Fear the Shadow: The Invasion

By Michael Wayne

A young woman discovers a sinister plot involving her parents who were part of a secret counterterrorist group. After trekking and finding the cabin of the father she never knew, she discovers a hidden object, the visor worn by her dad. She tries it on, with her DNA paired with her father's inside the visor. She is now imprinted with his ninja commando skills and memories. Unable to control these possessions, she must find her father's brother-turned-enemy to be trained in the way of the ninja to learn and be in control before it destroys others or herself. After she becomes part of the clan, she is now faced with an enemy her parents and others fought against three decades ago. They invade once again, but this time, they are joined by an outworld civilization that is hell-bent on enslaving and destroying her world. It is a race against time to combat this new enemy. Thought to be dead or out of commission, old members of the former elite terrorist unit must reunite and join this woman if they are to survive.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fulton Books, Inc.
• Release date: Nov 30, 2023
• ISBN: 9798889824725

Book preview

Table of Contents

Title

Copyright

Acknowledgments

About the Author

cover.jpg

Fear the Shadow

The Invasion

Michael Wayne

Copyright © 2023 Michael Wayne

All rights reserved

First Edition

Fulton Books

Meadville, PA

Published by Fulton Books 2023

ISBN 979-8-88982-471-8 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-88982-472-5 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Acknowledgments

I'd like to thank God the Father for giving me life and the talent to share my passion with other fans.

To my four kids—Emily, Kathleen, Hayden, and Rosie—for their love and drive to do the best I can for them.

To my grandkids—Thomas, April, Zander, Greyson, and Brayden.

To my ex-wife, Erica, for being the driving force behind me becoming a writer of something I have loved since I was a kid.

For my twin sister, Melissa; my brother-in-law, Joe; and my four nieces, Anna, Abby, Erin, and Mandy, for their unwavering support and encouragement to follow my dream.

To my sister Angie and three nieces—Chris, Jessica, and Emily.

To my friends Joe Hunt, Joe Mayoras, Leensey Lawas, Sean Carney, Rashaad Spencer, Mike Morgan, and Travis Higgins for their support and ideas for each character.

To Christopher Ruth for being a harsh critic and for keeping me from swaying too far from the source material of each character.

To my publisher Trae Lynn, Rachel Nicely, and Fulton Books for allowing me to work with and for publishing my book.

Therefore, as I live, saith the Lord God, I will prepare thee unto blood, and blood shall pursue thee: sith thou hast not hated blood, even blood shall pursue thee.

—Ezekiel 35:6

Shandra woke up to a faint sound of thwacking. She opened her eyes as she heard it again. She checked the time on her watch, and it was just after 0640 hours. She groaned as she turned over. Layla was lying next to her and wagging her tail when Shandra scratched her behind the ears. The eight-week-old cubs were already playing among themselves in the darkroom. The sounds outside could only mean that Viper, her husband, was already outside chopping wood.

Laying there not wanting to get up just yet, she sighed. Being at her husband's secluded mountain cabin allowed her to detox from the world's problems of crime, terrorism, wars, and just mean people being ugly to one another. She felt Layla snuggle closer as if she understood her feelings. She smiled at the thought of wondering what her brothers and more so what her father would think knowing she had a wolf for a companion. Sitting up and pulling the hair tie that bound her ponytail, she quickly braided her hair and retied it.

She quickly got up and stretched. The room temperature was slightly cool on her bare skin. The pups were looking at her with curiosity. She covered her body with her hands.

Perverts. She chuckled at the three males. They tilted their heads, confused or even more curious. Yeah, wait till you get a bit older. She walked over to the dresser and closet and pulled out clothes to wear for the day. Looking at herself in the mirror, she put her hands on her stomach and smiled. She then redid her hair, grinning. She put on a black T-shirt and faded jean shorts. Then she put on one of Viper's flannel shirts that was rather large on her. She tied the bottom of the shirt so that it wasn't so long and then rolled up the sleeves. Next, thick wool socks and then hiking boots.

The early morning air was cool and wet from rain for early July. Viper heard the door of the cabin open, and four wolf cubs exited the house, tumbling over one another, followed by the petite raven-haired woman. He watched her step out, carrying two cups of steaming coffee in her hands. He watched her make her way to him. He loved the way her black hair was braided with loose strands blowing gently in the wind. She usually had it pulled back in a ponytail, rarely ever long, and in a bun while at the office in. He just realized how long her hair had gotten. It was almost to her waist. He smiled when she handed him a cup. He leaned in and kissed her softly.

