Biowulf: Future Soldier (A Short Story)

BioWulf

October 25, 2052 / 18:00PM

The enemy we were facing was more challenging than we imagined. The first round with Grendel was simple enough, but we never predicted how horrifying and destructive the things “The Mother”, as we called her, could be. She had already eliminated two members of my squad. All of us are part of an elite program known as the S-T-O-P Unit or Specific Threats of Otherworldly Problems to the general public. But to each other, we are known as BioVulf; each of us assigned a number, equally skilled in various combat abilities from around the world and most importantly, our Silver Armor, which gives us the fighting edge we need to win wars and come home glorious. We must find a way to stop this horrible creature before she kills more innocent lives.

After robotics, biology, and medicine merged to help create a new, peaceful world, Canada, The United States, Central and the Southern American countries combined into “The American Union.” An American President found a way to unite and enhance our countries, eliminating pervasive problems such as drug addiction, sex trafficking, and terrorism. The rivalry between the United States and Russia, now part of “The Eurasian Union,” was put aside to bring about world peace with medical breakthroughs and space exploration.

Through the efforts of one man, the world was heading in the right direction. Until the White House was attacked for the first time since the British burned it down during the War of 1812. This time, however, it was not by an army, but by a horribly disfigured and monstrous creature known as Grendel.

October 21, 2052 / 14:22 PM

“Ladies and gentlemen, please be seated. This evening, we will be serving the President’s favorite, ‘Purple Mead.’” The audience regarded the master of ceremony with interest, knowing that Purple Mead was a delicacy, found and fermented only on Mars. “We are very delighted you all could participate on this special occasion. Allow me to propose the first toast. To the future, to the world, and to the children – may we all grow strong and healthy! Ladies and gentlemen, the fourth President of The American Union, President Garrick Roth!” Applause filled the Mead Hall as the President walked with confidence toward the stage and stood before the crowd of dignitaries.

“Good afternoon, my friends and family. Welcome to the White House. I am looking forward to seeing each and every one of you today to celebrate your generous contributions towards world peace and global excellence. Today, we are announcing our scientist’s latest success accessing higher levels of intelligence. To add, a new discovery was made enabling Mars and other planets even more hospitable for our peoples. I have asked that all of you be present for these announcements and believe you will all contribute wisely.”

Before he could continue, the ceiling caved in, crushing many of the guests. Grendel stood above the crowd, slashing with his ferocious claws. Blood splashed the walls, as the president’s guards attempted to thwart their attacker with their weapons. A wounded guard flung himself on top of the President’s body, shielding him from the onslaught of the malevolent creature. Grendel roared and charged through the exterior wall of the White House on to the lawn.  One by one civilians were picked off by the creature’s fury until the streets were littered with the bodies of innocent bystanders. After a few minutes of rampage, Grendel disappeared.

A lone guard found the President beneath his protector. “Sir! Are you all right? Can you stand?”

 “Yes, I’m alright. Are there other survivors?” The President shook as the guard helped him to his feet.  The President groaned, blood trickling down a four-inch laceration across his scalp.

“There are survivors, sir, but I am more concerned about you right now. What are your orders?”

“Initiate the S-T-O-P Unit Protocol. Get me that damn BioWulf team.”

October 22, 2052 / 21:13 PM

A helicopter thundered over the damaged White House, landing on the Helipad nearby. Roth limped his way up to the helicopter with the support of a cane. The door opened and five armored giants stood ready to disembark. The gleaming mechanical suits gave them height and shone with spectacular color. Some had guns at their hips, others swords. The tallest carried a long sword on his back. He took front and center, facing Roth.

“Garrick Roth,” echoed the helmet of the tallest as he spoke. “It’s been a long time.”  The giant unlocked the clasps. Steam hissed, revealing the face of a human. Nothing “giant” about the man: blue eyes, wavy brown hair, chiseled face. The man appeared human. But the way he carried himself was professional, militaristic, and confident. Beowulf looked down at the President.

“Thank you for bringing your team. There is much to discuss. At the Pentagon I will explain the mission to you and your team” Roth said. The president limped his way to the Humvee.

Beowulf turned to the soldiers surrounding the presidents ride. “Never seen a suit of armor before?” he said with a grin before following the President to the Humvee.

“Beowulf, thank you again for bringing your team. I had no choice but to call you. Doctor Grendel has finished his project. I think he found a way to enhance the symbiote,” Roth said during the ride.

“Project? Doctor Grendel? Symbiote? Beowulf thought as he shook his head.

“What are you talking about, sir?” he said.

“Doctor Grendel was considered an outcast in society. The man contributed many things to our world. I imagine he is quite lonesome on the moon. Rumor spread that he contributed to a cure for cancer. Hell. He found a cure for all of them. But things went south from there. Apparently the first test gave him some sort of super human strength. The symbiote he was using came from an asteroid and was the source of the cure, but after the doctor got his strength… well, the symbiote merged with his DNA and he went crazy.” The President replied.

