Forty-Three
The front door opened. Paxton paused from his questioning to see Krys walk in…alone. Just as the old veteran had predicted, the kid’s only motivation this whole time had been to find his mother’s killers. Paxton couldn’t bring himself to blame Kaspar for it. If Paxton ever found out who killed his wife…he would have done the same.
Paxton regained his focus. He grabbed Danny by the chin to force the old man to look him in the eye. Danny’s looking away like a coward had long grown tired. It was time to face the consequences. Paxton looked deep into his enemy’s eyes and saw nothing but a soulless man. A broken individual who had already accepted what was to come his way. This brought about a sigh of relief. No use in doing things the ugly way if they could be avoided. He released Danny’s chin. Danny looked down again and fished for another cigarette.
“What have you people been doing to the water supply?” Paxton demanded.
“Hmmm,” Danny mumbled with a cigarette hanging from his lips. “It’s too late to stop it, now.”
“Answer the question!” Kilbourne demanded from behind.
“Don’t try to intimidate me, Killy. I ain’t afraid of an overly muscular pussy like you.”
Kilbourne got close to Danny. He grabbed him by the back of the neck then applied pressure with his thumb to Danny’s pressure point. Danny wailed out in pain. He dropped his cigarette into the ash tray and kicked both of his feet up and down. After several taps on the table, Kilbourne let go. Danny cursed out loud as he grabbed at his aching neck.
“What do you want to know?” he asked.
“What you’ve been doing.” Paxton replied.
“To explain this, first you’ve got to understand that we’ve got ourselves a bit of a problem…as the human race, I mean.”
“Which is?”
“Over population,” Danny replied. He picked up his cigarette. “We’ve got so many little bastards running around out there, it’s made living conditions harsh. Natural resources will be all but depleted soon. Available only to the highest bidders.”
“What does that have to do with the water?” Paxton demanded, confused.
“We’ve been experimenting with a new type of genetic engineering. Let me ask the fine lady over there a question.”
“What do you want?” Krys asked.
“Have you been experiencing any stomach pains lately? Any problems with vomiting or anything of the sort?”
Krys’s eyes grew wide. She looked around the room at her three comrades who could only look back at her. The look of concern in their eyes the only comfort available. Her body tensed, a feeling of dread flowed through her body, and she felt like she would tumble over.
“Yes…” she replied.
“That’s a side effect of the drug. It’s still experimental and we haven’t worked out all of those tiny little bugs, yet.” Danny explained.
“What are you people trying to do?” Krys wondered.
“Through genetic mutation, we are trying to inhibit your ability, as a woman, to bear children.”
“So,” Paxton wondered aloud, “that’s why it only affects women?”
Danny lit his cigarette and took a drag. “Not exactly, we have a drug for men, too. But, we can’t risk the male population. That’s why we only released the female drug for our experiment.”
“You’re a monster.” Krys cried.
Krys was helped into the living room by Kilbourne. Danny made a kissing motion with his lips as she walked past. The gesture was met by Krys’s middle finger.
Danny continued, “We’ve tried other population control tactics. We offer the free abortion…I mean, family planning clinics. We even mandated abortions at the beginning, but it appears that you horny motherfuckers can’t stop screwing each other. You…citizens forced us into trying something new.”
“What’s going to happen to Krys?” Paxton asked.
“She will die. The mutants are eating away at her stomach right now. Soon, they will eat away at the rest of her body. There’s no way to stop it. No cure, because no doctor will have seen this type of thing before.”
“You slimy,” Krys shouted from the living room, “son of a bitch!”
“I’m so sorry that this has to happen to a beauty such as you, but that’s life. You can’t exactly plan it out as you want, can you?”
Paxton clinched his fists together. “Where are you manufacturing the drug?”
“You think I’m going to tell you that?”
“Yes.”
Danny took a drag. “What are you going to do? Dig out my fingernails like with that other poor bastard? Fuck you.”
“It’s up to you.”
