Getting chased dangerously close to Area 59 made me realize two things. One, that Project Venom was wasting time with hunting down Black River's shit and two, that I was wasting my time with Nina. I was in love with her, I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her and there wasn't any doubt about that in my mind. She loved me back as well, so I figured that if there was ever a time to cement our relationship, it was right now, before World War Three started and we were at the center of it.

I'd known for a long time that I'd live to see World War Three and possibly fight in it. Maybe as an infantry solider, artillery man, or maybe a Rebel Fighter once the New World Order rose to power, but as I had learned since I started serving in the Venom Project, it wasn't world governments that wanted to usher in a new age. Actually I take that back, they did, but I had a sinking feeling I'd rather live under that New World Order than what Black River was planing, given I didn't know what that is, but I had a very, very bad feeling that there was a war coming, a war that was going to be fought on American soil on the enemy's terms.

When we got back to Area 29, John and Hawk had beat us back. Hawk's Warthog was sitting on the runway and hawk was sitting on the wing talking to Mercury, who had his remaining arm in a sling, or at least, that's what I thought at first. I parked the Civic in the garage behind my Supra and Citrus and Calen parked their cars next to the wall, Nina's Corvette, Austin's Chevy and a bright red Honda Fit sitting on BBS wheels, was also there, which I assumed must belong to Rachel, another friend of mine who was a candidate. Citrus and Calen were taken by Carlos to the dome while I went over to see Mercury and Hawk. This was the first time I'd seen Hawk in person. She was a skinny, frail looking 5'7, 18 year old blonde with green eyes and her hair back in a pony tail. She was dangling her legs off the wing of the plane and was still wearing her flight suit.

"Hawk?", I asked.

"You must be Ace", she said hopping down off the plane and holding her hand out, "you and I have met on You Tube."

"Your Someone In London?", I asked shaking it.

"Yep", she smiled.

"Happy to finally meet you in person", I said, "you fly that plane like a badass, also, I figured you'd be older."

"Everyone I've ever met has said that", Hawk said, "I've been flying for Morningstar since I was 17, this same plane I might add. I got some 70 tank kills to my name", she smiled, "and one Tactical Nuclear strike."

"That must have been terrifying", I said.

"You don't know the half of it", Hawk said, "I could hear a timer in my head counting down to to the ending of my life. Of course, being vaporized would have been much quicker than that decon."

She shivered, "I've never been so embarrassed in my life."

"You think you got it bad?", Mercury asked, "try the Post Transformation physical we all got, you'd never recover from that."

That was the same time I noticed Mercury once again, had two arms.

"They replace your arm?", I asked.

"Sort of", Mercury said, "Green grew me a new one or some shit and I just came out of surgery like two hours ago. Dad told me it would be a few days before I can go back to using it again."

"What about your wings?", I asked, "can Green fix those?"

Mercury shook his head, "no....I'm grounded."

"Damn bro", Hawk sighed, "that's....that's dehumanizing."

Mercury sighed, "don't worry, Hunter's been beating on the man who ordered it for the past two hours, trying to get him to crack."

"Fun fact", I said, "the same man who cut your wings off also dug up his pup. Hey Hawk, have you seen a dragoness named Nina? Blue eyes, white body, gold wings?"

"She went back to the barracks when she got back", Hawk said, "she should still be there."

"Cool", I said, "Mercury, go tell your Dad that I'll be down there to talk to the recruits in a minute. I wanna talk to Nina first."

"Okay Ace", Mercury said turning and walking off.

"I gotta work on my plane", Hawk said, "so see you when I see you."

I gave Hawk a friendly salute and wandered off towards the barracks. When I got there, Nina was laying on her bed reading. She was only wearing a tank top and shorts. When I opened the door, she looked up at me.

"Your back", she said as I put my stuff on my desk and pulled my shirt and boots off falling down into bed myself.

