Back to Real World: Operation Ghost Step part I

American Military Base.

7:42 am.

Luther is trembling in a white corridor. he is sitting in a metal chair. his face shows signs of fatigue and overworking.

it has been now five years since Luther started working under Ryker's order. he has been trying to overturn the little power the gods have in the human world.

it isn't clear jet, but it is obvious that the Gods are scheming something sinister and cruel. the fate of humanity and the world depends on what may come next. whatever they are trying to achieve. it isn't anything good.

Luther is about to take part and lead a hit in a territory in the jungle. a place where the Gods are hiding something sinister. there is nothing known about that place. Luther only knows that it's in the jungle and that the Gods are hiding information in there.

for this particular operation Luther has been recruiting the best agents on their side. Ryker is usually the leader and present in big operations. for the first time Ryker isn't going to be present nor help. he will leave everything in Luther's hands.

every person assigned to the operation is using a code name to protect their identities. this may be the hardest mission Luther has taken so far.

the fate of the world trembles at the hands of a fearful Luther. his inexperience may become a burden or a hint to where is he supposed to be.

right now, Luther is alone. soon enough the other members of the operation will arrive ready to put their lives in the line. then once more let's remember that Luther uses to be a common human in a normal society. without any warning he was suck inside of a world of chaos.

the jungle sounds like a nice place to fight, or a place to disappear leaving no trace behind. fortunately, Luther wears Samson's wig everywhere he goes. if there is danger, he never leaves without it.

if he is lucky and everything goes well. then Luther may find another object to use. another useful object from a myth or a legend. a powerful object to defy the authority of the heavens and the divine.

some years ago, Luther was an atheist, now he fights with the dream of slaying a God. there are many horrible Gods who don't appreciate their creation. their time as the ruling force is to be question and force to expire.

there are some heavy footsteps. Luther looks ahead. he looks carefully at Code Name: Killer Whale. he is a 6'5 tall man. bald headed. he has light blue eyes. his eyelashes and eyebrows are blonde, almost white.

Killer Whale has a scar that almost covers the entirety of the left side of his face. the scar begins under his lips and end above his eyebrow. it is deep. it is nasty. it is menacing. the scar adds to the sinister shadow that is reflected on his face.

Killer Whale isn't just big. his face isn't the only threatening thing about him. as his body is so muscular he almost looks like a professional wrestler.

Killer Whale has the appearance of an alpha macho man, a muscle brains guy, and he kind of is like that at times. but he is mostly a person who thinks before acting. he is a person who thinks of himself as a thinker.

then another four people come forward. Code Names: Wendigo, Owl, Turtle, and Guppy. most of the members who will take part in the mission are convicts with a death sentence. they all accepted to take part in the mission in exchange for their freedom.

only seven out of the twenty members are aware of what is going on in the world. only seven are aware of the existence of real Gods in the world. the others are just lambs walking to the slaughterhouse willingly for a fake promise of freedom.

Killer Whale use to be a soldier, to be more precise he was a commander. he was a survivor of an event that took place in the sea. somehow, he survived unaware of what happened. he was blame for his comrade's deaths. and then sentence to death.

Guppy and Turtle are prisoners who went to prison for crimes related to gang violence. they weren't guilty of everything the gang did. but they were guilty of plenty as they didn't do anything to stop the gang.

Owl is a spy who was caught in the middle of a battle between Deities and Mortals. now he lives lamenting ever taking the job that took him to where he is standing right now.

Wendigo is another of the idealist fighting for humanity.

then there are another twelve humans who go by the Code Names: Tuna, Salmon, Shrimp, Hammerhead Shark, Swordfish, White Shark, Octopus, Blowfish, Crab, Lobster, Squid, and finally Dolphin.

those who have aquatic code names are the ones with a death sentence.

then the final members of the team are Odd Dog & Golden Sheep. finally Luther's Code name is Chicken Wrath.

those twenty mortals are going to bet their lives in a risky mission that will take place in an even more dangerous jungle. there is so little known about that jungle. and so much to find in there along with many questions that had been gone unanswered.

who knows if those questions are really worth answering.

odd Dog & Golden Sheep are inspecting all the equipment they will use for the mission. they don't want anything to malfunction while in the middle of a risky mission.

Odd Dog is the technician and by cameras he will oversee everything. if there is any issue, he will find the safest route to safety. the whole team depends on Odd Dog.

he may be a weakling. he may be a coward. he is so out of shape that walking a bit makes it hard for him to breathe. but even so. he doesn't want to hide forever. he wants to fight in the only way that he knows how to. by becoming a supportive voice in the shadows.

