He contemplated getting on an ATV but new instincts pushed him to run.  It would be faster that way.  Marcus Jones’ brain was telling him to forget the jacket too.    Marcus ran outside, Xyctexyct’s need for energy overwhelming all other feelings.  Marcus followed his instincts and continued to run, though soon his gait turned into something more like a jog, yet he seemed to move faster and faster.  When the bloody hole in his forehead froze shut, he could finally see again, and what he saw was the submarine Khlebnikov.

 

Fish slowed as he reached the hull of the Khlebnikov and suddenly recoiled in terror when he saw what was following him.  It’s reflection was distorted from the curvature of the hull, but it was larger than a human and looked more like praying mantis than man.  Marcus spun to meet the monster but there was nothing behind him.  He whirled again, thinking it had stayed behind him, but all he saw was the thing’s reflection.  A realization dawned on Marcus then, and with a creeping dread he found that he could not see his own reflection.  The mantis was his reflection.  

 

Marcus Jones took a moment to examine his own hand, now a chitenous claw, through compound eyes.  From inside his head a buzzing noise cut through his brief reverie.  Energy for the alien god.  Must get.  He sensed tremedous energy potential coming from inside the sub.  Dormant no longer, Marcus could feel the subtle vibrations emenating from the nuclear reactor of the vessel.

 

In a single bound, Marcusmantis leaped to the top of the conning tower.  In moments he ripped off the hatch and wiggled his large frame into the hull.

 

“Kenskei?  Kenskei eto ty?” The voice came from deeper inside the vessel.

 

Ignoring the voice, Marcusmantis compressed his body to fit under pipes and through corridors, heading to the back of the sub where the vibrations were strongest.

 

“Ken-AAAAAAHHHHHHH!”  Marcusmantis came face to alien face with Ken’s secret accomplice, Yuri, and immediately snatched him with his mantis-like pincers.  In moments, Yuri’s arms were torn off and his screams silenced as his head was effortlessly pulled from his body.

 

Marcusmantis moved past the missile tubes and tore off the lead-lined titanium door that led to the nuclear reactor.  Standing in front of the reactor, Marcusmantis tested the strength of the shielding by plunging a claw through the outer layer of reinfroced steel.  With a hiss and the scream of warning alarms, steaming coolant vented violently from the puncture.

 

{Xyctexyct, thy will be done!}  Marcus “Fish” Jones, now midwife to Xyctexyct, ripped the nuclear reactor apart and began the meltdown.

Round 3 - Evan Donaghue (Eric)

Everything was suddenly in slow motion. Evan Donaghue stared at the needle implanted in Ryan's forehead and slowly, sluggishly,  reached up to his own neck to find the second needle. His confusion, surprise and frustration spread outward across his brothers and sisters, even as he felt his knees give out below him. As his sensations spread outward among the hive mind, he felt Ryan's mind pouring into Evan's own memories. 

----------------------------------------------

(Picture a bright white flash, like a lens flare into your eyes)

Donaghue looked over at Maggie Holness, Finbar Douglas and Ben VanderTuin. They all wore the same look of astonishment that echoed his own state of mind. He looked back at the monumental object that was clearly the focus of the Markham team's excavation efforts. 

"What is it?" gasped Douglas. "A starship?"

"Whatever it is," Donaghue replied in hushed tones, "it was not made by humans."

(Another white flash)

Donaghue's hand went numb from an ethereal cold emanating from the statue as he grabbed it. A sudden, sharp hiss caught his attention. Tearing his eyes away from his prize, he saw a plume of white vapour gushing from one of the nearby pods. The top swung open and almost immediately, an unbidden thought entered his mind. 

{You are making a mistake. Return the device to its alcove.}

{What?} Donaghue thought back in surprise, understanding the meaning of the words, but horrified by how strange they felt inside his head. {What are you?}

{The alcove inhibits the device's Felcar field,} the voice continued, ignoring his question. {If the field is not contained, Xyctexyct will awaken and break free of his containment cell.}

{Xyctexyct?} Donaghue was paralysed with confusion. 