"By the skin on my fangs", I said putting my paws behind my head, "Black River tracked us all the way back from Tennessee and almost back to the base before we caught on."

"That must be why Hawk and John were so eager to get off the runway", Nina said closing her book and sitting up, "are you guys okay?"

"Yeah", I said, "but they aren't. Hawk murdered them."

"Good for her", Nina said rising and sitting next to me, "Ace, you seem kind of out of it. I know getting shot at isn't what's bothering you, so what's on your mind?"

I sighed and propped myself up on my elbows, "there's a war coming sweetheart. I can feel it. Black River is up to something bigger than we can imagine and every second were not actively hunting them down or doing something to disrupt their shit is another nail in America's coffin. World War Three is just around the corner, and were gonna be at the center of it."

Nina sighed, pushed me onto my back and then lay on top of me, laying her head on my chest.

"Why can't people just leave well enough alone?", she asked.

"I couldn't tell you love", I sighed kissing her cheek, "people just suck."

Nina sighed, "oh well, if Black River decides to invade, they better be at the top of their game."

"Yeah", I said, "as soon as I'm done with whatever it is we'll be doing in Russia, I'm gonna clear my schedule and spend some time with you."

"What kind of time?", Nina asked, her eyes all sparkly.

I smiled, "time just like this."

She sighed, "not exactly what I was hoping for, but it's just as good."

I shook my head, "your a dirty girl you know that?"

She shrugged, "well when you love someone as much as I love you, can you blame me?"

"No", I smiled sitting up, "anyway, I gotta go to the dome to talk to my friends about what their getting into, I'll come back as soon as I can."

Nina kissed me, "hurry back."

"I will", I said grabbing my shirt and heading back outside. I walked across the burning Area 29 sand and to the dome, where I found Citrus, Austin, Calen and Rachel waiting for me.

"What the fuck am I looking at?", Austin asked when he saw me.

"Nice to see you too Austin", I said.

"You couldn't have picked better colors?", he asked.

"Shut up", I said.

"I will if I get some damn answers", Austin said, "your girlfriend didn't tell me shit."

"I'll cut out the formal bullshit and tell you all flat that your here because I think you'll make good super soldiers."

"Super Soldiers huh?", Rachel asked, she smiled, "just like ADT."

"Except not at all", I said, "everyone will turn to Southern Dragons, or Anthro's. You'll be Six foot five, weigh around 460 pounds and have the ability to spit liquid nitrogen instead of fire. With the new formula, the transformation takes about 24 hours and when you wake up, you'll be covered in blood, so don't freak out, it's normal."

"Afterwords you'll get two days to learn how to control your new bodies and then training will start", Carlos said, "seeing as how World War Three is hanging over our heads, you won't have time to build muscle like Ace and the other kids have, at least not officially, I'll spend more time teaching tactics and weapons than anything else."

"What kind of weapons?", Austin asked.

"Firearms mostly", Carlos said, "supplemented by Martial Arts and Knife Fighting."

"I ain't big on guns", Austin said.

"Austin", I said, "I'm willing to put my life on the idea that if you charge a Machine gun nest with a blade, the M60 is going to win that encounter. I've been in combat bro and trust me, your little, charge while reloading, isn't gonna fly on the battlefield, now house to house, that's a completely different story."

Austin sighed, "man you know how I fight."

"Yes, I do", I told him, "and on a stealth op your comfort at close range and favoring knives over guns is an asset, but on the missions that we've been going on, a sound surpressor is worthless and knives are a waste of time when you got ten claws."

Austin just shook his head.

"If you wanna walk away you can", I said, "this isn't a draft."

Austin shoved his hands into his pockets, "nah, I'm here till the end."

"If anyone else has something to say, please, do it now", I said, "know that you can walk away at any time."

No one piped up.

"Very well", I said turning to Morningstar, "take 'em down and let's get this show on the road."

