Most of the council looked away, but the man sitting closest to Sue smiled and nodded. “I’ll show you mine right now.” He tipped his head back and looked down his nose at the other members of the council.
Sue had arrived and she was ready to bring down the thunder. She looked from face to face and knew that she’d struck a chord with this group. They had managed the city well, but the Forsaken had guaranteed absolute compliance with their orders along with certain technological support that was no longer available. They had to stand on their own merits, and the council was worried.
Sue had yet to learn what the Forsaken technology was so she could pass it on to Timmons.
The lights flickered on, then dimmed, and finally came to full power. A general sigh of relief came from the council. Sue heard a motor running somewhere and the sound of fans. Warm air caressed her face before turning cool.
“You have air conditioning,” Sue said, closing her eyes and reveling in the cool breeze.
CHAPTER THIRTY
North Chicago, WWDE + 51
It had been four months since Terry and Char’s family had gone to Japan. There was still no word about Kaeden. The only thing they heard was that he was alive within the pod.
Terry was never too tired to hear from Cory or Kim, but in those four months, he and Char had gone on seventy-three raids; every single one had been a grab and go.
The bad news was that there were nearly five hundred signals broadcasting.
“We take one out and ten more pop up in its place,” Terry lamented while sitting on the beach, listening to the gentle rolling waves of Lake Michigan.
Char poured herself another glass of Cabernet Sauvignon. They’d swapped one of the San Francisco platoons after two months, then promised to trade them out at one-month intervals.
Most of the platoon didn’t want to leave San Fran, though, which resulted in a certain amount of wailing and gnashing of teeth. Terry had gotten angry, but didn’t take it out on the platoon.
“Kids and their modern conveniences,” Terry mumbled.
“No shit,” Char replied sarcastically. “It’s that control thing, TH. You need to let go. Reform the unit with volunteers from San Fran who want to see the world. Leave a garrison there, a permanent one, and maybe consider moving the FDG headquarters out that way. The training areas there are so much better than what we have here, especially for the tac team.”
Terry’s eyes drifted to the bottle and glass on the ground next to Char’s chair.
“And they have wine,” he said.
She twisted her mouth sideways and nodded. “They have wine,” she agreed.
“We are going to have to spread out, establish bases across the world. We need more pods.” Terry blew out a breath and watched the waves. His body wanted to work out, but his mind needed to be stilled.
“I want to go see the kids,” Char said what Terry was thinking.
“Akio did not recommend that,” Terry said sadly.
“I know, but I can still want to go. I understand that we won’t. Cory and Kim’s Japanese is getting better with each day, or so I’ve heard,” she added proudly.
“I guess Ramses and other languages are uncomfortable strangers.” Terry chuckled. His future son-in-law wasn’t learning very quickly, falling far behind the other two in learning Japanese.
Marcie strolled up from behind. Neither had to look to know who it was. She sat on a rock nearby and watched the waves. “May I?” she asked, motioning to the bottle of wine. Char handed Marcie the glass instead.
She took a long drink and looked at the red liquid remaining as if studying it.
“Mom has the kids with her, but I’m on my way to pick them up,” she told them. “Would you like me to bring them here? William has enough energy, I think he’ll try to run the whole way. Mom will appreciate me wearing them out, I think,” Marcie said, making small talk about the most important things in life.
“Sure. We’d love to see them,” Char replied. Marcie stood, drained the glass, and handed it back to Char.
The communication device in Terry’s pocket buzzed. Char pinched her eyes shut and groaned.
“Akio-sama,” Terry answered flatly.
“Two things. Eve has isolated a primary signal. It appears to be coming from the Monterey Peninsula, but she believes that it is the one that is being repeated.”
Terry’s ears perked up. “We’re going to go kill us some suckwads,” Terry replied grimly. “Send the info to our pod. We’ll mount up and be on our way within the hour. I hope Eve’s right, Akio-sama. I’m tired of shooting blanks. What’s the second thing?”
