Innervate (ON HIATUS)

1. The Raid

In a time when technological advancements are heavily regulated for fear of the impending singularity, science has been reduced to a standstill to maintain peace in the United States.

But even so, there is always someone dissatisfied with the status quo.

It is impossible to quench the ravenous desire for innovation.

…

Her fingers tightened around her gun and flashlight.

The air was stagnant and smelled of a myriad of chemicals, several of which she probably shouldn’t even be breathing without a gas mask. But she didn’t expect to have ventured this far into the lab. This far underground.

Her ears perked up.

A steady sound of whirring of machines followed by a rhythmic hissing echoed down the hallway from a room at the far end. Through the small window in the metal door, she could see a fluorescent ripple of light shining through the glass.

“Well, well, well… what do we have here?” she muttered under her breath, approaching the door cautiously.

Placing the flashlight in between her teeth to free her left hand, she reached down to turn the doorknob, the gun in her right hand cocked and ready.

The door swung open with a deafening creak in the silence, followed by a loud bang. It took her a moment to realize the abrupt noise was from her flashlight hitting the floor. It rolled off in a random direction, shining light haphazardly around the room.

The room contained a large, dilapidated tank, which stretched cylindrically from floor to ceiling, and was filled with a colorless, somewhat cloudy liquid. At first glance appeared to be empty, but…

She swallowed as her eyes travelled upward, her gaze falling on what was floating lifelessly in the liquid.

There was a person in that tank.

____________ 

“Everyone’s earpieces in?”

“Roger that, Commander.”

“Right-o!”

“Good. Team B will patrol the perimeter and Team A and C will be with me, searching the floors,” the man instructed through the small mic that connect to his earpiece. “And be careful. Knowing that deranged scientist, there could be all kinds of ungodly surprises for us in this building.”

A soft snickering was heard through the earpiece.

The commander frowned. “Is there a problem, Sergeant Thatcher?”

“What—no, Commander,” the voice replied quickly. The laughter was stifled, albeit very poorly. “It just reminded me of the last time we raided one of Volkov’s labs. Man, was that a riot. And I mean that literally—ow, Cass!”

“Are you physically incapable of keeping your mouth shut, Vinnie?” a female voice said exasperatedly before adding into her mic, “There are no problems here, Commander. I’ll handle the sergeant. Let’s just get this mission done and over with.”

“I’ll take your word for it,” the man sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Alright then, you heard Captain Avery.” He signaled the rest of the police team behind him. “Move out!”

Meanwhile on the opposite side of the building, Cass punched Vinnie in the shoulder again. “Would you stop embarrassing me in front of the Commander every chance you get, Vinnie?” she hissed at him, covering her mic with her other hand. “It’s enough that you muscled your way onto my team, stop distracting me during all our missions!”