INCURSION: Faeblade (Knight's Bane Trilogy Book 2)

by Bryan Donihue

  He suddenly put them on, reared back, and hammered Boomer again. The demolitions specialist was seeing stars as her head rocked again. She felt tearing and knew that her cheek was just torn open. The one not broken.

  As she cried out in pain again, she felt her nose mend itself. It hurt almost as much as it being broken. This was going to be a long day. The dark-haired thug watched her nose heal and told his partner, "Hit her nose again. It just healed up." The blond obligingly reared back and swung a sap with which he had been toying. The weapon landed on the bridge of her nose, and she screamed, seeing red, then collapsing as the blackness consumed her.

  BOOMER WOKE SLOWLY. Her skull was throbbing, and her ribs felt like they were on fire. How long was I out? She wondered at the pain in her ribs. She didn't remember taking my shots there. She wondered if the thugs had continued to work her over while she was unconscious. The federal agent listened intently around her. She heard her breathing, and a labored, even breathing behind her. No footsteps. No breath sounds from the thugs.

  She tried to open her eyes and felt her lashes pull as dried, crusted fluids pulled at her skin and lashes. She was able to finally force them open and look around her. She was still in the same room, with the same grungy walls. The door was shut. She could see that the inside was smooth, no handle, no gaps. She assumed there were locking mechanisms on the outside of the door.

  Just as she was getting her bearings, she heard a hiss as the door unsealed. Two sets of boots clumped toward her. She looked up defiantly, and saw the same two thugs, wide grins on their faces.

  The blond bruiser spoke, "Well, well. Sunshine is awake again. How are you feeling sunshine? All healed up from round one? Are you getting hungry yet?"

  "Just let me loose," she hissed. "I'll show you how hungry I am."

  "Ooh. looks like we have us a feisty one here." The brunette thug laughed with his partner. "I don't think she's hungry enough. I think we need to soften her up some more. What do you think?"

  His partner just grinned and moved in, swinging the sap.

  BOOMER WAS AGAIN slow to wake. She did not remember much beyond the first couple swings of the sap. Vague flashes of memory filtered through her mind. Her jaw ached as if all of her teeth had been broken or pulled. Again her eyes were crusted shut with dried tears and blood, and again it hurt to force them open.

  She was getting hungry. The demolitions expert knew that every time she healed, she drew more power and energy from her stores. This energy would have to be replaced with blood. If they kept beating her long enough, she might eventually go mad with hunger.

  She rocked and strained at her bonds, putting all her might into breaking the ropes that were binding her to the chair. There. The ropes seemed to give a little. Not much, but enough for a glimmer of hope. Her right arm seemed to move a fraction of an inch. As she struggled, concentrating on that arm, she heard the door open and the two torturers stomped into the room.

  Seeing she was awake, the blond one smiled. He looked at his brunette partner, "This time it's your turn."

  Boomer could not duck the brass knuckles. Again the world went black.

  THIS TIME WHEN SHE WOKE, she knew the hunger was beginning to affect her. The pain in her face and shoulders was agonizing, but she realized that her hands and feet ached as well. The bastards were literally breaking every bone in her body, simply to give her more to heal. Boomer was getting desperate. She had to break free if only to save herself.

  What about Hannah? She hadn't heard from the young woman at all the last couple times she awakened. Did they kill her? If so, the assholes would die slow, terrible deaths. She had to get out of here.

  The door opened, and the two thugs swaggered into her view. This time, the brunette spoke first. "So, are you hungry enough yet? I hope not. this is getting really fun." The leer on his face was truly terrifying. "Heck, we haven't had this much fun since we caught that little gnome. He lasted for ten whole days before he died. How long are you gonna last?"

  The blond stepped up, slapping his sap on his palm. "The best part? We just got permission to start working over your partner here. We want her nice and bloody for you when your hunger takes over. That way, there is no way you can stop yourself. So I get to play with you a little more while my brother plays with your friend."

  The thug leaned in close as if to impart some confidence, "I personally think he got the better deal. They put up less fight when they are knocked out cold. Lots of perks working her over. I hope I get my turn, too."

