by Doug Burbey
"Lead Lab Engineer, Doctor John Shotwell, confirms, via three-way biometrics, including blood, the identity of ICER Director, Kelvin Ordonio, who has requested access to the phone booth by authority of the President of the United States of America. Access is granted." All three engineers in the control room responded in sequence, "Confirmed." Then typed in independent codes to each of their control terminals.
The Director heard hydraulics hiss as the door braces disengaged and he proceeded through and down the stainless steel tunnel with the door closing swiftly behind him. He moved toward the last door guarded by a single soldier. A series of red LEDs flashed in the hallway as a soft voice stated pleasantly from a recessed speaker, "The range is now hot. All personnel in the phone booth are now considered under the legal jurisdiction of a Final Protocol."
The Director shook his head just slightly. All this nonsense. So unnecessary. But, this is what happens when you let politicians designate the protocols for government-sanctioned portal openings.
"Good afternoon, Sergeant Major. How are you today?" The Director addressed the stone-faced senior Army Non-Commissioned Officer standing at the final door to the Phone Booth. The Sergeant Major held a wired analog trigger grip in one hand and had an electrode running out of his uniform sleeve into a wall panel. The electrode was the NCO's second dead man's switch.
"I'm just fine, sir." The soldier turned and looked through a peephole in the last door before moving his free hand to grasp a simple mechanical level in the door. "Seems the mages are ready to open the call now."
"Well then, Sergeant Major, there's no time like the present."
The NCO looked the at Director with cold formality stating "Sir, the Phone Booth is now a live range and you are subject to the legal jurisdiction of a Final Protocol upon entry. I will not be able to hear anything that is said in the Phone Booth. All electronics are rendered useless when the call is connected. I will only be able to see into the booth though this single armored glass viewport. If at any time I perceive any possibility of a threat attempting to exit the phone booth room, the jurisdiction of a Final Protocol signed by the POTUS, grants me personal subjective authority to release my dead man's switch activating the portal cannon. There will be absolutely no chance of any human, or other, survival within the Phone Booth upon the termination of the call through this process. Do you understand? Please respond yes, or no."
"Yes, Sergeant Major, I do."
The soldier turned and pulled up the door latch then pushed the heavy steel plating inward allowing the director entry into the Phone Booth.
The Phone Booth was a perfect ten by ten by ten clean steel room with only two exceptions. On the wall with the single off-centered door was the eight-foot octagonal barrel grouping of eight independent rail guns, the very end of the Portal Gun barrel. Etched onto the floor were a series of wards to assist the Mages in opening, and controlling, the eight-foot diameter portal to the demon realm that would appear exactly opposite of the Portal Gun's barrels. After he entered the Phone Booth the Director’s smile mask fell away, completely exposing a face filled with disdain as he addressed the three mages spaced precisely around the warded circle. It always bothered the Director how many mages it took to hold open a portal of this size but trial and error had confirmed that at least three were always needed. "Open the fucking call right now." The Director growled at the mages.
Soon, soon. After the last call is made I'm going to shove every one of you filthy aberrations into this Phone Booth and let the Sergeant Major send all of your corrupted souls to the true Hell.
The mages did not respond, but the center mage in the portal's key holder position proceeded with a final series of hand motions and completed the waiting link. The wall opposite the mouth of the portal gun became the focal point for a rapidly expanded glowing shimmer. It was as if the very steel wall was now a luminescent liquid plane of rippling energy. The director could feel the jarring screech of the portal's energy in his bones with its incessant hum that seemed to penetrate his skull.
Come on you filthy bastard, I don't have all day.
"Bezzid, don't make me stand here all day. I know you can hear me. You and I have things to discuss." Kelvin shouted at the portal.
The seven-foot bipedal demon, with overlapped armored scales and spikes that looked like a cross between a nightmare insect and giant medieval knight, stepped through the portal into the Phone Booth. The Director had met with Bezzid in the Phone Booth dozens of times now and was no longer shocked at his appearance. He barely moved as the demon emerged from its side of the realm wall.
"What do you want human?" Bezzid's voice rumbled from beneath the tendrils hanging in front of its mouth as the Horde leader glared down at the human ICER Director.
"You know what I want, demon. I want you to meet me on the challenge field of battle like you promised so we can finish this once and for all. You are going to fulfill your end of the bargain. We will put our best against your best and end this. I'm going to destroy you, then fracture the realm wall preventing your filth from ever stepping foot into my realm again."
"You, human, speak like a true Demon. Bezzid has accepted your challenge. Bezzid brings the horde across to destroy you, and your best. Proving to all demons that your realm is now ours and ready for harvesting. Bezzid is pleased that you have taken to the ways of the True Lord. It will not save you, or your kind, but the True Lord may show mercy upon your soul on your harvest day."
"We will see, Bezzid. You are going to fail. Then your overlords will finally understand that nothing waits for your cursed kind here except death and the losses of all your resources."
"Your words speak honor to the True Lord. It shall be a great day when your blood becomes mine. Speak quickly, what is it that you've asked Bezzid here for?" Bezzid began to slowly stroke a single long talon down its arm. The sound of the talon grating across its armored plates made the director flinch.
