David Jackson stopped, frozen. Then, he swallowed, and asked in a shaky voice, “Where is he?”
“Come, I’ll show you,” replied Ichiro. He quickly took the son to see his father’s body on the side of the Headquarters Building.
Brynhildr looked at the others. “He is tough. He will recover. Now, what is your plan? I see a line of Pit Beasts and Eaters approaching and you all stand around as if it is a day in the park.”
“Ask Torbin. He is Commander,” Aleks replied. Torbin stepped forward.
“Get your weapons, let me know your ammo situation. We make a stand here at the building entrance.”
“I have my compound bow here with two arrows, a pistol with one loaded magazine. And my two fighting axes. They worked at the Pits, they will work here.”
Just then Abigail came jogging from the stairs to the entrance.
“Demons approach? How many?”
“Enough for all of us, cousin.”
Abigail smiled. “I see you, cousin,” she said in Norwegian to Brynhildr.
“And I you. Blood protects blood. I have your back.”
“And I yours.” She looked at Torbin after glancing at the surprisingly slow approach of the Eaters and Beasts. “Your orders, Sir.”
“Weapons and ammunition check.”
“I have my lever action with two rounds, my Glock 18 with several magazines. Plus, of course, my katana.”
“Aleks?”
“This assault rifle and a full magazine, plus my two pistols.”
“Well, I have two eight round clips for my Garand, plus a few rounds in this assault rifle. And my .44 pistol, plus a Kraken revolver and five rounds.”
Just then, Ichiro reappeared. “I have this captured rifle with a half of magazine, my pistol, my bow with a few arrows, and of course my katana and shurikens.”
Torbin looked at David Jackson. “Agent, if you want…”
“I have my father’s pistol with a couple of reloads. I’ll go up and protect Madam President. That is what he would have wanted.”
Torbin nodded. He had not seen his brother or his parents’ bodies. It was bad enough to know they were dead. To have to see them recently dead… he could not imagine it.
“Fine by me. Stay frosty, please.”
“Will do.” David Jackson nodded at Brynhildr, then headed up stairs.
“Well, my husband. The enemy slowly gets closer.”
Torbin frowned. “I think they are approaching so slowly as whoever is doing this has trouble controlling large numbers of these creatures. Thus they tried attacks by trained human soldiers on the Presidents first. Now, they fall back to sending beasts.”
He glanced around. “We stay here, back from the entrance a bit, in the shadows. Form a line. If they charge, we can force them to bunch up to get to us. If they start to flank us, we fire a few rounds to draw them at us here, not allow them to get around us and up the stairs.”
“If someone is behind them with guns?” Ichiro asked.
“We shoot from cover, then fall back upstairs. I keep hoping some help shows up.”
“I think, Tobin, they are tied up all over the Base,” Abigail interjected. “The suicidal attacks by the Eaters and Beasts have probably caused disorganization in the responses of base security forces. It will take a while for the outlying units to respond. We may be on our own.”
Torbin paused. Then spoke. “Alright. We stand here, wait to see their first move. Check your weapons.”
Before he realized it, Aleks and Brynhildr were on his right, weapons ready, with Abigail and Ichiro were on is left. All had such serious looks of determination on their faces as they looked at the approaching threats. He began to chuckle.
“What is the joke, my husband?”
“I keep thinking any second now, we will hear an orchestra playing some rousing action theme music, a director will yell ‘Cut!’ and we all break for lunch as they plan the next scene on this action adventure movie.”
“This is no movie, Torbin Bender,” Brynhildr replied. “But it will be a saga repeated by bards down thru the history of our New Vikings. We are making history.”
Torbin looked at the Shield Maiden extraordinaire. “Well said. No matter what happens, it is an honor to be here, to fight alongside you.”
“We will let our blades drink the evil creature’s blood this day, my brother,” Ichiro declared in a loud voice. “This day, we are all Samurai, ready to die for the Emperor.”
Aleks snorted. “This Russian Ukrainian does not plan to die. I have too much of my life to live, my trolls to raise. We fight, but we will not die.”
