Typhoon of Steel

by Marshall Miller

  “No. Not again!” Sue screamed at the creature, at the same time shoving the two boys through the back door, managed to get the screen and glass door shut. She then grabbed a garden hoe, and went to defend the family and homestead.

  The two children of Sergeant Fuzz showed their lineage as they snapped and bit at the Eater as it scrambled over the back fence, staying just out of reach of the grasping claws. The horror on six legs seemed confused by two snapping, slashing and snarling Earth creatures, turning toward one, then the other. It let out the odd screeching howl no one forgot when they heard it as Young Fuzz’s teeth connected with one of the hind legs.

  Then a second Eater began to clamber over the fence.

  “No. Go away you pieces of shit!” Sue screamed as the second Eater came at her.

  Johann Munsen and his wife Freda had loaded the five Survivors into their large SUV earlier in the morning and headed into the Base Housing Area to deliver some jewelry Hannah Weitz had made for an upcoming christening. After all the happy festivities of the Grand Wedding, as it was now being called, no one in the Munsen household could sleep that morning. Thus, they had risen early to run this errand for Hannah. Once the word had spread that she could make exquisite jewelry just as well as she could blades, she was much sought after to create items for special occasions, especially religious in nature. When the klaxon had sounded they were about a block over from Torbin’s, Aleks’ and Abigail’s residence.

  “What is that, Father?” Freda asked.

  “An alert siren of some sort. I will slow down and we will wait to see…”

  Hannah had rolled the window down to hear the klaxon when she heard the signature scream of an Eater. Then her ears keyed on the barking dogs. “Eaters!” She yelled and threw open the SUV door, jumping out before Johann could stop the car. “Torbin Bender’s house.” She yelled as she ran toward the next block where the residence lay. As she ran she pulled from the bottom of a shoulder bag two of her signature sheathed Sister of Steel Squid Killers. A quick well aimed slash and she had freed herself from her long skirt, running now in just her leggings.

  Johann cursed and turned the SUV toward the target residence. As he did, he pulled a snubby .44 special from a pocket, thrust it at his wife Freda.

  “Johann…’

  “Don’t argue, Love. Take it, stay with the vehicle. I must make sure Hannah is alright.”

  He yelled at the four young ladies/girls in the rear. “You stay with your Aunt Freda. Obey her. Ja?”

  “Yes, Uncle Johann,” four voices answered.

  Sue Brown was swinging and jabbing the hoe at the second Eater as the two War Dog pups snarled and snapped at the first one. She managed to partially severe one of the long clawed fingers of the second Eater with the hoe blade, eliciting another screeching howl.

  “That’s it. Come closer and you’ll get hurt. Get back!” Sue yelled.

  The Eater grabbed the end of the hoe with the uninjured claw and began to pull pregnant Sue toward its opened jaws.

  “No...” Sue yelled and tried to pull back. She did not notice the figure that vaulted the backyard fence until she heard a wavering trilling high pitched scream and cry. She saw a figure in her left peripheral vision moving fast. It was Hannah Weitz.

  The Pit Survivor lunged then sprang into a high flying forward roll that would have shamed some Olympic hopefuls. She went high, somersaulted and came down on the second Eater’s head with both feet, driving its maw into the ground. She then jumped onto its back with both feet, the Eater sprawling out its six appendages.

  Sue yanked her hoe free and began to chop the eyes and face of the stunned creature with the hoe blade, screaming as loud as she could with rage and fear. The Eater was soon a bloody mess.

  A third Eater scrambled over the back fence and Sue yelled a warning. It was not needed. Hannah bound over, still with the Banshee scream that seemed to confuse the alien. Fuzz and Freya kept the first Eater busy, now also distracted by these screaming two-legged creatures.

  Hannah met the third Eater head on, her blades flashing in a blurred figure eight that hacked the clawed fingers off. The Eater screeched, tried to back up and ran into the fence it had just crossed. Hannah preformed another Olympic caliber high somersault and smashed her feet down on its head. A quick pirouette and she was plunging her blades into the eyes of the stunned creature. It’s so called brain penetrated, it shuddered, then died. Hannah spun and went after the Eater the two canines were attacking. Its hind legs already hamstrung by dog bites, Hannah slashed at its sides, then kicked the creature hard. The Eater tried to roll away, exposing part of its underside. A second later what passed as its intestines were spilling onto the ground.

