by Jake Bible
The canvas bag was ripped from Brian’s head and immediately another harsh jet of water slammed into his face. As soon as the water stopped a fresh bag was placed over his head and he was plunged back into a fearful twilight.
“Why don’t you want me to see who you are?” Brian asked. “I highly doubt you’re going to keep me alive when you’re all through with me. So why the bag?”
“You couldn’t handle seeing me,” the woman said. “I’m beyond your comprehension.”
“I know you think I’m dense,” Brian laughed, surprising himself with the sound. “But, I’m not that dense that I can’t deal with what is going on.”
“Yes, you are,” the woman’s voice hissed right next to his left ear.
***
Swift's shredded body swung from the ceiling fan, but it was hardly recognizable as human anymore.
“One less loose end to deal with,” Mr. Stone muttered as he gave Shift’s corpse a push with the barrel of his rifle.
“Bartender is dead also,” Reginald called from behind the bar. “Not by us though. Looks like he took a nasty shot to the temple. Instant kill. Well done.”
“You have to give credit to the Jacks, they do know how to kill,” Mr. Stone said lowering his rifle and training it on the men’s room entrance, the door itself nothing but splinters on the ground. Stone saw the large trail of blood leading to the floor drain and noticed how the floor was buckled and torn about it.
“I’d give anything to have that kind of control over BC,” Reginald said from behind Stone.
“I agree, Reggie,” Mr. Stone responded. “This game would be long over if we had those capabilities.” Mr. Stone turned quickly and walked back through the pub. “Someone get me the schematics of the sewer system directly below us!”
“Yes, sir,” a trooper responded.
“You calling Gein?” Reginald asked, following directly behind Mr. Stone.
“No, not yet,” Mr. Stone replied. “I think we still have some chase in us.”
Chapter Six
“I don’t know what to tell you,” Brian sobbed. “I can’t see anything clearly.”
The pain shot up his arm and he bit down on his tongue, blood gushing from between his teeth.
“No scream this time?” the woman asked. “You may make it yet. That was your thumb, by the way.”
“Thanks,” Brian gasped. “I wasn’t sure.”
The woman laughed. “Are you gaining a backbone, Brian Lisbon? Is there spunk in you after all?”
“Spunk?” Brian responded, spitting blood onto the canvas. “Who the fuck uses the word ‘spunk’?”
A hard slap answered his question.
“Don’t mistake my repartee for anything but mocking,” the woman barked. “Don’t ever get cute with me.”
Brian sighed and let his chin fall to his chest. “Take ‘em all. Take all my fingers. Take my toes, my ears, my nipples. I can’t control what I see.”
He felt the knife blade press against the back of his right ear.
“I will take ‘em all,” the woman whispered into his left. “I’ll cut you up bit by tiny bit until you can control what you see. Then, Brian Lisbon, then we will see what you are truly made of.”
***
Billy worked hard at closing the open wound sucking at Heather’s chest, but the little BC he had with him wasn’t enough. “I need more to work with!” he shouted at Melissa. “Do you see any BC around you?”
“I can’t see shit down here!” Melissa shouted back, trying to peer through the gloom of the sewer.
Billy stood up and reached around him gripping anything metal he could find. Finally he felt a pipe give and he concentrated, pulling the BC out of it. The pipe burst, spewing raw sewage onto his face and chest.
“Oh for fuck’s sake!” he cried out, but didn’t bother wiping it away as he knelt next to Heather and started to apply the BC to her wound, but stopped. “What the holy fuck?”
The gaping wound in Heather’s chest began to close itself up tight. Billy watched in the gloom as the wound seemed to rebuild itself, spiraling closed until there was nothing but soft, fresh, pink flesh.
“How…? How…?” Melissa stammered from behind.
“I don’t fucking know,” Billy whispered.
Heather shot bolt upright, her lungs gasping for air. She started to flail, swinging wildly and Billy had to grab her arms to keep her from striking him.
“Heather! Heather stop!” he yelled.
Heather twisted away and vomited. Massive amounts of red black chunks and liquid spewed from her mouth.