She moaned softly as she felt his lips against hers. She laughed when Layla and Jax whined, as if two kids complaining when their parents kissed each other. She had her arm around his shoulders and looked into his eyes. Despite massive scars on his face, neck, and left arm from a failed combat mission, she still loved him and still found him attractive.

I love you, she finally said, breaking the silence.

He placed his hand on his chest over his heart then held his hand up in the universal sign language and said, I love you. He smiled when she held up her hand in the same way and then touched his hand with the sign. He pulled her close and kissed her forehead.

Shandra sighed in contentment but grunted in frustration knowing that they only had three more days to spend on their honeymoon together at the hidden cabin. She ran her fingers through his long blond hair. No one ever knew he sported long hair as his deformed face was usually covered with a balaclava and goggles. It was times like these when he was home that he could go without it. Back in the real world, though, he kept his face covered. Very few people even knew who he was. Most would never find out as he was a ghost, and everything about him was classified. In a way, it protected him as he could fight some battles in the deepest, darkest shadows.

She watched her new husband resume chopping wood. She watched the cubs playing. Layla had moved next to her and watched her babies play. Taking a sip of her coffee, she leaned against the gate leading to a recently harvested garden. She turned and watched as he worked. Occasionally, he would glance back at her.

He noticed her looking at him. But this wasn't her normal behavior. She watched him many times before, but something was different. He noticed she looked different. He couldn't place his finger on why he thought she was different. The more he noticed, the more it was like she was beaming with something that may be ready to burst at the seams. He worked for another fifteen minutes then broke from chopping wood. He picked up the bundles and stacked them against the house.

She smiled when he would walk by her and steal kisses. It was beginning to be too much. She had to tell him. When he stacked the last pile, she took his hands and looked deeply into his eyes. She took a deep breath, and she finally gave him the news.

I'm pregnant. Her words echoed deep through his entire being, deep into his soul, yet in his mind, he was slow to process. He had a look of surprise when it finally caught up to his brain. She was smiling at him. He placed his hand on her stomach, hoping to feel movement, but he knew it was too soon. He felt ready to burst with joy. He took the woman in his arms, lifting her up off the ground and twirling her in a tight embrace. As fast as he picked her up, he set her down gently, putting his hand on her shoulder.

She laughed. I'm fine. She touched his face. Congratulations, Dad. She looked at him. Pure joy was on his face. They kissed. Seconds later, it started snowing. They stood there holding hands and looking up into the sky as snowflakes landed on their faces. Happiness was in the air. The wolves howled as if spreading the word. There came the singing in the distance through the woods and all over the mountains, welcoming new life.

The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war.

—Norman Schwarzkopf

Sergeant Terrell Wilkerson stood impatiently waiting for his teammates to walk down the ramp. The airport was busy with travelers coming and going. As a soldier, he was always looking out for potential threats. He ignored the gawks he received from passersby. It never bothered him though. He would still protect them. Security kept an eye on him too. Maybe they thought he was a player from the Giants and were trying to recognize him. He blended well then. No one would know he was military. But more importantly, no one would recognize him as a former gang member from Detroit.

The same three security guards had passed him for the eighth time in a ten-minute period. He started thinking they were perhaps racially profiling him. He took a deep breath and put the notion out of his mind. He would be fine. Besides, it would take more than just a couple of rent-a-cops to take him down. He shifted his Army baseball cap that sat on his head. Then he reached behind his head, grasping at the long dreads spilling out from under the cap. Being Special Forces allowed the members to go from clean-cut soldiers to grizzled-looking men to distract their image of being labeled military, especially during clandestine-type work.

The sergeant looked at his watch. The plane had just landed a few minutes ago. The first of the plane's descendants should be appearing shortly. No sooner had he made that thought than people just started walking down the ramp. He waited for the arrivals. First, it was just a few stragglers. Then it started picking up. He watched the people as they moved past him, greeting those waiting for them, heading to pick up their luggage, or simply exiting the facility.

He noticed a dark-haired woman, but she wasn't who he was expecting. Plus, she was by herself. Finally, he spied who he was watching for and her companion. He smiled and then waved when his teammate saw him and waved back.

Shandra hugged the Black man with long dreads as soon as she stepped off the ramp. Both individuals forgot rank. The sergeant broke the hug and saluted her.

Begging your pardon, ma'am. Sergeant Wilkerson reporting and here to pick you up.

Shandra returned the salute in a mock gesture then retorted with Sergeant Wilkerson, I regret to inform you that you seem sloppy and soft, especially around the midsection.