“I agree.” Abigail added. “The Lord is with us this day. His rod and his staff are with us.”
“Yea, though we walk thru the Valley of Death, we shall fear no evil,” Torbin quoted. “Because we are the meanest sons of bitches in the valley.”
“Bitches. We are bitches from hell, the Banshees,” Aleks added. “And it looks like the enemy is within accurate rifle range.”
Torbin wrapped his rifle sling around his arm and assumed a kneeling shooting stance.“Let me take a couple of shots with this Garand first, and see what results.” He took careful aim.
Before he let off a shot, a strange wavering, trilling and sing-song like screaming sound forced its way across the open spaces near the Headquarters building. Torbin looked up, surprised. “What the hell is that?”
He glanced at Abigail and Aleks, whose faces broke into broad grins.
“Banshee scream. Our sisters have come after all.”
“Banshees? Your 101st Unit? I didn’t think there were that many around on Base.”
“Many stayed in our new barracks area after Abigail’s wedding,” responded Aleks. “They had a bit of a sleep over to celebrate their Executive Officer’s new life, and begin a new set of traditions.”
“How many? And are they armed?”
“Close to a hundred for sure. Most of the Originals. And at the least, they have cold steel.”
The high-pitched sounds seemed to distract the Eaters, despite them being wired up for remote control. They stopped and turned toward the sound.
Aleks let out a joyful laugh. “It works. Hannah Weitz said Eaters did not like such vocals in the Pits. Now, the Survivors will have their just revenge.”
Torbin stood and looked around, and saw for the first time a line of humanity approaching from the North. They all had the distinct bluish gray fatigue pattern Aleks and Abigail had chosen for the unit. The Marine began to laugh.
“I think the asshole Krakens and Squids just bit off more than they could chew.”
As he said that, the line stopped in complete unison, and a perfect volley of shots thundered across the open spaces. Eaters and Beasts were hit, began to spin around or fell and died. Then whoever was controlling the creatures with their brain implants lost control and chaos reigned.
“They come,” Brynhildr barked. She pulled back and let fly with a broad tipped arrow. Two hundred yards away a charging Eater received an arrow thru its right eyeball and into its brain. It collapsed and slid to a stop. Ichiro looked at the Shield Maiden with open mouth admiration.
“Your shot is worthy of the best of the Samurai.”
Brynhildr guffawed. “You think only your people have a tradition of archery?”
After that, the five warriors were too busy to comment. Though the Eaters and Beasts had broken formation and were charging in multiple directions, they were still enraged and dangerous. Assault rifle rounds tore into Eaters and what had been normal Earth fauna but were now mutated beast creatures. Many went down, but they were many about. Torbin found himself firing the last round in his Garand at a charging boar-beast, saw the empty en bloc clip ping out of his weapon. The beast collapsed at his feet as he yelled out, “Reloading.”
Abigail’s katana flashed, keeping an Eater from her big brother by slashing off its legs, then piercing its brain. She let out a Banshee Scream that hurt Torbin’s ears. Two Eaters froze i
n front of the five, and were chopped down by Ichiro and Brynhildr. Torbin loaded his last clip into his rifle in time to shoot what had once been a mastiff thru its brain pan. Aleks had now drawn her pistol, was cursing in three languages as she raged against the hellspawn. Her aim was deadly as she shot Eaters and Beasts through their eyes.
Suddenly there were no other enemies attacking. Ragged shots from the Banshees showed that the surviving threats were scattered or dead.
Torbin heard shots from the third floor.
“Shit. Something got past us.”
“I go!” Brynhildr yelled as she dashed up the stairs with her two fighting axes.
“Watch our sixes. There are other enemies around.” Just as Torbin said that, a weasel creature exploded from the hallway directly toward his groin. Aleks stopped it with a double tap to the head.
“From what Emily Anders told me,” a bemused Aleks observed. “Pit Beasts seem to have a fixation with your manhood.”
“Whatever. Thanks for helping me preserve it.”
“I am selfish, husband, I am not done with it yet.”
Torbin glanced around, saw no other threats near, but kept hearing shots and commotion from upstairs.