"Doctor, are you alright?" Douglas' voice sounded distant and insignificant amid the thoughts rattling in Donaghue's mind. 

Out of the vapour, a long, three-fingered hand appeared, each finger tipped with a curved talon. 

{Xyctexyct is the entity contained in the core of our vessel,} the tone of the voice was changing, becoming impatient. {It powers our technology. It is devious. Dangerous. It must remain contained.}

Donaghue looked at the statue. Through it, he could feel a connection to power. Immeasurable power. He wanted it. 

Douglas cautiously approached the open pod, trying to peer inside it. 

{This is your final warning, return the device to its alcove.}

Donaghue hesitated for a moment, his tongue nervously licking his lips. 

{No.}

With a ear-piercing scream, a grey shape burst from the pod, tackling Finbar Douglas to the deck. 

Donaghue dashed through the door, slamming into Maggie, who gaped at him in surprise. 

"Run!" he screamed and they both retreated.

(Another white flash)

"What? What the fuck happened out there?"

"There's no time for that Mr. Shipley. If you could please start the engines, it is about time we left."

"But what about Maggie?"

"We won't be seeing her again Mr. Shipley. Start the engines. We need to go, before they finish with her and come for us."

"Who?"

Donaghue reached in to his coat pocket and pulled out a pistol, pointing it at George's face.

"The engines, Mr. Shipley, now."

----------------------------------------------

Donaghue crumpled awkwardly to the ground. He felt the first knee connect with the floor and then, an eternity later, the second. As he tilted over, his eyes passed over Marcus, sitting upright and Ken laying on a table. While his enhanced body could not suffer any noticeable harm from the fall, he found it strange that as his head bounced off the cold plastic flooring, he felt no pain at all. His head gradually came to rest on the ground and he found himself facing his shrine to Xyctexyct. His substitute alcove. 

Ryan had walked over to the shrine and was reaching toward it. Donaghue raised his hand weakly and tried to focus his mind to send a warning even as Ryan grabbed the statue. 

"Whatever it takes!" came the echoed thoughts and words. 

"No," Donaghue cried mentally, his thoughts still agonisingly slow, "don't listen to it! Return the statue to its shrine! It is the only way to control it!"

Donaghue felt heat radiating on his face, then felt his body being forcefully pushed. As the world rotated before his uncomprehending eyes, he saw Ryan being lifted bodily off his feet and the shrine disintegrating. Donaghue's impaired mind finally processed the explosion. As his consciousness faded, through sheer force of will, he projected a warning hoping that any of his brothers and sisters might hear it. 

"He is free. He is coming for us all."

Round 3 - Ryan Miller (Makou)

Ryan Miller's cabin, soon after Ken set the bomb

"Dr. Miller, are you in here?", the soft knock on his cabin door and calming female voice roused Ryan from what had been a painful half asleep state. Ryan was fully aware of his sore ribs but at least he could take full breaths again. He was unsure how long he'd been falling in and out of consciousness. 

"Ryan, I am coming in, don't be alarmed.", with that Dr. Molly Patel pushed the cabin door open from the half ajar state it had been left in and her eyes quickly found Ryan crumbled form on the floor. Her expression betrayed concern but not surprise, "come Dr. Miller, let's get you onto the bed and under some blankets, yes?"

A few moments later Molly had managed to help Ryan back into hit cot, got him wrapped in blankets with a hot drink in his hand. Ryan quickly started to feel the warmth creep back into his bones. 

"Thank you", Ryan managed to get out. 

"Don't mention it.", Molly was adjusting with the heater, "I'm afraid our Mr. Jones left you in quite a state. I am very sorry about that." 

Ryan suddenly remembered what had transpired, "Dr. Patel, is Marcus alright? Is he being treated?"

"He's fine Ryan, do you mind if I call you Ryan? Given the circumstances the formality feels a bit much." Molly's calm voice was certainly helping defuse the stress. Ryan welcomed the moment's peace as his body started to feel something closer to normal again.

"Ryan sounds great, thank you Molly?" 

