by Siegel, Alex
Aaron had no intention of walking into the building and probably straight into an ambush. He had to force the enemy to come out instead. He took two canisters from under his coat. One contained tear gas, and the other produced clouds of choking smoke. He triggered both and threw them through a window. He sprinted down the stairs, ran around to the back yard, and hid behind a bush.
After making sure there were no witnesses, he pulled out a HK USP Tactical with a suppressor, and he chambered a round. The gun fired .45 caliber bullets with explosive tips. Even a hit in a leg would create such a horrible wound that the victim might die of shock. The ammunition also had the advantage of being safe to use in an urban environment. If he hit a wall, the bullets would shatter instead of penetrating and possibly hitting a civilian.
Aaron waited. The choking smoke and tear gas would force the enemy to come out the back eventually.
Aaron wondered how Ethel and Marina were doing. There was no doubt Ethel would get her man. Her formidable mix of skills, experience, and supernatural speed made her almost unstoppable. Once she selected a target, that person was doomed.
Aaron didn't have as much confidence in Marina. She was psychologically unstable, and when he wasn't around to calm her down, her bad habits came out. Just killing people wasn't enough fun for her. She liked to turn the final act into a brutal spectacle for her own amusement. One day she would go too far and die with that crazy, scary grin on her face. He had hoped their mutual love would heal her, but it had only made the ugly episodes less frequent. She still refused to discuss the root cause of her insane anger.
Aaron heard a loud coughing followed by staggered footsteps. The sound came from the front of the house. He went out the other way! Obviously, the enemy had realized there might be an ambush waiting in the back yard.
Aaron put his gun away and sprinted back to the street. The Eternal was running but not as fast as before. Maybe the tear gas was affecting him. Aaron felt confident he would catch him this time.
The man glanced back, and the panic in his eyes indicated he had reached the same conclusion. He turned towards a white and blue Chicago bus dropping off passengers on the side of the street. Aaron pushed himself to run even faster.
The enemy climbed into the bus and threw the driver out the open door. He tried to drive away but the street was packed with slow moving cars, so he steered the bus onto the sidewalk. Pedestrians screamed and scattered. The bus didn't go far before it became wedged between a tree and a fence, and finally, Aaron caught up to it.
He went up the stairs with his hands clenched in fists. He was very eager to finish this job. The Lord's anger burned brightly within him.
The enemy had already moved to the middle of the bus. Terrified passengers pushed each other to get away from him, but the doors were closed. He had a knife pressed against the throat of a teenage girl. The chase had turned into a hostage situation.
"Nobody moves," the man yelled, "or I'll kill her! Everybody stay on the bus! Make a human wall around me! Protect me or she dies!"
The knife was covered with dark paste. Poison, Aaron thought. Even a scratch would probably kill the girl.
Aaron took a deep breath. "Calm down. What's your name?"
The Eternal squeezed his knife so tightly his hand shook. "Lucifer."
"Your parents gave you that name?"
"Harbinger did."
Aaron nodded. "Well, Lucifer, you don't need hostages. Let them go. We can settle this by ourselves."
"No." Lucifer shook his head.
"I just want to talk."
"I'm not stupid! You'll kill me the first chance you get. I was at the Farm." Lucifer grimaced.
Aaron couldn't shoot the guy under these circumstances, and he couldn't walk away, so that left negotiation as his only option. He hated that option.
"The police will be here in a minute," Aaron said. "You want to deal with them instead?"
"Yeah. They won't kill me."
Smart man. "What are you worried about? You're a tough guy, a trained assassin. You can handle me."
"Take off your coat," Lucifer said. "What are you hiding?"
Aaron wasn't about to reveal his assortment of guns, knives, and explosives in front of civilians. He looked out the window and saw a female cop running towards the bus. Sirens wailed in the distance. A complicated situation was about to become almost intractable.
He could only deal with one problem at a time. He walked out of the bus to meet the policewoman. She had short dark hair and a mole on her cheek.
