Eximus

by Marcus Wearmouth

  The bunker door opened inwards and a stream of soldiers spilled out. They fanned out around the area in front of the access door. Once they were in position, a large woman emerged from the opening. It was Doctor Cain, the condescending bitch in the same black trouser suit and hair parted neatly to one side. More like a bouncer than scientist.

  Cain approached Avery with her head back and a smile across her face. He remembered that look and bit his lip. She halted two feet in front of Avery. The two women engaged in a brief conversation, words inaudible from this distance. Whatever was said hadn’t pleased Cain and she slapped Avery across the face.

  “Hold,” Matos whispered to the team, they seemed to quiver and strain for action.

  Cain shouted a command and soldiers formed up around Avery. She gave another command and they began beating her.

  “Now,” Matos said.

  Logan and Sean held back, allowing the mine soldiers to exit first. Matos was already closing fast, before the group around Avery had chance to react. He fired short bursts into the bunker soldiers. They reacted slowly, taken by surprise and falling back too late. Cain was running for the door.

  Ortiz led five soldiers around the entrance and isolated gunfire indicated they found resistance. Logan hopped down from the shuttle, followed by Sean. A light wind blew across his face, forewarning a storm.

  “Clear,” Ortiz shouted, from the right hand side of their position.

  Matos had dispatched the soldiers on the ground and now had hold of Cain by the throat. Avery was sitting, holding her ribs and spitting blood.

  “You’re going to take us inside,” Matos said.

  “You hurt?” Logan asked, holding out a hand to Avery.

  “You won’t get in,” Cain shouted.

  Matos pulled out a pistol then pushed the barrel into Cain’s mouth. She tried to scream, eyes wide and nostrils flaring like a horse.

  “Move,” Avery shouted.

  They ran towards the open door of the concrete box. Matos dragging Cain with him, holding her hair with one hand and pistol down her throat in the other. The door opened into a narrow sloping corridor, glowing green with lighting. Avery led the way, followed by Matos and his hostage.

  Their echoing steps in the enclosed space made them sound like an army. Logan held out his hand for balance, feeling the rough concrete wall that cocooned them. Ahead of him, gunfire echoed upwards accompanied by flashes of light.

  Avery was at a large steel door, pushing it open as Logan caught up. The door opened a fraction allowing Matos to throw a grenade into the room.

  She motioned a count of one-two-three with her hands then nodded. The explosion inside pushed the door towards them, the soldiers reacted by pushing it back wide open. Two men ran in with rifles on automatic, spraying the room inside.

  “Clear.”

  Logan followed the others into a circular room, a large concrete pillar in the centre. There were three other yellow painted steel doors around the room. Avery was at the door opposite, placing her hand on a biometric control pad. The door remained closed so she turned and gestured to Matos.

  Matos dragged Cain forward, allowing Avery to grab her hand and place it on the scanner. Cain struggled, even though Matos was pushing the pistol further into her throat. His hand covered in saliva and blood.

  The door hissed and began to open. As it yawned wider, blue clad soldiers streamed through.

  Matos fired into the mass of bodies, but the fallen were pushed aside as more soldiers surged forward. The door opened fully and Matos disappeared in a knot of fighting figures. More soldiers swarmed into the room. They fell upon the mine soldiers, punching, kicking and slashing knives.

  Logan backed away behind the blast door, shamed at leaving Avery, Matos and the others behind. He could see the same feeling written on Sean’s face. They both trembled on the edge of daring.

  Logan reached out and gripped Sean’s jacket. “We can’t leave them.”

  He nodded. “I know.”

  Taking a deep breath, he swung into the room, taking the group in front of him by surprise. Sean followed, firing a burst from his rifle into the men. Logan fired at the bodies on top of Ortiz.

  Cain barged past him and he fell sideways as she squeezed through the blast door opening. A solider closed on him and raised a knife. Logan scrambled backwards until his back hit the wall. The soldier’s head jerked left as a blood splattered Sean swung his rifle butt. Logan fumbled his pistol into his hand then fired at two men reaching for Sean. He took one down but the other connected with a vicious hook.

