In a secret underground lab far below the earth, a team of scientists are working on a revolutionary new virus. This practical batch has been labelled as GV-227, also known as the "Grape virus" among staff due to it's sickly green complexion, and has recently been approved for testing.
The head of this project, one Dr. Sebastian, is well known as one of the leading experts in genetic engineering and manipulation. However even he was surprised by the adaptability of the original virus, the way it could copy and twist cells to it's purpose keep him fascinated night after night as he worked to unlock it's secrets.
Until finally, he managed to separate the virus into two different sup-types: Greenlight, and Blacklight.
To his irritation Blacklight was taken to New York for a more in-depth analysis, while the other stayed with him in the secondary lab. Sebastian couldn't help but feel slightly stiffed as it was being transported away the day before. But with a new day came a new sense of determination, if he could complete his task here before the Blacklight team, he might just be able to merge the projects. It is with this thought that he starts the first of the tests.
"Dr. Barbara, open the gate for subject 1-A please."
He asks, his voice a mixture of politeness, eloquence, and slight superiority.
"Of Course sir"
Dr. Barbara responds, her voice coming out silky smooth with a hint of sweet.
"Thank you Barbara."
Sebastian responds politely.
On the table in front of them lays a small glass box, with several glass corridors connecting to the main one. Inside each is a single hungry rat. Having been given the order, Barbara quickly walks over to the corridor labeled 1-A and presses the red button on top. With a slight mechanical sound the metal gate connecting the two containers disappears into the table with a "thunk".
As the fluffy white rat slowly makes it's way forward, it gets a whiff of the fresh cheese in the center and takes the bait.
"Now the gas."
Sebastian says with slight indifference. Barbara is quick to comply and flips a little switch on the side of the main container, which was connected to a small metal tank on the ground beside the table.
As the greenish gas fills the box, so much so as to make the rat unseen, a disgusting crunch can be heard form inside. This peaks the interest of Dr. Sebastian, and the fear of Dr. Barbara who openly flinches at the revolting noise.
"Doctor, are you sure we should continue? The specimen might die in the process."
Barbara asks in a voice laced with concern, double checking the readings on the computer in front of her as she does so.
"Yes. we should. We have plenty more test rats after all, and we will never get anywhere if we don't take risks."
Sebastian responds, excitment evident in his voice and posture.
Meanwhile, as the gas begins to slowly clear form the box, the once white and fluffy rat can now be seen in it's new form. This new form consists of green, hairless skin with several porcupine like spikes protruding form it's elongated back and tail. It's eyes taking on a glowing green color and several new teeth sprouting out from it's jaw. All in all it look like what would happen if you crossed a rat with kryptonite, then smushed it together with Frankenstein.
But in Dr. Sebastian's eyes, it was exactly what he needed. Letting out a small chuckle at his luck, he turns to Barbara and orders her to sedate it and prep the next one.
"It's going to be a long night"
she mutters wearily as she complies, inching towards the testing box.
After a long week of testing, Sebastian breathes a sigh of relief as he makes his way out of the underground laboratory. Was he going to be anxious in the coming days? Of course. His work was his life, but he knew his limits. So with a dejected look around the lab, now with papers littered about, he closes the steel door and swipes his key card across the mechanical locking mechanism, a small beep a few seconds later reassuring him it's locked.
Several minutes later as he is making his way onto the main Elevator, a loud crash can be heard coming from the lab, or would have been heard if anyone was around. Unfortunately, this practical facility didn't post guards below the 20th level for security reasons.
Of course Sebastian was clueless about this as he steps off the one-way elevator and into the underground parking lot. Walking a few feet, he stops at a blue Lexus LS with slightly tinted windows. Firing up the engine, Sebastian pulled out of his reserved parking spot and begins the tedious task of driving the twelve-storeys up to surface level.
A handful of boring minutes later and he's finally driving down main street, rolling down his windows and enjoying the summer breeze. As he's driving he takes a moment to absentmindedly examine his surroundings: the towering skyscrapers, the flashing billboards, and of course the sea of people and cars that are always present in medium cities like Portland.
Thanks to traffic, it takes a grueling hour-and-a-half to get to his apartment on 18th Ave. Pulling into the parking lot below the complex, he stops in his reserved spot before heading up the stairs to his apartment, number 203.
Inside is a nicely made bed, a lamp, some basic curtains, a 10inch flatscreen, and all the other things you might expect from a 5 star apartment. Tossing his dirty jacket across his desk chair, he makes his way over to the minnie fridge and grabs a beer. He then plops down on the bed and turns on the TV, flipping through channels as he does so. Meanwhile a current green rat is making it's way through the sewer system, attacking other rats as it does so.