She sat on the bed next to him, "Ryan," her pleasant demeanor took on a somewhat more serious tone, "under different circumstances I'd tell you to get some sleep but I am afraid time is not on our side. It's about time we talk about why you were hired, and to be clear I am talking about the real reason you are here."

A twitch of panic crossed Ryan's face before he could hide it, Molly just reassuringly placed her hand on his shoulder. 

"Don't worry Ryan, I am not here reprimand you, in fact I am here to make a confession of my own. We, as in Doctor Donaghue, myself and our employers hired you to infiltrate this facility before we hired you on for the research position you have on paper." 

Molly paused a moment to let that sink in. She also anticipated Ryan's next questions. 

"I apologize for the manipulation. People are naturally curious and suspicious. We've found that the mysterious approach tends help us lead people where we need them to be. But I promise you from now on we will be open and honest about our intentions."

Ryan was suprised. He hadn't even considered that he was being manipulated, but that naturally led to the question, "Why? Why did you want me here?" 

Molly smiled warmly, "Because you're a smart man with a skill set that could benefit our new community. That and you want to save your son. I am ashamed to say this but we used that to get you here, but we can help your son and many other like him. Not right away, but soon we'll have the manpower with the focused clarity to solve hundreds of mankinds problems. We're about to enter a new age Ryan. One easily as significant as the industrial revolution or the discovery of agriculture, but we need your help to make that a reality."

"So what are we doing here exactly? Since I've gotten here we've been poking at mice and culture samples. All very standard stuff, nothing that requires us to be in the arctic, not the start of the next industrial revolution and certainly nothing that could ever help my son.", Ryan's frustration was starting to show. "How can I even know that I can trust you?"

"For the moment, you'll need to take it on faith. Soon though they'll be no way we could lie to you. I realize I must sound like I am being evasive but I need to be sure you listen with an open mind. Ryan about 50 years ago, during the Cold War, the Russians were trying to develop new spying techniques. One of those research teams stumbled onto something that they couldn't understand at the time. They carried out their research in the most remote parts of the world, including here. Eventually, the program was abandoned but we are using their research to try to benefit mankind. The Russians wanted to develop mind reading techniques to spy on their enemies but their technology wasn't advanced enough at the time." Molly's tone grew more excited as she spoke, "But now, Ryan, we have the scientific knowledge to fully understand the rudimentary process they were using. Once we achieved the first human to human trans-neural link we were able to achieved so much in such a short time."

"You're claiming that you've achieved telepathy? That sounds extremely unlikely Molly. How do you expect me to believe that?" Ryan's healthy scientific curiosity was keeping him from making a run to the helicopter. 

"We can't read your mind." she said quickly, "Not as you are, there's a rather simple procedure to undergo but once it's done we are all connected and we can sense each other's thoughts and feel each other's emotions. We can prove it you. The whole thing takes less than 5 minutes and it's quite painless."

"And then I what happens? I lose my individuality and become a Borg drone to serve the queen's will?" 

"Do I look like a mindless drone Ryan? You're thinking like an unconnected being. Did computers get worse when they created the internet? No, interconnecting everything made astonishing things possible that weren't possible before? Think about the implications Ryan, as a scientist, a human being and a father. What do you think will happen to the crime rates if everyone can feel each other's pain? How long would you get stuck on a problem if you have the knowledge and creativity of millions of people to pull from? Would the world spend it's resources producing boner pills or spend its energy hating those that were slightly different if our collective happiness and pain was distributed across each individual? That's our goal, not to create mind slaves but to give humanity the ultimate form of freedom."

"That's an impressive sales pitch Molly, but assuming I believe any of this it all sounds too good to be true. What's the catch?"

Molly hesitated for a moment, closed her eyes and seemed like there was some sort of inner conflict inside her head, but after a moment it was gone, "I said we would be honest with you Ryan, and we intend to honor that. Right now our little group is too small to direct itself easily. Too few minds, too divergent mindsets, so for now there is a leader. What you called a 'queen' before. His voice is the strongest and it helps align us towards our goals." 

"And I'm guessing that leader is Donaghue?"

