by Davis, John
“God.” Wesley said.
“Roger that. We still don't know a lot about them. But what we do know is there are hundreds of distress calls just like yours coming in. We'll get to you, but you have to find a way to sit tight until we can. Copy?” the voice asked.
“Copy that.” Wesley replied, finding it hard to push those words from his lips.
“Earth Defense Command out.”
-
Normally Jack would have cursed such heavy rain. But given the circumstances, it provided him with additional cover. Which he welcomed with open arms.
The lieutenant had shoved as many supplies into a satchel as possible. Military MRE packs, rifle magazines and a small com radio, though its housing appeared damaged.
Zipping the satchel, Jack quickly placed it in the exact spot he'd pointed out to Renaldo. Forcing his body to stand as it fought against the weight of such rainfall.
He was alert enough to see the clawed-hand crashing down, rolling a bit to his left as the Rynal soldier missed. A motion that left him down on a single knee and looking into the eyes of the demonic-like foe.
It was the first time he'd come face to face with such a horror, and he found himself visually studying the beast.
It was taller in stature than Jack, though its frame looked to be just as fleshy. Its body seemed almost webbed together, as if bare hide was intertwined around its vital areas. Appearing to be nothing but tendons wrapped in skin.
And tendons could be severed, no matter the species.
“I think you'll find that I'm a bit tougher to kill than innocent children.” Jack said firmly, standing to his feet slowly while unsheathing a combat blade from his leg holster.
The Rynal soldier replied. Uttering a string of language that was not understandable, nor repeatable by a human tongue. Still, Jack knew that the beast understood the events to follow. Its elongated fingers crunching down a bit to further expose claws.
The winged-demon was the first to strike, claws missing as it jumped down with tremendous force.
The monster looked up to him, its eyes of fiery-black concentrating on the seasoned soldier a bit. Studying him. Its eyes eventually shifting down to the knife hand of Jack, who strengthened his grip of the blade.
“See, where I'm from, a razor's edge will cut flesh from bone. Don't matter the species. And you can bet your ass,” the lieutenant said with a slight grin. “I've cut my fair share.”
The demon adjusted the angle of his head a bit, tilting it as the green of its eyes continued to watch the soldier.
Then, without a moment of warning, the Rynal soldier dashed in with extended claws, nearly digging into the marine's stomach.
Had he been less-experienced, the thrust of claws would have caught him. Possibly even killed him. But Jack had seen his fair share.
The first Sky War. The second. He'd even rubbed shoulders with the Sky Elites while hunting down murderous war criminals after it had all been said and done.
And using his experience wisely, he created a deep slash across the demon's ribcage as it dashed in for him. Dripping blood of neon-green which eventually began pouring.
“Be sure you get that wound looked at when you get to the gates of hell.” Lieutenant Strong commented, grinning a bit as the Rynal held its wound.
His grin quickly turned to a grimace of pain, however, as a second Rynal drug its clawed-hand down the marine's back, crimson color immediately soaking the soldier's back.
Jack had hit the ground, rolling in pain as he also realized a second demon had joined the fight. The odds no longer even.
Quick enough, he narrowly escaped a thrashing curb stomp-style kick meant to end him – responding with a solid kick of his own to one of the Rynal, its leg buckling a bit. Then a second, as Jack began to work his way back upright.
Even the smallest bones in his skull, however, jarred wildly as the second Rynal crushed him back to the ground with an authoritative backhand.
With his vision blurred and what had instantly become a near-crippling headache, Jack was reluctant to stand again, opting instead to defend himself from his back.
Pulling a rifle from its back, one of the Rynal uttered several harsh words, its language very cold and direct; as Jack remained crumpled to the ground awaiting his fate. Eventually closing his eyes.
The lieutenant shook as the burst of ammunition sounded loudly, though it took a moment to register. It was Earth Defense gunfire.
Quickly opening his eyes, Jack saw a Rynal falling victim to a single round, high-caliber. As the second turned with surprise, Ronaldo fired on it as well, though the monster evaded the shot. At least in terms of being fatal, the bullet merely clipping its side.
The demon screamed in pain however, as Jack dashed to his feet and plunged man-made steel into the lower spine of the creature; brutally dragging the blade upward as the Rynal's screams turned to silence.
“Run!” Ronaldo yelled, nearing his brother in arms.
“Huh?” Jack asked, a ringing headache partially to blame.
“RUN!” the sniper yelled once more, sprinting past his military superior.
Oh Shit. Jack thought as the horizon was now filled with heavy rain and a small horde of Rynal, each of them closing in fast.
The pain of a headache is enough to put even the best to rest. Amazingly, however, the adrenaline of death at the gates seems to always push us to our limits. As it did with Lieutenant Jack Strong as he began sprinting as though his life depended on it.
Which it did.
-
“How are you feeling?” Julia asked several hours later as Jack lay resting.
“My head is still splitting...but I'm lucky to be alive.” he replied.
“Yes you are, given everything that has taken place.” the young woman said, lifting his head up a bit to place a fresh rag across his forehead; the linen full of cold water and headache-killing ability, or so it seemed.