“Help me up,” she said weakly when she was done heaving.
Billy lifted her to her feet and helped her stabilize while she found balance.
“Okay, I’m fine,” she said after a moment, patting Billy on the arm. “Thanks.”
“Can anyone tell me what just happened?” Melissa asked. “That wasn’t a BC patch job. That was something else.”
Heather looked from Melissa to Billy. “What happened?”
“I’ll explain what I saw,” Billy responded. “But, first can we get out of this shit tunnel?”
“Sure. And how do you propose we do that?”
Billy started pulling at every pipe around him, willing all the BC there was to his hands. They soon were being sprayed from all sides by drainage waste, toilet waste and water. The sludge at their feet began to rise and the current grew strong.
“I’m the vehicle guy, remember?” Billy said as he fashioned a small raft from the BC he could gather. He lifted Beth onto it and then helped Heather in also. Soon the force of all the flows was so strong Billy and Melissa had to grip the back of the raft to keep it from being swept away. He looked at her and smiled. “Not enough room for us on the raft. Guess we’ll just have to hang on and get dragged along.”
“I fucking hate you,” Melissa growled as she and Billy both gripped the raft with all their strength, lifted their feet and held on for dear life as the makeshift boat began to rocket along down the sewage tunnel.
***
Mr. Stone left the pub and surveyed the street. “Too many witnesses, Reggie,” he said casually. “I think we need to clean up a bit.”
“Maybe pin it on the Jacks?” Reginald suggested. “Not really any working security in Sin Circle to contradict us.”
“My thoughts exactly,” Mr. Stone smiled.
***
The denizens of Sin Circle were used to violence and brutality, but none had seen any as swift and thorough as what Mr. Stone ordered.
Scab growers and junkies alike were cut down in a blaze of automatic fire, the LOMSD troopers’ BC weapons barking death every way they turned.
Whores and their pimps were brutally beaten and clubbed, their brains and blood leaking into the dirty, trash filled streets. The unfortunate children of the Circle’s residents were not spared, their life flowing and mixing with their parents’ in the gutters, their tiny, helpless bodies crushed under BC boots, the life extinguished from their scared, pleading eyes.
Reginald watched with delight. It was better than anything the holos could dream up and he savored every brutal, gory moment.
***
“General?” Stephens asked. “Colonel Masterson is here.”
“Send him in Stephens,” General Fitzroy said, rubbing his face and setting yet another sheet of dataplast containing bad news down.
Blue Masterson entered the General’s office and executed a quick salute. “Colonel Masterson reporting as requested, sir!”
Fitzroy nodded to Stephens and waited for the Corporal to leave before speaking.
“Took you long enough to get your ass up here,” Fitzroy said. “Put your goddamn hand down and tell me what the fuck is going on!”
Blue relaxed and grinned broadly. “I don’t have a clue as to what you’re talking about, sir.”
General Fitzroy crossed the room and opened a small cabinet. He pulled out an unlabeled bottle and two glasses. “Bourbon?”
“Sir,
bourbon hasn’t been available for nearly four hundred years,” Blue said. “How could you possibly get a hold of some?”
“Just because we’re cousins and were part of the same Family Combat Unit way back when doesn’t mean I’ll tell you all my secrets,” Fitzroy smiled pointing to the chair in front of his desk. “But, I am pulling rank and demanding you tell me all of yours.”
Blue sighed and thought for a moment, taking the offered seat. “It’s really going to hell isn’t it?”
“Yes, Blue, it is,” the General agreed handing Blue a generously filled glass. “I know you play the instructor around here for appearances, but you are going to have to be straight with me. I need to know what is going on and how much worse it’s going to get.”
Blue took a long pull from his glass. “It’ll get worse, sir, but if what I think will happen does happen then we won’t be beholden to the LOM or any of the Articles of Sanctuary anymore.”
Fitzroy waited. “Can you elaborate?”
Blue scratched at himself unceremoniously and Fitzroy frowned.
