Welcome to Gaia! ::

Chapter One

James

James' eyes shot open into a dim lighted and very unfamiliar room. A wave of nausea hit him like a ton of bricks in the pit of his stomach as he twisted himself onto his side. He hadn't exactly gotten used to his new home in the 'A Block' of the military base he had been placed in just three days ago and the constant moving and fighting had always took a toll on him.

James' head rolled against the pillow as he tried locating the source of the light that broke his comfort of utter darkness. Sweat from his forehead soaked into his pillow as he looked across the room.

There was Rico, James' battle-buddy, sitting at the computer desk reading something on the monitor. A single knee bobbed up and down widly as Rico paid no attention to James. The spike of energy from Rico was a side effect of the drug given to every soilder in the military causing the new recruits to be on edge for the first few years. James was an addict himself, he had been in this sort of military for seven years now. The thrill of the drug pumping through him was gone, but the craving - oh how the craving had easily taken it's place, and when it did ... well there was just no use in fighting it.

"Rico," James groaned as he rolled over and pulled his sheet up to his chin, hiding the fact that he was burning up from his dreamless slumber. "What are you doing? We should be sleeping."

Rico turned around just enough to peek at James. "Sorry." he apologized. "But not like we will be getting much sleep anyways. We just got new orders, I'm sure Lieutenant Harper is on her way right now to---"

A loud bang interrupted Rico as muffled orders were being shouted out from down the hallway. Silence soon followed for a few seconds before another louder and clearer orders were being given.

Rico smiled at James as he held up three fingers before counting down to one. Just then Rico pointed to the door as it suddenly slammed open. Instantly the two soilders were on their feet before presenting arms to their commanding officer.

"We're moving out!" A young woman, whose hair was as short and dark-red like her temper, walked in. "Be ready by Oh-Three-Hundred! Briefing has been sent to your emails." Harper demanded before turning to walk away.

"Going loud lieutenant?" Rico asked casually, causing Harper to glance back over her shoulder.

Had anyone else blinked they would have missed the twinkle in Harper's eye before she turned away and left the two in their rooms.

James lowered his hand away from the corner of his brow and turned to look at his partner. "Come on, let's go."

Once the two were finished suited and armed, James and Rico followed the line of other comrades that exited the building before entering a very large armored truck.James boarded and took a seat close to a very small window. Rico however took the opposite side.

"This is it," whispered Rico as he reached over and slapped James on the knee. "You ready for this?" he asked.
James' lips pressed together as he mustered a small nod. His eyes shot back to the window as he stared outside and clutched his weapon. He had different feelings conflicting within him as he watched in silence.

Lt. Harper quickly climbed aboard carrying a very slim briefcase. Once everyone had calmed down and the vehicle began driving, she slowly opened it.

Instantly all eyes were upon her as Harper held up the first syringe, carefully examining the light blue liquid held inside before picking up another; this time it was a deep purple.

They were two completely different drugs, both with extreme amounts of side effects for the small time frame of power. Some say it was worth it, even considered it an honor to be bestowed such gift. It was a belief to some that it was a small price to pay to become apart of a legend, while the others felt it was a duty to protect their country and way of life.

The blue syringe made men and women turn into ravage wolf-like beasts. Fierce and powerful, their strength outmatched anything that stood to oppose them. With a higher sense of smell and ability to track almost anything, the wolves were used to hunt others down.

The purple syringe, although didn't change the outer appearance of the soilder, turned it's host into a blood thirsty tyrant. It's higher power came with a large drawback, for it made the creature stronger than that of their wolf counterparts, it also required the need to consume and sustain large amounts of blood in order to thrive.

Even though James hungered due to the addiction for power behind the needle, he had to withhold a groan. After seven years, the only thing James wanted was to end it all; to find a sense of peace within him, away from the drug addictions. He was done chasing the real monsters and to top it all off he was slowly loosing sight at who was the real enemy. They were just a bunch of hyprocrits having to become what they hated in order to defeat them. How were they any better?

Harper lowered the purple syringe back into the case as she held tightly onto the blue one. Quickly Harper pushed the needle into her thigh and pressed the plunger. Steadily the liquid was injected into her bloodstream.

"Hayes!" Harper shouted out causing James to straighten himself up. Harper's sick twisted smile formed as she lifted the purple one back up and handed it over to him. Gazes hungrily followed the needle as each all waited patiently for their own; their eyes crazed with madness and desire for the relief the syringe contained.