“I saved the most important for last, Terry-san. Kaeden-san has exited the pod. He has survived the initial process. We will introduce him to his new life this week, and then Kimber will go in.”
Terry threw his head back and yelled, “Yes!” Char jumped from her chair and started dancing. Marcie joined her.
“Domo arigato, Akio-sama, for the incredible news. Time for us to get on our way and say good-bye to a few of our enemies.”
Akio and Terry signed off simultaneously and Terry leaped from his seat to grab Char and swung her around. “I knew he’d survive,” Terry proclaimed, but the uncertainty had been dragging him down.
Terry put Char down, kissing her fully and enjoying the heat from her lips as she pulled herself tightly into his body.
When they separated, they both looked determined. “Let’s go kill us some Forsaken,” he growled.
“Go tell your mom and if this one is like we think, when we get back, we’re all taking a vacation,” Char told Marcie.
She ran one way and Terry and Char ran the other.
The Monterey Peninsula
The pod hovered at an altitude of twenty thousand feet, well east of Monterey, beyond where they could be discovered in the etheric. Which meant that the pack couldn’t be sure that Forsaken were in the target area.
The entire tac team was present—a Werebear, two Weretigers, six Werewolves, and two Forsaken. Ted had joined this mission because Eve reported that there might be reactor fuel rods in the area along with another Mini Cooper.
Ted wasn’t interested in the operation at all, as long as it successfully gave him access to the supposed nuclear cache. Terry had already told him to stay out of the way, but Ted was only half-listening because Terry wasn’t able to give specifics on that which Ted was singularly focused on, the equipment and fuel. Terry informed Marcie that she needed to keep an eye out for the Werewolf as he could easily walk into the line of fire.
And Cory wasn’t there to help heal anyone.
They hovered for an hour as Eve used the pod’s equipment to isolate the signal emanating from north of Monterey, within the confines of the former army post of Fort Ord.
“That fucker must have found an underground command complex, a bunker in which to hide,” Terry snarled. “Bring up a topo map, please.”
Ted was manipulating the controls, which was what he had a tendency to do in ‘his’ pod. Since he was the first to take it, he was of the opinion that it was his to use as he pleased. Terry took to putting a guard on it whenever Ted was in a mood to go somewhere. Felicity was little help in keeping him under control, but with two kids running around the mayor’s rooms, Ted found ways to make himself scarce.
The map appeared on the screen and Terry leaned close. “Merrit, Joseph, Gene, and Yanmei. I intend to land here.” Terry pointed to the screen, then touched it and spread his fingers to zoom in.
“Aaron and Yanmei, you’re the fastest, so you go through this small cut, circle to the east, and stop here. Be ready to move in or move laterally, depending on which way the cockroaches run. Gene, follow them and stay in the cut. See this heat signature? It could be a back door to the underground. Corporal Camilla! Your squad is in support of Gene on our southeast flank.”
They leaned back so the diminutive squad leader could see. She gave the colonel the thumbs up.
“Butch, Skippy, Shon
na, and Merrit, go left. Be ready to flex as there is a huge open area west of these buildings. If they come out of there, you’ll need to hold them up. Char, I, Joseph, and new guy will take the remainder of the platoon right up the gut. We’ll fan out, inverted V. Sergeant Marcie, you stay in trail and watch for the cues. You can move the squads by your own initiative depending on the situation.
“Silver loads and no one escapes. Ted, stay out of the way or follow Marcie. We’ll call you on the comm when we know where your stuff is. Questions?” People shuffled within the pod and their equipment clinked and banged as they bumped into each other.
No one wanted to be left behind. The other deployments had been disappointing to say the least. Once locations were isolated to the top of a building, morale had gone to hell. This one was different from the start.
“Where’s the San Fran platoon going to be?” Marcie asked.