  A fourth, then a fifth Eater, drawn by the screams as well as Eater blood and vomit, began to scramble over the fence. Hannah let out Banshee scream that seemed to freeze the monsters.

  “God, please, help us.” Sue yelled, as she left her victim to help Hannah.

  There was a crushing and crashing sound as something large slammed thru the fence gate. Johann Munsen bellowed some war cry and threw a double bladed ax at the nearest Eater, hitting it between its eyes and penetrating the skull. He grabbed Sue, turned and propelled her toward the house.

  “Inside! Now!” He grabbed her hoe from her and began to swing it like a staff at the remaining Eater. Sue ran as fast as a pregnant lady could, went through the back door, slamming and throwing the dead bolt. She grabbed the two boys and held them tight as she watched the tableau play itself out. She saw Johann strike the Eater with the handle of the hoe between the eyes, then Hannah dart in and gut it from the side with her razor sharp blades. Johann recovered his ax from the other dead Eater in time to meet another coming over the back fence. A forward and then a back swipe took it clawed hands off, and Hannah finished it off by landing on its back and double thrusting her Squid Killer blades thru the creature’s eyes into its brain.

  Then it was over. Fuzz and Freya snapped and snarled at the dead creatures. Johann checked to make sure all the creatures were dead, as Hannah stood. Then she began to shake. A scream of pain and rage erupted from her mouth.

  “I said never again,” she raged. Uncle Johann walked over and scooped her up into his arms like she was a babe and beelined to the back door.

  Sue let him in as he ordered, “A hot drink, with a shot of whisky if you have it, and a blanket for my little one. Please, while I check on my wife and the others.”

  Hannah still had death grips on her fighting blades as Johann set her on the sofa. The dogs came in now and began to snuffle her, sensing she hurt. Hannah dropped her weapons, grabbed onto Fuzz and Freya, began to sob.

  Johann made it to the front in time to see Freda blow out the brains out of some disheveled-looking man. The body toppled back and then Johann was there.

  “He tried to steal the car, Johann,” a shaken Freda said.

  “Into the house. Everyone!” He did not have to say that twice. Johann took a rifle bayonet off the dead man, a Kraken for sure. Then he was inside.

  “Any weapons in the house, young lady?” Johann asked.

  “Check the closet.”

  Johann recovered the Saiga 12 gauge.

  “Now we wait. Freda, Hannah needs some help.”

  “Of course, dear.”

  Sue looked at Johann. “You and Hannah saved us. “

  “You are a fighter yourself, young lady. Now, we wait for help. I know the mother and father of these two young boys will be here soon.”

  In the borrowed staff car of Alina Federov, David Jackson made good time to the Base Main housing area. Aleks gave him an appreciative glance.

  “You had driving training.”

  “Yes Ma’am. Used to race some before…I went to prison.”

  “What for?” Abigail asked.

  “Killed someone, Ma’am. The Squids came and I got out, went home.” David gripped the steering hard.

  Abigail looked at the young man, just a few years older than her.<
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  “I think God has forgiven you. Please forgive yourself.”

  “We are here,” Aleks said as David braked to a stop, Sgt. Martinez in her K-9 vehicle pulling up behind. Everyone clambered out of their respective vehicles. After a quick look at the dead Eater bodies in backyard, David went over to check the dead body of the human Kraken Freda had shot.

  Aleks went through the door opened by Johann.

  “I knew the young one’s mother would come.”

  “Where are they?” Aleks demanded.

  “Here,” Sue called out from the children’s bedroom. Aleks dashed in to find her two sons fast asleep. She began to laugh quietly.

  “They are their father’s sons. Good Marines. Death around them and they go to sleep.”

  Aleks turned and hugged Sue. ”Thank you for keeping my children safe.”

  “It was Hannah. She saved all of us. I was about to be… eaten.” Sue began to cry, holding her pregnant belly.