"Stop!" he said. "Stay off the bus!"
The cop stopped running. "Why? What's going on?"
"I'm a federal agent with the Office of Domestic Counterterrorism. There is a terrorist on that bus. He's extremely dangerous and he has hostages."
"Oh." She looked at the bus with an anxious expression. "I'd better call for backup. I need to talk to my supervisor."
"Do that. In the meantime I'll negotiate with the terrorist. When your supervisor gets here, I'll brief him."
She started talking on her radio.
Aaron got back on the bus. Lucifer had gathered all the passengers into a tight cluster. He was in the center of the cluster, well protected on all sides by human bodies. He had two hostages now: the teenage girl and a small boy. He held a knife in both hands, and his arms were wrapped around their necks.
"What's your plan?" Aaron said. "Do you even have a plan?"
"I plan to live," Lucifer said.
"I thought the Eternals wanted to die."
"We were supposed to be the last ones to go, not the first. That's what Harbinger told us."
"Ah, in that case you could change sides and work for me and my team. Then we wouldn't have to kill you at all. That's your best chance at survival."
Aaron's phone rang. The display showed Ethel's number, so he answered it. "Please make this quick," he said quietly. "I'm in the middle of a hostage situation."
"Marina and I are done," Ethel said. "Do you need assistance?"
"Not urgently, ma'am. You should destroy the poisoned beer before anybody else drinks it."
"We'll find you later."
"I may be in police custody."
"We'll still find you," she said. "Bye."
Aaron closed his phone. "Sorry about that," he said. "Where were we?"
"You were about to lie to me about how safe I'll be if I go with you," Lucifer said.
"Do you think the police can protect you? Do you know what happened to the carnival?"
"Some kind of huge bomb." Lucifer frowned. "Everybody was killed."
"Actually, it was a Tomahawk cruise missile. And I have another fact for you: Harbinger is dead."
"No."
"It's the truth," Aaron said. "The person who killed him doesn't miss. She won't miss you, either, even if you're in witness protection. In fact that will just make it easier for her to find you. So, if you truly want to live, you need to answer a question. Which team do you want to play for? You may not trust us, but you've seen what happens when you fight us."
Lucifer didn't respond. The passengers were restless but remained in position. Their frightened eyes pleaded for rescue.
A fleet of police cars was gathering on the street. The police had already established a perimeter made of cars and men, isolating the bus. Aaron admired their efficiency. It was time to have another conversation with Chicago's finest.
He walked off the bus, and all the cops immediately looked at him. He went straight over to the one who was giving orders to the rest.
"Hi." Aaron put out his hand. "I'm Special Agent Joseph Drake, Federal Office of Domestic Counterterrorism."
"I'm Captain Robinson." The captain shook his hand. "Tell me about the terrorist."
He was a tall, black man with a round face. His uniform was perfectly tailored for his lean physique.
"His plan was to plant a bomb under Wrigley Field and blow it up during the singing of the national anthem. I intercepted him before he entered th
e stadium, and I chased him onto the bus."
"Can I see some identification?"
"Sorry," Aaron said, "no. I'm undercover."
Robinson gave him an odd look. "What are you hiding under that coat?"
"Weapons. Standard issue stuff. When you're dealing with terrorists, you have to be prepared."
"Let me see."
Aaron had no choice. He opened his long, gray coat.
"Holy shit." Robinson's eyes widened. "That's not standard issue stuff. Federal agents don't carry silencers and blocks of C-4."
"I'm more like a military operator." Aaron closed his coat. "There are people in Washington who will vouch for me, but we can call them later. Right now innocent lives are at risk. There are children on that bus. What are we going to do about it?"
"You'll do nothing about it. My best hostage negotiator is coming, and he'll run the show."
"But this is my case."
"You will remove your weapons and store them safely. Then you will wait in the back of a squad car until we need you, if we need you."
"Really?" Aaron said.
