by Michael Cole
“Whoa!” he shouted, forcing himself to a sudden stop. He leaned back, nearly falling backwards as his feet skidded against the gravel, stopping precisely on the edge of a small rocky cliff. He exhaled sharply through his mouth, astonishment at his nearly self-inflicted demise worsening the adrenaline rush.
With his weapon still raised, he scanned the surrounding area for the soldiers. He couldn’t hear any footsteps, gunfire, or shouting. They were probably out of his range. Or…
He leaned over the edge of the cliff. He saw the bottom, composed of a vast pile of rocks nearly eighty feet down.
From underneath the ledge it sprang.
Easley felt a flash of fright and terror, resulting in the discharge of his weapon and a brief yell.
In a heartbeat’s time, he only caught the glimpse of the thing as it rose. With skin like that of an insect, and a shape almost like that of a man, it appeared as swift and silent as a trapdoor spider, thrusting its pointed appendage into his stomach. As soon as his eyes caught its glimpse, Easley’s nerves flared up.
Then, as quickly as it began, he felt nothing. All control of his body left him. His muscles stiffened, his mouth gurgled involuntarily, and any balance was lost. Held upright by the strange javelin, he slumped, motionless as a corpse.
Yet, he was alive.
Ivan and Rex stopped in their tracks, hearing their friend’s momentary yell and gun blast. A ghastly feeling swept over them. With no time to waste, they dashed toward the direction of the noise.
They approached a clearing. A gap in the wall of plants remained from where Easley broke through. As they ran, they could see through the opening. A tall bulky figure, with a height superior even to theirs, leaned forward.
They broke through the wall of plants, just as the figure disappeared over the edge of the cliff, with Easley’s body in tow.
Both men, filled with a storm of shock and anger, rushed to the ledge.
“Mother-FUCKER!” they yelled, shooting their weapons downward. They fired several quick bursts, hoping to land a lucky shot. Down at the bottom of the cliff, was no sign of the assassin. Leaves and bushes along the plants swayed gradually, settling down from the disturbance that upset them.
“Goddamnit, REPORT!” Seymour was now yelling through the comm. Rex seethed, trying to get his thoughts and emotions under control. He adjusted his mic.
He spoke softly. “Man down. Easley is…K.I.A., sir.”
Several moments of silence filled the comm.
“Alright… give us your position. We’ll regroup and go after them.”
Rex breathed heavily, replaying in his mind what he saw. “It wasn’t the Koreans.”
CHAPTER
21
“I’ve flown the drone all over the place, Hatchling. There’s no sign of him anywhere,” Charlie said.
Seymour grimaced, standing along the ledge of the cliff. He looked to the jungle beyond the rocks, eager for Nagamine and Terrie to finish tracking down the remaining soldiers. This was his first casualty in years, the first ever for this team. In his mind, he cursed the government, especially the C.I.A. for forcing his team into this job. Ivan and Rex stood near, watching their leader intently. Like dogs begging for food, they were waiting for the go-ahead to pursue Easley’s killer. Sutton taped a bandage around Ivan’s injury, struggling hard not to look him in the eye. The two already had a harsh disagreement over who it was that killed Easley, and the spat nearly resulted in Ivan threatening physical harm.
Seymour kept a watchful eye on him as Sutton completed his bandage. The Doc secured his medical kit, then picked up his weapon, eagerly stepping away.
“Boss?” Charlie said.
“Sorry, Eagle Nest. Go ahead.”
“How long are you guys gonna be?”
Seymour shook his head. He looked over his shoulder. Hawk was examining strange markings, like gashes, along the cliff ledge. “Unknown,” he answered.
“Well, I want to warn you. You guys might want to hurry it up because…”
“Dude!” Ivan barked into his radio. “This bastard killed the nerd, and he’s out there somewhere. We’re not leaving him behind. However LONG that takes!”
“Ivan, calm it down,” Seymour ordered. Ivan stepped forward, ready to argue. After seething for several seconds, he regained his discipline, and backed away.
“Sir, I bring it up because there’s another storm front moving our way.”