"Yes, but this isn't some insidious Dark Lord of the Sith like you're picturing Ryan. It's more like... a father teaching you to ride a bike. He needs to hold on to get you started but once we get going our own momentum keeps us upright whether he's there or not."

Ryan still wasn't sure whether this was a fevered dream or if Molly had lost her marbles along with Marcus. But he knew that Molly seemed to really believe what she was saying and if this was true maybe they could help him after all. 

"I'll talk to Donaghue BUT I want to know more about this procedure." 

"That's fair," Molly answered, "we agrees, we already have a lot of materials and papers prepared that might help you understand."

With that Molly offered Ryan a hand to pick him up off the bed. Before he took her hand, a thought formed in his mind. He wasn't sure if it was born of fear but it made him hesitate. He extended the empty mug of tea to Molly instead, 

"Could you put this on the table please?" 

"Of course", she took the mug and turned towards the table. As she did Ryan slipped his hand between the mattress and the wall as quickly and quietly as he could and pocketed the single syringe of morphine he had hidden there for emergencies. Molly did not seem to notice and she was still all smiles when she turned back.

"Thank you Molly, I think I can manage on my own."

Ryan stood up and followed her out to medical unit B-142. During their walk Molly seemed content and slightly distracted. Maybe there was a lot of chatter going on in her head. As they approached the medical buildings Ryan's mind couldn't help but think about all the science fiction he's seen in his life. About the personal and social consequences a connection between all humans would be. Somewhere along the way he realize he believed this was real and he believed if anything could help his son, the singular focus of thousands of medical professionals would certainly have the best chances. 

"We have can't wait to show you what we've done." Molly seemed genuinely excited, "There are things we wanted to share with you before. Scientifically, you will find them fascinating..." 

Ryan stopped paying attention, he was taking a moment to appreciate that these might be some of his last thoughts where he was alone in his own mind. He wasn't sure how that made him feel. If this was real, would he regret it? Would he even be able to experience regret? Would all his emotions be filtered through the lens of Evan Donaghue's thoughts. Then an even worse thought occurred to him, what if in this new hive mind the needs of his son weren't a priority. What if the collective decided it was more important to cure cancer or send men to mars or anything else. Would his son be sacrificed for the greater good? Would he watch it happen and be powerless to stop it, or worse still simply be okay with leaving his son to his fate?

They came to B-142, the door opened and Donaghue was there with Marcus, who seemed to have received medical attention, as well as several others.

Dr. Donaghue stepped forward, "Thank you for hearing us out Dr. Miller. We expect you'll want a demonstration."

"No, I believe you, but before I agree to anything I want to know how this works." 

"Of course," Donaghue continued, the others in the lab went about started various tasks, seemingly prepping for something, "fortunately we've simplified the process down to a single injection, through the temple. With a topical numbing agent you won't even feel it and the changes should start to take take effect immediately." 

"Is it reversible?", Ryan asked.

"No." Molly answered this time, she seemed to have been designated the bearer of bad news, "Not right now anyway but in theory we could develop an inoculation if ever it became necessary. We are sure once you join us you won't feel the need to leave." 

"What if I don't like being your mind slave Dr Donaghue?", Ryan saw Donaghue's sneer and each of the other men in the room tense up. For a moment he thought he was going to get jumped and strapped down on a table but the moment quickly passed. 

It was Molly who spoke again, "We told you before, it's not like that. We realize it's hard to grasp as you are but going back to that isolation just doesn't make sense. It's like choosing to give up clean running water because you prefer drinking from the muddy parasite filled water from a ditch. It's senseless."

Ryan had another question he wanted to ask, but he needed to frame it in a way that wouldn't raise suspicion. If they did decide to force him there wouldn't be much he could do about it. 

"What about Jones, he's an addict, if you share everything doesn't the shared link make everyone addicts too?" 

"Cured." Marcus spoke for "Like magic Ryan. We are sorry about what happened before, but now that we're all together, we just don't need it anymore."

Ryan had guessed the answer would be something like that. He had a stupid plan, possibly a really stupid plan floating around in his head but it might be his only shot. 

"Ok, I'll do it on one condition. Once we get this whole collective thing setup we work on a cure for my son." 

