Author's Note

Please read the bold italics in a deep and scary voice.

Recon mission to outpost 08

"Tempered by the fires of Hell, his iron will remained steadfast through the passage that preys upon the weak. For he alone was the Hell Walker, the Unchained Predator, who sought retribution in all quarters, dark and light, fire and ice, in the beginning and the end, and he hunted the slaves of Doom with barbarous cruelty; for he passed through the divide as none but demon had before."

That is what Buckshot heard. He felt the heat of the flames around him. His fur was being singed against the hellish fire. He smelt the aromas of smoke and blood. Fear had overwhelmed him. He turned around and saw a green bipedal suit of armor. He felt a connection with this suit, like it was calling to him. He took a step forward, and all the fear transformed into anger. He wanted to release it by killing all living things that he saw, but there were none. all that surrounded him were the burning bodies of his friends and family. He wanted to avenge them. His anger intesified as he got closer to the suit. He was now close enough to touch it. His vision was red with anger. He reached out his hoof to touch it, when his Ponetera alarm woke him up.

It had been two weeks since the fight in sector 48-A. Mars base was on high alert because of the baron breaching from Hell. This meant that the demons were learning how to pass through the subspace portal without being detected. All access to the portal was cut down to Director of Mars base operations Cadence, and heads of the Lazerus project Aurora, and Batruger. Elite EAC Marines were constantly on the lookout for other demons that have managed to make their way onto Mars. Rumors were spreading about plans of the Lazerus project being abandoned. Others believed that the Mars base was going to be abandoned altogether.

Today, Buckshot and his platoon were going on a recon mission out on the surface of Mars. Their job was to make their way to outpost 08 where Dr. Batruger was working at to see if he was alright. A large argent energy serge was detected there, and communications were lost. As Buckshot, Hayseed and Dexter finished eating, they went to the armory to get their EVA suits.

"Something seems just a little off to me.", states Hayseed as he slips into his helmet. "State-of-the-art communications don't just shut off at the first sign of trouble."

"Agreed.", says Buckshot, who was still a little shaken up from his dream.

"What's wrong Buckshot?", asked Dexter.

"Nothing's wrong.", responded Buckshot.

"Yes there is.", said Dexter. "I've known you and Hayseed for most of our lives. "I know when somethings wrong."

"I had another dream.", said Buckshot quietly. "I was in a cavern surrounded by the burning corpses of everyone I loved. A demonic voice was saying something about a Hellwalker. I was overwhelmed with fear. Then I turn around and see a bipedal suit of armor. It calls to me. I start walking towards it and am suddenly filled with anger. The same burning rage I felt when I killed the baron. The closer I get to the armor, the more the rage builds. I'm about to touch it and my sight is clouded red with rage. Then I wake up."