His head throbbed as the sedative wore off and he looked down to his chest and legs. A baggy white sweatshirt and pants hung loosely from his body. He grimaced at the thought of wearing such clothing, realizing this was most likely President Flury’s attempt to demoralize him.
President Flury knew he’d rather be caught dead without his suit and jacket. “Nicely played,” Stratus muttered as he shook his head slowly in disgust.
Stratus began to pound on the round walls of his enclosure. Patience wasn’t one of Stratus’s qualities. The quicker I find out what’s going on, the faster I can figure out how to escape.
No one attended to his pounding, and he was left to wonder where he was. The walls were white and entirely opaque, so he couldn’t tell what his surroundings were. Am I in a building, a bunker, buried alive and left to die, or preserved for some demented purpose?
Stratus grew more impatient. “Hello!” Pain surged in his head and made him cringe for a second. The yelling stung but wasn’t enough to deter him.
“Where am I!? Let me out, Flury!” Stratus paused to judge for any response. There was nothing. Stratus felt several more concussions against his feet, followed by matching thuds. Hell, no wonder they can’t hear me! It sounds like an artillery range out there.
Stratus looked over to the metal chair in the room, grabbed it by the leg, picked it up, and rammed his foot down on the seat, snapping the leg off clean.
“No one’s home huh? That’s okay. I have the key,” he said sarcastically as he swung the leg like a bat smacking the hard-plastic shell of his prison. It didn’t crack, so he continued to swing repeatedly. Cracks appeared in the wall and his progress indicated his persistence in swinging would set him free. Batter up!
He backed up after having examined the damage and swung, hitting the same spot again. Plastic pieces broke off and bounced around in the round room and his last strike didn’t just chip the surface; it sent debris flying outward in the room outside.
Immediately the white glow that masked the sphere disappeared, and he observed the room outside his plastic dome. Lights flashed, and an alarm sounded, notifying others that the dome had been compromised.
He was in some sort of large utility closet, with nothing visible but electrical panels and ductwork. Stratus figured he was tucked away somewhere in a building, more than likely somewhere close to President Flury himself.
Over the sound of the siren, he could faintly hear voices from outside the room shouting, running, and panicking.
Stratus didn’t want to be trapped inside the confined space with God knows what going on outside. He swiftly swung the chair leg at the dome, focusing on the area he had damaged already. I need to get the hell out of here.
With each swing, more material was ejected outside until the hole was the size of a softball, weakening the structure. Stratus stuck the leg through the hole, held on while he put his feet against the wall and yanked down with all his might. The chair leg bent in two from the force but not before it cracked a large section of the sphere.
Stratus kicked the weakened portion and sent it flying outward, smashing into thousands of pieces as it hit the floor. He didn’t care who might be coming for him. He stepped through the jagged opening, headed straight to the exit, and opened the door.
A scene of madness lay before him. His eyes focused on the large windows in front of him, a landscape of terror. Large blinding mushroom clouds of fire rose up from recently detonated munitions around the city, lighting up the night sky over Washington DC.
Rumbling shook the floor of the office where he was once again. The tremors sent people running to take cover under their desks, unsure of where the explosions were coming from. Several people let out screams and pulled out their cell phones dialing their loved ones to see if they were safe.
“Flury you stupid son of a bitch! You should have listened!” said Stratus to himself in anger.
No one had noticed Stratus exit his detention room and it appeared he was in an all too familiar place. He was in the Pentagon, a section with which he was unfamiliar.
He would bet money that this was an area President Flury, no doubt, had intimate knowledge of. He took advantage of the chaotic situation and quickly made his way across the sea of cubicles while everyone panicked like babies. He worried he would stand out in this crowd of suits, dressed in sweats, but as long as he could reach an exit he could figure out a way to escape.
As he darted toward the exit on the far side of the room, Stratus glanced outside once more to see large areas of the city now burning, clouds of smoke covering large sections. It was truly terrifying.
Stratus spun his head to check where he had come from and noticed a man staring in his direction, his phone to his ear. The man nodded, slipped his phone in his pocket with one hand and with the other, drew a gun from a hip holster, locking eyes with Straus. Just perfect! I’m not in the mood to chat tonight.
Stratus had some distance on the man and the suit was unlikely to fire in the crowded office with people wildly running around. Stratus calmly searched the desk drawers of a nearby cubicle. The first two were full of useless paperwork. The man was now sprinting and closing the gap fast, Straus jerked the third drawer open. “Bingo!” he said as he pulled out a Glock handgun from the desk and checked the clip.
Stratus raised the pistol over his head and slowly lowered it toward the man. The suit’s eyes widened with fear and panic, thinking Stratus was about to open fire on him, maybe even harm someone else in the process. Before the man could act, Stratus let one bullet fly in the suit’s direction.
The man tensed and braced for impact, but to his surprise the bullet didn’t strike him. Instead, the bullet pierced a fire alarm overhead. Water rained down in the office as alarm bells sounded. In the cover of a mist-like fog and noise, Straus calmly turned, exited the floor of cubicles, and grabbed a nearby elevator.
