"Lieutenant Travis Brennan." Hearing my name called, I make my way to the front of the small auditorium. Taking three steps up onto the stage, I walk directly over to my Captain. We salute, and he extends his hand for me to shake.

"Congratulations Lieutenant Brennan. We're proud to have you on our team."

"Thank you Captain Thompson," my only reply as he hands me a certificate which states that I have successfully completed specialized training and have been inducted into the Militia Hunter Special Operations Unit.

I step forward, salute, then shake hands with Major Jones. He is the man in charge of all Hunter Special Ops Units or HSOU.

"Congratulations Lieutenant."

"Thank you Sir."

He steps forward and pins a HSOU badge to my chest and continues, "I've heard great things about you Lieutenant, graduating first in your class in all areas of training. Talent like yours is hard to find. We'll definitely be keeping a special eye on you Soldier."

"Not for long," is my first thought, but I respond with, "Yes Sir. Thank you Sir," instead.

I make my way across the rest of the stage and return to my seat, but not before seeing my mother and sister's smiling faces in the back of the room.

The Colonel makes some more comments and brings things to a close by congratulating our unit as a whole and dismissing us to go spend the rest of the day with family and friends who came to cheer us on. I shake hands with my fellow graduates. Joining any Special Ops Unit entails a grueling training regimen which involves pushing one's mind and body beyond what most would consider reasonable limits. Many don't make it. In fact, our class started with fifteen soldiers, yet only six of us completed the program. Those that didn't make the cut are sent back down to general duty and placed according to skill level in a job that best suits their skills.

I feel a strong pat on my back, then a hand grip my bicep as Jay Sanders, a fellow graduate, pulls me into a congratulatory hug. "We did it Bro. We fucking did it! Can you believe this shit?"

As I return the hug I reply, "You're welcome Sanders. We both know you couldn't have done it without me."

"Yeah right," he responds, chuckling as he pushes me back. "Just because you're a freak of nature with your above average hand to hand combat skills, doesn't mean I can't take you Brennan...in your sleep!"

Sanders is a good guy and the only one I would consider a friend. I've purposely distanced myself from everyone else since our motives for being here are obviously very different. Sanders and I met our first week on base and bonded over our twisted sense of humor. He's definitely the jokester of our unit, but he's also the most real of the bunch. I don't see him as the kind of guy who gets his rocks off chasing after innocent girls who've gone on the run to escape a life of breeding, like these other clowns, and that's why I have my suspicions about why he's here. At this point, I trust him with my life, just not with my secret. That's for me to know and me alone.

I look up from him and see my baby sister Grace and my mom coming towards me. Grace has a huge smile on her face, "Congratulations Shithead!"

As I pull her into a bear hug I say, "Uh, that'll be Lieutenant Shithead to you Squirt!" I kiss the top of her head and look to my mom who joins in the hug.

"Congratulations Travis!" She pulls back and looks me in the eyes, "Graduating top of your class. I'm so proud of you." I might believe she actually means it, if I didn't notice how her smile fails to reach her eyes.

Six months ago when I told her I was joining the Militia, her initial response was, "No Travis. Why?" So I gave her some bullshit story about how I wanted to make something more of myself and be able to better provide for her and Grace. I also played on the fact that in High School, testing showed I had a strong aptitude for thriving in a highly structured environment. She didn't buy it then and even less so when I called after boot camp to tell her she wouldn't be hearing from me for the following ninety days or so since I would be training for a Special Ops Unit.

"Which unit?" she asked.

I didn't respond.

"Which unit Travis?!" Her voice was loud and unforgiving.

"The Hunters, Mom, I've been recruited to join the Hunters. I'm sorry, but I've got to go. I'll call you as soon as I can." I hung up the phone before she was able to respond.

I'm pulled away from the memory when I hear Sanders call out my name. "Travis, I'm heading out man."

I introduce him to my mom and Grace and tell him I'll hit him up in the next day or so. Our unit has been granted a one week leave, which is typical upon graduation, so most of us are heading back home. I considered staying on base to avoid my mother's scrutiny which is sure to come, but I need time to process what I've learned and implement a plan.

