Cornelius began acting like a kid in a toy store. He was fascinated by the images the walls bore, softly touching some of the grooves and counters and mumbling to himself. It wasnt until they made it to the main chamber when his excitement took over.<br/>Wolf regarded the images nonchalantly. He was more concerned with trying to find a way outta here and back to his team. He wasnt scholarly like Cornelius, though Wolf couldnt hold it against him. He respected people of intellect, as long as they were humble about it.<br/>Standing by patiently for Cornelius to get his fix, Wolf let his mind wander a bit. He was concerned about the rest of the squad. Had they also run into trouble? Wolf hoped they were still operational. Given the current circumstances Wolf believed walking away wasnt going to be so simple. Something epic is happening....something that can have real nasty collateral damage- and it had to happen in this butthole country.<br/>Coming back to reality Cornelius was going on about a god... or something.<br/>"Wolf, are you seeing this?" Cornelius asked excitedly.<br/>"Yep." Wolf nodded. "The ol classic magic man looking for immortality, its always immortality," He said shaking his head. When Cornelius suggested they take the center door, Wolf agreed. Helping Cornelius Wolf grasped part of the door and pulled. After a moment the door creaked open. Air rushed passed them into the newly opened hallway that hasnt seen oxygen in centuries. Once the door had been cracked open Wolf asked Cornelius to open the door the rest of they way while Wolf makes sure no surpises were waiting on the oother side.<br/>Placing himself off center of the door, in front of the slim opening wolf shouldered his M4 and thumbed the safety swith to AUTO and nodded at Cornelius.<br/>The instant the door swung open Wolf turned on the flashlight that was attacthed the the left side of the weapon along the barrel, and rushed forward.<br/>Wolf cleared the right before his initial entry, before his first step into the newly opened room he cleared front. He cleared left the moment his muzzle broke passed the door frame.<br/>Empty.<br/>"Clear," he called back.<br/>Shining the light around it turned out that is wasnt a hallway but a small round chamber with ancient markings covering the walls. A a pedestal sat in the center. A twig like object sat on the pedestal.<br/>Waiting for Cornelius to enter the chamber they moved toward the pedastal.<br/>At first Wolf thought the object looked like a wand of sorts, but Wolf shook his head. 'This isnt Hogwarts,' he thought to himself.<br/>"Cornelius, any idea what we're looking at?" Had Wolf not currently been on a combat seployment, seperated from his Marines, and in the company of a walking, talking, regal Cat man- He wouldve been excited to take in the sights around him. Though it wasnt a hobby or passtime Wolf got a kick out of myths and legends.<br/>"Have you ever seen anything close to this?" He asked.<br/>***<br/><br/>Hirsch regarded the old man on the ground. He put out a facade that he was a frail grampy type, Hirsch knew better.... old people were devious, something he'd learned watching his leech of a grandmother suck the life and money from his parents.<br/>That being said, this guy didn't seem the type to go ALLAH AKBAR and then BOOM! No tthis guy is part of something "different." Hirsch removed his boot and allowed the old man to sit up. Cox kept his weapon shouldered. The boy was in shock, his eyes blank with a thousand yard stare, his breathing was quick almost panting. What he just saw was alot to take in for a person...even a marine.<br/>"Cox..." Hirsch said softly and pushed his muzzle down gently. "Go post up near that entry way, dont go too far off, Roger?"<br/>"R-roger Lance Corporal," Cox said obviously still shaken up.<br/>Hirsch turned back toward the old man.<br/>"Well sir, usually the people we deal with arent very good examples of human beings, and seein as how you aint armed and not exactly a spring chicken, it'll be easy for someone to not take you as a threat," Hirsch nodded toward the man," However I get a different impression. You are involved with something-whether it be political or what...but you're into something unnatural."<br/>When the man was on his feet Hirsch took a step back to give the man some space. He kept his weapon close but hung by its sling infront of him.<br/>***<br/>"Second in command? Yall are doing a bang up job." Said Heuly.<br/>"I want you infornt of me, we're going to see whats all the ruckus. Don't do anything stupid, your not a detainee I'm just cautious, now lets move," With that Heuly got behind Zesiro and they began running toward the sound of gunfire.<br/>Heuly was sure it was his team, he could hear the bursts from a SAW. He wondered if maybe insurgents had found his team, or if something worse came along.<br/>They ran when they could but climbing mountians of debris took time. Heuly heard one long burst of fire from where Hirsch and Cox had gone, and then silence. Fearing the worst Heuly and Zesiro picked up their pace. Eventually they walked up on thw scene. Two corpses looked to be riddled with bullet holes, and one was in two halves.<br/>Standing behind some fallen debris was Hirsch, Cox could be seen holding position near the entryway. Hirsch was talking to someone.<br/>"Hirsch!" Heuly called.<br/>"Was wonderin when you'd show up, you missed the party." Hirsch said matter of factly.<br/>"The hell happened?"<br/>"We ran into this fine gentlman hear and then got jumped by some fucking zombies," Hirsch said, "Whos that?" He regarded Zesiro.<br/>"Found him unconscious next to a dead female, she died from the callapse. He says hes part of something top secret. Theres more around here, hes number 2 in a team. I dont think they're hostiles though," Heuly reported.