CHAPTER 1

Our story picks up at a military base at an unknown location in Qatar. For the last two decades, they have remained stationed there while fighting what they believe to be a never-ending war against the deadly terrorist group called Hakim and they have been gaining ground in Iraq, Iran and Qatar, but the United Nations have managed to keep them at bay from spreading even further including the United States. Brody Kelly is a staff sergeant in the Marine Corps and is currently preparing for another tour with his platoon. He has been home for the past four months to spend time with his girlfriend, Michelle Grammer, of two years and with the holidays less than two weeks away and knowing he is to be deployed in two days, he wants to spend as much time as possible with her. The two go on a date for dinner and then walk around the city of Crow's Nest that is decorated with Christmas lights and other decorations while the city's tree is lit up at city hall with an ice rink. Many couples, families, friends and other residents of the city are enjoying the cheers and joy the season brings as the children see Santa Claus and receive treats and small gifts. Brody and Michelle have discussed of having kids of their own one day, but with Brody it's tough due to his status in the military. Michelle excuses herself to use the bathroom while Brody uses this time to stand by the city's tree and takes out a ring. When she returns, she finds him by the tree and once she approaches him, he turns to her and takes her hand into his and kneels down. Several people that notice this begin to gather as Brody asks her to marry him as she accepts and accepts the ring as Brody puts it onto her finger and they kiss to officially become engaged as people applaud and congratulate them as an unknown person watches from a rooftop, but when Michelle looks up, the man is gone. To celebrate their engagement, they go to one of the many bakeries and get a small slice of cake to share. On the TV, a breaking news comes on regarding The Outlaw fighting Roman Galloway, making this story taking place before and after the events of the first story. The couple returns to their apartment following their night out and settle into bed for the night as it starts to snow, but the hooded man that Michelle thought she had seen, remains on the rooftops of the buildings, keeping watch over the city. A mysterious vigilante, face hidden with a mask and hood with only his bright blue eyes visible. All seems calm at first until a sudden presence causes him to turn around and find another masked being standing before him. This man knows this person all too well - he goes by the name Railer and both have a past.

Railer: Hello, Jericho. It's been a long time.

Jericho: Much too long, Westin.

Railer: The last time we saw each other, you left me for dead.

The two men begin to slowly walk in circles, examining each other, anticipating on who will make the first move. Jericho notices Railer draw his pair of Sai twin weapons. 

Jericho: You had gone off the deep end, Railer. You knew what father was teaching us, yet you disobeyed, and you killed him.

Railer: Why have all this power if we can't use them the way we feel necessary?

Jericho: You call killing innocents necessary?

Railer: I destroy what I see as a threat. A threat to this planet. A war is coming, Jericho. A war you are not prepared for.

Jericho: The only war I see coming is the one stopping you from spilling any more innocent blood.

Railer chuckles as he hurls his weapons at Jericho but misses and Jericho hits him with one of his taser darts, but it has no effect on him. Railer laughs as he pulls the dart out and tosses it aside. 

Railer: You have so much more to learn, Jericho.

Using his power, he is able to retrieve his weapons and jumps off the roof as Jericho stands there, sighing heavily knowing that there is a much bigger problem on the horizon as he looks up at the night sky as snowflakes continue to fall. 

Nothing eventful happens the following day, but the day after, Brody is packing his luggage and preparing to ship off for deployment. During the drive, it is almost silent, neither knowing what to do or say. Brody looks over at Michelle and can see the tears starting to form. He knew this would be the hardest part, having to leave her for who knows how long. The last time Brody left, he was gone for eight whole months. This time he is hoping and praying to God that he will not have to be gone that long. They arrive at the airport and start to unload his luggage as Brody looks to Michelle and she looks to him. Wiping the tears away, he gives her an assuring smile as they kiss and hold each tightly, not wanting to let go. 

Brody Kelly: I'll be back soon. I promise.

Michelle Grammer: You better or I'll kick your ass myself.

They kiss again, this time a little longer and hug each other one last time then Brody takes his luggage and heads for the door as Michelle watches him. He turns back to her, smiles to her and walks through the doors as Michelle gets into the car and starts crying, never knowing if that will be the last time she ever sees him. Boarding his plane, Brody takes his seat and waits for the plane to depart all the while Jericho is at his hideout, cleaning his weapons when he hears on the news of ten U.S. Marines killed in a crossfire against Hakim terrorists. This brings the death toll to forty in three days and wonders what is making this group so deadly and hard to defeat, but Jericho remembers what Railer told him - a war is coming that he is not prepared for. Those words run through his mind over and over again, making him understand what he truly meant. 

Brody arrives in Afghanistan and is picked up by his commanding officer and taken to base, where upon arrival, is instructed to the briefing room. There, he is greeted by Col. Eric Morshower, who catches him up on the happenings in the surrounding area. Hakim has gained more control and is growing by the minute with new recruits. The situation is becoming worse than before, and Brody begins to question if the end of the war is ever going to come. Seeing as they are being pushed back and the battles being lost more head on, Brody comes up with a solution to try and attack from behind enemy lines, but the room falls silent as Eric looks to him.

Col. Eric Morshower: Behind enemy lines? That is suicide, staff sergeant. 

Brody Kelly: What other choices do we have, colonel? I mean, with all due respect, sir, but they are pushing us back. We need to hit them where they least expect it and that's behind their own back. They likely won't see it coming.

Col. Eric Morshower: So, you're telling me instead of going at them with the fire power that we have, we land somewhere behind enemy lines and start eliminating them that way?

Brody Kelly: Pretty much, yes sir.

Col. Eric Morshower: We would not even make a scratch before they noticed what was happening. Let me show you something.

Eric pulls up a map of the area and it shows a massive swarm of red dots everywhere.

Col. Eric Morshower: This is not the Taliban or al-Qaeda, staff sargaent. In fact, these people are ten times as worse and are growing in numbers by the minunte. We kill three, twenty more suddenly appear. They spawn like a video game. To them, this is a game, but for us this is a matter of life and death. They have killed civilians with a number I can't even begin to give you and we have lost forty men this week alone and this week is not over. They have destroyed billions and billions of dollars in equipment, machinery and vehicles that we have and right now we are limited.

Brody Kelly: Colonel, the longer we sit here and discuss this, the more time we lose. We need a plan of action, and we need one now, otherwise we may as well just stay put here and wait for them to come to us.

Eric thinks for a moment as he looks at the map and realizes they are running out of options and decides to let Brody go through with this plan of his.

Col. Eric Morshower: Get your men and load up. You depart at 0100 hours.

Brody thanks him, salutes and leaves to meet up with his platoon, all of whom he has served with for the last four years. The platoon consists of himself, 2nd Lieutenant Adam Franks, Corporal Kevin Pecker, Corporal Jimmy Collingsworth, Lance Corporal Aaron Tent, Corporal Ameyo Jurgo, Corporal Allyson Jenkins, Private 1st Class Shaun Jasper, Corporal Oscar Lopez, Corporal Ricardo Guerrero, Lance Corporal Kristina Lansing and Lance Corporal Yulieski Courtez. Although, he has been their leader for the last four years, Franks has been given the task to lead them on the mission with Brody being the second-in-command, which he reluctantly agrees to. The helicopters load up with everything they need and with only four hours till departure, they all rest up while Brody video calls Michelle. He tells her of the mission but can't go much into it except to tell her he will be leaving and if there is a chance, she does not hear back from him in three days, that he loves her, and she is his whole world. She tells him that he will make it back and he will make it back home because his side of the bed is awfully cold and it's not the same. He tells her he will be home soon and promises this will be his last tour.