Jeremiah examined the architectural specifications of Pretzelverse’s cloning laboratory. “Time to see if these commandos are worth the money. I will have that sample,” Jeremiah said to his empty office.

Jeremiah’s phone rang. “Hello Ash, are you nearby?”

“Just landed at the airport, my laboratory is ready.” Dr. Ash said before severing the connection.

“Delta team, what’s your twenty?” Jeremiah said.

“We are heading toward the rear of the Pretzelverse cloning facility,” Commander Norris said.

“I’ve been monitoring the weather. A huge snowstorm will hit Munich soon.”

“Perfect cover. My men and I have been through much worse. A little snow will not bother us.”

“I’ve been told that the facility is running a minimal crew until tomorrow,” Jeremiah said. “You should have a free path to the vault. Do you have the code breaker?”

“I’ve come prepared,” Norris said.

“Excellent. We are on the clock, and you are looking for a bio-vault. It will not be in plain sight. My associate has provided a map of the facility. I have uploaded the location to your HUD.”

Norris tapped the side of his augmented reality goggles, and a wire-frame map of the facility became visible.

“Received.”

“Proceed when ready, commander,” Jeremiah said.

Security at the rear of the facility was inadequate. With the aid of a silencer, the two guards dropped like sacks of potatoes. Norris searched the bodies, found the card key, and used it to open the doors of the facility. They pushed through a set of double doors that revealed a large room with three additional exits. There were at least four visible lab technicians. Norris used hand signals to tell his men to fall back into the room nearest the red door.

“The facility is not empty. Civilians are everywhere. I don’t have any tranquilizer darts!” Norris said.

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“Take them out. It is vital that I get my hands on that bio sample. It’s a matter of life and death, in fact,” Jeremiah said.

Norris switched to a private channel.

“I’m not keen on taking out innocents. Guards are one thing—they signed up for this. Civilians are another,” Norris said.

“What if I paid you double your rate?”

“No deal. But triple it and it will go a long way to easing my conscience.”

“Authorized. Now, get me that research,” Jeremiah said.

“Engaging with extreme prejudice.”

Norris switched comms so that he could order his men to engage.

“Eliminate the civilians,” Norris shouted.

The team opened fire on the lab technicians in the room, and within seconds they were down. Norris spotted a runner out of the corner of his eye. He grabbed the sniper rifle from its position on his back, focusing on the running target. Thank god for long hallways, Norris thought as he pulled the trigger. The runner went down. Further sweeps of the facility revealed at least five other technicians.

Norris scanned the room. Something was off. His skin tingled in anticipation. He gave hand signals to his men to fan out. Movement caught his eye, and he noticed a low, dark shape at the far end of the hallway. He listened for any signs of activity, but the lab was silent. How fitting, since it is now a tomb, Norris thought. The team moved into the room, when he heard a loud bang, then a low, guttural growling sound. Is that a dog? Norris looked up to see a large Great Dane leap onto him. The dog tried to make a snack out of his nose, he sweated as the beast got closer. Is this beast nuclear? Why is it generating so much heat? Norris was nauseated from the dog’s breath on his face. No leverage to use the sniper rifle. He reached for his knife, careful not to expose any body parts to the dog’s jaws. Got it! He was about to plunge the knife into the dog when he heard other screams. My men! The Great Dane’s snapping intensified, just missing his gloved hand. Norris plunged the knife into the dog’s right eye. He heard a yelp as the dog retreated.

He got up and couldn’t believe his eyes. He counted at least seven or eight dogs, all attacking his men. Shooting could be heard from almost every corner of the room. The animals were taking a lot of damage but kept charging. Norris raised his weapon to fend off an attacking corgi when the same Great Dane as before flanked him from his right side.

Impossible. I put a knife in this dog’s brain!

Norris started shooting. Several minutes later, he had the situation under control, and his men suffered only minor injuries. Norris bent over to inspect what was left of the Great Dane, which he’d peppered with bullets. Beside the bloody mess before him was part of a metal apparatus which appeared to be fused to the beast’s bones. Norris could see shiny reflections of metal where his knife had injured the beast. The dog has a metal skull. The heat radiating from it made Norris sweat.

“Are your animals down?” Norris shouted into the mic.

“Affirmative, but these dogs are not normal. They are robotic,” one of his men shouted.

“Let’s regroup,” Norris commanded.