The Infected [Books 1-6]

by P. S. Power

  Marcia ran toward the missile hard, taking it in the chest some two hundred feet away from where she started, which meant she'd managed to move a heck of a lot faster than Denis had thought her top speed was. It detonated, blowing her backwards about fifteen feet, her body digging a furrow in the dirt when she landed. Denis nearly sent raw pain into the police, but instead remembered the plan and just made them drop, unable to control their own limbs. The dark could have been a problem, but they all managed to keep themselves in the lights of their cars.

  Handy.

  A few were trying to move a bit and the bomb squad people were too far to the side for him to see, so they weren't affected at all.

  Staring hard, Denis pointed to the right side, not really knowing if he was indicating the right spot or not at all.

  “I don't have those pricks. The bomb crew. Send someone to control them and then get the weapons from these guys? Let me know when though, so I can move closer and just hit the people we want. Watch out for any I might be missing, behind the cars or in the dark.” It sounded a little flat, calm at least. It had to do with the focus needed to use his ability, rather than some icy calm or steel nerves. He was freaked, even if it didn't show much just then. Someone had seen fit to target him, or at least one of the people near him, for death. For the second time that day. He'd be dead if Marcia hadn't taken care of that rocket like she did. If that didn't freak them all out, then a lot more had changed in the last months than he thought.

  Bridget and Rachel subdued the bomb squad by simply carrying them over, arms and legs waving in the air frantically, and tossing them into the area he had under control. That worked. Smart too, because it didn't really take anymore effort for him to keep them down than already used for the others. Then all he had to do was walk forward slowly and not hit the tiny girl as she collected all the weapons, making a big pile of them behind the fence, which she just hopped over as if it weren't an obstacle at all. A twelve foot high fence.

  A few of the cops caught a tiny shoe to the ribs as she passed. Not that anyone should be too bothered by that, but it put her too close to the targets for too long. Her hands and feet had to already be going on her as it was. If it bothered her she didn't let it show. About five minutes later she'd stripped the police of all weapons and dumped them off in her protected stack.

  Then she waved.

  “Can you release them one at a time when I get near them?” The little voice was loud and sounded like it came from a child. A very petite one at that. One who could kick his ass before he could blink, Denis reminded himself. He raised his right hand.

  “Got it! Start from the right edge?”

  The next trick took some focus. As the girl approached a blue clad man, Denis had to isolate them from the whole group, which took concentration. Then the girl ran up and thumped them pretty hard in the head and handcuffed each one, confiscating all their keys. That part took about half an hour. The girl moved fast, but there had to be sixty of them out front.

  When that got finished a sense of relief poured over him for about ten seconds. Like he'd been stretching painfully and just let it go. He allowed himself to revel in the feeling for a few moments, closing his eyes. It had been a bit of a strain, picking out specific people like that.

  Then it hit him.

  “What, in the fucking hell, are we supposed to do with sixty odd prisoner cops? Have them arrest themselves? Ship them off to a government facility? Fucking retards.” Taking a deep breath Denis looked down as everyone around him stared for a second. “Sorry. I didn't mean to imply that mentally challenged persons are as stupid as these ass fucks. What are we supposed to do though? They're clearly terrorists, but also cops...”

  A dark suited man with short nearly blond hair and mirror shades stepped up and shook his head. One of the agents, the regular kind like the guards.

  “First we need to pull them inside the fence line here and make sure they don't have backup beyond the perimeter. No snipers or vehicles rigged with bombs for a suicide run like last time. Then we have to call in the DHS and let them in on what's up. After that we either have to get ready to fight off a military attack, or they'll come and take the prisoners. Fifty-fifty chance they're free by morning either way, since this whole thing is Hooper inspired, if I have it right. Good luck proving that though.”

  Great. So the actual plan was for a military invasion they'd have to fight off? Good to know.

  The next hours moved both fast and slow. Proxy and Marcia set up combat positions and military weapons just in case, big machine guns and their own rocket launchers and a string of grenades each. The Director spent the whole time on the phone, usually yelling. Not having anything else to do Denis made sure that everyone had water, and if they needed it, food. It was all cake, but if they wanted more than that he could get it from inside, no one said anything about it though.

  When the military got there they landed a good ways off, trucks pulling in slowly over time and phone calls going to a bunch of people standing around the Director all at once before anyone even approached at all. When the front gate opened it was a man in a black wind breaker that said DHS on the back who walked through.

  Alone. Which had to take guts, Denis decided. It was a tense situation and Infected people didn't always have a reputation for calm reserve, but here he was anyway, not even showing a weapon. He looked a bit old and soft outwardly, his skin and hair both a bit gray. Broad faced and a bit like a bulldog.

  “Galley, Department of Homeland Security. Heard you had a little bit of a terrorist attack today? Thought you folks mind want a hand with that, since it's our area, we thought we'd come and pick up what was left.” The man shook hands as if it were natural, with everyone that approached, his eyes wary, face in a frown.

