The Azrael (Book 4): Tricon

by Gagnon, Jesse

  “Giselle Johnson.” Savanna read the box.

  “Yeah, her. The knife sheath clips around the belt too and there’s a powerful flashlight that attaches to the belt as well.” John explained.

  “There’s a card. Did you read it?” Savanna asked while opening the envelope that held it. John scoffed at the question.

  “Read the card? Nope. I saw the items and closed it up. Tossed it in the back seat when we were packing for the trip. Figured we could use them.” He admitted.

  “Well, it says.”

  Savanna closed the card and retrieved the items from the box. The knife had an eight-inch blade and was extremely sharp. The small flashlight had a rubber-covered button on the bottom of it so the fingers can grip the housing while the thumb can toggle it off and on. She activated it while aiming it at her feet. It lit up the entire floorboard with a powerful beam of light. She deactivated it.

  “Those fuckers are bright as shit!” John exclaimed being partially blinded in his right peripheral vision.

  “No shit, thanks Giselle.” Savanna agreed and smiled. She attached them to both of their belts.

  “We’re not going to need those, Savanna. We’ll be fine.” John studied her eyes after noticing her concern.

  “We’ll see. Go around back. I don’t see them anymore.” Savanna instructed and glanced back out the back window once more to confirm her words. They were nowhere to be found.

  Chapter 36

  Breaking Back Into Tricon

  Pinned down behind a large trough style dumpster for large construction debris, Simon, Mario, Justin and Jane planned their escape.

  “If we stay here we’re gonna die.” Justin suggested while searching for a way out of their situation.

  “Kid’s got a point, Simon.” Mario agreed. “I think I can draw their fire away but it will definitely draw Azrael.” Mario tapped his crossbow.

  “That could do more harm than good. We’d be dealing with Azrael and potential gunfire if the explosion didn’t draw their attention.” Simon worried.

  “Or...” Jane interrupted.

  “Or what Jane?” Simon asked.

  “Or we enter through that door over there.” Jane gestured towards a door along the side of the facility hidden by a ledge that would protect them from gunfire. “We can make it to the door with a brief distraction and would be safe from Azrael if we get inside.” She continued.

  “That’s risky for an if, Jane.” Simon admitted.

  “What other options do we have?” She argued.

  “Justin, do you think you can get us inside?” Simon asked.

  “I’m positive that they changed their codes since the last time we were here, but I think I can override it with this.” He retrieved a keycard from his pocket.

  “Do you think it still works?” Jane asked impressed with his foresight.

  “I took it from a locker of some guy on vacation. Well, at least that’s what the calendar said on his desk.” Justin speculated while fidgeting with the card in his hand.

  “People still go on vacation?” Jane scoffed.

  “Who knows how long these people have been doing this.” Simon admitted.

  “I could definitely use some vacation. Hey, Simon I’d like to take a leave day on the 22nd.” Mario joked.

  “We get through this shit in one piece, sure you can have it.” Simon laughed.

  Mario surveyed their current situation and studied the distance to the door against a massive explosion that could make everything messier than it already is.

  “I think we should try it, Simon.” Mario suggested.

  Simon bit his lower lip nervously and movement in the trees a hundred yards away sparked a reaction.

  “Do it. Do it now!” He urged.

  “Do what?” Mario asked.

  The others waited for a response from Simon.

  “Distract them so we can get to the door. Go, go!”

  Simon pushed as he pointed to the three visible Azrael heading straight for them. Mario affixed a silver bolt on his crossbow, shot and shattered the bulb that illuminated the area surrounding the door. He attached a yellow bolt tip and waited. He waved the others towards the door.

  “Go. I’ll give us more time if we need it.” Mario whispered.