  Aleks held on to her. “I guess Eaters, this house and pregnant women seem to have an evil connection. I think it is time for Torbin and me to move.” She kissed Sue Brown on her cheek.

  “Can you stay here with my trolls while I check on Hannah?”

  “Of course. Hannah… needs help.

  Abigail, Ichiro and Sgt. Martinez had scanned the carnage in the backyard, double checked there were no further threats. The K-9 troop and her dog Ginger stayed in the back with Ichiro while Abigail went in to check on those in the house.

  Abigail found Freda and the young Survivors huddled around a shaking Hannah. Freda saw Abigail and motioned her toward them.

  “Abigail, maybe she will listen to you. She is very, very upset.”

  Abigail knelt in front of her, reached out and gently took her hand in hers.

  “Hannah, it’s Abigail.”

  “Is this what you feel like, Avenging Angel, after you are forced to kill yet again?” Hannah blurted out. “When you use those skills that have been programed, forced into you by sick evil bastards? Is this how you feel when all the memories of the people and creatures you killed or saw killed come rushing back?” Hannah began to sob.

  Abigail hugged her tightly, her eyes wet with tears. For she knew these feelings.

  “Hannah, you did what you must to save a woman, an unborn life and two children I consider to be part of my family. You used those skills that were forced on you for good. Just as I have. I think any debt you or I have has been paid.”

  Hannah hugged her back and the two child soldiers stayed hugging for minutes as they dealt with their unique pains and realities. They were two of a generation forced to be warriors well before they should have, forced to kill or be killed. Now, they were having to deal with learning to live with their past. Aleks came up and knelt down.

  “I owe you for my sons’ lives. You will always have a place at my table, in my home, Hannah.”

  “Johann helped also,” Hannah mumbled.

  “But you stopped them. You have nothing to be ashamed of. You should be honored, my Sister of Steel.”

  The three warrior women stayed kneeling and hugging until Hannah finally stopped shaking.

  “I think I will be okay now,” said Hannah. She smiled through tear filled eyes. “Thank You.”

  “Hannah, if you ever need to talk, to…deal with such feelings, call Ichiro and I. He is helping me adjust to who I am, who I was made to become by people and…things that thought they could control me. I think he and I can help you deal with any demons you feel you have.”

  “I will do that Abigail. Thank you.”

  “Come,” Aleks said. “See my sleeping trolls. When they wake up, they will need to see one of their many protective aunts.” She kissed both of Hannah’s cheeks. “You are now another little sister for me to boss around, just like I do Abigail.”

  Abigail laughed. “You forget I have a husband now who will try to boss me around. You’ll need to take a number and get in line.”

  As Hannah went back with Aleks to see her sons, Ichiro stuck his head in thru the back door.

  “Is everyone alright now, Abby-san?”

  “As well as they can be, my love.” She walked over and crushed him in a hug. “I am so lucky to have found you, Ichiro.”

  “And I you. But we must secure this location, then go on to the hospital. Torbin may need us.”

  Out in front of the residence, as David Jackson checked the body of the dead Kraken for any ID, he heard before he saw a group of housing area residents approaching. In their clutches was an apparent Kraken much the worse for wear. The demeanor of the half dozen men and women was one of a lynching party.

  “Special Agent Jackson. Can I help you people?”

  “Yes, you can,” an older looking gentlemen answered. “Master Sergeant Jones here, with some of my neighbors. This fool tried to steal one of our vehicles.” As he said that, he shook the bruised and battered man by the scruff of his neck.

  As David looked closer, even under the damage from the beating he had received, David thought the Kraken looked familiar. The prisoner looked up at David and his eyes widened in recognition.

  “David Jackson. It’s Ralph Pegg. You know, from prison.”

  The six people of the potential lynch party looked at David with quizzical expressions on their faces. “Come on, Dave. Help me, for old times…”

  David slammed a fist into the man’s stomach. He then yanked him from the grasp of Master Sergeant Jones.

  “You think that David Jackson still exists, you sack of shit?” He shook his former prison mate. “Your friends just killed my father, the Ranger. I should let these good people take you and have some fun.” David looked at the other people with cold eyes.

