“I just can’t believe this,” Clements said, shaking his head. He looked to Dale, baffled. “He’s saying monsters are real. Am I hearing this shit right, Dale?”
“Seems so,” Comstock answered.
“Our reality is created by design. But it’s not reality, but a perception of reality,” York said.
“What the fuck is he talking about?” Clements bellowed. “The guy is crazy, Dale. A fucking nut job. And we’re supposed to bring him along?”
“Orders are orders,” Dale replied, though he agreed.
“I’m not crazy,” York insisted.
“Yeah, right,” Clements countered.
“You’ll find out. You’ll see soon enough. All I’m saying is this: you best be ready for some fucked up shit. Don’t hesitate, not for a moment. Blast those fuckers when you get the chance,” York suggested.
“We’ll see. This seems like some fucking game, but for a moment, I’ll pretend you’re not batshit crazy. I’ll pretend you’re telling the truth. Why? It’s not ’cause I believe you, it’s ’cause of what that science gal says. The commies decided to try and create some genetically altered super-soldier. Fine, I’ll believe that they tried. I’ll even believe they had some sort of success. I might seem like a backwoods fuck, but I understand scientists try shit like this, and maybe, just maybe, someone succeeded.”
“Good. It’s best you keep that attitude,” York said.
“I’m not finished,” Clements said, pointing to York. “You see, that shit doesn’t matter to me. Know why? We’re fucking Delta. We’re the true super-soldiers, not some fucked up ancient fighters. Sure, they might be more athletic, maybe even smarter than this Arkansas boy here, but that doesn’t matter. What matters is training, working as a team, combat tactics. I say we have the advantage, and soon those fuckers are going to see what Delta is capable of.”
“I hope you’re right,” York replied. “And don’t think I disagree. I’m Delta too, bud. Been doing this shit awhile now. Thing is, I know what we’re up against, and sure as shit they aren’t human. I can promise you that. You boys got that?” he asked the team. “You understand me? They’re something different, and they wiped out eleven of my men faster than you can imagine.”
“Maybe your boys weren’t good enough,” Clements taunted.
“Enough,” Dale warned. “I knew Ramirez. Knew a few guys on that team. They were good. Difference is, they were surprised. Didn’t know what to expect. We do.”
“Do we, Dale? Do we really? ’Cause right now this crazy fucker is telling me we’re getting ready to fight monsters.”
“We’ll prepare for any possibility,” Dale said calmly.
Clements shook his head. “I don’t like this one bit, Dale.”
“And you had the option to get out. If you didn’t want this mission, Elizabeth stated she’d transfer any of us. You chose to stay.”
“Not saying that. I don’t think we should go, but as to whether I’m with you guys or not . . . you know the answer to that. We ride together, we die together. Taliban, monsters, whatever—we’re here to fuck shit up.”
“Well that’s the spirit!” York said with a sinister grin and wicked laugh.
“Fuck off,” Clements replied. “Thing is, Dale, I think we’re not being told everything. Something is off, just can’t finger it at the moment.”
“Me either.”
“I think that scientist bitch is lying.” Clements lowered his voice, “She’s a hot one, maybe even has Thompson convinced ’cause of those perky tits of hers, but I don’t trust her.”
“Me either,” Dale replied. “She knows more than she’s telling us, I agree.”
“But why?” Clements asked.
“Don’t know. Maybe she’s holding back because she doesn’t know everything, maybe there’s another reason. She seems to want us to succeed, so we can only hope she isn’t filling us with bullshit.”
“I don’t want any surprises out there,” Clements said.
“Agreed.”
“What about the Colonel? Think he’s holding back?” Clements asked.
“No, I don’t. Pretty sure he doesn’t know all the facts. I think if he knew something, he’d tell us. Colonel Reynolds is a straight shooter.”
“I sure hope so.”
“The guy is a battalion commander, and a hard-ass. He’s smart, talented, and owes the fuckers at the CIA nothing. He’s military; he’s got no ties to the intelligence agency. My gut tells me Reynolds is Marine all the way.”
