Vin ducked low as he leaped from the chopper. Alpha Squad jumped to the ground behind him, one by one. The pilot lifted off with a firm salute to drop the Delta team at their selected destination.
Three cities. Atlanta, LA and Boston reported alien presence on the ground. Bravo Squad took to the air in hopes of preventing the black crafts from placing additional Rekabians on the ground.
Vin waved his men forward. The streets of downtown Atlanta were empty. People paying heed to the warnings to stay home. From where the chopper dropped them, Vin and his team had a clear view of the Philips Arena. Slade’s most recent reports claimed visual sightings of Rekabians shooting into the CNN building.
“I’m picking up on two targets about fifty feet ahead, Vin.”
Vin hustled their group faster. “Thanks, Curtis. That coincides with the report Slade gave us.”
Thanks to a vitamin injection, Curtis appeared as fresh as a daisy. Vin smiled, tempted to share the observation but the twins beat him to the punch.
“You look a helluva lot better at least.” Nathan elbowed Curtis good naturedly.
“Yeah, I was worried we’d have to carry you to the helo.” Zander’s comment set Bransen off with a hearty laugh.
“Better to carry him than Harkum’s huge ass.”
Curtis grappled with Nathan and put him in a headlock. Zander ignored his twin’s plight and rushed over to Vin’s side. “What else did Slade have to say?”
Everyone ceased their clown like behavior and focused on Vin. “Some of the Rekabian ships that have been circling random cities transported alien troops to the surface. Slade wasn’t sure how since the crafts never landed.”
“Is anyone else thinking a teleportation machine like one of the cable shows?” Sen shrugged when everyone glared in his direction. “What?”
A frown pierced Curtis’ brow. “Did other countries get hit?”
Vin glanced around, still searching for signs of the Rekabians. He’d never seen downtown Atlanta this empty. “Yeah, so far Rome, Cairo, Tokyo and London reported ground attacks on the streets that we know of. Their troops have been sent out to handle them.”
Harkum asked what was on all their minds. “Do you think Bravo and Delta will make out in Boston and LA?”
Vin didn’t have an answer. This afternoons’ encounter with the Rekabians proved they were tough bastards to kill. Alpha Squad would need to work harder and faster than ever to combat the aliens and so would the other enhanced teams.
A thunderous roar interrupted before he could answer. Dead ahead, two Rekabians raced in their direction.
“Heads up,” Vin yelled as the team split up and raised their weapons.
The lead alien clicked and squealed while the one running by its side on the right broke off and leaped toward the wall of the CNN center. Its long arm grasped on to the side of an overhanging window ledge putting it ten feet above the sidewalk.
Rock sent out a warning through their ear com. “It’s got those circle weapons in its hand. Find cover while I throw a force field.”
The shield went up just in time. Lightning flashed and recoiled off Rock’s force field. Zander and Nathan fired from the cover of an empty metro bus. The Rekabian on the street fired on them as well, its lanky legs eating up the distance as it ran in their direction.
Harkum and Bransen dove to the ground, both rolling under a blue SUV and barely missing laser fire. Two cars behind them exploded.
“Put them down, now,” Vin ran across the street shouting out the order. He swung his G32 up in his arms, wishing they’d had time for Rock to modify their weapons. He fired his weapon repeatedly and it was joined by gun fire from his team.
The alien on the building used it arms to swing from one ledge to the next as it drew closer. Curtis stood in the line of fire raising a sedan in the air with his telekinetics. Both aliens aimed their weapons his way as if realizing the threat.
“Fuck, pull back, Curtis.” Vin tapped his ear com when static hissed back. Shit. Too far away, Vin ran towards Rock. “Cover him, man.”
Rock looked up with a frown trying to make out his words. Vin switched to telepathy. “Cover Curtis.”
Rock’s head jerked, finally noticing what Vin saw. Rock’s large muscled arms thrust out toward Curtis and a complete shield surrounded their teammate. Already in motion, the levitating car barely skimmed the edges of Rock’s protective barrier and swiftly flew through the air towards the Rekabian hanging from the building.
