by A McKay
As he opened the tent, the cool air swept in clearing the air of the hot air mixed with the steam. They stood outside the cooling of the air waking them up all the way and clearing their heads.
It took a moment to comprehend where they were. As Slade got his bearings, he knew that the last time he looked up, he saw the moon, but now there was no moon. No that was the starting of the sun. They had been under the hypnotic state for hours.
Slade started to pace to get some fresh air in his lungs, when the nipping of the nipples started to really bug him. Slade looked down, and realized that maybe clothes were in order. "Shit, I need coffee," Slade said thinking the smell and quick buzz would help.
"Dude how close were we to death?” Zach asked looking at him more concerned than when they were attacked by the agents.
"I’d say that if we were in there for even a moment longer we would be dead.” Slade watched as he continued to remove all the logs. The steam continued to escape. Slade walked up to the tent and helped him pull the tent over revealing all of their clothes and weapons. The cold air was starting to get bitter.
"Perhaps we shouldn't have had our clothes in there." Zach said picking up his moist clothes.
“Yeah,” Slade said trying to fan out the clothes to get some water out.
“Maybe the clothes will dry off as we go back and get that book.” Zach said shivering putting the warm wet clothes back on.
“Why the book” Slade asked not knowing Zach liked books.
“It must have answers, and I want to know what the fuck was burned into us.”
They made out for the Jeep that was at the edge of the woods, parked off the road to ward off any more notice.
“Do you think they work?” Slade said feeling the sensitive skin in his neck.
“I hope so, or I am totally going to kick her sorry ass.” Zach said referring to his warrior, which turned out to be a girl. Slade started to laugh again, even in pain, Zach could make a joke.
“Figures your ancestor was a girl, mine was a manly man.” Then Slade took a deep look at Zach and his smile grimed, “You didn’t try to screw her did you?”
Zach didn’t answer and just started back towards the Jeep.
“Only you would try to?” He was met with silence.
9
They reached the next gas station that just happened to be a truck stop. The Jeep probably reported stolen by now but they needed gas.
Slade heard sirens coming in from a distance. Zach turned to look at the direction of the sound. "No Zach, the police will run our info and when they run it, the Sanctum will find us." Slade looked at the gas station and truck stop, no real place to hide, no way of getting away, they were not even a mile away. If they tried to run, it would be a police chase, a police chase they couldn’t afford.
"Don't you have a badge yet from the Sanctum?” Zach asked surprising Slade on how fast he had a solution.
Slade didn't remember showing it to him, and then Slade looked at his belt that he pointed too. On the side of the belt had a badge that stated Slade was a highest member of the government, besides the president. "What about you?” Slade asked thinking he might get away with that, but what about Zach.
He looked around, and then felt through his pocket. "I'm good,” Zach, answered.
"What do you got?"
"I am a Sherriff don't forget, I am here to help your investigation. I still got my badge."
"Ok this might work,” Slade took a gulp while the police grew closer, nerves started to hit both men.
Seven cars pulled up a swat team pulled behind them. Next, they saw helicopters and other officers running around, before they could say something, both of them were forced to the ground, and guns at their heads.
"Nobody moves," an officer yelled, walking over to the two men that didn’t match the surroundings with both being in leather jackets, one was a trench coat as the other was in a jacket that came down to his waist. It was still warm enough a jacket was not needed, but again it wasn’t un-common.
"Hello, gentlemen, what are you two doing here." the officer stated. He was a short chubby man. His belt hanging down one side, his eyes covered with the oversized sunglasses and Mounty hat. His boots needed a good cleaning, along with his mouth as he spat. The putrid smell of his breath overwhelmed Slade’s smell.
"Umm...” was all Zach could say.
"Hello fellow officer, my name is Slade, this is Zach, and we were just surveying the area for another strike force hitting the place." Slade started to get up to meet his gaze. Slade eyed a pay phone close to the building by the door where men were being taken out. What a day to find out the place was a whorehouse.