Danny thought about the predicament he found himself in. He took another drag and brushed away the ashes into his ashtray. He then took a deep breath and brushed at his forehead.
“You pesky rodents just won’t let me enjoy my smoke, will you?” Danny asked.
“I thought smoking was illegal.” Paxton replied.
“Just another method of control. Care for one?”
Paxton shook his head. “No. Where is the drug being manufactured?”
“There’s an old power plant…” Danny started to say.
The sound of the front door swinging open forced everyone to look to the front. Kaspar reemerged into the house. He walked up to Paxton and the two exchanged nods. Kaspar then looked into Danny’s eyes: he wasn’t going to let him get away this time.
“Ryan,” Danny said, “how nice of you to grace us with your presence again.”
Kaspar maintained his focus. “Whatever question John just asked you, you better start answering right now.”
“Hehe. That’s why I liked you. Like I was saying, there’s an old power plant on the outskirts of the city. You should know it well: you drive past it every time you come into the city.
“Why?” Paxton demanded. “Why stoop to such a low?”
“It’s always been about control,” Danny replied as he held his cigarette high. “Like this cigarette here. You think my bosses care if I smoke? Of course not. I’m not one of you people anymore.”
Paxton reached for the silencer in his pocket. “Danny, I can’t believe you.”
“Well, believe it, Johnny.” Danny took one final drag. “I’m a sick bastard; always have been. I just hope my Ruth can forgive me when I see her again. You’re going to kill me now, right? That’s what you people do. And, that’s why we’ve got you by your hairy ball sack.”
It didn’t matter to Paxton if what Danny said was true. Even if they were being used, justice still needed served. It was better to be used and labeled a criminal than to sit on his ass, watching from the sidelines. With the silencer tightened around the muzzle, he aimed the gun at the now shaking old man. The look of fear on Danny’s face almost brought a smile to his. The old man had brought about so much fear on the innocent. Now, here he was, getting his just reward.
Paxton took careful aim. “Unlike you, I’m not killing you for who you are. I’m killing you for what you’ve done.”
“Justify it all you want.” Danny replied. He went north, south, west, and east with his right hand then shut his eyes. “Go ahead and do it.”
Paxton lowered his gun. He looked towards Kaspar and nodded his head. Kaspar’s heart began to race as the old man held the silenced automatic in front of him. Danny peaked through his half shut eyes. Kaspar didn’t know if he could do it, those his only thought as he stared at the extended weapon. Even if the old bastard had led Agents to kill Mother. Kaspar had every right to put a bullet through his head. His decision was final. He took the gun from Paxton and pointed it at Danny’s head. No words were spoken.
This is for Mother.
Forty-Four
There was an odd, mixed feeling inside of Kaspar. He couldn’t put his finger on it. Danny was the man who gave up Mother and he finally received justice. However, Kaspar couldn’t bring himself to feel happy about it. Danny…he was like a father figure, in a stra
nge way, a friend, too. Just thinking about it forced him to slam the side of the van with his fist.
He could hear Paxton and Clarke’s voices converse with one another through his ear piece. Kaspar looked over to Krys. She just seemed to stare off into the distance. No emotion and, least of all, no smile. He had to do something to cheer her up again. They were going in on a dangerous mission once more and he couldn’t bear not seeing that smile again.
Kaspar leaned forward. “Hey, you okay?”
“Yeah,” Krys replied, running her hand through her ponytail. “I’m fine.”
“You sure?”
“That’s what I said, right?”
“Okay,” Kaspar replied. He started to look around the van while he rubbed his cheek. “Hey, I’ve got an idea.”
“What’s that?”
Kaspar looked around the van once more. Paxton and Kilbourne were talking strategy in the front. Over to the right, Li was huddled in a corner, meditating again. He thought about what to say for a moment. Krys leaned forward in anticipation. Screw it, Kaspar thought, who cares?
