Babel Found

by Matthew James

  “We got lucky,” Kane agrees. “We were about to turn into a pair of boiled lobsters but made it out of the water in time. Once we did we hightailed it to our lockers, never looking back, and grabbed our gear. Then it got quiet and we went back to look for her, but she was gone—just like that.”

  “Just as we lost comms with Ben,” I say, laying my head back and looking at the ceiling above.

  “Can’t be a coincidence,” Kane adds. “She had to have been ordered to stand down once they grabbed him.”

  “What about you, Todd,” I say, still looking up. “You said the woman—”

  “Terra,” he says quickly. I look away from the popcorn ceiling and back to him, watching him blush.

  “Right…” I say, glancing to Nicole, flicking my eyebrows. “Terra… You said she didn’t seem threatening, just interested in the Castle.”

  Todd nods. “She seemed very pleasant. Especially when she saved my life.”

  Everyone just stares.

  “Excuse me?” Olivia asks.

  Todd nods again, but with less fervency. He turns and speaks, “ENVY, playback attack on D.C.” He sits back. “My uplink only please.”

  The monitor blinks to life and shows us the battle between Abe and Aegis-One. A massive stone leg is thrown into the sky and we watch as Todd’s point-of-view changes and looks up. The appendage then drops like a missile, right at him.

  His eyes then drop back down and we see Terra, zoomed in on Todd’s glasses. “Holy hell,” I say, seeing her face. She has a classic look of regret plastered all over it. She quickly reaches out towards Todd and he’s thrown to the right. The view suddenly looks down and we see the asphalt pivot and open like it’s on a hinge, flinging him to safety.

  “She actually saved your life,” Kane says, his face looking as shocked as mine feels.

  He just nods again, his shaggy head bobbing in rhythm.

  What on Earth did the two of them talk about? I think.

  “Download complete,” a seductive female voice says from Todd’s computer.

  “Ben’s video is up,” Todd says, leaning back again. “ENVY just finished.”

  We quiet down and turn our attention to the second of the large monitors. It comes to life a moment later showing us the chaotic scene. Sand is swirling everywhere, following the wind that’s driving it. Ben looks up and sees a funnel cloud drop down on top of him. Whether he actually saw it is up for debate, but the glasses sure as hell did. Then, he’s flung. We continue to watch, seeing a rock face quickly approach. Nicole flinches when he hits.

  “Hang on,” Todd says, tapping furiously, “it cuts out for a second, but—” The picture flickers, but reappears. “Ah, there we are.”

  We watch as Ben’s line of sight changes. He’s now looking straight down, probably laying on his stomach.

  Unconscious perhaps, I deduce, intently looking for a clue that he’s alive. Seeing nothing through the grainy, swirling vortex, I sit back, deflated.

  “Look!” Todd says, pointing.

  We do and are all equally perplexed.

  “Is he floating?”

  I was about to ask the same question as Olivia.

  “Sure looks like it,” I say, leaning forward, elbows on knees.

  The ground quickly starts to disappear as Ben’s body is lifted higher and higher. Then, the feed blinks out.

  “What happened?” Kane asks, clenching his jaw.

  “Not sure,” Todd says. “His specs were probably damaged during the attack before he was taken.”

  “To where?” Olivia asks.

  “Babel,” I say, staring off into space. “It has to be.”

  A chorus of groans gets me moving. “We need to get there and look for the ruins of the tower. Frost’s files don’t give us an exact location, but I have a theory we’ll find what we need when we get there.”

  “How?” Todd asks.

  “I have a feeling there’s going to be another honey pot of orichalcum there. I should be able to sense it once we’re on location.” I breathe in deep and release it, settling my nerves. “Or…”

  “Or what?” Kane asks.

  “Or…” I say, “They’ll just let us in.”

  “A trap,” Kane says, rubbing his moistening forehead. “I was afraid of that.”

  “And what of Ben?” Todd asks, unsure.

  I shrug. “No guarantee he’ll be there, but we need to try.”

  “Hank…” Kane says, thinking carefully before he speaks. “Iraq isn’t exactly easy to get into. We are going to have to go in an old-fashioned way.”