Kelvin's face contorted in anger as he pointed at the demonic general and tried to keep his voice calm "I need you to follow the plan. If we are to summon the great battle challenge, then that must be done in accordance with the ledgers. You know this, you agreed to this! Don't mince words with me about your True Lord when you can't even control your minions that violate our agreements. They send dozens of your wretched kind through the portals. I’ve heard of your attempts to kill the old war veterans. The ‘Demon Hunters’. We agreed that it was only a small number of lesser demons that are allowed to cross over. I've taken those resources as my own, destroyed them, and I grow tired of playing games with you. If you wish to waste our time, then you will never be granted the battle that you desire to appease your True Lord. You will never rise above your ranks and will be nothing but an insignificant slave to your Overlord forever."
Bezzid paused for a moment and glanced at the edges of the portal cannon barrel, before answering. "Bezzid understands your words human. Some of Bezzid's sub horde commanders became over-exuberant in their fulfillment of the rage and need of blood vengeance on your warrior clan. Bezzid will ensure they are dealt with. Bezzid expects you to fulfill your end of bargain."
"Have no doubt demon. We will meet you at the challenge field. We will destroy your poisoned blood. It will never be reconstituted to your horde."
Bezzid tilted his head slightly towards the Director, "You are a small and weak human, but Bezzid gives you respect for your understanding of the True Lord. Yes, your death will grant me great power. Your army's blood will fuel my machines. Your words are understood, human. Bezzid agrees the ledgers are to be maintained. Bezzid will fulfill my end of the bargain and keep the numbers of incursions as agreed. In doing so, you must force your overlord to grant you the power to open the great portals, once again allowing for us to meet and decide the final fate of our realms."
"You do that," he nearly spat at the demon, "and I will get the portals open. I will destroy you and your abortions. You will meet your True Lord in whatever hell you believe he resides i
n. We defeated your blight once and now we will defeat you again."
The plan depended on drawing the demons into the open and into the fight. He needed to prove to all of the world's leaders, that the treaty could never hold and that the demons would never abide by it. Once he, and his like-minded directors, were given unbounded authority they would ensure that the capability of magic was eradicated forever. It was the only way to prevent the demons from ever returning. Even if the ICERS had to kill every single being with the potential to learn magic on Earth. Beezid gave him the perfect opportunity and the perfect justification. When the major demon incursion happened, the ICERS were now prepared to instantly shift all portals to a site of his own choosing. This preplanned exercise will be the ambush in which the demons will be eradicated before they can even comprehend they have fallen into a trap.
"We are agreed, human. Bezzid will maintain my end of the bargain. You will balance your soul with whatever Pagan Lord you grovel to. Soon, this will be done forever."
Kelvin reached up and straightened the knot on this tie slightly then buttoned the top button of his suit coat, "We are done then I believe. Would you be so kind as to get the fuck out of my realm now.”?
Chapter 39 - Puzzle Pieces
Toy fit into Shane's life too well, as if she'd always been there. He almost felt bad for still calling her Toy but her name wouldn't stay in his head for anything and Toy did. Either way, he didn't care enough to spend any time worrying about it. Too many other things pulled for his attention.
He had to put together the information Barry had provided and match it up with what that department did. The information made him frown. Worse, he'd finally given in and looked up Declan. Part of him ached to ring up the man who'd been his brother and go get a beer, but that option had turned to ash a long time ago.
Shane sat back, looking at the information on his screen. If you knew where to look, you could find almost anything. Declan Kenner owned a nice piece of property not too far from here.
"Why, DK? What the hell got you back into the demon hunting business? I figured you'd run away to an island somewhere, where no one could ever attack you again."
Most hunters avoided open water; something huge and demonic was still down there, even if no one ever talked about.
It didn't take much more digging. Declan really needed to lock down his information more. He'd created a nice place and the satellite picture hinted that he'd fortified it heavily. The occasional post from the local VFW proved he was there, more often than not. He remained on good terms with at least a few veterans, and maybe a bit more. So he was not a complete hermit. That was good, right?
With a bit more effort, Shane had always enjoyed a bit of hacking, and he found the odd deposits from a government account into his bank.
"Huh. Government is paying you? For what? Who's sending you money old friend?" The words sliced at him as he spoke them, then hung in the air and taunted him.
Was Declan still a friend? Up until the hearings, he'd thought he'd died. Had assumed they had all died. They should have. He almost did.
Shane shook his head avoiding the thought; memories like that were counterproductive. He'd killed their friendship when he'd walked away, so it didn't matter, but, as always, knowledge was power. It took some time, but he finally managed to backtrack it. Everything ended up back at that director and his little agency - International Cooperative Emergency Response.
Declan had somehow gotten mixed up with the guy who was killing or converting hunters. Why? He rubbed his head and shut the browser windows. Declan was the past. All that mattered now was the future.
"Shane?" Toy's voice broke into his thoughts and he blinked, having forgotten she was there. Not good - that was how people got killed. He turned to look at her leaning on the door jamb and looking at him, her green eyes still as guileless as that first day.
I'll never understand women.
"Yes?"
If she wants ice cream or thinks I need to eat healthier, I'll go crazy.
