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Project Kelpie. Klein remembered the day is started. He had just finished his first dozen missions as a Marine Raider when they came to him. The brass wanted enhanced soldiers. They were very clear with the term. He had asked. The Super Soldier mentality falsely led men to believe they were invincible. The enhancements made you tougher, not immortal. The first batch had already finished but they needed more. Klein volunteered. He later learned what a kelpie was.

Why he remembered at this moment he didn’t know. But he remembered his training. To one side was a wall closing in. The other was a rift in the floor and ceiling. Looking down, he saw a red glow. Inside his helmet, an alarm began to chirp. Sulfur was detected and the amount was rising. Lava. The only way out was up. It would be easier with a cable gun but Klein had been prepared for an asteroid battle.

Twisted steel hung over the crevasse. Ripping out a half dozen pieces. Gripping one backward in his hand, Klein fired up his thrusters and charged the wall. The rod sank deep into the stone. Pulling himself up, Klein looked around. The others were climbing up steadily on their own path. Balancing himself with the thrusters, Klein stabbed another rod into the wall. Pulling up onto it, he repeated the process.

Now at the top of the ceiling, Klein gripped the opening and pulled himself over. someone was already there trying to help the other up. Behind of him was a jungle. And vines. Drawing his knife, Klein cut a length from a tree and threw it over the edge.

“Grab on!”

The remaining people gripped the vine and Klein pulled. They weren’t so heavy but the footing made it harder. The vine began to snap. Klein quickly wrapped the weakened part around his hand several times.

“No you don’t.”

With a final pull, Klein had the others up. Kelpie. A monster that took the form of a horse to lure the weary traveler. Once on its back, the kelpie would bolt to the water and reveal its true draconic form and eat the traveler. Much like Klein and the other enhanced soldiers. Human in appearance hiding their power to hunt their prey.