GodMode

by O. K. Mills

  “I’m in,” a voice said behind them.

  Bear, Heather and Colonel Norris turned to see Spade carrying his father’s body in his arms. He bent down and placed him on the ground in front of them.

  “Spade, they knew! They’ve known all day! They did nothing!” Heather yelled as Spade held up his hand to stop her.

  “I heard. All I care about right now is Brynn. I realize that the government has an agenda, colonel, and I couldn’t care less about it. I will join your assault team and get Brynn out of there by any means necessary, and I am happy to do it your way.”

  Colonel Norris smiled and nodded.

  “But please understand if that child is dead when we arrive or dies for any reason during the extraction, that I will kill all of you myself,” said Spade.

  The Black Daggers slowly aimed their guns at Spade. He walked up to one of them and moved his chest directly up to the barrel of the rifle.

  “Do it.” Spade said softly.

  The soldier hesitated and looked to Colonel Norris who shook his head no.

  “I have absolutely nothing left to lose; you do. If she dies … you die. I’ll be in the safe house if anyone needs me. I await your orders, colonel,” Spade said before turning to leave.

  As he descended the stairs into the safe house, he added, “Would somebody mind putting my father in a morgue before we leave?”

  Pike decided to leave the Impala in a ravine just before he crossed into DC, in case the police were tracking it. He continued on foot for more than 6 miles with Brynn unconscious and draped over his shoulder. He sprinted down 17th street and arrived at the doors to the Wilson building where Janus headquarters was hidden underneath.

  Janus’ facial recognition software had identified him several blocks before he was actually within visual range of the building. Once he had actually physically arrived in the second lobby, the guards just waved him through.

  “He’s waiting in his office for you, Mr. Pike. Go on up.”

  Pike made his way to the elevator doors situated just beyond the magnetometers. As he waited for the elevator to arrive, he heard the familiar sound of a twirling butterfly knife behind him. Just as he turned, the flash of polished steel headed straight toward his face, and it was all he could do to adjust his body to barely avoid losing both of his eyes.

  WHUMP!

  A shot to his kidneys caused him to buckle, drop to one knee, and slide Brynn off his shoulder and onto the floor. In a flash the so-called “deadliest mercenary in the world” found himself down with a blade at his throat, one that belonged to his girlfriend, Sharon Blake.

  The guards already had their weapons trained on her. She smiled and pulled her knife tighter at Pike’s throat. This a standoff went on for several seconds until the elevator chime interrupted it.

  “Pick her up,” Sharon ordered.

  When the doors slid open, she backed in with Pike and Brynn, kicked off her right shoe and tapped the button for Silas’ office floor with her big toe.

  “Thought you were going to wait until I was asleep,” Pike said.

  “I lied.”

  “You pick now to make your move, Sharon?”

  She looked at him in surprise.

  “I don’t know that I have ever heard your tone this respectful, Marshall. Funny how a knife at your throat will do that, huh? Now, as much as I like the “new you,” I need you to shut the eff up. Don’t make me slice your neck open before we get to Silas’ office.”

  Then, it hit him and he laughed to himself, stunned that he hadn’t figured it out the entire day.

  “You work for him.” Pike stated flatly as the elevator continued rising.

  “Of course I work for him. Did you honestly think that Silas was going to just let you run around without a leash?”

  “But you? I mean, no offense, Sharon, but…”

  “But what? I’m too stupid? I’m too blonde?”

  “Well, you did blow me in middle of downtown Silver Spring.”

  Sharon squeezed Pike’s manhood with her free hand until he grimaced. And when he grimaced, she squeezed harder.

  “Hurts, don’t it, kind of like slapping the hell out of your girlfriend, you gutless prick. Silas hired me to keep eyes on you, kill you if I had to once you had the girl.”

  She released his manhood.

  Pike caught his breath before responding. To Sharon’s complete surprise, he was half coughing and half laughing.

  “You had to be brought in, didn’t you?”

  Sharon didn’t answer.

  “When we wrecked on the highway and I got arrested, you were brought in because you had failed to keep tabs on me. Now that I’m here with the girl, you’re trying to get back in Silas’ good graces, right? Classic.”

  “Shut up,” Sharon barked, basically confirming Pike’s suspicions.

  “I could kill you if I wanted to,” Pike said.

  “With what? Kindness? We both know I can give you a red smile faster than you can blink. Even Marshall Pike can bleed. But go ahead and try me if you’re feeling lucky.”

  At their feet Brynn was beginning to stir. The elevator finally stopped with a chime.

  “Get her up, and let’s go,” said Sharon before they made their way down the long hallway to Silas’ office.

  Cole was surprised when he heard his phone ring. He looked down and realized that he was just far enough away from the safe house cellular dead zone that he had 3 bars of service. He answered it.

  “This is Cole.”

  “Austin, it’s Walker. I’ve got good news. Ricky is going to make it!”

  Cole made a quizzical face.

  “Walker, that kid took multiple gun shots to the head, didn’t he? And he’s actually going to make it?”

  Asha’s eyes grew wide when she overheard Cole’s comment. She tapped Cole on the shoulder.

