The fire teams worked their way through a hole in the old barrier between the tracks and the roadway. Terry pointed to the side of the road where he wanted the seven warriors to assume a firing position. Corporal James stood behind the two groups, talking them through lines of fire.
“When I give the command, I want you to kill those hogs and only the hogs. No stray rounds hitting something we don’t want dead,” Terry instructed.
Harold held up one hand. “Hang on a second, we just want to talk.”
“On my command, Corporal, and not before,” Terry clarified, before turning his attention to the Were. “Really? You drag a Forsaken to our house, threaten me, and expect us to play nice as soon as you realize your mistake? How about you stuff your face into a steaming pile of shit, and when you come up for air, you can tell us why you’re really here.”
Terry glared at the man as the Werewolves snarled. Gene stood tall on his back legs and roared. The elephant trumpeted in fear, and the human struggled to control the beast.
“Well, Harold, cat got your tongue?” Terry taunted, moving closer, while ensuring that he didn’t get between his warriors and their targets.
“If you don’t mind, we’ll be on our way,” Harold said softly, pulling hard on the boars to get them turned in the other direction.
“Adjust!” Terry ordered the fire teams.
“Come on, Felipe, get Jumbo turned around,” the Were growled as he struggled with his pack of hogs.
“Hold!” Terry yelled, finally giving the human with the stick his full attention. Terry recognized the man’s tool as a bullhook and the man as a mahout. He looked Hispanic, although most mahouts were South Asian.
Terry dismissed his errant thoughts, pointing at the man and then the ground to emphasize his point that the man was not to move.
“Why don’t you wait right there. What’s its name?” Terry motioned to the enclosed wagon.
The Were hesitated, looking confused, before whispering, “Andrew.”
“That wasn’t so hard, was it, Harold? Now tell us where you came from,” Terry insisted.
“New Orleans, traveled along the Mississippi, then hopped over here, thinking there’d be more life in the big city. We were wrong about that and we’ll head back to the river, keep going north,” Harold said, still struggling with the chains and trying to act casual as his clear intent was to get the hell out of the mess he’d guided his master into.
Terry had thought about taking a trip south, but there was too much to do in North Chicago.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out the communication device, raised it to his mouth, and keyed it.
Akio answered instantly.
“We have a Forsaken who just showed up on our doorstep and he’s not a daywalker. I thought you’d like to know and hoped that you’d advise us. His name is Andrew and he’s in a closed carriage. We’re all here with the Forsaken’s pet Werewolf,” Terry reported.
Akio waited patiently for Terry to finish, but the Vampire was already on the move.
“I’ll be there as soon as possible, Anjin-san,” Akio replied, and then the signal went dead.
“Sergeant! Rotate people out of the firing positions every five minutes,” Terry ordered over his shoulder. “Everyone settle in. We’re on hold.”
Harold looked at the group. Clyde was barked out and lying on the ground with his head between his front paws, watching what was happening, ready to spring into action if called on.
Terry looked at the pack. They were standing with their heads slightly down, fangs bared. He wondered how long they could keep that up.
“I love you!” he mouthed at Clyde, before walking up to the mahout. “Get that beast to lie down. We’re going to be here for a while.”
“No. No, we’re not,” Harold said. Felipe was using his bullhook to pull up the elephant’s front leg in an effort to get him to lie down. He stopped as he wasn’t sure what would happen next.
“Turn him around, Felipe!” Harold yelled as he yanked on the chains and dragged his brutes heads backward.
“Fire!” Terry yelled. It took a second before the fire team responded. The first barrage was devastating, but not all of the animals died. The Were was pulled in two directions as pigs bolted while the others lay where they died. A second barrage took down the rest. One of the dog pack under the wagon yipped.
“Cease fire!” Terry yelled, instantly angry at the collateral damage. He pulled his silver-tipped whip and cracked it inches from the Were’s face. “I said you are fucking staying!”