“Sorry, been out on the grounds all day keeping the skills sharp. Civvies are riding up,” Blue smiled. He took another drink, buying himself some time before answering. “I don’t know if I can elaborate, but let’s just say there are a few pieces in play right now that should yield results soon.”
“One of those pieces Heather Walton?” Fitzroy asked.
“You know it is,” Blue answered quickly. “The first piece is already in place and waiting. The second piece doesn’t even know it’s playing and that’s best for everyone.”
“You know where all these pieces are?” Fitzroy asked.
Blue nodded.
“You going to tell me?”
Blue shook his head.
“I don’t like this, Blue,” General Fitzroy frowned. “You’ve kept me privy to every single operation until this one. I know about Heather because I authorized that, but this other stuff… How does it fit with her?”
“What Heather has is tangible and real,” Blue replied. “A simple snatch and grab.”
“I think it was a little more complicated than that, Blue,” Fitzroy said, but Blue waved him off.
“Of course it was. But the other pieces aren’t as tangible. They can’t be held in a vault for safe keeping. They are way more important than that. It’s why I had to go outside usual channels.”
“The unregistered American? Elizabeth Laughlin? That was you! Are you telling me we actually have a working Vessel in the field right now?”
“Once again, sir, I haven’t a clue what you’re going on about.”
Corporal Stephens burst into the office, his face flushed. “General! I have the Prime Minister on the line again!”
“Sweet Jesus,” the General complained. “What does she want now?”
“I’m not sure, but she’s yelling about Sin Circle!” Stephens turned the holocast back on. “You need to watch this before talking to her. I’ll stall for you.”
“Good man, Corporal.”
The Corporal left the office, leaving Blue and the General to watch the events unfolding on the holo.
***
“This is Valerie Adams with HBC News reporting live from St. Titus Circle, commonly known as Sin Circle, an area of the city known for its rampant prostitution and scab dealing,” Valerie said into the holo. “But this evening real devastation and horror has come to the Circle.” The holo camera pulled back, revealing buildings and vehicles set ablaze. Bodies lay broken and bleeding on the ground, while LOMSD troopers milled about, weapons at the ready. “This evening the violence that we have been tracking all day came to a head here in this unfortunate area of London.”
Valerie looked off screen and began waving someone over. “We are fortunate again to speak with Agent Able Stone. Mr. Stone, can you tell us what happened here? What caused this destruction and is it true it’s related to the murders at Gramercy Secondary?”
“Well, Valerie,” Mr. Stone began. “Unfortunately, it is true that the Gramercy murders and the slaughter that has occurred here this evening are related. We received a tip from one of your loyal viewers that Elizabeth Laughlin was spotted here in the Circle, probably to get a fix for the scab addiction she is afflicted with, and we acted immediately.” Mr. Stone’s face fell and he rubbed at his temples. “Unfortunately, we were too late when we got here and they slipped through our fingers, but not before laying waste to these poor citizens. We imagine a scab deal went horribly wrong and the violence was taken to the streets and all these good citizens paid the price.”
“You said ‘they’, Mr. Stone. Does this Elizabeth Laughlin have accomplices?”
“Yes, she does, Valerie. We were lucky to get positive IDs on the others with her. I believe my assistant has given your tech folks their holos.”
Immediately the images of Beth, Melissa, Billy and finally Heather filled the holocast.
“Isn’t that last person the woman sought for the break in at an LOMSD facility earlier today?”
“I’m not at liberty to comment on that, Valerie, but as soon as I have confirmation I will let you know.”
“Thank you, Mr. Stone.”
“Of course. Once again, if any of your viewers see these people, please have them contact our hotline right away. Do not try to engage them in any way. They are extremely dangerous,” Mr. Stone said. “Now, if you will excuse me, I have a lot of work to do.”
“Understandable. Thank you for speaking with us,” Valerie said, turning fully forward. “I will be following this story as it unfolds and will make sure all of the HBC viewing audience gets up to the minute information as it comes in. This is Valerie Adams for HBC News.”