“Cover the entrance. I need to check upstairs.”
“You watch yourself, husband. ”
“Yes Ma’am!” Torbin yelled over his shoulder as he sprinted up the stairs.
Brynhildr had used here fighting axes to good measure, chopping down a couple of weasel beasts as soon as she had reached the third floor. The rest of the command staff and David Jackson were defending General Reed’s office, where he was resting on the sofa from his wounds. George Williams caught a baboon creature and broke its neck as it tried to force its way into the room. David brought a heavy office chair down onto the head of chimp-beast as he did not have the time to reload his father’s pistol. Alina finished the creature off with the bullet to the spine from her AK carbine, then shot another one coming down the hallway.
Tobin arrived, looked at the carnage. He looked down the hallway to the emergency exit door, which had been smashed in. There were several creature bodies littering the hallway.
“Mr. Williams, Mr. Jackson, let’s find a heavy desk or bookcase to block that exit until there are enough troops here for three-sixty coverage.”
“Gotcha, Colonel,” George replied. “A bookcase is in the next office down.”
In a couple of minutes they had dragged the bookcase in front of the door, then started checking all the windows to see if anything had used them for egress. There were no signs, the Pit Beasts apparently had been directed to come up the fire escape stairs.
Madam President was sitting next to General Reed, pistol in hand. The I.V. Abigail had set up seemed to stabilize him, there were no further signs of shock.
“Hell of a way to celebrate a wedding, Sal.”
She smiled and brushed his hair back from his forehead. “We go back a ways, John. I remember you briefing a certain group of young newbie Congressmen and women on the workings of some of the Pentagon projects. Seems like ancient history.”
“Yes, Sal. The years feel like decades.”
The President’s chin began to quiver a bit. “I can’t afford to lose you John. I just lost Andy and I don’t know how many other citizens in and around Great Falls. I need all the good help I can get.”
John smiled. “In case you haven’t noticed, there is a certain former grunt Marine taking names and kicking ass. If we need a replacement for me, he is one hell of a candidate, current rank be damned.”
“You’re serious, aren’t you?”
“Sal, there is something about him and everyone he touches. Look who surrounds him. The crème de la crème when it comes to loyalty, courage, sacrifice for others. He attracts people like that because he exudes all those virtues.” General Reed shifted a bit and cringed as pain from his wounds hit him.
“Need some more painkiller John?”
“Naw, I’m all right. But Madam President, remember what I just said. You ever need a goto guy, someone to pull your chestnuts out of the fire, that is Torbin Bender. He won’t let you down.”
She patted the General’s hand. “I’ll remember. But I think you’ll be around for a while longer, so I won’t have to break in a new Armed Forces Commander any time soon.”
He smiled back. “Yeah, I think you’re stuck with me, Madam President.”
Torbin heard his wife’s voice up the stairway. “Commander, you need to come down here, please.”
After first making sure that everyone was ready to respond to more Beasts or Eaters, Torbin then hurried down the stairs to the main floor. When he got there, instead of the small band of warriors he had left, there were several dozen female soldiers standing with Aleks and Abigail.
The ones nearest snapped to attention upon seeing him.
“Colonel Bender, I do not think you have ever been formally introduced to the Banshees. May I present members of the 101st Special Attack Unit, the Banshees General Reed mandated into official existence.”
Torbin could feel the air of Special Forces and his beloved Corps that permeated the warrior women. He then noticed one male figure standing toward the rear of the formation, keeping an eye on the outside as well what was going on inside. Torbin immediately recognized him.
“Captain Danny O’Brien. What are you doing in the back there? Come on up.”
“Begging your pardon, Sir. But we still have a bunch of Banshees sweeping the area. I’m just keeping an eye on them.”
Torbin looked at Aleks. “My apologies, Colonel. I should realize you’re taking care of business.”
“So, ladies,” he addressed the small formation. “Let me be the first to thank you. You came at just the right moment, saved our bacon.” And with that, he came to attention and saluted the formation. Aleks as ranking member saluted for the formation, then turned toward a somewhat puzzled looking Russian Senior Sergeant.
