The Eville Protection Plan
Page 14
Unsurprisingly, this way station was not properly equipped to handle the sudden influx of people, but the kindly workers did their best to accommodate the guests as well as they could until help could arrive. A couple of large tarps were laid on the ground for them to sit on, while one of the trolls began shredding several oversized moving blankets and handing them out. Everyone exiting the train had been thoroughly traumatized, and a good many had suffered bruises, scrapes and the like during the ordeal. Only a few, however, had broken bones or injuries needing medical attention, and aside from Hammett and Luminita there were no deaths to report. However, the copilot, Givens, still remained unaccounted for, and it did not seem likely he would be found alive, if at all.
Vega escorted Alex, Serene, Moody and Fabio to a location somewhat removed from the rest of the crowd, and after ensuring they were as comfortable as could be, given the circumstances, he quietly headed back toward the train. Everyone sat there in silence. None could think of anything but the loss of Hammett, and neither did any have the heart to speak of it. Fabio laid his head on Moody’s shoulder, tears silently trickling down his goblin face, and the hunchback, herself distraught, seemed not to even notice the goblin’s presence.
“Here. Try and bundle up, dear.” Serene helped wrap a blanket around Alex’s shoulders, noticing that his entire body trembled. “You’ll warm up in a bit.” Kindly the inventor rubbed her hands against the young man’s shoulders, and ran her pale fingers through his hair.
“I’m not cold. I just … I can’t stop shaking.” Alex gazed at his hand, dirty, slightly bloodied, quivering. “I can’t stop … I can’t believe … ” His voice cracked with emotion and he stopped his thought short. Serene scooted closer and draped her arm around his shoulders, but said nothing.
“You never forget,” Serene said softly after a long silence. “So many wonderful, joyous events in our lives can be forgotten, fade away as if they never happened. And … times … like this … you never forget a single detail. Awake or in my dreams I can still see them, hear them. I can smell the odors of that moment, the taste in the air … when I lost them forever. Kuan-Yi. Rupert. Richard. And the others. Each and every one. I have seen far too much death in my lifetime. Now we must add Inspector Hammett to this regrettable list.”
“He saved our lives, you know. In the end he saved your life.”
“I know it all too well, Alex. We had our differences, but I’ll not deny Inspector Hammett was an honorable man. Our world is most certainly not better for his passing. At least he took that retched bitch with him. And one less evil has now departed our realm.” Serene sighed and gazed for a time into the crowds, lost in thought. She turned to Alex, smiled, and began rubbing his back and shoulders gently. “The pain you feel, it will always sting. You’ll carry it for the entirety of your life. But life … it does go on, dear boy. This I can truthfully say from experience.”
“You know, I honestly thought … for a while there … I thought everything would be all right. I believed it was all coming to an end. And now, well, I guess it is coming to an end … one way or another.”
“Hey! Now what kind of defeatist talk is this?”
“Come on, Serene. Just look at us. In the short period of time I’ve been with you we’ve cheated death time and again. Freaking space squids and vampire mafia and Luminita … and harpies. Nasty freaking harpies. It’s a damned miracle we’ve made it this far. Seriously. Reality is finally catching up to us. You’re just … you just don’t get it.”
“Do you remember that time you came down to me, down into the Gloom Room, and talked me out of that darkness?”
“Serene, I’m not senile. Of course I freaking remember it. That happened like … a couple of weeks ago.”
“Quite right. I tell you, my dear boy, that I shall never, ever forget that. Your concern for my well-being on that darkest of days moved me in ways you can’t imagine. From that moment on I took you as my own, a Necrosia, despite your many shortcomings and neurotic episodes. You shall always be one of us, Alex, and I’ll be damned if I let anything happen to you. I give you my word. I will keep you safe.”
