by C W Hawes
“Yes, sir,” Mostyn said. “Understand, sir.”
“Good. Very good. Best of luck to both of you.”
Mostyn and Beauregard thanked Bardon for his well wishes and the call ended.
Beauregard laughed. “Your plan is now official.”
“Van Dyne must really have a boatload of connections to stir up the pot to that degree.”
“Probably does. It’s all politics these days. Everyone greasing a palm.” The major shook his head. “Politics. You can’t live with it and can’t live without it.”
The major’s car drove into Pine Bluff and parked near the bar.
“Here you go, Mostyn. I’ll be back with my men and we’ll provide backup should you need it.”
“Thanks, Beau.”
They shook hands and Mostyn exited the vehicle. He watched the major’s car drive off, and when the taillights disappeared from view he entered the bar.
Aside from his team, Mostyn counted fifteen locals. Not bad, he thought, for a weeknight. He walked over to the table his team had claimed. He was glad to see Dotty and Helene. They weren’t sitting next to each other, but they weren’t trying to kill each other either. He took a seat between Ramsey and Baker. A waitress appeared and he ordered a club soda. When she left, Mostyn began talking.
“Bardon has given the go ahead for us to neutralize Van Dyne’s operations at the Vautier mansion. Beauregard’s unit will provide back up.”
“Why the change?” Jones asked.
“Politics, apparently,” Mostyn replied. “Somebody’s started sniffing around and Bardon’s worried Beauregard’s operation would be too big of a splash. He’s sending us three more agents.”
The conversation paused while Mostyn got his drink. When the server left, Dotty asked, “So who’s actually going in?”
“Ramsey will use the drones to create a diversion and provide on the ground surveillance. Baker and Gerstner, you can assist. Jones, myself, and the three other agents will enter through the cave.”
“And what will Dotty and I do, Mostyn Pierce?” Helene asked.
“I want you two to sit this one out.”
“Nothing doing, Mostyn,” Dotty said. “With Penn off examining the body of the Lessing Vampire, you need someone with knowledge of forensics and that’s me. I need to go along.”
“And I can get all of us into the facility without being seen,” Helene said.
“She has a point, Mostyn,” Dotty said. “A big point. How much time do you want to waste traipsing through the forest? What’s that famous quote about winning battles?”
Jones let out a laugh. “Confederate General Nathan B Forrest. Get there first and with the most men. I agree, Boss. The women make sense.”
Mostyn looked at Dotty, then Helene, and then back to Dotty.
“We’re okay, Mostyn,” Dotty said. “Bardon talked to us. Did his astral projection thing.”
A skeptical look fixed itself on Mostyn’s face.
“Seriously. We’re okay,” Dotty repeated.
He switched his gaze to Helene.
“We are ready for this mission, Mostyn Pierce.”
“Alright, then, you two will come along.”
Helene looked like a kid who’d been told to take one of everything from the candy store.
“Now that we got that out of the way,” Baker began, “I think you need me along. I can shoot pictures and I can shoot a gun. And on this operation you just might need both.”
Before Mostyn could answer, Gerstner spoke up. “And since this van Dyne is basing his creatures on legends, I might be very helpful in identifying the source of those things he’s made and their potential weaknesses.”
Mostyn ran his fingers over his crewcut. “Alright, you two can join us.”
Jones let out a laugh. “The Magnificent Seven and the farmers.”
Mostyn caste a glance in Jones’s direction. “Only the farmers won that one. Let’s hope this story ends better.”
***
The time was just before one in the morning. Some five thousand feet above the Vautier mansion a reconnaissance airship hovered, feeding video and infrared images to Mostyn and his team. By each of the two entrance roads, Beauregard had a team hidden amongst the trees. A third team was at a nearby airfield on board a helicopter.
Mostyn looked over his people. He knew one of the three special agents Bardon had sent him: Kymbra NicAskill. The other two, Caleb Lillibridge and Jim Hernandez, Mostyn knew their names and reputations, he just hadn’t worked with them before.