  Boomer's angry retort was cut short by the sound of automatic fire. Somewhere else in the building, Boomer heard the distinctive thunder of an AA-12 shotgun told her that Knightmare was on site. Her grin was cold, "Too late. My friends are here."

  The thugs both turned toward the door, giving the vampire the break she needed. Her vision shifted to the weird monochrome vision of her inner beast. Fangs extended into her mouth and she felt her claws extrude from her fingertips. Enraged and finally able to risk letting her inner demon out, the vampire fed tensed her arms and pulled. The wooden arms of the chair splintered.

  17

  STAGING

  GERALD R. FORD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

  The team had gathered in the Mobile Command Center's conference room. The interior of the Air Force C-17 was well lit, and the coffee pots were working overtime. Gretchen had immediately contacted Agent Smith, and the videoconference was relatively short. Once appraised of the situation, Smith had told Gretchen that this was a "Code Gamma One" situation, and had instructed her to begin the preparations for the ritual.

  Spooky disconnected the video conference, and Ghost looked at Gretchen pointedly, "What the hell is Code Gamma One? I've never heard that phrase before."

  Gretchen shook her head, "You would not have heard of it. It is an emergency protocol in place if one of the team members goes missing. The ritual can be performed from headquarters, but it goes better when performed in the field. We get better results when we are closer to the subject of the ritual."

  "Ok. But what is the ritual for?"

  Gretchen rummaged through a storage chest in the conference room. She paused long enough to answer the team leader, "Each team member is under a geas for control and secrecy, right?" Ghost nodded. "But management wanted some way to control and track the team members in the field, some esoteric version of GPS before it was ever a thing." The team liaison went back to pulling items out of the storage chest.

  She looked up, searching for someone. "Doc, do you have current, viable genetic samples of both Boomer and Dancer?" The team doctor nodded, standing to go get the requested samples from storage in the MCC.

  Gretchen had studied the items placed on the table before her. She nodded and began setting up a magic circle. Sand was carefully measured and poured out to form the perimeter of a circle. As she was drawing the outline of the circle, the liaison said, "Built into the geas is a tracking element. It doesn't matter where you go on earth, We can track you, specifically for cases such as this." She considered the circle in front of her and placed several candles around the small circle, igniting each as she went.

  Gretchen accepted the samples from Doc and put the samples inside the circle. A blank piece of parchment followed the samples into the circle. The team's adjutant then drew her own credentials from her jacket and held it up, with the identification and badge facing the circle. She then closed her eyes and muttered a phrase that Doc thought might have been Enochian, as it was not any Latin she had ever heard.

  The runes along the inside and outside of the credentials glowed a soft, sickly green. For a few moments, nothing happened. Just as Doc was starting to worry about the spell failing, the priest saw writing appear on the parchment. Except that it was not writing. A closer examination revealed that a small map had appeared.

  Gretchen gave a small sigh and relaxed. The glow around the runes on her credentials quickly dissipated, and the candles were suddenly extinguished, as if by a wind. Gretchen reached out
and took hold of the parchment, handing it to Spooky. "While I clean up here, match this to satellite photos. They are still alive and located somewhere in that map."

  Spooky accepted the parchment with something approaching awe and scanned it into his computer. It looked somewhat familiar, but the computer specialist could not figure it out. A quick algorithm search produced a match that surprised everyone. Spooky cursed softly, then announced the location, "You are not gonna believe this, boss. They are located somewhere at the Zero Tolerance compound. Those assholes were actually stupid enough to kidnap Boomer and Dancer."

  Ghost let out a string of curses, then glanced at the priest. "Sorry, Doc." She nodded, and the team leader continued, "All right everyone, gear up. Stupid humans assaulted and kidnapped Boomer and Dancer. Spooky, tap their communications. See what you can do with surveillance."

  He thought for a moment, "If these idiots were willing to kidnap federal agents, they will be stupid enough to fight back. Gretchen, contact SAC Lewis, I need four of his field agents available, and the tactical team from the local sheriff. Pick a spot to stage for the raid. Tell DHS and the locals that it's a terrorist cell, but they are to be there for peripheral duties only. We may end up with arrests tonight, but they are to be sequestered and removed immediately. I would like you on the mission with us as the liaison for DHS and the locals. You'll have a radio, but stay with them outside the raid area.