“Serene …” Alex looked up, tears in his eyes. “Serene, I love you … I really do. I know you’re speaking from your heart. But this is beyond you, something far beyond your control. You don’t get it. You’ve opened up a Pandora’s Box … and it’s … you can’t take it back. You can’t fix it. You can’t hold back these forces that have been unleashed. They’re coming for you and no one, not even the seemingly invincible Inspector Hammett, can put a stop to it. And it’s not me that I’m afraid of … of … what might happen to myself. I am terrified out of my mind of seeing someone else … someone I care for … you guys,” Alex waved his hand toward Moody, Fabio and then Serene, “you’re all I’ve got. You’re all I’ve got left in this crappy world, and it’s only a matter of time before you’re taken from me … like everything else.”
Chapter 26- Can’t Stay Here
“I don’t suppose you have any good news to share?” Serene asked as Vega strode up.
The detective said nothing in reply, but instead motioned for everyone to gather in a circle. He looked worn and distraught, as could only be expected. Alex wondered if he had left the group for a time to mourn Hammett’s passing in solitude. As the weary companions followed his orders, Vega pulled out his sketchbook journal and a pencil. Hastily he jotted a message for all to read. “We have to leave now.”
“What? Aren’t we going to wait here until help arrives?” Moody asked. “I’m sure police and medics will be here any minute now.”
Vega shook his head. “Local authority cannot be trusted. Also, people becoming suspicious of Necrosia. Can’t stay here.”
Alex noticed for the first time that several people had begun taking an unusual interest in Serene, whispering amongst themselves. Now that the shock of their near-death experience had begun wearing off, some noticed the striking similarity between the face of the infamous Serene Necrosia, as seen on every newspaper and Visi-Screen for weeks, and their fellow stranded passenger. After glancing about the crowd, Serene repositioned herself more in front of Vega so that she’d be less visible to suspicious eyes. Interestingly, nobody seemed to make note of Fabio. Now that his hair was a tangled mess and his clothes torn and soiled he likely appeared as common as any other goblin.
“Can’t you contact the almighty UEL on your communication device and have someone trustworthy come pick us up?” Serene asked.
Vega shook his head once more and wrote on his tablet. “Enemy tracked Hammett through com device at Andresholl. Unsafe to use.”
“Well, what about a public com thing?” Alex asked. “Surely you guys have, like, pay phones around here.”
“Too risky. UEL won’t get here quick enough.” Vega held up his pad with a frown.
“Isn’t that wonderful,” Serene said with a snort. “None of the so-called ‘good guys’ know where in the bloody hell we are and we can’t contact them without a mob of damned CN goons sweeping down on us.”
Vega sighed heavily but did nothing to rebut the inventor’s words.
“Well, I for one am through cooperating. We were better off before joining up with Hammett and you. I gave it a go, but … well … just look where it got us … and Hammett. I truly am sorry for your loss,” she hastily added, noticing the pained look on the man’s face. “Poor fellow. He’ll be missed. Nevertheless, from this point onward, Quasimoody, Alex and I shall go our own way, Mr. Vega. I pray your luck improves.” Serene began to rise, but Vega snatched her by the wrist and forcefully pulled her back down. “Unhand me at once!”
“Hey, just because Hammett … that doesn’t mean you’re in charge all of a sudden,” Alex said to Serene. “We need Vega. He’s saved my ass … all of our asses more times than I can remember. And you want to just send him on his way?”
“Yeah,” Moody added, “maybe you also forgot that he’s the only one around here with a freaking weapon of any sort
.”
“I’m sorry, Serene, but I’m not going to follow your lead. Not this time.” Alex crossed his arms and looked at the inventor with resolute eyes. “No way. We might be screwed no matter what, but if there’s any chance of us surviving, even a slim one, it’s going to be with Vega.”
“Preposterous! Quasimoody, talk some sense into this boy! I believe the shock of current events has quite derailed (pardon the expression) his common sense. We’re all grieving, true, but that should not cloud our judgment regarding our next course of action.”
“No, Serene,” Moody shook her head. “You’re the only one here who’s not making any sense. I’m all in with little man. UEL headquarters is the only safe place for you to be right now. There’s nowhere else to go. We have to stick with Vega and go on with the original plan. It’s the only chance we’ve got.”