On the outside, Seymour showed no emotion. At this point, it was extremely important for morale that the team not see him act negatively. On the inside, he was fuming.
Like we didn’t have enough problems.
“How bad?” he asked.
“Winds up to fifty miles an hour. It’ll last the night,” Charlie said. “It looked like it was gonna pass north of us, but winds drove it south. This’ll be worse than this morning. The plane can’t bounce around in those kinds of waves. If you guys aren’t ready in a few hours, I’m gonna have to fly out of range and pick you up when it’s over.”
“Damn,” Seymour said. “You’re positive there’s no place for you to make landfall on this rock?”
“Well…I mean…” Charlie’s voice sounded reluctant. “I can try to make landing on that plain to the northeast.”
“No!” Hawk stood up, drawing Seymour’s attention.
“What?” he asked.
“He can’t…he can’t come here until we’re finished,” Hawk said. Rex scoffed, kicking a couple stones down into the cliff.
“You know, Lady, I’d ask why, but you’ve been telling us jack-shit from the get-go,” he said. “So, I say we get moving.”
“Nagamine is out there tracking the Koreans,” Sutton said.
“I’m telling you, it WASN’T the fucking Koreans!” Ivan shouted. Sutton raised both hands in surrender, having no desire for a repeat argument. Hawk stepped over to the machine gunner.
“Guys, tell me what you saw,” she asked.
“We only caught a glimpse of the guy,” Rex said. “We came through the woods, and he had grabbed Easley off the ground. And like THAT,” he clicked his fingers, “he went over the cliff.”
“Give me a break,” Sutton said. “He’d be splattered all over the rocks.”
“Maybe you’d like to join him,” Rex squared up.
“Alright, that’s enough,” Seymour said, pointing a finger at Rex. “Jesus, guys! You’re on the same damn team! You’ve done, how many missions together now?” Rex said nothing, though he couldn’t hide the shame from his eyes. It was all Seymour needed from him. “Get it together.”
“What did it look like?” Agent Hawk asked. Ivan and Rex stared at her.
“It?” Ivan asked. Hawk held her breath, realizing her mistake. Even Seymour was staring at her.
What was in that metal coffin? He desperately wanted to ask.
“Answer the question!” Hawk yelled.
“Big!” Rex yelled back. “Bigger than me, bigger than HIM. We didn’t get a good look at him. But he was not one of the Koreans.”
“Coming around! Don’t shoot us,” Terrie called. She and Nagamine stepped into the clearing.
“Anything?” Seymour asked.
“We’ve tracked the Koreans to a small cave near a river,” Terrie said. “Looks like they’re setting up position there. Maybe a mile down that way.” She pointed over the cliff.
“Alright,” Seymour said. “Let’s get moving.”
“What about this guy who killed Easley?” Rex said.
“We’re gonna kill these guys, find Easley, and take him home. Anyone else we encounter, we eliminate,” Seymour said. He looked to Hawk. “Agent, how long do you need to download your files?”
“It shouldn’t take long, but…” Her voice trailed off.
“Agent, I’d appreciate you cease with the dramatic pauses,” Seymour said. His temper was beginning to show in his voice.
“Seymour, with respect and sympathy to your team, I must advise that we forget finding Easley and
complete the mission. Forget killing the Koreans.” Seymour shook his head.
“Not a chance,” Seymour said. “They already tried a surprise attack on us. If we leave them out there, they can try again. I don’t want us intercepted as we try to make our extraction. However, if there’s any knowledge you’d like to add, we’re all ears.” The team stood silent, each of them staring at the agent.
A new idea sparked in her mind. She dwelled on it for a few seconds. Perhaps pursuit would be a good idea.
“The one who killed your man WAS, in fact, one of the Koreans,” she said. “You saw the lab. Our scientists were working on advanced combat technology. That’s how he made it down the cliff so quickly. These soldiers we’re after must’ve gotten their hands on some of the tech.”
“You’re shitting me,” Ivan said.
“If we kill them, we can secure the tech,” Hawk continued.
“That tech...” Sutton said. “That wouldn’t account for that stuff growing from all those bodies, would it?”