“Sitrep!” the lieutenant yelled.
“Well sir,” Renaldo replied, leaving the general to watch over the building's one and only entrance. “It isn't a good one.”
“Give it to me.” Jack demanded.
“Well alright, you asked,” the sniper replied as a disclaimer. “We're at war.”
“What?” Jack asked, removing the rag from his head as he sat up quickly, preparing to stand.
“I mean we're at war. The Earth Defense Force. Whatever those things are, we've dubbed them Rynal. Turns out the bastards are everywhere, not just here.”
“What?” Jack asked, trying to process the new information. “How can that be?”
“I dunno. There was a small radio in the satchel, but it's one-way. I've been listening in the best I can, but nobody is talking how. Just battle orders and casualties for the most part.” Renaldo said.
Jack began to think about everything. The crew he had lost, the memories of home and his government as a whole. Then, pulling his sidearm, the lieutenant slowly aimed into the direction of the general.
“Why have they not taken this building?” Jack asked, his pistol glued to the general.
“What?”
“I just saw with my own eyes what these things are capable of. They have the muscle and the weaponry to get to us. To get through my ship. So my question is, why haven't they broken through yet?” Jack demanded to know.
“I, I don't know,” the general said, pausing to lift his hand in front of the gun's path. “Please, that's the truth. I wondered myself, but I don't have the answers lieutenant. Now please.” the general replied.
“I do,” Julia added, stepping forward to the conversation. “At least I think I do.”
Jack turned to her, pausing for a moment before finally lowering his sidearm and awaiting her explanation.
“I think it is the children,” she admitted. “When the attacks began, they seemed to stay clear of the buildings where children were. I don't know why, I just know that when we brought them into this building they began to ignore us and de
cimated the remainder of the colony.”
“And you said nothing of this?” the general asked loudly.
“I didn't know. I thought it was my own mind thinking into things too deeply. I had no idea they were connected, and still don't.” Julia replied.
“Makes perfect sense.” Jack replied.
“How so lieutenant?” the general asked.
“They used some serious hardware out there. Never seen anything like it before, but I know it could have easily punched through the skiff when it was attached to our front door. Hell, even the front door for that matter. They also rerouted their punch shot into the air and hit my crew's skiff. No way they didn't have time to lock onto the skiff filled with kids.”
“The kids are gone.” Renaldo stated clearly.
“Yea, I'm aware,” Jack replied. “Means we're gonna have to haul ass pretty soon. It's only a matter of time before they hit us.”
“Haul ass, there's nowhere to go?” the general replied in a questioning manner.
“I'm a master of improvisation.” Jack replied.
-
The giveaway was the scratching against such a battle-thick door. High pitched dragging of nails across human steel. Moments later, the door which had separated the group from the alien race outside – it began to pull away a bit. Brute force tugging against hold of large bolts.
It took a few minutes, but finally the light of day, masked in rainfall of course, was easily seen through a large gap between the door and the frame surrounding it.
Snap.
The thick steel was finally broken from its hold, snapping apart from its hinges behind incredible force. The group watched as several of the succubus entered cautiously, each of them toting a weapon which resembled a human rifle. Though it was different at the ends, particularly the glowing end which faced away from the soldiers.
Patting Renaldo on the shoulder for a job well done, Jack remained silent – as did the rest of the group.
The sniper had pulled an LCD screen from one of the battle rifles and linked it to the LCD screen on his own weapon. Working as a two-way system, the group could watch their hunters stalk them with detail. All while remaining hidden beneath a large steel flooring tile to the rear of the building.
Jack had first thought himself mad when seeing this new race of beings. Fearing nobody would believe him. After finding out the human race was at war with this new foe, Jack thought in an entirely different manner. A military manner – his experience taking over in such a situation.
The beasts searched the small building for nearly an hour, but to no avail. Finally grouping together and speaking to one another in language that seemed very strange, Jack watched as a single soldier was posted to the interior of the door.
Their fuck up. Their mistake. The enemy taking Jack and his experience too lightly.
“Gonna have to do this quietly.” Jack whispered.
“Quiet is what I do,” the sniper replied. “How do you want to play it?”
The sniper awaited Jack's command, while slowly attaching a silencing chamber to the long barrel of his bolt-action rifle.
Easing the steel from beneath their heads, all while watching the LCD screen which now acted as a security system, Jack finally peeked from their safe haven below.
Motioning the sniper up, Jack helped Renaldo ease himself from the spot beneath the large tile of steel as well.
“Count silently to twenty,” Jack said, directing his comments to the general and Julia, both of whom remained hidden below. “Then make as much damn noise as you can.”
“Are you sure?” the woman asked.
“I'm sure,” he replied with confidence. “Two of us, one of them. I don't care how good they think they are,” he added. “They don't know who they're fucking with.”
Then, turning to motion the sniper into a corner, Jack ordered him to remain prone with a bead on the entryway. As the sniper settled into position, adjusting his scope carefully. Jack pulled both a combat blade and silenced pistol. Positioning himself by the doorway in a kneeling position.