Curtis dropped to his knees, arms still out. Flashes of light bounced off the shield. Too close. Vin’s ear com crackled with more static. Cheap, government equipment. Vin sent an electrical charge through the piece. “Check in, Alpha Squad, check in. Technical difficulty with communications. Need a check in now, guys.”
One by one they sounded off and this time their voices came through clear and clean. Maybe he’d have Rock work on their ear coms too. The car Curtis tossed, missed the swinging alien by inches as it slammed into the building and burst into flames. Zander and Nathan rose to launch their synchronized attack.
Their bolts of energy hit the alien racing on the ground and Vin had to turn his head on a wince when it died, filling the air with its particular stink. The sound of body parts hitting the ground with a splat followed. Its remaining partner squealed loudly and lithely jumped to the ground, agitation and anger in its jerky movements.
Now that it was closer, Rock used the fire on his G32 and torched the bastard mid-run. The Rekabian stopped in its tracks and died. Highly susceptible to flames, Vin mentally added. Sen stood beside Rock, his stare intense.
“Sen, what’s up?”
The group gathered closer giving Sen the chance to speak at once. “Earlier in the fight in Baltimore, your G32 glitched, just now the ear coms went south.”
“And?” Vin couldn’t figure out where Sen was going.
“We’ve never had trouble with our equipment. Just wondering if the Rekabians have something to do with that.”
His words had all of them thinking.
“Some sort of electrical interference, you think?” Rock’s mind already whirled with the implications.
Sen shrugged. Vin needed base to be aware. “Let’s keep moving. Intel gave this location and another at the hotel up ahead.”
Curtis closed his eyes and focused. When he opened them, his gaze was clear. “Nothing yet. Might be too far to pick up.”
“Alpha Squad return to base, immediately!” The demand blasted in Vin’s ear from the Comm Specialist and to his men through theirs as well. “Rekabian presence detected and base under attack. Repeat, Alpha Squad return to base.”
Vin keyed his mic, frowning all the while. His men wore looks of confusion. “This is Alpha Squad. The threat in Atlanta has not been contained. I repeat, we have not contained the threat.”
Slade’s voice replaced the Comm Specialist. “You get your team back here stat, Michaels. We got a contingent of Rekabian aliens surrounding the premises. Possible ten spotted and a ship hovering over the area.” Slade’s voice continued on a pant as if he ran. “Choppers on its way back to give you a lift.”
Shit. He’d left Helen in DC. Vin ignored the sudden pressure in his chest “Go, go, go.” He signaled his men and they started toward the helo drop zone at a brisk pace. “What about the other teams, sir?”
Fear coated Slade’s next words. “Boston’s a fucking nightmare and Bravo has their hands full in LA. The small spotting in Atlanta doesn’t rate.”
Holy hell. Alpha Squad exchanged similar grim looks. They reached the abandoned parking lot just as the distant whump whump of chopper blades got louder. Vin braced an arm over his head as the wind whipped dirt and dry leaves in the air. He raced toward the helo before the skids touched the ground and counted off to make sure each of his men strapped in safely.
Determined to pretend the pounding in his chest didn’t exist, Vin bowed his head and waited as they soared off into the purple black sky. Stay safe, hellcat. I’m co
ming.
***
Helen washed her hands under lukewarm water at the kitchen sink. Thinking about turning on the TV depressed her since she didn’t need to see more reports of the Rekabians. She was half way to Vin’s bedroom to search for a magazine or newspaper when sirens blared overhead. Unlike the alarm prompting Vin’s departure, a loud voice accompanied this one.
“Enemy spotted on ground level. Gates breeched. Prepare defense.”
Helen stopped in the super tiny kitchen to grab a steak knife then ran to the door and opened it in time to witness uniformed men and women armed with large guns zoom by. Suited in matte black body armor similar to Vin’s team, their uncovered heads revealed faces taut with determination. Bright red strobe lights in the ceiling had her squinting. Slade came barreling around the corner yelling in a phone at his ear.
Helen tried to decipher the commands ringing out. Finally, it sunk in. The Rekabians were here. Attacking the base. Slade paused at her doorway, suit rumpled. “Do. Not. Leave.” He took off running again toward the exit.
