I only go about a meter in before I light up the first chemical light stick by snapping the plastic cylinder. I throw it to the ground at my feet. The darkness is almost solid here due to the trees. The green glow caused strange reflections of the plants and fog.

I lit another two and slid them into little pockets on my armour’s upper arms. They were placed there to hold them. I had not done this before entering to gauge the level of light getting through today. The lights make me an easy target but in the dark pathway, it was the best I could do.

I continue to walk slowly forward scanning to the left and right. I have my axe and shield up and ready to respond to any attack. I stop and the end of this first row of trees. The first junction is in front of me. I place another light here. These chemical light sticks are designed to stay alight for twelve hours. I had been supplied extra for this mission so I was not worried about being frugal.

The junction is an area where the trees are broken up and allow what light gets through the fog to be seen. Again, I check around before lighting the stick but still no threats. It is possible that the zone had not created any new threats but I was not taken any chances.

I walk across the junction to the next dark area and light another stick for the ground. I advance with caution. As I walk a flash of colour catches my eye. In the bark of one of the trees, someone has placed a pink toy troll. I was expecting to see this and it is a sign that I have reached the halfway mark. I stop here spending a few minutes scanning and listening for any movement. Nothing.

I stand there taking in all around me. The air was damp. The smell of decay was light but noticeable. There was no sound of animals or birds. The wind was none existent. It was deathly quiet. Looking back, I could see the light from the sticks. Looking forward there was darkness with patches of light weakly getting through. The only real sound was my breathing. Nothing else.

I am getting freaked out now. Everyone that has culled this zone has been engaged by at least one hostile by now. Experience has taught me this as well as the other incident reports. The zone effect is probably aggerating my mental state as well.

I go on moving slower than normal. I begin to check the vegetation more closely for hidden enemies. I even look up to see if there is anything in the trees above me. Still nothing.

I reach the second junction. I light and place two more markers. The trees and shrubbery are now thinning out will less on both sides from here onwards. This is where I turn left.

I walk along the path to the first right. I had covered a short distance of about ten meters when I turn right lighting another stick. This pathway leads to the Patrick Allan-Fraser mortuary chapel. The chapel comes clearer as I approach it. The mixed styles that make up the chapel identify it with its size.

The breach is located on the other side of the chapel. The chapel used to be opened to the public at set times. Since the zone, it has been sealed. The structure has held up nicely. Hell, the Victorians build stuff to last.

I walked around the chapel.

Void Breach

The usual feelings at reaching the breach welled up within my mind. Again, I am able to resist through experience and sheer stubbiness. Before me, the fog has formed a circle around a hairline two-dimensional crack in space. The circle is about six meters. The chapel’s back wall is revealed without the ever-present fog lingering. The crack is shimmering like a heat mirage. So, nothing out of the ordinary.

I check the chapel’s other side for threats. When I circle the chapel with no danger present, I decide to move to the next part of the mission. I pull my flare gun out of my belt holster and fire it off into the sky. The flare shorts of and the area is bathed in a green glow distorted by the fog.

The lack of any threats is nagging at me. I put the gun away and stand guard alert for threats. I stand just on the edge of the Void breach. This is the part of these missions that I hate. The stress of my occupation now mingles with boredom. The old military saying of “hurry up and wait” is the best description.

It should take no more than twenty minutes to get the breach sealer to my location. It is really hard to keep a track of time in zones and being hyper-vigilant does not help.

Give in.

The words are soft and seem to come from behind me. I spin around seeking the source. Nothing. My instincts kick into combat mode.

Not alone.

Again, I spin around looking for the source. This was freaking me out. I quickly looked around. My heart rate is surging. Numerous emotions flow through me. What the fuck is going on!

I see the light from the support team’s chemical lights approaching me.

“Dawn!” I call out.

“Light!” The countersign comes.

The figures and the flatbed become clearer as they move through the fog towards me. At the head of the support team is a face I know.

“Hey, Johnny.” Says Fred. Corporal Fredrick Maxson is a British Army lifer who has worked with me on several missions and helped train me. Lou, he and I have had several extended drinking sessions that have nearly put me in hospital with alcohol poisoning.

“What’s wrong Johnny? You took some time with the flare.” It was clear that I was distracted and on edge.

“The zones freaking me out today.” I answer but keep looking around. Hyper alert.

“What have you run into?” His concern was about something bad. The rest of the team was setting up the sealer but was listening to our conversation.

“That’s the thing. Nothing.”

“What do you mean?” Confusion was clear on his face through the faceplate of his helmet.

“I have been across this zone there are no hostiles of any type. Nothing at all.” I look straight at him when I answered. Now he looks worried.

“Nothing at all?” He echoed. The team becomes restless with concern.

