Chapter One: The Red Zone

The Red Zone1

The last thing the troop saw before death consumed him was his killer. The killer was restrained in a straitjacket, and a muzzle covering her mouth as if she was a feral dog. He faintly heard her eerie demented sick giggle, but soon, that faded too. 2

The dark green bus pulled up to the gates of the military camp. Inside was full of tents and ditches, and equipment to train with. Ash stepped off the bus, her combat boots causing the dirt to lightly rise. Her short blond hair ruffled a bit as a small breeze blew. Her green-blue eyes examined her surroundings quietly. She then sighed, “Finally, off that bus.” She whined.3

“Aw, Poor Ash.” A deep voice stated jokingly from the bus. Out came Artemis, his body was a full robot suit, no human parts on him. Artemis was a soul that was contained in a robot suit after an accident. Over the suit were his cargo pants, a tank top, and a large dark brown jacket over it. 4

“That’s not funny Artemis.” The girl muttered, as she quietly pouted. Artemis chuckled and put his droid hand on her head, playfully ruffling her hair. 5

Logan and Raito would join their companions off the bus. Logan sighed lighting up a cigarette that was held between his lips, he took a drag then blew out the smoke quietly. He ran a hand through his short spiky hair. Then he took his shades off and put them on his shirt, which was a loose black T-shirt. His pants were loose khaki pants and slightly fancy shoes. 6

Raito yawned and put a hand up to shade his eyes from the bright sun as he looked around the camp. His hazel eyes shimmered, he took in a deep breath then let it out with a smile. “Feels like old times again.” He stated cheerfully. 7

“Logan!” Ash chimed grinning, as the man looked over smoothly at her. “Let’s go get some food supplies.” She explained. He nodded, taking another drag of his cigarette then walked to her. “We’ll be back soon!” 8

Artemis chuckled, “Have fun.” He called, as he watched them grow farther with each step they took. “We should probably go find where to stay.” He turned his glance to Raito. 9

“Yes, it would be quite uncomfortable to sleep in a ditch like some.” Raito smiled, as he approached Artemis, as they ventured off to set up their tent.10

The girl stood in the lab, as the alarm would sound, red flashing all over the room, and the deep tone, repeating like the shrill scream of a siren. Taking small slow steps she walked down the hall, her straight, short, black bangs hung in her face, a little bit over her eyes. Her straight hair came down to her chest, over her jacket-restrained arms. She would uncover a wall of guards with their weapons cocked and all aimed at her. She stopped quietly. “Don’t move! Take another step and we will fire!” A troop yelled. 11

No response came of her, she hesitated. Then quietly stepped out, and continued her slow walk.12

The guard look shocked for a moment then shook it off. He hesitated to speak, then blurted; “Fire!!” A rain of bullets came upon her, but she was quicker, before they started shooting she had moved out of the line of fire, now she kicked one of the guards as he fell over, she snapped his neck with only her leg. She worked on the others troops, using just her leg to make one’s head snap off the body. She continued through the blood bath, killing with only her two legs she had free. 13

Soon she would have killed off the troopers that had earlier been ready for a victory. None of them were left alive. She walked on, each step she took, took her farther from the homicide she had committed minutes before.14

She came to the door again as it slid open she walked through, lust for blood, and freedom in her cold eyes. 15

Up ahead would be another set of troopers, this time, the first line of guards had body shields, with their guns peaking out the small space between each shield. 16

She would finally walk in upon the small division of armed men. She stopped for a moment, the men watched her moves carefully, and all they saw was their creation gone homicidal on them. But in her mind, she was calculating her next movements, and theirs. 17

Everyone sat there in silence for a few moments. The General stood in the back row, the soldiers standing on both sides of him, and the front row kneeled down with their backs to him. “Sir, she is just standing there. Do we hold fire?” A soldier asked, glancing slightly to the higher officer for a second then quickly changing back to the girl, but in the hesitated answer from the general, she started walking again, taking her small steps towards them. The guard alerted and lifted his gun slightly higher at her. 18

