Plague

by Matt James

  “We fight,” Zeus said. “Plain and simple. It’s what we do—it’s what you used to do.”

  “I’m in,” Fitz said, stepping forward even though he didn’t have to say a word. Logan knew his friend would be by his side until the end. “You think we can make it thirty minutes?”

  “We’ll have to,” Logan said, not overly believing his own words. “Regardless, if we do nothing, we lose. We might as well try and stomp this bugger out before it comes to that conclusion.”

  Turning to CJ and Adnan, Logan spoke. “You two, however, are not going to be here for this.”

  Adnan’s look was one of relief, but CJ looked pissed. “Don’t even—”

  “Cassidy!” Logan shouted, emotionally spent. The last thing he needed was for her to argue with him. “I need you and Adnan to wait for us downstairs. We need to keep a line of communication open with the Americans. You are the only two that can do that.”

  “Adnan can,” CJ said, defiantly, “but I’m coming.”

  “If we all die, you’re willing to leave him alone down there? Could you live with that? Because I sure as hell couldn’t. Under any other circumstance, I wouldn’t argue this, but this is not one of those times.”

  She was cut off before she could give her two cents. “Please, CJ,” Adnan said, pushing his thick glasses up, glancing at Logan. He realized this is what Logan wanted him to do when he asked him to make sure she stayed safe. “I may be a lot of things, but a fighter is not one of them. Plus, I could really use the help with the camera feeds too.”

  Logan watched as she looked to Adnan who was half-acting and half-serious. He doubted the man actually needed help with any of it. He helped design the damn system after all. Adnan was just doing what he had asked of him. Soon it would be Jan’s turn.

  Logan needed to end this before it got out of hand. “Consider it an order.”

  He could actually see her skin redden, before she stormed out of the room, fuming. Not a second after she left did Jan follow her. His job was to appeal to her emotionally.

  It’ll work, he thought, turning back to the others.

  “Okay,” Logan said, calming a little, “Mo, Jan and I are in the Rhino like before, except I’ll be in the back with him this time.” He then turned to Kel, Zeus, and Ares. “You three are in the Wraith. We do like before and draw off the Nach. Then, we let the boys upstairs rain down their own personal brand of hellfire.”

  Everyone nodded. Mo was their best pilot/driver, but Kel was the second best, having logged more time on the Wraith than anyone else besides Mo. It was the best options they had. If things went south—which they most certainly would—they’d haul ass back to the Bullpen and join CJ and Adnan in the basement. They had plenty of supplies and layer after layer of concrete and steel over their heads. Their own personal bomb shelter. If the situation got severely out of control, then Logan would blow the compound, taking everything within the perimeter fencing—and then some—with it.

  Lock Down, Logan thought, dreading even the idea of it let alone the act.

  “Shall we…” Logan nodded at Fitz who stuck out his hand. “It’s been a pleasure, Captain.”

  Logan shook the outstretched hand, pulling his friend in close. The two embraced in a hearty hug, unashamed of their affection for each other. CJ was biologically his sister, but Fitz was his family too—his best friend.

  Logan let go and looked at everyone else. He heard footsteps behind him and found Jan and CJ re-entering the room. Her eyes were red from crying again, but there was no malice in them. Only sorrow.

  She marched over to him and threw herself into his arms. The Reeds held each other, squeezing the life out of one another.

  “Come back to me, Logan.”

  Logan squeezed back, harder. “I always do.”

  He stepped back, a tear running down his face. There had been a few moments in his life where he questioned whether or not he’d come home, mostly in the army, and once in SDF, but none of them directly involved his sister. The thought of losing her was more than he could handle.

  Logan turned, gaining some of his composure, not having to see CJ’s tear streaked face anymore. “Mount up and move out. Let’s show these bastards who the fuck they’re dealing with.”

  56

  The Rhino roared to life once more. Mo floored the accelerator, spinning the tires a little as they peeled out of the garage. They turned, taking the same route as before, but this time no one was in the sentry tower giving them the customary thumbs up. It was empty and gave Logan a terrible foreboding feeling. They would surely lose more men.

