Codename: HADES

When I first found out that I would be a father, I recalled how scared and excited I was. After Xavier was born, I learned that being a parent was far harder than being a general had ever been. I had honestly thought that what I did was for the good of my country, for the good of my son. How could I be so blind? So stupid? Fieldings forced me into a corner when I agreed to join her cause to getting HADES. After I had been informed that HADES was the son of my old comrade, Captain Cross, I began to understand how any father would feel if their child was taken from them. Despite all of Fieldings’ threats to my life, I can’t help but think that it’s my duty to help reunite parent and child. When I look upon HADES, I can see Xavier smiling back at me and I hate the idea of HADES never seeing or knowing his parents. Eventually they will come for me in their search for HADES, both ZEUS and Cross; when that comes, I’ll be ready and I will take them to theiir son even if it costs me my own life. Let these words reach my son, Xavier, let him know that if I die, it was because I love him and never want another parent to not have the child they love.

Hollings sighed as he logged the computer off, knowing what was eventually going to happen to him. Alarms had been going off for the past hour to signal an intruder and the general knew what was coming. Cross and Alex were fighting their ways through the halls as they headed to the office of General Hollings, Alex intent on killing the man who aided in stealing his son from him. Soldiers that dared to follow orders and keep the intruders from reaching their commanding officer were absorbed or killed on the spot, screams echoing in the blood soaked hallways. When the door to Hollings’ office opened to the sight of Alex and Cross, coated in blood from head to toe with rage in their eyes. Alex was the first to say or do anything as he rushed at the general and pulled him up from his chair. “Where is my son?! Where the fuck is Skylar?!” Ice blue eyes quivered with an underlying worry and fear that was masked by the rage that Alex was feeling. Despite ZEUS staring him down and more than capable and likely to murder him and Cross being the same even though he hadn’t moved from the doorway, he remained calm and steady. “ZEUS, Cross, I know where HADES is being kept and I will take you to him, but only if you release me.” The hands that had a tight grip on the front of his uniform released him, the virus taking a few steps back as he tried his best to calm himself. Hollings straightened his uniform before snatching up a pristine white key card from his desk and leading the way from his office. The three of them travelled down other hallways that were far too sterile and clean for them to be ones that Alex and Cross would have been down before. Mercer disguised himself as one of the many soldiers he had consumed earlier only so that he didn’t raise any alarms. They cleared various security checks with ease thanks to Hollings. Numerical codes and bio-scans also allowed them entry into the lower levels of the base until they had finally reached a heavily guarded area that was also filled with scientists. To enter the area that was ahead, there was passing a bio-scan to keep out unwanted individuals. Both Hollings and Alex had no troubles (mostly because there were no virus detectors around and he always mimicked down to the genetic level.)

Once Cross passed through the bio-scan, alarms went off and alerting guards and scientists alike. Soldiers ran for them, guns firing and bullets flying everywhere. Both Hollings and Cross dove for protection behind a computer console while Alex stood before completely still before he morphed to his normal form and readied himself for an attack of his own, his tentacle barrage that normally devastated everything and everyone in his general vicinity. Over the months he had been perfecting this attack to only target certain enemies in order to limit the amount of destruction and keep any allies safe. Black and red viral tentacles shot everywhere, striking all of the soldiers and scientists, absorbing their knowledge and memories. The lab became deathly silent after some time before Cross and Hollings left where they had been safely hiding. The general stepped over to the main containment chamber that resided in the middle of the lab, pushing a button on the side panel that allowed the doors that blocked visuals to the chamber to open, allowing Cross and Alex to finally look upon their son. Both men pressed a hand against the thick bullet-proof glass, Skylar blinking those bright blue eyes and smiling at his parents. Alex moved to the console where Hollings was, typing in the code that one of the scientists he absorbed knew to unlock the chamber so that an individual could enter and care for the baby when it was needed. The virus gently picked up the cooing baby, finally having a chance to hold his son. Alex was close to tears of happiness as he cradled the boy close to his chest and exited the containment chamber. Cross saluted the general as Alex headed for the doors, Skylar nestled in his mother’s arms and drifting to sleep. “Thank-you General, we are in your debt for this.” Hollings returned the salute and merely watched as both men left the room and the base completely, leaving the general to his own doings.

A week had passed since the attacked in which ZEUS and Captain Cross had made off with HADES and Hollings could only count the days that would be his lat. His will had been updated, leaving his wife and son rather well off after his death. As he stepped into his office that morning, there was the resounding click of the hammer of a gun and he glanced up to see Dr. Fieldings sitting at his desk. “So General. I found out via my connections that HADES is gone and that you had a hand in aiding ZEUS in retrieving him. Apparently you decided not to heed my warning. Such a shame too, I can’t imagine how this will hurt your family. Good-bye, General.” A squeeze of the trigger and Hollings dropped to the floor before he could even utter a word in his defence. The good doctor wiped her gun clean as she looked over the body and the crimson fluid beginning to seep into the pale carpet. “Good help is so hard to find sometimes, but I suppose I should at least let his family know.” Fieldings headed for the door, kicking the general’s body aside as she did.