The General hesitated a moment too late. She had already broken the shield of three of the men by kicking it, and already smashed two of the trooper heads to the ground their skulls crushed, as she moved to the third guard, the General spat; “Fire! Fire—“ but in mid-sentence she had already paralyzed him, kicking him in the spine, setting it all out of place. She stood on his back, then stepped down, his ribs and chest crunching as she had caused them to collapse. 19

She stepped off him, and ran kicking another trooper in the chest, having them splatter onto the wall, and would then step onto a fallen guards leg, snapping the bone, she jumped and snapped another neck and kicked a head, that would tear off and land on the ground in a puddle of blood from many different corpses. Tearing through the crowd, standing there staring over the pile of bodies, and huge puddles of blood all over the floor, and splattered on the walls. Blood was also splashed on her straightjacket, and on her face. 20

A few Scientists were undisturbed for the moment in their office, working on papers, on their theories, and studies. Professor Tohma sighed as he examined the page quietly. His coffee cup had been empty for a while now as it sat on the corner of his desk. “What’s wrong Tohma?” A girl asked.21

The professor lifted his head to see his co-worker, Melanie Karumi. He sighed and looked back to his papers, “We are still studying how all the Gene-Clones are developing.” He explained.22

“I see.” She stated, “Want to come get some coffee with me?” She offered, she now stood in the doorway, looking back to him.23

He looked up then nodded, shutting the book of his latest studies, he stood up from his seat. “Sure, I could use some fresh coffee.” He said quietly. He walked to the door, joining his co-worker, walking beside her. 24

The homicidal girl, had made it far, and she was now in Section E, where the Scientists worked. Her look blank, she walked through the door, where she would meet more guards, joined by a couple scientists now. Just ahead would be Professor Tohma, and Professor Karumi, both clueless to the threatening situation. 25

She hesitated, once again calculating, but this time with less time, within a few seconds, she would begin the blood bath, now tainting this Section. 26

Professor Karumi blinked, “Hm, I wonder what is going on.” She said, as they neared the group, she saw the door opened, and somebody walked out, but she could not see whom. She had been only a few feet away, before the guards were brutally murdered. 27

Professor Tohma blinked gaining interest in the subject; he neared with her, soon to have one of the guard’s blood splashed on him. He stood there, with the red painted on his clothes and his lab coat. He saw for a split second, the girl, but not for long, too deep in shock to move he stood there. Until his co-worked pushed him out of the way, just in time to dodge a blow from the deadly restrained girl. He shook himself out of the shock and looked to see Melanie, just then he saw the girl kneeled by her, he ran and tackled the girl, then picked up Melanie cradled in his arms and ran inside an office and slammed his hand on a red button, setting off the alarm. 28

The girl did not waste her time though, she just continued to walk and only killing whoever stood in her way. She walked down the hall, to the door before she would be outside. 29

Tohma immediately got on the phone, “Lock down the last door! Section E!” He spat as Security worked on it. He would hang up and look to his co-worker. “Melanie, are you ok?” He asked her, noticing her dazed look. She obviously had a pretty bad concussion, assuming she hit her head when she pushed Tohma out of the girl’s path; she had fallen, and taken a small blow. He picked up the phone again; dialing a few numbers in, “Get a medical team here, now!” He ordered firmly. 30

The young weapon had gone through the first security door, and there it was. Her exit and way to freedom stood just ahead of her. She walked towards it, as it started to lock down, this would not stop her though, she struggled trying to get out of her straightjacket, her arms squirming around, it would not take long for her developed mind to calculate and escape from. The sleeves now hung over her arms, reaching the floor. She grabbed the muzzle and tore it off with her bare hands then headed on towards the door. 31

Security continued their effort to lock down, but as the girl reached the door, she would type into the keypad overriding the lock down sequence. It started to undo itself, as the door opened; she waited, and then walked out. 32

