“Good luck to ya, mate. You’re going to need it.” Bigby winked at him and turned back to the crowd he was with before Jack had entered.
Jack worked his way back up to the visiting team leader quarters and went room to room, looking for the Major. He found him stretched out on his bunk, counting the holes in the ceiling tiles. Jack poked his head in the room and smirked. “Knock-knock.”
Sheridan eyed him and smiled forlornly. Sitting up he motioned him in. “Jack Thompson, I should have known you’d hunt me down.”
“Am I disturbing you?” he asked as he stepped in and found a chair.
“Not really.” Sheridan rubbed his hands across his close cropped hair. “I just wasn’t in a very jovial mood.”
“Understandable.” Jack avoided his eyes. “I’ve felt the same numerous times.”
Sheridan shook his head slowly. “I don’t know how to get past it, Tommy.” He sighed and leaned back against the wall his bunk was against. “I trained every one of those blokes. And they were good men.”
“And every day I ask myself what made me so special that I was the only one from my squad to survive.”
Both men sat quietly for a while until Sheridan snorted and tossed a pillow at Jack. “Listen to us. We sound like a couple of rooks here, eh?”
Jack picked the pillow up from the floor and held it, a sad smile on his face. “I know. We do, don’t we?” He tossed the pillow back on the bunk. “It’s not like we haven’t lost men before.”
Sheridan nodded slowly. “Aye, that’s true,” he looked up to meet Jack’s gaze, “just never so many so quick.”
“Yeah,” Jack replied softly.
Sheridan perked up again, “But I hear you’re getting your man back that the vamps grabbed, yeah?”
Jack smiled. “Yeah, Dominic. He was supposed to hitch a ride with the Team 2 guys, but he ended up in a coma or something. They had to leave him in the hospital, and when they tried to call, we were already gone.” He shook his head and smirked. “Nobody there to answer the damned phone. Can you believe that?”
“You’d think somebody would think to roll the line here before you left.”
“From what I gather, the commander of the base didn’t even tell anybody we were expected. Almost got my ass shot off when I showed up with the elves.”
Sheridan’s brows shot up. “You brought elves with you?”
Jack gave a low chuckle. “Some badasses too. They’re actually camped out in one of the hangars.”
“Sweet Mary, mother of…they’ll cook out there, Jack!” he exclaimed.
“I offered to move them somewhere else, but they insisted they were good.” Jack shrugged. “Honestly? I think they got some kind of magic something-or-other going on out there that they’re using for food and water and…well, whatever they might need. I couldn’t get them to leave.”
Sheridan smiled. “Are they doing that ‘invisible’ thing that the greater elves do?”
Jack sat up. “Yeah, they are. In fact, they are greater elves. From northern Canada.”
Sheridan shot him a knowing smile. “Yeah, they’re fine then.” He sat back against the wall again.
Jack waved him on with his hand. “Come on, buddy. Spill the beans. You know something.”
Sheridan nodded. “Okay, okay,” he chuckled. “Long story short, they move around in this…wavering light thing that looks like heat rising from the ground, right?” Jack nodded, knowing exactly what he was talking about. “Well that is sort of an echo of where they are on this plane. But in reality, they are in their own world. They can see into this world, so they know what is going on and it makes them very effective warriors because of it. But in effect, you could walk right through them and never feel them, but they can reach out and club you silly, slice you with a blade, shoot you with an arrow…whatever and you couldn’t do much about it.”
Jack sat slack-jawed as he considered what Sheridan was saying. “So, they have all the food, water, etc. that they need in their own world…”
“Probably, yeah.” Sheridan nodded. “Their world is pretty damned plentiful.” Jack shot him a knowing look. “Yeah, I’ve been there. It was accidental at first, but then it was by invitation.”
“Is it the same place they go to when they travel through the rocks?” Jack asked.
“They use the boulders when they want to move large groups to a single area. But once they are in that area, they can slip in and out on their own. The boulders move them from point A to point B on the planet…like an instant tramway.” He stared off into space a moment and shook his head. “What I wouldn’t give to be able to move like that…”
Jack laughed. “I said the very same thing.”
“Anyway, it’s all pretty neat and nifty, but they are very strict about who they allow to go to their world. If they let you in, you should feel special.” Sheridan shot him a cheesy grin.
“That’s one way to put it,” Jack fired back. “I was recruiting their help for this…mission.”
Sheridan snorted. “Suicide mission is what it sounds like,” he muttered. “I still have no idea how we’re supposed to stop a vampire who can’t be killed.”
It was Jack’s turn to give a knowing smile. “We have a few tricks up our sleeve for him.” He patted his buddy’s shoulder. “In fact, I was thinking about going and checking on one of them right now.” He stood up and nodded to him. “Care to join me?”
*****
Captain Roberts sat slumped in the chair across from Colonel Mitchell’s desk, the bravado in him now drained along with the bottle of scotch that Mitchell had cracked open at the beginning of their impromptu meeting. Matt had explained the incoming threat to him and by using the files he had, the photographic evidence and the films shot by the hunters while on op, convinced him that the threats these special operations commandos faced regularly were more than just real, but coming!
