Revenge's Web (Kieran Grey Psionic Hunter)

by R. B. Fivecoat

  His eyes glared daggers up at me. “You GCP bullies and your unearned authority! Be damned if I’ll bow down to you freaks and your tyranny!”

  Everything went into slow motion. Ren opened her mouth to speak with her hands up as if to stop me. The cop I had on the ground moved his free hand and snuck it inside his coat to pull his gun.

  He pointed the barrel up at my head while he was still on his knees.

  I watched him start to pull the trigger.

  Let him, my shields will stop the bullet, and If he shoots me, I’ll break every bone in both his hands, then we’ll see who’s the freak!

  The hammer on the revolver pulled back.

  Brilliant blue-white light slammed into the Detective, tearing him away from my grasp. He fell in an unconscious heap. I turned to look at where the light had come from, at Cassie.

  She stood there, still in the blanket and my coat, sipping her hot cocoa with one hand while staring straight into the park. The other hand had the compact pulse gun in it, pointed behind her at my direction. Every cop in the area was staring at her, eyes wide and jaws open.

  This little girl just shot a cop in plain sight and no one’s saying a thing. What would they say anyway?

  “What the hell was that?” Ren asked me under her breath afraid to move.

  “Pulse gun blast. Like a high tech Taser. He should be alive, just knocked out for the next three hours or so,” I explained softly.

  “How could she shoot behind her like that?”

  “Rearview,” Cassie said plainly, putting up the pulse gun to cradle her cocoa with both hands again.

  Her REARVIEW!?! She shot that accurately using the rearview in the glasses? Hell, I can’t do that! Christ, I never even thought to try that!

  “I was going to say something to him for you, but. . . .” Ren was like the others, still watching Cassie very carefully.

  “Really? I was just going to break both his hands,” I said with a shrug.

  Ren turned to scowl at me. “That’s exactly why the rest of the department doesn’t want to work around you! They’re all afraid that you’ll lose your temper and hurt them, or even kill them. No offence or anything, but you really need to work on controlling your temper. Everyone knows what happened with that rookie at the hospital. All the cops in town are either angry at you, or terrified of you.”

  “Sorry, I’ll try to be better. Are you ready to go then?” I asked hastily, desperate to change the subject.

  She held her scowl for a full minute, then it faded and she gave a nod. “I suppose so.”

  “Good. Cassie,” I called to her. She walked backwards towards us, never looking away from the park. When she was beside me she stopped walking. “Alright, we’re going in now. You see anything?”

  “There are faint heat signatures moving deep within the park. It is impossible to distinguish what they are, or their numbers from this location. What are your orders?”

  She sounded so serious and grown up. It was like a drill sergeant explaining a SITREP. Coming from her it sounded very wrong. She was devoted to her job, and so serious. It scared me. This little adorable thing was scaring me.

  “We should take them alive if we can. Maybe we can stop Jacob tonight,” Ren said, now standing beside us pulling on a bulletproof vest over her thick coat.

  I’m not sure how well the vest will hold up against vampires and werewolves. Not to mention giant mutant spiders. But, I guess it’s better than nothing.

  “Right. Cassie your primary task is to keep Detective Michaels safe at all costs. After that, we want to take them alive. Don’t kill them.”

  “Affirmative,” she acknowledged, taking off the blanket and putting it and the last of the cocoa on the hood of the car. She reached inside the coats, pulling out the pulse gun and a straight blade.

  The penguin was now armed.

  “Is she always that cute?” Ren asked in a whisper to me.

  “No, at times she’s much, much cuter.”

  * * *

  I gave Ren my glasses so she could use the thermal mode when we entered the park. The three of us started in from the main entrance. The thick, heavy snowfall made it impossible to see very far in front of us. Walkways had been shoveled through the park, so at least we didn’t have to trek through the deep snow. That was a good thing, the snow was almost waist deep on me in places. It would have practically buried Cassie.