Something in him shied away from the idea of killing her but she was a risk. Risk needed to be removed and dead people weren't dangerous.
"Frax says Bezzid wants to talk to you."
Shane froze looking at her. There was no smirk, no glee, just waiting for him to respond.
"He asked for me by name?" His voice cautious as he scrambled.
"Well, he asked for Marcus Vipsanius. I assumed he meant you." She frowned at him. "Or are you not Marcus Vipsanius anymore? I can tell him no. Frax said Bezzid had questions."
"What sort of questions?"
Toy shrugged. "I don't think Frax is told stuff like that. He's kind of like a dog. Bezzid said fetch, he fetched." She blinked at him and he swore for a moment her eyes brightened in color. "Do you want to talk to him?"
Shane rolled it over in his head but in the end no matter the risks, there really wasn't a choice. "Yes."
"Okay, I'll open a portal." She started to wave her hand and he bolted up.
"Not here. Back in the living area."
"Oh, okay." She shrugged and turned back to the living room. "Mind if I make some popcorn?"
Popcorn? Why did she want popcorn?
Shane pushed his mind away from that thought as he tried to focus on how to use this to get the answers he wanted.
"Fine."
"Good, I love popcorn. It never clashes with the blood scent."
Wait! What?
Shane shook his head.
I don't understand women and that one is odder than the rest of them put together.
With quick strokes, he listed out what he knew. Director of a program killing hunters, working with demons, and some sort of Summit where everything would change.
And I still don't know how or why DK seems to be in the middle of this.
He growled at himself and stalked out. Toy sat on the couch with a big bowl of half-popped microwave popcorn in her lap; she stared at the wall.
"Toy?"
"Yes?"
"Why are you staring at the wall?"
"I'm watching."
"Watching what?" He glanced at the wall to make sure it hadn't changed from the beige blandness it had been last time he looked. Nope, still the same.
"Angels. They are more boring than you think. All that pretty sterility and no joy."
"Uh huh. You can open the portal now." He fought the urge to step back a bit. How crazy was she?
"Sure." She looked away from the wall, at the center of the room, and waved her hand. A small circle appeared and grew to about the size of a large oval mirror like you'd see at a vanity in the old movies. "Hey, Frax?" Her voice was no more excited or worried than it had been when she asked him if he wanted to talk to a demon.
"Yes?" The word had too many consonants, but he could still understand it.
"He's here if you want to get your boss. Or we can watch Stargate."
"Ooh, the swooshy one? Frax would like that, but Horde Lord Bezzid insistent. Bring shortly, swooshy later?"
"Maybe? Depends on our bosses?"
"Understand," the voice replied. Everything went quiet.
Shane stood and waited. This portal was large enough that he would be able to see the demon. Maybe.
"Toy, is this portal like a window?"
She cast him a look. "No, it's like a portal."
He forced himself to take a deep breath and remind himself who he talked to.
"I meant, can we both see each other."
"Sure. You have to stand in front of it there," she pointed at a spot on the floor about five feet from the portal. A bit too close for Shane's comfort; some of those demons had long arms. "Then if Bezzid stands on the other side about the same place you should see each other."
As she talked a figure moved into view on the other side and Shane paled. There had only been a few higher demons seen on the battlefields, and they had killed soldiers by the dozens when they attacked. They ripped open tanks. He rubbed his hands on his pants trying to dry
his suddenly sweaty palms.
Maybe this wasn't such a good idea.
The portal pointed at layers of carapace on the demon about where Shane would have expected a belly button on a human. A grunt emerged from the other side and the being lowered until his face peered back at Shane.
"For a deadly race with many formidable weapons, humans are small and soft." His voice was a flat rumble and again Shane felt like he only heard half of what had been communicated.
"Yes, we are. But we know how to use blood and how to kill as well as any demon. So why did you want to speak to Marcus Vipsanius?"
A sharp barking sound emerged from the demon and something that might have been called a smile spread across its face. But with that many teeth and tentacles, humor is not what Shane felt.
"Yes, humans did well. The elemental fire air caused many strange things but what it did to the blood. Ah, if Bezzid had the power to make more of that blood, no boundaries could hold me but that is limited. Bah, not what Bezzid here to ask."
"Really, Francis of the Lighten Up, what did you want to ask?" Shane drawled trying not to show how his mind raced at those strange words.
Fire air, what the hell is fire air?
"Bezzid is still not Francis. Though the concept of lightening up is odd. Do you set the Francis on fire or do you remove layers of carapace to create the lightning?"
Shane blinked thrown off track by the question.
"Neither, it means to not be so serious."
"Ah. Interesting. Bezzid will remember. In the challenge battle for Earth, Kelvin will cheat. That is expected. Hence, Bezzid cheats also. Though it is more of wise planning than cheating. Bezzid asks, how many of these hunters, like the DK, will be facing us?"
Battle for Earth? What fucking battle for Earth? What the hell is going on?
"Why would I tell you? I don't want Earth to be lost to you." Shane countered, trying hard to keep his face neutral though he didn't know if Bezzid could read him. Behind him, Toy crunched on her half-popped popcorn.