The sergeant patted his belly. Begging your apologies, Mom, but while you were gone, we got depressed and lazy. No one was available to keep us in line and in top shape. This is stress eating. He then winked at the lieutenant, who smirked and then punched his shoulder. She may be a girl, but she sure didn't punch like one. He turned to the companion. What's up, big guy? He took the silent figure's hand in a high five. The two had been Army buddies since boot camp. He was one of the few people who knew him before that fateful day that would scar and deform him for life. He knew his true identity.

How was the trip? he asked as soon as the trio went to the parking garage.

It was too short came Shandra's reply. She loved her job and her career both in the FBI and Army. Few knew what her real job was. She had been called into a secret service headed by General Calvin Thornton, General Sean O'Grady, and Vice Admiral Owen Jackson. A few weeks had passed when she was called to investigate a murder/assassination of a prominent US state senator. She was ordered to put a small team together, one that would work in the dark shadows and one not recognized by the US Army. She had to choose wisely.

She picked her team, and they were tasked with infiltrating a suspected terrorist cell working inside a pharmaceutical company. It was supposed to be a simple mission. But because of their lack of teamwork, the mission fell apart. They escaped and spent the next two years on the run, staying ahead of those wanting to capture or kill them. They would also spend that time forming an unbreakable bond.

It was rough at first, especially when everything went FUBAR five minutes after their first mission started. As they were secretly gathering intel, a lead security officer was alerted and attempted to apprehend them. Accused of industrial espionage, they were about to be detained for questioning. The security head had made a call that Viper had intercepted. Unbeknownst to the other members of the team about what was about to happen, he rushed to the room they were held in and freed them. Unable to escape, they made their way down an elevator shaft that led them to two floors that were not present on their facilities blueprints.

Finding a secret lab, they came across illegal and unethical research that involved genetic testing and other insidious forms of experiments that would have made sci-fi enthusiasts' skin crawl and horror movies look tame. They had barely escaped capture. The weeks and months that came after that tested their camaraderie and made them the team they are today. They started with less than ten people but then grew bigger as new terrorism came into play that even the military couldn't prepare themselves to fight against.

With this new team of operators, they were able to take on the new threat outside the government and military complex. Just a few years later, they went from a group of ten to over a hundred individuals highly trained and highly skilled technicians that were so clandestine in nature not very many people knew who they were. They were well hidden from the world.

The city traffic was heavy during rush hour. They were at a standstill as they made their way from the airport back to headquarters. They made good with their time, and Shandra and Viper were being briefed on their new mission. Red Delta had been called in to assist the DEA to take down a new drug lord operating out of South America. They called themselves El Dios de la Guerra, which was Spanish for gods of war.

I don't know why Red Delta is being called in to assist. Wilkerson spoke up, irritated that the drive was stop-and-go. These babysitting jobs are not what we are about.

Maybe someone high up needs this to be discrete, Shandra said from the back of the middle passenger side of the minivan. Michael Stevenson, who was one of the team's heavy machine gunners, sat in the passenger's front seat and handed her another file. After reading the first page, she said, Are you serious? She looked up at Michael, who nodded. This is worse than meth!

That ain't the worst, Shandra. Wilkerson informed her of the dangers of what the drug did to a person. Ice-Rex, the street name for it, can be ingested or inhaled, which isn't as potent as being injected. Those who inject it feel as if they are floating at first. Then as the drug takes over, it makes the victims feel like they are burning up from the inside out and start to hallucinate. He was looking at her from the rearview mirror, increasingly getting irritated that the gaggle of cars hadn't moved in six minutes.

What happens after that? she asked.

In small doses, it is dangerous and like meth. Once hooked, the addiction takes over, and the need for a hit increases. Overdoses result in a system shock that renders the victim comatose. Most will fall into deep sleep and never awaken. Only a few known cases of that happening, Michael informed her.

Do you have positive identification of those behind it? Viper signed while Shandra interpreted.

Small-time thugs and even local gangs are the ones being taken down, yet the creators have yet to be identified. So far, the only name of the head dude goes by the name of Firehead. He wears a mask that looks like half human, half demon. The DEA down in South America have reported he has wiped out several Colombian cartels in brutal fashion. I'll save you the grotesque imagery, Michael said.

Finally! Wilkerson sighed heavily as they began to move again. It took them almost two hours to get from the airport to the headquarters, where they would be briefed on their mission. They showed their identity cards and were then given entry. They went through a series of security protocols.

They entered the base and were welcomed in the briefing room by their teammates with hugs and handshakes, after the customary salutes, of course. Most of the members of the team would not be present since they'd already been briefed on the mission and were now preparing.