  Sean dropped to the floor by Logan’s feet. He fired into the second man, riddling him with bullets and ripping him apart. Stray rounds ricocheted off the concrete walls and he ducked to avoid them then tripped over a body.

  Logan climbed to his feet, throwing away the empty pistol. He leapt towards a group that pinned Rodgers, swinging his rifle butt and connecting with a cracking sound. Throwing back his arms and striking again and again. The man dropped like a stone and he scrambled back as another soldier grabbed at his face.

  Logan’s energy was leaking away and he breathed deeply. Lifting slow and heavy arms up to block an attack. He stumbled backwards over a body and a soldier was on him. Shaved head butting his face and strong hands grabbing his neck. Blood sprayed over his face and the soldier relaxed, slumping to the side. Ortiz stood over him, swaying with a bloody knife gripped in his fist. Logan gagged as he scrambled to his knees.

  Matos freed himself and was fighting his way to Avery who lay on the floor surrounded by two soldiers. Logan watched him leap into the air and bring his hands together, forcing the two soldiers heads to smack into each other.

  Elsewhere in the room, he couldn’t recognize who was left from the mine. Blood drenched figures shuffled to regroup among the bodies. Logan slipped on blood as he stood and was helped by Sean and Ortiz.

  “Stay on your feet,” Matos shouted.

  The action had taken less than a minute but the room was now a charnel house. Matos was swooping around the bodies, finishing anyone who made a noise with his knife.

  Logan bent forward as a dry heave clutched his guts. He swallowed and fought it back. Sean couldn’t resist and a lumpy brown mess spewed from his mouth. Logan turned away, hands shaking and desperate to be away from the bloodbath. A tender ball was forming on the side of his head. Sticky blood matted his hair and an ear was hot and swollen.

  “Check magazines then casualties,” Avery said.

  He surveyed the group that was left. They stood breathing heavily, a mixture of confusion and fear in their eyes. Open head wounds and blood dripping down their faces.

  Their injuries were forgotten for a moment when Ortiz identified the bodies of Pettyward, Denyer, Ives and Hasker. He hobbled between them, closing their eyes and touching their foreheads. Sean bent at the waist, hands over his face and shoulders heaving. Avery and Matos were looking each other over, flinching at each other’s bloody faces.

  They were down to a group of eleven. Against a bunker of over two hundred heavily armed and trained military. He half turned for the door, resisting an urge to run. They would never escape on foot now. He coughed and spat. Laid a hand on Sean’s back and willed his body to keep going.

  Avery led the way through the mine entrance, weapon in her shoulder. Matos followed, six mine soldiers in single file behind them. Logan and Sean walked in front of Ortiz who brought up the rear.

  They were in another semi circular tunnel. At the end was circular steel blast door. Logan slowed at the mental image of what lay behind this one. Matos turned and waved the group back into couching positions along the corridor.

  “Fire only if you have line of sight. Do not stand, if you’re overrun, drop to the floor.” Matos said.

  Logan took a knee alongside Sean. His friend was recovered, weapon raised and steady in front of him.

  Avery pushed the door and Logan braced for the rush of soldiers. The blast door inched open to reveal nothing but
the top of a steel staircase. He let out a breath accompanied by sounds of relief from others. Avery moved from her position flat against the wall and edged into the opening, she turned to wave them forward.

  Standing on shaking legs, Logan followed Sean through the opening. They entered a stairwell, an iron grey staircase descended down three flights. Avery was already on the level below, pushing open a double swing door. She threw in a grenade. Matos repeated the action but there was no return fire.

  The hangar inside was enormous with virtual images of exterior scenes hung on the exposed walls. Military vehicles lined up in rows on colored sections of concrete. Matos directed the remaining force into fire positions. Logan followed Avery towards racks of weapons behind a steel fence in the corner.

  “They’ve taken most of the rifles,” Avery said. “That means they’re on red alert. Everyone will be armed.”

  “Don’t worry about what we can’t affect,” Matos said, running up behind them. “Can you get in?”

  “Can you open this door?” Avery asked Sean.