Clements nodded his head. “I’ll trust you on him. Seems easy to read. Not shady, like that scientist, or Elizabeth. Shit, even that Rivers guy seems to be holding something back.”
“Ah, you just don’t like SEALs,” Dale said.
“No, that’s not it.” Clements lowered his voice, turning it so only Dale and York cold see. “Sure, fucking Damn-necks piss me off, but that’s not why. He seems too close to Elizabeth. Caught them whispering about something before we left. Something’s up, and I can promise you this—that guy does something to fuck up our mission or hurt the team, he’s dead,” the big man warned.
“Don’t worry, he won’t,” Dale responded.
“How can you be so sure?” Clements asked. “You seem real defensive of the guy.”
“I know him,” Dale responded. “Jeff and I go way back. He’s one of the best. In a firefight, he’s a good guy to have on your side. Trust me, I’ve worked with him before.”
“With SEALs?”
“Yeah, I trained him. I trained Rivers. He’ll listen to me. He’ll ensure the job gets done. He always does. The dude is a badass, so let it rest.”
“Well, maybe so. I’ll trust you on it, Dale, but I swear to God I’ll put a bullet in him if he fucks up.”
“Fair enough,” Dale replied.
Both men leaned back, looking at York once more. He didn’t let up on the crazy stare, and the two Operators felt uncomfortable. Delta or not, they weren’t sure if this was a good idea.
“Ha!” York spout out, “You guys are worried about me, that right? Shit, I’m a bad mother fucker just like you. From the Unit, here to fight.”
“You better. You’ll do exactly as I say,” Dale ordered, pointing a finger his way.
York nodded, adding, “You just don’t get it. Don’t ya see? Don’t ya realize why we’re here, what this is all about?”
“Why don’t ya tell us, smart guy,” Clements said, his tone condescending.
Everyone on the plane couldn’t help but stare.
“This is a death sentence, bud,” York replied. “We’re going into that valley to die,” York stated. He couldn’t help but smile at the notion.
“And you’re happy about this?” Clements asked.
“Yup,” York replied, his grin wider. “I’m not going into that cave to make friends, that’s for sure.”
“We aren’t either,” Clements said.
“I know, but the difference between you and I is simple. I’ve accepted what this mission is really about. I’m going in to die, plain and simple.”
“Listen here, Sergeant York, we understand you’re Delta and all. On the same team and all that shit. We’ve been doing Special Operations for a few years too, so don’t think we misunderstand the risks. If we die, so be it. It’s the life we choose,” Dale said with conviction. “In my twenty years, I’ve accepted one simple fact about war.”
“What’s that?” York asked.
“As I know combat, it is long periods of foreboding and solemn thoughts of home, punctuated by moments of stark terror.”
“That’s the truth,” York agreed.
“Well thing is, when that terror comes, we here will step it up. We’ll fight, we’ll kick some ass. We won’t go off the reservation, we’ll remain professional. We’re Special Activities Division, and live or die, we’ll show some professionalism and pride.”
“You misunderstand my point, Sergeant Comstock. It’s not that this mission is risky, it’s that this mission
is impossible. We’re all going to die out here, Sergeant. Difference is, I know it, and you think it won’t happen.”
“It could always happen. Not my first time in the field, bro,” Dale retorted.
“We will die on this mission, Sergeant Comstock,” York repeated.
“You crazy fuck,” Clements barked, leaning forward to teach this bastard a lesson. Dale grabbed his arm, preventing such a thing.
“No, I’m not crazy,” York stated. “I’ve just accepted it. I suggest you two do the same.”
89
“We’re entering an infected area,” York continued. “They aren’t mound builders, they’re burrowers. The cave gives them shelter, gives them solitude. It gives them comfort. It allows them to grow in strength, to increase their colony’s numbers. It’s the simple mathematic game nature plays.”
“What do you mean?” Clements asked. “And how do you know this?”