Shandra and Viper sat side by side, each going over the file that had been placed in front of them. Sitting in front of them across the table was General O'Grady. He waited for them to get caught up with the parameters of the mission at hand. Staff Sergeant David Hanson sat to his right. On his left sat two men. They were with the DEA and the reason why this mission was being formed.

DEA Agent Paul Davison was a fifteen-year veteran who spent a lot of years fighting the Colombian drug cartels. He had been responsible for shutting down several key supply lines from entering the US. After a recent attempt on his life, he was brought back to the United States and was now head of the major drug crimes division. A new drug lord had appeared, and their poison was becoming a huge problem in the inner cities. More problematic than meth, and it had ruined many lives. Many gangs from inner cities had used this to gain control of their turf. Drug crimes and abuse were on the rise.

This menace had called themselves the El Dios de la Guerra (Gods of War). The mysterious group was led by a man who called himself Firehead. He was ruthless in his dealings and took out many gang rivals and even used turf wars to his advantage. This group had a long list of crimes against them. The only issue was there was very little about them. No one knew who they were, but they were terrified of them. Anyone who crossed paths with them would usually be found without their heads. Then a week later, after the victims' demise, the heads would be found in a grotesque manner.

This would be the first time General O'Grady and his Omega Spear team would be working with the DEA. He didn't like this arrangement. The man sitting next to Agent Davison was DEA Agent Gary Patton. Rumor had it he was the great-great-grandson of the famous General George Patton. The agent looked almost like the actor Vin Diesel. He sat there wearing his mirrored aviator sunglasses. Normally, a person's dress or attire never bothered him, but something was unsettling. Perhaps he just didn't like arrogance, and the man reeked of it like someone would roll around in garbage for weeks on end and forgot to shower.

Shandra sensed the younger DEA agent watching her. He had tried flirting with her, even ignoring the fact that she was married now. She did, however, forget to mention who she was married to. But in his arrogance, she knew it wouldn't matter to him. In fact, she kinda hoped he would make the mistake of trying to challenge her husband. He would learn the hard way, and that put her mind at ease. Even if she wasn't married, not that she needed protection, but she knew the guys in her team would come to her aid in less than a heartbeat to defend her. The culprit would have to face the entire team. The thought of poor Agent Patton having to deal with everyone made her chuckle inside.

Viper eyed the man ogling his wife. He could end the man's life in at least fifty different ways using Special Forces tactics and another two hundred using the ancient ways of the ninja. With both ways, no one would even notice he would be gone. Nor would they ever find him. He put his mind at ease because his wife was much smarter than that to fall for an arrogant prick. Ever since he arrived, he had been trying to flirt, unsuccessfully, with several women on the base. When they first arrived in the room, the man was talking to Courtney, and by her body language, she didn't even notice the man was there.

General O'Grady was in no mood for this lack of disrespect toward women, especially those under his command. Disrespect was not tolerated in his command, no matter what rank they held. Being almost seven feet tall, the general was very intimidating. Very few could match his intimidation. The Vin Diesel wannabe was not one of them. He sat next to his partner and did not say another word.

The meeting finally started. Jill Baker had typed in the briefing. She was fairly new to the team. She took the place of her father, Jack Baker, when he was medically discharged a few months back after being in a motorcycle accident involving the outlaw biker gang the Skull Raiders. She was very adept at computers, especially as a hacker. She was very much like her father, except she was a rebel. She never went through the military, but her skills landed her a civilian contract with Omega. The US military and government did not know of her existence.

Agent Davison grumbled at her goth-style appearance. Never would someone like her ever work under him. To him, she was a disgrace to the outfit. He regarded her with disdain. She was also a criminal because before she got the contract or rather protection from Thornton, she had hacked into several agencies in the US, Canada, and Great Britain, including exposing criminal activities of numerous politicians all over the world. She was placed on the world's most wanted list right smack dab in the Middle Eastern and European terrorists.

O'Grady, along with Thornton, realized her potential as a member would be very crucial in helping assist the team on their missions very much like her father did at the formation of the team. She might not be trained in military procedures, but she was a true-blooded American and would do anything to protect the innocent. She was also the youngest member of the Omegas at eighteen years of age. She was respected by her team but had a much harder time with those outside her team.

The mission consisted of six teams. O'Grady already voiced his opinions. Having too many members in tight proximity was always a recipe for disaster. But the DEA was heading this operation, and the Omegas were the only military unit in the area that they could utilize. The local police were not privy to this as there was fear that headhunter sleeper agents were inside the police department, therefore jeopardizing the mission.