  "Once you get DHS moving, contact a federal judge. We need the warrant ASAP. Let them know that we are moving on this in sixty minutes, so we'll need it before then. Send it to the Wunder Buggy. Doc, chances are, Boomer's going to need some blood. Do we have some fresh on tap for her?" The priest nodded. "Good. Let's take that with us." Gretchen made her calls.

  The DHS leader looked around at his team. "Ok. Load up. This is a raid, not a slaughter. There may be children on the premises, and possibly other family members that do not know how monumentally stupid their husbands are. Arrest everyone. If anyone raises a weapon, kill them. The only exception is that asshole Miller. I want to interrogate that douche bag myself. Spooky, can you show us a current satellite view?"

  The electronics specialist immediately entered a few commands, and the screen on the wall lit with a live view of the address. Ghost studied the area closely for a few minutes and then started pointing to various spots on the screen. "Ok. This is a daytime raid, so it could go pear-shaped in a hurry. The good news is that there will not be any other agencies in the raid, so we'll be able to do our work. Do-right, have the locals block off the road about a hundred yards away from the house on each side. Here. And here." Red marks appeared on the screen where he pointed. "Block these driveways. Once they are in position, you will join Alpha to begin the sweep."

  Ghost pointed to some of the team. "Heavy and Do-Right, you are Alpha, with me. We will stage here, at this driveway south of the secondary target." A box appeared on the spot indicated. "Once the roads are blocked, we will sweep north. We will clear this garage and this house first, detaining anyone inside. There is a small shed to the east, and one of us will clear it. Once that is clear, we will call DHS to come secure the prisoners. At that point we start moving north toward the primary target."

  Looking at the map more intently, Ghost continued. "My guess is that our teammates are being held in the outbuilding where the club was meeting before. Alpha will attempt to secure the main house first. Bravo will provide backup and watch the target building."

  The team leader pointed to the sniper, the tracker, and the priest. "Little G, Scout, and Doc, you guys are Bravo. I want you to take up position in the woods north of the target here and here." Again, marks had appeared on the screen. "You will be responsible for surveillance and overwatch. I want both of you to use your suppressed M4s on this one. You'll want a rifle, but the M24 will do you no good on this one, Little G. You will sweep in when we reach the main house. Keep an eye on the target and assist if needed."

  Ghost looked back at Alpha, "Once the house is secure, we will clear the target building. Bravo will provide overwatch. Be ready for anything. Once everything is clear, Doc, you are up for injuries and working with Boomer."

  The team leader looked all around the room, "Questions?"

  Captaen O'Bierne spoken up, "What about me?"

  Ghost shook his head. "Sorry, Captaen. You are an official observer. If this was fae, I might include you. This is human stupidity. You can wait with the DHS folks. Anyone else?"

  Heavy raised his hand. After receiving a nod from Ghost, the big man asked, "Boss, I don't wanna even think this, but what if she is... uncontrollable? If she is in full vampire mode, can we talk her down? Should we carry anti-vamp rounds just in case?"

  Ghost shook his head. "According to Agent Smith, if Boomer loses control of her beast, her geas will burn her out. That's why she's been working so hard lately to fight for control. She will literally fry if she attacks one of us. Heck, I'm not sure your geas would allow you to attack her. Does that satisfy you?"

  Heavy nodded, "Good enough for me."

  "Ok, Spooky, print out this map on the wide format so the locals will have some clue. Armor for everyone and don't worry about any special rounds. We're only fighting humans. Alpha, we each need a couple CS grenades, and masks. Bravo, grab your air masks in case we have to smoke someone out. Let's get ready to move."

  Other than Ghost and Doc, the team changed into all-black fatigues, and clambered into their body armor. Ghost was already wearing his standard attire and armored jacket, while Doc was wearing her vestments. The priest slid body armor underneath her clothes just in case.

