The Most Dangerous Mitch in the Multiverse

by Paul Ormond

  “I think everyone is a little overwhelmed by it. I couldn’t believe it when I first tried it, and I’m still blown away every time I fire up my device. But you’re pretty adept for an old timer. The way I’ve seen you move in the air, you put most of us to shame.”

  “I’m a soldier, always will be. And I was trained to adapt or die. Whatever conditions are thrown at you, find a way to use it to your advantage. If didn’t figure out how to use this stuff, I’d be as useless as Sanchez over there.”

  “Ha, he’s got his uses. It usually involves something illegal, but that’s what we’re dealing with these days.”

  “Speaking of illegal, we’ve arranged your destination. I’m 99% certain everyone we have on the job is someone we can trust, but you never know. If the authorities somehow catch on, everyone is in the wind.”

  “Standard procedure. We know nothing. My people have been briefed. What about the girl, XiaoFan?”

  “I’m going to keep her under my wing. From what I’ve learned, she was already on a few lists in China. It was only a matter of time before she got scooped up. I’ll get her some paperwork and bring her into the system. There’s no going back for her, not as who she is, anyway.”

  “What about her dad?”

  “That’s a difficult situation, and I wish there was an easy answer. But I can get word to him that his daughter is safe.”

  “When we get into phase two, things are going to accelerate. I just hope we can get these things spread wide enough before the real action begins.”

  “You’ve already done the hard stuff. Let the Cell take care of the rest. Our network is vast and almost untraceable,” Artim said as an older man with a pair of welding glasses pushed up over his hair burst through a door and shouted at Artim in Russian.

  Artim responded with a curse before locking eyes with Ramon.

  “Something's come up on the radar,” Artim said while he followed after the man. “We need to start the evacuation process.”

  “Evacuation?” Ramon asked in shock. “How long have we got to get out of here?”

  “Not long. You just make sure we don’t waste a drop of that stuff,” Artim said after activating his device. “We’ve been preparing for this for a while now. I’ve got some surprises in store for our guests. Make sure everybody stays calm. This facility is an impregnable fortress made to withstand nuclear blasts.”

  “But we’ve got to get this stuff out of here,” Ramon said, trying not to panic.

  “Don’t you worry. Remember, this is an old Soviet facility. There are more secret passages and entrances than anyone can keep track of. As long as your upgrades work as you say they will, you’ll be fine,” Artim said before shoving through the door. “Get that last batch done and grab everything you need. I’ll let you know when it’s time to go.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

  YAWNING AS SHE blinked her eyes, Kate raised her arms and stretched in the pre-dawn light filtering through the circular windows of the transport.

  “Rise and shine, Mitch Mythic,” Kate said as she looked over at Mitch laid across a set of bench seats on the opposite side of the craft.

  “I’m not sleeping,” Mitch said without opening his eyes.

  “It sure looks like you’re sleeping,” Kate said.

  “And what if I was?”

  “You know this hostility you have for me isn’t helping our cause. I was trying to be nice, but it’s hard when you snarl at me every time I open my mouth.”

  “Do we really need to have this conversation right now? You’re the one that set the tone in our relationship at the start. I seem to recall being tormented by you while you held me at gunpoint.”

  “That wasn’t torment. It was banter.”

  “That’s what you call it. I’m pretty sure my attitude toward you is the result of the trauma you caused me. But I really do not want to talk about it right now. Your psychopathic mind may have let you sleep like a baby, but I haven’t slept a wink.”

  “Oh, you’re worried?”

  “Yeah, I’m worried. And this is what pisses me off about you. Whenever somebody shows any sign of emotion, you slam it as a sign of weakness. We’re about to go off on another suicide mission to save our friends, and you’re acting like it's some kind of vacation.”

  “You know I’m only teasing you. My therapist said I attack others because I’m afraid to let myself seem weak.”

  “Your mental state isn’t an excuse to act however you want, Kate,” TaeJun said, breaking his silence.

