Hunger

Chapter 6:7: Deliberation - A Double-Cross Part I

"I hope Colonel will do his job later, better than what he does to his own self every day. He shouldn’t be meddling with my own life. He must remember that a possession of one isn’t a possession of the other", Richard said, while he was sitting comfortably inside a bullet-proof SUV, followed by an escort of his henchmen and the other soldiers from the outpost.

"Colonel Stevenson is a very smart man. We must trust him on all his work Sir", a Major-suited man said. He was very decent and fierce in the highest infantry clothing, standing tall at 6 feet and 4 inches, and wearing black sunglasses.

"Lieutenant, if something goes wrong, please be free to be updated. We’ll never know what will happen next. Sometimes, I don’t trust your leader, with the way he talks and with the way he walks everything. It’s really an honor for me to have you in this trip."

"Thank you, Sir. You won’t be disappointed", the sinister-looking man said, then he saluted.

The caravan continued to move forward, until it reached forest-like vicinity.

"Here we are in the woods, Lieutenant Styles. Just sit still because we’re getting nearer to our destination. I really want to brag about this for so long, that my institution is more wonderful and more overwhelming, than the battles you’ve fought in Vietnam and in Korea", Richard continued, then he laughed jokingly.

"We’re not going to expect something that comes from the zoo, are we?" Lieutenant asked.

"No, we’re not. Just only the finest, Lieutenant. Just only the finest. Take a look around and see for yourself."

They were passing by the deep forest. All sorts of wild animals were in sight that made the area one of the most terrifying places to come to. Suddenly, the caravan stopped in front of a dead end, covered with hedges, vines, ivies and trees.

"What are we doing here, Sir? Is it Father's Day already?" Lieutenant asked him again.

"No Styles. Hahaha! You always make me laugh. I introduce to you my home", Richard replied, as he picked up a strange control pad and clicked its button.

Suddenly, the dead end opened itself like a gate and it amazingly revolved. That dead end was a remote-controlled stationary wall, which was leading to a dark tunnel.

After the gate was being opened, the caravan continued its journey by entering the tunnel.

"Welcome to the real Halford Inc. This facility is secretly dwelling inside a mountain, which I consider it to be as the stronghold of this laboratory. From the exterior field to the interior area makes this facility invisible to everyone and everything. In other words, no one and nothing can locate us here", Richard continued.

Apparently, the facility was holding a huge number of researchers walking back and forth around the laboratory. Also, it was holding a huge battalion of heavily-armed henchmen and security detectors and attackers, like gun and man turrets.

Finally, the caravan stopped on a huge platform, where everyone was starting to get out and to walk around the facility.

"Follow me Lieutenant. This area we’re in now is just the roof of the facility. We also keep our aircrafts here that is why; you can see several hangars there at the distance."

"So Sir, you still got everything down here?" Lieutenant asked.

"Precisely! Take us down", Richard ordered a henchman.

The henchman picked up a key and he inserted it on a turntable, then he pressed the switch. Automatically, the huge platform operated down like an elevator.

"This place is very huge", Lieutenant amazingly said.

"I know Styles. There you can see my workers currently working on my sample breakouts", Richard said.

"Sample? What are you talking about?"

"I’m sorry, if I’m such a big mouth. You’ll soon find out what they’re doing. We’ll reach the main laboratory shortly."

After few minutes, they had already descended the facility. As they got out from the platform, a couple of henchmen patiently waited for them at the laboratory entrance.

"Good afternoon Sir Richard and welcome to your home!" they greeted in unison.

"Thank you, my beloved defenders. My men, please welcome my important guest, Lieutenant Victor Styles, a U.S. Army veteran.

"Good afternoon soldiers", he greeted them.

"Come on Victor. Let us get inside and feel the Halford's atmosphere."

First, they wore hazmat suits before they entered. Then, they reached the main laboratory, where all sorts of animal experiments were done.

"So, that’s why your home hides itself in the deepest of the woods because these animals that live in their habitat are hunted and experimented", Victor said.

"Don’t worry Lieutenant. The law doesn’t know about this. In fact, it’s more merciless to kill a human than to slaughter an animal", Richard said. 

They walked to a counter and he handed him a sample.

"Is this the sample that we’ve been talking about a while ago?"

"This is a newly-cultivated sample that has come from the combined sera of guinea pigs and other species of rodents. The H-Virus, commonly called as the ‘Sample of Century.’”

"H-Virus? What’s this for?"

"This is for incredible power, agility, coordination and strength. You know what Victor? Everyone’s tired of being an ordinary human. Each of them works every day of his/her life, and the worst, everyone suffers from sickness, stress, tensions, fear, anxiety and all of the negative impossibilities, too many to mention. So, this is the breakthrough of the future. H-Virus is the future."

"So, this serum ends all the negative impossibilities that are too many to mention?"

"Yes. It eliminates all stressors. Instead of remaining a human, it’s designed to make an individual a superhuman. Everything in this world is out of order now, so with this breakthrough, it can put the whole world in an organized and in a disciplined manner, with just a snap."

"You’re a very intelligent man Sir Richard", Victor lastly said.

"Soon, you will end up like me", Richard said, with a smile.