  The wind whipped through his hair as he stood in the open rear of the Hummer. Jan’s seat was gone, giving him the ability to swing the M2A1 heavy machine gun in a full three-sixty. Logan would be dodging the red-hot barrel, coordinating with the German so he wouldn’t get burned…or shot.

  A higher pitched purr echoed off the concrete surroundings as the Wraith, piloted by Kel, closely followed its larger brother. They would stay together for as long as they could, giving each other support. The real danger came from Fitz.

  He would direct them from above like an Offensive Coordinator would his football team. When Fitz saw a pattern, he wanted to exploit, he would quickly tell Mo or Kel where to go. Then, he’d unleash what he called the Power of God.

  Steering around the northwest tower, Logan watched the eastern horizon as they moved, impatiently waiting for just the slightest of evidence that the sunrise was near. But there was nothing. Not yet, anyway. They would have to wait a little bit longer.

  “Everyone ready?” Logan asked. Everyone quickly confirmed and they sped off towards the front gate.

  BOOM!

  A massive form landed inside the compound, crushing the concrete below its girth. It was easily ten feet tall and who knows how heavy. It's six eyes were menacing and its jet black hairless skin covered in glowing veins was petrifying. But the wings…

  “What is that?” One man yelled from above. The fear was evident in his jittering voice.

  “Reed?” he heard Zeus ask.

  “Oh, my God,” Mo said from inside the Rhino. “It is the Devil… Shetani.”

  Logan had no doubt this thing could have been Satan himself. It's black talons and teeth were a dead giveaway—along with its humanoid shape.

  “Our missing poacher.” It was a match to what attacked them next to the pit, but much larger, having some other nifty upgrades too.

  Mo slammed on the brakes and threw the truck into reverse.

  “Fire!” Logan yelled.

  Then everything happened in slow motion. Jan got off a few rounds, as did everyone else. The monster flexed its massive legs and leaped into the sky, taking a large portion of the bullets in its chest and stomach areas. It flapped its large bat-like wings hard and shot up into the darkness above. More gunfire erupted as the rooftop team added their own firepower to Logan and the rest of the assault team.

  Shetani, as Mo called it, was raked with barrage after barrage as it climbed higher into the night. They would soon lose sight of it and it would be able to again surprise them.

  “Fitz!” Logan looked up as he yelled, watching a fireball of orange and red erupt on the demon’s chest. It flailed from the impact but quickly regained some of its in-air equilibrium. The second .50 cal roared to life too, joining in the constant sniper rifle fire. They didn’t do the same type of damage as Fitz, but at least they were hitting the bastard.

  Then, it angled towards the roof.

  “Incoming!” Logan shouted, watching the winged Nach, land on the circular roof of the Bullpen. His men—Fitz—were done for.

  * * *

  “Move!” Fitz shouted. The creature landed with a crunch, cracking the concrete floor of the roof.

  “Scatter!” he yelled, over the ear-shattering noise. He and the three Delta men quickly abandoned their posts, running in separate directions.

  It turned and swiped one of its horrible clawed hands at the nearest man
, catching him in the back. The man was flung from the roof like a rag doll, screaming the entire way down.

  Fitz didn’t need to watch the man land to know he was dead. One down and three to go, he thought as the beast turned towards him.

  As soon as it looked at him Fitz fired another round. It hit the Nach’s shoulder, detonating on impact, stumbling the thing only a little backward.

  The kick of the XM25 being fired from the hip threw off his aim as he tried to let loose another round. He quickly shouldered the weapon and went to reacquire it, but it was gone.

  The hell?

  “Roll right!”

  Fitz did as instructed and threw himself into a less than graceful roll—just as the monster landed where he had just been standing. He quickly got to his feet and ran. Hades and the other Delta man, raked it with round after round, most of them barely missing Fitz as he sprinted forward.

