"These damn civilians need to go the fuck home!" Issac ranted.
"HQ, route 6 is a no go. The entire place is full of civvies and hostiles." Michael reported back to HQ.
"Alpha Team, switch course from route 6 to route 0. Blockades and reinforcements are in route to area. New path is through Nine of Swords."
The civilians spot the team moving out and swarmed them begging for a safe place to go. Shane coughed heavily causing his throat to burn. Klaus pushed the desperate people away, the clawing hands and pleading cries unnerved him but he had to ignore them to perform his duties.
"Are you okay? You don't look too good." Tomas whispered to Shane.
"I'm fine, Rookie! I just have a cold." Shane replied annoyed.
"But don't the other sick people have colds?" Tomas replied then stepped back, fear plastered on his eyes, he did not wish to offend his superior but still...
"It's just a cold! If it was bad, I would be laid out in the hospital with everyone else. We can't run around paranoid over every cough or sneeze."
Michael walked over to his former lover. "Shane."
"What is it?"
"You think Jonathan and your parents are okay? I didn't know it would be this bad out here, the same could be happening back in L.A."
"I called my parents before we set out. They said everything was fine but...I don't know...This is looking pretty bad...." Shane's mind was filling with the worst. "Maybe we should leave and go check up on him."
"No." Michael hesitated for a moment, his eyes lingered on him for too long. "We have a job to do. I trust your parents and Jonathan to remain low and stay safe."
Shane shook his head, he didn't like this one bit, and once again the source of their problems was rearing its ugly head again. "You're gonna put work over us... again."
"There is no us." Michael stressed. "You realize that leaving is to go AWOL, do you?"
Shane backed down.
The well-trained men head forward down the corridor, rifles ready to fire.
"HQ to all teams. Alpha is en route to Hanged Man... after they rendezvous with Delta, we will proceed with the operation as planned."
They trekked inside the ruins of an old factory. Fresh blood stained the rusted floor and walls pooling in the center of the small drains. Gunshots flood the area outside and an explosion rocked the foundation. The soldiers used their training to steady themselves, keeping to their formations and remained calm.
"Bravo to HQ! We're engaging both hostiles and civvies at Two of Swords! We need back up and a barricade down here immediately!"
The men trekked through the winding rusted and near torn steel and shutters. The radio chatter continued.
"Hopefully we get some back up soon." Tomas shuttered.
The team of hard trained men jump down a large piece of blown rubble from the factory into the wide shady alley. Michael spotted a group of soldiers with their guns aimed at the street ahead.
"Army National Guard?" Shane said noting the combat fatigues.
"What the hell are they—" Michael gasped at the scene of them firing in rapid secession popping the running civilians splattering their blood and brains across the pavement.
"So, they're killing everybody now?" Michael fumed. "No wonder the civilians would rather risk getting eaten than to trust us!"
Deciding not to take the route toward the confused men they ran toward the opposite end over the bodies of the innocent. Among the pile of fresh corpses was one which stood out from the rest. Michael signaled to stop. He kicked over the man to see his face. His teeth were jagged and the black strings coated his skin from the corners of his white eyes.
Shane coughed hard and looked away.
Issac stepped in for a closer look. "Damn, poor fuckers."
"Jaggers." Michael used a stick to poke at the greasy looking face. "Seems like that black stuff is embedded into the skin, like a 3d tattoo."
"And the civvies are out there protecting them." Klaus sighed.
"These men and women used to be their family and friends." Shane lamented.
"Let's keep going." Michael ordered moving ahead.
They continued a steady pace through the chaotic streets. The bullets fly at the Jaggers as they charged forward.
Shane grabbed his radio to contact HQ. "Wyatt to HQ! We've made extensive contact with Jaggers. We need a barricade on route 10!"
"Roger that!"
The men charge forward blasting the hostile forces in their way. A howling shrieking cry rang from the distance ahead rattling them to the core.
Tomas twisted and turned, this way and that, his rifle pointed in every direction he could see. "Oh my god what is that?!"
"No time to think just move!" Michael shouted.
They kept up the pace with Michael leading the charge until they reach a rusted back door of a building. Taking point; Klaus pressed his back to the right wall. Weapon held tight in his hands. Ricki did the same on the left side while Issac, Jesse, and Tomas cover the rear. Shane stood behind Michael ready to go.
Shane laughed. "It's been a while since you've been on active duty. Thought you might be a bit rusty."
"Less talk the better." Michael replied annoyed and dismissive.
Shane looked to the man he shared many years of his life with and stood down. He sighed realizing their relationship was most likely beyond repair. But he couldn’t dwell on it. The mission was far more important, and he had to remain focused.
They burst through the doors of the hotel kitchen delivering a hail of gun fire at the Jaggers. They trek fast toward the back entrance not allowing the bloody rampage to slow them down.
Another shriek blared over the radio chatter.
"We're pinned down! We...."
"Come in Bravo!"
Gunfire and police sirens echo in the distance, black smoke rose from nearby fires, Detroit had become a war zone. Michael headed toward a large warehouse; passing the newly constructed barricade of abandoned cars. The only thought on his mind was getting his men through the check points and to their destination.