The Medical team had just arrived, as they moved the girl scientist onto a stretcher, they would soon rush her away to get a doctor working on her in the hospital ward. Professor Tohma growled lightly, muttering crossly under his breath, “Damn it. She escaped.” He slammed his fist on the desk, and then walked to the phone. Punching in a few numbers, he waited for a moment, “Get me search parties, immediately. We must find that gene-clone.” He ordered. After hanging up he sat down bluntly in the chair sighing, he rested his head stressfully in his hands. “Damn it.” He murmured. 33

Inside the Military camp stood Artemis and Raito, they had just set up everything for where they would stay, they had a pretty big tent set up. Artemis stood outside it next to Raito, “Well, looks like our shelter is set up, now we just need to wait for Ash and Logan to get back, and then we can start on making some food.” He said in a bit of an accomplished tone. 34

Raito simply nodded, “I should start cleaning my weapons. That should occupy my time until dinner.” He smirked lightly.35

Artemis nodded, “I should probably go look for them, to go over the plan once more. Remember, after we eat we are leaving to go patrol, so be ready by then.” He stated, then turned and started to walk away, towards where all the food and supplies were. 36

Meanwhile, grenades had distracted Ash. She needed some, so she decided to browse. Logan sighed, “We should start heading back soon, you know.” He told her.37

As the officer handed her a box of grenades she smiled. “Thanks have a nice day.” She said as she walked to Logan. “I know, I just needed to restock on grenades, they do come in handy if we find a hideout or an enemy camp anywhere,” She explained. “And I already know the plan, we went over it like, ten million times before we got here. Remember?” She laughed quietly. 38

“I know. Now, let’s head back, I want to eat something before we head out.” Logan stated as he put out his cigarette. 39

Ash smirked, “Fatty!” She stuck her tongue out playfully.40

He blinked; “What—Hey!” He blurted realizing what she just said. 41

Ash giggled more, and then turned around walking again, “Think we’ll find any enemies today?” She asked Logan quietly peering at him curiously. 42

“Maybe.” He told her putting his arms behind his head as he walked on, pondering. 43

Ash blinked and noticed Artemis, “Hey Logan, there’s Artemis.” She pointed out, as she would run towards their android companion. “What brings you here Artemis? All done with the tent?” She questioned.44

Logan blinked coming out of his thoughts noticing Artemis as he slowly approached the two. Artemis chuckled; “Yeah, we finished setting it up, so I thought I would come find you two. After all, it would be nice to have some food before our Patrol.” He said, glancing to Logan whom was taking his time catching up to them, he then looked back at Ash. 45

Ash nodded, “Yeah, I just needed to restock on Grenades.” She explained why it was taking a bit longer than usual to get dinner. 46

Artemis nodded, “I see. That would come in handy.” He stated with an understanding tone. “So, how many did you get?” He queried. 47

“A dozen.” She showed him the box, opening the top revealing all twelve grenades, perfectly set inside.48

“Ah, Nice.” He stared at them, as he took one out examining it. 49

“Yeah, we would’ve returned sooner, if she hadn’t taken forever browsing.” Logan mumbled quite displeasingly. 50

Artemis chuckled, “Well, we should head back now, Raito is probably getting impatient and hungry.” He joked. 51

Ash nodded in agreement with a grin; “Yeah, plus I’m getting pretty hungry!” she chimed. She started off through the camp again. Artemis and Logan both chuckled as they followed her quietly. 52

Raito was busy in the tent, wiping down his guns, cleaning them spotless, almost obsessively. He had not noticed the time, or how long everyone was gone, he was too focused, but he began to snap out of this trance as he heard Ash talking to, whom he guessed was, Artemis and Logan. Raito stood up setting his gun along with all his others on a khaki colored cloth. He walked out of the tent knowing it was around dinner time, and it wouldn’t take that long to cook. “Have fun?” He smiled welcomingly to his friends.53