Molly placed her hand of Ryan shoulder again, "Ryan, I know you care about your son and we will do our best to help him but we still have to be realistic. Once we're all collected we'll we able to fix so many of humanity's problems but not all of them will be eradicated overnight. We can't guarantee we can save him but you have our word we'll try our best." 

The group nodded in unison. Ryan got the distinct feeling it was just another manipulation but at this point he was all-in. 

"I guess that is all I can ask. Let's do this." 

"Excellent!", if you just sit on the table, this will be done in a moment. 

Ryan complied, he tried to appear calm even though his heart was racing. It was Molly that approached him the syringe filled with the unremarkable clear liquid. That wasn't what he had hoped for. 

"Molly, I don't mean to be insulting and I realize you all share skills in your little cluster but I also know you've never injected a living person with a syringe in your life. I'd just feel a lot more comfortable if Dr. Donaghue performed the procedure."

"Of course, Ryan whatever makes you feel comfortable." 

Without hesitation Donaghue took the syringe and began to wipe Ryan's temple with disinfectant. As he did this Ryan's hand went to his pocket. None of the others in the room seemed to take notice as Ryan gripped the syringe hidden within and popped off the cap. He glanced around, it seemed like everyone's eyes were intensely focused on Donaghue's hands. That did nothing to alleviate Ryan's doubts but it was convenient that no one was focusing on his. Ryan closed his eyes and took a deep breathe and he felt the tiny sting of the needle. His last thought as a singular being was simply, "this idea is so stupid" but he had committed and all he could do was hope for the best. 

His hand slid out of his pocket and quickly jammed the needle tip into Dr. Donaghue's carotid artery. His first shared thought could be summarized as a collective, "WHAT THE FUCK!". It was truly an amazing experience, many voices speaking as one with one voice, Dr. Donaghue's, speaking the loudest, but a few moments later the Donaghue's voice numbed and faded into static. Ryan's connection to the collective wasn't fully formed for the first few moments but even he could feel the mind numbing effect of the morphine shared throughout the link. Ryan could feel each person's legs become wobbly and soon everyone but Ryan and Marcus Jones were sitting or laying on the ground, practically oblivious to the world around them. Marcus, maybe because we had formed a tolerance for the opioid was the only other clear thinking head in the bunch, but he was still confused about what had transpired as the familiar warmth of the drug coursed through him. Ryan adrenaline filled mind was able to focus on Donaghue's. With little resistance he was able to swoop into the other man's brain and read his memories like a book. It became clear what he needed to do. He leapt from the table and quickly found the alien looking statue. Ryan knew to expect the chilling sensation as he approached it. As he picked it up extra-human thoughts filled his mind at a level of consciousness he didn't know existed before that moment. It was a proposition, a Faustian bargain for and power. Ryan didn't hesitate, his answer was spoken aloud as much as over the mental connection for all to hear.

"Whatever it takes!"

Round 2 - Ken Rhee (Marc)

Ken needed to get off base, and fast. If what Marcus had told him was true, it was only a matter of time before Donaghue started looking for him to add to his band of mind melded freaks, and that didn't interest him one bit. The last thing he needed now was a pack of mind reading freaks spoiling his cover and his mission.

After Fish had spilled the beans to him, Ken had felt oddly sorry for the man, perhaps in part due to the pain he had caused him earlier. It wasn't anything personal after all, but the mission had to come first. As it turned out, Marcus hadn't seen Ken at all and suspected nothing. And so, against his better judgement, he had offered to help him get off base. Marcus, with what looked to be a herculean mental effort, had accepted and asked what was next.

"First thing's first, we need to waste Donaghue's lab. There's no sense leaving without making sure he can't do to more people what he's done to you." Ken's motives for destroyingthe Doctor's work were far more sinister, but Jones didn't need to know that.

"Right. That makes sense." Jones sounded half sure of himself. "But what about Ryan? If I don't report back to Donaghue with him, he'll just send someone else to get him and I can't let that happen."

Ken looked pensive, and a little annoyed. "Listen, I have to take care of this, now. If you want to go get your buddy then fine, you do that. You know where the SnowCat is out by building M-029?"