Hawk opened her mouth and stopped, making sure her lie added up with her story. In truth, she wasn’t sure what that was. But revealing that info wouldn’t fit well with her new agenda.
She noticed Seymour glaring at her. She avoided eye contact, while struggling to maintain her confident demeanor. She knew he suspected everything she said. He’d been suspicious ever since she and Agent Lesher arrived at his doorstep.
“In a way, yes. Think of it as a chemical spill of sorts. Probably why they abandoned the facility. Unfortunately, that’s all I can tell you. However, if we can kill them and retrieve the tech, perhaps there can be a bonus for all of you.” She then smiled, which quickly faded after realizing the team no longer cared about money. To them, it was about retribution.
“Trackers, lead the way,” Seymour said. Terrie and Nagamine took point, leading the team into the jungle. As Hawk started following, she noticed Seymour’s suspicious stare once more. So many things didn’t add up.
He knew she was lying.
CHAPTER
22
Nagamine led the group to the stream of water. Though shallow, it traveled like a small river, coursing over piles of rocks between two small hills. The team stayed within cover on the hill, and traveled down its path, keeping the stream to their right. After a quarter mile, they came to the bottom of a small, but steep cliff. A tiny waterfall spilled over the side, continuously pouring fresh water into the stream. Near this cliff, an opening had naturally formed in the hill on the opposite side of the stream.
The cave’s opening was a jagged shape, nearly six feet in width and no higher than an average door frame. No new tracks showed any signs that the soldiers had left.
Seymour ordered his team to spread out. Ivan and Rex took positions on opposite sides of him. Adjusting the stilts of their weapons, they lay on their stomachs in firing position. Sutton moved further up, drawing near the waterfall.
Terrie and Nagamine double-backed down the creek. After finding a place to cross over, they moved up along behind the hill, examining the terrain behind the mouth of the cave. Camouflaged in the thick plant life, they slowly moved to the back of the hill.
Seymour looked to his right. Hawk had crouched a few feet away. Rather than watching the cave, she was constantly checking her surroundings. She looked up, then back, then back to the creek.
“Quit with the head jerks, Agent, you’ll give away our position,” Seymour hissed. She looked at him, then turned to face the creek. He watched, Seymour could see she was constantly watching the surrounding area. Her left finger repeatedly tapped the barrel-grip of her gun. “You alright? You’ve been nervous this whole time, but now…”
“Are you sure they’re still in there?” Hawk interrupted him.
“Boss,” Terrie whispered into her mic. “It doesn’t appear this cave has an exit. The hill slumps down after a couple hundred feet, so the tunnel couldn’t go very far.”
“Good, then they’re cornered in there,” Seymour said. He looked over at Hawk. “There’s your answer.”
“I say we rush the inside and just blast them out,” Ivan said. His energy had built up within him, as he was keen to attack. He enjoyed making fun of Easley, poking fun at his comic books, video games, and lifestyle. However, beneath that, he considered the nerd his friend.
“Relax,” Seymour said. “Those guys know we’re looking for them. I guarantee they’re firmly watching that entrance. It’ll be a shooting gallery.”
“You have a plan, then?” Sutton asked. Seymour stared at the cave. In his mind, he could picture the remaining soldiers in there, huddled against the walls with their weapons pointed at the entrance. He exercised a few assault plans in his mind. Finally, he gazed up over the hill. The jungle overtop of it was thick, so he looked up to the top of the trees. Judging by the terrain, the hill was not very high. This meant the soil and rock making up the roof of the cave was not extremely thick.
“Yep,” he said. “Terrie, Nagamine, plant your C-4 explosives over the top of that hill, about fifty feet past the entrance. When I give the signal, you’ll detonate them. The blast will flush those bastards out. When it does…Ivan, Rex…I’ll allow you two the pleasure.”
“Fuckin’ A,” Rex said.
“Thank you, Boss,” Ivan said.
********
The two trackers split up, moving toward opposite sides of the hill. They kept their movements slow and silent, to avoid being heard from below.