  He walked to the entrance door and fingered its control panel. “I don’t know.”

  “They must be protecting the command centre,” Matos said. “We need to move.”

  “Get it open. Matos take the rest of the men to the stairwell,” Avery said.

  Logan was left with Avery while Sean fiddled with the armory door.

  “How you holding up?” Avery asked.

  Logan couldn’t reply. His mouth was dry, hands shaking and body listless. He tried to fix a blank look on his face but found it curled into a different shape.

  “Just hang in there,” she said.

  Sean opened his roll of tools then selected a knife to lever off the faceplate. Behind them, gunfire echoed across the hangar, Logan turned to see Matos throw a grenade then close the staircase door.

  “Nearly there,” Sean said. “Okay, try it.”

  Logan had expected some sort of unlocking sound, he looked quizzically at Sean.

  “Magnetized,” he said.

  Avery opened the door, darted in and picked up a rocket launcher pod. Logan and Sean each grabbed grenades and followed as she ran towards the group around the door.

  “They’re waiting for us down there.” Matos said.

  Avery pulled open the rectangular container. A control panel appeared as the end slid off onto the floor.

  “Open the door,” she said.

  Matos picked out a grenade, tossing it through the door. At the sound of a muffled explosion, he swung open the door and Avery fired the cannon, angled down. Matos hauled the door closed with a slam.

  The sound behind had a lower pitch that the grenade, Logan looked to Avery for confirmation that was expected.

  “Go,” Matos shouted.

  He swung open the door and ran through the opening, onto the stairs.

  “Ortiz, stay here. Anything moves, shoot it,” Avery said.

  Ortiz looked relieved to be given a deployment. Limping to the edge of the platform and lowering himself down with a grimace. A blood stained leg straightened out in front of him. Logan patted his shoulder as he passed then jogged down the stairs.

  Matos opened the door slightly, pulling it closed as bullets smacked off the steel. The next time he opened it, Avery fired a rocket through the opening. They repeated the action twice more, using different angles until there was no return fire.

  “Go,” Avery said.

  Matos opened the door and ran through the opening, firing his weapon in bursts and rolling on the floor. Two mine soldiers copied his action. Avery left the launcher pod and followed them into the level.

  She ran in a crouch across the corridor then flattened herself against the wall. Logan aimed up the corridor in the opposite direction and almost fired when he saw a Sean appear in a doorway. Avery crawled below a window and stood on the other side looking back. She gestured at Logan to shoot the window. He aimed and pulled the trigger, firing a burst and exploding the glass. Avery spun and fired into the room.

  “Clear,” she shouted.

  “Clear on this side,” Rodgers said.

  “Bring Ortiz down here,” Avery ordered.

  Rodgers nodded and ran back into the staircase.

  “Logan, you and Sean cover the command room door. The rest of us clear this level.”

  “Shoot anyone who comes out of there,” Matos said.

  Logan crouched next to Sean, aimed his rifle at the wooden doors and waited. Neither of them spoke. Logan struggled to maintain a steady aim. He began to panic that no ammunition was left in his rifle. If he changed magazine and the door opened they would be in trouble. There were sounds of sporadic gunfire then Rodgers appeared through the staircase door, carrying an unconscious Ortiz.

  “He’s breathing,” Rodgers said.

  Sean lifted Ortiz’s leg to reduce the blood flow. His puffy eyes were closed and breathing shallow. Rodgers ripped apart the blood soaked trouser leg. Blood oozed from a three inch gash on his thigh. He pulled out a field dressing from his jacket pocket and bound it tightly around the wound.

  Matos burst out from round the corridor corner. Behind him at walking pace, came four bunker soldiers, all unarmed with their hands in the air. Avery and two mine soldiers followed, their rifles pointing towards the captives.

  “Anything happen?” Matos asked.

  “All quiet,” Logan replied.

  Matos nodded, eyes flicking toward Ortiz. He turned to the closest captive soldier. Shifted his weight a fraction then floored the man with a right cross. The other hostages took a step back.

  “Who’s in the command centre?”

  A man in a lab coat took a hesitant step forward. “Since Commander Avery left the facility, there’s been chaos.”