“You see now why time is against us, Captain?”
“How is that, Colonel? Do you know when they’re going to attack?” Roberts believed the threat was real, but was still having trouble grasping the urgency of the situation.
Matt nodded as he drained the last of the scotch into his glass. Roberts’ head was buzzing after his third glass and he nursed the fourth long enough, but he watched the colonel drain the rest of the bottle and show no effect. Matt tossed the empty bottle in the trash and lean back in his chair. “We have a clairvoyant in our midst that told us to expect the attack at the full moon.”
Roberts gave him a puzzled look. “When is that, sir? I have no clue.”
Matt leaned across his chair and pointed at the calendar. The date was circled. “I have no idea what the importance of the full moon is to him, but he wants to use it. Maybe he has some werewolves that are familiars that he plans to use…I really don’t know.”
Roberts nodded. “But that one guy on our side…Max? He can control the wolves, right?” he asked. “So if he brings any, Max can turn them against him?”
Matt nodded. “That’s the plan.” He drained his glass and set it at the far end of his desk. “But we’re still going to need every man we can get our hands on who can handle a weapon.”
“That I can do, sir.”
Matt nodded and leaned forward. “And I can count on you to quash whatever this is between your men and mine?” He raised a questioning brow. “This…pissing contest?”
Roberts gave him a smile that Matt thought might be the first genuine one he had seen from the man since he’d met him. “Of course, Colonel.” He rose to his feet and shook his head a little then smiled again. “That’s some strong stuff you serve up.”
“Only the best.”
“Yes, sir.” Captain Roberts steadied himself. “But as for my men, I’ll keep them in line. And you can count on us. We’ll have your back when the chips are down.”
Matt stood and extended his hand. “I certainly hope so, Captain. Because it isn’t just the fate of the base at stake. Or our lives.” His face and vo
ice were solemn. “It’s the fate of the world at stake here.”
Captain Roberts squared his jaw as he met the colonel’s gaze. “Understood, sir.” Roberts turned to leave then paused at the door. “Colonel? What we’ve discussed here…how much of it can I discuss with my men?” He saw Mitchell’s eyes start to widen, so he felt the need to explain. “What I mean, sir, is…here shortly, we’ll be facing down vampires and werewolves and…God only knows what else. Maybe they need to have a heads up on the threats before they actually strike?”
Matt nodded. “You’re right, Captain. They should.” He thought a moment, “Go ahead. Inform the men and let them know what they’ll be facing. I’ll have my training officer get with you when he returns and we’ll see about training you and your men in how to deal with these threats before they actually get here.”
“Excellent, sir. Thank you. I appreciate it.” He saw himself out of Mitchell’s office and had to use the hand rails to go down the steps to his golf cart. He kept shaking his head trying to clear it and breathing deeply of the cool night air.
As Captain Roberts sat in the golf cart and stared out across the campus of the Groom Lake facility, he found that he held a newfound respect for the colonel. He had totally misread the man this entire time and now, after this long conversation and finding out what he now knew, he discovered that he actually liked the man.
Roberts turned the golf cart back to the security building and with it, his thoughts to how best to break the news to his men. How do you tell grown men that ‘monsters’ are real? And not only are they real, but they are about to attack the base? The whole idea made his mind spin more than the alcohol.
Then Roberts thought of McDonald and his blood ran cold. After being held captive for those few hours by the Monster Squad, James wanted revenge. Roberts knew that without somebody’s head, he wouldn’t be satisfied…and the guy was just stupid enough to go against orders to try something. He sighed inwardly as he tried to bury the thoughts that ran through his mind. He really didn’t want to have to deal with him right now. But he needed to let his men know the truth and the sooner the better.
He pulled up to the security building and entered the man cave. “Call in all units that aren’t on priority assets,” he ordered. The duty officer turned and jumped on the radio to call in all the security officers. Captain Roberts looked at the clock and knew that a lot of his men would be in stand-down right now but he didn’t care. He needed to tell them what he learned. They needed all the time they could get to mentally prepare themselves for what was coming.
He went to his office and sat down hard into his chair. He shook his head and tried to clear his mind. Where to begin? he thought. He turned to the coffee maker that was always on and poured a cup of the black mud that passed for coffee there. It was hot, strong and loaded with caffeine to help counter the effects of the scotch that Mitchell had kept pouring. Roberts sighed as he sipped the coffee and ran over the information that Mitchell had given him.
This wasn’t going to be easy, but it was what it was. Groom Lake had a new base commander and with him came a new group of people whose job was…well, damned important. And they are given priority. Period. Yeah, that was a good beginning. Then he could expand and eventually explain about the whole monster thing and the upcoming attack and…Roberts sighed again.
This was not going to be easy.
*****
Laura collapsed in the chair in her office and breathed a heavy sigh of relief. She yawned and stretched, her body protesting as she reached for the ceiling. She heard a slight knock at her door and shook her head. Does it never end?
“Enter,” she called softly.
Diane stuck her head in with a sheepish smile. “Sorry to bother you.” She stepped into the office, but held the door ajar. “I was wondering if I could pick your brain a moment.”