CHAPTER SIX
Japan
It was the middle of the night for Akio, but he couldn’t wait. He knew of Andrew from before the fall. They hadn’t crossed paths, otherwise the Forsaken would not be tormenting the world’s survivors.
When the WWDE happened, very few of the Were folk and Forsaken died. If they weren’t at ground zero of a nuclear detonation, they survived.
Akio knew that created a disproportionate number of enhanced beings compared to the regular population. He’d taken it as his mission to bring things back into balance.
He had not believed that Werewolves could turn to the side of those rebuilding the world, but Terry Henry Walton had made it happen. Robert Martelle’s faith in the man was important in Bethany Anne’s agreement to help save his life, make him something more.
Akio hadn’t known that Terry had survived the WWDE. He’d lost visibility of the man over the years, but was pleased with his reappearance and his mission to save humanity.
If Bethany Anne had been there, it was what she would have asked of TH. Akio knew that it wouldn’t do to have a Forsaken kill Terry or any of the others with which he surrounded himself.
Akio smiled as he boarded the pod, leaving Eve and Yuko behind. The ramp closed and the pod took off, accelerating to a degree that would have crushed a normal human. It sniffed at an exoatmospheric departure, before starting to descend at hypersonic speed.
***
North Chicago
A wave of fear and panic washed over the group. Terry dropped to a knee to gather his wits. The platoon broke and ran. Terry watched them go, knowing that they were powerless against the Forsaken and better off elsewhere.
The Weres danced around. Ted stood steady, seemingly unaffected. The great cat crouched and snarled. Terry kept his distance as Aaron looked ready to lash out at anything or anyone.
Gene stood on his back feet and roared. He charged through the dead boars, straight for Harold. The Werewolf tore out of his clothes as he changed into Were form, but it was too late.
The Werebear caught him at the moment he changed and before he could open his Werewolf jaws, Gene slapped him in the head with a massive paw and drove his bulk into the smaller creature.
Harold toppled over backwards as the Werebear straddled him, shredding the Were’s raggedy black fur with his bear claws. Gene’s powerful jaws clamped onto Harold’s neck.
Gene was driven into a frenzy by the Forsaken’s projection, so the Vampire changed tactics, projecting ultimate calm and peacefulness. The Werebear shook Harold one last time, dropping him before sitting down as bears sit, turning his full attention to licking a blood-covered paw.
The broken body of the Werewolf lay there, nearly bloodless but still alive. The dog pack howled with the smell of blood. The bull trailing the wagon sniffed and snorted.
The air was crisp and clear, a slight breeze blowing inland from the lake. The wolf pack laid down and promptly went to sleep. The Werewolves sat, tongues lolling. Terry wasn’t sure how much they were affected by the Forsaken’s efforts. He was able to fight off most of the effects, but summoning the fury and holding it close helped him.
Harold groaned in pain, only semi-conscious. Felipe started working with the elephant until the great beast laid down.
A vehicle breaking the sound barrier cracked through the air, letting everyone know that Akio had arrived. Terry wasn’t sure how long it had taken, but suspected it hadn’t be
en longer than twenty minutes.
The pod landed on the road behind the Werewolves. The ramp descended and Akio walked out, striding purposefully past the Were folk to join Terry Henry facing the enclosed wagon being pulled by the elephant.
“Konnichiwa, Akio-sama,” Terry said with a bow.
Akio respectfully returned the bow. “Good afternoon, Anjin-san,” he said softly. “Thank you for calling me. I’ve been chasing this one for decades. It will be nice to bring this chapter to a close.”
Terry looked around, realizing that the wolf pack was up and alert. Gene was looming over Harold like he wanted to finish what he started. The Werewolves were standing and attentive. And the platoon was running full speed to get back into the game.
“Thank you for coming,” Terry answered.
Akio walked forward, avoiding the lake of pig blood from the slaughtered animals. He circumnavigated the wagon once, before returning to the rear and the way in. Akio pulled his katana. The blade sang with its freedom.