  They hurried over towards the door. A few rogue shots struck near them on the ground. It caused Jane to yelp and quicken her pace. Once arriving, they heard bullets tearing into the concrete overhang that shielded the doorway from rain. A large trashcan that held used cigarette butts on top of it in a tray of sand indicated that this was a smokers retreat. Upon further investigation, a small pebble was wedged into the doorframe to keep the door from locking. Fortunately for Simon’s group, they forgot to remove the pebble from the door.

  “Nice!” Justin said. He swiped the card through to reader to verify if it would have worked. The door clicked. A few seconds later, it reset. He held it between his thumb and the right side of his left index finger. “It works!” He exclaimed.

  “Good shit. I wonder what other accesses...” Simon glanced to read the name of it. “...Tim Burns has? Jane, inside hurry.” Simon instructed and she quietly opened the door as Justin aimed his pistol through the opening towards any potential threats.

  The room was empty besides wooden crates and a chain linked fence that separated the part of the room they were in from another location. A pallet jack was leaning against the wall a few feet away from them. In a room to the left, thirty feet away, some men were on computers and chatting amongst themselves.

  “Inside, keep quiet.” Jane whispered as she and Justin waved Simon inside. She had her pistol out as well. She aimed it towards the door to the room where the men on computers were.

  Simon waved his massive arms towards Mario above his head and then beckoned him to come over when he caught his attention. Mario nodded, turned, aimed his crossbow at the Azrael that led the group and released the yellow bolt towards its chest. It stuck and sent 500 volts throughout its body causing it to tense up. The others collided into it and were also afflicted with electric shock therapy.

  Mario turned and sprinted while attaching his crossbow on the two clasps that held it to his backpack behind him. A carefully placed shot struck his right thigh causing him to stumble. As he lost his balance, he fell to a knee as his arms instinctively shot out towards the ground keeping him from rolling. He glanced towards the door and noticed Simon hurrying over. The door closed behind him locking them both out.

  Mario forced himself to his feet, knowing that he was an easy target on the ground for anyone with night vision goggles. He hobbled towards him. Once Simon arrived, he lowered his shoulders and wrapped his arms around Mario’s legs. He lifted and placed Mario over his right shoulder. The air was brought out of his lungs as he struck Simon’s shoulder blade with his stomach. He wasn’t expected to be carried. Simon hurried back over to the door as multiple shots struck nearby causing both of them to flinch. Once he arrived, the sound of multiple rounds striking the overhang worried Mario. He twisted his neck and inspected the overhang hoping that it wouldn’t collapse due to its damage.

  “Shit!” Simon spat. “The door’s locked.” He continued after twisting the knob a few times.

  “Knock on it. Just be quiet about it.” Mario suggested as Simon lowered him to his feet. He favored the left leg as he placed weight on bot hand surveyed the damage to the wound briefly.

  Simon quietly knocked. The door remained closed. He knocked again a bit louder. Moments later, the door swung open with several automatic rifles pointed towards them. Five men in full body armor were inside all armed to the teeth and weren’t too thrilled to see Simon and Mario.

  “Thanks?” Simon jested with his hands up. Mario scanned the room for Jane and Justin. They weren’t in sight.

  “I’m sorry man. We were lost and saw this place. Then you started firing on us.” Mario rubbed at his injury. “You shot me, man.”

  “Why are you here? This place is restricted.” A
man in the back asked.

  “Those zombies, man. They were chasing us. We barely got away.” Mario panted as if he were out of breath. “Why’d you shoot me?”

  “This entire area is swarmed with the infected. All contacts engaged are assumed hostile. You’ve made a mistake coming here. There is no help for you at this place. Now, move along.” A man in the back explained.

  “Uh, can we come inside and talk about it?” Simon gestured towards the Azrael outside staggering towards the door about fifty feet away.

  The person in charge nodded towards them, his men pulled Simon and Mario inside and shut the door behind them.

  “Thanks, what is this place?”

  Simon studied the area as if he was unaware of where they were. He noticed men in another room on the left gawking at them through a large glass window.

