Project Hero Red

Chapter 1- A bag full of nerves

(Author note- This is a big project of mine and I'm only just testing the waters on this one. I am hoping one day to get this fully published but I'm happy enough to put this here for everyone to read!

Enjoy the story!)

Just how do you create the perfect hero? You play God of course.

I sat down in the monorail-tram, the tingle of excitement in my nerves as I looked out of the window. There was something so thrilling but terrifying at the same time about what I was going to contribute to that I could not stop myself from fidgeting with my lanyard around my neck. I decided to calm my nerves, looking down at my ID photo and come back to the reality of it all.

Dr Rudolph Sandell PhD.

Astrobiologist.

I was physically touching this ID so I knew that this was not the figment of my imagination and it was definitely reality. It felt so strange to be here at one for the most secretive but prestigious facilities for medical experimentation, despite the fact I'd only just finished a PhD and the only experience I've had in a laboratory was at the university where I studied.

I decided to calm myself down by looking out of the window as the monorail-tram started making its journey through the Medical Experimentation Laboratories. The ride, at first was rather sparse. Just a bland introduction into the inner workings of the facilities themselves with hydroelectric systems I had no idea how they worked, but I had a feeling a physicist would enjoy to the fullest.

Biology was what I was more interested in.

It got more interesting the further the tram went into the facilities. I finally saw fellow scientists in what looked like some experiments on lab mice and rats. Rather basic and pretty much I expected in a laboratory setting with no indication that the scientists were malicious towards the animals. In fact, I'm pretty sure I saw one of the scientists having a little stroke of one of the rats.

The next section of the facilities was what I thought to be the heart of the entire laboratory. It was a huge infrastructure, some sort of chamber that I could point out but it was uninhabited for the time being. Maybe for another experiment that they were planning.

The tram made a temporary stop at a crossroad as I noticed another monorail-tram riding past, pulling along something behind it. It was a pulley system with crates on top of them but I couldn't make out what could be in there as I was higher up and the labelling was small.

Now announcing Section 5.1 of the Medical Experimentation Laboratories.

I heard the announcement and stood up, hastily adjusting myself and tried to make myself presentable as possible. I noticed a scientist waiting at the platform that I was sure was part of the team, giving me a sense of relief that I presumed would work alongside me as I worked so I had someone to talk to.

The tram made the stop as the doors slid open and the scientist welcomed me with a smile.

"It's good to see you, Dr Sandell," she smiled towards me. The sense of relief that washed over me was inviting. I smiled back.

"It is a pleasure."

The scientist indicated the corridor for us to walk down "Please follow me."

I nodded towards her as we made our way down the corridor to an industrial-type door. The scientist made her way to the finger pad before typing in a password.