“Stubborn, mutinous little … oh, very well … I suppose having the extra … manpower … and firepower couldn’t hurt,” the inventor finally conceded.
“Okay, so now what?” Alex asked. “I mean … we just walk the rest of the way there? What do we do?”
“Disappear.” Vega held up his journal.
“You don’t say?” Serene rolled her eyes sarcastically. “I would have never thought of that on my own. Thank the stars detective Vega is running the show.”
Vega stood and motioned for the others to do the same. With a tilt of his head the detective pointed toward the rear of the warehouse they were in front of.
“And what about Fabio?” Alex placed his hand on the goblin’s shoulder. “Nobody’s looking for him … at least not the Cosa Nosferatu. Wouldn’t he be safer staying behind?”
“Never! Fabio protect hunchy-flower to endest of road. You needing mighty Fabio’s heroics and beauties. Fabio very handies. Very handies.”
“Maybe. On the other hand,” Moody added thoughtfully, “we can’t be sure the bad guys don’t know Fabio was traveling with us. If they figured it out … and then got their hands on him … those vampires can do some mighty sick things in an interrogation.” From the look on the poor goblin’s face, the thought that anybody would willingly do him harm had clearly never crossed his mind. Quickly he wrapped his arms around Alex’s waist, eyes bugged out.
“I think he’s determined to come with us.” Alex coughed, the goblin’s squeezing making it difficult to breathe.
Vega nodded in agreement and motioned for everyone to follow. The Spaniard led the group into the warehouse, weaving around the piled boxes and crates, careful to avoid coming into view of the few employees still working. Eventually they reached the rear of the way station warehouse and came upon a small employee parking lot. Vega appeared to know precisely what he was doing, as the detective strode up to a rusty, four-door vehicle parked roughly in the center of the lot without hesitation. Upon reaching the driver side door, he looked about to make sure nobody had followed them and began fiddling with the handle in one hand and a thin, ridged, metal tool in the other. Within seconds the door unlocked, Vega slipped in, and unlocked the other doors. Before everyone had enough time to enter the vehicle, the man had already gutted a mass of wires and tubes from behind the steering mechanism and was busy at work.
“You mean we’re going to just steal this car?” Alex asked. “Isn’t that … well, sort of unethical? You are a cop, aren’t you?”
Vega winked back as the vehicle’s engine turned over and immediately began backing up.
“It’s for the greater good, dear boy,” Serene explained from the front passenger seat. “In times such as these one must retain a proper perspective. And we aren’t stealing … merely … commandeering a citizen’s vehicle for a mission of global importance. A filthy, foul-smelling rust bucket at that. Not exactly a fitting chariot for such a noble and significant journey. But I suppose beggars can’t be choosers. Well-played Mr. Vega. Now if you would be so kind as to get us the hell out of this miserable place.”
Chapter 27- Troll Country
Vega drove the stolen vehicle out of the parking area at a leisurely pace and onto a nearby thoroughfare. While not congested, this road saw regular traffic going in both directions, most of it consisting of large vehicles loaded down with all manner of goods. Aside from the never-ending beat of reflectors lining the road ahead and fluorescent stripes delineating the flow of traffic, there was very little for Alex to see about him. Far down into the roots of the Mid Atlantic Ridge, these endless miles of industrial highway had been created solely for function, and their designers did nothing to brighten up the road any more than what safety necessitated. It reminded Alex of days back on the “other side,” those long drives along the lonely Interstate late at night, surrounded by utter blackness all about, occasionally broken by the emergence of bright headlights heralding another vehicle traveling in the opposite direction. Even with the general darkness about them, Vega demanded that Serene slouch down in her chair as low as possible and place a dirty hat upon her head that Fabio had found in the back seat by sitting atop it. Naturally, the inventor protested vehemently, drawing attention to the rather pungent odor of the hat as well as the uncertainty of the previous owner’s cranial hygiene. In the end, however, Vega’s intimidating stare turned out to be just as effective as his late partner’s, and the inventor followed orders with a grumble.