  “And what would you know about it? I bet you’ve got a story about a time you got pinned down in the DMZ,” Kate said, before cutting herself off. “Am I doing it again? It’s kind of a habit of mine. A self-defense method.”

  “Whatever it is, it’s unnecessary and annoying,” Mitch said, rolling over onto his side. “I am well aware of the fact that you are more than capable of doing what’s right, and in battle you are as fierce as they come, but you really know how to drive people up the wall.”

  “My goodness, Mitch Mythic, was that a compliment,” Kate said in astonishment.

  “If that’s what you want to call it,” Mitch said before the transport lurched to the left.

  “It think we’re coming down,” Gaelin said after he sat up.

  The whine of the engine increased as the ship descended to the ground. Emerging from the cockpit, General Varalis strode toward a hatch above the bench Mitch sat on and grabbed a black bag. She shoved the bag at Mitch before grabbing three more and tossing them toward Kate, TaeJun and Gaelin.

  “There are water and supplies in these packs,” Varalis said as the craft came to rest on the ground. “Everything else will be up to you. We won’t be able to communicate with you once you pass through the grid. When the doors open, follow the directions on your map.”

  “What map?” Mitch asked.

  “The one in your bag,” Varalis said. “You will not be able to activate your devices until you are absolutely certain, so you’re going to have to use analog information.”

  “An actual paper map,” Mitch said as he pulled out a folded sheet of material and attempted to decipher the information. “How do you make any sense of this?”

  “It’s a topographical map,” TaeJun said, taking the map from Mitch.

  “Don’t tell me, you used them all the time when you were in the special forces,” Kate said.

  “We did,” TaeJun said while he scoured the contents of the map. “And I happen to be quite proficient with this type of intel.”

  “In that case, I’m putting TaeJun in charge of the directions,” Varalis said.

  “That’s probably a good idea,” Mitch said.

  “I’ve also provided you with individual lights you can wear on your person. Be sure to shut them off if you see or hear any sentinels,” Varalis said, tossing a light to Mitch.

  “What are the sentinels?” Gaelin asked as he rifled through his pack.

  “Robotic guards that protect the site. There are two types: land based and airborne units. They are not overly prevalent in this area, but if you are spotted it will be game over. Travel down the cave until you find the tube indicated on the map. You’ll need to cut a hole using this instrument in order to get in,” Varalis said, pulling out a metal canister with a tube attached to the top. “To use this torch, all you need to do is release this safety latch and twist the nozzle. The flame is strong enough to cut through any surface. I’ve included one in each of your packs. Four in total.”

  “That’s not bad,” TaeJun said while he watched Varalis demonstrate how to use the torch.

  “Once you are inside, this ventilation tube will take you to further into the base,” Varalis said as she indicated a long cylindrical shape on the map. “But that is the extent of our intel. We don’t know any further details of the facility. But be sure that you keep your masks on at all times. The fumes inside are strong enough to kill.”

  “Do we really have to go into another cave? Nothing good ever
happens when we go into caves?” Mitch asked after he put the pack on.

  “If you would like to march up to the front door and knock, you’re more than welcome, but you probably wouldn’t even come close. The Facility is protected by an AI security system. It’ll cut you down with its ranged weapons as you approach, and you’ll die in the desert.” Varalis said before she approached the back of the craft. “Or you can take your chances underground.”

  “I thought we were going to destroy the facility?” Mitch asked.

  “You need to infiltrate the facility undetected and destroy the generator. Attacking from the outside won’t knock out the system, and if the UAFC is alerted of the attack, they will take alternative measures to keep the grid intact,” Varalis said as she pressed a button on the wall causing the rear door of the transport to open. “Your best bet is in the cave. It’s time to move. After you successfully knock out the generator, head directly to Central command. We’ve taken measures to ensure there will be an uprising when the grid comes down. As we attack the compound, our supporters will take up arms within the facility during the execution ceremony. If all goes according to plan, we will be able to wrestle control of the compound from the UAFC and rescue your friends.”