Back at the lab, a investigation team is in the midst of...well investigating. What is it they're investigating? The ruined remains of the testing box, a few dozen rat corpses, and the bent bars on a nearby vent for starters. Of course no investigation can be done unsupervised, because of this several men in bulky black combat gear such as boots, a protective vest, and fingerless gloves. Each with a menacing knife-like item attached to their left forearm, as well as a pauldron/hood combination that give them a ninja-like appearance. But most intimidating of all? They all have odd looking goggles with dark blue lenses concealed within the hoods. On their chest, right above the heart, sits their insignia: a star above a "W" like mark.
Only four are present, but even with such a small number their commanding presence can be felt throughout the room as the investigation team nervously comb through the evidence. Each team member is deathly aware of the rumors about them. How they are willing to sacrifice anything to see their job through, how they have completely authority over others, and of course how those deemed "unneeded" tend to "disappear" from their homes or work place.
In the end, after several hours of thorough investigation, it finally came to an end in the twilight hours of the morning. One of the soldiers, the one currently sitting on a barstool and using his fist as a chair for his face, suddenly gets up and heads towards the door.
"Michael, Travis, watch the room. I'm gunna go report in, HQ has been chomping at the bit all night."
He says to two soldiers, currently involved in a high-stakes poker game. Although where they got the poker cards was anybody's guess.
"Sure thing Sarge," says the one on the right.
"Good luck," says the one on the left, both not bothering to look up.
After taking a step outside and walking down the hall to the corner, the Sargeant pulls out a small long-range radio and takes a second to tune it in.
"HQ this is Sargeant Jamieson, over."
"Roger Jamieson, this is HQ. Report." comes a voice from the other side.
"Well it took a while but we finally finished. The breach was caused by one of the lab rats,"
"Human or actual rat?" the voice asks, momentarily interrupting him.
"rat sir" he responds, now beginning to pace the hall.
"Roger, continue."
"This particular rat was the first one tested on by the scientists. According to the information provided they had been testing the newly developed GV-227 virus on several test rats over the week. However, none had shown as much of a reaction as the first. At some point last night the rat escaped and killed several of the other rats before breaking it's way into the ventilation system. Once in the vents we believe it slowly made it's way to the nearest sewer system."
"Is that all...?" the voice asks, almost sarcastically.
"Yes sir, that's all." he responds, stopping by a wall and leaning against it. There is a long pause as the people on the other side debate what to do.
While waiting for HQ to respond, Jamieson finds his mind wandering to thoughts of the annoying problems this little breach will cause him.
'I swear, if they make me go stumbling around a sewer I'm going to demand a raise'.
Suddenly the crackle of the radio resumes as the voice returns.
"Jamieson, you and your men are to guard the facility against possible threats, specifically sabotage."
"Roger, will do."
'Well alright! No sewer and a comfy chair, this day just got a whole lot better.' Letting out a small yawn, he makes his way back down the hall.
In the late hours of the morning, just as the city starts to awake and it's citizens start their day, a black, swat like truck is making it's way downtown. It's destination? Portland Waste management.
Pulling up outside a, surprisingly nice looking building, with plexiglass windows and nice potted trees. Not to mention the 4 or 5 story tall building itself and the 3 or 4 towering tanks in the background. The truck's backdoor flies open as the soldiers in black pile out and get into two lines of ten each, the commending officer following soon after. Walking to the front of the group, the officer clears his throat.
"Squads one and two are to gaurd the front, three and four the back, five with me." The officer says in a stern and routine voice.
Having been dismissed, two members of squad one take their positions by the front doors as the officer makes his way inside. Walking up to the main receptionist, a brunette of about 28 or 29, he can see the unease in her eyes. No doubt anyone would be uneasy if five, ninja like soldiers just... showed up one day.
"How," she begins in a squeaky voice before clearing her throat and trying again.
"How may i help you?" she asks, her voice coming out much clearer this time.
"Take us to your manager, we're from the government." the officer states, gesturing to the uniforms and assault rifle as proof, or possibly to make a point: "do it or we make you".
Taking the hint, the receptionist gets up (albeit slowly) and leads them to the nearby elevator. After a short trip up to the fifth floor, she then leads them to a clean looking office at the end of the far hall. Glancing around, the officer can see several random paintings and family photos littered around the office.
Sitting behind a polished oak desk is the Administrator. A man of roughly 4'5 with a slightly balding head and a cheap looking brown suit. Slightly on the overweight side after years of paperwork, the comfortable looking office chair gives a small groan as he stands. With some quick thinking, he scraps together a professional look and reaches out a hand.