In a blur, Akio was at the back door of the wagon and then through it. Swords clanged from within, but no other sounds. The wagon jerked side to side as two masters fought for supremacy within the small space.
Swords whistled as they moved through the air, ending with the ring of sword on sword. The listeners could only guess what was going on behind the walls.
Terry approached Gene and rested a hand on the Werebear’s head. Terry wasn’t sure if he wanted Harold to live, but he couldn’t kill him, injured as he was. Gene would have no compunction about doing it. With a bang and the splintering of wood, someone came through the side of the wagon and landed heavily on the ground.
Akio threw himself through the hole, landing lightly to the side of the Forsaken.
Andrew cried out in agony at being exposed to the sun. He covered his face with his arms. His skin burned and smoked. Akio took no mercy. He slashed, once, twice, and three times, piece-mealing the creature until its head rolled free. The corpse continued to smoke as it rapidly degraded.
Gene stood on his back feet and changed into his human form.
“Damn, Gene! How about a warning next time,” Terry said, covering his eyes with an arm. “Nobody else change! Go find your clothes, for fuck’s sake. Damn! I’m sorry, Akio-sama.”
Akio chuckled softly at the humility and sincerity in Terry’s mind, while studiously avoiding looking at Gene parading around more than anyone was comfortable with.
The Werewolves, joined by the wolf pack, turned and headed down the road toward the plant. Char and Sue disappeared across the tracks as they ran toward the base and where they’d dropped their clothes. Clyde ran after them.
Aaron turned and changed to human form where he was, then picked up his clothes and dressed. When he turned back, he surveyed the damage before him.
“I take it that we won?” Aaron wondered, looking at Terry.
Terry nodded. “We did, but it looks like we’ve acquired an elephant and a mahout, along with this wrung-out half-wit.” Terry used the toe of his boot to prod the injured Were. “Sergeant Mark! Police up these bodies and deliver them to the chow hall for processing!”
“Sir, yes, sir!” Mark shouted, ordering the platoon to sling their weapons. As the sergeant got close, he started stammering. “I’m sorry, sir, I have no idea what happened that we broke and ran. I understand if you bust me back to private. I deserve it.”
Mark looked like a whipped dog.
“Forsaken mind control, Sergeant. There was nothing you could do. When that happens, it’s my job to protect you. It’s our job, those who are special, to protect you. Your performance and the performance of the platoon was exemplary. If you had a service record, I’d write that in there myself.” Terry clapped the man on the back.
“And, it’s time you took on more responsibility. I’m promoting you to lieutenant. James to sergeant in your place. You choose the next squad leader. Let me know what you decide. First order of business, get these hogs out of here. I already smell pork chops, and I can’t stop my mouth from watering,” Terry said, leaning close as he confided in his new lieutenant.
Gene dragged the injured Were out of the blood puddle, opening up the area for the platoon to get to work.
Akio still had his katana out. He stepped past Gene and with a flick of his wrist, separated Harold’s head from his body. Akio wiped the blade clean on the man’s clothes and slid the katana home. He deftly walked past the platoon and angled toward the mahout.
He stopped next to the man for a moment before continuing to Terry Henry.
“A word, please, Anjin-san,” Akio said warmly as he motioned for Terry to lead the way. They walked some distance before stopping.
“Thank you for your help, Akio-sama. I was unsure if we could handle the Forsaken on our own. I would have simply burned the wagon rather than try to fight him within its confines,” Terry suggested, knowing that such an action would have not been the most honorable, but Marine Corps rules—the only fair fight is the one you lose.
Of course, Akio was in his mind.
“Maybe not the most honorable, but it would have been an effective approach, exposing no one to harm,” Akio offered, looking at Terry through his dark brown eyes. Akio looked to the sky and breathed deeply of the lake air. “It is nice here. You have chosen wisely.”
Char appeared through the brush. She was carrying Cordelia. Terry smiled and waved her over. Akio stepped to the side.
