The Killers Amongst Us: Chimera Dawn Chronicles (33 page)

SUMMERS
watched the forward base commander pick up his
microphone. He flicked the transmit switch to the red marker.

“Red Team Leader. Any survivors at the sanctuary, FBC, over.

“All clear, sir. No access to the elevator shaft. “RT
leader, over.”

“Pull out. The Nutcracker ’ll be there in fifteen minutes,
over.

“Affirmative, RT, leader,” out.

Summers hoped that the bunker buster bombs would destroy the
underground facility over at the sanctuary. He turned his attention to the
monitor showing the inside of the troop transporter from blue team leader’s
helmet cam. His vision was trained on a sniper. He was using the roof of the
driver’s cab to mount his rifle, a spotter beside him. His rifle recoiled, then
he saw a puff of smoke signaling that the shot was taken. The spotter turned
and gave a thumbs-up. The speaker crackled.

“FB. Camera at the gate disabled, Blue Team Leader, awaiting
orders, over.”

“All units go. FBC, out.”

Blue team leader’s helmet cam danced over his crew in the
back of the truck. They were all seasoned at ops, but you could see the
apprehension on their faces. From talking to them earlier, he knew that some
would be thinking about their loved ones. Some would be praying and considering
their own mortality. Others would be running over their individual tasks. A
thumbs-up appeared on the monitor. Whatever they had been thinking, all of them
grasped their Mk 18 CBQR rifles in readiness.

“One and two batteries, one round each all assets.”

“Affirmative, firing.”

Summers turned his attention to the prepper’s compound. He
heard the roar from the batteries as they unleashed their projectiles, then
waited. Plumes of smokes from the explosions rose into the sky. The dust clouds
cleared. The pyramid of containers had been breached, with a gaping hole on the
second tier of the structure.

“Choppers, go, go, FBC, over.”

“Copy that, Black Team Two, out.”

He glanced at blue team’s monitor showing the lead vehicle
and down the line of trucks. The leader turned his head, scanning the top of
the ravine ahead.

“Oh shit.” he heard over the speakers. All Summers could see
was a cloud of dust from an explosion at the racks holding the boulders, then
the camera shot rolled around. A boulder crashed into the back of the truck,
taking out some of the troops.

“Under attack. Under attack,” screamed someone through the
loudspeakers.

“Shit, why didn’t we use Humvees,” the commander said.

Summers’ eyes danced around the screens. The Pyramid looked
like an illusionist’s magic trick, with bursts of lightning rolling down from
the protruding antennae over the surface.

“What the hell is that?” Summers said, and pointed to the
screen.

“Never mind that,” said the commander, “what’s going down at
the entrance.”

All Summers could see was a cam shot facing away from the
gate. Dogs were leaping about, ragging the necks of the trapped soldiers, then
moving on. The camera shot started to rotate as if their team leader had lost
his helmet. He could see the team leader, poking his rifle in the direction of
the camera. His leg was trapped with a boulder, and with his face mashed and
bleeding, his breaths short and rapid.

‘FBC to C-one, black hawk team, can you take out the dogs?
Over.”

“Sir, if we do, it’ll be blue on blue. There are some of our
guys still fighting them off down there. The troops in the transport are ready
to abseil, what should we do?”

“Get them in there and have them flank the entrance, but take
out their communication mast at the top of the pyramid first, over and out.”

“Affirmative. C-one, out.”

A voice groaned over the loudspeaker, with no attempt at
call signs.

“I’m done for, my… my rifle is jammed,” said the blue team leader.
His eyes widened. “Oh, fuck.”

The cam shot danced around the scene, then pointed away from
the team leader. The face of what appeared to be a rabid dog stared into the
screen. It was as if the creature had control of the helmet and placed it to
one side on a boulder. It was a creature alright, the head of a dog, but with
the body of a human. It looked over at blue team leader and roared, its body trembling
then it transformed fully into a dog, charging at his pray. Blue team leader
limply lifted his pistol, automatic rounds hitting the dog and it fell on him.

“Sir, they’re abseiling now.”

“Yeah, I see, but what’s that happening with the pyramid.”

The streaks of lightning emanating from the antennae gave
way to a translucent dome covering the entirety of the pyramid. First one and
then the second soldier hit the dome, disintegrating in puffs of smoke.

“FBC. Transport, abort, abort.”

“It was too late for the third abseiling soldier as the dome
devoured him, then the transport peeled away.

Summers grabbed the commander by the shoulder.

“You may want to see this.”

The body of the dog trembled, shedding its coat. Its body
transformed to half-human with the head of a dog, than rose to its feet. Stooping
it picked up blue team leader’s pistol, putting a bullet in his head. Then it
turned to the camera. Bullet wounds in his chest faded, then disappeared
altogether. The thing rattled its chest like a gorilla and roared.

“Jesus, is that what we’re up against?” said Summers.

“Right, that’s it, FBC to all batteries, blow the entire
quarry to kingdom come until you’ve no rounds left. Damn it, where the hell is
the drone?”

“ETA, twenty five minutes, sir.”