“Good point, Sergeant. They are cooling their heels right now on the wharf in San Francisco. As soon as we’ve cleared the pod, it’s going to go get them. It should be back in less than fifteen minutes. It’ll land in the open field to the west. Butch, send them all toward us. Marcie, you take charge when they arrive. I expect we’ll be knee-deep in the shit by then.” Terry shrugged and smiled darkly, adding, “It’s our way.”
“Keep in mind that as soon as we land, they’ll know we’re coming. Some of you have seen them before. We don’t know if they’ll run or fight. No matter what, you hit them with everything you’ve got!” Char ordered.
Terry looked at the war faces. The platoon and the pack were ready to go. Don’t be in a hurry to die, he thought without changing his expression.
He personally was in a hurry to make a difference in the war against the Forsaken. It had been too long since the battle of San Francisco. He wanted to spill more Forsaken blood.
Terry Henry needed to spill their blood.
Data rolled across the screen.
“The location is refined. The signal is being broadcast from this building.” Terry pointed. “The underground complex appears to be in this area with the entrance right here. Our deployment is confirmed. Execute the plan. Take us in, Ted, fast as you please,” the colonel requested.
The pod lurched as it surged toward the old army base. As they closed, Char wore a fierce smile as she gripped Terry’s arm.
“How many?” he said in a low voice.
“A dozen, maybe more.” Char’s hands went to her pistols and she grabbed the hand grips, loosened the weapons in their holsters, then plunged them back in.
“Hear that, people?” Terry bellowed. “Fresh meat. We have a dozen of them and they’re going to think they have the advantage. No hesitation. That many will be the most dangerous thing you’ve ever faced, so strike first and strike hard. NO MERCY!”
“NO MERCY!” the platoon screamed.
Terry looked at those closest to him. “Don’t take any risks. No one is out here alone. Use your backup and no matter what, kill them before they kill you,” Terry growled.
He looked at the screen. “Landing in ten seconds. Take a deep breath, ladies, and get ready to take the plunge.”
The pod touched down and the disembarkation began. It was finished in seconds with the three prongs racing away. Butch and Skippy had changed into Were form, as had Gene and the Weretigers. The rest ran as humans. Marcie formed her two squads into a combat-ready inverted V. Terry and Char took off running as the pod headed skyward to collect a second platoon from San Fran.
Ted was left standing alone where the pod had landed, then he decided to follow Terry and Char since they were heading in the general direction he thought his prize would be found.
San Francisco
Lieutenant Boris impatiently watched the sky as he stood, feet spread and fists on his hips. As soon as the dark spot of the pod appeared, he was galvanized into action.
“On your feet, you lazy bastards!” he cried and the platoon responded. It had five new members who had been recruited in San Fran and had excelled in their training. Boris had integrated them and now they were going into combat.
Timmons and Sue stood behind the lieutenant. Terry hadn’t told them what was going on, which Boris had considered an oversight that he rectified. Once they found out about the raid to the south, they insisted on coming along. Since Forsaken were involved, Boris was happy to have them along.
Boris had already gone through the stage of second-guessing himself, but he’d cautioned the squad leaders, all from North Chicago, to take care of those in their charge and especially watch out for the newcomers.
Boris could see the excitement on their faces. “We’ll get our brief in the pod, and we hit the ground running, ladies!” Boris shouted a hearty oorah and the platoon responded in kind.
The pod landed, and the FDG boarded. The five newcomers had never flown before, but the comfort by which the others approached it gave them no cause for worry.
Boris ran in last, took a headcount, and tapped the pod’s screen to execute its orders. The ramp closed and the pod took off. The newcomers were quick to grab at the seats and people around them, which earned them some good-natured ribbing.
“A dozen Forsaken in an underground complex. Proceed east from the LZ to the buildings. Look for Sergeant Marcie and take your initial orders from her before assuming command.” The colonel’s message was short and sweet.
“We’ve cornered a bunch of them, ladies!” Boris bellowed. “With your best silver bullets, lock and load!” A mix of AK-47s and M4s were charged and loaded. Squad leaders looked down the ranks to ensure the weapons were on safe.
