by J. M. Pierce
Ashley bent down as the lie came to her as easily as her next breath. “We came here to save them, Destin; just like we saved you.”
The young boy closed his eyes and shook his head from side to side. Nothing made sense and he felt like he was going mad. He opened them and a dizzy sensation rushed through him. “What…you saved… I...” He paused and studied Ashley’s face as she spoke.
“We saved you from a place just like this and from these same people. They were doing awful things to you. Tests and experiments,” she looked to Casper who rolled his eyes at her production. Though she wanted to throw him into the wall, she knew she was treading water and needing to give Destin the artifice of comfort. “We came here to save these babies, Destin, but we are too late.”
Chapter 32
Test stood with Iku and Prim flanking him on either side. He peered through the trees on the back side of the property that housed the future Biohazard facility. Though they were three quarters to a mile away, they could see that white pipes jutted up from the concrete and the beginnings of metal framing were erected on the far side.
The thumping of helicopter blades echoed overhead. He waited for them to appear in his line of sight and caught himself holding his breath as they appeared. He’d seen them up close and personal before, and the sight of them lit his internal fire.
There were soldiers everywhere, like ants swarming a mound. He found himself pitying them, wondering when they would learn their lesson. There was nothing that they could do to stop his kind. He found the pity being replaced by disgust as he realized that their downfall was a product of their own greed and ignorance. Knowing that their goal was to make a Shadow, Test mused on the thought of how they could ever hope to control their creations when they continually failed at understanding (or containing) a Shadow’s abilities.
He watched as one of the helicopters landed in a clear spot near them. On its side was a big red cross. He watched as two groups of men carried stretchers to the helicopter.
“It’s started,” said Iku.
Test didn’t respond, though he knew Iku was right. Anxiety began to creep into his mind. He’d thought about this moment; he’d struggled with the possible outcomes. Now that it was here, the fear of not returning to his home, to his family, was real.
“What’s your plan?” asked Prim in a cracked whisper.
Test glared ahead as the helicopter lifted from the ground. Turning to Prim, he clenched his teeth and swallowed hard. “We end this.”
Without a reply, Prim nodded.
One by one, with Test in the lead, they phased into the spirit realm. As they walked through the empty field, Test watched as the spirits of soldiers recently passed wandered aimlessly. One of the spirits watched them as they passed without saying a word; the sadness and pain on his face was palpable. Test looked away, determined to remain focused. Worrying for those already lost would do nothing for those who were about to be.
As they reached the concrete, it was odd to watch the chaotic scene in the silence of the spirit realm. A soldier’s mouth moved, his neck muscles straining as he shouted and pointed to an opening in the center of the foundation. A group of men ran past him and Test’s heart sank as he watched them descend into the opening.
“Fools,” he whispered to himself. He turned to Prim. “You two follow me, but stay on this side. I can’t let them die.”
Prim nodded.
“What are you going to do?” asked Iku.
Test flared his arms out to his side as he looked to Iku. “I’m gonna light this place up.”
Test lowered his head and summoned the energy from within. He felt his body began to tremble as the intermediate shift began. Suddenly the sounds of the chaos filled his ears. He looked up to see the soldier that was shouting moments before aim his rifle and fire. The bullet traveled through him harmlessly. Though his initial reaction was anger, he felt a calm confidence wash over him. He began to walk forward. The soldier continued to fire round after round until he ran out. He then retrieved a pistol from his hip and emptied it through Test as well.
As Test closed the distance, the man finally turned to run. It was then that Test phased fully to the side of the living. As he did, he stoked the furnace hotter. Waves of energy rolled off of him as his chest and arms blazed in the late afternoon sun. Reaching out his right hand, he took the fleeing soldier into his grasp and lifted him a foot off of the ground. He could feel the man struggling, and took care not to hold him too strongly. Turning him around, he walked towards him until he was only two feet away.
Possession was something Test had only done once since the battle in Kansas City. It was something that he knew wasn’t morally correct, but this situation dictated its use. The soldier’s eyes were wide with fear. The sweat from his brow slid down his nose and fell in drips. Releasing his hold, Test quickly shifted back to his intermediate form, lowered his head, and stepped forward, feeling his essence molding itself into the man’s body. As he looked through foreign eyes, he could hear the man’s mind screaming. In thought, Test tried to comfort him, but the real mission was to convince.
“Don’t be afraid,” said Test. “I am not going to hurt you. This is the only way I can get you to listen to me.”
The man’s screams lessened and turned to whimpers. “What are you doing to me?” he asked.
“I’m only here to talk to you. You have me all wrong. I’m not the enemy. Not all of my kind are like those underground right now.”
“Bullshit,” replied the soldier. “You’re Test Davis. You’ve killed my brothers. You are the enemy.”
Test looked around with the soldier’s eyes and saw more men and women going down the opening. “You have to pull them out,” he said. “You can’t win. Each of you will die today unless you trust me.”
“I have my orders.”
“You have a moral duty to your brothers and sisters!” roared Test.
With two spirits occupying one mind, there was no such thing as silence. Test listened to the soldier argue with himself. He heard him beginning to break.
“How can I trust you?”