  “Who’s going to make it?” she asked.

  “Sweeney. That kid looked deader than the grave when we left, but apparently God said ‘not today.’”

  Asha became visibly pale upon hearing this news and took a few paces away from Cole.

  “That certainly brightens up what has otherwise been a pretty crappy day. We’ll be heading back in a bit. This thing has turned into a military matter.” Cole continued.

  “What happened?” Walker asked.

  “I’ll fill you in when we get back—it’s too long to get into over the phone. Just know that five people dressed in black parachuted down to the location like friggin’ Batman. And they were sent here by the President herself.”

  “Well, I can’t wait to hear all about that,” said Walker.

  “I’m not sure when the military folks here are going to let us leave.”

  “They’re detaining you?”

  “Not officially, no. But they are armed to the teeth, and I’d just as soon not assume that we could just roll out without asking, so don’t wait around for us.” Cole said.

  “Fair enough. Oh and Cole, tell Asha that when Ricky came to, he was asking for her,” said Walker.

  “Really?” Cole exclaimed.

  Cole pointed to the phone and then pointed to her.

  “The kid was asking for you when he came to.”

  Asha’s complexion went from pale to ghost white. She continued listening intently as Cole completed his call.

  “You’ve got some explaining to do,” Cole said with a look to Asha.

  “What do you mean, sir?”

  “Don’t play stupid. The Sweeney kid was asking for you. Earle went so far as to say that the doctors think that the kid is holding on because of you, I mean it—”

  CLICK.

  And just like that Asha had her service weapon drawn and placed at Cole’s temple.

  “Asha, what in the heck are you doing?”

  “You and I are going to get in your car, and we’re going to drive out of here.”

  A few of the other officers picked up on what was happening and moved closer to them. Her gun on Cole, she quic
kly moved behind him.

  “Asha, what the hell?” Cole spat.

  “I didn’t mean for that kid to get shot. He shouldn’t have been in the holding area. I’m not going to burn for this,” Asha whispered.

  Cole’s eyebrows raised as the revelation of what actually happened became clear to him.

  “Dear God, Asha … you … you’re the one who let Pike out. That’s how you knew his name.”

  The other officers drew their weapons and trained them on Asha. Cole waved them off with his arms and glaring looks as best he could. They kept their distance, but continued advancing toward them.

  “How long have you been in his pocket?” Cole demanded, wincing at the sudden pain at his temple.

  “You can ask him yourself, sir. We’re going to meet—”

  BANG!

  Asha felt the piercing burn of multiple projectiles as they entered her the back of her neck. She dropped her weapon and fell forward, sliding off Cole as he looked about to see who had shot her.

  Slipping out from behind a large tree was Officer Walker. He flashed his badge to the military officers as he walked over to Cole.

  The men didn’t say anything initially as they looked down at Asha’s dead body. Cole, instead, simply extended his hand to Walker, who took it.

  “The kid … your partner … he’s not really going to make it is he?” Cole asked.

  Walker shook his head no.

  “You knew I wouldn’t have believed you if you’d have accused her flat out, am I right?”

  Walker nodded.

  Cole glanced at Asha once more before calling to the other officers to pick her up.

  Damien Silas smiled widely as Pike entered his office carrying Brynn in his arms. He was so pleased to see the young girl in his presence that he barely noticed the small matter of the butterfly knife poised to end Pike’s life. When he did finally notice, his faced turned quizzical.

  “Is there something on your mind, Ms. Blake?” Silas asked.

  “Just delivering what I promised, sir. Brynn James is yours to use as you see fit. I’d like to know what you’d like to see happen to Mr. Pike?”

  “Well, this is a surprise,” Silas grinned like a gentleman who had just been brought a slice of lemon pound cake that he had not even known his wife had baked. He rubbed his palms together rapidly before aiming a large revolver from his desk at the middle of Pike’s forehead. Just as quickly, however, he pulled the weapon back and looked at Sharon.

  “Do you have any suggestions, Ms. Blake?”

  “Oh, if I had a penis, there are a number of things I would make him do, sir. But a revolver to the brain has equal appeal,” Sharon replied with a smile.

  “We had a deal, Damien. I bring the girl to you, and I get paid. You’re not going to honor that?” Pike asked.

  Silas considered his words and walked back over to him.

  BANG!

  Pike blinked twice before hearing the familiar thud of a body falling dead to the floor. Above him stood Silas holding a smoking gun; next to him on the floor was Sharon with a hole in her head.

  “You’re fired,” Silas said as he lowered his gun.

  “Sir?” Pike asked.

  “Oh, not you Mr. Pike,” Silas laughed, “No, I meant my second in command, Sharon Blake. I apologize for being unclear. You’ve done your job well, and you shall be rewarded.”

  Arata entered the office. Silas gestured toward the dead body. Arata nodded and went to get the necessary tools to begin cleaning the mess.

  Silas tapped a few buttons on his smartphone and motioned to Pike to get up off of his knees. Pike, who hadn’t even realized he was still on them, rose to his feet.

  “Your fee has been transferred, Mr. Pike. Thank you for a job well done. You were less than efficient in your retrieval of the girl, and I suspect that our friends in the federal government may be aware of my plans.”