"Hello sir, how may i help you?" he asks, gesturing to the cheap living room chairs positioned opposite his desk, both a dull brown color.
Taking the invitation (because why not), the officer sits in the left chair. Resting his arms as his soldiers stand behind him, one on each side. Deciding it's best to get this over with, the officer is the one to start the conversation.
"Mr. Administrator, we have a vary simple request...we need access to the sewer control systems, particularly the ones concerning water and gate control."
The man looks rather surprised to hear this news, the bushy eyebrows on his forehead creasing together in a frown.
'why would soldiers want to march around the sewers' he wonders in bewilderment. He's brought back to reality however by the drumming of the officer's hand, clearly annoyed at his hesitance.
"Of course sir, but we actually keep the sewer controls at a different place. Just down the street infact."
"Good," he says, standing up and heading for the door. As he reaches the door, he stops to glances back his yellow goggle lenses glinting as he dose. "Your coming too, for security reasons of course."
A small beed of sweat can be seen trickling down the man's face as he gets up to follow them. Seemingly as a last-minute thought, he opens one of the drawer on his desk with a little key. From the drawer he pulls out a long, thin cigar with a silver band around the end. Taking a moment to run it under his nose, he then pulls out a plastic lighter and brings the flame to the cigar tip. Taking several quick breaths, the end starts to glow cherry red as foul smelling smoke fills the room.
Some time later the officer (and the man), are inside the control room, fiddling with switches and buttons.
"No not that one,...not that one ether...THAT ONE'S THE PRESSURE RELEASE!" the man yells in a mixture of alarm and annoyance, having clearly been at this for a while.
"Well then you do it egghead!" the officer fires back, already thinking how easy it would be for no one to find the plump bastard.
"Fine but it's not my fault you can't take basic instructions!"
Needles to say it has been a trying 20 minute for both men.
After "taking care" of the Administrator (aka stuffing him in a nearby locker), the officer is finely beginning the mission he was sent here to do: find and capture 1-A. If additional targets are found, eliminate them.
To that end, he takes a seat at the controls and removes his hood and mask. Once off, he takes a puff of the still lit cigar and begins issuing orders.
"Squads three and four move into the sewer system from the northwest entrance." *inhale*
"Roger"
"Roger"
*exhale... cough, cough* "squads one and two, no change"
"Roger"
"Roger"
Down in the depths of the building, Sanchez (a member of squad four) is the first through the 3'3 hole, originally a heavy metal sewer grate. The splash from his boots echo throughout the long pipeline. Standing up to his full height (5'6), he finds that his head barely touches the ceiling. At the same time, he can see that light in the pipe only extends around 10 feet, with shitty green hazard lights every 25 feet.
Walking a few feet, he continues to scan the environment with his goggles as more soldiers drop down. Once all eight are down the team make they're way along the right side, stopping a few times at the sewer grates.
As they begin to make their way deeper, they start to notice small signs of habitation. Signs like starch marks, dead things (rats mostly), and oddly enough moldy blankets.
"HQ, possible human presence. Over."
"Acknowledged. Proceed with caution, if anyone is encountered assume they are infected and eliminate them."
"Copy that HQ, over and out."
Turning to his men, the captain in charge of this little expedition reminds them of their purpose.
"Remember, kill anything glowing green...and make sure to take a sample when possible."
After a while they come across what looks like the main room, or at least the one for this block. The floor is made of concrete with a main "stream" running through the middle, and along the sides is railing. In the left corner is a small, 8×8 monitoring room.
As the others fan-out around the room, Sanchez and one of the soldiers from squad 3 search the monitoring room. Inside they find a crappy computer and some monitors. After bypassing the password (thank god for government equipment) they find that the computer is connected to a total of 20ish cams. The cameras are scattered throughout the system, with the majority focused around open areas.
Giving a quick look though the cams, Sanchez see's a frightening sight. Hundreds of green rats feasting on... what appears to be homeless corpses? What's worse? The rats are in the midst of breeding, and in the background several new rat nests can be seen. All thickly laced with green.
With shaky hands, Sanchez reaches for his walkie-talkie.
"HQ we have a situation,"
"Copy, what is the problem soldier"
"The GV-227 test rat has infected and bred with the local rats. Currently a full blown infestation is under way. Orders?"
"..."
"..."
"How do you have this information without being compromised?"
"We were able to hookup to the sewer cams"
"Are the camera controls within a defensible location?"
By now several more soldiers had made their way in to see what the situation was, one of which was the captain who swiftly takes over the conversation.
"The cams room has a defens of 3. Suggest retreat, with the exception of two soldiers to keep wacht."
"Copy, you may proceed" with that the line goes dead as the soldiers look at each other, each wondering who will be left behind.