Stratus ascended to the second floor and exited the elevator. He wasn’t quite sure what his next move would be.
The city was in chaos. One thing he did know, he was still the leader of Ghost Squad and he had the respect and trust of those men. He would start by rallying them. Not everyone liked him, but they did believe in him, even feared him. Stratus made his way to the special elevator designated for Ghost Squad only. He entered the elevator and stated his first name. As he did, another rumble shook the steel box where he was.
The lights plunged into darkness and flickered until they finally returned, the metal cables that held the elevator above groaned and whipped but held. Stratus’s speech was cut off early and he stood in irritation. Damn it! I hate repeating myself!
“Stratus Lattamus!”
The doors closed this time and the elevator began to ascend. “Welcome Mr. Lattamus, Director of Ghost Squad.”
When the elevator arrived at his floor, the doors opened and revealed a similar scene of office anarchy, people running and screaming in the small space. He shook his head in irritation and strode across the floor toward the conference table, some not recognizing him at first glance due to the sweats President Flury had picked out for him.
“Everyone stop acting like a bunch on damn babies! Suck it up and take your seats at the table. Now! Anyone who doesn’t will be fired immediately!” Stratus’s voice boomed, oozing confidence and displeasure at the same time, compelling those in office to follow his commands.
“And Clark, don’t say a word! I know I’m wearing a sweat suit.”
Stratus disappeared into his old office and returned shortly in a sharp blue suit. He vigorously pulled the jacket forward and buttoned it in the front, then took a seat while running a hand through his hair.
“Well team, there’s no sense beating around the bush any longer. We’re under attack.”
“No shit ”
“Shut up Clark!” Stratus waited a moment for the interruption to pass and continued speaking. “We are under attack from a threat I had ascertained shortly before Cromwell’s disappearance. The Presi
dent would have you believe he’s on vacation, or some stupid thing, but I may as well tell you now that Cromwell is long dead. I was then detained and forced to work for a Mr. Sullivan, until I escaped.” Stratus saw a few of them begin to scribble down this name, he was quick to dissuade them. “Don’t bother writing it down, it won’t do you any good. Mr. Sullivan doesn’t exist, at least not in our time.”
Puzzled looks fell on those who sat at the table. Stratus could tell they were with him but unsure of what he was implying.
“This war we are in can’t be won unless we fight back immediately. This enemy is advanced far beyond modern robotics and artificial intelligence models. We must find its source and destroy it completely or it will replenish itself, multiply, and infest us until it consumes the entire city.”
The confusion had worn off of everyone’s faces, replaced with a bit of fear. All eyes were now focused, looking on intently for orders.
“Hillary, Thomas, and Justin, I need you to help by leaving the city right away. We must establish safe, fortified, even secret, protected areas outside this war zone.” Stratus looked to Hillary. “Can we get a satellite map of the city up?” She was all too eager to help him, so she accessed the system with a keyboard on the table and pulled up the satellite feed right away. It displayed on a large screen at the end of the table. Stratus now saw that fire had encircled the city.
“There you are, sir,” she said with a smile.
Stratus ignored her flirting undertone and looked at the screen in shock. I didn’t expect for them to take a whole city, maybe a town or two at a time, but damn! This was going to get out of hand fast if he couldn’t get the backing of the President for military action.
“Damn it,” uttered Stratus quietly, but still audible to the table. Stratus looked back to his first group of three. “Now, it’s all the more important we establish a fortified safe zone. Hillary we need several zones far away from DC. You work on getting those organized. Use whatever resources you need, however, steer clear from using National Guard.”
“The city is surrounded. There’s no way out,” said Thomas.
“Stop being a coward! There is a way, and you three will find it! Thomas and Justin, you work on building a containment ring around the affected area. We need this thing to have a lid put on it.” Normally ready to be put in a fight, Thomas and Justin groaned and stared unapprovingly at Stratus. “If you babies are just going to cry get it over with and get the hell out of this room. I’ll find someone else to replace you. You act as if you’ve never seen combat.”
“Preparedness and information would go a long way in making this successful sir,” spoke Justin
“We, I, have neither. This was a surprise attack, well sort of anyhow. And I have no more information than you do. Our enemy will take on various forms, disguised as humans, or even animals. The animals upon destruction, will leak a foaming acid substance then detonate. So, stay clear of them as you destroy them. If one of them attacks you or a teammate, regardless if its tearing you to pieces, try to refrain from damaging it. You want them far away when you kill them.”
Everyone’s faces at the table looked grim, swallowing hard and realizing this fight wasn’t what they expected.
Justin spoke for the both of them. “We will get out of the war zone and establish a containment ring, but damn if it’s not going to be difficult. Engage and destroy, but not if they’re close, not if they’re on a fellow soldier and not if they’re on your person that’s going to be challenging.”
Stratus nodded. “Tell me about it. I lost ten of my best men to these damn things. The rest of you, minus Clark, will be working on locating the source of these and destroying them. I know one location already, the other is a mystery. You will report immediately if you locate the second source. Our focus will be these two locations. Chop off the head and you kill the beast, so to speak.”
