by Tim Wheat
Sounds of battle and long bursts of full automatic gunfire now echoed closer to the room. The Fuhrer’s chief of security approached Hoff and spoke in anger.
“You knew the Fuhrer had enemies, and you promised to be prepared should they choose to attack. Germany will hold you responsible should…”
A vicious blow from the back of Dietrich Hoff’s hand interrupted the well-built SS officer. It sent the man sprawling from the raised platform, and he landed fifteen feet away at the feet of the official German leader. A pin drop could have been heard in the ballroom except for the withering sound of heavy gunfire just outside its walls.
“GERMANY. GERMANY.” Hoff accosted the microphone, throwing it unceremoniously to the ground as Hans removed Angela from her seat. He nodded to Hoff, who acknowledged that their imminent escape with a nod of his own. Dietrich Hoff stood before the people he had invited, arms outstretched, his face pointed towards the sky. He exclaimed the final sentence without the aid of electronics, but his voice echoed with equal bluster in every corner. “I AM GERMANY..”
At that instant an enormous explosion rocked the west wall of the compound. The sound of heavy gunfire ceased. Women screamed and men began to clamor for the opposite side of the room. No chivalry existed as German guards burst through the back doors and withered under the hail of gunfire from the men entering through the hole.
“HOFF. HOFF.”
An eerie silence came over the guests as the dust settled and an apparition appeared through the cloud. Men cowered behind tables, and women wept. Upon hearing the voice both Dietrich Hoff and Hans stood, frozen in place, just behind the podium.
“It couldn’t be,” was all Hoff could mutter.
“Rick, my buddy.” Edward Rex Chase entered the room. His face bloodied, his body covered in gray dust, and armed to the teeth, he also wore a strange uniform adorned with Falschirmjager patches. “Did you miss me?”
*******************
63.
“I think we’re OK. I haven’t seen a soldier in a few minutes.”
Poppen and Alexei had found a natural depression in the land, and hidden themselves with its cover. Just a few seconds later, they watched Chase and Ahiga enter the building after decimating the enemy forces with the 105mm cannons. Now, and for the last five minutes, the western front of the battle had been quiet.
“I think you’re right. Is our next plan to help the boys?” Alexei Chase spoke in a hushed tone, and Poppen appreciated being asked his opinion instead of being issued an order.
“It looks to me like Rex shot up that little wall for a purpose. We have some RDX right?” Poppen could see the logic behind Chase’s action, but wanted to get the job done right.
“Yeah, I have some, but I think we need to get out of here. I can see some men heading back in this direction.”
“We’ll head straight away from them. It’ll be just fine.” Poppen’s voice no longer quivered, and his poise while under fire surprised even himself. “I just want to put some bigger holes in their conductor.”
“Fine, let’s just get it done fast.”
The two men stayed low, and attempted to move in the shadows as they began their maneuver. Poppen stopped at a guard tower and unpacked the explosives. Ten Germans were now moving in their general direction, and as Poppen planted the charges, Alexei became nervous.
“We’ve been in this spot too long,” Alexei spoke in a hushed voice. “They’re fifty yards away.”
“I need another minute. This is a tower with a machine gun. They’re out in the open. You shouldn’t have any…”
A gunshot rang in their ears. Three German soldiers had flanked their rear, and Alexei ascended the ladder into the tower with lightning quickness. As bullets whizzed through the confined space he unleashed a devastating wave of firepower on the enemy. Within a few seconds he had dispatched of the three men to their rear, and moved his focus to the soldiers to the north. They had tried to find what little cover they could, but Alexei’s weapon was an efficient purveyor of death. The entire engagement had lasted less than thirty seconds, and the elder Chase let the heavy machine gun go silent.
“Bobby? Bobby.”
Alexei descended the ladder with trepidation, and confirmed his worst fears. Lying on the ground, blood bubbling from a wound in his chest, was Bob Poppen. He knelt at his side, wiping the blood from the young man’s uniform.
“You’re alright kid. It’s just a scratch.”