Laura waved her in. “Sure.” Her curiosity was piqued, but her fatigue was almost to the ‘don’t give a shit’ level. “I’m not sure there’s much left after a day like today, but whatever’s left of my brain is yours.”
Diane smirked and nodded. “Completely understandable. It’s amazing what all your people have accomplished in such a short time.”
“They’re definitely compelled.”
Diane seemed beside herself and wasn’t sure where to start. Laura gave her an expectant look and the major paced her small office. “I know that Colonel Mitchell made an arrangement with General McAfee to have Colonel Anderson returned to the base,” she began. Laura simply watched her, convincing her to continue with her eyes. “I had a message in my voicemail from the general when I got back to my office.” She finally turned to Laura, her face worried. “It’s not good.”
“What happened?”
Diane inhaled deeply and spilled it all at once. “It seems that Anderson pulled in some markers. He had a lot of annual leave built up and he found a way to take it. He won’t be coming back here.” She met Laura’s gaze but her eyes radiated fear. “McAfee was out of whatever loop Anderson used so he couldn’t twist his arm.”
Laura slumped back in her chair. “Matt’s not going to like this.”
“I know. And I’m not sure how to tell him without…” she trailed off.
Laura shook her head. “He’s not the type to shoot the messenger, Diane.” Laura stood and stretched again, her back popping when she did it. “God, what I wouldn’t give for a ten hour rack tour,” she muttered. “If you’d feel better, I can tell him. He’s used to getting bad news from me.”
Diane considered it but shook her head. “No, I appreciate the offer, but I’ll do it.” She slid into a chair, her body language indicating defeat. “I guess if he’s used to hearing bad news from you, he better get used to hearing it from me as well.”
Laura snorted a laugh and patted her shoulder. “That’s the Monster Squad spirit.”
Diane gave her a lame smile. “I’m not Monster Squad, remember?”
“If Matt trusts you enough to bring you in to the fold, then you’re MS material Major.” Laura reached into her desk drawer and pulled out a folder that she had been carrying with her for months. It held her resignation letter. She needed only to sign it and she was no longer a part of the team. But she had promised Matt she would stay until this threat was handled. Now that he had Mark waiting in the wings, she wondered if he would still hold her to that promise.
She glanced at Diane and her heart went out to the pretty young major. “You know, he’s going to need you a lot more in the near future.”
“Why do you say that?” Diane could tell that her comment had a much deeper meaning.
Laura stared out her window, her mind elsewhere. “Things are changing, and he doesn’t do well with change. He’s a creature of habit,” she stated simply. “He’s officially in charge of the base and that position should be going to somebody who is career oriented. He’s not.”
“You’re implying that Colonel Mitchell isn’t a career man?” Diane couldn’t quite believe what Laura was saying.
Laura turned and scrutinized her. She shook her head. “No, Matt Mitchell is focused on one thing, Major. Monsters. He never wanted something like this.” She waved her hands to indicate their new surroundings. “That’s why he’s going to need you.” She turned back to her window and took in the base at night, the bright lights, the crews still working as if it were daytime. “I’ll be leaving soon and even though he may have someone to step in and fill my shoes…”
Diane nodded. “He doesn’t do well with change,” she finished for her softly.
Laura nodded. “So do me a favor?”
Diane nodded. “Sure. Anything.”
“Keep an eye on him. Keep him…grounded.”
Diane studied her a moment before nodding. “Okay. I can do that for you.”
“Thank you.” Laura slipped the folder back into her desk drawer.
“You care about him, don’t you?”
Laura looked up and caught her expression. She smiled an
d shook her head. “Not like that, Major. He’s more like a father figure to me, or a very good friend. Perhaps even a confidant. But there is nothing romantic.”
“I understand.” She got up and prepared to go. “And yes, I’ll keep an eye on him.” She opened the door and stepped out. “I better find him and break the bad news. I know he was really looking forward to busting Anderson’s balls.”
“Maybe next time,” Laura quipped.
“Maybe,” Diane said. “Of course, maybe next time we can hold him down while he does it.” She shot her an evil smile as she closed the door.
*****
“The uplink is connected, Colonel,” the technician reported as he observed the screen. “We have control of all three birds.”
“How do they read, Sergeant?” Matt asked, pacing behind the bank of computer terminals.
“So far, sir…five by five.”
The computer operator next to him was typing furiously at his keyboard and suddenly looked up. “It will take a few more minutes to redirect them to the coordinates, Colonel.”
“Very well,” Matt said. “Are we sure the sensors will detect it down here?”
The third technician didn’t bother looking up before shaking his head and sighing slightly. “Sir, we’ve tested them repeatedly. They’ll detect it. Especially at night.”
“I don’t like doing this at night, gentlemen,” Matt paced nervously, “it leaves us open to observers.”
Spalding was just outside of the operational area and tried to set the colonel’s nerves at ease. “Colonel, every squad member that is available is out there right now ensuring that nobody is watching. We’ve got people from all of the teams combing the areas where the UFO nuts usually hang out searching for them. They’ve got all sorts of gear looking for anything electronic. If anybody left a camera running or a motion activated device, a sensor, an electronic something…they’ll find it.”
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