Their watches started to buzz. Ben looked at his and groaned. “What the fuck? Oh this is some bullshit timing. Babe we got to go now.”
“What’s going on?”
“They are landing a plane here and picking us up in twenty minutes for a mission.”
While they are waiting for the plane to arrive Captain Munez went over the details of the mission. “Alright Rangers we have been called up because we’re the only compound who has been trained and already completed a successful mission—”
“Captain, sorry to interrupt, but I thought we were trained so that we could protect our compound?”
“Well, Michael, welcome to the Rangers. Things change and while I hope this kind of bullshit doesn’t become a habit we have to do what we are called to do. So, with that being said evidently there has been a report of some freak mutation with the virus in Barnhart, MO. We are to breach the house and do our damnedest to try and take these people alive. These people gunned down two thirteen-year old boys and tried to kill a third who managed to get away, just so no one could find out whatever dirty little secret it is they are trying to hide. Listen and listen good, they want them alive, but if you or a team member’s safety is at risk do what you have to do to come home alive, understand me?”
The whole group yelled, “Hooah.”
“I, Randy, Michael and Cody will breach the front door. Dillon and the two love birds will breach the back door. Yeah, that’s right, I said love birds. What? You two thought I didn’t know about your kissy-kissy, smooch-smoochy that night while you were in training.”
Ben’s and Tracy’s face turned bright red.
The captain started laughing. “I don’t give a rat’s ass what you two do, just don’t let it affect your ability to make smart choices while we’re knee deep in shit. Got me?”
“Yes, sir.” They said in unison.
The plane landed and all seven Rangers board. Once the plane is over the house all seven jump and parachute down. When they hit the ground everyone takes there position.
The captain whispered into his headset, “On the count of three we move in. One… two… three!”
They used a battering ram to breach the front and back door simultaneously. Both groups threw flashbangs into the house, and then moved in. Every couple of seconds someone would call out ‘clear’ as they went through every room in the house.
Finally Captain Munez announced, “The area is clear. I’ll be a monkey’s uncle, these son of bitches already packed up their shit and are on the move.”
They walked out of the house and a man approached them.
“Rangers, I am Chief Warrant Officer William Stattson with the INSCOM.”
The captain stepped forward and they saluted one another. “I am Captain Munez, the house is clear and they have packed up and left.”
“I kind of figured that would be the case.”
“Well why the hell did they waste our time then.”
“I wasn’t one-hundred percent sure; it was more of an educated guess. I have been investigating these folks. This morning my last background check came in and I was able to put everything together. A researcher by the name of Austin Larson was supposed to meet me here, and as you can see I was stood up. Long story short, the people who were staying hear know this Austin fella’. It turns out, him and a guy named Daniel Bragden worked together on a virus that could change DNA. Daniel is related to another family who was also staying here. Then there is a lady named Emily Wilson who also knows Austin Larson, which would make me assume she probably knows Daniel Bragden. So there is a virus that is created by these two men and then Emily, who is a flight attendant, just happened to be at the Bangor International Airport on the day civilians were first infected. Coincidence, I think not. Since Emily is patient zero I firmly believe she has had some kind of mutation that no one else has seen and that’s why they are all hiding. This is also why I pretty much knew they wouldn’t be here because Austin was working at one of the labs whose sole function was to figure all this out. He had top security clearance so when he got word that I was close to figuring all this out he called Daniel and told them to leave. I’m sure he has plans to meet up with them somewhere.”
“How do you know this Austin guy called them?”
“We have his phone records. His last call was to a prepaid cell phone. The last call he received was from that same number also. There have been no more calls in or out of the phone, he must have thrown it away.”
The captain looked at Stattson in complete shock. “Well, I’ll be damned. They were right under our nose the whole time. That is some fine detective work you did there Chief Warrant Officer Stattson.”
“Thank you for that. I just wish I could have figured it out before they were able to jump ship.”
“Well you can’t win ‘em all.”
“Maybe I can. I put a call in to have drones and helicopters fly within a sixty-mile radius of here and look for any off the grid places someone might be able to hide out at. We have coordinates from Larson’s phone that aren’t too far from here. I bet that’s where they are. So if you all could hang out for a little while I sure could use your expertise if they find these people.”
“Sure, we will stay for a while and you let me know if anything comes up.”
“Absolutely.”
***
Daniel and his group made it safely to the hunting cabin and stowed everything inside, an hour later Austin was pulling up next to the cabin. Emily ran outside smiling.
Austin gets out of his car.
Emily yells, “Hi Austin.”
Austin looked up and stopped in his tracks. His face went slack and he stared wide-eyed at her in horror. “Emily!”
Daniel stepped out of the house. “Austin.”
Austin did not look away from the creature in front of him. “Is this…”
Daniel’s head hung low. “This happened to her because of me. The flux passed from Sweetie to Emily when she gave her an Eskimo kiss. She received the cat DNA because of me.”
Still in shock, Austin slowly tore his gaze from the woman. “Wow, up until this point we haven’t found the flux passing on animal DNA.”
“Well you should see Beth and Brianne.” Daniel shrugged, “Let’s go inside.”
Once inside Daniel called out, “Beth, Brianne come here.”
The two girls run into the room. Austin’s shock continues when he lays eyes on the girls. He sits heavily on a dining room chair. Looking at the girls he shook his head in utter disbelief of what he was seeing.
Beth now has the ears, nose and mouth of a rabbit; she has even started to grow beautiful white fur covering her entire body. Brianne has a squirrel ears, eyes, nose and mouth, the rest of her still appears human. Emily has a cat eyes, nose, mouth, ears, whiskers and a tail.
Austin mumbled, “I would have never thought my virus—“
Emily stopped him in mid-sentence. “Hey do you guys hear that buzzing sound?”
“No.” Everyone repeated except the two little girls.
“I hear it.” Beth said.
“I do, too.” Brianne added.
“Seriously, no one else but us three hear that?”
Everyone quieted down to listen.
“I don’t hear anything.” Daniel finally said.
“Me either.” Kaden answered.
Austin looked at Emily and the two young girls and said, “It could be that your hearing is hypersensitive due to your changes. I mean, what you’re hearing, that all of us are not, could be a wasp or something like that.”
“Ya’, you’re probably right. I’m a little on edge so it’s most likely noth—”
A siren wailed. Everyone jumped up from the table and ran to the closest window to peer out. They were greeted with the sight of armed men and small, hovering drones.
“We know you’re in there. Come out with your hands up. If you don’t surrender we will not be able to guarantee your safety.”
p;
Eckrich,Jeremiah P., Genetic Flux (Phase One Book 1)
Genetic Flux (Phase One Book 1) Page 22