"Yes," Robinson said. "I have two headaches here: the terrorist and you. I can do something about you."
Aaron didn't want to be pushed aside. Very bad things usually happened when outsiders interfered with a Spears mission. God wanted His dirty laundry washed by His people alone. The captain didn't know it, but he was putting his men in grave danger.
"This terrorist is the subject of a federal investigation," Aaron said. "He's my responsibility. I won't stand down."
"Then I'll arrest you. For all I know, you're a terrorist too."
"That's crazy."
"Prove I'm wrong. Show me some paperwork. Oh, wait, you don't have any." Robinson shrugged.
"Let me make a phone call," Aaron said. "I'll get this straightened out."
"You can make your call when you're sitting in the car." Robinson nodded to his men. "Get him out of here."
Aaron had no choice but to comply. If he fought the police, the situation could only get worse.
Two burly cops escorted Aaron to one of the squad cars. He had to put all of his gear into the trunk, and they patted him down to make sure he wasn't hiding anything. They missed a few small, well concealed items, but his main weapons were gone. He felt naked without his guns and body armor. The only thing he was permitted to keep was his phone.
Aaron sat on the back seat of the car. The doors wouldn't open from the inside, and sheets of metal and clear plastic prevented him from reaching the front.
As soon as he was alone, he called Ethel.
"Hello?" she said.
"I could use some advice, ma'am," he said. "The enemy has hostages on a city bus. The police are holding me in a car. I think I'm losing control of the situation."
"Hmm. Can the enemy escape?"
"I don't think so. The police have the bus surrounded, and they're not taking any chances."
"Then I suggest you wait and watch. The solution will eventually become apparent."
"That's optimistic," Aaron said.
"I have faith in God and you. Is there anything else?"
"No, ma'am."
"Good luck." She ended the call.
He put his phone in his pocket. The back of the squad car smelled of alcohol and vomit. He tried to avoid touching the hard, plastic seat with his skin.
He waited and watched. The police did nothing until a man in a crisp, blue suit arrived in a private car. After a quick conversation with Captain Robinson, he came over to speak to Aaron.
The newcomer smiled pleasantly, opened the door, and said, "Hi. Come out. Let's talk."
Aaron got out of the car. "You're the hostage negotiator?"
"That's right. I'm Johnson." He put out his hand. "The captain told me you're a federal agent?"
Aaron shook his hand. "Yes. I've been after this suspect for weeks."
"You mentioned a bomb. Where is it?"
"He must've tossed it while I was chasing him. I believe he's only carrying knives now."
"Just knives?" Johnson said.
"With poison on the blades, and he may have other surprises. Don't underestimate him. He's a skilled assassin. I really think you should let me deal with him. I'm specially trained for this type of situation."
"Do you have experience with hostage negotiation?"
"I've been in plenty of life and deaths situations," Aaron said. "I can handle this one."
"I'll think about it." Johnson looked at the bus. "Stay here. If I need you, I'll get you."
"Let me come with you as protection."
Johnson shook his head. "I can't do that."
Aaron sighed. Fool.
Johnson went into the bus.
Aaron was left standing on the street. The cops didn't seem to notice he wasn't back in the car, so he just waited quietly and avoided attracting attention. He thought about his guns locked in the trunk. He wanted them.
A sizable crowd of onlookers was gathering outside the police perimeter. Aaron spotted a reporter and expected there would be many more soon. Once the story of a terrorist trying to bomb Wrigley Field got out, it would become national news.
After a few minutes Johnson came out of the bus. With an expression of irritation, he walked straight over to Aaron.
"He claimed he doesn't know anything about a bomb," Johnson said.
Aaron shrugged. "He's lying."
"He sounded very sincere."
"Then he's a good liar."
Johnson raised his eyebrows. "He also claimed you want to kill him."
"If duty had required it," Aaron said, "I would've. I hope that won't be necessary now."
"He was very specific. You, personally, want to kill him."