Terrie paused and listened. Like with the rest of the island, the jungle here was still extremely thick, making it difficult to determine distance and position. She listened to the trickling sound of the waterfall, and gradually moved toward it. She had nearly reached the top section of the hill over the cave.
Each footstep had to be placed softly in order to avoid detection from below. The splashing of water gradually grew louder. She kept track of each distance between steps, being sure she placed the explosives in the right location.
Near the base of one of the trees, Terrie located a dip in the earth. It was a naturally formed crease, both several inches wide and deep. Several cracks lined its interior. Believing it to be a hollow region, Terrie planted the C-4.
One down. She armed the explosive, and began to move. She moved back several feet, silently pushing past vines and bamboo.
As she did, she continued listening to the stream. The calm, trickling sound was peaceful and relaxing, a sharp contrast to the experience of this mission.
A dull, scraping sound drowned out that of the waterfall.
Alarmed, Terrie crouched low, aiming her machine pistol to the source of the noise. For several seconds it continued. Terrie tried to look through the plants, but could not see anything. The sound itself didn’t sound at all familiar. In her mind, she could only picture sandpaper being continuously scraped along a steel brush.
Deciding to investigate, she stepped forward.
A hand swiped over her face from behind, cupping her mouth and holding her back.
“Shhh…quiet.” Though he rarely spoke, Nagamine’s voice was unmistakable. He removed his hand, and they knelt side-by-side. Terrie looked at her scouting partner. He never blinked as he kept his intense gaze locked in the direction of the sound.
Terrie mouthed the words, “What is that? Koreans?”
Nagamine shook his head. “Something else.” The noise suddenly stopped. The sudden silence, in its own way, was more unnerving to Terrie than the unfamiliar graveling sound.
Some-thing?
Muffled sounds, each dull and brief, echoed from below. The scouts stood up, realizing the sound was from gunfire inside the cave. The individual shots turned into muffled rapid-fire bursts, coupled with the shouts of screams.
Seymour placed his finger on the trigger. He watched the mouth of the cave, seeing the muzzle flashes creating a flickering effect within the dark interior. He could feel the intensity and confusion from his fellow team members.
“Everybody ke
ep still,” he ordered. “Scout, what’s your positions…” He ducked back and took cover. Thunderous blasts rang from the tunnel. Sparks and flames ripped from the mouth.
Vibrations shook the hill, forcing Terrie and Nagamine to spring to their feet. Turning toward the creek, they ran. Dodging the vegetation, Terrie cupped her hand over her headphone.
“Sir, something’s happening! We’re making our way back!” She came up on a large tree. She pivoted on her toes to move around it.
As if a battering ram were beneath it, the earth around the tree exploded upward. Layers of earth consisting of dirt, rock, and root blasted up from the earth, mixed with a fiery explosion.
“Terrie, what’s going on?” Seymour said, seeing the explosions on the hill. “Did you set off the explosives?”
He watched as another explosion burst from the hill. Clouds of smoke twisted into various shapes as it lifted over the green canopy.
“Terrie? Nag?”
The second blast sent searing hot dust into Terrie’s face, causing her to blindly scuttle backward. Snagging on a series of vines, she fell on her back. She looked up and gasped. With its roots completely severed in the blasts, the enormous tree leaned heavily. Branches snapped, wood crackled, and leaves flurried as eighty thousand pounds of nature came crashing down.
“Shit,” Terrie said. Balancing on her elbows and heels, she continued scurrying back.
She felt herself lifted by the shoulders as Nagamine lifted her to her feet. They both turned and ran, as the forest crumbled behind them. The tree smashed down, creating a thunderous echo that soared through the jungle.
“Holy crap!” Sutton said, watching the explosion of dirt and twigs rise around the fallen tree.
“What the hell’s going on here?” Rex yelled to Seymour. Seymour stood up from cover, ready to spring into action to rescue the scouts. As he did, a ball of smoke ripped from the mouth of the cave, accompanied by the sound of screams. Gunshots rang from inside the cave. Within the thick cloud, Seymour saw the silhouette of the soldier as he fled.