“Let me introduce our daughter, Cordelia,” Terry said proudly. Char shifted the baby, who was growing quicker than a human baby. She was not quite ready to crawl, but Terry gave it two more months and she’d be mobile.
Akio gently caressed the baby’s head. He stopped to run a finger over Cory’s ear. “She is the best of you both,” he finally said.
“Can you tell if she’s a Werewolf?” Terry blurted out. Char slapped his arm.
“Why the concern, Anjin-san? Is she not healthy? Is she not happy? That is what she is. All will be revealed in its own time, as a butterfly escaping its cocoon shows the wondrous colors of its wings.” Akio continued to play with the baby’s ear. “I wish Yuko was here to see her. She was pleased to hear that you were expecting, Char-san, and I hope that my humble description does the baby justice. She will expect no less than a vivid image.”
Without warning, Cory power-heaved, sending an arc toward Akio. Twisting his body, he rotated to the side and corkscrewed himself around the offending mess, making sure that not a single drop touched him. He straightened as if nothing happened. Char apologized as she wiped Cory’s mouth.
Terry looked closely and saw that Akio’s clothes were immaculate, no blood, no sweat, no dust, and no baby spit-up. Terry looked at himself. He had a permanent stain on the shoulder of his shirt from the baby. The hogs’ blood had spattered him. There was a sweat-stain down the front, along with small tears in the material where something or other tried to take a chunk of his flesh.
“When will the power be turned back on?” Akio asked, seeing in Terry’s mind a desire for a washing machine.
“Soon, I believe. We’re working hard on all of it,” Terry answered.
The train whistle sounded. It sounded again before the squeal signaled that Ted was moving the train. They could hear Gene cursing in Russian.
“I don’t understand those two at all,” Char said, watching for the train to move, the Mini Cooper visible beyond the trees.
Akio turned serious.
“Terry Henry Walton and his partner, Charumati,” Akio said with a bow, looking from one to the other and back again. “You have a higher calling. Your service to the Queen is already greatly appreciated.”
Terry understood what that meant. “I am forever in the Queen Bitch’s debt for saving my life, helping make me what I am today. We will do whatever you ask of us.”
Char wasn’t sure that “whatever” was the right answer, but waited to see what Akio had in mind.
“People are coming together around the w
orld, reforming communities, rebuilding their societies. Humanity has survived the fall and is starting to grow. With that comes the influence of the Forsaken. Throughout the world, they survived at a much higher rate than humans, understandably so. But they are creating more Forsaken. This concerns us greatly. We will need you and your Force de Guerre to help humanity get out from under their influence. I’m sorry, but they are already marshalling armies to conquer and expand. The Chinese heartland is already in their control.”
“A Chinese army?” Terry asked, almost pleading. “We only have thirty-four people, forty-four if you count the Weres and me. Although I am honored that you have such regard for our abilities, Akio-sama, I’m not sure we can fight an army.”
“The army isn’t the problem, Anjin-san. It is the inner circle. With the pods, we can put you and your people close and extract you just as readily. It is the inner circle of fanatics, the type that you encountered in New York City. I was unprepared for their level of devotion,” Akio conceded. “Yuko, Eve, and I have changed our thinking on this, making it that much more important that you and your people are there to save as many humans as possible. Without the Forsaken, we believe they’ll return to an acceptable normalcy.”
“Can we go back to New York, see how they’re doing?” Terry asked.
“I think that’s wise, Anjin-san. A covert mission, where they never know you were there?” Akio suggested.
“What if they need help? Maybe they could use someone to keep them from fighting over food,” Terry wondered, looking at the sky as he thought through the possibilities.
“That is what you would find out on a reconnaissance mission, Anjin-san. Go in and learn what they need, then we can plan for what’s next.”
“We.” Terry Henry mulled over the word. Integrity. Duty. Loyalty. Those words might not mean much when people are fighting over scraps of food. Billy had managed to lift the people to a cooperative level of existence. No one starved. Everyone worked. Everyone mattered.
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