***
“Good God,” General Fitzroy said. “Was that Billy Brenton? What the fuck does he have to do with any of this? That scabhead has been blacklisted for years.”
Blue grunted then stood up. “Sir, you have a very pissed off Prime Minister to deal with and I have a cluster fuck of an operation to rein in. If you will excuse me.”
“Whoa there!” Fitzroy growled. “You are not off the hook that easy, Colonel. On or off the books, Ghost operations still report to me. Have a seat. You’re not going anywhere.”
The General downed the last of the bourbon in his glass and activated his com. “Prime Minister, I just… Yes, I understand… Now hold on one Goddamn minute there! This is an American base and according to the Articles of Sanctuary— No! I will not lower my voice or change my tone you stupid fucking cow! This is my base and I will not hand it over to the King of England or the King of fucking Heaven for that matter!”
Blue knew everything had just gone from really fucking bad to incredibly fucking worse and smiled while he sipped his bourbon. It was just the way he liked things.
***
“Goddamn it, Stone!” Director Gein shouted over the com. “You didn’t have to kill Turner!”
Mr. Stone grinned as Reginald drove the mag-skiff out of Sin Circle and towards the Thames. “I didn’t kill him, sir,” Mr. Stone responded. “He wanted to take point. Probably to prove something. Those damn Jacks cut him down. It’s a real tragedy.”
“He chose to take point? HE CHOSE TO TAKE POINT?”
“Something like that.”
Director Gein fought for control of himself and Mr. Stone’s grin widened as he heard the man struggle to keep his voice even. “Where are you going now, Stone? I’d order you back here, but you’ll just ignore that order. I’d order you to accomplish your original assignment, but it appears you’ve already flushed out your target. Plus, there are other forces at work now concerning the American base.”
“Other forces, sir? Anything I need to know about?” Mr. Stone asked, honestly curious.
“YOU DON’T NEED TO KNOW SHIT, STONE!” Gein roared. “Just get that fucking Ghost and what she took and get your ass back here!”
“Yes, sir. That’s been my plan all along.”
“Well, good to know you are fol
lowing some type of plan! And stay off the FUCKING HOLOS! You are not authorized to give interviews!” Director Gein disconnected, leaving Mr. Stone wondering.
“They don’t need us at the base anymore, Reginald.”
“Really? I guess this has gotten much bigger than the two of us now,” Reginald replied.
“You are probably right,” Mr. Stone said. “We are strictly on a capture/kill mission now. Plus, recovery of whatever that Jack bitch stole.”
“My favorite kind of assignment,” Reginald smiled.
“Mine too, Reggie. How much further?”
“We should be at the sewage treatment plant soon. Just a few more minutes.”
Mr. Stone sighed and leaned back in his seat, his eyes closing. “I need to clear my head for a moment. Wake me if I nod off.”
“Of Course, Mr. Stone. Of Course.”
***
“I have the Royal Guard coming to assume control of my base, Blue! You care to tell me what the fuck is going on now?” General Fitzroy growled, helping himself to a lot more bourbon.
“It would be better if you didn’t know, sir,” Blue answered. “The fact I let you in on Heather Walton’s plan was more out of courtesy. The rest, well, you don’t want your feet in that shit.”
“Heather’s plan? You didn’t tell me crap all about that except that she was going in deep and it might mean a dust up with LOMSD,” Fitzroy said, sitting heavily at his desk. “I think we’ve passed the dust up phase, don’t you?”
“Even more reason for you to know as little as possible,” Blue insisted.
General Fitzroy set his drink aside and leaned forward on his desk. “Colonel Masterson, I am now giving you a direct order to fill me in completely. Every single piece of the puzzle.”
“You know I can’t do that, sir,” Blue said, standing up. “Some things are bigger than you or me. You told me that yourself a long time ago when you put me in charge of Ghost Operations.”
“Sit down, Blue,” Fitzroy said. “You aren’t leaving this office until I get something.”
“Sir, with all due respect—” Blue began, but General Fitzroy’s eyes became very hard and cold as he pulled his 9mm from his top drawer and set it on the desk.