  I was on point. Now there was something wrong with that. Cassie and Ren flanked me one on each side with thermal enhanced vision. That left me out in front, barely able to see five feet away through the densely falling snow. The only reason I went first was simply because I was the most likely to survive a sneak attack of the three of us.

  What fun! I’m going to start carrying a spare pair of glasses from now on . . . and maybe a tank or two.

  Once we were a little ways inside the park, the noises of the city disappeared, as did the hypnotically flashing lights from the police cars. Everything was coated in a thick blanket of white, and quiet. The only real noise came from our breathing and the crunch of the snow underfoot. It was peaceful. The calm before the storm.

  I’d bet Vicki would like it here. If the place wasn’t crawling with homicidal creatures that is.

  “The body is to the left, just behind the wall fountain,” Ren whispered in my ear, while pointing over my shoulder.

  You know, I’d bet they already know we’re here with their superhuman senses and all, so what’s with the whispering? Is she afraid to disturb the snow? Maybe worried about waking Frosty the snowman?

  A ten-foot-tall concrete wall held shelves of ice where the different fountains on it had frozen over. It was the first real blind spot that we came to, if you didn’t count the descending snow that cut visibility to only a few feet. I walked wide to the right, pulse gun up and ready. The body was only four feet from the path in an area that the snow had been trampled down underfoot right next to the wall of ice. I kept my gun up scanning around us as we crossed the snow to the body. The snow was deep enough that I had trouble trekking through it regardless of the short skirt. Then I remembered Cassie.

  I glanced back at her. She was stumbling in the deep snow that came up above her chest. I started to go to her, then she moved over into the tracks I had made. The snow had been pushed down when I walked through it. Cassie was taking advantage of the low spots.

  “Just like the others. Branded and liquefied. Christ, the body’s still warm! Anyone see anything?” Ren was kneeling next to the body scanning the ground around her. Cassie was guarding our rear.

  I was the farthest out in the snow. There were recent tracks all around us being filled with new snow. Then I saw something. A few feet away on the other side of the deep snow was a depression that snaked off.

  “Hold here, let me look at something.” I made my way through the deep snow to the depression. It was another set of tracks. It looked like they had jumped over the snow to hide their tracks. “There’s a good set of tracks over here. Look, I’m going to follow these, see where they lead. You two go on ahead to the overlook. I’ll catch up.”

  “I don’t like splitting up. Are you sure?” Ren was still whispering, but loud enough now that I could hear her even a few feet away like I was.

  “Yeah, I’ll only be a few minutes. Go on ahead.”

  “Please be careful Big Sister,” Cassie pleaded over her shoulder, never taking her focus off the task at hand.

  “You too,” I said and took off following the tracks.

  I had no idea where I was going. I’d never been inside River Park before. After walking for a while I looked behind me. All I could see was the wall of snow, and it was getting claustrophobically dark away from the lights of the path. It was dark, cold, and too damn quiet to be out by myself.

  Now I regret leaving the others. What was I thinking? Werewolves and vampires could probably track me easier right now than I could them, and who knows what a giant spider can do!?

  Fear shivered i
tself down my spine. I reached into my belt-pack and took out one of the UV chemical flares, activating it with a snap and shake. The bright bluish-purple glow made everything seem a little warmer. I hung the light stick off my badge chain, then spun it around to hang off my back. I’ve still got the light to see by, and it would discourage an attack from behind. At least from a vampire anyway.

  Why does it have to be so quiet?

  The isolation was a little too much. I kept following the tracks until they stopped at another shoveled path. Even with the lighter snow on the path, it was impossible to tell where they had gone.

  Great, just great! Now which way did they go? I forced myself to remember the map Ren had shown me earlier while I reoriented myself as best I could in the frosty static. To the left was the entrances, to the right was the overlook. I think. Which way did they go? Well this being alone crap is not worth it. I decided to head down the path to the overlook to join the others. I kept scanning the sides of the once shoveled walkway for signs that Jacob’s group had left the path. I never saw any.