“Doesn’t feel like a scratch. Take my shirt off, we’ve got to see what it looks like.” Poppen’s voice exuded a remarkable calm considering the situation. “I believe some pressure is in order.”
“I don’t care what’s in order; I can’t take care of you here.” Alexei picked the smaller man up, slinging him over his shoulder. “The doc was with Rex and Chief. That’s where we’re heading.”
Poppen groaned as the pressure from being lifted sent a wave of pain throughout his body. Alexei Chase began to run, and Bobby grunted with every step. It was not a smooth ride.
“I could use some shocks up here.”
His voice was already weak, and it caused Alexei to move with even more speed.
“Hang on, kid,” he muttered under his breath. “Hang on.”
*******************
64.
Dietrich Hoff moved with remarkable speed for a man his age. Upon seeing his nemesis Rex Chase, he exited the main ballroom without hesitation. Hans followed a close distance behind, though slowed a bit by the now combative Angela Sarff.
Two of the Fuhrer’s guards ferried the recognized supreme German leader from the room as well, while the remaining soldiers fought the intruders. Chase and Ahiga moved with incredible coordination and determination. It was as if they had been a fighting team their entire lives.
“We have to get Hoff.” Ahiga yelled above the sound of small arms fire and shrieking women, as he and Chase took cover behind an overturned table. “I’d bet my life he’s going to fire that weapon before he leaves.”
“Don’t worry; it’s all part of the plan.” Chase’s voice was loud, but in control. “How many guys are we fighting over there anyway?”
“Maybe three?” Ahiga peeked around the corner and a flurry of 9mm projectiles greeted him . “Could be four.”
“Four?” Chase loosed a broad smile. “We can take four thugs with our eyes shut. On the count of three I say we both open up with the…”
Chase was interrupted by the sound of Ahiga’s Beretta spewing death. The automatic weapon spat hot lead for just a few seconds before going silent. A nonchalant look on his face, Chief looked down at his best friend.
“Well, we can’t spend all day sitting here talking. Let’s go.”
“I was going to count.” Rex and Chief were already moving through the dismayed crowd of people. Some seemed injured, while others cowered, frozen in fear. “Next time I say I’m going to count, you should let me count.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
The two men moved through the double doors leading to the staging room Hoff and Angela had occupied earlier. Finding it empty, and a door on the southern end of the room open, they decided to follow their instincts, and moved to the south. An eerie quiet had enveloped the compound. Outside, the gunfire and explosions had all but ceased, and inside, even the remaining guests were now holding their positions in silence.
“I’ll clear this next doorway.”
Chase moved to the threshold of the adjoining room, and checked for the telltale scalar antenna. He had been studying the building, but had seen no signs of the advanced scalar force field technology. Only the barrel of his gun showed through the opening, but a voice from the other side addressed the two men anyway.
“I was going to start installing them tomorrow.”
“That’s too bad.” Chase took a bold step into a possible line of fire after recognizing Hoff’s voice. “I would have enjoyed using the fields against you again.”
Chase and Ahiga entered th
e massive room where Dietrich Hoff and Hans had staged the trigger apparatus for their weapon. An enormous aquarium was the focal point of the space. It mimicked a river system, and entered the room from the left, ran the width of the space, and exited the area to the right. The sound of rushing water made the area seem peaceful, but Chase was not here for peace.
“Do you like my Amazon River display?” Hoff’s voice was cordial, as if the boys had come for a tour. A staircase to the left ascended the ten feet to the top of the tank, and a bridge connected it to the platform Hoff stood upon. He wore the grin of a madman as he spoke again. “I so enjoyed my trip to South America that I had one built here, and in many of my other homes as well.”
“It’s very nice. Where is Hans?”
“George.” Angela Sarff managed to loosen Hans’ grip from her mouth long enough to hail her beloved. He smacked her across the face sending her sprawling.
“Let the girl go.” Ahiga’s voice exuded rage, and he fought to control it. “Let her go and I’ll give you a head start.”