"The Garage? Yeah I now it"

"Good. Meet me there in 20 minutes. Don't be late. I won't wait for you if you are."

"Jeez, ok. Ken, you sound different... You sure the Doc didn't give you something when you weren't looking?" Marcus was noticing Ken's sudden confidence, or lack of nervousness.

"Trust me, I'm fine. Now get moving, and if you run into the Doc or any of his cronies, just run."

"Ok. I will Ken. Thanks."

With that, Ken headed for his quarters. Once there, he pulled a medium sized metal case from under his bunk and opened it after entering a 3-digit code on locks. Inside were what seemed to be a bunch of medical research journals and random notebooks. Ken dumped all of these unceremoniously onto his sheets and picked up what was inside. Opening the opaque grey ziplock bag, he pulled out what looked like a brick of clay, except it had a small device pressed into it and the code "PVV-5A" printed on it. "This should do the trick", thought Ken.

He grabbed the explosive device and headed for the medical complex, specifically building B-142. He still didn't have access, but with this puppy he wouldn't need it. The halls were eerily empty as he made his way to the lab, but this may have just been due to the hour. Looking out a small porthole as he rushed through the complex, Ken noted how low the sun was in the sky... soon it would dip below the horizon and the slow crawl toward 24-hour darkness would begin.

Having reached B-141, Ken listened intently at the door, making sure he heard nothing from inside the building. Satisfied, he entered and headed for the door leading to B-142. He opened a small first aid kit next to the door, emptied its contents, pulled the PVV-5A from his parka pocket and stuck it inside. He wasn't worried about the door. This Soviet era plastic explosive would be enough to blow the thing off its hinges and destroy anything on either side in a 30 foot radius, or more. Ken set the timer for 30 minutes, enough time for him to get off base and within safe distance. He also made sure to start an identical timer on his wrist watch. As Ken turned to leave the lab, he saw the rats in their enclosure accross the room. Strangely, he felt bad for them. This place really was fucking him up...

Wtih an extra spring in his step, Ken headed for building M-029. He stepped out of the nearest doorway into the harsh outdoors and made a b-line, crossing the central courtyard of the base instead of working his way through the many corridors and buildings that were the only other alternative. Cresting a small snow drift, he set his eyes on the brown beast that was the SnowCat. It had been just over 5 minuets since he set the charge. In another 5 he'd be driving away, no one the wiser, except for Marcus and maybe Ryan, if they made it.

Reaching the SnowCat, Ken scanned his surroundings. Nothing. Despite his promise to the contrary, Ken decided to give Marcus 1 more minute. A sudden loud machine noise startled him and he looked to it's source. The large garage door to building M-029 was opening, it's frozen hinges and wheels wincing and squeaking madly against the motor struggling to pull it open. From the widening gap under the door came 4 figures, led by one whom Ken recognized immediately.

"Ken, my boy! Where are you headed at such an hour? You still need to assist me with the final stages of my greatest work."

Ken moved slowly away from the SnowCat, inching his had toward the pocket where he still kept his trusty PSS pistol.

"Hello Doctor. Unfortunately, I'm afraid I'm going to have to leave you to complete your work without me. I'm finding myself terribly unsuited to work in this climate."

"My goodness Kenneth, what's come over you? You were such a diligent assistant and so obedient. Why don't you come inside so we can talk about this?"

"Sorry good Doc, but I can't do that." With that, Ken drew his weapon and pointed it directly at Donaghue's head. Nothing happened. "What the f..." was all that Ken could mutter before falling silent, frozen in a firing stance.

"No, I'm sorry Ken. Sorry that you couldn't be a willing part of this glorious work of mine. But you will be a part of it, oh yes. Marcu?"

One of the Doctor's followers came forward holding a large wrench in his right hand. Ken could only move his eyeballs and was able to see old Fish Jones walking toward him, raising the wrench in a two-handed grip as he approached.

"Sorry, Ken. I tried, I really did..."

The wrench came down hard on Ken's temple and the last thing he heard was what he assumed to be the crunch of his own skull before blacking out.