  I tried just once to see with a shield-bubble. The violet glow was so erratic with the falling snow, it was almost blinding. There was no way I was going to be able to find anything that way. Determined now, I took off running for the overlook with the random path lights to guide me.

  If anything’s gonna jump out at me it’s just as likely to do it with me running as with me walking. I’d might as well catch up to the others at the overlook. It can’t be that far.

  The overlook was a large half circle that extended out over the river. I reached the steps to the circle sooner than I’d thought I would. The tracks must have crossed country to leave me closer to it than I had realized. The overlook was well lit, but the heavy snowfall still made for poor visibility. Benches and tables dotted the overlook. I wove my way around the tables, half expecting to be jumped at any time.

  When I reached the railing I began to follow it around. I heard the river just off to my left about ten feet below. With the cold, the river would’ve frozen against the banks, but by the sound of it the center of the river still flowed openly and deep.

  Where’s Ren and Cassie?

  Voices carried from in front of me. I couldn’t make out who or what they were saying. Is it Ren and Cassie waiting for me? It took me a few more steps to see the first shapes through the snow.

  Over eight feet tall each and covered in fur, the two werewolves stood by the railing. I glanced behind them at the rail just in time to see the back end of a giant hairless black spider nearly as big as a compact car go over the edge.

  That proves it to me, a giant spider is definitely responsible.

  I approached the wolves slowly. I couldn’t tell if there were others around or not. It would have looked bad to get attacked from behind just because I was not being careful.

  When I was almost within reaching distance, a small pocket of ice that had been covered by the snow abruptly cracked under my foot. Both werewolves jerked their heads to stare right at me. Growls and howling filled the quiet air. I dropped to one knee and took aim. I fired at the closest one. Three rounds from the pulse gun slammed into its chest as quick as I could pull the trigger. The werewolf stumbled for a second then started to fall. The second werewolf jumped over the first at me. I lifted my gun to fire. Several rounds of blue-white plasma erupted from the curtain of snow, driving the werewolf to the ground.

  “We’re here!” Ren yelled.

  I couldn’t see them, but they must have been close enough to see me with the thermal glasses. I stood up and moved to look at our wolves. They were collapsed on top of each other, completely out of it. Moving to the rail I glanced over gun first, hoping that I could see where the spider had gone, but not the spider itself. I couldn’t see anything, not even the water below.

  “KEIRAN!!!” the warning was screamed from a hidden voice in the snow.

  I started to turn, then I heard it coming. Something big, fast, and pissed. I grabbed the Glock as I turned, just in case I couldn’t get off three rounds from the pulse gun in time. Both guns barely got up before the beast erupted through the snowfall close enough to see. The white werewolf with the tribal markings was rushing me on all fours, snapping snarling fangs with each step.

  Plasma hit the beast from the side. Cassie was apparently trying to shoot it. I fired myself, hitting the beast in the shoulder.

  It never slowed.

  It was too close.

  I pulled both triggers. Plasma hitting one shoulder, the regular silver hollow-point bullet hitting the other as it lunged at me.

  “BIG SISTER!!!” Cassie screamed.

  I put up my arms by reflex an instant before the werewolf hit me.

  I was too close to the waist-high rail, and the wolf made me top-heavy.

  We went tumbling over the side. I rushed to grab onto the werewolf before we plunged into the icy water. The current of the water carried us down stream rapidly. I had to fight to hold the thrashing werewolf with me under the water. It twisted and turned, being held by my shields. The three shots from the plasma-guns hadn’t even slowed it down.

  The headache and fatigue came crashing in, startling me without warning. The world was immediately swimming around me. A damp cold began to seep in through my shields. I was losing it. Holding the werewolf, keeping out the cold and the water, it was all just too much. I only had seconds to decide what to do.

  I let go.

  The werewolf was dragged away downstream.