Over the next twenty minutes three more large, industrial complexes passed by before the lights of the closest town popped into view. While not necessarily evil, this new community possessed a very obvious vibe of rough, tough and decidedly dangerous. Several more factories had been built within the town and it was obvious that the community thrived solely on the local manufacturing and shipping. Likely because of this fact, Alex felt this town to be the least interesting of all that he had seen in this strange world of Serene’s. Everything had been built entirely out of function and necessity. Solid, sturdy buildings lined the streets, lacking any character or charm … unless one considered a hefty layer of soot and grime charming.
“There are a lot of those trolls around here.” Alex couldn’t take his eyes of each and every one of the hulking creatures as they passed by.
“Not surprising since this is their territory,” Serene explained.
“Huh. They sure are cool. Back on the other side, most all legends of trolls are pretty sinister. These guys don’t look so terrible, though.”
“No, most trolls are amiable enough. I’ve known a few. Still, you need to always watch your step around their kind. If angered these brutes can wreak an astounding amount of havoc. ”
“No kidding. How come I’ve never seen a troll before now? Do they only live in this one part of the world?”
“Well, yes. Very few are to be found outside the Mid Atlantic Ridge, their homeland. But that’s only half the story. The troll people stubbornly refuse to recognize the authority of the UEL and are therefore unwelcome in UEL nations. If you run into a troll outside of this place you can be certain that its presence is almost assuredly illegal.”
“Then why do UEL trains come and go out of their warehouses?”
“Ah, and there you hit the nail on the head, my love. Hypocrites as they are, the UEL continues to engage in commerce with the troll kingdom despite all of its laws and regulations. The goods produced and shipped from here are far too vital to the global economy. Then, of course, there is a great deal of illegal smuggling in and out of this region. But there is very little the UEL can do about it.”
“Interesting. Well … I’m glad I got to see them.”
Eventually Vega spotted a relatively isolated motel and drove around to the back side of the old complex. The Spaniard pulled out a wallet, removing several hundred “souls,” and then proceeded to jot a note into his journal. “Get us a room. Request one on THIS side of the complex.” Vega handed Alex the wad of money while holding the note aloft.
“Right. And I tell them we need room for five?” Alex asked.
The Spaniard shook his head and held up two fingers.
“Fabio’s back very delicates,” the goblin chirped in the back seat.
“Okay. I’ll leave you guys to sort this out and be back in a second,” Alex added nervously, opening the door.
Despite his unease, Alex did an admirable job of playing it cool with the front desk. It undoubtedly helped that nobody was in there except for the one employee, and her friendly smile quickly put him at ease. And when she asked for his name he said “Clark Kent” without a moment’s hesitation. Predictably, the woman behind the front desk didn’t so much as bat an eye at his answer, and with growing confidence Alex even put a few extra flourishes when signing the name in the registry.
Vega seemed pleased with the room Alex had acquired. Not only was it second from the end on the complex’s right side, which happened to be the least illuminated part of the motel, but it also happened to be on the ground floor. Before letting his companions relax, however, the Spaniard did a quick search under and behind virtually everything inside just to be sure. Finally, as the fugitives began to settle themselves in, Vega left their company to “get rid the car.” It took a good while for the detective to return, but none complained over his absence when they caught sight of the brown grocery bag he carried. Everything within consisted of cold, prepackaged items, but to the eyes of those famished escapees it may as well have been a great banquet at Snotwaddle’s.
“So what’s our next move?” Moody asked, her mouth half full with some manner of beast jerky.
All eyes turned to the detective. After a moment of thought he wrote in his journal. “How much money/valuables do we have?”
“I left Eville with a nice bit for traveling expenses, but those damned goblin mercenaries got to it,” Serene said with heat. “Filthy little bastards. Present company excluded, of course.”