As my mom, Grace and I make our way to the door, I'm forced to make a few more introductions. I hate bullshit niceties, it feels like such a waste of time... because it is a waste of my time. These people and this place won't be a part of my future. When we finally reach the exit, I tell my mom I need to run back to the barracks, gather my things, and I'll meet her and Grace back at home.

"Alright Sweetie. Just be sure you're home in time for dinner."

"Mom and I are making your favorite," Grace chimes in.

"Well if that's the case, you two better get home and start cookin'!"

I pull into the driveway a few hours later. The sun is setting behind the house, and I can't deny that it feels strange to be back home. The moment I found out Maddie ran, the course of my life changed. Within a week I enlisted. The timing was perfect. I barely made the cutoff for boot camp which started the following week. Had I not joined when I did, I would've had to wait another three months to start and sitting idle would've killed me.

I grab my things out of the car and go inside. The smell of my mom's homemade cooking hits my nose immediately, and suddenly I'm overtaken by hunger. With so much going on this morning, packing up and getting ready for graduation, I didn't get to the mess hall for breakfast.

"Travis is that you honey?" my mom yells from the kitchen.

"Yeah it's me." I put my bags down in the entryway and head into the kitchen. "It smells great in here. You have no idea how much I've missed your cooking."

"You have no idea how much your sister and I have missed you."

At the same time that I walk up behind my mom and kiss her on the cheek Grace says, "Speak for yourself Mom!"

I turn to see her sticking her tongue out at me, and I make my way over to where she's setting the table. "So you haven't missed your big brother?" I wet my index finger and stick it in her ear.

"Ewwwwww! Travis. You're disgusting!" she exclaims as she scrambles to get away from my finger, which I keep trying to put back in her ear.

"Come on Grace you know you've missed this," I respond laughing.

"I haven't missed you being annoying that's for sure," but the lack of conviction in her voice makes it clear she's missed me as much as I've missed her.

My mom steps up beside us and places a tray of lasagna down on the middle of the table. "Come on you two let's eat," she says.

Grace gives me a little shove.

"I've missed you too Squirt," my only response and a smile takes over her face.

Dinner was so good, I'm finding it hard to move. I ate three servings and was actually considering another, until my mom reminded me that our kitchen is always open. Sitting here on my bed, I'm tempted to take a nap due to this self-imposed food coma I've placed myself in, but now that I'm away from the barracks I need to organize. Reaching over, I pull a notebook out of my bag. I decided I need to keep notes regarding anything that may help with Maddie. I don't want to keep any notes on base, so I'll keep them hidden in my room. Since I've completed training and base isn't too far from home, I'll be able to access it without too much trouble if it's here.

I open the notebook and begin to write down what I've learned so far.

Breeder Compound:

Tri-level facility. Two levels located above ground. One Underground.

Top level is a hospital setting/labs/testing rooms.

Ground level holds offices for hospital staff/Militia personnel, kitchen.

Underground level - Breeder holding cells/interrogation rooms, residential quarters.

Underground tunnels off N/W side used by Militia Top Level Personnel but primarily Hunters when bringing in new Breeders/escapees. Leads to Dominegoni/Hwy 74.

After first trimester breeders are brought somewhere- where?

Camera surveillance located throughout facility. Accurate count?

Surveillance towers on S.W./N.E. corners of compound.

Perimeter surveillance- Armed soldiers always present except during shift change. 10 min max left unmanned- twice a day - during shift exchange. 3 soldiers on duty per shift. 1 per tower, 1 at gate. All have been stationed at facility for min. 5 years.

Davey Johnson IT Coordinator- Plan boys night out. Gain intel Ally?Both?

Possible allies- Sanders, others?

Potential problem- Jenkins-Kiss Ass needs a beat down A.S.A.P.

Lastly- Ask Hot Doctor out next time I'm at compound.

***Authors Note***

What do you think about Travis and Hot Doctor?

**Thank you so much for taking the time to read Chapter 4. We would love your feedback, so please feel free to comment. If you've enjoyed this chapter you can vote for it by clicking the star. Also, please add Breeder Nation to your library if you'd like to continue this journey with us. We truly appreciate your support. <333 Kara Michelle**

(This version of Breeder Nation is in it's most raw and un-edited form.)