PROLOGUE

PENN MILITARY RESEARCH CENTER - - NEAR WHITE SANDS, NEW MEXICO - - AUGUST 25, 2099, 2:48 AM

Rain fell softly on the roof and windows of the research center, striking the reinforced steel and concrete with merely a whisper and sliding down the side of the building at varying speeds. It contributed a certain sense of calmness to the scene, helping to ease the tension that hung in the air. A chain-link fence surrounded the center and a large open area, which was scattered with armed guards moving in repetitive, endless routes. Each step was deliberate and measured, every detail worth noting. There were four towers, one at each corner of the compound, and each tower equipped with a searchlight and two snipers. Jeeps were parked in an orderly fashion around the area.

Inside, the tension was at a definite increase. The halls were empty and silent. The walls were cream colored, the linoleum floors white specked with black. The lights overhead were long, and lit the hallway brightly. At the far end of the hallway was a room. This was the reason why there were no scientists in the halls. Nearly all of them were here. In the center of this room was a chair, with straps holding a man down. This man, Scott Jakkson, was the subject of a serum that would hopefully enhance his body and abilities to a superhuman, peak human at the very least.

Jakkson was about 37 years old, six feet tall, with close-cropped light brown hair, and green eyes that, had they been open, would have held a chilling indifference. Right now, he was stable, heartbeat and breathing rate normal. A tangle of tubes and wires crisscrossed the ceiling, leading down to Jakkson and going into his body. A large needle was poking into the center of his chest, feeding him the serum.

Suddenly, Jakkson’s body jerked. His face, a moment ago so calm, was suddenly a grotesque mask of agony. He began to convulse. His heartbeat and breathing levels spiked, more than doubling. His entire body seemed to be growing, his pectorals and biceps bulging.

Ahhh, no, make it stop…can’t take it, make it stop…

Jakkson screamed. Every nerve in his body felt like it had been skinned, doused in alcohol, and set ablaze. The pain was white hot, and he wanted it to stop. He wanted to die, to cease to exist, whatever it took to ease this infernal pain.

But then it was no more. The pain was gone, and he felt good. Better, in fact, than he had ever felt in his life. His heartbeat was not fast anymore. In fact, it was slower than it had been before this whole experiment started. His breathing was heavier, but also slower than it had ever been. He opened his eyes. Ten other pairs stared back at him, apprehension etched in each. With minimal effort, he broke his bonds. The scientists stepped backwards, unsure of what to think. Then one of them snapped. With a soft cry of terror, he ran to the closet and grabbed an axe that was stationed there in case someone was trapped in a room. Now, it would have to be a weapon. He ran at Jakkson, realizing too late that the man was much bigger than he was. He swung the axe. Jakkson caught the blade in his hand. Blood oozed from the cut. Jakkson looked at it, fascinated. It felt like a paper cut, not like a stainless steel axe had just thudded into his hand. With a single movement, he turned the blade around and sent it straight into the other man’s neck.

It took about three seconds for the rest of the scientists to realize that their coworker had just been murdered. They took off in different directions. Jakkson ripped the chair out of the floor, and hurled it across the room. Its incredible force crushed four scientists. One of them had managed to reach the alarm and press it before he met his demise. The last five were gone. Jakkson ran down the hallway. The alarm was hurting his ears.

Four guards emerged from the doorway on his left. Each of them opened fire on Jakkson, shattering the window behind him. He brought up his arms, and the bullets thudded into them. They could have thrown rocks for all the good it would have done. The last thing one soldier saw was a shard of glass headed straight for his face. The others turned tail and ran at the sight of their comrade lying on the ground with glass protruding from his face. Jakkson let them go.

Outside, Jakkson marveled at his newfound abilities. He could see and smell for miles. But he was bloodthirsty. He felt the need to kill. Already his reasoning had taken a backseat to the bloodlust that had consumed him back in the research room. There was a gunshot, and the ground next to him leaped up. Jakkson looked up to the nearest tower and saw that the snipers had their sights trained on him. Jakkson grabbed a guard and brought it up for shielding. The unfortunate man jerked as two more rounds thudded into him. He then took the guard's blaster rifle and opened fire on the tower. The energy-based rounds struck the searchlight, which exploded, hurling the lifeless bodies of the guards from the tower. For the second tower, Jakkson picked up another guard and hurled him at the tower. Jakkson ran to the nearest jeep, and after depositing the body in it, started it up.

Every single guard in the compound was firing at him now. Jakkson took one hand off the steering wheel to fire behind him. The ground was being ripped up all over the place with blind fire. Jakkson's jeep smashed through the gate and kept going. He was free, and with an incredible gift.

Back in the research center, one of the soldiers beckoned a comrade toward him, away from the grisly procession of stretchers carrying the scientists, some of whom had survived.

"Soldier, we have at least five fatalities, at least ten seriously injured, and that's not even counting the other injuries. What the hell happened here?'

"Sir, it appears that the subject...uh, Scott Jakkson, escaped immediately after receiving the super-soldier serum."

"Thank you. Your grasp of the obvious is a trait I will always look out for," growled the first soldier, the sarcasm in his voice tangible. "I mean, how did it happen?"

"Not sure, sir. Apparently, the test did not go as planned." He walked over to a computer that was remarkably still intact. " As you can see here this is an analysis of his condition prior to his escape. After spiking, his breathing and heart rates dropped considerably, below the normal level. This indicates he may have developed attributes similar to that one green guy...the Hunk, wasn't it? Anyway, his antibodies have also increased in count, making him mush less susceptible to sickness. He also seems to have an incredibly high tolerance for pain, which is why we could shred his arms with bullets without him dropping to the floor. I would also venture to guess that he also has regenerative abilities, judging by the way he did not lose any mobility from being shot up."

The first soldier swore. "Just what we need. An indestructible, regenerative juggernaut on the loose who just might be mindless."

"I did not say indestructible, sir. He may have a weakness."

"Well either way, he's still a monumental threat. Get me the White House. The President needs to know about this."

"One more thing sir. The jeep he stole. There were, ah, materials in it that could, in the right hands, be used to build a bomb. Most likely nerve gas.”

“How bad could it be?” asked the first, hints of apprehension creeping into his voice, dreading the answer yet knowing he must hear it.

“Wherever it is detonated, I would say the worst-case scenario is that the damage would be nationwide. And the fallout would continue to spread.”

OUTSIDE PENN MILITARY RESEARCH CENTER

Jakkson fingered a switch on the dashboard, and the jeep’s wheels folded underneath the vehicle’s body to prepare for flight. Jakkson looked behind him at the weapons stored in the back. He had big plans for that loot. Corruption had been going on for too long in the world. And now, every single perpetrator was about to pay a monumental, devastating price.