THE
ground shook in the tunnel to the sound of dull
explosions. It was looking like they may be too late to save anyone.

“You’d better be quick with this improvisation, whatever it
is.”

“Come on, everyone back a safe distance,” said Frank. “Time
to get the toys out.”

Shaw followed the men halfway back toward the entrance.

Frank called out. “That’s far enough. Jack, pass the rocket
grenade launcher.”

“I thought I said…. Oh, never mind. They’ll hear that. They
could start killing the women and children.”

“Just get down, there’s no other option. Whatever they’re
pounding them with up there ’ill mask the noise… I hope.”

Shaw hit the dirt, covering his head with his hands.

“Fire in the hole.”

All he heard was a whoosh, then a massive explosion. Shaw lifted
his head. Debris showered him from the roof of the tunnel. A cloud of dust
headed his way, pierced by rays of light, and he turned his back. Coughing and
spluttering, he covered his mouth.

“Come on, it’s only dust. Chop, chop. We have light,” Frank said.

Shaw charged on down the tunnel. The grenade had done its
work. Cox tugged on his jacket.

“Don’t go rushing through, we’re trained for this.”

Shaw stepped out of the way. His heart pounded as
apprehension struck. All he could hope was that Amy was alive, and he could get
her the hell out of there, even if it meant him losing his own life.

Cox and Carla set a crouching stance, then inched out into
the corridor, both covering left and right. Cox signaled Shaw with a sway of
her hand, pointing her fingers to her eyes and then down the corridor to her
right. Shaw stepped out behind her.

“It’s a dead end to the left. We need to make our way to
that door.”

Shaw signaled to Frank.

“Get everyone in the corridor. I’ll go through the door with
Cox and Carla. If it’s all clear, follow us through.”

Shaw stared at the door, and took a deep breath.

“Dad!”

He snatched his head in the direction of her voice.

“Amy?”

“I’m in here with Ted.”

“Ted!”

Amy stepped out through a door, a young woman beside her.
Ted was behind them, a pistol in his hand.”

Shaw snatched his gun arm in their direction, with Cox and
Carla covering them from either side of him.

“Drop the gun now. Step away from Amy, ya slime ball.”

“Whoa, I can explain.”

Amy stepped back, her arms out as if protecting Ted. The
young woman threw her arms round Ted’s neck.

“Dad, don’t be stupid. Put your gun down. He’s with us.”

“She’s right. I knew you’d get my message,” Ted said.

“What message?”

“The one I left on my phone for your goons to find. I knew
they were following.”

Shaw slipped his fingers inside his pocket and teased out
Ted’s cell phone, not taking his eyes off of him.

“The GPS coordinates on the map, remember? I just stuck it
in there approximately. When I got to my cabin, I saw you’d installed a GPS
app. When I punched in the numbers, it led me here. I knew you’d follow if I
left the coordinates as a message.”

Shaw fumbled to bring up his messages.

“He’s telling the truth. He’s told me about the virus. There
are stacks of boxes in here with the antidote.” Amy said, and pointed back into
the room.

“Yeah, then why the suit and tie, and the gun.”

“Some woman called Cat gave it to me and said to protect
Amy. She was with a bunch of big cats. Scared the crap outta me. She said to
tell you to rescue the women and kids while they tried to destroy the power
source for some dome. The suit, yeah, that was a stupid idea. I thought I could
talk my way through the gate and pretend to be a mine inspector.”

Amy huffed, grabbed a hold of Ted’s gun and snatched it from
his grasp, then pointed it at her dad.

“What the…?”

“We’re wasting time. Ted’s not the enemy,” said Amy, and
stamping her feet.  The ground shook all around them. “We need to rescue the
women and children now, before whoever is attacking blows us all to hell.”

Frank grabbed Shaw’s arm, forcing his gun arm to his side.

“She’s right, we’ve got other business.”

Shaw glanced at the message on Ted’s cell phone.

He pointed to Abi. “Who is this?”

“My sister, Gail.”

With her hair cropped short, and those extra years, he’d not
recognized her. As he studied her, the image of Gail flashed through his mind.
He made the judgment call.

“Amy, give Ted his gun back,” said Shaw, “we’ll talk later.”
He turned to Frank. “Escort them out of here. Don’t take them to the buses. I
don’t trust Fuller. Make a circle around him and get them to the horses.”

“I’m not going anywhere. My children are through there,” Abi
said, and pointed to the door.

“And I’m not leaving any of my kin,” said Ted.

“I go where Ted and you go,” said Amy.

“Damn it, stay behind us all. If we get in a gun fight, get
Amy and your sister outta here.”

“Yes, sir.”

They arrived at the door. Abi stepped forward.

“I’ll go through first. If there’s any danger, I’ll signal.”

She didn’t wait for a reply, pulling the door open and
walked on through. Cox trapped the door with her foot. Shaw watched two young
girls run up to Abi and she knelt, embracing them both.

“Abi turned her head, “It’s clear.”

Cox and Carla entered first. Shaw followed. It soon became
apparent there was no resistance. The militia fanned out in the chamber. The
thunder above them was relentless. Over in one corner, Shaw saw women and
children huddled together.