Golden Sheep is a mercenary. he has fought multiple battles. he has killed plenty of mortals of different ages and sizes. he is a beast like no other. and even a bloodthirsty beast like him is feeling a bit nervous with what is about to happen.

all twenty members of the operation Ghost Step move using a white corridor. there are no windows nor any ornaments. it's all white. as they keep walking. some of them are talking about random stuff like soccer, or TV shows.

they arrive in front of a round table. in a golden chair is Ryker awaiting. while everyone else has to use simple looking white chairs. Ryker gets to use the fancy looking one.

"you'll are doing good I presume."

"Yeah. it is easier to you as you aren't going to take risks for once. but most of us are novices on the field. they are mostly babies learning to walk, that you are pushing to run."

"That is quite the statement. however, we are running out of resources. most of our man aren't taking part in any action. they all became office workers with fear for rats. and he is the only one who is truly in our side and risking it for us."

Odd Dog and Luther argue. Odd Dog doesn't trust Ryker at all. while Luther has all his trust and support for Ryker. there are many times in which he could had died without Ryker's support during days of unknown weathers.

the argument keeps going for a little longer.

Ryker tells them some basic information that he has found so far. some asks questions. others either doubt or trust in Ryker's words.

right now, Ryker seems to be tired and restless. the last few lost battles had affected him. he is starting to look worn out. there are some black circles under his eyes. there is something about him that reveals how little hope he has left.

to be frankly honest. Ryker doesn't want to send any of them. two of the people taking part in the mission are his right-hand man and left-hand man. if just if the mission turns out to be a colossal failure. then it will be all over.

there is a part of Ryker that is screaming warning him of the dangerous of the Gods. the horrors of the World. but then he looks at Luther waiting for a confirmation.

"I will do it." said the young man.

Ryker had no other choice but to ignore his gut feeling. but he will pray for them. he will wish for their safety return. humanity's salvation falls in their hands. there is nothing else that Ryker can do for them.

Luther is ready for the next rodeo. this time he will hold the bull from the horns. he will make sure that their war against the Gods becomes even. as much as he hopes for greatness there is nothing sure.

every single one of them has a different reason to be here. each of them took a different route to arrive where they are standing. but in end. all of them ended up in the same path. walking under the same ruthless trail.

Blowfish is a pilot who to prove the point that he was the best, he decided to do unconventional things like trafficking drugs in dangerous situations. he got caught because of his pride and ego.

for this mission Blowfish is going to drive an airplane in a horrible weather towards the heart of a jungle full of dangers. so far this can be his greatest accomplishment as a pilot. and White Shark is going to be the co-pilot.

Octopus is a doctor who got his hands dirty for money. he is now going to work as the medic in the group. he is an excellent doctor.

there are others who were chosen for specific reasons. but so far, the key players had been mentioned and why they are the key players. of course, most of them are worthless pawns that Ryker collected to be of use to Luther.

there are forty-seven minutes left before the mission starts.

Luther asks Ryker for some conversation one last time. Ryker seems to be colder than usual as he accepts Luther's request. they walk towards a separate room. now in private they have the opportunity to say their goodbyes.

Luther takes a cigar from his pockets. he puts the cigar on his mouth. the bitter flavor of the cigar brings some tranquility to the mind. now he is able to think more clearly.

they whisper the truth, there are some truths that sound like lies as they are told halfway. they know that the mission is suicidal. Luther more than anyone else is aware of that. but even so, he has no other option.

"Just promise me that you will receive me with a great banquet."

"Why? do I look like your mother? am I your wife?"

"it's just that I have a bad feeling. I feel like I won't return. I am so foolish that I think if there is something to grab from, maybe. just maybe then I will make it back alive."

"None of my words are prophetic, nor am I powerful enough to change fate. all I can do for you is to pray for your safety."

"I thought you weren't a believer. don't you hate gods?"

"I am not. but maybe if I pray, you can feel the power in you to stay alive."

there is a sound. they knew the meaning of that sound. it is an alarm letting them know that the time has come.

everyone starts to walk outside of the base. they move fast holding their belongings. there is an airplane waiting for them with a one-way ticket to the jungle. everyone feels an intense fear as they understood that it was time.

some of them start to pray. others are holding tightly to objects they considered their lucky charm or their spiritual shield. others just touched their weapons lightly, as they only depend on themselves and their weapons to make it out of there alive.

one by one they all walk inside of the airplane. Luther is the last one to enter. his hands are shaking loudly as he tries to control his fear. Killer Whale tells him that everything is fine.

"Wish me look old man, I will return victorious." Luther whispers to himself.