Birth of Heavy Metal

Fountain of Youth, or Valley of Death? While eating his supper of microwave popcorn, PhD student-genius Salinger Jacobs is grabbed from his apartment in California, stuck on a C-130 military plane, and sent to the Sahara Desert to witness the reality of the ZOO for himself. With the life expectancy of untrained scientists working inside the ZOO measured in hours, he has a lot to learn. Fast. First order of business? How do you shoot a gun, and just how much is that plant worth?

Salinger Jacobs treats others as he is treated. Screw him over, and he might hold stuff back. You have his back? He will have yours. When a fellow scientist is screwed over by her company, she seeks out his fledgling Mercenary company to see if they can use another smart mind. Since he obviously didn't want her body. With opportunities coming at him and his partner Madigan faster than they can handle, another mind might be just what Heavy Metal needs. But will it come with too many complications? In the ZOO you always expect the unexpected. Will this be true for relationships?

Sal is hard at work trying to figure out if he can keep his crazy little company afloat, and now he wants to add more headcount? Kennedy isn't sure what is going on inside his young and not-all-that-wise head. Courtney is worried that the new hire Salinger wants might not be the best choice for the company - or her. When an unexpected call comes in, Salinger's team gets changed around drastically. He and Kennedy have to scramble to figure out how to balance it again. Can they produce the income they need or will they run out of time and end up food for the creatures in the ZOO?

There is a problem with Courtney's company and those that wish to have Courtney step down. Amanda and Anja are working on the base and have purchased an AI to help. Unfortunately, the AI had to be purchased after-market and already has a personality. What do you do when a prurient AI is connected to a ton of guns all around your house? Heavy Metal is fighting inside the ZOO and outside the ZOO. Is their ability to hide the bodies outside of the ZOO going to cause problems? There is a billionaire on one side and our team on the other.

There is a group engaging four new mercenaries, prepping them with simulated operations in the Zoo. How come? Courtney has approved a new member of her team in California, and Sal isn't sure it was a good idea. This time, there is another group learning what it takes to plunder the Zoo. Can they live through it? Salinger Jacobs is working to build his company as fast as possible. Will he make mistakes he can't think his way out of?

Lieutenant Gregor Popov is on trial for his efforts along with Heavy Metal to save the Russian scientists. Will they go after Sal, Madigan, and Courtney next? Will Popov get a light sentence or something worse? Savage has been tasked with an operation hidden from everyone. Unfortunately, the operation requires him to work with Molina. To make a deal, Courtney must request help. This time, nothing is taken for granted except the ZOO will do what it always does: kill people.

Sometimes the good guys win and the bad guys end up dead. But that isn't how it always goes down. In the ZOO, you are either fast and lucky or you are dead. Heavy Metal has a few videos that are out gaining attention in parts of the world, and that doesn't bode well for them. Some people are noticing that Sal and his team have someone extra-special working with them, and they want a piece of her...or all of her. This time, it's back to basics for Heavy Metal with just Sal, Madigan, and Courtney. Are they enough to save their friend?

Heavy Metal has benefited from promo videos, but unfortunately, someone figured out that some of the driving during the Russian Base operation...was just too damned good. People are noticing that Sal and his team have someone extra-special working with them, and they want a piece of her...or all of her. What is the other team willing to attack Sal's people with to get what they want? And do they have capabilities Sal can't conceptualize?