“I did! I got some really good grenades.” Ash chimed excitedly, like a little kid on Christmas who just got their favorite toy. 54

Raito let out a small laugh, “Sounds like fun.” He stated. “So, I’m guessing it’s dinner time then?” 55

“Yeah. It shouldn’t take too long to cook, but if you want to have a full stomach on Patrol you might have to eat a little fast.” Artemis explained.56

“We might have had some more time, if a certain someone didn’t take forever browsing grenades” Logan smirked looking at Ash, Who tried to act clueless. 57

“Oh well, better than going with an empty stomach.” Raito shrugged, he didn’t mind that much that they were a little late. In fact he hadn’t noticed until they mentioned it. 58

Artemis walked over to a pile of firewood they had, stones would already be set in a small circle where the campfire would go. He set it down, now working on the process of making the fire. Logan yawned as he walked into the tent walking to his duffle bag of things, as he pulled out his heavy armed rifle. He started to clean it slightly, not as much as Raito cleaned his, but a little bit so it wasn’t too dirty. Ash sat on the ground chopping up the ingredients for their soup dinner, chopping it into a large bowl quietly. Artemis sighed, “Ash, could yew blow on the fire some. This part is so annoying.” He muttered slightly annoyed that he did not technically breathe, so he could not feed the fire oxygen.59

Ash blinked and smiled, “Oh! Sure thing Artemis.” She giggled as she set the knife and ingredients on a plate, and on the ground. She leaned over, and blew lightly on the fire, feeding it oxygen as it quietly bloomed into crazed dancing wild red flames, now consuming the firewood. She smiled feeling accomplished then went back to chopping up the ingredients. Artemis set the pot of water over the fire, hanging, waiting for it to begin to boil. 60

After a few minutes the water would have the water boiling and bubbling like crazy, Ash poured in the chopped up ingredients from the large bowl, adding a few small hints of spices as she stirred. Artemis’ arm shifted to a rifle as he cocked it, “That never gets old.” He said.61

“Unlike you.” Ash murmured quietly giggling to herself, as her android companion heard her, he glanced at her.62

“Hey!” He said almost as if that slightly bruised his pride. Ash let out a small giggle fit as she was stirring the soup dinner.63

“Hm,” she lifted up the spoon lightly blowing on it, she sipped a few small drops from her cooking utensil then smirked. “Dinner’s all done.” She stated, as she started pouring it into two bowls for her friends. She set them down; Logan would join them immediately, sitting down as he had already started eating. Raito took his time coming outside again, and then finally joined them; Ash had already been working on finishing her soup for a while now. The only one who wasn’t eating was Artemis being that he was merely a soul trapped in an android body.64

Logan was first to finish, “Call me out when we are about to leave.” He stated walking back into the tent. Raito took his time as Ash was second finished; she was cleaning out her dish and Logan’s quietly. 65

Artemis stood up, “I’ll go get the jeep.” He explained walking off down the rows of tents, soon to be lost from sight. 66

Raito sighed lightly, sipping his last bit of soup, “Here you go Ash.” He mumbled, holding out the dish to her. 67

She blinked and gently took it washing it out, “Well, I think I’m about full, how about you? You ready for the patrol?” She asked him, peering curiously at him. 68

“I am. How about you?” He raised a brow at her.69

She grinned and nodded, “Duh!” She laughed. 70

In the dark paths of the woods, was where the crazed young escaped murderer walked. She had been walking for hours; dehydration was making her slow down, along with starvation. She was growing weaker and weaker as she walked on. But she had nowhere to really go. 71

She stumbled slightly and fell down to the ground, laying face down. Motionless, she lay there in the silence. She would moments later get at least onto her knees, her pale blue eyes staring down. “Just… A little… further…” she murmured weakly. 72

Standing up again she started to walk on again; she would not be alone for long. 73