“I just know. And what I mean is, it’s all in the numbers. How many ants are there for every spider? How many spiders for every human? You get my point? They’re trying to expand their hive, started from day one. For more than twenty years, they’ve been increasing their numbers. They’re breeding.”
“So why the lack of urgency? For over twenty years, nobody did shit,” Clements said.
“I can’t answer that,” York replied. “Didn’t know about it until my boys were dead.”
“You’re not holding anything back, are you?” Dale asked. He didn’t trust York, was skeptical of the man.
“No, I’m not,” York replied.
“Why do you think it took so long?” Dale asked, rephrasing his question.
“They were scared,” York replied.
“Who?”
“The Soviets, later, other countries. The Soviets were afraid because things weren’t going well. It was their grand victory, and they were losing. They couldn’t stand the fact that the Muj were defeating them. So they try this chemical, and get results that are even more horrifying,” York said.
“You’re certainly a history scholar,” Clements remarked snidely.
“I like knowing what I’m up against. The Soviets realized they’d created the ultimate killing force, and worse off, they couldn’t control it. They tried, according to that Elizabeth gal. They failed. Other countries did the same. Now, we’re here. I guess we overcame our fears when my boys went in,” York said.
“Now, we’re forced in,” Dale remarked.
“Yeah, and not just ’cause my team is dead. It’s because the major governments of this world know these things are a danger. A danger that at one point won’t stay so local.”
“There are that many?” Dale asked.
“Yeah, bud, there are. So the brilliant minds at Langley, once they realized they needed to fix this problem, sent you boys in. I earned my ticket by blackmail.”
“How so?” Dale asked.
“Told ’em I wouldn’t tell them the location of the cave, or what it looked like inside.”
“That’s important INTEL,” Dale said.
“Also my ride in. Don’t worry, I won’t hold it from you . . . once we’re on the ground, I’ll tell you everything I know.”
“What I don’t understand is the fear. Humanoids—that’s what the Russian gal called them,” Dale said, looking to Svetlana. “But America has the best, most well trained army. Cutting edge technology. The most advanced military in the modern world. And we’re scared of what exactly?”
“A biological presence, one that looks like a man, but not really. One that is not only faster and stronger than us, but far more cunning. I knew, the moment I went inside, that they could sense us. Maybe it was smell, but I think it was something else. A sixth sense, I suppose,” York admitted.
“So you’re saying we don’t own the element of surprise?” Dale asked.
“Not really. Once we enter their valley, we take that chance. Once we enter their lair, they’ll know.”
“Great,” Dale muttered. “Any other good news?”
“The reason we’re going in right now, a daylight mission, is simple. Those fuckers attacked the villagers. They’ve been known to venture out. Bet ya that Elizabeth gal didn’t tell you that.”
“No,” Dale admitted.
“Well, they’re roaming. Venturing out of the cave. It all started three weeks ago, when my team went in. We unlocked Pandora’s Box, which is the creatures’ wrath against us.”
“Still don’t get why we can’t just drop some bunker busters on down and call it a day,” Clements said.
“Because the cave is deep, reinforced. We couldn’t ensure one hundred percent success is my guess. Boys, they’ve sent us on an impossible mission. They want us to kill them all. I saw, with my own eyes, hundreds. I think there’s more,” York explained.
“We going to have enough ammo?” Clements asked, concerned.
Thompson leaned in, speaking up. “If that Michael guy did his job right, more ammo will be at LZ1. Better be, at least, or that punk will have to deal with me.”
“It’ll be there,” Dale commented. “Elizabeth knows what she’s doing. We go in brutal, use unconventional tactics. Hit them with shock and awe and get out of there. Good firing, don’t waste ammo and we’ll be fine. We’re to go in and kill every single one of them. Seek and destroy and get the fuck out,” Dale added.
“As long as I have my M240, I’ll be good,” Clements said, patting the massive machine gun that was secured tight to his chest. “If I have enough ammo, I’ll waste them all.”