“I know this great place downtown. They’ve got pool tables everywhere and it’s not as crowded with biker gangs as your place, either.”
“Okay…”
“I was thinking, when all this is over, we should head over there sometime.”
“You asking me out or something?” Krys demanded.
Oh, shit.
“Not so much asking you out,” Kaspar replied. “As free lessons on me. I never got the chance to kick that ass of yours.”
“I don’t know…” Krys’s voice started to trail off. “It sure sounds like you’re asking me out. That ulterior motive reeks off of you, sir.”
Kaspar leaned back and shrugged his shoulders. “Maybe, maybe not, what do you say?”
Krys leaned back as well. “I’d have to say no. You don’t seem like the dating type to me.”
A feeling of defeat attacked Kaspar inside. He remained undeterred, though. He stared into her wide, brown eyes as she stared back at him. Kaspar dared the woman inside his own mind to look away first. He longed to see her smile again…before the shooting started.
“Fuck you, too.” Kaspar said. He never knew what it was like to want to put his own foot in his mouth, but it just slipped out.
Krys’s eyes widened as she looked dumbfounded at him. Kaspar put on a huge grin. Krys couldn’t help but smile back. The smiles soon turned to laughter. Li was shook away from his meditating and looked over to the two crazies he shared the back of the van with. They had a primitive look on their faces. It was almost like they were going to eat each other. Li shook his head and tried to get back to meditating. He had a grin on his face, too.
“Oh my God!” Krys exclaimed. “I can’t believe you just said that to me.”
“You deserved it.” Kaspar replied, still smiling.
“I’ll tell you what you deserve, a nice kick in the ass. When?”
“When what?”
“You really are a moron, aren’t you?”
Kaspar thought for a moment. “How about tomorrow?”
“I can’t make that tomorrow…I’ll probably be tired.”
“Next night?”
“Ummm…” Krys looked straight up at the ceiling of the van and smirked. Kaspar looked on, enjoying watching her playing hard to get. She looked back down, “You’ve got it.”
“Okay, but, you’ve been warned.”
“So have you, big shot.”
“Hey, Kas,” Kilbourne said from the front, breaking the spell. “Can you hand me that red bag back there?”
Kaspar gripped the shoulder straps of the red bag. He handed the bag off to Kilbourne’s awaiting hands. In that moment, Kaspar was reminded that now was not the time to get sloppy and lose track of his focus. Now, more than ever, he needed to maintain it on the task at hand. It would be a hell of a time to do something stupid like wind up dead.
Up front, Kilbourne unzipped the red bag and examined the contents inside. He pulled out a large amount of C4, charges, and a detonator. After examination, he placed the contents back inside and zipped the bag shut.
“We’re going to find the main processing lab inside there,” Paxton instructed. “Then blow it to kingdom come.”
“How big of an explosion do you want?” Kilbourne wondered.
“Big enough to dismantle the fucking things.”
“What I mean is, do you want me to bring the whole building down?”
Paxton smirked. “Of course not, we’re not terrorists.”
***
Paxton parked the van outside of the power plant. The team filed out on his command. Before he made his exit, he said a silent prayer. When he opened his eyes, the sight before him made him sick. That plant represented everything that he and his team were fighting against. The USR manufactured a drug to further increase their control over the population. Genetic control, population control, control over the individual. He breathed in and accessed the old killer once more. Could his old bones handle another fire fight?
The team assembled behind the van. They had been waiting patiently for their leader to arrive. Paxton looked to each of them before he spoke. First was Ron Kilbourne, loyal to the end. Li, a meek person at heart, but with a will made of solid steel. His heart sank when he reached Krys. She was the constant encourager who always put the needs of others ahead of her own. If there was anyone who didn’t deserve the fate she faced, it was her. No matter, tonight she would help in the assurance that that fate wouldn’t be passed down to another.
