by Siegel, Alex
"Of course not. It's in Pacifica? Show me a satellite photo."
She walked around to view the screen on the laptop. He brought up an image centered on the Perpetual Energy Technology building.
Pacifica was a small town nestled in the Santa Cruz Mountains. It occupied a valley with tall hills on three sides and the Pacific Ocean on the fourth. The building was as far back as one could get without climbing into the forested hills. A private driveway provided the only vehicular access. Nobody would stumble upon the place by accident.
The building was big and square. The details in the photo were a little fuzzy, but it appeared the walls were made of solid concrete. A giant, white tent was behind the building.
"The girl might be in there," Iris said, "or she might not. We can't make any assumptions. Tell our men to fight their way inside and take prisoners for interrogation."
"But if it's a Society stronghold, the attack could easily fail."
"That's why we have a lot of expendable men. Tell them to form a perimeter and gradually close the noose. We don't want anybody to escape."
"May I suggest another idea," Laurence said. "You could use your ability to lock onto the eyes of one the people in that building. Then you'd have a spy on the inside."
"It's not a bad thought, but I'd have to get uncomfortably close and wait for somebody to wander outside. That's very risky for me. On the other hand, if we could drive them out...." She smiled as the solution occurred to her.
"What are you thinking?"
"We'll still order an attack, but we'll leave the enemy with a clear escape route. I'll be waiting and watching somewhere along the way. If the attack fails, the enemy will flee past me, and I'll lock onto the eyes of the driver."
He nodded. "Excellent. Even if we lose, we win."
"Make the arrangements." Iris nodded firmly.
"Yes, ma'am."
She took another look at the satellite photo. I'm coming for you, she thought.
Chapter Fifteen
Marina was hiding in the woods. Even though it was very cold, the setting was lovely for a battle. The Forest Preserve District of Cook County was a strip of native forest to the west of Chicago. It was an island of nature in the midst of urban sprawl. Tall trees reached for the night sky. Animal tracks marked the deep snow and made her wonder where the animals were hiding.
A bus was parked across a road, blocking it completely. It looked like it had slid on the ice. The tailpipe emitted white smoke, and the headlights illuminated falling snow.
Marina was warm despite the frigid weather. Advanced body armor over a sweat suit covered everything but her face. The Lord's anger was a furnace in her gut.
Fifty members of her group were waiting in the shadows by the road. She had picked the true monsters of the Society, the elite of the elite. She wondered if a more fearsome team of fighters had ever been assembled. She expected the battle to be very quick and very lopsided.
A line of giant, green trucks rumbled down the road. They had eight wheels each and could carry very heavy loads. Big diesel engines roared like lions. Piles of crates were stacked high in the beds. The supplies we need, Marina thought. The Society was desperately short of weapons.
Ten trucks were travelling together without any other vehicles as protection. The trucks squealed to a stop when they reached the bus blocking the road. Soldiers in heavy, green coats climbed out, and green ski masks covered their faces.
The legionnaires attacked as one, and the fight was over even faster than Marina expected. Only a few soldiers had time to cry out in terror and pain before they died, but nobody fought back. It was like a wave of death had swallowed them up.
Marina inspected the aftermath to make sure none of her own people were hurt. She saw a soldier who had been chopped to pieces, body armor and all. Another had burst open like a piñata. A third had black, boney spikes driven through his eye sockets.
Marina called Aaron.
"How did the fight go?" he said.
"It's over. No casualties. We're coming in."
"We're ready for you. Hurry."
She climbed into the bus and sat near the front. A legionnaire took the driver's seat, but she would make sure he didn't get lost. She had lived in Chicago for many years and could still find her way even in the dark. The warm air inside the bus felt toasty after the freezing night.
Lightning flashed, and she heard a crack of thunder. A storm was brewing nearby. She wondered if God had something special in mind for this very important night.
All the members of Marina's large team sat in either the bus or the trucks. When everybody was set, she gave the order, and the bus drove off at a safe speed, followed by the Army trucks. The roads were very icy tonight.
Her phone rang. The caller ID showed the code for her headquarters in San Francisco. Probably just checking up on me, she thought.
Marina answered, "Yes?"
"We're in trouble, ma'am!" Jia said in a terrified voice.
Marina straightened. "Calm down. What's going on?"
"The security system is lighting up like a Christmas tree. It's identifying possible threats all over the place. There are soldiers in the hills, on the roads, and everywhere. We're surrounded!"
Marina's heart was in her throat. She was two thousand miles away and completely unable to help.
"How did they find you?"
"We think the van had a tracking device on it," Jia said. "The system picked up a faint signal, but when I went to look for the source, it was gone."
"On the van?"
Marina stared out the window at the snowstorm. She couldn't imagine how the enemy had found the van at the airport, but it didn't matter now. The damage was done.
"The security system will hold them off for a little while," she said, "but eventually, you'll have to evacuate headquarters. It's compromised anyway."
"But our stuff..."