“Remember this—this valley is a clusterfuck of the bizarre and downright impossible. You’ll be entering down the rabbit hole on this one. You think I’m crazy, I know this. But you just wait. For all intents and purposes, this is mankind’s fight with something truly different than us. Another life-form.”
“If they’re casting for the next Alien movie, I’d suggest Hollywood over there,” Clements taunted.
Rivers didn’t respond.
“I’ll see if I can explain. It’d be good to know what you’re up against,” York added.
“Yeah, that’s the reason you’re here,” Dale said. He knew their flight time, knew they had to start readying themselves soon.
“What are the most abundant species in the desert valley?” York asked.
“Huh? Shit, I don’t know. Lizards. Maybe scorpions. Damn, I’ve seen a few too many vultures,” Dale said.
“No, it’s ants.”
“Ants?”
“Yes. Think of them as ants. A menace, no doubt, and nearly impossible to kill.”
“Nothing a bit of Raid won’t cure,” Clements jested.
“Don’t mock them, I’m simply trying to let you know what you’re up against. I have assumptions, ideas, but I do know they’re aggressive. They killed my guys, we killed them. They simply overtook us. When they feel threatened, they attack as a swarm,” York explained.
It was Rivers who finally spoke up, all eyes on him. “Well, that sort of makes sense. The Mujahideen did that, as do the Taliban. They fight viciously for their territory, coming together. The Mujahideen though, they’d literally swarm their enemies. Acted in cohesion, so maybe the chemical did something to amplify that. They’re still beatable, though.”
“Now what makes you think that?” York questioned across the length of the plane. He seemed a bit angered.
“We have the element of surprise,” Rivers began. “More importantly, supply lines. Yes, those fighters would have weapons, and yes, even an AK-47 can be stored for long periods of time. Thing is, they’ve been there twenty-six years. Nobody in, nobody out. They’ve stayed put, and the chances of their firearms working, or even being properly supplied, benefits us.”
“So, because we have the guns, eh?” York asked.
“Yeah, that’s what I’m saying.”
“The Mujahideen were very skilled in taking down helicopters. In essence, it helped the Soviets lose the war. They’d fire RPGs and often were accurate, causing the
Hinds to fly higher and higher, therefore giving ground units less coverage,” York said.
“Your point?”
“That was with RPGs. But have you ever seen helicopters destroyed by bare hands?”
“No, have you?”
“No, but I saw the pictures,” York said.
“Liar!” Clements belted. “Enough with this shit. I’ve heard enough about monsters. If that’s what we’re up against, fuck it. Just tell me how to beat ’em.”
“I don’t have those answers, but if you’d shut your mouth, I’ll explain how they’ll defeat us,” York replied.
90
“I was part of Task Force 121. Ya know, the guys who took out Saddam and his sons? We did our shit, spilt blood in the sand and wind and we did it well,” York said.
“That’s where I know ya, brother,” Jefferson stated. “I remember you now. Task Force 121—hard-asses, brother. Tough bunch!” he complimented.
“Weathers. He was part of the team, right?” Dale asked York.
“Yup. Good man.”
“Yeah, I know. He’s a friend . . .”
“Speaks highly of you too, Sergeant Comstock. All you boys of Task Force 77. Weathers saved my ass a few times in Iraq,” York said.
“He’s saved my ass too,” Dale said.
“Where?” York asked.
“Elsewhere,” Comstock replied.
“Well, we share a common bond I guess. How nice,” York said, sarcasm in his voice. “Point is, did a few tours in that shit of a wasteland called Iraq. I hear modern civilization came to those parts. I disagree, though. I say modern civilization hurried to leave. The whole Middle East—nothing holy about it. Part of the reason I came here, to Afghanistan, was because of that place. Weathers talked about the teams here, figured a change of pace was necessary.”
“What’s the other part?” Clements leaned forward in his seat, curious about York.
“Heard you boys were having trouble with the Taliban. Figured I’d come to help out,” York said, grinning.
“You have a point, or are you just telling us a story?” Dale asked.
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