Just as Jack had asked, both the general and Julia began yelling loudly. It was enough to be heard throughout the building, though Jack was sure that it remained muffled enough to be drowned out by ears beyond the building's walls. Hard rain to blame.
Sure enough, Renaldo motioned his lieutenant – letting him know that the soldier was coming to investigate. Seconds later, Jack could hear the heavy steps of such a confident warrior.
Swiftly turning, Jack thrust his blade toward the warrior, its blade stopping just short of entering flesh as the succubus grasped the lieutenant's wrist.
Gritting its teeth with anger, the monster began to overpower Jack by way of his clinch, turning the tested soldier a bit in the process.
Jack fired a single shot from his silenced pistol, the glancing shot barely hitting the monster's right side, but striking enough to release the grip of his wrist.
As the warrior began clinching its own side, only inches below its ribcage, Jack landed a flush hook to its face, staggering the beast back just a bit.
Then, following the punch with two more – both of them solid plows of clinched human bone into the face of an extraterrestrial, Jack seemed to have the upper hand.
Until the beast struck back.
A commanding hook from the much larger opponent knocked Jack to his ass, dazing him a bit. He knew the monster was coming, however, that much was a given.
Rolling to his side, Jack avoided what seemed like a curb-stomp by the alien. As if the lieutenant was pesky at best.
Knowing the alien would be on him again, Jack sprung up with blade in hand. Cementing the combat knife into the lower portion of its stomach.
Furious, the alien delivered a swooping uppercut which knocked the space marine several feet back. The bloodied man trying to get up once more, before understanding how much damage a single punch from the demon had delivered.
Jack felt as though he were nearly asleep, his head ringing from the recently delivered punch. Watching the menace of men standing above him, Jack heard the zip of man-made weaponry fire through the air. A single, but high-velocity shot pummeling its way through the beast.
The demon prepared to shriek loudly, knowing it was now outnumbered and, in turn, doomed. Two more shots ended that, however, as both of the bolt-action carriers of death drove into the beast's skull. Ending the bastard in the process.
“What...” Jack said with disorientation. “What took you so fucking long?
“Had to wait for a clear shot,” Renaldo answered, approaching his downed lieutenant. “Besides, you were handing his ass to him.” he added with a grin.
“Is that what it was?” Jack asked, using Renaldo to help himself up. “Between the crippling punches I took, it was kind of hard to tell. Kind of felt like, I dunno, like I was in the ring against a fucking train.”
“Aye.” Renaldo acknowledged.
“But one of those big, tough trains. Not one of the sissy Christmas type.” Jack added.
“Even though trains fall.” Renaldo replied.
“Indeed they do.” Jack said, looking down onto the fallen beast as his sniper looted the corpse of any advanced technology. Especially when it came to weaponry.
“Are you alright son?” the general asked, approaching the lieutenant after helping Julia from their safe haven beneath the floor.
“I'll live,” Jack replied, turning to the fallen soldier. “He won't.” Jack added with a grin.
“Oh my God, wow,” Julia said, rushing to Jack and looking his facial wounds over. “Are you alright?”
“Be lying if I didn't say I'd had better days,” Jack replied. “But I'm good to go. We still have a job to do.”
“And what would that be?” the woman asked.
“Get you both safely aboard my ship.” the lieutenant answered with a grin, though it was overpowered by an eye which seemed covered with red veins and a dark bruise below it.
“What's th
e plan boss?” Renaldo asked.
“Well as soon as you get finished picking the poor bastard clean to the bone, we'll work on getting out of here.” Jack replied.
“Hey, I'm just taking what we might need.” Renaldo defended with honor.
“Really? I was waiting for you to take his watch. Maybe a wedding ring and credit cards.” the lieutenant jested.
“He's got a watch?” Renaldo asked with interest.
“We're leaving?” the general asked.
“No choice. As soon as this guy misses a check-in, they'll be back here thick as thieves. This time, they'll rip the place apart looking for us.”
“But I don't know if we can survive out there.” the general replied.
“I've survived in worse. We just have to be smart about it. Trust me.” Jack replied.
“I do lieutenant. I do.” Julia replied, though the general seemed a bit more reluctant.
-
“You sure you got it wired up right?” Jack asked of his sniper.
“I'm telling you, I double checked the wiring. That's son of a bitch is pegged to blow sky high just as soon as they open it.” Renaldo defended.
“Alright, well,” Jack said, the entire group well-hidden in thick brush a few hundred yards away. Using the thick rainfall to mask their getaway. “We hang out here until we hear the boom. When that happens, there should be a lot of attention heading toward the building. When it does, we skirt our asses up to those cliffs.”
Pointing toward a set of rocky cliffs that seemed well over a mile out, Jack looked back to the group of four to make sure his plan was clear.
“Shouldn't we stay put in case friendlies come looking for us?” the general asked.
“Pulled the tracking beacon from the downed shuttle. The son of a bitch is right here in my pants,” Jack replied, patting one of his cargo pockets. “If they come looking, we'll be easy enough to find.”
“I like it lieutenant.” the general approved with a nod.
“The rain should erase out footprints within minutes. We just got to make it to those cliffs and start looking for a cave.” Jack replied with a nod of his own.