  At first the man didn't want to believe that the local police would do anything like what they had, thankfully Gary the cameraman had gotten turned around in time to catch most of the action, with a close up of Marcia taking a rocket to the chest.

  It had blown her shirt off and she stood with her arms crossed over her chest even now, trying to cover herself. Taking off his own white baker's smock thing, Denis handed it to her. He had a Team Three shirt on underneath and while it was chilly, his tits weren't hanging out. He'd live. The cage had been cold the whole time he was there.

  The woman didn't turn around to put it on, in fact she stood almost on top of him, using his body as cover, while did it. He tried to look away politely. It took work, she had a nice rack.

  “Thanks. I don't get cold, but this is a bit awkward. Especially since I'm probably going to be interviewed in a few minutes. Good job with the cops by the way. I'll note that in my report to the Director.” She spoke casually as she slipped on the top and it took a lot of willpower for him not to comment on her assets. She really did have nice breasts... She punched him in the arm after a second, light for her, which meant it stayed attached. It would probably leave a bruise though.

  “Hey, eyes up here buddy.” She smiled. It was almost even charming and didn't promise anything more than words at least.

  Denis shrugged and started to censor his speech but then didn't, it took too much work and he didn't have the energy at the moment.

  “Come on, I haven't even seen a playboy in six months, cut a guy a break.” The words sounded exhausted too, a smile curled, something less than a sneer he hoped.

  Marcia just nodded.

  “I did, notice how you're still able to walk? Come on, we need to get with the Director and be available for grilling and par-broiling by DHS.”

  To the general surprise of all present, the footage made all the difference. The other government guys threw in with the IPB, which shocked everyone, including the Director, and arranged for the terrorists, they actually called the police that, to be taken away. Galley did let them know that most of the cops would probably walk.

  “If they were just following orders, even illegal ones, they're functionally immune from prosecution. We c
an maybe get a few of them as enemy combatants, the actual ring leaders, but don't hold your breath. Stupid shit. They attack a Federal facility and we have to play nice because some of our agents happen to be Infected? What kind of crap is that?”

  Everyone nodded, except Proxy who looked about ready to kill all the cops right then and there, handcuffed or not. It was scary. The looks he gave were bad enough that Lady Glory walked over, glowing all blue and peaceful and took his hand. The second she did she turned back into Karen though. The redhead, his new squad mate he remembered, looked right at him.

  “Denis, would you stay by us? If anything happens...” It was clear she meant if Brian broke and started slaughtering the cops he should try and stop him. That didn't seem likely. He owed Yi too much to puss out on him now.

  Not because Brian wouldn't kill them, just... if Yi wanted to ice these jerks... he'd help. They'd nearly slaughtered the people he was with. That Denis had been standing right there didn't win the creeps any brownie points with either. It felt personal, even if they'd been aiming for someone else.

  “Right, if anything happens I back Brian's play. These scumbags are terrorists and will still probably walk. If they manage to do anything else here at all we need to take them down. Got it.”

  Karen winced, but Brian nodded and held his girlfriend's hand a little tighter.

  “Thanks. Nice to know I actually have backup. It... hasn't always gone that way here. I don't think they'll do anything, but if something happens we need to be ready. Watch the military out there too. They could get orders to attack from Washington and if that happens they don't get a choice. I'd rather stop them without using force, since I kind of like most of them, which means you two.” Yi looked directly at Denis a serious and dark thing that sent a chill down his spine. The man went still, that reptile kind of thing that always looked out of place on a human.

  “That's not just me being a cop or military hater by the way. I got that directly from the head of a Delta Force unit, sort of a friend of mine and Marcia's. They've been having to run practice drills simulating an attack on us for a while now. We were all told to stay ready and not trust them if anything happened.” The look in Yi's eyes was grim, but serious.

  “What the crap? I go away for six months and the whole fucking world turns against us? I mean, we weren't popular before, sure, but this? Attacks by the police and terrorists coming here for fuck's sake? It's the middle of freaking nowhere! They shouldn't even be able to find it with GPS...”

  Karen had stiffened and gave Denis a hard look. At first he thought it had to do with his language, which he agreed, could use toning down, but when he turned around he saw that there was a line of police cars being let in the front gate.

  That... seemed a really poor plan at the moment, but they got in anyway. They stopped about a hundred meters inside the fence line and headed directly toward the Director as soon as the men got out, all of them armed with heavy looking military weapons. Machine guns and things like that. Stuff cops weren't issued as a rule. Things that were insane to bring into a situation like the one they'd just walked into.

  Proxy turned and started running toward them instantly, there were about ten of them, most drew a bead on Yi as he ran, weapons suddenly in each hand.

  “No!” Karen yelped, suddenly glowing. “Denis!”

  He paralyzed the cops. It was a good trick, one he was glad he'd thought of. They all fell over before any shooting started. Brian didn't stop running, of course, then... he didn't shoot either. Marcia and Galley moved to strip the men of weapons fast, the older man taking the lead almost instantly, since it was his case and all, that made sense.