Shandra interpreted Viper's signs to the group. He had suggested having two teams at locations that were deemed choke points, meaning enemy combatants could use those areas to escape. Or worse, regroup and retaliate. He pointed out spots that could house snipers and other possible death traps. He made valid points, but of course, the agents were not interested in what the Army or anyone else had to suggest. After all, they were just backup. The DEA expected the glory for a successful mission. Viper signed to Shandra that their actions would get everyone killed. She agreed but didn't repeat what was said.

The first priority of the mission was to capture Firehead. As the intelligence report stated, he would be present at the unloading. The next priority would be to neutralize the El Dios de la Guerra squad, which was numbered to be fifty. Adding the barge crew members and workers on site, it would be a guesstimate of at least 150 people. Anyone in the proximity of the barge would be considered hostile.

Agent Davison answered questions. He informed Shandra and Viper that David would be heading the only team the Army was allowed, and even then, it was a small eight-man unit. She tried to voice her opinion of needing a bigger team, but old mirror eyes cut her off.

It's bad enough the Army has to be involved, but it's worse that a woman has to be included. The remark sounded sexist as that was what he intended it to be. Even Agent Davison had agreed that no woman should ever be involved in combat situations.

O'Grady shook his head as he witnessed this against a member of his team. He went to say something on her behalf, but she stood her ground against the two men. Gentlemen, I understand your concern, but you needn't worry about my well-being. I knew what I was getting into when I signed up. My team trusts me and my abilities to lead them into combat. She looked both men square in the eye, undaunted by their chauvinistic ways. She continued, I am more than capable of leading these men. She paused then decided she didn't need to prove herself to these idiots. She sat down. She looked over at the general, who nodded and gave her a knowing smile that he was proud of her and the accomplishments she had brought to the team.

Viper nodded his approval.

The meeting ended, and they were dismissed to get ready for their mission. They had at least six hours, then they would be boarding unmarked vans and taken to the docks to set up, assess the situation and area, then wait. The barge was scheduled to moor at the docks at 3:00 a.m. Security would be light. Also less likely innocent people would be caught in the cross fire. The fewer people they contended with the better. But like all well-laid plans, Mr. Murphy always had a nasty habit of showing up, and after looking over the plans and no changes were made when offered, it was assured Mr. Murphy would appear at some point to give his hand on how things should go.

The agents left the meeting while the rest stayed back. This mission is going south before it even starts, Thornton finally said once they were alone.

Everyone agreed. They came up with their own plans. It was obvious that the DEA was set to take the glory and the fame should it be successful, and if it failed, at least they could blame it on someone else. Only both leaders were not going to let that happen. The Omegas were content with not being in the spotlight, but it would be another to take the blame while sitting on the sidelines and expected to not have much involvement. Thornton hated these types of missions when the alphabet groups were involved. But it did allow them to be out from under the watchful eye of the military.

David, Kevin O'Neil, and Wilkerson talked about the setup, so they decided to make some slight changes without the DEA knowing. David pointed out, They have these places covered, but not here to the south. We should clear them first.

Jana and I will take the buildings to the north. You guys hit the buildings west of the barge. I know there's a lot to cover in that area. Your team is smaller, but I think it would be best for you being in such a wide open area, Kevin suggested.

David nodded in agreement. I do believe these buildings are storage units, so not a whole lot of rooms other than offices.

I'll talk to my contacts from the FBI and verify. They've spent a lot of time there in the past, Shandra offered.

See if they know of any secret rooms or places that could double for hiding spots, Kevin reminded her.

Will do. She picked up her files and saluted the two generals before she and Viper left.

Good luck, guys, O'Grady said as he saluted them all before they left to prepare.

The two generals would meet with a couple other experts to lend a hand in this mission. There were lots to do, and it was looking more dangerous than ever. But this was the type of mission they trained for. Only difference was they were going against an unknown drug cartel rather than a terrorist group.

It had been a couple of hours since Shandra and Viper left the headquarters after getting their gear ready and some last-minute prep before they would return to recheck their gear and go over last-minute details of their mission. Shandra was glad to be home, but she missed the cabin. She was a city girl at heart, but she liked being able to get out of town and away from civilization from time to time, where she could recharge and detox from everything she had to deal with in the real world. The daily grind and stress that took its toll was mind-boggling at times. These breaks were exactly what the doctor ordered.