  “How is any of that my problem?” Pike asked.

  Silas gestured to Sharon’s corpse. Pike nodded his understanding of the situation.

  “But I don’t want you to misunderstand me, Mr. Pike. I am very pleased with the outcome of your efforts—I wouldn’t kill my second in command for just anyone. I’d like to retain you within my employ in the likelihood that agents attempt to stop what I am doing with the little Ms. Brynn. Should we get attacked, there is no one I would rather have defending our position than you. I will pay your usual fee, of course.”

  Pike took another glance at Sharon and realized that while his options might have been limited, he certainly did not mind getting paid. And he hadn’t encountered any federal agents or military types since the attack on the SOCOM facility, only local cops. Anyone who could visually identify him was either already dead or would never see him again.

  Pike nodded yes.

  “Excellent,” Silas replied with a smile before turning to Arata.

  “When you are finished here, please take young Brynn to the lower laboratories and prep her for the transference. I want to begin the siphoning process tonight.”

  13: Suit Up

  Colonel Norris stared at the body bags that contained Garrison Spade and Asha Born.

  “Let me get this straight, detective. This woman was a mole in the police department working for Marshall Pike?” Colonel Norris asked.

  “Apparently,” Cole replied.

  “Do you know for how long?”

  “I’m scared to think about it, to be honest. I trusted Asha more than anyone else in my unit. These people were handpicked out of the academy.”

  “Straight off the tree, huh.”

  “Ripe fruit. I approved every applicant personally. I trained them, nurtured them, visited them in the hospital when they got wounded, the whole show.”

  “So you’re left with all of these questions and doubts all of a sudden.”

  “Yeah, like how did Pike get to her? When did he get to her? What did he have on her to make her agree to this?

  “You’ll drive yourself crazy if you don’t let this go, Detective Cole.”

  Cole nodded, but both men knew it would probably be a while before he could trust his own instincts again. Colonel Norris stepped away as Officer Walker strode up.

  “I just got the go-ahead to leave. Are you staying or leaving?”

  Cole glanced over at the corpses once more.

  “Why would I stay?” Cole asked. He then turned to Walker and asked, “Why would you stay?”

  “I need to see this thing through. Ricky and Mike are dead. The two partners that I raised are both gone. I need to see the men responsible brought to justice.”

  “You sure it’s just justice?” Cole asked.

  Walker stared Cole in the eye for several moments but never actually replied.

  Arata stood in the lower level laboratory of the Janus headquarters with Silas, Pike and Dr. Quill Cannon, the scientist/surgeon who would be performing the attempted siphoning of Brynn’s paranormal abilities.

  He laid Brynn’s unconscious body onto an operating table before setting up a similar area for Silas.

  Dr. Cannon looked over a few charts and scribbled some notes on her tablet. To the smiling Silas, she said, “Mr. Silas, there are a few matters I need to bring to your attention before we prep you for surgery.”

  “Speak, Dr. Cannon.”

  She handed him her tablet and double tapped to enlarge an image of Brynn’s internal organs.

  “There is an element here that concerns me.”

  “What seems to be the problem?” Silas asked.

  “This DNA sequence has not appeared in any of the other paranormal subjects that I have examined.” Dr. Cannon explained.

  “Of course it hasn’t. That strand obviously represents her healing gift.”

  “I thought the same when I first glanced at it. However, that is the other strand you see here. It matches the genetic coding that we’ve grown accustomed to seeing in our scans from past subjects. This foreign strand here … I have no idea what it even is.
It could be nothing; it could be something; it could be the very thing that allows her healing to function.”

  “Well, then do not siphon it,” Silas said calmly.

  Dr. Cannon sighed in relief.

  “I appreciate your patience, sir. Allow me a few weeks to study this data and then we should be able to—”

  “You misunderstand me, Dr. Cannon. Do not siphon the potentially harmful strand. Separate them and give me her healing power.”

  “Sir, with all due respect, evolution is gradual. Even the smallest genetic changes regulated by natural selection accumulate over very long periods of time. What you are asking for would take weeks, maybe months just to prepare for properly. And even then there are no guarantees. There is no telling what will happen if you separate that strand of … arggg…”

  Dr. Cannon was no longer breathing normally.

  “Evolution is gradual, Dr. Cannon. My patience is not.”

  Silas turned casually to Arata, as Dr. Cannon continued begging for air.

  “You have worked with Dr. Cannon for some time. Are you able to perform the siphoning process?”

  Arata nodded yes.

  “Excellent.”

  Dr. Cannon fell backwards while gripping her throat and bled furiously from her ears until she died.

  Immediately following that, Silas doubled over in excruciating pain as an equal amount of blood poured out from his nostrils and down his face. After several moments of coughing and gathering himself, he dried a few tears and spat the blood out of his mouth as if nothing were out of the ordinary.

  “I will change for surgery. I want every drop of power in this child to be in me within the next two hours.”

  “And what of Dr. Cannon’s concerns, sir; perhaps, it is too much power?” Arata asked.

  Silas laughed.

  “There is no such thing as too much power.”