  “It’s Lucas isn’t it?” Avery said.

  “Yes Commander.”

  “Lucas is a chemical engineer,” Avery said. “Where’s Daniels?”

  “He’s been holed up on level three since yesterday”

  “What about the rest?” Matos asked.

  “Some are hiding. Some tried to follow you out and were shot. That’s when Daniels tried to take over but there was a firefight.”

  Matos was studying the command room door, he tested the handle and it opened. Gesturing everyone back, he swung the door fully open. Logan couldn’t see anyone inside from his position.

  Creeping forward, Matos edged into the command centre and for a split second disappeared. Moments later he came stumbling backwards out of the room. A muscular giant burst through the opening, catching Matos off balance and punching him in the face. Matos was propelled off his feet and flew backwards against a wall.

  Avery opened fire on a second soldier who raced through the opening, dropping her with two bursts. Firing on automatic, she ran into the command room.

  Logan darted towards Matos. He was locked in an embrace with his foe. Both sets of hands wrapped around each other’s throats. Snarling and spitting towards each other. Logan smacked his rifle butt against the man’s head. Staggering him for a moment and allowing Matos time to draw a pistol and fire. The soldiers head jerked backwards and he slumped lifeless to the floor.

  “Clear,” Avery shouted.

  Logan gaped as he followed Sean through the doorway into the command centre. It was like the Starship Enterprise Bridge. Workstations and raised control panels curved around the walls, facing a large blue screen.

  “Mission accomplished,” Avery said, sliding onto a chair at the conference table.

  “Commander, we need to leave,” Lucas said.

  “We’re staying here,” Avery replied. “Sean, these men are under your command. Familiarize yourself with the systems and get us online.”

  “Yes sir,” Sean said.

  “Logan, with me,” Avery said.

  He followed her out into the corridor. They lifted Ortiz and carried him back into the command room.

  “Lucas. Get a medi kit and dress his wounds,” Avery said.

&nbs
p; Logan followed Avery back out into the corridor and onto the staircase. Matos descended from level one, Rodgers followed a few steps behind, carrying a box.

  “Water and chocolate,” Matos said.

  “Sitrep,” Avery asked.

  “There are still armed men on levels three and four. They’re locked down and not attacking.”

  “What about upstairs?”

  “All clear.”

  Matos turned towards the sound of gunfire on level three. He ran down the stairs, Avery following close behind him. She shouted at Rodgers to guard the staircase.

  Logan followed Avery’s trail into a large restaurant. Tables and chairs were strewn across the ground covered with broken glass and scraps of food. There was a commotion at the opposite doorway then a man appeared and shook Avery’s hand. Thick set with blond hair and a bandage strapped to his neck. Behind him, a long line of soldiers trooped into the restaurant.

  “It was the alarm when you left. I woke up from a dream,” the man was saying.

  “Logan, this is Major Daniels,” Avery said.

  Daniels nodded a greeting. His eyes were bloodshot and he seemed on the verge of collapsing. Avery held his arm, smiling at him and the soldiers around them. Matos appeared indifferent, though if Logan was any judge, wasn’t happy.

  “I need ten men with me to empty the armory,” Matos shouted.

  A detachment of Daniels’s soldiers pushed forward. Keen to be moving with purpose. They followed Matos at the double.

  “Have you secured the whole base?” Daniels asked.

  “We have levels one through three.”

  “Where’s Cain?”

  “She escaped.”

  “Shame, I wanted to see her in pain.”

  #

  In the Command Centre, Sean paced behind the raised consoles, reading a flexi screen. A half smile on his face as he deciphered the comms and weapons systems.

  Avery took a seat at the head of the table, Daniels at her right hand. Ortiz sat propped in a chair, pale faced with half lidded eyes. Soldiers were everywhere. Sitting, standing and cleaning weapons. It must be a comfort blanket to clean your weapon. Logan would join them but didn’t know where to start.

  More soldiers returned with sausage bags full of ammunition and pistols, each carrying rocket launchers and respirators. Matos hovered in the entrance, dropping his load and sipping bottled water.