“So what does the Doctor have to do with the killings?” Beowulf asked.

The president frowned. From his coat pocket he drew a tablet. A holographic image appeared on it and reenacted the previous night in great detail. Beowulf studied the hologram.

“It looks like a monster.”

“He … is, now, I suppose.” The President said. “Still, that is not an excuse to kill innocent people. Something must have happened to him, indeed…”  

“We’ll stop him, Mr. President. My team and I have been training for threats like this since we were could remember. One man cannot take our entire team. The issue is finding him. How do you suppose we draw him out?”

“Well, whatever drew him to the White House yesterday could be the answer.” Roth said, sipping ice water.

“Did you say this man…Grendel… was considered an outcast?”

“Him and my father attended college together. Unlike my old man, Grendel did not enjoy the company of others. I knew Grendel to be a kind person when I was younger, but now…” The Presidents gaze drifted into the sky, as if in a deep thought.

“You’re awfully nice about a man who destroyed the White House.”

“Don’t assume I have sympathy for the man.” The President scorned.

“Music, cheer, happiness, maybe das wot bothers the monster so much” Ziggy blurted.  Our Aussie, Ziggy was the grunt of the group.

“Excellent observation BioVulf-3,” started Roth.

“It’s Ziggy, mate.”

“Pardon me, it’s just that your names are stamped on the front of your helmet.”

“Yeah? Well bloody hell, there ain’t nothing interesting about my name anyhow.”

“Zigs, you’re right. Perhaps we should attempt to draw out this “Grendel” with a party,” Beowulf said. “What do you say boys?” They howled like battle hungry wolves.

October 23, 2052 / 06:00AM

“Alright, here’s the plan.” I woke the rest of the squad and discussed the details. We knew he was a scientist. He found some sort of alien DNA, a symbiote. The armor harnesses brain functions in the user by incorporating the DNA of every animal on the planet. When his suit met this “symbiote”, Grendel experienced a fusion with unexpected results:  insanity and eve stranger supernatural powers.

“That’s how he got down to Earth so quickly then, da?” Vladimir spoke, our BioVulf-4, and Russian sharpshooter. He personally enhanced his weapons with special features. Had we not grown up together, he would have frightened me.

Looking at a review of the hologram, Vladimir was right. Grendel could apparently teleport and he could conceal himself.

“That’s right Vlad, now let’s all suit up. We’re going to attempt to draw the monster in at around twelve hundred hours. Let’s plan the attack.”

October 23, 2052 / 11:48AM

The Halloween parade just began and was perfectly timed to attract Grendel. The neighborhood was filled with people taking pictures of the children’s costumes and enjoying the excitement.  A loud speaker played music while President Roth, dressed as an old wizard, waved from one of the cars.

Grendel landed in front of the President’s car.  Five steel rods loaded with electricity landed on each side of him but he managed to grab at one of the rods, pulling it out of the ground and caused the mechanism to stop. Drooling and looking around disoriented, Grendel shook his head and attempted swing his arm at the President.

“Get down, Mr. President,” shouted a nearby soldier. An assault rifle riddled the side of the creature. Grendel roared and vanished. The bullets that hit the creature were now on the ground.  Ziggy tackled the creature out of his invisible form and crushed him against the side of a building.

“Where ya think you’re going ya big galoot?” BioVulf-3 asked, slamming his mechanized hand into the face of the creature. Grendel simply roared and swiped the Aussie away. A bolt of energy then pierced through the creature’s right shoulder.

“I don’t think so, picka.” Pointing an incredibly large gun at Grendel with a smirk on his face, Vlad laid on top of a building with the monster in his sights. Grendel lost balance and hit the ground, scrambling then roaring and charged towards Ziggy.   

“Have at thee, monster!” Beowulf landed in front of Grendel, and swung his sword down across the chest of the monster, ripping into flesh and bone. Grabbing the monster’s arm with one hand, he crushed it and tossed him into the middle of the road. “For the innocent lives you have taken, your blood sits not on our souls.” Before Beowolf’s final blow landed, Grendel vanished, the sword striking down into the ground.

“He’s disappeared again.”     

President Roth appeared next to Beowulf. “Thank goodness. This time, no lives were claimed.”

 Beowulf turned to look at Roth. “I believe he will not return, his wounds were too severe to survive.”

President Roth looked at Beowulf, and then up at the moon. “I hope so, my friend. I hope so.”

October 23, 2052 / 21:13PM

“This evening is in appreciation of the BioVulf team. Without your help, Grendel surely would have killed more people,” President Roth spoke to the assembled Pentagon officials. Vlad, Ziggy, and the other two were slamming down shots. I was not in the mood for celebration.