The crescent moon was in the western sky. No clouds obscured the stars. The team was on the road by the boulder that marked where they needed to enter the woods for the shortest route to the cave entrance.
They were dressed in black jumpsuits, black gloves, black boots, and wore black helmets with face visors and tactical lights. The visors provided night vision capability, as well as display screens for information. Each team member also had a headset for audio and verbal communication.
The weapons they carried were silenced semi-automatic pistols and a backup gun of their choice; silenced submachine guns, except for Jones, who opted for a shotgun; combat knife; and grenades: one thermite, three smoke, and three stun.
“Listen up, people,” Mostyn began. “To repeat. Helene and I will proceed to the cave entrance in a dematerialized state. We will see what the situation is, and if we can easily access the cave she will bring the rest of you. Once we are all at the cave entrance, we will enter, and neutralize the place.”
Mostyn turned to Ramsey. “Send the drones in and let’s see what they tell us.”
The special agents and Helene crowded around Ramsey’s screen to see what the little machines revealed about the path and defenses.
Jones said, “Looks the same. Cameras, laser tripwires for alarms, and nature’s pitfalls.”
“That it does, Jones,” Mostyn replied.
The drones flew through the forest and then abruptly emerged into a small clearing at the base of a hill. Ramsey sent a number of drones up the steep hillside until the Vautier mansion came into view.
“The cave entrance should be somewhere here,” Ramsey said, as he directed the drones into a search pattern.
The forest clearing had some grasses and bushes. The base of the hillside was dominated by two large trees, between which were tall bushes.
Ramsey directed several drones to fly through the bushes.
“Hot damn!” Jones exclaimed, for on the other side of the bushes was an opening about five feet by four feet with chain link fencing covering it.
“Now we know what to look for and what we need to do to enter,” Mostyn said.
“Entering will be easy, Mostyn Pierce,” Helene said, “but what is on the other side?”
“Easy to find out,” Ramsey replied. He directed several drones to fly through the chain link fence. Their little lights provided scanty illumination in the darkness of the tunnel.
“Aha!” Ramsey exclaimed, and pointed to the screen. “The heat sensors are picking up two large objects.” He fiddled with a couple virtual dials, and then pointed to the screen again. “There. And there. Looks like those three-headed dogs they’re so fond of.”
“Good work, Ramsey,” Mostyn said. “How far in are they?”
“Looks like about eighty feet.”
“Thanks.” To Helene, Mostyn said, “Ready to go?”
“Yes, Mostyn Pierce.”
“Then let’s go.” He pulled back the bolt to cock the submachine gun, and disappeared, along with Helene Dubreuil.
17
Dematerialized, Mostyn and Helene had no trouble making their way to the cave entrance. A cloud of atoms floating through the forest. They rematerialized in the small clearing. Helene sent her thoughts to Mostyn.
Do you want to wait here while I get the others, or should we go inside?
Mostyn pondered the situation for a moment, and sent his thoughts to her. Something about this doesn’t seem right. Those tree
s look fake.
Do you mean they are not real? she thought back.
More or less. They don’t look right. The bark isn’t quite normal. The leaves don’t look like tree leaves. The way the branches are shaped doesn’t look like any natural tree shape I’m familiar with.
Mostyn took out his knife and walked up to the tree to the right of the cave opening. He touched the bark. No, not right. He took off his glove, and touched again. It felt almost… Slimy, Mostyn thought.
He slipped his glove back on and cut into the bark with his knife. All hell broke loose. The branches began thrashing him and coiling about him like tentacles. He slashed at the tree limbs with his knife and then vanished.
In his now dematerialize state, he easily escaped from the tree’s clutches and returned to Helene’s side, where she rematerialized him.
The tree was once again still. The only movement being that of a few of the leaves stirring in the light breeze.
“I guess that takes GMO plant material to a whole new level,” Mostyn said.
“Oh, Mostyn Pierce, you are making a joke!”
“Yeah, right.”