  He was about to turn and help—when he saw both men’s eyes go wide. Instinctively, Fitz dove to the roof, sliding forward on his chest. A huge set of claws shot forward, impaling one of the men through his chest. Fitz continued sliding, passing right between the man’s legs as he was lifted off the ground.

  There was nothing Fitz could do for him except survive and avenge him. So, he jumped into the open hatch of the roof access, reached out, catching one of the metal rungs halfway down the ladder. He looked up as he dangled, his left shoulder protesting from the stress. The weight of his XM25 almost pulled him free, yanking on his other shoulder.

  “Run!”

  Fitz caught a glimpse of the last man, Hades, get yanked from the opening. His screams followed but were cut off by a wet gurgling sound.

  There was nothing he could do. Fitz needed to regroup and reload. Dammit, he thought racing down the ladder. All of his XM25 ammo was still on the roof and he was out. He needed another plan.

  The thing roared, making Fitz fall the last couple of steps. He landed hard on his back with an audible oof. He looked straight up and saw the worst thing yet. Six demonic glowing eyes looked down at him with what felt like all the hate the world had to offer. He scurried back on all fours, scared out of his mind.

  Then, the beast reached a clawed hand in after Fitz, its weight cracking the roof around the rim of the opening with its heavy body. The ‘Devil of the Serengeti’ was forcing its way inside, forcing its way to Fitz. This was the first time Fitz had ever soberly pissed himself, and if this thing got a hold of him...it would be the last.

  Standing, he was about to flee down the stairs, but he saw something that gave him hope. He dashed into the Observation Deck, ditching his empty grenade launcher on the floor. The rear section of one of the weapons racks held what he needed. He grabbed the already prepped satchel and a shotgun from the rack next to it, formulating the dumbest, most idiotic plan of his life as he went.

  Bolting for the doorway, Fitz looked up and saw that the creature was halfway in, getting stuck around its hips and wings. He turned and pounded down the stairs, passing the living quarters, rounding the catwalk at a speed he never thought possible—especially in his current condition. The chances of it paying off were slim to none, but Fitz could guarantee one thing… Staying put would all but guarantee it.

  Not a chance, he thought, waving his hand overhead. I’m going to kick the shit out of this thing and then kill its kids and grandmother too!

  “Come on you steroid-induced jagoff—follow me! Come get the bath of a lifetime!”

  57

  Jan watched as Mo barely had time to stop the Rhino before Logan jumped out of its bed, dashing back towards the garage. He was no doubt going to try and help Fitz and the others.

  If they’re still alive.

  Unfortunately, from the sounds of the initial destruction and of the resulting screams, Jan guessed that the beast may have slaughtered everyone.

  Probably trying to force its way in through the roof access.

  He was about to ask what to do next but—

  “Same plan as before,” Jan heard Logan say in his ear. He was panting, still running at a sprint. “Do what you can to protect this building. I’ll be back as soon I as can.”

  Okay, Jan thought, turning and getting a glimpse of Logan rounding the rear of the building, closing in on the south entrance.

  “Move out,” Jan said, “and—”

  He was cut off giving orders to the remaining team—when the front gate exploded from its hinges. It was thrown thirty feet, landing with a bang, sliding and stopping in between the sentry tower structures.

  “Um…” Jan had nothing to say—no feelings to express. Another monster entered the compound, this one more menacing than even the living devil from before. It stood at least twelve feet tall but was built like an insect. Lean, but no doubt strong muscles rippled through it.

  “Damn, damn, damn,” Ares said, shifting in one of the Wraith’s sidecars. “Looks like a bug from Mars or something!”

  Jan agreed with the apt description, but he also knew without the shadow of a doubt, that a bug from Mars wouldn’t be this bad.

  The first thing everyone saw was the four arms tipped with talons the size of Mick Dundee’s bowie knife. The arms themselves all had what looked to be razor sharp spines running down the inside, like a praying mantis.

  Its body was humanoid in build, but elongated like an insect’s, or like your typical Hollywood gray alien.