Ah, hell no. Helen ran down the long hallway in the same direction as the uniformed troops. She refused to be trapped in a building again without any hope of someone rescuing her this time. Once more her hands went to the phone in her pocket. The device connected her to Vin if she needed him and was fast becoming a security blanket.
When she burst out the main door, Helen came to a complete halt. A familiar alien craft hovered in the pitch night sky, white lights flashed in a rhythmic pattern and illuminated the ground below. Sirens continued to wail as soldiers took to a knee shooting at the vessel. Ignoring, the loud burst exploding from their weapons, Helen inched further out.
The roar of fighter jets approaching pulled her attention away from the mesmerizing sight of an actual space ship this close. The fighter jets soared passed. These military crafts were unlike any she’d seen. Black with a pointed nose area in the front and shorter wings, the jets dipped and careened around the Rekabian ship. The cockpits were tinted black, hiding the pilots within.
The fighters put up a good battle, the craft seeming unsure how to respond to the whizzing attack. Each fly over held her enthralled as the attack dragged on with no seeming winner. The black ship changed direction and moved its position. Helen ran around the corner to keep the fight in sight.
Huddling against the wall of the main building, she watched the sleek jets head straight for the Rekabian ship and open fire. The bullets tinged repeatedly along the hull but did no damage from what she could tell. On the ground, at least ten of the aliens ran across the yard with weapons aimed at the charging men from the base.
Squeals and clicks reigned in the explosive night air. Turning to the side, Helen caught sight of a gray-green Rekabian as it leaped toward an unsuspecting soldier. The man turned as if sensing danger but his scream cut off abruptly as the Rekabian arched back its arm and ripped his head off.
Helen gagged loudly, causing the Rekabian to jerk around in her direction. Adrenaline surged forth and with knees quaking, Helen darted back along the concrete path leading to the metal door and the safety of the main building. The creature squealed loudly behind her and the ground shook with each pounding step the Rekabian took as he chased her.
‘Oh, God. Oh God.’ The chant fluttered through her mind as she picked up her speed and suddenly the haven she’d left without thought seemed a million miles away. Clawed hands gripped the back of her jacket. Helen’s feet pin wheeled in the air and she went flying. The ground met her with a jarring thud. Body aching, Helen pushed up to her elbows and looked frantically over her shoulder.
The birdlike beak opened and closed.
Click, click, squeal.
Heart thudding, Helen scrambled to her knees and remembered the knife in her fist. The Rekabian cocked its head to the side and raised its arm. In his hand he held a silver circle. Her knife was no match for laser fire. Getting to her feet, Helen braced her weight prepared to meet death head on.
Chapter 9
The minute the chopper landed, Vin jumped out body bent low. Alpha Squad ran behind him. The claxon sound of the alarm blasted his ears. The fencing to the main gate was down. Men he knew and recognized from living at the Command Center for the last six months battled Rekabians. Some in a bizarre form of hand to hand combat.
Meanwhile, the Rekabians wielded their alien technology ruthlessly shooting at any running bodies. Harkum cursed behind him. Vin agreed. They’d left the place vulnerable to this. All enhanced units had been sent out to defend against the attacks in the three reported cities while their home base only had human soldiers left behind to defend it. Human soldiers who were woefully out manned.
“Protect the perimeter and eliminate the threat. No holds barred.” Vin muttered the command, his focus on one thing only. He needed to find Helen.
Alpha Squad wasted no time following his orders. Rekabians staggered back from weapon fire and spun to meet the new threat. Vin bared his teeth in a smile though with his helmet down the creatures couldn’t see. Two aliens came barreling around the corner of the main building. One raised its weapon aimed at a cluster of soldiers kneeling behind a car. Those men would never know what hit them.
Vin raised his G32 and waited until he had the Rekabian leading the way in his sights. His finger squeezed the trigger. The Rekabian screamed and went to one knee. Its friend searched for the source of the attack, spotting Vin. His finger pulsed on the trigger and fired again. This time, Vin’s aim was picture perfect and the wounded alien took the hit in the chest with a loud squeal. Green liquid sprayed forward as it collapsed on the ground. The other Rekabian yanked his weapon in Vin’s direction the unaware soldiers forgotten.