"If you would follow me", Morningstar said leading my friends down below. I sighed at myself and then went to the hangar, pretty sure I would find Taro and Hunter there beating the fuck out of the man who played God with his pup, and what do you know? I found just that, along with Riley, Void and Navi. Trace was there too, seemed half of Venom had a bone to pick with this ass hole. Taro was sitting in the bed of the Ford next to Navi, who seemed to be almost asleep. Riley was the one who was currently beating the man, or more carving, as he was etching a design into the man's forehead.

"Most violent six year old ever", Navi said as I walked up to the Ford's bed.

"Update?", I asked.

"We been working him for hours", Hunter said, "it won't be much longer till this moron cracks like an egg."

"And when he does were gonna fry what comes out", Trace said, "he took Mercury's wings, he's gonna pay for that."

"Get in line sister", Hunter said, "He killed my pup."

"He tortured us almost to death", Navi said.

"How many of us hasn't this guy screwed over?", Void asked.

"I'm certain I can think of something", Taro said as Riley came out and shut the door behind him, panting.

"I can't brake him", Riley said, "I could scratch a a drawing of the dome into his face and he still wouldn't crack. He doesn't take me seriously because of my voice and I can't punch all that hard."

"I've got an idea", I said, "Someone get me a gas can."

Void stood up and went to the back of the hangar. He grabbed a gas can in his mouth, brought it over and set it by my feet. I picked it up and walked inside. I put one of the folding chairs in front of him and sat down, putting the can between us. The man showed no signs of fatigue, despite being covered in bloody welts and bruises.

"This can't be all you altered freaks can dish out", he said casually, "basic training was worse than this."

"I'm only going to ask one question", I said, "you will answer in three or fewer sentences and if you tell me something along the lines of, fuck off or I'll never talk. Then I'm going to empty this gas can of it's contents and leave the room and leave a lit lighter behind. No matter how much you scream, or beg, or cry, no one will come back and put the flames out. But first, HUNTER, come in here please."

Hunter came in.

"Yeah boss?"

"Pull up a chair, you might find what I'm about to do quite satisfying."

Hunter shrugged and pulled up one of the chairs.

"You've got two minutes to talk", I said handing the gas can to Hunter.

"Hmm", Hunter said, "concentrated Diesel fuel, contains high levels of Sulfur, old stuff huh?"

"The kind they use in hummers, burns really cold, gives better fuel economy."

"Burns cold huh?", Hunter asked setting the can down, "does that translate into longer time to kill when used on assholes?"

"Probably probably", I said checking my watch, "down to 45 seconds. Gonna talk."

The man didn't answer. I snapped my fingers and motioned to the can. Hunter rose from his seat, picked up the can and poured the diesel fuel all over the man's head before tossing the can aside. The man coughed and choked for a few seconds before managing to look at us as Hunter sat down, took out a lighter and a box of cigarettes.

"You smoke?", I asked.

"A bit", Hunter said, "I seem to have a craving for one right now though."

Hunter lit the cigarette and took two puffs before chocking.

"Damn thing is stale as old bread", he sighed, "fuck, these are expensive rolls too."

"Oh well", I said, "might as well get rid of it."

"Good idea", Hunter said.

"Wait, wait", the man said quickly.

"And with 15 seconds to spare", I said, "say your piece fool."

"The people at Black River want to build a Master Race", the man said.

"What?", Hunter asked, "like Hitler?"

"Exactly", the man said, "Hitler had the right idea, but picked on too many people at once and made the mistake of not taking America first. You people, whoever you are, have no idea how deep your in and ask yourself, "if the Us Military couldn't stop us, what makes us, a bunch of kids, think we can?"

I leaned in.

"To you, this is just a place, land to be conquered. There was a time where I was terrified of people like you, that time has passed. This is MY country you commie fuck and you. Can't. Have. It."

I stood up and pulled my Desert Eagle off my leg, "hunter, kill him."

"My pleasure", Hunter said,

"Wait you said you'd let me go", the man said.