For a while she walked in silence, stumbling slightly, but still going onward. She heard a rustle in the bushes, her pale blue eyes glancing over to the small area, she awaited what would come, already starting to calculate any possible movements, and how she would attack depending on the possibility of a human or animal.74

She waited again, hearing the rustle again, she walked a small rabbit jump out, she stared, watching it turn its glance to her, ears perked up listening for her movements or any nearby movements and then hopping off. This let her guard down, just enough so a feral dog jumped out of the brush onto her, sinking it’s teeth the end of her straightjacket sleeve. Luckily enough for her, it did not bite her, but just the sleeve, and was now, thrusting around violently keeping it’s grip. The sleeve made a loud tearing sound as the dog was tearing her long sleeve right off from the top seem at the shoulder. Soon the fabric would break off, and the dog would shake it around violently in its jaws. 75

The young girl looked at the dog taking a step back as if she was about to leap into combat, but she fell back. Her head slammed onto a rock, as she blacked out. 76

Artemis drove around to the front of the camp where he would meet his comrades. Logan sat in the driver’s seat, with Artemis in the passenger seat. Ash and Raito were stuck in the back. Ash yawned quietly, “Remember, keep a sharp eye out.” Logan stated as he drove farther and farther from the camp through the wood’s path.77

Logan glanced around, as Ash was trying to look for anything suspicious in the woods, hidden. “Is the order to fire on sight?” Ash asked whomever would decide to answer. 78

Artemis shook his head, “No, not until you identify them as either an enemy troop or spy. There may be some of our guys in here, who knows.” He explained quietly. Ash nodded, her eyes had a serious look in them. 79

Little would they know they would be approaching a living weapon upon the road ahead; Raito blinked, he listened closely; he would hear the wild dogs growls. “Wait… Logan, do you hear that?” Raito glanced at Logan, as Ash listened closely too. 80

“I hear that too!” Ash blurted. “Sounds like a dog attacking… something.” She looked at Raito as Logan slowed the jeep down to make less noise. 81

“You’re right. But, attacking what?” He said, he continued down the road before noticing the sound grew very close. “Ash, go up ahead, and check it out, Raito, you cover her.” Logan ordered.82

Ash nodded, as the jeep came to a stop, she jumped down and cocked her rifle, slowly, and quietly creeping towards the growling. Raito got out the other side, slowly sneaking after her. She blinked, as she stopped, Raito came to a halt where he say, she signaled him to stay where he was, as she took another few steps closer, she noticed the wolf struggling to tear something off of something a bit larger. She would then realize it was a girl, and her other sleeve was what it was trying to tear off. Ash growled and picked up some stones throwing it at the crazed dog. A small stone hit it in the side, as it yelped and whimpered it would skitter off. 83

Ash kneeled to the girl noticing she was only around the age of 11 or so. “Poor thing…” She murmured, as she would pull the small child’s figure into her arms, now cradling the unconscious body. She started to walk back to the Jeep quietly, as she put her weapon strap over her shoulder, she stepped into the jeep, and Raito would also join them back inside of the vehicle. 84

Artemis looked back at Ash and the young girl, “A… girl?” He said puzzled. 85

Logan blinked, also a bit shocked, “Looks like it.” He mumbled, staring at the young child. 86

Ash looked up at them, “Well, we should take her back to camp. It seems she has a bit of a head injury, along with dehydration and she looks absolutely starved. There should be some left over stew.” Ash explained. She looked up at Logan, “Let’s turn around, I’ll stay in the camp with her, alright?”87

Logan nodded; as he spun the wheel around he started to drive back to the military camp where he would drop off Ash and the young strange child. He hesitated to leave again, watching Ash till she left his site, then he drove off again to Patrol with Artemis and Raito. 88

Ash walked inside the tent quietly, she set the girl down and bandaged up the minor head injury, as she lay the girl down in her bed. She set the covers over her body and sighed, “Well… This should get interesting.” She said as she sat down by the bed quietly, pondering.