“Die, bastard,” Vin whispered when he caught Rock coming up behind the alien. Moments later the Rekabian’s head exploded.
The soldiers realizing the danger they’d been in, leaped to their feet and waved in Vin’s direction. He nodded and charged ahead. There were still more Rekabians to rid the planet of.
“Everyone take cover.” Curtis communicated on their ear com. Soldiers and Alpha Squad immediately aimed for a car or shelter.
A bright blinding light flared encompassing the whole base. Vin ducked away and crouched beneath the overhanging branches of a humongous tree. Lightning crackled above as the alien craft fired at the jets in a blaze of lasers taking both out in one blow.
“Fuck,” he cursed under his breath knowing those men hadn’t stood a chance. Their reflexes in the air couldn’t keep up like the enhanced men from Bravo could. Burning parts of the jets peppered the ground in a deadly shower.
“Michaels, get your men in gear and hustle. What are you waiting for!” David’s voice pinged in Vin’s ear agitating him.
“What the hell do you think we’re doing.” He belatedly added, “Sir.”
Vin shifted his attention to Alpha Squad. Adjusting his com to their private frequency, he asked, “Does anyone have a count?”
“At least fifteen, maybe more,” Harkum answered. His choppy breath said he was on the move.
“We have a problem, Vin.”
Vin couldn’t imagine a bigger problem than the one in front of them. The aliens used the cover of the night to their advantage. Their mottled coloring blended in perfectly and if not for the specialized visor on his helmet tracking and sending data, he wouldn’t have been able to spot them. Attacking this base with darkness to aid them, hinted that the Rekabians knew what they were doing.
“Go ahead, Sen. Report.” Vin launched from his spot by the tree once the flames in the air died out and ran across the grass to duck behind a parked SUV. A check over his shoulder revealed Alpha Squad providing cover fire to the base soldiers running back toward the safety of the main building.
“I believe Helen Scott is in the danger zone.”
Vin’s heart dropped. Nothing could have thrown him off his game more. Vin stood and tapped his helmet. His visor lifted, giving him a clear view without anonymous heat signat
ures and schematics running across the screen.
“Two meters to your left, sir,” Sen continued.
Vin turned in the direction Sen indicated and stumbled. Helen stood, her back against the exterior wall, fists raised waist high. Her blue shirt practically glowed creating an easy target. Facing her with less than ten feet between them was a Rekabian aiming its deadly weapon directly at her.
Vin ran full tilt determined to reach his hellcat. “I need you, Rock. Where are you?” If Rock could throw his force field, Helen would be fine. Had to be fine. His boots hit the ground hard as he put on a burst of speed.
“Too far, Vin. On my way.”
Rock’s words sent panic careening through his chest. The distance shortened but Vin knew even enhanced, he’d never close the gap to stop the weapon from ripping her to pieces.
Come on, come on. A little closer and his weapon would be effective.
Loud clicks and squeals made fury boil in his blood. Vin’s throat closed when Helen’s panicked gaze swung toward him. Her eyes widened and right before his eyes she flew off her feet and careened backward.
Her shrill scream chilled him. Finally, close enough, Vin fired repeatedly at the alien who looked confused at his prey escaping. The Rekabian turned but didn’t falter. The slender arm aimed its circle at him. Vin dropped to the ground and grunted as laser fire pounded the dirt inches from his face. Jumping to his feet, Vin shifted his direction, running toward where Helen had fallen.
She lay flat on her back in the middle of the yard with no protective shelter. Arms splayed to the side, she presented an easy target for their enemy.
Curtis joined him, palms stretched out and Vin froze. Helen’s body floated off the ground hovering in the air. Curtis flung his arms to the side and once more she soared through the air only to land on the bed of a pick up truck filled with sandbags. Vin choked as relief caused a hitch in his stride. The Rekabian squealed again its arms wildly swinging then it ignited in flames.
“Off to hell with you, bastard.” Rock came racing around, his G32 blasting away. Curtis shifted, his own weapon coming up to shoot.
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