Michael signaled to stop once they reached a warehouse storing diapers and the men wait for their next line of orders. They fixed their flash lights to their ears to see better in the dark and Michael turns to Shane ignoring the sweat and pique pallor of his skin.
"ETA?" Michael asked Shane.
"Well this is the shortest possible route. So, I would say about ten more minutes."
"Good." Michael nodded then hesitated. "Erm... Shane..."
The water leaked from the rusted pipes and shuffling of feet upon the floor called Ricki to attention. He felt something fall on his cheek, wet and slimy. He touched the thick liquid, rolling the goo between his fingers.
"What the..." Ricki said confused.
A howl echoed from the dark and the men aimed their weapons in all directions.
"Sounds like the same creature as before." Klaus huffed.
"Everyone remain focused." Michael ordered and after that you could hear a pin drop.
The ragged sharp toothed creatures poured inside, charging with reckless abandon to the scared soldiers. Tall, long limbed; her skin was blue with black veins coiling, her eyes were of a similar color and she was bald all but the tentacle like limbs which stretched from her skull replacing her hair. Breast exposed and naked of body her pregnant stomach protruded and the black string fungus formed a spider's web with her belly button as the center point. She pointed toward Michael and the Jagger followers charged forward obeying her shrieking command.
"Fall back!" Shane ordered waving the unit toward a safer position.
"No! We can take this!" Michael fought against the order, urging them to keep pushing ahead. The men remained firm by their captain's side filling the darkness with the light of their firing weapons. A Jagger jumped high landing on Jesse who struggled until he planted a blade firmly in its skull. "Dammit! She's directing them!"
Issac and Tomas ran up the narrow metal stairs and across the
railings for a better vantage point. The ground forces took cover wherever they could find it.
"Eat this you bitches!" Issac gave his war cry while firing the missile launcher and blowing the crowd of Jaggers to pieces.
"More are coming!" Ricki said hearing more shuffling coming their way.
"Get her down! Take her down!" Michael shouted firing everything.
The men blast at the only creature remaining, the long-limbed woman, but their bullets could not penetrate as she moved in a cloud of dark matter from one location to the next. Ricki charged, slamming his gun into her face and Shane followed knocking him back before a deadly blow was struck. The downed man looked to his savior noticing something odd in the way the creature halted her attack. Her claws retreating from Shane’s face with a shriek of her overpowering voice. Shane stopped for a moment, distracted.
"Get the hell out the way!" Michael yelled.
Michael charged only for the her to disappear and reappear away, a bad move as a bullet found its target hitting her shoulder. Ricki held his injured gut. Jesse jumped from the high scaffolding planting a knife at the back of her neck and flew across the room from the impact of her fist. Klaus dragged his blade across her belly barely able to get through the hard web like pattern.
"Shit this is a tough bitch!" Klaus said reeling from a blow to the stomach.
Michael grabbed her tentacles pulling her head back and Shane charged fast, knife in hand, driving the sharp metal through the thick protective web and forcing it upward.
The terrible howl filled the room as she gathered at the bundle falling from her insides. The tiny monstrous being cried as she did. White eyes and fragile form covered in a pulsating mucus membrane. Shane stepped back from the pile of goo horrified and unable to take action.
"More of those things are coming!" Jesse warned.
Michael pushed him, stomping the attached creature causing the large one to fall dead. Michael wasn’t sure if that would work but it was worth a shot. But there was no time to lament about the infant or the horrible fate of the woman.
"How the hell were you able to get past her stomach. It was tough as shit." Klaus asked panting and holding his ribs.
"I don't know. I wasn't thinking." Shane shook his head.
"You okay?" Micheal looked at Ricki.
He groaned. "Better than ever. I just need... shit!"
"I'm gonna call for evac."
"Hell no. I'm not wasting your time like that, I can still fight!" Ricki protested.
Michael helped the soldier off the floor. "All right! Let's move out!"
They head out with Ricki doing his best to keep pace.
Chapter Seven
The Military brought their full force to quell the discord. Tour buses parked along the small red curb between the ER and South entrance. The massive building of sectional parts of steel, tinted glass and stone stood untouched from the fire and devastation that rocked the rest of the city. Military checkpoints sat along streets, leading to the heart of the center building.
Michael breathed deep. "Alpha team reporting for operation Hanged Man." He said to the guards near the door. The soldiers cleared the way and Michael avoided their grim stares as they head through the front doors.
They entered the open lobby, the place was empty and devoid of life, several armed soldiers approached. "Alpha Team. We've locked down the outside exits. No one has been in or out." The young man sighed, his visage; grim.
"Good work." Michael said not wanting to linger any longer. He closed off his thoughts, preparing himself for the possibility of what he might witness.
Shane stood next to him, apprehensive of what he should say or do. He wanted to stand close to him, to offer something of comfort no matter how small. "So, this is it?" He choked on his words, fearful of rejection.
"Yeah."