James took the needle and quickly pressed it into the side of his stomach, not allowing the dramatic effect Harper eagerly sought. "Done." He said passing back it's empty container.

Harper's smile didn't fade as she shifted herself and began passing out all assigned drugs according to their needs.

Chapter One

J[ames
James' eyes shot open into a dim lighted and very unfamiliar room. A wave of nausea hit him like a ton of bricks in the pit of his stomach as he twisted himself onto his side so that he could breathe easier. He hadn't exactly gotten used to his new home in the 'A Block' of the military base he had been placed in three days ago and the constant moving and fighting always took a toll on him. James' eyes rolled and narrowed as he tried focusing on the source of light that broke his comfort of utter darkness. Sweat dribbled down from his forehead and soaked into his pillow as his vision finally adjusted to the new light.

There was Rico, James' battle-buddy, sitting at the computer desk reading something on the monitor. A single knee bobbed up and down wildly as Rico paid no attention to James, obviously too distracted with whatever he was seeing on the computer. The spike of energy from Rico was a side effect of the drug ‘Artificial’ that was given to every solider in the military. The spurge of newly found energy caused the new recruits to be on edge for the first few years of treatment which forced the commanding officers to keep the soldiers under strict supervision and away from public eye until they were able to learn self-control. James knew all about this, for he was an addict himself, having been doing this particular testing for several years now. Though the thrill of the drug pumping through him was gone, the craving - oh how the craving had easily taken its place, and when it did ... well there was just no use in fighting it.

"Rico," James groaned as he rolled over and pulled his sheet up to his chin, hiding the fact that he was burning up from his dreamless slumber. "What are you doing? It’s in the middle of the night."

Rico turned around just enough to peek at James. "Sorry." he apologized. "But not like we will be getting much sleep anyways. We just got new orders, I'm sure Lieutenant Harper is on her way right now to---"

A loud bang interrupted Rico as muffled orders were being shouted out from down the hallway of their barracks. Silence soon followed for but a few seconds before another louder, clearer order was being given.
Rico smiled at James as the door to their room suddenly slammed open. Instantly the two soldiers were on their feet before standing at attention to their commanding officer.

"We're moving out!" A young woman, whose hair was as short and red as her temper, walked in.

"Be ready by Oh-Three-Hundred! Briefing has been sent to your computers." Harper demanded before turning to walk away.

"Going loud lieutenant?" Rico asked casually, causing Harper to glance back.
Had anyone else blinked they would have missed the twinkle in Harper's eye before she turned away and left the two without saying a single word.
James’ body slackened slightly as he turned to look at his partner. "Alright move,” he said as he pushed his way over to the computer screen.
Once the two were finished suited and armed, James and Rico followed the line of other comrades that exited the building before entering a very large armored truck. James boarded and took a seat close to a very small window as Rico took the opposite side.

"This is it," whispered Rico as he reached over and slapped James on the knee. "You ready for this?" he asked.

James' lips pressed together as he mustered a small nod. His eyes shot back to the plated glass as he stared outside and clutched his rifle, unwilling to let his comrade learn about the conflicting emotions that stirred inside him.
As Lt. Harper climbed aboard after the rest of his squad boarded, James spotted her carrying a very slim briefcase and felt a pang wrenching in his gut as she slowly opened it.

Instantly all eyes were upon her as Harper held up the first syringe, carefully examining the light blue liquid held inside before jotting something down on a notepad to the side. As she placed the vial down, Lt. Harper pulled out another, one similar to the first syringe but of a deeper purple coloration.
They two were completely different drugs, both with extreme amounts of side effects for the small time frame of power. Some say it was worth it, even considered it as some sort of honor to be bestowed such a gift. It was a belief to many that it was a small price to pay to become a part of a legend, while the others felt it was a duty to protect their country and way of life.

The blue syringe would turn men and women turn into ravage wolf-like beasts. Fierce and powerful, their strength outmatched anything that stood to oppose them. With a higher sense of smell and ability to track almost anything, the wolves were used to hunt down anyone that dared opposed them.

The purple syringe, although didn't change the outer appearance of the solider, turned it's host into a blood thirsty tyrant. It's higher power came with a large drawback, for it made the creature stronger than that of their wolf counterparts, but it also required the need to consume and sustain large amounts of blood in order to thrive.