“I will take care of the tree,” Helene said.
She went still, focused on the thing, and then it vanished. A moment later only its roots rematerialized and they were sticking out of the hillside.
“Let’s hope van Dyne doesn’t get wind of you,” Mostyn said, while pointing to the other tree.
In a moment, it too was buried in the hillside.
“Now do we enter the cave, Mostyn Pierce?”
“You enter and see if there are any cameras.”
Helene vanished, and Mostyn scanned the hillside. He saw nothing to indicate any other sentinels. Perhaps the big wigs at Van Dyne Corp figured the trees were enough.
Mostyn pushed his way through the bushes in front of the cave opening and examined where the chain link fence met the cave wall, looking for any indication the fence was wired. While doing so, Helene’s thoughts entered his mind.
There are two cameras about ten or fifteen feet inside the cave entrance, one on either side. What do you want to do about them?
Mostyn sent back his thoughts. Leave them for the moment and get the others. Bring a cutter for the fence, too.
I’ll be back, my love.
Be careful, Mostyn thought back.
Once again he looked over the cave entrance, and when he was satisfied there wasn’t anything else to see, turned and looked at the trees on the edge of the clearing. He didn’t see any surveillance devices, but that didn’t mean there weren’t any. In this day of miniaturization, cameras were the size of a quarter or smaller. Drones looked like bugs. For all he knew, the Van Dyne security team was watching him right now. And they probably were. At least he’d have to assume they were, until he knew otherwise.
He walked over to the tree line and hunkered down by a tree, across from the cave entrance, and waited for Helene’s return. It didn’t take long. Before he knew it, materializing there before him, were Jones, Baker, and Kemper.
Mostyn signaled to them to join him. Helene waved to him, and was gone.
“What’s the story?” Jones asked.
“The two trees by the entrance?” Mostyn said.
“Yes. Helene said something about them being alive?”
Mostyn pointed. “See those roots? That’s them. They were some kind of GMO creation of Van Dyne’s. The one attacked me. The limbs were like tentacles.”
“Holy shit,” Dotty said. “This is getting surreal.”
“I would have liked to have gotten pictures of them,” Baker said.
Helene returned with Dr Gerstner and the three agents, and asked, “Now what do we do, Mostyn Pierce?”
“Alright. To finish answering your question, Jones,” Mostyn said, “there’s a chain link fence behind those bushes. About ten feet into the cave are surveillance cameras, and beyond them are the Cerberus creatures. A pair of them.”
“And God knows what else,” Jones replied.
Mostyn nodded. “Exactly. Lillibridge and Hernandez, take the cutters and make a hole for us in the fence. Helene, go in now and take out the cameras. Hopefully, the Van Dyne monsters won’t respond too quickly.”
Helene disappeared and the two agents went to the cave entrance to work on the fence. In a minute, Lillibridge was motioning for the team to advance. One by one they slipped through the bushes and the hole in the fence.
Inside the cave entrance, Helene reappeared.
“The cameras are no longer in service. I have also destroyed the three-headed dogs. The cave is clear. We should hurry, Mostyn Pierce.”
Mostyn said, “You heard the lady. What are you waiting for?”
With Mostyn and Jones in the lead, and NicAskill the rear guard, the team moved deeper into the cave. The lights mounted on their helmets cast bouncing beams of brilliant white light, which caused the cave walls to glisten.
“A wet cave,” Gerstner said.
“As opposed to what, a dry cave?” Hernandez asked.
“Precisely,” Gerstner replied.
Baker added, “A dry cave is one which has stopped forming. A wet cave is in the process of forming and developing.”
Gerstner continued, “The water carving out the soft rock, forming the tunnels, and also things like this.” He stopped a moment to gaze at the ribbon-patterned rock.
“And the more familiar stalactites and stalagmites,” Baker said.
“Are you guys cave specialists?” Lillibridge asked.
“Amateur spelunkers,” Gerstner and Baker replied in unison, looked at each other, and let out a laugh.