"No", I said, "I said if you didn't talk I'd burn you, I never said I'd let you live."

"You can't do..."

The man was stopped mid sentence as Hunter put the gun to his head and blew his brains all over the wall.

"That's enough of that ballyhoo", He smirked, 'can I keep this pistol?"

"Uh...no", I said, "is mine."

Hunter handed me back my handgun as we exited the tool room.

"We should probably just turn that into an interrogation room", taro commented, "if were gonna bring everyone here when we need to bust them open we might as well build a new shed."

"Why?", I asked, "then we would have to make trips from each room for new instruments of torture. Hunter, go report to Morningstar and tell him the situation has changed, we need to go on the offensive and remove Black River before they can finalize their plans for an invasion. The rest of you, get ready to leave, we move out in a few hours. I've got to run to Bakersfeild for something important."

"Where you headed?", Hunter asked as I took the keys to my Supra off the key tree.

"The Zales", I said.

"Your going to a jewelry store?", Void asked, "what's there that could possibly be so important?"

I felt my heart start to race.

"Can we keep this a secret guys?", I asked.

"Always", Taro said.

"I'm headed to Zales to buy an engagement ring", I said, "I'm gonna propose to Nina."

I saw smiles crepe up the faces of my friends.

"Holy Shit!", Taro laughed.

"Not what I was expecting to hear", Hunter smiled, "go for it man!"

"Thanks guys", I smiled, "I'll be seeing you."

I walked to my Supra and slid inside. I started the engine and turned on the AC, strapping up the racing harness. I put the car in gear and drove from the hangar out to the road. Conner let me out and I wasted no time getting onto the road and opening the car up, listening to the 6.0 liter upfront roar and hiss as the Supra sped down the road. I made pretty good time into Bakersfeild, pulling into the Zales parking lot about an hour or so after I left the base. It took me a few minutes to find a parking spot which was next to a station wagon that had been degraded by the owner's ricy body kit and stupid wheels. I made a point to look as un nerovus about what was coming up tonight as I could as I entered the store. There was a lot of high end looking people looking at expensive watches, bracelets and necklaces. I walked up to one of the counters, no one was there. I stood there for a few minutes before a woman glanced over at me and said.

"I'll be right with you sir."

I nodded. It was another four or five minutes before the woman came back over.

"I'm sorry sir", she said, 'were busy today. How may I help you?"

"I'm looking for an engagement ring", I said.

The woman smiled at me, "what did you have in mind?"

"Something platinum with an emerald and acid etching", I said,

"I think I have just the thing", the woman said turning around. She reached up on a high shelf and brought down an amazingly polished glossy ring that looked like it had been through hell. The platinum was super dark in some areas, gray and others and then a glistening silver on the remainder. The emerald was a sparkly, sky blue and cut to look like a diamond. I could see little white streaks inside of it while the inside on the ring was engraved with "your message here."

"Wow", I said, "that's pretty cool. How much does it cost?"

"Twenty five thousand", the woman said.

I sighed, thank God we'd already been payed for this year.

"I'll take it", I said.

"Come over here and I can engrave it for you", the woman said, "and if you don't mind me asking, how old are you?"

"I'm 19", I said.

"Kind of young aren't you?", she asked, "of course it's not my business."

"I have my reasons", I said. "my girlfriend and I are in the military. Things have been getting bad lately so I've decided if there was a good time, it's now."

The woman smiled, "she's a lucky girl. So what do you want for the engraved message?

"To the one I love. I will never leave your side", I said.

"Poetic", the woman said knocking on a door and handing a blank ring to a man inside. I waited about thirty minutes before the man came back out with the finished product. I felt the money drain from my account as I payed for the ring and received an expensive looking black box with silk covering and a white leather interior. I left the store, holding the box in one hand, almost not believing what I had done. It's hard to describe what I was feeling right now. Scared? Hell yes. But overjoyed! All that was left was to wait till diner, then ask.