  “Not a place you want to be.” The man in the back said. “Cuff them, send this one...” He gestured to Mario. “...to the infirmary first to get his leg looked at.” He finished.

  Moments later banging on the door outside indicated the Azrael outside. Simon nodded towards Mario, following along with the ruse. Mario knew that they would separate and interrogate them. He wanted to dish out as much of a story as possible in hopes that they could both establish a good false identity.

  “See you later, Rob.” Mario nodded towards Simon as they cuffed him.

  “I’ll see you later, Juan. I’m sure we’ll clear this up and leave soon.” Simon smiled, appearing to know what Mario was doing.

  The armed men inspected Simon and Mario removing all weapons and ammunition from them. One of the men studied Mario’s crossbow and tips intently.

  “Careful with those, man.” Mario nodded towards the red tipped bolts. He mouthed an explosion along with big open eyes. “I hope I get those back. I can’t go back out there without them.” Mario continued to appear weak.

  “This is some nice gear.” One of the men commented. “The crossbow’s mine.” He exclaimed as he gave Mario a devilish grin. Mario took note the detail of the man’s face.

  “Come on, not cool man. Not cool.” He commented as another armed man pushed him towards the west wing of the facility.

  Three escorted Simon towards another hallway that connected to the eastern door.

  “Why are you doing this to us? What did we do?” Simon asked in a whine.

  “Shut up. Cooperate and we might let you go.” The man in charge instructed as he walked behind the three escorting Simon. He activated his radio.

  “We’ve got them. Dumbasses almost got bit.”

  He turned and studied the two.

  “Is that all of them?” The voice from the radio asked.

  He turned and studied the two.

  “Not sure yet, keep an eye out just in case.” He replied to the radio.

  “Got it, sir.” The radio went silent.

  The man in charge surveyed a bit seeing if anything was out of place. Satisfied with the state of the place, he nodded for the others to stand down and follow him. He exited the warehouse a few minutes behind Simon.

  The men in the room with the computers lost interest and returned to their desks. They speculated about the intruders amongst themselves. Hiding within the fenced in space to the right, Jane and Justin slowly emerged from behind several crates on pallets.

  “They got them, shit.” Jane whispered.

  “Looks like we found ol’ Tim Burns’ access limitations.” Justin gestured towards a package addressed to him. “Director of Biological Studies.” Justin read the label under Tim Burns’ name. “What the hell is that?” He asked.

  “Our ticket to filling up this hard drive.”

  She pulled a four terabyte hard drive halfway out of her right pocket. When Justin identified what it was with a nod, she slid it back into her pocket. A door within the fenced in area appeared without a card reader. Justin turned the knob and it opened the door.

  “Jackpot! Let’s see where this takes us.” Justin whispered and walked in with his pistol plugging the doorway for any threats. Jane grabbed his collar.

  “Wait, we should check for cameras before we go exploring too deep. Here, use this.” Jane handed him a pair of binoculars from her left cargo pants lower pocket and turned it on.

  “You’ve got a lot of gadgets on you. Was this your plan all along?” Justin scowled.

  “Prepared for whatever happens. My warfare is information and you’re my protection.” She winked and gestured over towards the room across from them with the computers and monitors.

  “Check their monitors for what the security cameras are seeing.”

  Justin peered through them and the view digitally zoomed in and out with the buttons on top. Once he familiarized himself with the controls, he zoomed in through the room. He was able to see most of the monitors. He noticed Mario limping away being escorted by two men while another monitor followed Simon down the east side with four men with him. He didn’t find any cameras covering the warehouse they were in or in any individual rooms. Most tracked exterior activity while about four covered hallways on a quad view display.

  “Good news and bad news.” Justin handed the binoculars to Jane and she zoomed in through the window too.

  “Give me the bad.”

  “The hallways are all covered.” Justin pointed towards the doors Simon and Mario entered.

  “Shit, you’re right.” Jane agreed as she studied the monitors as well.

  “Good news is...”