“Fred let’s get this done and get out of here.” I decide this needs to be done quickly.

He focuses on my suggestion and nods his head.

“Alright, people set up the sealer and form the standard defence line.” He starts barking orders.

The rest of the support team quickly gets to work or gets into position. Both Fed and I join the defensive line looking out into the fog.

The machine is warmed up and declared readied.

“All systems functional stand by…. triggering!” One of the researchers announced.

The machine began to make a whining sound at this and the breach began to react. The mirage optical effect increased but after a minute it was clear that the crack was slowly shrinking. This all happens with my back to the breach as I lookout.

The whole line was even tenser with no threats encountered in the zone. We waited until there was a popping sound in all our inner ears marking the breach closing and disappearing from view. At that moment the zone effect on us all disappeared. Leaving us with the residue of the exposure. For me, the zone effect was fading. I know it will take longer for the support team to recover.

“All right people we are done let’s get out of here!” Fred sounded a lot happier. The fog was already beginning to be burned off by the sun.

We vacated the graveyard slowly pushing the machine back along the pathway as the power cable had been disconnected and was being pulled back to the base camp.

We all walked together with the flatbed to the archways. The fog was almost completely gone by the time we got there. As we left conversations sprang up among some of the team. Fred walked with me back to the base camp both in complaintive quiet.

We all went through the standard decon procedures and medical checks. As I was back in my trailer, changing I heard the door opening.

“John we are setting up here for the debrief.” Alexander called.

“Right.” I answered as I finished tying my laces.

I head to the other side of the trailer finding Alexander alone sitting at a small table with all the recording equipment set up. I move to the seat that had been placed facing him across the table. Alexander started the recording equipment.

“Debrief of operation ZCA-0167. The date is the 15th of March 2037 and the time is 15:33 hrs. Alexander Harley-Grenville and Zone Operative John Harrington present.”

He started the well-trodden dance for Government documentation.

“Mission briefing was held at 08:30hrs and mission commenced at 08:45hrs. The mission was for Operative Harrington to enter the zone and secure it from any threats. Once all identified threats were eliminated the support team equipped with a Zone Breach Sealer were to be called in and seal the breach.”

He paused briefly before continuing.

“Please walk through what happened.”

My turn then.

“I entered the zone and proceeded to seek out any threats. Normally the zone will have one to three Skeletons present.” Alexander frowned at the use of Skeleton as usual. “I went through the whole cemetery and found not a single threat.”

“I am sorry did you say no threats at all?”

“Yes, the cemetery was empty apart from the zone fog.” I replied. The surprise was clear on his face. As far as I was aware no zone was found to have no dangers within. Alexander took out his phone and began typing.

“I think this is an unprecedented event!” He exclaimed. This was a surprising reaction for him to say the least. He continued to fire off messages from his phone. “Please continue”

“I went through the whole cemetery finding nothing. I went to the Void Breach to confirm that I had not missed anything. I used my equipped chemical light sticks to mark out the clear path to the breach. From there I fired off the signal flare to call in the support team.” Alexander was nodding at the reconstruction of my mission.

“It was recorded that the flare was sighted and support team dispatched. It was noted by the C&C team the longer than expected sighting of the flare.” Alexander added.

“Yea, I took longer than normal checking the zone because of the lack of any threats.” Alexander just nodded and motioned to continue.

“I waited at the breach for the support team to arrive as protocol dictates. I identified myself to them when they arrived with the code phrase. I informed the team leader of the lack of threats and we continued to set up the breach sealer and establish the defensive perimeter.” So far so good. Alexander was constantly checking his phone.

“The breach was sealed and we packed up and left the zone as the fog dissipated.” I ended the report.

Alexander nodded again at this.

“Just to confirm that at no time were any threats located or engaged.” He asked.

“Not one.” I answered. Of course, I was not going to mention the voice I think I heard. That was a one-way ticket to the rooms with the padded walls for extensive monitoring. So, all quiet on that front!

“This then will mark the end of the debriefing of Zone Operative John Harrington on operation ZCA-0167.” He stated for the recorded.

He switched off the recording equipment. Most of his focus was on his phone awaiting replies to whatever messages he had sent off.

“I have a few things to add before you head off home John.” He said looking at me. “First addition medical testing will be sent to you via text soon.” I nod expecting that. “Secondly, the Government wishes to extend a formal apology for the recent partial reveal of your existence.” I nod again but say nothing. “Finally, we have become aware of individuals within our Operative organization being approached by we suspect foreign agents.”

Alright, that got my attention.

“What are they after.” I ask.

“They are seeking to recruit them for foreign governments.” He answered. “If anyone approaches you, please let us know at once.”