“If I left your body, would that show you?” asked Test. He immediately heard the man trying to devise a plan B if he was betrayed. “I will release you, but if you run, there will be more blood on your hands than you can imagine.”
“I won’t run,” replied the soldier.
“I hope not, because I’m not just talking about the men and women here. If the Reapers below ground get what they came for, there will be many more lives at stake.”
Test felt the shock of his words rattle the soldier’s spirit.
“Release me,” commanded the soldier.
Without a reply, Test allowed himself to step away from the soldier’s body and waited for a moment as he regained full control. The man blinked hard a couple of times and shook his head before staring at Test through squinted eyes as though he was having difficulty seeing. Test released the power that enabled him to walk in both worlds and took one step back from the soldier to show that he meant no harm. With a subservient bow, he tried to demonstrate his sincerity and was pleased to see that the man lived up to his word.
“Thank you,” said Test.
“Don’t thank me yet,” replied the soldier venomously.
Suddenly, Prim materialized at Test’s side and the soldier instantly retreated several steps.
“This is cute and all,” said Prim motioning to both Test and the soldier, “but this is going to be over before we even get down there,” said Prim.
Test clenched his jaws in frustration and held a hand out to the soldier. “It’s okay,” he said. He glanced to Prim and, after giving him a stern look, turned back to the soldier. “What’s your name?”
The man looked between the two Shadows and, as he replied, he wiped the sweat from his eyes with his sleeve. “Lieutenant C.S. Richardson,” he replied.
“Lieutenant,” replied Test taking an inadvertent step forward. He was surprised to
see that not only did the Lieutenant not retreat, he actually squared off to him. “You have to call your men out. Your kind doesn’t stand a chance against what is down there.” He waited for only a moment, feeling Prim’s impatience bleeding over into him. “You know I’m right!” he shouted as the thumping blades of more helicopters echoed in the distance.
“And the two of you can stop them?” he shouted back.
In a blink, Iku appeared next to Prim. Test took another step forward and extended his hand. “I don’t know, but we’re going to try.”
Test watched as the Lieutenant studied each of them. Prim and Iku stood at the ready while Test continued to hold out his hand. “I don’t know how to make you know that I am telling the truth, but I offer you my hand.” He forced his power to swell and the glow of light running through his arms and hands intensified. “I could have killed you before you even knew I was here,” he said sternly. “That’s not a threat; it’s a fact. I hope that’s enough to show you that I’m sincere.”
Another push of energy ignited his power even more. To Test, the Lieutenant shaking his hand while he displayed his power was significant. Taking one final step forward, Lieutenant C.S. Richardson held his position. He looked over Test’s shoulder and took one more study of Prim and Iku who were now several steps behind. In a quick ‘let’s get it over with’ movement, the Lieutenant took Test’s hand into his and shook it firmly.
Before Test knew it, the Lieutenant was on a radio. “Devil Six, this is Dreadnought Sixteen.”
“Go ahead, Dreadnought Sixteen.”
“I’ve received intelligence that requires a general retreat.”
“I’ll need a little more than that, Sixteen.”
“Sir, I am standing with Test Davis at this very moment. He has two others with him and they intend to penetrate FLOT.” Lt. Richardson glanced to Test. “They’re on our side, sir.”
“Davis is on site?”
“Yes, sir,” replied the Lieutenant as he turned towards the Humvee serving as the tactical operations center. Positioned about two hundred yards to the south, Lt. Richardson glared at his commander who was now aware of his position. “Sir, we are going to lose the entire company. Call them out!”
“You are to bring Davis to TOC immediately, Sixteen, do you understand me?”
The Lieutenant looked to Test who stood impatiently shaking his head. Back on the radio, Richardson replied. “Affirmative, sir, I understand, but I don’t see that happening.”
There was a minute of uncomfortable silence as an Apache helicopter raced into view. Test turned away from the Lieutenant and motioned for Prim and Iku to follow.
“Devil Six, the situation is dire. Call the general retreat or we lose everything! Davis and his men are proceeding with or without our cooperation!”
“God damn it, Sixteen! Do you know what you’re asking?”
“Yes, sir!” shouted Richardson. “Call out the troops and I’ll accompany Davis and his men.”
“No!” shouted Test.
Richardson turned aggressively towards Test and, with a scowl, asserted his authority on the battlefield. “I’m not asking, Davis. This is not optional.”
The order for the retreat went over all channels and troops began pouring out of the opening in the concrete while the Apache settled on the horizon. As the last of those who were underground moved to the perimeter of the foundation, Test suddenly realized that nearly every weapon in the area was trained on him.
“No more waiting,” he said to Prim as he slapped him on the chest.
Immediately Prim turned and began to walk towards the opening. Igniting the full fury of his power, he heard the sound of a single shot echo over the concrete. As the bullet became entangled in the waves of energy that surrounded him, Prim looked back over his shoulder towards the Humvee to which the Lieutenant had been communicating. A soldier stood on the backside leaning over the hood with his weapon ready to fire once more.
Knowing that the shot was a final confirmation as much as it was a desperate attempt of controlling an out of control situation, Richardson got back on the radio. “Sir—permission to escort Davis into the hot zone?”