  “Airdrop?” I ask.

  He nods. “You guys,” he points to everyone. “Have less than zero training. This isn’t something that we can literally jump right into.”

  “How long?” Nicole asks, standing.

  “At least a few days,” Kane says, unhappy with his own answer. “The closest installation that has people on the ground that I trust is in Kuwait. It’ll take some time getting there and getting set up.”

  “We’ll do what we can from here,” Olivia says, taking her spot next to Todd. He’d recently started showing her how to man the computers when he wasn’t around. She was a whiz with the basic software and was a quick learner. She’d be able to make up for the lack of computing power available if they worked together.

  Kane nods and brushes a loose strand of Olivia’s hair away.

  “We’ll be back in no time,” he says, leaning down and kissing her. “I promise.”

  She glances to Nicole and me and gets two strong nods from us. We plan on keeping that promise.

  “I’m going to shower,” I say. I could use a good soak. It’s been a rough couple of days and I haven’t been able to clear my head.

  As I tiredly shamble towards the rear stairs of the home, a smaller, lighter set of feet follow me. I turn and meet Nicole’s gaze. She all but falls into my arms and breathes out a heavy sigh.

  “Are we ever going to be able to go back to our lives before this?” she asks, her voice weary and shaky.

  I tilt her chin up and kiss her long and hard, feeling some of her fire re-ignite. We separate and just look at each other. She gives me a small smile.

  “Once we finish this, I promise. We’re done. Back to the Castle and digging up the deadest of dead. No more gun fights and evil sorcerers. No more monsters and even worse people.” I grab her shoulders. “Just us and a pair of shovels.”

  “I’d like that,” she replies.

  Then she smiles even wider and takes my hand, leading me up the stairs. The look in her eyes tells me she’s feeling a little frisky, but I can tell she’s also just as worried as I am for Ben.

  Once we finish this…

  The only problem with that? I’m not sure how many more people are going to get hurt—or worse, die—before it happens. Our group of six may not be that by this time next week.

  16

  Camp Arifjan, Kuwait

  Construction of the United States Army installation began in 1999 after a series of bombings decimated the Khobar Towers in nearby Saudi Arabia. The US decided it was better to replace the current base with one better protected from possible terrorist attacks.

  “Have you been here before?” I ask Kane.

  He nods. “Once or thrice. It’s a common waypoint for Allied Forces in the Middle East, giving the US troops here easy access into Iraq.”

  “Even us,” I say, looking around.

  I remember seeing write-ups about the base in the past. It even hosts the USO, bringing such personalities as the late Robin Williams over to show support to the 9,000-plus personnel stationed here. Not at all an easy task to undertake if you ask me. As I walk, I marvel at the massive C-130 Hercules transport planes and row upon row of armored trucks parked off to our left.

  Unfortunately for my lower back, we had to be ‘smuggled in’ on one of those particular aircraft. While super reliable, they are not made to be comfortable. The seats were low to the ground and offered zilch for support.
My ass is completely numb as is most of my lower body. I figured Kane would be in even worse shape since he’s that much bigger than me, but he seems no worse for wear.

  Or, I think, he’s just not letting on in front of the soldiers around us.

  “Where are we going?” Nicole asks, dressed as we are.

  The three of us are wearing another of Todd’s newest inventions. It’s actually a very comic bookish idea. We are, in essence, wearing a standard set of army fatigues, blending in as best we can with the crowd around us, but what’s underneath is what counts.

  It’s called the BSA, Battle Suit Armor. Its outer layer resembles the standard issue Battle Dress Uniform, also known as a BDU, but they lack our upgrades. First, it’s nearly indestructible, being made mostly of a Kevlar polymer that I have no in-depth knowledge of. As long as it works, I really don’t care why or how. It’s attached directly underneath the fatigues we’re wearing and is as light as silk. No one would be the wiser if they were staring at us. All I have to do to strip the outer suit off is to yank on a cord sewn into the lining of my collar and presto, instant wardrobe change. Runway models around the world would kill for that ability. There’s also a thin, yet, tough-as-nails padding where it counts and is made of another type of Kevlar-based material.