She wondered if she should have mentioned the pregnancy to her superiors. She pushed it out of her mind since she wanted in on this mission. Being out in the field gave her a sense of purpose. She never thought about what her life would be like as a wife and mother. But now it had become relevant and something she needed to get used to. Sure, it changed things for her, but she was eager to see what the future held for her, for Viper, and for their child. She had no doubt he would be an excellent father as she had seen him interact with kids before. She sighed with content and with a hint of worry.

She would finish this last mission, and then after the after-action brief, they would tell their team the news. It would mean getting a desk job, but that didn't mean she couldn't be involved in some capacity. She walked out of the bathroom and saw her husband sitting on the couch. She leaned against the wall, watching him. Even though his face was scarred with burns and fractures, he still was a good-looking man. The doctors did a great job reconstructing his face. But despite their work, he still kept his face concealed when he was out. With the type of work he did, it allowed him to be a ghost. Even with his skills, no one knew anything about him. Only three people knew who he was after his injuries supposedly killed him. Another handful of people suspected but never confirmed. As far as the world knew, he was lying in a cemetery in Atlanta, Georgia. That was the worst time in her life, and she didn't feel like she could ever truly live again without him Then one day, he returned to her. She held him against her so tight that she was afraid if she had let go, he would disappear. The moment she did and realized it wasn't a dream, she wanted to kill him for not returning and letting her know he was still alive.

He sensed he was being watched and looked up, catching his wife watching him. He held up his hand, and she smiled walking to him, taking his hand in hers. She moved to him and sat, straddling his lap. He held her close against him, her head resting against his while his head was against her chest. He could hear her heartbeat. He also sensed another and knew that it was the beat of his unborn child's heart. It filled him with so much joy. He held her and rubbed her back softly. It was moments like this that he felt the most peace. He knew she felt the same way. There were no words to describe their bond with each other.

Shandra sighed contently then moved back a little so she could look in his eyes. I wanted to tell you I've decided to take a leave of absence from the team and go back full time with the FBI, just until after the baby is born. She touched his face, brushing the strands of his long blond hair out of his face. I know, I know. She read his mind. She would hate being away from the team for that amount of time, but it wasn't just for her safety but for their child's safety to. Ugh, I am so not looking forward to telling the team. She laid her head on his shoulder. She felt content when he held her the way he was now. This was a huge difference being away, unlike when one is injured and takes time off to heal, yet it felt the same.

Viper gently moved her so that he could look at her. He signed to her that everything would be okay. He informed her that he wasn't going anywhere and would be there to support her. He also told her she had the support from her teammates, both military and FBI. He loved when she smiled like that. He also knew that this would be a tough time for her as she would have to adjust being pregnant as this would be entirely different from being injured and needing to take time off to heal. Her eyes said she was grateful, but her body language said that she didn't have to like it. He placed his hand against her stomach.

Will you still love me when I am fat? She smirked. She could feel him chuckle.

He signed Even more so and embraced her. During his training, even as a child, he learned anytime he went out to fight the possibility of never returning was greater. He learned to accept his fate each time. In a way, it made him appreciate his life even more. That each breath he took was indeed a gift. But here and now was more than a gift but rather a blessing he knew that he didn't deserve, yet here was the most amazing woman he ever met, and the best part was she was his and he was hers. He was more than blessed, and now they created a new life. This blessing was much more than he could ever imagine.

Engage in combat fully

Determined to die and

You'll be alive;

Wish to survive in battle

And you'll surely meet

Death.

—Uesugi Kenshin

The barge had just docked, and the workers began buzzing around like ants gathering for the winter and began unloading the massive metal containers. An undercover DEA agent would be among the workers who would signal the strike team when confirmation on the contents of the containers was discovered.

Jill had hacked into the shipyard's mainframe and security cameras. She would be the eyes and ears for now. That would be until the DEA switched on an EMP device that would render anything electronic in a one-mile radius useless that was operational at the time. Scott Parker and Ahmed Asghar were next to her, manning their own computer networks that would aid the team in their mission. Parker would be operating telecommunications that would most likely be turned on once the EMP device had taken out the communications network. Asghar would man the four drones that were waiting on the roofs of four buildings that would take flight once the lights went out. Emergency generators would kick in, but only around the water's edge. In a way, that was a good thing, especially at that time when workers were light and the need for power was at its lowest. That would give them more cover in the darkness. But the real question was, would those in the area go to higher alert status? Or would they just figure it was normal and resume their work?