"He can't know that. We just met a few minutes ago. Did he make any demands?"
"Not really," Johnson said. "It's strange. Terrorists always have a message to deliver. The first thing they want to do is make a statement to the media. Even ordinary criminals will always negotiate. This guy barely opened his mouth. What's going on here?"
"That's classified," Aaron said. "Please, let me talk to him."
"He wants to talk to you, so I guess I don't have a choice, but I don't like it."
Both of them went back to the bus. Aaron cautiously climbed up the stairs and looked around. Not much had changed. Lucifer still sat in the middle of a protective circle made of hostages. He still held the boy and the teenage girl at knifepoint.
"What is this bullshit about a bomb?" Lucifer said.
"I had to tell the police something," Aaron said. "Do you want me to tell them the truth instead? I can provide all the information about the Order of Eternal Night: membership lists, payments, victims. Your secrets will become a matter of public record."
"No." Lucifer frowned. "Don't."
Johnson pushed forward. "What are you talking about?"
Aaron pushed him back and said, "Have you thought about my offer?"
"What offer?" Johnson asked.
Aaron gave him a sharp look. "Be quiet, please."
"I still don't trust you," Lucifer said.
"Make a decision," Aaron said. "You can't spend the rest of your life on this bus."
"What do you want me to do?"
"Let the hostages go peacefully. Give yourself up. Prove you can be a good citizen first."
"But the cops will arrest me."
"Don't worry about that," Aaron said. "My people will get you out of jail."
Johnson leaned close to him and whispered, "What are you talking about?"
"I'll explain later," Aaron murmured.
"Who are you, really?" Lucifer said.
"I can't talk in front of all these people. You're not the only one with secrets to keep. I'm going to leave now. I'll expect you to walk off this bus and give yourself to the police. If you don't, if you screw this up, then this will be your last day on Earth."
Aaron left the bus, and Johnson chased after him. They stopped when they reached the
line of police holding the crowd back.
"What the hell was that about?" Johnson said.
Aaron sighed. "Did you ever hear the phrase 'above your pay grade?'"
"Sure."
"This situation is so far above your pay grade that I can't even tell you who is paying."
Captain Robinson hurried over. "Report!"
"This asshole is screwing with us." Johnson pointed at Aaron. "I think he lied about everything. The suspect is not a terrorist."
"Then why did he take hostages?" Robinson said.
"I don't know, yet."
Lucifer walked off the bus. He dropped his knives and lay down on a patch of grass with his hands behind his head.
"See?" Aaron said. "Maybe I'm not such an asshole."
Robinson yelled, "Arrest him!"
The police swarmed over Lucifer.
Aaron used the momentary distraction to slip through the crowd. He had gone several paces before his absence was noticed.
"Hey!" Robinson bellowed. "Catch that guy!"
Aaron broke into a sprint. The police had to push through the civilians, so he was able to get a good head start on them.
Aaron didn't want to escape entirely. As long as Lucifer still lived, the job wasn't done.
Aaron ran into an alley. He went only a short distance before he climbed over a fence into a backyard and ducked behind a bush. A few seconds later four cops entered the alley. They stopped and looked around.
"Spread out!" one of them ordered. "He didn't get far!"
Aaron didn't move. He remained completely silent as the cops headed in four different directions. After a minute one of them entered the yard where Aaron was hiding.
He crept over to the police officer from behind and tapped him on the shoulder. The cop turned around. Aaron knocked him out with a straight punch to the jaw.
Aaron looked and listened intently. It seemed the other officers hadn't heard the commotion.
He exchanged his clothes with the unconscious cop. The uniform was too tight around the shoulders and too loose around the waist, but Aaron felt fortunate he could wear it at all. His luck was holding up. He buckled on the most important part of the uniform: the gun.
The disguise gave him confidence as he walked back to the bus. He found the police were still interviewing Lucifer. Freed hostages were coming off the bus single file, and it appeared nobody had suffered any injuries. Aaron smiled.