  As they filed down the stairs to the tarmac, Ghost said, "Spooky, standard DHS Urban Assault black for the Wunder Buggy please."

  Spooky nodded before disappearing into the back of the truck. Ghost climbed into the driver's seat as Gretchen came down the stairs. She pushed a remote, activating the powered retraction of the stairs. The door to the MCC closed with a solid "thunk." She climbed aboard the truck to sit in the passenger seat, giving an address to Ghost. "DHS and SWAT will meet us at that location in fifteen minutes."

  Ghost nodded and started the truck. The engine roared as the team leader dropped it into gear and goosed the accelerator.

  THIRTY MINUTES LATER, the team was en route to the target house outside the town of Marne. Following the Wunder Buggy were two sheriff patrol cars and a black SUV with government plates. They would be approaching the target location from the south. Not far away, another black SUV and two more sheriff patrol cars were moving in on the location from the north.

  When the Wunder Buggy had pulled into the library branch they were using for their staging spot, they had been met by two federal SUVs and the four patrol units. There were six DHS agents dressed in fatigues and body armor. Gretchen had asked for four of them and SAC Lewis had brought his driver as well. There were also eight members of the Kent County Tactical Apprehension and Confrontation Team. The eight members of the TAC team had worn their tactical uniforms and vests and were equipped with rifles and sidearms.

  The teams had gathered and introduced themselves. Opening up the back of the truck, Ghost had displayed the map of the target, and had run down the various duties required of the individuals.

  Ghost had also stressed that only his team was to engage the targets unless the others were actually fired upon. It was likely, the Knightmare leader had noted, that there would be a firefight. Gretchen would act as liaison, and it would be her call to send in the other teams.

  Once the DHS agents and the sheriff's deputies had known what they were supposed to do, they had planned their approaches and mounted their various vehicles. Little G, Scout, and Doc had climbed into one of the SUVs. It and two of the patrol cars had driven north, while the rest had followed the Wunder Buggy.

  Minutes later, Ghost pulled the Wunder Buggy up to the pre-determined spot on the side of the road and left the engine running. Spooky stayed in his seat and called up the live satellite view of th
e target. He quickly ran through several checks and zoomed in around the entire perimeter.

  "I'm not seeing any indications of perimeter guards, boss." The electronics specialist spoke up, "Could be someone under the trees, but I'm not seeing them. There are two guards standing outside the target, both armed with rifles, either M4s or the civilian models. They are both just watching around the front of the building."

  Ghost nodded and activated his radio throat mic, "Ghost to Bravo. Go for insertion."

  "Roger."

  The next five minutes were some of the longest he had to endure to that point. Finally, Little G's voice broke the silence, "Bravo in position. Two tangos watching target. No other guards."

  Ghost lifted a different radio to his mouth. This was one of the sheriff deputy's spare radio, which was also being monitored by the DHS team. "This is Team Lead. Go for perimeter." He glanced outside the truck as the two patrol cars and a Black SUV moved just past the truck and blocked the road. Both cruisers lit their light bars, and the SUV's police lights started flashing. The sheriff's deputies climbed out of their cars and set up a perimeter. Two of the deputies walked up the driveway they were blocking and knocked on the door. They would keep the owners of the house busy during the raid.

  Just down the road, to the north of the target house, Ghost watched the same thing happen, with the cruisers lighting up and blocking the road, and the deputies going up to the house where they were blocking the driveway. He raised the radio one more time to his lips, "This is Team Lead. Go for Sweep Alpha." He tossed the radio on seat.

  He, Heavy, and Do-Right all climbed out of the truck, double checked their gear and weapons, and worked their way toward the secondary target.

  18

  RESCUE

  ZERO TOLERANCE, 8TH AVENUE, MARNE, MICHIGAN

  Alpha team carefully approached the secondary target house. This house had a driveway that connected with the driveway from the min house, and it also had an outbuilding, a detached garage. Approaching from the south, Ghost motioned for Do-Right to check the windows on the garage. Shining a light inside, Do-Right could see it was used as storage, and there were boxes and crates and even pieces of furniture in the closed building. He shook his head and cautiously rejoined his team.