  “Is there going to be a problem if I take custody of this waste of a human being?”

  “No. Sir,” replied Jones. “You’ll want to question him.”

  “That I will.” He paused, then asked the small group. “Any questions you have for me?”

  Mrs. Jones stepped forward. “Son, we all had a ‘before’ life. It’s who we are now that matters”

  David nodded. “Thank you, Ma’am. Now, I’ll just take him to my partners in Torbin Bender’s house there. This idiot and his friends thought they could use some Eaters to get some payback. They were wrong.”

  “Eaters? Come on people,” Master Sergeant Jones said as he took his wife’s hand. “We need to go and check out our neighbors. You watch yourself, Agent.”

  “Will do, Sir. Come on you.” David began to frog march him to the front of Torbin and Aleks’ residence. “There is a Russian Intelligence Officer who would just ‘love’ to meet one of the men behind the dead Eaters in her backyard.”

  Torbin and the Banshees made it to the Base Hospital in record time. It was a war zone, with burning cars and some hospital personnel trying to use hand held fire extinguishers to keep the flames from spreading to the Hospital.

  “Lt. McDowell, sweep the area, then into the hospital, see what is needed there.”

  “Yes Sir. Alright, Squad One, clockwise sweep around the area. Squad Two, Counter clockwise. Set up three sixty security, with three, two women teams to go inside at the rear and check out the situation. Move.”

  The Banshees let out a small twilling screech that seemed their way of yelling “Oorah!” then went at double time to carry-out their instructions.

  The Banshee officer looked at Torbin. “Want to go in the front, Sir? We’re both heeled, and I know you know how to handle yourself.”

  Torbin grinned. “I read the reports from Kansas. I think you original Banshees have created a reputation for taking care of business.”

  “Well. Colonel, we did have a bit of a set-to there. So, Sir, we go in?”

  “Ladies first. I still have a few rounds in my Garand to cover your backside.”

  With that, the two warriors passed by a few hospital personnel who were still ensuring nothing caught on fire and looking for wounded.

  “Who’s in charg
e here, Sergeant?” Torbin asked a young man with blood on his fatigues.

  The Sergeant looked at him saw his rank on his fatigues. “I think you are, Colonel. You’re the highest ranking office still able to walk on two legs I’ve seen.”

  “That bad Sergeant…Bernal I see on your name tag.”

  “Sir, I don’t know if the entire hospital is secure yet. A bunch of Eaters and beasts got in. And medical people usually don’t have a lot of guns at hand.”

  “Any security people inside now?” Just then they heard a gunshot.

  “I guess there are a few still able to move. We got overwhelmed, Sir.”

  “Hang in there, Sergeant. We’ll be right back.”

  Lt. McDowell and Torbin went in, rifles at low ready. The hospital looked more like a slaughterhouse than a place for medical aid. Blood and other alien-looking fluids were spread about on the walls and floor. A couple of hospital gurneys were parked in the hallway with covered bodies, blood soaked through parts of the covering sheets.

  The suspended ceiling collapsed a few yards ahead as a baboon-based creature fell to the hallway floor. It turned screeching at the two near humans, then had its head blown apart by a well-aimed three round burst from Lt. McDowell’s assault rifle.

  “Nice shooting, Texan.”

  “I try, Colonel, I try.”

  They both heard additional shooting.

  “Lieutenant, we need some more people in here ASAP. This place is definitely not secure.”

  “Roger that, Sir.” Dagan keyed her attached lapel mike.

  “Squads One and Two. I need every-other squad member inside the hospital now! The security of Interior is still in question.”

  Torbin looked at Dagan, now knowing that his wife and little sister had a strac unit under their command.

  “We clear what we can, Lieutenant, until we meet up with other troops.”

  “Lay on MacDuff, as they said in Macbeth, Colonel.”

  They heard another shot from up ahead and they advanced CQB crouch as fast as they could. As they cut the pie with speed and rounded the corner into a cross hallway, Torbin saw a familiar face. Staff Sergeant Michael Wall, from his Evanston and Wyoming trip days. The man was standing over a dead weasel creature.”