"Fuck it! Figure out a way to get past the soldiers and head for the nearest safe house. Don't leave anybody behind. Put the security system in final defense mode before you go. Kill as many of the enemy as you can. This is a clear self-defense situation." She took a deep breath. "I know you're not trained for this kind of thing, but the four of you are very smart and creative. You can do this. Make sure Olivia doesn't freak out. The poor kid has been through a lot. I wish there was some way I could help you, but all I can offer is advice. Never forget that you're members of the Gray Spear Society. You don't fear the enemy. They fear you. Bye."
Marina put away her phone. She was shaking from anxiety.
"Ma'am? Is there a problem?"
She looked up at Hanley. He wasn't really an elite warrior, but she had brought him along just to have a familiar face in the crowd. He was wearing the same black and gray armor as her. The thick, coarse material fit his body like a second skin, and ceramic plates made his chest seem bigger.
Marina summarized the situation back at headquarters.
He grimaced. "Oh."
"I don't understand how it happened."
"The enemy must've followed us back from the Golden Gate Bridge. They put the tracking device on the van after we flew off. And I know why. Olivia."
Marina had a cold feeling. The business with the angels suddenly made a lot of sense. It had been a ploy to draw her team to a specific location. Aaron had fallen for the same trick with the cannibals.
Marina lowered her head. "I feel so stupid. Olivia was the target from the beginning."
"We were all fooled," Hanley said, "but now I'm curious. Does the enemy know about the Society? This trap was clearly intended for us specifically. That's what Katie was saying before, and I didn't believe her, but now I think she has a point."
"Maybe our secrets aren't as secret as we thought. If we ever get home, we'll catch the bastards and wring the truth out of them. I'll talk to Aaron when we get back to the hotel. Maybe he can arrange some kind of rescue."
He shook his head. "I think Aaron has enough on his plate, ma'am. So
do we. The fate of the universe depends on the success of the mission here. Our friends in San Francisco will have to fend for themselves for tonight at least. If they get to a safe house, they should be OK."
Marina drove her sharp fingernails into the vinyl seat she was sitting on. She was so frustrated and angry, she wanted to scream. She noticed people looking at her and kept quiet. The Lady of the Society wasn't allowed to throw a fit in front of the troops.
"You're right," she said, "even though I don't like it. We'll stick with the plan."
"Yes, ma'am." Hanley went back to his seat and sat down.
* * *
Jia looked up at her teammates. All four assistants were huddled together in the small security booth, and only Olivia was excluded from the meeting.
"You heard the boss," Jia said. "We have to evacuate."
"But we'll get shot to pieces!" Corrie said.
She pointed to the screens on the security system. Long range cameras showed soldiers moving across the hills above headquarters. A combination of light amplification and infrared sensors allowed the cameras to see the men despite the darkness. They were carrying assault rifles, pistols, and grenades.
"We just need a vehicle with enough armor," Imelda said.
"I don't remember seeing a tank parked under the tent," Corrie said sharply.
"Calm down. We have that green Land Rover, and it's already battle-ready. If we bring it inside, I can quickly weld on even more steel and a few weapons."
Corrie appeared unconvinced. The Native American scientist was wearing a red shirt with an eagle on the front embroidered in green thread. Her jeans were very snug around her big hips. Long, black hair flowed like silk across her shoulders.
"You have a better idea?" Imelda said.
Corrie frowned. "You'll still have to go outside to get the car."
"The enemy is getting into position, and the security system can keep them pinned down."
Green coveralls hung loosely on Imelda's very thin body. She was wearing work boots and knee pads even though she hadn't been working on a project. She just liked to be ready. She seemed more excited than scared, and Jia envied her bravery.
"Fine," Corrie said. "Let's just move fast. The more time we take, the more danger you'll be in."
Imelda nodded. "Min Ho, stay here with Jia and help manage the defenses. Marina ordered us to kill the soldiers, so we might as well get started."
She and Corrie left the booth. Min Ho sat on the second chair in front of the huge control console. He cracked his knuckles as if preparing to play the piano.
He was wearing his usual outlandish clothes. He had a green nylon vest over a white silk shirt. A green stripe went down the center of his hair. Diamond earrings sparkled nicely, but Jia could tell they were costume jewelry.
She heard a quiet knock on the steel door of the booth. Min Ho pulled it open.
Olivia came inside. "What's going on?" the girl said in a fearful voice. "Why does everybody look so scared?"
She turned her attention to the surveillance monitors on the console. Her eyes widened.
"It will be OK," Jia said quickly. "We're all getting out of here together."
"How many are there?" Olivia whispered.
"At least a hundred, but we're the Gray Spear Society. We can handle it. We installed all kinds of deadly weapons around headquarters for exactly this situation. Sit on my lap."
Olivia climbed onto Jia's lap and huddled against her chest. Jia put her arm around the girl.
Jia checked the monitors showing the interior of headquarters. There was a sliding garage door on the north side of the building, and oversized objects could be brought in that way, but it was rarely used. The door only opened from the inside. Corrie stood in front of the button that would cause the door to slide up. Imelda was stretching her legs and jogging in place to warm up.