  “The rooms don’t have cameras, awesome sauce!” She interrupted and placed the binoculars into her pocket after she deactivated them.

  “Yes ma’am.”

  “Let’s go in then, hurry.” Jane urged and they entered the room with guns drawn. The room was unoccupied and Justin quietly closed the door behind them.

  *

  A motorcade of several armored sports utility vehicles and luxury sedans arrived at their destination three blocks from the Chicago front gates. About a hundred armed men and women in thick body armor broke into ten groups. Each group was designed to accomplish a specific task. Two groups were in charge of securing power and water to the city. Another two groups provided aerial coverage stationed at key locations at specific rooftops to counter the Eagles Nest capabilities. The rest were individually tasked to infiltrate and eliminate key strongholds that protected the residents of Chicago. The goal was to eliminate all threats and all future threats of the city while causing minimal damage to the defenses put in place. Chicago was about to be under new management.

  Once all outer perimeter snipers from the Eagles Nest were quietly disposed of by enhanced soldiers armed with suppressed rifles and Azrael enhanced abilities, the front gate guards were quietly assassinated with knives and dragged away to a dark corner. More than half of the soldiers were Azrael enhanced, not that different from the Veil of the Five Daggers. Mark Sloan led the assault based on information he acquired while a resident of Chicago and by the information he Data Seeded from their internal network about their security and all watch rotations of the security force.

  Unfortunately, not all Eagles Nest snipers were on the internal network payroll. A handful was assigned to Simon and Dr. Schwinn off the books in the far reaches of the city. These men were trained by Chris Murphy and received several one on one combat situational awareness sessions with Mario Cortez. Before the task force assaulting Chicago could penetrate the front gate, alarms were activated and security had been heightened to combat any developing threats.

  Eighty men entered without pause following orders while heading to their assigned locations. The snipers of Chicago dealt with only fifteen before the groups dispersed in numerous directions killing anyone that stood in their way.

  A man casually walked in wearing a nice suit while lighting a cigarette. A shot aimed at his skull carved out a few pieces of concrete from a barrier near the front gate. Four more ricocheted off various objects behind him. He paused and took in a drag, causing the cigarette to glow bri
ghtly in their night vision scopes. He wore a wry grin and exhaled a large bellow of smoke. He continued to walk slowly towards the city center without urgency. Knowing that three separate snipers couldn’t have all missed their mark, Ken Schaffer, the lead of the private team of Eagles Nest snipers, decided to play back the video of the last round of shots. As he watched, it seemed impossible that the man wasn’t hit. He watched as each shot seemed to pass through him. He played it in slow motion observing each frame in fine detail. He moved. The man heard the shots and managed to dodge each attack at a ridiculous speed while displaying the false indication that he hadn’t moved at all.

  “What is this guy?” He asked.

  After studying the video more than ten times, he was convinced that the devil himself was coming for them. He returned his gaze on the ground below and the man was gone.

  Chapter 37

  The Supercenter

  John parked around back of the supercenter with no indication of Azrael anywhere. They both quickly exited the truck wearing a backpack and holding a bag of supplies in their left hands. John inspected the steel door that led to the storage area of the building. It had some impressive modifications to it and had been replaced recently.

  “Fuck this door. I can’t get it open.” John griped. Savana came over.

  “What’s wrong with it?” She asked, observed the keypad next to the doorknob and that there was no keyhole. “Shit.”

  “What do you want?” A scratchy voice exited the speaker next to the door. John had a look of confusion until he located the voice box on the wall to the left of the door about chest level. Savana noticed a camera above the door a few feet up that was aimed at them. She nodded towards it with her head and nudged John with her elbow. He grimaced at it and waved.

  “Uh…” He cleared his throat. “My name’s John and this is my friend Savanna. We’re with the Highwaymen and…” The door clicked.

  “Get in and hurry.” The scratchy voice returned and the door clicked again. John pulled on the door but it had locked before he could open it.