  Using my shields I pushed myself up out of the water. Once clear, I took a feel better cocktail. The mixture lived up to its cheesy name and made me feel better in seconds.

  Well, that was fun. In a sadistic, life-threatening way. I have a feeling no one would buy tickets for the ride though.

  Chapter 13

  I flew down river a while, trying to see the white werewolf. It was impossible to see anything through the snow and the rushing ice-water. The current had pulled him away from me, and I’d lost him.

  Damn!

  Following the river again, I flew back to the overlook. Cassie was standing on the balls of her feet, dangerously balanced on the rail looking around towards the water below.

  “BIG SISTER!!!” she screamed with joy as she saw me approach.

  I landed on the overlook next to her. She jumped from the rail into my arms hugging me tightly. Too tight. I had to push against her with my shields to keep from being crushed under an unnatural strength no child her size should have.

  “These two are out cold. Cassie shot them both a few extra times to keep them out. Why didn’t your guns work on the other one? And what happened to the white werewolf? Didn’t you two go into the river together?” Ren asked while looking around like I was hiding the beast behind my back.

  “I . . . I lost him. It was too much to fight against the river and hold on to him both. I had to let him go so I wouldn’t drown. Sorry. Did anyone else see the spider?”

  “Nnnoooo, was there one? There was no sign of the spider other than the weird tracks. . . .” The Detective squirmed against the shiver that ran down her back. Then an instant later she was back to being all cop. “Well, we have these two. At least that’s something.”

  Cassie tore herself out of my arms suddenly as if something had startled her. Instantly she was drawing her gun and crouching to aim off into the depths of the snow. A second later I heard movement behind me. Something was coming. Ren and I both joined her, drawing guns aiming out into the snow towards the approaching noise.

  “Detective Michaels? This is Brannigan with SWAT. Are you okay?” Four armored SWAT officers stepped forward with slow caution through the snow.

  We all relaxed putting our guns up. Ren walked up to greet the officers.

  “Glad you could make it. No injuries on our side. We have two werewolves to be taken into custody here. And, we need to sweep the rest of the park.”

  “Rest of the park is being cleared as we speak Ma’am. Boys, secure the pris
oners.” The three other SWAT members rushed in to shackle the werewolves. “We captured a handful of teenage thugs at the North end of the park. Shall we keep them in custody?”

  Ren never stopped for a second to consider it. “Yes, for now hold them under suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder. There’s enough circumstantial evidence for that. After we question them, then we’ll decide how and if to charge them. Just take everyone to the station, I’ll sort it all out there.”

  “Yes Ma’am.”

  “Kieran, you up to questioning them tonight?” she asked me over her shoulder while she supervised the restraining of the unconscious werewolves.

  Why not? Thoughts of seeing that spider crawling over the wall will keep me up anyway. “Sure, we’ll meet you at the station then.”

  “Just wait in my office, I’ll be there shortly.”

  We left Ren with the SWAT members in the snow. Cassie wanted to walk back down the other path so she could see the rest of the park. What could be seen through the wall of falling snow anyway. Halfway back to the main entrance we were in that secluded area. No noise other than us breathing and the crunch of fresh snow underfoot, only the lights of the path and the falling snow around us, peaceful.

  Strange that this was all the scene of a girl’s murder only a short while ago.

  “I think it’s pretty with all the snow. I never got to train much in the snow. Once, Master Yuric took me into the high country to teach me some maneuvers for an arctic confrontation. That was the only time I ever was in the snow before. It sure is cold though.”

  “Are you warm enough?”

  “I’ll be fine. I heal fast, and I never really get sick for more than an hour or so. But it would be nice to warm up again.”

  Poor kid. I need to get her a winter coat. Then maybe we’ll all take a day and go sledding or something. Since I’m not in that overweight body anymore, I might even try skiing. Kiddy slope only. No sense in killing myself while on vacation. I have enough problems staying alive at work as it is.