“Maybe I’ll have my way with her a few more times before we part ways.” Hans shifted his eyes from Chase to Ahiga as he pondered his next move. “I doubt she could be any sweeter than young Mary Elizabeth, though.” Both Hoff and Hans’ laughter echoed throughout the room as Chase and Ahiga bristled in anger.
“Why don’t you come down here and try to have your way with me, Hans?” Immense hatred welled inside of Rex Chase, but he masked it well. “I’ll even put down my guns so we can have a fair fight.”
“That sounds fantastic.” Hans removed his shirt and started making his way toward the staircase before being stopped by Hoff.
“Take it easy now, boys. We can get them out and measure in a minute.” Hoff paused a moment before continuing. “Did you know I had the piranhas for this tank flown in from the Amazon River? They are quite remarkable creatures. It seems that you don’t need to feed them for weeks, or even months, but when we do. Well, let’s just say, it’s frenzied.”
“Let’s just shoot them.” Ahiga lowered his voice enough so that just Chase could hear.
“We can’t yet. We need more information.”
“Come on now gentlemen. We have no secrets in this room.” Hoff made the statement while moving to a chair in the center of the platform. Two iron pillars ornately engraved with ancient text flanked the seat and in front of him sat a mechanical device that resembled a typewriter. “Do you know what this is?”
“If I were a betting man, I’d wager that it was some sort of triggering mechanism for your scalar weapon.” Chase knew what he was looking at. “I’m guessing you can punch coordinates into that machine, and incinerate entire cities.”
“Your deduction is most excellent, Mr. Chase.” Hoff clapped his hands together. “I knew you were a smart fellow. It’s too bad about your friend. His equation was so very helpful to the advancement of my project.”
“Which friend would that be?”
“Oh, what did she tell me his name was? Bobby. Robert. It was something like that. You Americans have such boring names.” Hoff adjusted himself in his seat as he spoke. “Whatever it was, I was sorry to hear of his passing.”
“It seems someone misinformed you, Rick.” Chase emphasized the name he knew Hoff to abhor. “I jumped out of an airplane with Bobby Poppen about a half an hour ago.”
“Is that so?” If the news surprised Hoff he didn’t show it. “Well, that is no matter now. Would you like to see me destroy Boston?”
“You’re one sick son of a…” George’s anger gripped him for a moment before he regained his composure while Hoff loosed a maniacal laugh.
“Yes, yes. I’ve already killed young Chase’s lover. Soon Angela here will be dead, and your parents as well. It’s been a very satisfying week for me.”
“If you’re so confident, fire the thing up.” Chase delivered the words with supreme poise and Hoff’s demeanor showed a slight change.
“You would order the death of your own parents with such ease? I think I’m starting to like you, Edward Rex Chase. Your wish is my command.”
“I do have more questions for you, though.” Chase attempted to delay Hoff a moment longer, and succeeded.
“I’m afraid they’ll have to be quick. I need to get going.” Hoff stopped punching coordinates into the trigger and leaned back in his chair. “What would you like to know?”
“I’d like to know why you think you can outsmart Mother Nature?” Chase’s question struck an obvious chord as Hoff shifted in his chair. “I mean, which one of your idiot scientists told you that ringing your estate with iron walls and creating a large bowl shaped antenna would mimic the naturally occurring sites you use elsewhere? They have millions upon millions of tons of iron ore to conduct the scalar energy and modify the magnetic field. You have what, a hundred thousand tons? You’re pathetic.”
“It will work. They assured me it would work.” Hoff’s words lacked conviction as doubt crept into his mind.
“Of course they told you that, Rick. They were afraid you’d kill them otherwise. Fear isn’t a great replacement for outright loyalty though, right Hans?” Chase stalled, but Hoff wouldn’t bite.
“Don’t answer that, Hans. He is planning something devious.” Hoff began punching numbers into the mechanism once again. “I killed all of those imbeciles, and I will kill you and all your friends. You will see my absolute power, right now.”