After a minute, Imelda yelled, "Fire up the weapons! Tell me when I can go!" Her voice came into the security booth through a system of microphones in headquarters.
Jia flipped all the power switches on all the weapons. Then she typed in a command that would let the security system pick its own targets and kill them automatically. Jia and Min Ho could've aimed and fired the guns manually, but the computer would do a better job. The twins in Chicago had written the amazing software.
"Verbal confirmation is required," the computer said in a masculine voice. "Please state your name."
Jia jumped in surprise. She had never heard the computer speak before.
"Jia," she said.
"I recognize you as a member of the San Francisco cell under the command of Marina," the computer said. "Are we under attack by enemies of the Gray Spear Society?"
"Yes. Kill them, please. Final defense mode."
Jia heard mechanical sounds as weapons deployed on the roof. She knew some of them were sniper rifles mounted on high-precision gimbals. They could rapidly pick off targets up to a mile away, and the huge, steel-core bullets could punch through any body armor.
She couldn't hear the rifle shots because of suppressors on the barrels, but she saw the effect on the surveillance monitors. The soldiers' heads began to explode. She pulled Olivia close and covered the girl's eyes.
"Go!" Jia yelled through the intercom.
Corrie opened the garage door. Imelda sprinted outside even before it was done opening. Jia switched the monitor to another camera and saw Imelda running to the white tent. She was weaving from side to side to make herself harder to hit. She reached the green Land Rover without incident.
Imelda drove the car back around headquarters. The ground was rough, but the big wheels went over the bumps easily. A few bullets plinked off the bulletproof windows and armored doors, but she was unharmed. She drove inside and squealed to a stop on the cement floor. Corrie closed the garage door.
Jia breathed a deep sigh of relief. The first step is done, she thought.
* * *
"It's begun," Laurence said.
Iris raised her eyebrows in surprise. "Already?"
"Some kind of automatic sniper system is peppering the hills facing the building. The men up there are getting clobbered."
The two of them were in a small house in Pacifica. The owners were out of town, and Iris had made the place her temporary command post.
It was a darling home. Big, glass doors and an abundance of windows made it seem very open. A nice chandelier hung in the living room, and an antique mirror reflected the light. A stuffed pink flamingo under a glass cover was a great conversation piece.
Laurence was sitting on a white couch. He had his computer on his lap, a radio headset over his ears, and a phone by his side. He was well connected.
"Tell them to pull back for now," Iris said. "They can hide behind the ridge until we launch the main assault. The good news is we have definitely found the Society."
"I agree, ma'am."
"Have you shut down the police dispatch system?"
"Yes, and the local phone service," Laurence said. "The authorities won't get in our way."
"Where are Walfred and his Warriors?"
"They'll be ready to go in twenty minutes."
She frowned. "That's twenty minutes the enemy can use to improve their defenses."
"They started shooting ahead of schedule."
"OK." She rolled her eyes. "Just encourage Walfred to move quickly."
"Yes, ma'am," he said.
* * *
Lightning split the sky. What is God up to now? Marina thought.
She had seen thunder-snow before, but the storm in front of her was unlike anything she had ever witnessed. Lightning flashed so often it was like a strobe, and it was coming from a dense mass of clouds as black as ink. Tendrils of vapor twisted around each other in crazy patterns.
The bus led the way into the parking lot in front of the Rosemont Tower Hotel. All the cars had been cleared out to make space, but there were other buses. The captured Army trucks filled in and formed a neat line.
Marina stepped out of the bus and went into the hotel to look for Aaron. She had to dodge crates coming at her at high speed. Being outside meant being exposed to enemy fire, and everybody was moving as fast as possible. It was also bitterly cold.
She entered the lobby but didn't see Aaron at first. There was total chaos inside the hotel, and crates were being shoved wherever there was room.
Legionnaires were also carrying things out the door. The aperture components were being loaded onto the Army trucks as soon as they were cleared. Every part was important and irreplaceable, and Marina hoped nothing got left behind in the confusion. The group was also taking food, tools, and other necessities for what could be a long stay in Chinatown.
Marina finally spotted Aaron. She walked up to him with a sexy swagger. He grabbed her head and kissed her on the lips.
"We need to get you out of here," he said. "We stopped the main convoy, but there are other military units in the area. I'm sure they're on their way."
The lobby was too crowded, so they went back outside. It was cold, but at least they didn't feel hemmed in.
Another thunderclap made Marina jump. She pointed to the west and said, "Is that what I think it is?"
He nodded. "A healthy dose of divine wrath to help cover your escape."
"Nice of Him."
The level of activity around the trucks was inspiring. She had never seen so many big bodies moving so fast. The legionnaires were hauling and running as if their lives depended on it.
After freezing her ass for a couple of minutes, Marina decided she preferred being inside. She grabbed Aaron's hand, and they went back into the lobby.