  “Yeah, and everything always goes according to plans,” Mitch said while he stood before the open door.

  “Any plan is better than no plan. Many people have died in order for this plan to come together. The information we have on this facility came at an especially high price,” Varalis said as she looked Mitch in the eye. “It’s no coincidence that you came to our planet when you did. It seems that wherever you go revolutions follow. I’m happy to have the Most dangerous Mitch in the Multiverse on our side.”

  “Please stop saying that,” Mitch said.

  “Don’t deny your destiny,” Varalis said, clapping him on the back. “You’ve got everything you need. We’ll see you at Central Command.”

  “One thing at a time,” Mitch said as Kate, TaeJun and Gaelin followed him out of the door. “Keep low and head for the cave.”

  “You want me to go first?” Kate asked with her eyes fixed on the opening.

  “You’re asking me?” Mitch said.

  “You’re the boss, aren’t ya?”

  “That’s a little strange to hear coming out of your mouth. But yeah, fine, Kate, you take the lead,” Mitch said.

  “Isn’t that just typical of you, Mitch Mythic?” Kate said, jumping into a sprint. “Handing off of the grunt work to the girls.”

  “You’re impossible,” Mitch said before he took off after Kate.

  “You both need to can it,” Gaelin said, hitting the sand. “There’s the opening. We need to get out of sight quickly and quietly.”

  “I said I was leading the way,” Kate said while jogging ahead. “I’ve had enough of you guys and your patriarchal subjugation. We’re going underground. Let’s keep quiet.”

  “Just when I think she can’t surprise me anymore,” Mitch said to himself as the transport lifted off and disappeared under a cloak.

  “I’ve started to drown it out,” TaeJun said, running at Mitch’s side toward the sunken entrance of the cave at the base of a steep cliff. “It’s better just to let her do her thing. I’ve seen soldiers like her before. Complete lunatics on the outside, but 100 percent in control on the inside.”

  “Is that what that is?” Mitch asked. “So she isn’t a psychopath?”

  “Oh no, she’s nuts, but in a good way,” TaeJun said as they reached the mouth of the cave. “The kind you want on your side, anyway.”

  “I hear everything you say,” Kate whispered from further ahead. “Don’t tell me you’re siding with Mitch Mythic, my love.”

  “I wouldn’t dream of it, yeobo,” TaeJun said, crouching down.

  “I love it when you call me yeobo,” SoHee said. “That’s Korean for sweetie.”

  ‘This is not happening,” Mitch said as he dropped behind a rock. “If either one of you says ‘yeobo’ one more time I’ll execute the both you here and now.”

  “Holy Mitch, who’s the psycho now?” Kate said from behind another rock.

  “Mitch is right. We need to stay focused on the mission,” TaeJun whispered. “According to the map, we have to move ahead until we come to a junction. We take a left and after a few hundred meters we should be able to spot this ventilation tube.”

  “Seems easy enough,” Kate said, glancing over the rock. “Just cut into a pipe and crawl on in. It wouldn’t be the first time I had to crawl through a ventilation system.”

  “Let’s just find it first,” Mitch said. “Did she say how these lights work? They kind of just dumped everything on us and dropped us in the desert. It’s turning into a theme on this little vacation on Chalthantar.”

  “I guess it’s how things go when you are in a rebel army. Flying by the seat of your pants and all that.” Gaelin said, pulling out a slender tube from his pack and clicking a button embedded in its smooth surface. As he released the button, a narrow beam illuminated the ground at Kate’s feet. “Seems to do the trick. Now what do you think is waiting for us up there?”

  “Whatever it is, I’m certain that it’s hungry,” Mitch said. “Every time we go into one these caves, we wind up fending off some ferocious beast.”

  “Is the Most Dangerous Man in the Multi-verse scared of a little hungry monster?” Kate said while shining her light in his face.

  “It just never ends,” Mitch said, holding his hands up to his face.