Clark held up his hands in protest. “Except Clark? What am I doing? And why don’t we just let the President and homeland security handle all of this!?”
“We are about to see how cooperative President. Flury is going to be. You will be our eyes and ears here. If the President is unwilling or disagreeable with our decisions to act, I will need you to be our liaison.”
“You mean spy?”
“Label it how you want Clark. You’re our man.” Stratus took a deep breath and pulled out his small black cell phone, located the President’s number, and tapped to dial. It rang many times without answer and Stratus ended the call in frustration. “You have to be joking!” He dialed the number once again. This time someone answered.
“President’s office, how may I direct your call?”
“This is supposed to be President Flury’s direct line.”
“Yes, well he is busy at the moment. Who is calling? What is your title? I don’t recognize this number.”
“This is Stratus, and my title is none of your concern. I speak only to the President. Put him on now.”
“I don’t know a Stratus or how you got this number. Are you the terrorist that has bombed our city?”
“Ha! How stupid! I need the President’s ear. Now!”
“One moment.”
The bustle of her office was silenced. Stratus had most likely been put on mute. I better hear President Flury’s voice soon.
Frustrated, Stratus looked away from the chaos outside the windows and back to the table. He held up his pointer finger, signaling he needed a moment longer before his team could disembark.
The same annoying voice came back on the line. “Mr. Lattamus, I have been informed that the President is no longer reachable. Due to the recent events, the President has been taken to a safe, undisclosed location. That’s all I can tell you. Why don’t you come in so we can speak in person? What’s your location?”
Stratus sensed hesitation and deceit in her voice. She only wanted him to come in so they could re-capture him. He thought about hanging up immediately but changed his mind. He wanted to leave President Flury a message.
“He’s very safe you say huh? That’s good. As for your offer, thanks but no thanks. I work alone. You can, however, give him a message. I was right, and you were wrong. The blood of those national guardsman and innocent civilians are on your hands now. Stop this ridiculous cover-up, come together with your fellow men, and fight. Your weapon is out on the loose. It can’t be contained any longer. If it’s not destroyed fast it will spread. What weapon will you have then Mr. President? An army of robot soldiers to defend citizens that have been all but eradicated? Why are you so certain they would protect or serve you? I will have my answer when my team invades Halaby. If you have moved forces to protect Halaby I will know my answer and where your allegiance lies. I will fight with or without you.”
Straus ended the call with the woman trying to convince him to come in, ignoring his message. Stratus pushed out his chair and stood to address his men. “We’re on our own team. The President has fled. We won’t be getting any help from him. Use your contacts; get reserves or whomever you can. The city may fall, but there is a bigger picture than that. Dismissed.”
Everyone filed out of office and into the elevator, unsure of where to start but eager to roll up their sleeves. Clark remained, shooting an angry glare at Stratus.
“Please Clark, you wouldn’t have lasted a minute out there and you know it. I did you a favor. Besides, your work here is more important. Do you remember Sergeant Matthew Davis that I told you to investigate?”
“Yes of course.”
“Good. His superior, Staff Sergeant Baxter, who didn’t file Davis’s report? We are going to kill him. Discreetly put together a squad to take out Staff Sergeant Baxter. He’s one of them. Don’t underestimate him. I’ve already put a clip into him without any effect.”
“Are you sure ”
“Yes Clark! Do it!”
Stratus walked over to his old office and stared out the window. Helicopters were flying all over the city reporting, fueling the chaos, as firet
rucks raced to put out the flames burning out of control, most of the responders never arriving alive at their destination.
Clouds of black soot wafted in the air, occasionally blotting out the fires that raged, momentarily giving the illusion that all was well in the city.
Stratus took out his personal cell phone and dialed Leonard Krueger’s number as he continued to look at the destruction outside. He needed more answers and a way to fight these creatures. Leo was in the middle and he was determined to find out whose side he was on.
CHAPTER 38
E xpecting fireworks and noise, they were both surprised at the silence that ensued after Sarafina had pulled the mystery breaker on.
“Huh. I guess that was hooked up to nothing,” Leo said disappointedly.
“Something’s gotta be here. You said he pointed you here.”
They both had turned to look around for any clues they could find, when a low hum was heard within the walls of the basement, followed by a few popping sounds. Leo felt something calling to him, the hum so familiar, like the vibrations he felt at Halaby and chills he had within his father’s prison there. It was clear something had come on, but where? Leo paused and looked at Sarafina with surprised disbelief on his face.
“You hear that? I knew it!” Leo said as he excitedly started looking for the source of the hum.
They both looked around for a few minutes, feeling every seam and edge.
“I don’t see anything.”
Determined, Leo said, “I know it’s over on the northwest side. I can hear the hum when I press my ear to the wall. There is nothing above this spot but stairs, though.”
He ran his fingers down the wall, knocking and listening for a hollow spot. He tapped until he heard a low thud and stood back in surprise.
“How the hell do I get in there?” he said as he stepped back and examined the wall.
The Second Rising Page 27