David Hansen's team had a good vantage point. The members of his team consisted of himself, of course, then Shandra, Viper, Terrell Wilkerson, Michael Stevenson, Calvin Williams, and Jason Farnsworth. Robbie Ironwolf would be the team's sniper. They were hidden inside a warehouse and watched the workers. Ironwolf was looking through his scope, locating and marking targets. The workers all wore dark blue pants and light blue shirts. They all appeared to be unarmed. Those wearing black suits must have been the dock's security forces. There were at least twenty, all armed with what appeared to be M-16s or some form of cheap knockoff to save money or something.

There were fifty heavily armored and armed guards on top of the dock's security forces. Some had gotten off the barge. Four went to the bow, and four headed aft. The rest guarded the ramp. It appeared no one was allowed to board. Shandra and David kept watching for any signs for Firehead or any other top generals of the cartel group. Five men then walked onto the deck. They all looked alike. Tall, thin, two were wearing black pinstripe suits and pink shirts. One was wearing a white suit with a black shirt. The other two wore tan pinstripe suits and blue shirts. All wore fedora-type hats. They wore dark sunglasses. Each had a ponytail that reached to their napes. They sported Balboa beards and mustache styles.

No one moves until confirmation, David whispered into his radio.

The reply that followed was a reprimand. I order the takedown now. Blow the lights. Move in.

Shandra looked at David, shaking her head.

Stand down. Delay the order. Black SUV entering green zone.

David and Shandra looked through the window and saw the two black SUVs skid to a halt that had come from the south of the dock.

All units stand down, Agent Patton ordered as he saw the vehicles too.

What do you think? David whispered aloud, not really to anyone in particular.

Viper signed to the group that it could be the real version of Firehead. All nodded in agreement. It would prove to be the correct assertion. He turned his head slightly to the left. He sensed something inside the warehouse they were currently nesting in. Was it a mouse? Or some other stray animal? No, it was something bigger. He knew no one else would hear it except Robbie, as he was Native American and an expert tracker. He was sniffing the air.

We have visitors, he said, not breaking his line of sight from his scope.

There came the order to attack. All of a sudden, blackness flooded their vision. Outside, shouts could be heard. Moments later, areas close to the water's edge were lit. The entire barge area was now covered in emergency light. The workers went back to work as if this were a common occurrence. Even the dock's security forces acted like this was nothing.

David heard a static sound, followed by two or three popping sounds, then a beep. Checking, checking. All systems are a go came the voice through everyone's earpiece. Green light is a go.

Shandra answered first. Stand down. New targets need confirmation. I repeat— She was cut off.

I say again, green light is a go.

She swore under her breath, as did David. Overwatch team 3, stand down and observe only. He punched the side of the wall in frustration at the order that was just now given. He went to say something when Robbie yelled out, Move!

Upon trust and instinct, everyone moved, rolling out of some unseen danger. They heard the slight telltale sound of an object—no, several objects—flying through the air and the thudding sounds. They knew what the objects were and did not take the time to see to know they were right. At least seven small throwing daggers had embedded themselves where most of them had been just seconds ago.

Shit, shit, shit! David was yelling as he and his team ran for the ladders on each side of the catwalk they had hidden. He watched Viper leap from the scaffold onto a massive stack of heavy wooden crates and then disappear into the inky blackness. Everyone made it to the floor level and moved to cover their teammates.

What the hell just happened? Terrell broke the silence just then.

It's the twin dragons, answered Ironwolf. Raven and Burner.

Fuck, Shandra muttered. Every damn time. It was out of frustration. I thought Tosho had them under control.

David touched the side of his ear, activating the earpiece. Red alert. I say again, red alert. Unknown tangos in the area. No response.

Shandra repeated the order just in case, I say again red alert.

Overwatch radio silence, came the reply.

What the hell? Terrel replied.

We are on our own, Ironwolf countered.

David and the team now had to assume this was a setup. In the events that followed, they were half right. The rest was Mr. Murphy's hand. But what was what would never be answered. Technically, they were in no danger from any of the agents. They would later find out that Venom was behind this whole operation. For now, the only things they had to worry about were themselves and each other. For the moment, anyone outside their team would be considered hostile and would be dealt with nonlethal force. At least in theory.

David led everyone to get to the west side of the warehouse. They had worked and trained together for so long, so he knew everyone was thinking the same thing. They were eight individuals working as one. In the darkness, they had to go by feel and hearing. They all sensed hidden dangers now. Just what they needed. They all faced off with the two ninja before and were lucky to live to tell about it. Although they did seem to notice that oftentimes, he only messed with them to get to Viper. In reality, they were relatively safe if Tosho was in the area. The bigger threat was Raven and his twin brother, Burner.