Even though James hungered for the addiction of power behind the needle, he had to withhold a groan. After seven years, the only thing James wanted was to end it all; to find a sense of peace within him, away from the drug addictions and slaughters. He was done chasing the real monsters and to top it all off he was slowly losing sight at who was the real enemy. They were just a bunch of hypocrites, for in order to beat their enemies they had to become them. How were they any better?

Harper lowered the purple syringe back into the case as she jotted a few more notes. As she placed a few of her signatures at the bottom of the paperwork, she picked up the syringe containing the blue liquid once more and uncapped it. Without hesitating Harper pushed the needle into an opening upon her right thigh and depressed the plunger. Steadily the liquid was injected until there was nothing left.

"Hayes!" Harper shouted out causing James to straighten himself up. Harper's sick twisted smile formed as she lifted the purple one back up and handed it over to him. Gazes from his fellow comrades hungrily followed the needle as each all waited patiently for their own; their eyes crazed with a sense madness and desire for the relief the syringe contained.
James took the needle and quickly used it before handing the empty container back. “Done.” He said, not wanting to give Harper the satisfaction of prolonging a dramatic moment. Inside James felt the fluids burns through him like a hot fever, morphing his body into a battle ready mode that was eager to be unleashed. It felt good, and it sickened James.
Harper's smile didn't fade as she shifted herself in her seat and began passing out the remainder of the syringes according to each soldier’s condition.

River
River walked down the street slowly, her long beige coat pulled tightly shut around her and a cigarette between her lips. This was one of the few times she actually walked through the city, shying away from her secluded little abode out in the woods. It had been too long since she had been used to being around people. It wasn’t because she feared them, no; it was the peace and quiet that came along with living alone and away from others. What was the point in walking among them if they didn’t have the same depth and insight she had?

She couldn’t blame them. They had not been around as long as she had. Centuries of roaming the earth, making friends – losing friends. That was one of the reasons she kept to herself. Why make friends, have lovers, if they were just going to die in the end because of disease and old age? Sometimes she just couldn’t understand how others like her went from century to century with so many attachments.

River took the cigarette out of her mouth and threw it on the ground. The ball of her high heel came down onto it, extinguishing the smoldering flame. She looked back up and studied the people that passed by without noticing her.
Ever since the steroid came out that created artificial vampire and werewolves – well it just made things crazy. Sometimes you could distinguish them from the normal humans, but unless freshly introduced to the drug, they looked and acted just like any normal person. You wouldn’t even know that they were an artificial unless they told you, or until they tried to take a bite out of you.

With a shake of her head, River continued her walk with having no specific place in mind other than the need to get some fresh air.
As she walked further towards the outskirts of the city, River began to notice a distinct line of people walking away from the direction she had been aimlessly heading in. Curiously, she continued on until River finally found what was causing all the commotion. A police officer had blocked off a pathway with road blocks and was directing traffic away from the area. “What’s going on?” River asked out loud as she drew closer to a cluster of people standing around waiting. “Gas leak, they’re evacuating everyone just as a precaution until they get it fixed.” A man said who seemed irritated with having to wait.

River looked at the police officer and studied him, everything seemed normal enough but something about it all unsettled her. “Thanks.” She replied as she turned down an alley way and began walking away from the scene. After walking a good portion away from unwanted eyes, River glanced at her surroundings and then closed her eyes in order to listen to the city. Her vampiric keen sense of hearing showed no signs of others in the immediate vicinity and with that River bent down before launching herself up onto the side of the building. River’s nails dug easily into the bricks as she ascended her way up before hoisting herself over and onto the rooftop. Keeping herself low as to not attract any further attention to herself, River crouched her way over to the other side of the roof and began looking around. Just off in distance, a few buildings over, were two shadowy figures. One looked to be holding a sniper rifle aimed towards a building a few yards away.

River sighed, almost hating how her intuition always seemed to be right. Pulling herself back and out of sight, she began carefully jumping from rooftop to rooftop closer to the area where they seemed to have been focusing on. As she got closer, the presence of the soldiers became all too present to the vampire. ‘I can’t let them know.’ River thought to herself as she threw herself over the roof in order to scale the walls instead. The sudden chatter of others made River freeze in her place as she was just about to round a corner.

“Ready Captain.” said a man’s voice calling out.

“s**t.” River whispered as she pushed herself closer towards the windows of the apartment complex she had been hanging onto. The first and second window had been locked but luck seemed to find its way to River as she found the third one shut but unlatched. Pushing her way inside, River entered a dark bedroom.