Cerberus Bites

Origin Story:

Hellhounds are specially trained experts in detecting drug paraphernalia, gun powder, and plastique residue, and are strenuously tested and trained in stressful situations making them apex predators for breaches and foot chases. Before a dog can begin its training, it goes through a rigorous selection process to make sure it can effectively process thoughts and assert adaptations faster than typical dogs. Cerberus is one such K9. Graduating at the top of his class in performance, adaptations, and obstacle avoidance (minus car tires), Cerberus was looked to by industry security experts as a prime example of the physique and mental devotion that all K9’s should have when going into stressful security situations for personal, professional, and military applications.

On July 5th, 2017 during a Blackout Security detail at an undisclosed Humane Labs test site, a firing mechanism in a highly top secret weapon malfunctioned that resulted in a chemical fire which created a chaotic and hectic scene of scientists and field agents fleeing from the testing labs. As security, Titus Zates and Lawrence Kazinsky were tasked with getting everyone out and clearing the scene until emergency services could arrive.

Pipes were bursting into flame in the hallways spewing sparks and smoke into the facility. After nearly passing out due to noxious gas exposure, Titus and Lawrence ducked into a refrigerated room to get relief from the heat. As they looked around they could tell this was some form of genetics testing lab riddled with microscopes, blood work machines, computers, and towering cryopods lining the walls with glass viewports, just frosted over enough to not be able to make out what was inside. After a brief moment of catching their breath, they made their way for the door on the backside of the lab when a pipe in the floor ruptured, causing a massive explosion which sent cages and heavy lab equipment flying across the room through a whirlwind of flames.

Moments later, Titus woke, opening his blurry eyes to a bloody fire extinguisher that had hit him in the head. After finding his footing and locating Lawrence, folded under a desk he had been blown under, the two worked their way to their feet and tried to relocate the exit. As they made their way to the door, faint squeaking could be heard from a metal box in the corner just below the cryotube where the floor had exploded. Green ooze ran down the charred base of the tube as Titus pulled the box out of the way, revealing a curled up ball of fur on the floor. He scooped up the creature and put it in his pocket as him and Lawrence made their way out.

Once outside, Titus was just about to hand the creature to the head scientist as he overheard him speaking to a man dressed in military fatigues about letting the fire rage on to destroy what was left of the facility with everything still in it and just writing off the explosions as a gas leak in a kitchen. Seeing whatever this creature was just thrown away as an “Oops” motivated Titus to conceal the creature until he and Lawrence could leave.

Later at the Blackout HQ as several agents were collecting to debrief, Titus sat in the locker room as he took the creature out of his pocket and looked it over. It was dark colored with orange highlights but it looked somewhat like a puppy. Too young to yet see, Titus thought about a name that resembled its pain of rejection, a guardian to the fiery underground secrets that Humane Labs tried to conceal that day. “I think I’ll call you Cerberus.” The pup's eyes opened…

Cerberus is a well trained K9 with an extremely short and aggressive temperament.