  But the face is what gave Jan the biggest start. It was so horrifying that he couldn’t look away. The four eyes didn’t blink. They just stared like a shark’s, sizing up its prey. The color was another thing altogether. Its eyes—and its visible veins—glowed a fluorescent green. It’s like the fiend had some kind of toxic chemical flowing through its body.

  It stepped into the illumination of the overhead floodlights and showed its oddest trait. Its skin was completely translucent, revealing its bones and organs like a fish tank would fish. Jan watched the thing’s massive heart pump and its stomach flex, no doubt digesting its most recent meal.

  The creature stretched its long arms out to its side, hooking its talons, ready to strike.

  Arms… Four arms? He remembered where he’d seen it before. No!

  “It’s the Verbraucher from the bunker!” Jan said, shouting his dismay. “It’s alive!”

  The monster turned to Jan, tilting its head to the side like it was internally processing the words he had just spoken.

  Then, it talked back.

  “No…” it said audibly, “not…Verbraucher… Wustenfuchs.”

  Jan’s face went white. Not only did it speak back to him, but it spoke in German, calling itself, Wustenfuchs.

  Wustenfuchs? The only reason it would call itself that is if it knew of Rommel or—Jan vomited over the side of the Rhino at the real implications. It didn’t know about the general. It was the general.

  Jan wiped his face with his sleeve and spoke. “Guten Morgen, Generalfeldmarschall,” Jan said, wishing the creature good morning.

  “It can’t be…” Ares said. “That…can’t be.”

  “It is,” Jan said. “It is General Rommel.”

  “Wustenfuchs,” Ares said, repeating the name. “My grandfather is from Germany and I picked up on some of the language. He had fought against the Nazi’s, helping German Jews escape Hitler’s wrath. Everyone knows who the Desert Fox was.”

  Is, Jan thought. Who he still is.

  Jan stomped on the bed yelling, “Fire!”

  Mo floored the Rhino, straight at the monster that was once the Nazi’s greatest champion, never wavering in his aim. He was intent on ramming the beast, plowing him back into the razor wired topped fencing. Jan depressed the trigger sending wave after wave of .50 caliber ammunition into the creature’s chest.

  They were only ten feet away when the general leaped into the air, avoiding the collision. As it passed overhead, one of Wustenfuchs’ wounds dripped the luminescent blood onto Jan’s shoulder, causing his clothes to steam.

  Acid, Jan though
t, desperately trying to shake out of his BDU’s upper, but the Kevlar vest strapped tightly to his body made that feat impossible.

  He screamed as the fluid made contact with his skin, eating away at the top layers of his left shoulder, melting away some of the muscle. Before he passed out, the pain ebbed some, releasing him from the torment.

  Trying to look down, but having no time, he heard the beast shriek. He looked up and watched as Wustenfuchs spread its fifteen-foot-plus wingspan again. If the arms were frills, it would have looked like the spitting dinosaur from Jurassic Park. It even bent forward like one of the raptors from the movie, about to charge.

  Mo spun the vehicle to a sliding stop, allowing Jan to reacquire it with the machine gun. His shoulder cried in agony, and the smell of his own roasted flesh caused him to gag back another round of vomit. He instead used the pain as fuel to his already adrenaline spiked nerves. He gave his own battle cry and crammed down the trigger, releasing another destructive salvo.

  It bit hard, punching into the four-armed behemoth. Wustenfuchs staggered back and prepared to jump again, but the Wraith came flying into view, opening up with its own barrage of gunfire. Zeus and Ares poured on the assault aiming for its legs, causing the thing to stumble again.

  “Get it close to the towers and I’ll blow them!” Kel yelled, holding up the detonator in one hand.

  No one argued against it, never letting up.

  Wustenfuchs stepped back under the steady stream of bullets, closing in on the trap.

  Now within range, Kel held up the remote and thumbed the first of two buttons—the second being attached to the gate posts. The explosion rocked the compound hard, throwing Jan and the Americans from their stations. The only one not affected was Kel who was holding onto the handlebars of the modified four-wheeler, and Mo, who was safely inside the armored truck.