“Get the women and children out of here.”

One of the women rose to her feet and stepped forward.

“I’m not going anywhere. We’ll never be reunited with our
boys.”

Her act of defiance had the rest of their women nodding in
agreement. Shaw turned to Abi.

“What’s all this about boys?”

“They’re taken from us at birth. It’s what has kept us here
and compliant.”

Shaw walked over and addressed the women. “Listen,” he said
and looked at his watch. “In twenty-five minutes, this entire facility is going
to be blown to oblivion, to include you, and your kids. Our security services
found you, so I am confident they’ll find your boys.”

The women talked between themselves.

One of them faced Shaw.

“We’re not going. Our leader assures us we will all have
everlasting life, so your bombs can’t hurt us.”

Abi stepped forward.

“It’s all a lie. There’s no such thing as everlasting life
for us or our children. Look at yourselves. I’ve just witnessed them killing
Ammon, and he killed one of their guards. Just think about who you are. You’re flesh
and blood. I’m not Abayomi. I’m Gail Harvey. I was borne in Beverly Hills. I
had my future taken from me, same as you all. I have parents and a brother, and
a sister I’ve never seen. I’ve been stuck here for six years, and I want my
life back. He’s right. They found us and they’ll find our boys.”

The women glanced at each other, then one stepped forward
with her three girls.

“We’ll go, I’m Maria Hernandez from Sacramento, and I want
my life back.”

Shaw took of his Stetson as they all stepped forward.

“Dad, where’s Gyp? He was with Cat when they arrived.”

Abi stepped forward and talked to one of the women, then
returned.

“Your dog went with the women and the cats in the elevator
to the second level. Maria heard them say that they going to try and take out
the dome power source.”

“What dome?”

“Ammon told me it’s a shield to protect us from attack. Your
bombs won’t penetrate the dome. He said that your arms were primitive and
nothing on Earth could destroy it.”

Cox tugged at Shaw’s sleeve.

“I need a word in private.”

Shaw stepped away from Abi, leaned over to Cox, and she
whispered.

“I didn’t want to say this, but we need to get the hell away
from here, either that or help Cleo’s girls to destroy the power source.”

“Why’s that?”

She looked at her watch. “Because when I listened in on
CONOPs frequency, I heard that we’ve got more than the bunker bombs to think
about in twenty-five minutes. If they’re not successful, in one hour, they have
executive orders to drop nuclear warheads.”

“What! Why didn’t you say?”

“Because I didn’t think it would come to that, and I’d not
heard about this dome. Carla and me have already decided to go to the second
level to help Cleo’s girls.”

“Holy crap.”

Shaw was stunned into silence as his mind tried to get his
head around what she had said. He hurried over to Frank. He was talking to Amy
and Ted. Shaw pulled him out of earshot.

“Get your militia to get these women and kids out to the
buses. Tell them to each grab a box of the antidote from that room. Have some
of the women carry them if they can’t handle them all. Tell your boys to get
the boxes to the medical center and to all get shots.”

“What about you?”

“Never mind me. I’ll get out soon. Get Amy, Ted, and Gail to
the horses and do as I said earlier. Like I said, I don’t trust Fuller. He
could be working with Cleo to find her a host, and Amy could be the conduit.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I’m going to the second level with Cox and Carla. We’ve got
to destroy their power source. Besides Gyp’s up there. Whatever you do, don’t
tell Amy. Does any of your guys have explosives.”

“Yeah, Greg has some.”

“Send him to me.”

Frank scowled, but shuffled off and did as ordered. Shaw
called Ted over to him, leaving Amy talking to Gail.

“Ted, I need you to do something. I want you to go with
Frank to the horses and to avoid the school buses. Get Amy and your sister with
her kids into hiding. Don’t contact me for a couple of weeks until everything
has died down.”

“I won’t ask why. Look, just a suggestion. Give me the
password to your e-mail.

“Why?”

“It’s how I contact my dad. When you both have access to the
same e-mail address, you can write a draft without sending, then delete it
after the other confirms it is read.”

“Got it. Amy has my e-mail. The password is Catherine.
Listen, Ted, I don’t have to say…”

“I know, sir. I’ll look after her.”

Cox was already at the elevator with Carla as the chamber
emptied. It took forever for the cage to arrive. The door sucked open.

“We have to wait for Greg. He has some explosives.”

None of them spoke a word as they waited. Greg walked
through the door and then Frank.

“I thought I told you to go with Ted and Amy?”

Frank hutched the strap of a rocket grenade launcher on his
shoulder.

“I did. Tom is guiding them to the horses. His sister has
gone to the buses. Said one of her kids was running a fever, so she thought it
better to go with the rest of them so they could check out her daughter.”

“Okay, I’ll just take the explosives and you two can get
away from here.”

“The hell we will. I’m not dumb. There’s no way you’d be
going up there just to save Gyp. Anyways, whatever, what do you know about
explosives?”

“For God’s sake, Get in the cage. The clock’s ticking,” said
Cox.