He looked to Kaspar last. Kaspar had every right to not be here right now. His mother’s killers were still at large, yet, he was sacrificing the one thing that drove him to this point. Was it for the greater good or something else? Maybe, for the first time, the kid learned something from what’s been going on around him. Maybe he would ask him one day after all this shit wound down. In either case, he was grateful that he was here, no matter his internal motivations.
“Before we go in there,” Paxton said, having everyone’s full attention. “I just want to extend a personal thank you to each and every one of you. You’ve fought the good fight. I couldn’t give a shit what Danny said to us back there. We know what we’ve been fighting for. In light of this Intel, however, if there are any of you who wish to leave, you may do so. No one will look down upon you for doing so. Just, go now, please.”
No one left. The only thing that Paxton saw were focused eyes loyal to him and the mission. He looked down and smiled again. They had learned well. None of them would dare leave now. Paxton knew that.
The smile went away. “Thank you, again. Here’s the game plan: Ron is going to blow those machines to hell. We are going to provide him with cover fire. This is going to be a dangerous one. We are going to raid a USR stronghold; one that they will not want to give away easily. Stick to your training, instincts, and to each other. Don’t get yourselves killed in there, understood?”
“Yes, sir!” the team cried in unison.
“Game faces,” Paxton said. The team retrieved their masks and slid them on. “Look alive and stay sharp.”
Kaspar rubbed at his mask to make sure it fit snug. He looked through the tinted eye holes at the building in front. The PSD gripped tight in his hands, he allowed himself to think of Mother one last time. Kaspar hoped that he was doing the right thing by her: letting her killers go free to pursue something greater. The team stayed low as they approached the building. Kaspar held up the rear.
Up front, Paxton touched his ear piece, he ignored the static. “Robert, you there?”
“Yeah,” Clarke replied through the static.
“You got a good read on security?”
“Sure do. I’m looking at the feeds right now. It looks like that lobby is crawling with tangos. It’s like they are expecting you guys.”
“With what Danny told us, they probably are. How many?”
“Ten, maybe twelve.”
“Thanks.”
/>
“You guys be careful in there,” Clarke said. “I just wish I could be out there with you tonight.”
“I know,” Paxton replied. “Just keep our asses informed.”
“I will.”
“Over and out.”
The team approached the main entrance. Paxton held up his hand for the team to stop. He looked down at his PSD hoping that it would keep him alive. After several deep breaths he prepared to brief his team.
“Entrance is crawling with tangos,” Paxton said with a low tone. “When we take them out it should be smooth sailing. Check your weapons.”
Kaspar looked down at the PSD. He switched the safety off, moved the fire rate to full automatic, and then chambered a round. In front of him, Krys was saying a quiet prayer or something. He looked to the stars and thanked Mother for her wisdom. This was the right thing to do, he was sure of it now. He just hoped he didn’t end up dead for it.
The damn static in Paxton’s ear made it hard to make out what Clarke was saying. Something about it was now or never. A couple of the guards had moved on to patrol other areas of the building. Paxton nodded his head. He held up his right hand with all five fingers extended. He folded his thumb in: four. Index finger: three. Middle finger: two. Ring finger: one.
From the back, Kaspar kept his eyes on the baby finger. His breathing increased and his grip on the PSD grew tighter. This was no time to turn into a coward. Only the moment mattered: the seconds that would determine whether he lived or died. The speed of his trigger finger being faster than his enemies…
Just drop that damn finger already, Kaspar thought. In front of him, Krys’s prayer grew in sound and intensity. He looked down one last time at the yellow fabric. He looked up just in time to see Paxton drop his baby finger.
With his PSD shouldered, Paxton kicked in the front door. He took aim at one of the two Agents that guarded the door. A short, three round burst dropped his enemy. Before the second guard could get in a clean shot, he received the same fate. Paxton ran towards one of the stone pillars that ran from the marble floor to the ceiling. He pressed his back against it, ignoring the sound of the Agent’s rifles and the pieces of stone flying in the air.
Rebels & Lies (Rebels & Lies Trilogy Book 1) Page 29