With David leading, they moved through the maze of crates. Finally, they could see the door. During their journey, gunfire had broken out. Not knowing what was going on, they couldn't worry about that now. The threat they faced was all too real. They heard the clanging of steel then. Viper had found at least one threat and was engaging. He sighed in relief when the rest of the members linked up finally. They formed a diamond and made their way to the door, covering all sides. Michael saw movement on top of the crates. He knew it wasn't Viper, so he let off a volley, allowing the team to escape unharmed through the door. When he made his exit, he heard a couple of thumps. More throwing knives. It had to be Raven as that was his weapon of choice.

All units converge on the barge now, now, now! It was someone from the DEA team.

Must be nice to be fifteen blocks away safely inside the undercover van and giving out orders, Shandra mused.

Agent Davison may have been a good leader with experience, but he led from the rear, not the front, which is why they had a hard time trusting him. Agent Patton was worse because of his cocky arrogance. He may have had many successful missions, but they always came with heavy prices and losses. On average, he would lose six agents a mission. He always took that as collateral damage to succeed. The agents lost would probably disagree.

It seemed like Burner had no interest in them since there was no sign of pursuit as they made their way outside using buildings as cover. The heaviest gunfire was coming from the northside. On occasion, they heard over the radio commands, but not directed at them, shouts, small explosions, and footfalls, most likely those trying to escape the bedlam.

Meanwhile, Viper was full-on engaged in a sword duel with one of his former sword brother-turned-enemy. He hated fighting him, but there was no escaping the blood feud fueled by what could only be jealousy. It was something he could never understand. And since there was a leadership change inside the clan and they would not explain themselves as to way they turned on him, he would never get the answers. It started with Tosho and then spread through the ranks. He was always hell-bent on fighting. He could never deal the final death blow. Having had eight chances, he never followed through. Did pride prevent his judgment on what their issues were? They were trained ninja and stone-cold killers, but only when justice deemed it necessary as that was the Sun Jade Dragon way.

Plus, he noticed every time he fought his brother, Tosho had a look of regret. Tosho had killed those who had tried to kill Viper. He ducked just in time as he heard the faint twirling sound, and finally, flying through the air was a spiked ball connected to a chain. Raven's favorite weapon. The ball smashed into the crate where his head had been seconds before. The ball was stuck. Viper stood up and followed the chain some thirty feet and through the darkness so the silhouette of the sword brother.

He never could understand why Raven and Burner had bloodlust. Any chance they could kill, they took it. The five masters of the clan banned them from their presence once they turned seventeen for safety reasons. Between them, they had the most kills of any member combined. During wars with the yakuza, they were responsible for killing anyone in the area. Of course, they left no sign of their involvement, but their brutality had made a name all over Asia. Even the experts on martial arts were baffled.

Grabbing the chain, he pulled hard. Raven was unprepared for this move. As he came into view, Viper drew back his arm and, with blinding speed and such force, sent a jab cutting through the air, catching the ninja full force in the face. The blow was shattering under the fist. Blood, bone, teeth, and saliva went flying in all directions. The body landed with a sickening thud, laying lifeless then. He heard sounds moving toward him. He backed away from the prone body, disappearing into the shadows.

Burner moved into the light a few minutes later, standing over his fallen twin emotionlessly. There was something wrong with these two. The five masters knew this and were reluctant to even train them. Eventually, they trained them, hoping it would help them. In a way, it did nothing for them. It improved their skills, and they became great fighters, even ninja, but mentally, they were absent. They were empty shells of men, void of love, anger, and even hatred. The pain never deterred them. Raven had been set ablaze by another ninja clan member, but he continued without ever feeling. He kept coming. Both brothers appeared to be superhuman.

Burner didn't move. He was just standing there. Finally, he moved with blinding speed and disappeared. The movement had always unnerved Tosho. The Sun Jade Dragon, when enacting justice and executing criminals usually via assassination, was always done in silence and never in view of witnesses unless required to do so, which was rare. Raven and Burner seemed to thrive on mass destruction. It never mattered to them when the masters would admonish them for failing their clandestine abilities and racking up high body counts.

Tosho kept an eye on them from the shadows. He watched Burner make his way to the roof, so he followed. He wasn't tracking Viper, but rather trying to keep his brother safe from the other two. They were just as good as he and Viper were.

Burner took out several of the workers who had gone into hiding. His name was fitting with the way he would burn his victims with some type of acid. Next, he took down two El Dios de la Guerra storm troopers. Their armor was too heavy to penetrate with edged weapons, so he would put them in choke holds and twist their heads. But rather than just twisting to break their necks, he would twist until breakage then pull their heads off completely then discard their severed heads some distance away from the body, leaving a