“Senior Sergeant Ruskova. Go with Captain O’Brien. I want three sixty coverage for this building and the Presidents within. Then, a unit to go with Colonel Bender here. He needs to get to the units at the Hospital. You both have five minutes.”
Ruskova snapped off a salute. “Yes, my Colonel.” She then did an about face, began to yell out the orders. Everyone snapped to, and it was all asses and elbows as the Banshees spread out and secured the area. A squad was sent upstairs to provide close-in security for the Presidents. Two dozen Banshees then formed up in front of Torbin.
“Colonel, ready to go when you are,” newly-minted Lieutenant Dagan McDowell saluted and reported.”
“You have sufficient arms and ammunition, Lieutenant?”
“Yes, Sir. We Texicans are quite good at scavenging.”
Torbin smiled. “I thought I caught a bit of Texas Drawl. Alright, shall we?”
“Yes sir. Platoon, Atten-hut. Right Face. Forward, March….Double time, Harch!”
Torbin’ face broke into a wide grin. He fell in parallel to the running Banshees, yelled over his shoulder to Aleks.
“You have it here, Colonel. Tell the General where I’m going.”
“Will do. Get back in one piece, husband,” Aleks yelled back.
“Yes Ma’am,” Tobin called back.
As they double timed, Torbin called to Dagan. “Do you have a faster speed? I need to get there yesterday.”
“Thought you’d never ask, Sir. Platoon. Avenging Angel Warp Speed…Harch!”
Everyone took off at an almost a full dead run.
As Torbin and company ran toward the hospital, a K-9 vehicle screeched to a stop in front of the HQ Building. SSgt. aMartinez jumped out at ran up to Aleks, nd saluted.
“Ma’am, I need to contact Colonel Bender. There are Eaters in the Main Housing Area, I need back up. I’m the only mobile unit free.”
Aleks yelled for Abigail. “Trolls are in trouble. We go. Sergeant Ruskova, get with the Platoon Lieutenants, you have this area. I go to save the housing area.�
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David Jackson jumped in. “The Banshees have the President. Mind if I tag along?”
“Find us a vehicle then, Agent. Otherwise, we ride with the dog.”
A pregnant Sue Brown was out back with Fuzz, Freya, and the two trolls (as Aleks called them) Tristan and Gage, when the Base klaxon went off. Her husband had told her that a klaxon like this meant a general alert and recall. The two boys, clothed for the slight nip in the air but crawling around on a large blanket, looked up at the new sound. They both began to laugh.
“Like the new sound, don’t we boys? Well, if it keeps up, we go inside, sorry.”
Fuzz and Freya were then standing over the two children, Fuzz letting loose a low growl for a still pup creature.
“Hey, pup, what’s up? Is it the sound? Or something else?”
Her baby girl kicked in her stomach. She and her husband had “cheated’ and determined the sex before birth so they could plan. There was just the one, with all indications that it was not a “modified one” as children like Tristan and Gage. Though having cared for the two trolls, other than developing a bit faster, she could tell no difference from any other children. She loved them like her own, had become an aunt to them in all but blood.
So when the two War Dogs seemed protective of them, Sue knew something was going on. She felt it in her womb with her unborn.
“Come on, my young Trolls. Fuzz and Freya says there is something they don’t like. That’s enough for me. Did anyone tell you about Fuzz Senior, how he saved you two when you were still in your mommy’s tummy? Come on, let’s go inside. Uff Da, you two are getting heavy…”
Fuzz ran to the back fence, snapping and snarling. He may still be a puppy, but he was a big puppy, with his father’s demeanor. Freya began to whine, put herself in between then children and the fence “What is it, fella? What’s got your back up?”
The wind blew a whiff of a scent to Sue’s nose. It took a moment for it to register. Then her eyes widened. “Eaters,” Sue announced in a whisper. She turned and tried to move as fast as she could to the back door of quarters. A strong North Dakota farm girl, she almost had the door open with two boys in hand when Fuzz let out a howling snarl, joined by Freya. Sue glanced and saw the six limbed monster known as an Eater clambering over the fence.
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