“I don’t recognize yaw agency.”
“I assure you with one call I could make this place swooned with a swat team higher ranked than you.” Slade thought maybe he pushed it too much with that threat.
"Use my cell phone. I insist,” the officer grinned and spat another disgusting wad to the ground. Damnit, he wanted to see him actually call a number, Slade had no choice, and he had to bring danger into this area. Slade had a number in his head that he could only refer to as the clean up team. It was a number that brought specialized agents as fast as they could come to make no one remember that the sanctum was there. There was only one glitch with that though, as soon as they got there, they would try to capture Slade and Zach.
"Officer, Slade didn't want to pull rank on you earlier but my badge” Slade pulled his badge out, the officer going for his gun, “this right here.” Slade paused eyeing the movement, “this says I am superior and you must follow my orders.”
He looked at them and then whistled which brought six other officers over. "Sir you have a badge that I don't recognize and for that reason alone I will hold you till I can find the branch you work for. You never can be too safe with counterfeits these days." He lingered on counterfeits for a second making it clear he didn’t believe an ounce of it.
Slade sighed and then put his hand out. "Give me that phone, I can prove it too you in five minutes." The man gave his phone; Slade didn’t know if it was the Sherriff’s attitude or the not following orders that pissed him off the most. He didn’t like that he didn’t give a damn about rank though, but his fucking nasty ass grin angered him even more, enough for Slade to hit the buttons and made the call.
"Dude, who you calling," Zach whispered.
Slade whispered back, "The devils themselves."
Slade let the call ring three times before Slade hung up meaning code three to the crew, which would be the fastest response Slade could think of at the time. It meant kill everything in the area of the call.
"What no answer?" The officer said unbuttoning his handcuffs from his utility belt.
"Officer I can't let you put those handcuffs on me.” Now things were getting to drastic, they needed to leave before it was too late.
"Boys get his buddy.” They moved in and before they could even grab for their wrist they spun around, Slade’s KRISS gun coming out in his hand; the officer in charge was held at gunpoint, the gun touching his back. The other officers that tried to get Zach were lying out cold on the cold gravel while one of the men held a gun at Zach’s head. Zach grinned back at Slade, his eyes intense wondering what they should do now.
"I tried to warn you officer, I would have loved to take you to them, but I am running from them now. So let’s slowly start walking to that car of yours, and if one of the remaining buddies does anything my bullet will find your head." With that, Zach took his place and had an angry expression on his face of letting the officer have the slip on him.
"Come on sir, you don't want to shoot an officer, do you know how it feels to kill someone? If you kill a cop they won't give up on hunting you down." Slade turned to his face since he stood in front of him now his KRISS pointing to the remaining officers that saw the action. “The SWAT team will be out soon, and then this will get even worse.” The officer said, his family flashing in his eyes, which brought fear.
>
"Officer, you have no clue what it feels like to have to watch your back every moment. You don't know how it feels to eliminate an entire race of species because it was ordered by the same men, that you made me call.” Slade looked at his watch, "the assassins that will be here in just moments. Why the fuck would I care if police chased me, when I have the most advanced organization hunting me down?”
Slade saw confusion on the faces of the young men that had their hands on their guns ready to draw. Their actions reminded Slade of Zach and him back when they first started, their sworn duty to uphold justice. It didn’t change; they would uphold justice, just a different means. The officer was their mentor and Slade couldn't let them see him die here. "Take your guns out with your left hand, and throw them behind you. You too Captain." They all listened; no one even tried to take a lucky shot at the two men now holding their captain as hostage. This meant they all cared for their captain equally and wouldn't risk his life. Slade heard the helicopters before they were in sight. Slade jumped in the chiefs Jeep Wrangler sported out with off road gear, and then spun it around; Zach jumped in and drove off. The officers were running for their guns and shooting at the car, “Damnit they aren't chasing us." Slade slammed on the brakes and watched as the apache helicopters approached. The officers were waving for them to come down thinking it was their own guns that left just before Slade took them as hostage.