  But, as much as we try to look the part, we aren’t one of them. We’re easy to pick out, but still no one approaches us, giving me the impression that they’ve had some other off-the-books people here over the years.

  “The commander of the base wants to see us,” Kane says, answering Nicole’s question. “He likes to stay in the loop, which is understandable.”

  “What are you going to tell him?” I ask.

  “Not much,” he says. “Even he isn’t privy to exactly what we’re doing here. He’s just here to support us as much as he’s able, but he’s an old-school kind of guy and at least likes to meet the people he’s aiding.”

  We continue through a row of attack choppers, heading towards a low-profile building at the center of the base. People are everywhere, tending to their various duties. As you’d imagine, there are engineers of some kind double and triple checking the helicopters, making sure they’re in perfect working order.

  Some glance our way, some even look us up and down. I watch as one of them sets his sights on Nicole’s backside. His eyes then meet my gaze and his eyebrows raise. He knows I just caught him in the act, but he either doesn’t care, or he wasn’t actually looking at her ass. He may have been looking at her twin handguns, holstered just above it.

  It’s the other tell that we aren’t really soldiers. Our exposed weapons aren’t what you’d call standard issue.

  Not only does Nicole have a pair of Glocks strapped to her belt, but she also has an ultramodern KRISS Vector CRB assault rifle slung over her shoulder, not to mention a massive knife sheathed on her right thigh. The latter would make even Rambo sweat. She looks like the most beautiful badass killing machine ever. The men around her recognize it too.

  Kane has an odd looking gun holstered low on his right leg, like a Wild West gunslinger. It’s a one-of-a-kind experimental weapon and is based on his favorite, the Mark XIX .50 A.E. Desert Eagle. He used to wield two of them like Nicole does her smaller caliber guns. Unfortunately, now, following the rollover in D.C., he can’t and has opted for a different, yet, still very similar weapon.

  It’s actually two Desert Eagles put together in design, what he named the ‘Mark Infinity’ model. Its extended clip protrudes low under the handgrip, providing Kane with the same fourteen rounds his dual Eagles would have. Todd came up with another nifty customization too, based on a suggestion from Kane. It’s fully automatic if needed. All Kane has to do is flick the fire selector switch and he can go from point-and-shoot to spray-and-pray.

  What’s interesting is that he’s foregone carrying the FN SCAR assault rifle he’d normally bring in order to have his other new edition. A Japanese katana is strapped across his back between it and his pack. It’s the same pack we’ve all carried since Algeria. It mostly holds extra ammo and what not, but also has a handy water reservoir in its top section. Kane christened it the Tactical Backpack. But instead of the Tac-Pac housing our weapons like it was originally designed too, it only holds our spare ammo. We aren’t exactly going covert like we normally would. No need to conceal our weapons where we’re headed.

  As for me… Well, I obviously have on my orichalcum bracelets, allowing me easy access to my abilities. I have my own Glock on my right hip too. It’s the same G41 .45 caliber variant I used before while in Mexico. I’m actually becoming a pretty good shot now and didn’t want to have to relearn a new one. And as you probably guessed, I also have my favorite weapon with me as well. My AA-12 auto shotgun has become my signature firearm of sorts. It has its customary twenty-round drum mag, giving me a crap-ton of firepower right at my fingertips... Literally. Speaking of fingertips, I’m actually holding it at the moment, pointing the barrel at a non-threatening downward angle, but nervously gripping it tight.

  I also have two more drum mags in my pack, I think smiling a little, easing some of the built up tension.

  I was thinking of bringing my orichalcum sword, but I didn’t want to draw any extra attention to myself. These weapons are modern and deadly, yes, but they’re military weapons, not Atlantean weapons.