“The creature has been bested, but the men and women who died will never come back.” I blurted out. Standing, I walked toward the President. “Remember this. Peace is a fairy-tale that may or may not exist in the future. But war is inevitable at some point. Whether the threat is from crazy scientists or aliens bent on destroying our world, we will always have conflict. We must be more prepared.” I cleared my throat. “Not everyone in society will be happy, or feel like they have a home. Whatever did this to Grendel, it was not a result of peace. Nor was it a result of happiness.” I looked at everyone in the room. “It was a result of evil.”

October 24, 2052 / 03:14AM

An explosion erupted from the sleeping quarters of Xian and Marcus. I awoke and discovered that there was nothing left of BioWulf-2 and 5. Guards rushed into the hall.

“Sir! We have cleared the area. What is going on?” said one of the guards.                        

“I have no idea. But we need to get to President Roth, and quickly.”

October 25, 2052: 18:42PM

What remained of the S-T-O-P unit was down to three. We had discovered a horrible creature at the Moon’s primary medical facility, along with our old friend Grendel, who apparently died of the wounds we inflicted earlier. This ‘other’ creature was even worse, and seemed to be made of the same material as Grendel’s suit. Whatever it was, it held Grendel’s remains, as a mother would comfort a swaddled infant.

“Move Zigs!” I cried out as the creature we called “The Mother” landed behind him. Before he turned to deflect her claw with his sword, the creature struck him through the chest. Blood spilled from his mouth and his eyes rolled back.

“Damn you!” I shouted and charged the creature with a plasma sword. The creature easily dodged my attack then was hit with an energy bullet in the forehead from Vladimir.

“Right on ze mark.” He smirked at his accomplishment and began to pull back his rifle’s loading chamber.

“Move!” I shouted, unable to reach him in time. She had appeared behind him, as he was rolling away and shooting his weapon up at her. The creature expected it this time and responded by jabbing her claw through the Russian’s spleen. He made a last ditch effort, drawing out his sword and stabbing at the creature’s chest. She parried it away, dropping Vlad to the ground.

I turned and looked up at the monstrous form, she dissolved into nothing and reappeared behind me. Her fangs, red eyes, with long violet hair, framed a face that could have been mistaken for a young girl, except she wasn’t. “Come on you stupid bitch.” I charged, swinging my blades down and missing. Slashing at my armor with her claws, she sent me flying into a wall. I rebounded and glanced around for her, but she was gone.

“Where are you?” Using my helmet’s infrared vision, I scanned the room. Nothing. “Come out and face me!”

Right above me, she reappeared. This time her hair entangled with my helmet and my neck. Hanging upside down on the ceiling, she pulled me up to her. A lizard-like tongue licked my helmet. “Hu-man. Die.”

“Not today, lady!” I shouted, crossing my swords near her hair and slicing myself loose. I hit the ground hard, pulling up to one knee, then the other. She appeared before me again.

“This is for Ziggy.” I pulled out a small capsule and pressed the button before throwing the device at her face as it caught in her hair. Light and flames exploded, sending her shrieking backwards.

“And this is for Vlad!” I lunged forward, throwing both swords at her. Both swords impaling her shoulders, flung her back into a wall. “This is for everyone else!” I unclipped my spear from my back, and sliced down across her chest to her torso.  I then spun around and cut off her head in one subtle movement. “Die, fiend.”
            The creature dropped to her knees. Green ooze left the lifeless corpse. Her body soon shrunk into the ground as if melting.
            “Finally over…” I whispered to myself before turning to where my two brother-in-arms lay. “Let’s get you home…”

Grabbing my two comrades and racing for the ship, I set the course for Earth, and detonated the base using what remaining explosives we had. I wasn’t going to take any chances with such a horrible creature so close to the Earth.

A few days later, we discovered that “The Mother” infected the armor that Dr. Grendel was working on, which transformed a peculiar man into insane monster. A few scientists went up to examine what remained of the base on the moon and collected samples of the wreckage.

No trace of “The Mother” or Grendel was evident, but they did discover the same ooze that infected Dr. Grendel.  He had created his suit with a combined a splice of animal DNA named “X11”.   This DNA cocktail could have cured individual diseases and other symptoms such as arthritis, and prevented the common cold. Unfortunately, no doctor could replicate his work, and without the armor, no scientist could even get close to what Grendel created. President Roth went on to expand his campaigns for peace and expansion into our solar system.  

Surviving the epic battle, Ziggy lost an arm and Vlad lost a kidney and part of his leg. Our squad reported back to our station on the island of Corfu where nothing called us out to battle again for another twenty years.

October 21, 2052 / 18:00PM

On the surface of the moon, an egg-like shape is barely visible from all the dust of the explosions. It begins to rattle back and forth. A few moments later, the egg cracks. Breaking out of the egg, a dragon’s head appears. A loud and unsettling roar emits from the creatures mouth. The dragon breaks out of the egg and spreads it wings, spraying fire immediately and flying above the surface. To be continued…