After a moment of radio silence, Richardson got his answer. “Permission granted.”
The three Shadows were followed closely by the Lieutenant. As they neared the opening, something in the sky caught Iku’s attention. Directly overhead, about two-hundred feet in the air, was a strange, hovering object. From where he was standing, it looked like a hula-hoop with three or four dots in the center.
“What is that?” he asked, pointing to the object.
Lieutenant Richardson was quick with a reply. “It’s a drone. It’s how command knows what’s going on.”
Iku turned and grinned at Richardson. He looked back to the sky and launched himself towards the drone. Shooting towards it with blazing speed, he could now see that it was, in fact, hoop shaped. In the center was the camera, and branching off in four directions were arms that held miniature helicopter blades on their topside. With a snarl, he reached out towards the drone and took it into his invisible grasp. Rolling his hand over, he closed his fist and the drone crumpled like a tin can in the air. As Iku threw his arm to the north, the mangled device was hurled in the same direction and fell to the earth so far away its impact was inaudible.
As Iku descended, Test saw the grin on Prim’s face. “What’s so funny?” he asked. Prim simply shrugged in reply.
Iku landed forcefully in front of the group and looked to Richardson.
“What was that all about?” Richardson asked.
Iku turned towards the opening, but quickly replied over his shoulder. “In the past, I allowed others to dictate my path. I will allow it no more.”
Richardson watched as the Native turned away and then took the first step down into the opening. Davis and the other Shadow followed while he turned back towards the Humvee. Activating his radio, he took a deep breath before he spoke. “We’re going in, Devil Six. Stand by.”
Chapter 33
As they descended down the stairs, the sound of the alarm below was heard. It was a fairly long descent, traveling down the equivalent of seven floors until they reached the bottom.
Test stepped into the room and was surprised by its simplicity. Being round in shape, it was cut in half by what looked like a glass wall with sliding doors in the center. Beyond the glass was a desk that sat back away from the partition and in front of a pair of large steel doors that reminded him of a bank vault.
As he stepped towards the glass, the doors slid open and the volume of the alarms increased dramatically. He turned, motioning for the others to follow, and walked through the opening towards the desk. It suddenly occurred to him that there were no bodies. He wasn’t sure what he’d expected, but casualties were certainly part of the list.
“There aren’t any bodies,” said Test as he turned to Richardson.
“No, not on this side anyway,” replied the Lieutenant. “The targets didn’t enter this way, at least not that surveillance can verify.” He pointed towards the cameras that lined the perimeter of the room overhead.
“They came this way,” interjected Iku. “They traveled in the spirit realm.”
“The what?” asked Richardson. For the first time he flinched as Iku smiled; his cold dead eye glared with intimidation.
“Do you believe in ghosts?” asked Iku.
Hesitating to answer, Richardson looked to Test before looking back to Iku. “Yes.”
“Do you see ghosts?” asked Iku.
“No.”
“That is because they occupy another realm. We,” he continued pointing to Prim and Test, “can walk in either realm; that of the living, or that of the dead.”
The Lieutenant swallowed forcefully. “You’re serious?”
Iku simply nodded his head.
Paying no attention to the conversation, Prim had walked around behind the desk. In front of him were several screens that were mounted into its su
rface. The monitor on the right showed a section of a corridor. The image was intermittently dark as a red light flickered on and off in a rhythmic pattern. After a few seconds, the view changed, showing a different section of what appeared to be the same corridor. He then turned his attention to the center monitor which looked to be a control panel of sorts. To the bottom right of the screen was a flashing red button. Prim looked to the screen on his right and noticed that the lights in the hallway matched the rhythmic cadence of the flashing button on the center screen. Without thinking about it, Prim reached down and touched the button and the sound of the alarm instantly stopped.
“What did you do?” asked Test as he rushed around the desk.
Prim felt the all too familiar guilt of making a mistake return. “I touched the screen.”
“Shit,” said Test. “They’re going to know we’re here!”
Richardson stepped away from Iku and stood on the near side of the desk. “They already knew we were here,” he replied.
Test looked to the soldier. “How’s that?”
The Lieutenant scratched his chin. “You don’t think that they know…”
Suddenly Prim gripped Test’s arm and turned towards the steel doors behind them. With wide eyes, he looked back to Test. “They’re coming up!”
Without a word, Richardson raised his rifle and aimed at the door while retreating back to the glass partition. Each of the Shadows retreated to a similar position with Iku standing next to him while Test and Prim stood farther off to either side. “What are we going to do?” he asked.
Ignoring Richardson’s question, Prim spoke to Iku and Test. “They’re at the...”
Before Prim could finish his sentence, the immense steel doors exploded from the wall. With no time to react, Test reached out to catch the doors as they flew through the air. Only succeeding in catching one, he let it drop to the floor and watched the other catch the desk as it ripped through the room, through the glass partition, and into the opposing wall.
The concussion of the blast sent Test into the curved wall behind him and, as his ears rang, he watched three blurred figures pass in front of him. Blinking his eyes several times, he tried to focus as one of the figures stopped. He then heard a female voice shouting.