  “Just when you shook off #epiccrotchshot boy, the universe goes and sticks you with a new one,” Kate said before she placed the flashlight under her chin illuminating her face. “Join us next time for more adventures with Mitch Mythic: The Most Dangerous Man in the Multi-verse. Will he survive his encounter in the cave or will he meet his end once and for all?”

  “Will he murder his companions because they drove him to insanity?” Mitch added while he shoved past Kate. “Let’s get this over with. But here’s the thing about those sci-fi movies: it’s always the dorky companions that die first, so you’ve got to wonder where you fit into this story.”

  “Aren’t you going to save me?” Kate asked.

  “Knock it off,” Gaelin said. “Something is coming.”

  Shutting off his light, Mitch dropped down behind a rock and froze as he listened for approaching footsteps or clacking jaws. For a few breathless moments, they waited in silence. In the distance, Mitch heard water dripping onto stone.

  A soft whirring sound filled his ears, and he whirled around to find the source, but TaeJun grabbed him by the arm and pulled him back.

  Following TaeJun’s finger, Mitch glanced toward the cave mouth and spotted a disc like object hovering over the sandy surface. A red light projected out of the base of the object while it scanned the ground.

  An audible ping emanated from Gaelin’s backpack as the drone neared the entrance. Turning his eyes to Gaelin, Mitch watched him ease open his pack and pull out his MindHIve phone. The phone pinged again, and the drone froze in place. Easing the phone into silent mode, Gaelin slipped it back into his pack while Mitch shot him a look of admonishment.

  The drone circled over their footsteps a few times before pausing and scanning the cave. As it turned back to the footsteps, Kate picked up a small rock and threw it over the drone. The stone clacked against the cliff opposite the entrance and the Drone jerked in the direction of the sound.

  “What were you thinking?” Mitch whispered.

  “Making a diversion,” Kate said under her breath. “Now let’s get moving before it comes back.”

  “She’s right,” TaeJun said, scrambling forward. “We better push into the cave before it picks up on us. We already had phone boy getting texts and we haven’t even gotten inside yet.”

  “My bad. I forgot to switch it off,” Gaelin said. “I just got another message from Ramon. It’s crazy that I am still in contact with him.”

  “That’s not really important r
ight now,” Mitch said while he followed after his companions picking their way over the stone surface, careful not to make a sound.

  “But it’s a way home,” Gaelin said as he kept low to the ground.

  “It’s something, but it isn’t helping us now,” TaeJun said, stepping over a rock.

  “And it almost blew the whole mission,” Kate said while she made her way around a large rock. “You’re lucky I’m a quick thinker, or we’d all be on the run right now.”

  “You are a true hero,” Mitch said. “But we’re still not inside, so no medals yet.”

  After several minutes of slow progress in the dark, they rounded a corner and TaeJun sat down on a rock.

  “I think we’re clear,” he whispered.

  “You’d think it would’ve found us by now,” Mitch said while he crouched next to a large boulder. “Do you think it’s safe to turn on the light?”

  “For a second,” TaeJun said, pulling out his light and aiming it at the ground before pressing the button. “And just to be safe let’s only turn on one.”

  “What do you think that is?” Mitch asked as he looked down the length of the tunnel.

  “I think it’s what we’ve been looking for,” TaeJun said while he shined his light along a round tube embedded in the rock. “Let’s move a little further down the cave and see if we can find the spot Varalis suggested.”

  “Look at you big strong men making all the decisions,” Kate whispered, following after TaeJun. “I’m just a girl, so how would I know how to contribute.”

  “Not responding to that,” Mitch said. “I’m sure you’re skills as a ruthless killing machine will come into play soon enough. I’ll let you know when I spot a blood thirsty beast for you to mutilate.”

  “That was almost poetic, Mitch,” Kate said. “Your banter is improving.”

  “I think this is the spot,” TaeJun said while he pulled out the map. “If not, it’s as good as any.”