"We need to go back," Slade said to Zach. The necklace on his collarbone was heating up to uncomfortable levels, and he knew he had to save fellow officers.
Zach looked back and then looked forward. "I hate you, just for the record."
"I promise you can use a sniper rifle." His face lit up just a bit. "Switch seats drop me off and find cover." They both opened the doors and switched seats as fast as possible. He threw the car around, "Cover your ass, and whatever you do, don’t reveal yourself, and don't come after me." Slade ordered him, hoping he would take orders, even though he was a Sherriff for just under a year.
"Blood brothers till the end." Zach said as he hit the sirens, which was all Slade needed to know that they were ready to fight his old employer.
The officers noticed them coming back, and drew their guns. The helicopters were getting closer to their firing range. Zach slowed down, and Slade jumped from the car. Slade continued a running a pace to the men, while Zach took the silent car to the hill that laid close. "Run guys, run, these men are bad." They pointed their guns at him in response; his KRISS was tucked away in his coat. Slade put his hand up showing them he had no guns, but it was too late. Bullets sprayed the ground, not hitting him but the officers instead. The officers fell to the ground and agents repelled down the ropes from the helicopters. Several ran into the building and explosions were heard, screaming and then silence. The SWAT team that were in there were dead.
Agents came back out and joined the ones that were walking to Slade, who was wearing the shades and the coat, looking like an agent. As soon as they saw his face though, Slade knew they would attack.
"Sir the area is clear, except for the one guy on the hill. Sniper one take him." the man in charge ordered. The sniper took aim and before Slade could say anything, a bullet hit the sniper’s head, his blood spurting the ground. The agents ran to take cover, "Captain Agent, who is this man," a bullet flew hitting another agent taking his life.
"The god damn best shooter out there," Slade said taking advantage of the chaos that put the leader close to him. The agent looked at his face, and knew who Slade was. He spun low taking his ankles out and pinning Slade down.
"All agents these are rogue...” he was cut off with a punch to his throat crushing his windpipes. Slade ran fast to the open where Zach could cover him. Shots were fired but none of the agents had a clear shot at either men, either by the coverage of bullets or the bullets from Slade’s gun. Zach shot a gas tank causing an explosion making several agents go flying. The KRISS in his hands no agent could hide, no agent could live. One fell then another, the ones that tried to take him from behind were shot down by Zach.
Slade remembered the helicopters were still around and were probably just making a loop. Slade waved to Zach who then looked back and saw the choppers approaching. The most skilled pilots were spraying bullets at the ground behind him. "Run you fucker, run.” Slade yelled. Slade leaned against a concrete cylinder and started to shoot at the helicopters making them dodging separate directions giving Zach room to breathe, unfortunately that just caused them to see that Slade wasn’t an agent but a bogey. Missiles flew his way, missing him but causing explosions everywhere. Slade looked back at where Zach was and saw him laying flat. "No!” Slade yelled at the bastards that shot him.
Slade heard suddenly two solid shots, and the helicopters were spinning out of control, Slade took off towards his brother who was sitting now watching the helicopters collide and exploding on impact. The gas tanks then exploded blowing Slade the short distance he needed to reach Zach. He started to get up wondering how bad they looked from the explosion; he looked at Zach who was blinking with a big smile on his face. "I love shooting."
"You alive," Slade said with a snicker in his voice, “because I feel like we just walked through hell.”
“I am fine; I am unstoppable, nothing like taking cover and then shooting the pilots in the choppers.” Slade looked back and noticed a nice sized stone just behind him and saw the fresh dirt and slide marks of a footprint that would have made the person slip. Slade pointed to them and he looked back at Zach, "Well… maybe… the tripping helped."
"After all that training you’re still a klutz.” Slade said now sitting to catch his breath.
