Roger entered the locker room, his heavy footsteps echoing off the walls. He approached a locker with a code, opened it, and found a bulletproof vest and camouflage pants inside. Rolf had told him to choose any locker containing suitable gear, all he needed was a code to find an available locker.
After putting on the gear, Roger took a moment to examine himself in the mirror. The armor made him look like a soldier, and the weight of anxiety and duty rested heavily upon him. With a nod to himself, he closed the locker and headed to the armory.
As he entered the room, he saw the rows of rifles gleaming in the dim light. He approached a specific one, an AK-47, and ran his hand over the cool metal. Although he wasn't an expert in military weapons, he knew the rifle was simple, reliable, and durable, well-suited for rugged and challenging environments. He grabbed the rifle, feeling its weight in his hands, then went to the backpack and filled it with ammunition and supplies before shouldering it and leaving the armory.
Outside, Roger saw the Cerberus women and four soldiers waiting for him near the airplane. They were all dressed in armor and didn't acknowledge him as he approached. Then Agent Rolf arrived in a jeep, got out of the vehicle, and approached the group. Rolf was similarly dressed in a bulletproof vest and camouflage pants, but still wore his red goggles. Roger wondered why he wore the goggles, but kept his thoughts to himself.
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Rolf examined Roger's gear and asked, "Good. Have you ever used a rifle before?"
Roger nodded, "I have some combat experience, but I'm not a war veteran."
He then turned his attention to the Cerberus women. They smiled back at him, their eyes twinkling with soft giggles. Rolf looked at Roger seriously, reminding him to be careful with his weapon. "Just be cautious where you shoot that thing. I don't want to die on this mission," he said.
Roger agreed. He wouldn't be foolish enough to commit friendly fire on purpose.
Rolf then led the team to the ramp behind the military transport airplane. He faced the team and said, "Listen up, lads and lasses. We're flying to Greece to help Roger and his monster companion find the golden apple tree in the Garden of Hesperides. I know it sounds insane, but we've all seen insane things before. The mission is simple: get the golden apples and return to the base alive. Roger here is the only one who can eat one apple. The rest must be contained. And as for the Cerberus women, leave them be and they won't bite you."
Katina, one of the Cerberus women, growled a warning at the soldiers. One of them shivered in response. Rolf asked the team if they understood the mission, and they replied in unison, "Sir, yes sir!"
Rolf smiled with satisfaction. He ordered the team to board the airplane, and they did so quickly. Roger, Katina, Labda, and Cilla followed the soldiers inside.
As they entered the airplane, Cilla was awestruck. "I've never been inside a giant iron bird before," she said in a cute tone.
Roger corrected her, "It's an airplane, not a bird."
Cilla giggled, and Roger couldn't help but smile at her innocence. Despite the dangerous mission ahead, for a moment, everything felt light and carefree.