“Pay attention back there,” Mostyn said in a stage whisper.
The team came to the curve where the Cerberus monsters had been detected by Ramsey’s drones. The only thing visible were two butts, with tails, sticking out of the rock.
“Damn,” Kemper said. “You have to teach me that.”
“I will, my sister,” Helene replied.
“I’m…” Kemper paused, and then said, “Thanks, Helene.”
The cave floor began to angle up. A branch split off to the left and appeared to descend deeper into the earth.
Mostyn spoke. “Ramsey, can you send some drones in here. I’d like an idea as to where these two branches terminate.”
“Sure, Mostyn. They’ll be there in a jiffy.”
“Dale, do you guys see anything?”
“Your eye in the sky reports minimal activity at the moment. The most active area seems to be the second floor of the house. Nothing in your immediate neighborhood.”
“Thanks,” Mostyn replied.
A cloud of drones, each one about the size of a praying mantis, flew into view. Traveling along the ceiling of the cave, they split into two groups: one taking the high road, and the other taking the low road. And in a few seconds, Ramsey’s voice sounded in the team’s ears.
“The upper path ends in a large and heavy door. Just a minute.” There was a brief pause, before Ramsey continued. “And it looks like you have visitors coming from the lower level.” Another pause, and then, “Oh, God! Get out! Get out!”
18
Mostyn gave the signal to fall back, and the team made for the cave entrance, Ramsey’s drones leading the way. Mostyn and Jones hung back a bit and tossed two smoke grenades into the descending cave branch.
“Hopefully that slows them down,” Jones said.
“Hopefully.” Mostyn indicated Jones should head for the cave entrance.
“No heroics, Boss.”
Mostyn nodded, and they both began trotting towards the entrance. Behind them they heard a chorus of deep-throated growls and short, sharp barks.
“Oh, shit,” Jones said, “I don’t think Plan A is working.”
“Apparently not,” Mostyn replied.
They stopped, turned, and saw a pack of three-headed dogs running their way. Mostyn pulled the trigger on his submachine gun. Jones pulled the trigger on his shotgun, pumped in
a new round, and pulled the trigger again. Repeating the process faster than it takes to turn around. In mere moments, a dozen giant carcasses littered the cave floor. The two agents reloaded their weapons.
The rest of the team arrived. Mostyn looked at them and asked what they were doing there.
“We heard gunfire,” Lillibridge said, “and came to help.”
NicAskill took one look and said, “Just like in New Jersey.”
Lillibridge yelled, “Look!”
Following his pointing finger, the team saw four creatures coming towards them. They had four arms and four legs attached to a body that looked like a freezer chest. On each end of the body was a head on a longish neck.
Not waiting for orders, NicAskill opened fire, followed by Lillibridge and Hernandez. The four creatures fell in a heap, but behind them were more and they fired back.
Hernandez wasn’t quick enough and took several bullets. The rest of the team hit the cave floor. Mostyn and Jones each tossed a stun grenade. The flash-bang caused momentary confusion amongst the things, enough for Kemper and Baker to pop up and empty their submachine guns into the monstrosities.
Several of the bizarre beings fell, but more of the things kept coming. NicAskill, Lillibridge, and Jones fired into the oncoming horde. Blood and bone spray covered the cave passage, and monstrosity after monstrosity dropped dead to the floor. When the three agents ran out of ammunition, Mostyn, Kemper, and Baker took their place. When they, too, had emptied the magazines for their weapons, none of the Van Dyne laboratory creations were standing. A couple dozen of the large, bullet-riddled, pulpy bodies covered the cave floor.
“Good God,” Kemper said. “What else does he have?”
“These things aren’t from any mythology,” Gerstner said, examining one of the bodies. “They are pure imagination.”
“A sick and twisted imagination,” NicAskill added, as she and Lillibridge knelt by Hernandez.
“Is he…?” Mostyn let the question hang.
NicAskill shook her head. Lillibridge, with Jones’s help, moved Hernandez’s body over to the side of the cave tunnel.