"How about a thank you, you ass," he said trying to change the subject.
"Thank you," Slade said, and patted him on the back, Slade waited a moment and then added “You klutz."
***
They hit a hotel that looked welcoming for ones that needed to sink in a hole and sleep. No record of them there, no worry at the moment for the Secret Sanctum on hunting them, no running for the night. Slade was sure after killing more agents that the Sanctum would change their minds and use more lethal capturing techniques.
They hadn't had a good sleep since they were forced to sleep by the nymphs that Zach didn't want them to forget.
Slade knew Zach was a sex addict, but holy crap was he that hung up on it, that he couldn’t talk about anything else. Slade felt in the pocket for cash to pay for the hotel. When Slade unfolded the hundred dollar bills that were in a clip a card fell out. Slade forgot he had the card yet. It was engineered to have the payment go through for any amount, anywhere. Slade looked at Zach; he looked down at the card and picked it up.
“I wonder,” he stopped as the stout man behind the counter stopped his typing. “Never mind Slade, I will tell you later.”
They walked to the room, both too tired to really say anything to each other. As they opened the door the smell of the stale room hit them hard. They left the dead bodies at the station. Zach was silent since then the hit to close to home for his comfort. No jokes, nothing, but silence was shared between them.
It was no wonder no one stayed there the smell was terrible. The walls had layers of white paint on it with hints of smoke on it from cigarettes. The light twitched but stayed on; the beds were separated by a table and lamp. The bathroom was where a closet use to be and a small dresser had even a smaller television on it. The beds appeared to be infested with bugs and probably other reminisces of anyone that stayed there in the past. It made him feel like his arm would get infected if it wasn’t covered, but when he looked at his arm, he saw that the tissue healed with only a small scar. It showed each place the teeth bit in, and the tearing from a single claw when she swept over. No need to bandage a healed wound, he started to take his boots off.
"Slade, any idea what is happening to us?” Zach asked sitting on the foot of his bed taking his boots off in a slow manner.
Slade was about to say something as Zach bent down to unt
ie a boot, but that’s when Slade saw two bullet holes in the back of his shirt. "Shit, man, why didn't you tell me you were hit." Slade went to his side of the bed, to get a closer look at the injuries.
"What you mean I’ve been hit?” Zach asked trying to look over his shoulder.
"Did you feel anything when those helicopters were chasing you?" Slade asked starting to realize maybe he didn't know he was shot. He heard of people having been struck and years later, they find the items embedded in them.
"I felt sticks, and other stuff flying when I was running past the shrubs, I figured I was getting hit with debris." He said still trying to see the holes.
“Don't move; let me see if they are still in there." Slade prepared himself for the worst. Slade slowly removed his shirt, and took a gasp of air. "No wonder they charged me. They thought they hit you enough times to be a strainer and if you were normal they would have been correct." Slade said realizing that several holes were already healed over possibly from prior occurrences. "I only see two shots in the back, but yet you have multiple hits in your shirt.” His back was red and the old looking wounds had an ugly bruise to them. The bullet holes that still had bullets in them were oozing with blood.
Zach took a moment and sighed, “That explains the soreness.”
“Laugh now, but this is going to hurt.” His eyes starting to scan around for something to use for surgery, his eyes landed on a kit that Zach must have grabbed from the police cruiser that he didn’t know they had. He sat straight up making his back straight, his skin getting puffy in the spots that couldn’t heal. “Ready,” Zach looked around and grabbed a knife, and bit the handle. He nodded, his hand shook, but Slade calmed it down enough to make the first incision. Zach’s muscles clenched as the skin was sliced with the scalpel; Slade saw the metal slug under his skin. He took a tweezers and as gently as he could he got the bullet and pulled it out. He repeated the steps; he saw a bottle of whiskey, and opened it. Zach eyes were closed; he poured it on his back to clean the wounds. Zach cringed in pain, but his eyes opened suddenly.