Angela Sarff cried as Hans laughed. Ahiga stared outside, expecting a larger scale version of what Chase had performed on the submarine. Dietrich Hoff licked his lips in anticipation. All the while, Rex Chase stood firm, a slight upturn of his top lip, eyes never leaving Hoff. A few seconds passed before he spoke.
“Something wrong, Rick?”
“They told me it would work. They told me it would work.” Hoff slammed his fist through the mechanism while rising to his feet. “Kill them, Hans. Kill them.”
Hans pushed Angela Sarff in the direction of Hoff before leaping from the platform, over the water, and landing in a tuck and roll position on the ground below. Chase dropped his weapons, and met the smaller man before he completed the dangerous maneuver. The two fell in a crumpled heap to the floor, Hans’ teeth gnashing while he clawed at Chase’s eyes.
Ahiga also moved with a purpose. He ascended the stairs to the platform, covering the short distance in two seconds, but upon reaching the top, stopped dead in his tracks. Dietrich Hoff stood only fifteen feet away, a six inch blade nestled against the neck of George’s beloved.
“Do it and you’ll be the next to die.” George’s voice was calm, but foreboding as the sounds of the fight below filled the room. “Let her go, and I promise I’ll help finish Hans first.”
“You know something?” Hoff moved the blade down Angela’s neck. “It occurs to me that I haven’t fed my fish in quite some time.”
Dietrich Hoff moved his knife in a swift motion across the upper chest of Angela Sarff, inflicting a deep cut. Blood poured from the wound, and as he finished the slice with his left hand, he pushed her into the open river tank with his right. The water around her broiled as the fish with razor sharp teeth got a taste of her blood. Hoff loosed a maniacal laugh as he turned and exited through a rear door, while George Ahiga followed his love into the water.
On the ground Chase was having a more difficult fight than he had expected. Hans was a skilled grappler, and many times had gotten the larger man in compromising positions. Only Chase’s overpowering physicality had saved him from death at the hands of the wiry little man. Rex gulped deep breaths and noticed Hans was not doing the same. A disconcerted air of confidence seemed to be emanating from the professional killer.
Almost out of nowhere, however, Hans made a mistake. In an attempt to break Chase’s right arm, he had left himself open to blows from the left. Rex took full advantage, bringing the diminutive attacker closer by pulling his right arm in, while delivering savage hammer fists with his left. Hans absorbed blow after blow, bef
ore Chase could feel his grip loosen. Ripping his right arm free of the small German’s vice like grasp, Rex stood and delivered a vicious knee to the face of his foe. Hans’ body went limp and Chas breathed a sigh of relief as the foe passed into unconsciousness.
Above their fight, George entered the water blind. He jumped where he thought Angela would be, but the frenzied animals, or the tank’s current, must have already moved her. Ahiga thrashed against the beasts which seemed to be attacking him from every angle. He felt no pain, though, and the amount of blood in the water seemed minimal. Then he bumped into Angela. She was still fighting the fish and George moved with the lightning reflexes of a well-trained soldier.
Before she knew what was happening, Angela Sarff felt one powerful hand wrap around her thigh, while another wrapped around the back of her neck. She flew from the water, and landed, sputtering, on the platform above. The water below her thrashed for a moment longer, and then seemed to slow. She peered over the edge when a voice startled her from behind.
“They are pretty neat fish.”
She turned to see her love George, looking more like a drowned rat than her savior, in his wool uniform, a broad smile adorning his face.
“George.”
Angela threw her arms around his neck as he lifted her from the ground with ease and they shared a deep kiss. Chase stood on the ground below, keeping an eye on the unconscious Hans, while planning their next move.
“Hey guys, you wanna come down here for a second? I think we still have some work to finish.”
Ahiga pulled away from Angela, but carried her in his arms down the steps, and set her down next to Chase.
“Angela, I’d like you to meet my best friend. Edward Rex Chase.”
“It is very nice to meet you.” She curtseyed as Chase kissed her outstretched hand.
“The honor is all mine. I’m sorry to break this up, but George, I need you to check out that back door and see if our friend is still anywhere nearby. I think we might…”