  They complained about not being able to use their hands easily though. Wimps. The little girl hadn't whined about that at all. Denis couldn't speak at the moment or he would have pointed that out to them, splitting his attention and focus two ways was a lot harder than just one. Way more than twice as hard.

  Brian had stopped and stood – shaking – ready to kill, a cold rage for certain, not fear now. Prime, of all people, saw all this and moved over to the man his voice low and gentle, Denis couldn't make out what the large gold colored man said, too far away and too soft, but he put his body in front of the cops and didn't make any sudden movements at all. It got Brian to back up. Not let go of the blade in his left hand, or put away the handgun in the other. Still, slow, smooth steps backwards took place. He didn't stop until he got back to where Denis stood.

  Prime had come with him and move carefully between the police, who were being handcuffed, and Proxy the whole time. The large gold colored man didn't look relaxed about doing it either.

  “There we go then. That should be fine, I think. Brian, maybe you should put the weapons away for a bit, just in case these guys don't deserve to die yet?” Scott sounded very calm and rational, reasonable even. It wasn't what Denis would have always expected of the man. There wasn't even a hint of patronizing in the tone. It sounded nearly... humble.

  “Right.” Brian said, still glaring with pure focus on the men who laid on the ground. A few DHS agents were cuffing them all. Denis held the cops unmoving until they were all taken care of, then let them go, kind of wishing he could justify a bit of discomfort for them first. Acute stomach cramps maybe? Those sucked and it would be hard to pin the feeling on him, they could just claim it was nerves after all. Or like they were going to wet themselves, their bladders full to bursting. It didn't hurt them at all, but it would make them uncomfortable as all get out. If he did it long enough they'd really wet themselves too.

  It still took a few seconds but Yi finally relaxed and put his gear away. Karen took the guy away by the arm, gently, having dampened her glow again before she did it. Taking a breath Denis moved in to see what the hell this had turned into. It didn't make sense at all anymore. Marcia saw him coming and waved him in, almost as if he had a right to be there or something and wasn't just a pot scrubbing ex-con.

  “Good work again. Almost makes me glad I didn't kill you. Keep this up and we may even have to start paying you again.” She grinned, the look out of place and wry.

  “That's a direct appeal to your first mode there. Good behavior and work gets you stuff. Brilliant psychology, don't you think?”

  He nodded. It really was. Use the part of his personality he couldn't really control, greed, to control the rest.

  “Yeah. Don't forget other things though. Sex, friendship and all that. My greed covers everything pretty much. But then, it's constant too. So delivering the things does almost nothing, except teach the greed that you pay off when you promise something. You could probably use that against me if you're clever. I always want more.” Just the truth, if an annoying one.

  He wanted, but having didn't help make that go away, not for a second. It was one of those constant refrains that guided his whole life. It sucked.

  Marcia laughed at him.

  “You've got some work to do if you want anyone here to screw you Denis. That's going to take time. Still, I can promise praise if you do well. That's a thing, right?”

  “Yep.” It was and he really did want it just as badly as anything else.

  “Good job then... and there's more where that came from if you keep up the good work and behavior.”

  They walked together, Prime in front, toward the new police to see what the heck they'd been planning. That or they were going to kick their asses. Either way, after the day everyone here had undergone, Denis would back it. Maybe a bit of torture would finally be in order?

  The police guy in charge looked a lot like Galley, except a few years younger and seemed to have about fifty fewer IQ points. Kind of a dull look to the eyes. At first Denis thought it might be shock, or even just anger. That could make it hard to talk clearly. So could fear. The man had a good reason to be afraid after all. He didn't know it maybe, but Yi really had been about to kill him.

  “I demand you release us at once. You... you're under arrest for obstruction of justice and interfering
with a law officer performing his duty!” Nope, he really was just that dumb. The guy tried to look menacing. It didn't work too well sitting on the ground handcuffed like that, Denis decided. It was the difference in positions.

  To his surprise the man that answered wore a black suit, the same one that had spoken before. The blond one.

  “Sorry. This time it works the other way around. Now, before we have you sent off to a secret prison out of the country for “questioning”, why don't you start telling us why you came into a Federal compound armed with illegal weapons like that, when half your police force has already been subdued and taken into custody for terrorism? Make it good and don't lie, we have a telepath checking you all out.” He waved slightly toward Chris who raised her head and stared at the man meaningfully. A psych out job, of course. She didn't have to have eye contact or anything like that at all. If she wanted she could read your mind anywhere. At any time. She could even take out specific information if she wanted, like looking it up from a book, you didn't have to be thinking about it.

  The man clammed up instantly. It didn't help him.

  “They came to get their people. We've already taken the chief, who, and this is a quote, has a “hard-on for Proxy”. This one was supposed to come in and threaten us with arrest if the attack didn't work. They don't seem to be in on the first attack directly, and these men didn't know what the second action would be, but they knew that coming in here with those weapons wasn't legal. Technically they stole them from evidence.”