  Each of us is, of course, wearing our NVS glasses, completing our ensemble. As of now mine are relaying statistical information back to Todd who’s putting together a file on the base. It isn’t espionage or anything like that. We aren’t collecting information to use illegally—far from it. His software can measure the building’s dimensions and count each and every vehicle or person in sight, cataloging the information for later if needed. It’s a handy tool if we get into a scrape of some kind. Yes, if a battle breaks out, we’ll be the most informed of everyone here, giving us a much-needed edge.

  We exit the column of helos and are met by a lanky man around Kane’s age—mid-thirties, give-or-take. He stands rigid, at attention, eyes glaring at the bigger man. Apparently, he sees Kane as the alpha of the group, which is correct in this setting. If it was a dig, or in a museum, he’d gladly step aside and let Nicole or I take point.

  Dude’s picking a fight with the wrong dog, I think, watching as Kane stops, the muscles in his neck bulging. He’s not happy at this show of male dominance. Not one bit.

  “You three being here is exceedingly unusual,” the soldier says, speaking like more of a businessman than a warrior. “The base commander is—”

  “Expecting us,” Kane says, interrupting the slighter man.

  “He happens to be a busy man and—”

  Kane steps right up into the man’s face and leans in hard, showing no give. “You either take us to see him, or I’ll beat you senseless and ask someone else with half a friggin mind to do it. We have a man MIA in the field and you’re standing in our way of finding him. You can either be a part of the solution or a part of the problem, it’s your call. We didn’t come all this way to get lectured by some bureaucratic asshole.”

  After a long second, Kane finally steps away. Nicole and I join him, giving the other man something else to think about. We aren’t about to start an incident, but we will stand by our man.

  “Just remember who we work for, Jeeves,” Kane continues, laying on the charm. “We’re on the same—”

  “What the hell is going on out here?”

  Kane looks over the deflated soldier and sees a grizzled gray-haired man pound towards us. He’s thick and looks like he’s about to blow his top. Considering the daily stress of this place, I can’t say I could blame him for feeling that way.

  “I was about to ask you the same thing,” Kane says, stepping past the castrated man. “We’ve been detained by your Chihuahua here. We were on our way to meet you.”

  Then, to my surprise, Kane slaps the older man on the shoulder. The two men then embrace like old friends, turning towards us, laughing.

  “H
ank and Nicole,” Kane says, leading the other man over to us, “I’d like you to meet Brigadier General Steven Carrack, commanding officer of Camp Arifjan.”

  My eyes widen a little. “Carrack?”

  Kane nods. “He’s Matt’s father.”

  I look at Nicole, the both of us understanding at the same time. Kane’s cousin was killed in New Hampshire a few years back. It seems Matt wasn’t the only relative Kane had in the Armed Forces.

  “What the hell are you actually doing here Jeremy?” Uncle Steve asks.

  Kane’s face gets serious. “Is there somewhere we can talk in private?” He turns to the snooty soldier. “Preferably, away from those I’d like to break in half.”

  17

  Camp Arifjan, Kuwait

  “You’re kidding me, right?” Carrack asks with a look of disbelief. “Y’all are looking for the Tower of Babel?”

  “We aren’t kidding you, sir,” Nicole says, a deadly serious look on her face. “I’m sure you’ve heard about the attacks that have happened the last few days?”

  He nods.

  “We were the ones being attacked,” I say. “Nicole and me in Miami, Jeremy and Olivia in Orlando, and two of our other men—one in D.C. and the other in Algeria.”

  I shake my head a little. Calling Kane, Jeremy, just doesn’t feel right. He’ll always be Kane to me.

  “And you think the one taken from Algeria was brought to Iraq—to Babel?”

  The three of us nod in unison.

  “I know it sounds incredible,” Kane says, “but we’ve come into some historical data that backs everything up. My bosses are fully aware of our actions and are backing us the entire way.”

  Carrack chokes on his coffee. “So this isn’t one of your own wild goose chases… Langley is behind this?”

  Kane nods. “One-hundred-percent. You can call Director Rollins if you need further proof.”

  The general just leans back in his overly squeaky chair, thinking it over. I’m not sure what there’s to think about, though. We were told he’d follow orders and give us what we need. I glance to Kane. Maybe he’s just getting his uncle’s blessing out of respect.