Within five minutes, the pod descended and landed. The rear deck dropped and the platoon exited. They were met by Shonna, Merrit, and two shaggy Werewolves. The newcomers raised their weapons, but were quickly restrained by their squad mates.
The newcomers earned an angry look from Sue.
“They went that way and be careful, for fuck’s sake,” Merrit cautioned. “Now hurry up, you’re behind schedule and…”
Merrit trailed off as he unfocused his eyes and sensed the hidden world. “They’re starting to run. We’re all going to be up to our ass in alligators real soon.”
Merrit’s description was lost on the humans, since none had ever seen an alligator or knew what one was, but Sue and Timmons understood. “Let’s roll!” he yelled and took off running with Sue close behind.
Boris let them go. He put the platoon into a combat formation and then they ran for the designated compound.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Fort Ord, Monterey Peninsula
“Fuck! They’re running,” Char called.
“You see Mister Smith?”
“No!” Char exclaimed.
“Who looks like they’re protecting something?” Terry asked,
“This way,” Char called before veering sharply to her right toward the bunker.
“We’ll take these two,” Joseph shouted after the quickly retreating colonel and major.
He slowed to a walk. “What do we do?” Andrew asked.
“We talk to them,” Joseph said.
“What if they don’t want to talk?”
“Then we kill them,” Joseph answered matter-of-factly. He pulled his short cavalry sword and handed it to Andrew, who looked at it before taking it.
Joseph headed up a short staircase leading to an old wooden building. He didn’t bother knocking. He pushed the door open and walked in like he owned the place. Andrew set his jaw and strode in boldly after his new friend.
Two Forsaken stood and looked anxious. Joseph assumed that they wanted to run, unsure of why they didn’t.
“Help us get out of here,” the tall one said.
“No. Can. Do,” Joseph replied slowly, sizing up his enemy. He could see that the order to evacuate had been given, but these two were still working with a bank of radio equipment.
“One last broadcast to be sent?” Andrew asked. The smaller Forsaken didn’t answer, but turned back to
the computer interface as it furiously typed a message.
Joseph didn’t hesitate. He leaped forward, only to get blocked by the tall Forsaken who delivered an expert punch, throwing Joseph to the side.
Andrew dove in and slashed with his new weapon, driving the tall one back. He delivered a weaker backhanded slash to the sitting Forsaken. It grunted and Andrew tried to follow up, but the tall one engaged him, grabbing his wrist, and tried to wrestle the sword from Andrew’s grip.
He dropped and twisted, catching the tall Forsaken with a leg sweep. As the creature fell backwards, the sword was ripped from Andrew’s hand and thrown across the room.
Joseph surged back into the fight, but he went after the Forsaken digging into the controls and trying to send the message. Joseph caught the shorter creature from behind with a wide roundhouse to the temple, throwing the Forsaken into the radio before it crumpled to the floor.
Andrew and the tall Forsaken were engaged in a life or death struggle to gain the upper hand. Andrew had trained hard, but not long enough to gain confidence in the martial arts techniques that would have helped him carry the day. He attempted moves, but tentatively, giving his enemy time to avoid them.
Joseph ran two steps and body-blocked Andrew from behind, throwing him and his opponent into the wall. One more step and Joseph had the sword. Andrew and his enemy rolled on the floor, each attempting to gain the upper hand. Joseph ignored them.
He returned to the fallen one and with one axe-like blow, he cleaved the creature from shoulder to belly button. Guts and blood ran freely from the immense wound.
“Damn!” Joseph cursed as he prepared for a second swing. He had been aiming to decapitate his enemy. It took two more swings to finish the task.
When he turned, he found the tall Forsaken straddling Andrew. He had both hands around Andrew’s throat and was mercilessly choking him. Joseph hopped one step and took a mighty swing, turning into it like a homerun slugger.
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