The team gathered ready to take point. Michael turned to address his men, his heart heavy. "We know what we came here to do so let’s do it and get it over with. Our target is Dr. Iona Stevens. Mrs. Stevens should be in the Department of Pathology. There may be patients inside, we don't know if they're okay or if they've turned into those creatures out there. We may have to put a lot of people down here." To Shane. "Shane you’re on point with me. Tomas you’re also on me. We’re securing the doc. Jesse..."
"I’m with Klaus." Jesse said understanding the drill.
Michael looked to Ricki. "You're too injured to go beyond this point, brother."
"What?!" Ricki protested. "I can do it!"
"I had to carry you here. No way." Michael held his ground. "Report to HQ, I'm sorry but you're off the team." Michael adjusted his weapon. "Let's go." He said to the others.
The soldiers opened the separate doors allowing the two teams to enter their respective mission areas without drawing the notice of the crowds at the front lobby.
The door slammed shut behind Michael, Shane, and Tomas. They stopped on instinct before Michael gestured for the party to continue down the halls, the cries of confused patients drew near and the screams of trapped civilians echoed through the halls. "We don't know what to expect here so stay alert." he whispered.
"Yes sir." Tomas replied swallowing hard.
Shane peeked through the room's window. The patient strapped to the bed wiggled violently. "These people..."
"Once we recover the target, we'll find other survivors. Keep moving." Michael headed to the elevator and took cover on one side while Shane took the other. Tomas hit the button. "All clear."
The elevator shook causing the men to remain on guard.
"What was that?" Shane said feeling uneasy.
They get out to a dark empty hall. Gunfire nearby drew the men to its location. Trapped inside were a group of doctors and security guards fighting for their lives. The soldiers move in, blasting the creatures away and dragging them from the door before moving in.
"Get down!" Michael ordered.
The civilians drop to the floor while the three soldiers unloaded on the creatures ending their assault.
"Thanks. I thought that was it." A guard huffed.
"Is there a Dr. Iona Stevens here?" Michael asked.
A doctor stepped forward. "That woman with the CDC? She was separated from the group when they got loose. I think she ran toward her lab the last I saw her."
"Where is it?"
"The next floor up. Just keep left and you'll find it. It's just a make shift area. You can't miss it."
"So, you're not even here to help us?" the guard asked offended.
"We should get these people to safety." Tomas suggested timidly.
"We have no time for that." Shane replied.
"Are you the one in charge of this group?" Michael took the doctor to the side leaving Shane and Tomas to watch the group.
Shane focused on Michael as he clenched his fist to ward off the mounting rage. He broke off in a coughing fit.
"Are you really okay?"
"I said, leave me alone--"
Michael approached his comrades ready to give them the latest update. "I informed our team of the situation and they'll be here to escort the civilians to safety now that we know where the target is. We're retrieving the doc."
The soldiers head out the door and through the eerie structure. Each man was on edge and filled with anticipation. They exit the stairwell into massive decontamination tubing.
"This must have been their way of screening the infected." Shane hated the strong scent of the liquid mist.
"Much good it did."
They pass through to a large room littered with bloody beds and the walls lined with plastic drapery. The loud banging and scratching nearby called the men to it. Step by careful step they turned the corner. There it was. A lone Jagger beating frantically on the closed door. Shane aimed and fired splattering its skull. Michael gestured the okay to move in. Tomas approached the door to pick the lock. The door opened to firing shots.
"Whoa! We're here to rescue you!" Michael held up one hand, letting the
occupant know they meant no harm.
Dr. Iona Stevens, a woman in her mid-thirties, eyes red, wide, and sore from her ordeal gripped the gun. She sighs with relief and lowered the weapon. "I'm so sorry. I thought they finally..."
"You think these things can pick a lock?" Michael said amused.
"Some of them, yeah. Not all of them are mindless crazed filled monsters."
"You mean the howling ones with the extended bellies?" Shane chimed in. "The one we encountered seemed like it was leading the others."
"Right. And I doubt that's the only one."
"How many are we talkin' about?" Michael asked. He noticed the beakers, X-Rays of twisted bone structures, and scattered forms and sheets, a heart pumped alone in a clear container nearby.
"I've watched people turn into at least three different types." She pulled her brown hair behind her ear. "The ones with the jagged teeth are the most common. But I've seen some that mimic us in every way... because they are us. And then the pregnant women... It's so horrible." She flung the images from her mind. "They ambushed us.... the ones who mimic us. They came to recover the pregnant women we've had under observation here."
"They came for their own..." Michael was taken aback.
"Is it possible to become one of them through contact?" Tomas tore his eyes away from the heart.
"No. These people were all infected from the blast. Trust me, we've sustained our fair share of bites and fluid contact from dealing with them."
Radio chatter: "Team #1. Target not acquired. How is it on your end? Over."
"The target is acquired. Making our way out." Michael reported over the radio. "Time to head out, doc."
"Right. I need to grab my notes."
They cautiously escorted the Doctor out of the room. So far there were no sign of danger. Tomas hit the button and began their descent when it halted in its tracks knocking the occupants off their balance.
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