by SD Tanner
“It’s too late to worry about that,” Troy replied. “This horse has already bolted. All we can do now is go forward.”
“But what if the super hunters lose control of their packs?”
Before Troy could answer, the super hunter interrupted. “That won’t be a problem for you. If they’re left to run wild, they’ll head for the towns where the bulk of the people are.” In a slightly amused tone, it added, “They’re not jealous of you. You’re already screwed.”
He was beginning to suspect he’d settled a bad deal with the Devil. The way Ruler had presented his case was he would rule over the last of mankind, but he couldn’t see how. In his original plan, he saw himself being in control of a force of almost indestructible hunters as well as a trained human army. The hunters were supposed to be an addition to his already lethal force, but since he’d witnessed the infection in Alaska, he no longer expected it to work that way. In his more scientific view of the world, the hunters were no longer a mindless weapon, but a whole new species capable of their own decision-making. It was a twist he hadn’t predicted, and it was quite possible he’d added a problem rather than solve one.
With a grim expression, he said, “It’s not as simple as that. Once they run out of prey in the towns, then they’ll attack us next.”
If it was possible for a super hunter to roll their blue on blue eyes, he was sure this one did just that. “Don’t assume what you don’t know. Do you think hell is so stupid as to destroy the very thing it aims to take control of?”
“What does that mean?”
“Hell has more resources than you can possibly understand, or even need to know. We want control of the living, so what would be the point of destroying them?”
At the suggestion of more capability, Troy narrowed his eyes. “What other resources do you have?”
“It’s not my role to tell you that.”
Troy snorted contemptuously. “You mean you don’t have the authority to tell me.”
Clearly not offended by his tone or comment, the super hunter replied, “That’s what I just said.” Flicking his head at him, it added, “But this one is worrying unnecessarily. When the time comes there will be other factors at play.”
He hoped the super hunter was right, otherwise they’d just created the species that would end all of their lives. The game at hand was dangerous, and he wondered if Troy had been right when he’d suggested he didn’t need more power than he already had. In many ways he’d agreed, but he also believed the monster calling itself Ruler was an unstoppable force.
He was a man who enjoyed torturing and he’d wanted control. He still wanted those things, but not at the cost of his own life. It wouldn’t make any sense to die trying to gain something he didn’t need. If truth were known, he wasn’t a brave man. If he was, he wouldn’t need powerless victims under his scalpel. The whole human vivisection hobby had started out as a way to fulfil his need to feel powerful. He might not be a psychiatrist, but he didn’t need to be one to understand what motivated him. Having studied Freud at university, he was well aware his domineering parents had left him feeling emasculated, and it was the source of his fierce desire to control. It didn’t help to understand himself, nor did he feel the slightest inclination to heal. It was his life and he could live it as he pleased.
While his mind wandered, Troy gave him a sharp look. “Do you agree?”
“To what?”
“We test this approach using the three super hunters and hunters we have at their bases. I’ll take super hunters and a hunter to the Ranch to observe the tactic in action. Then we’ll make an assessment and decide how to best use the rest of this army.”
Sounding as distracted as he felt, he replied, “Yes, yes.”
Troy gave him a worried look. “Alright. I’ll break these super hunters and hunters into squads. Three super hunters per team, with thirty hunters each. Once we’ve tested the approach, I’ll work out how best to assign them to towns, or use them to get rid of the opposing hunters.” Still looking concerned, he added, “I’ll be with the super hunters at the Ranch to assess the results, but I’ll take three of them with me to protect me from the hunters.”
He wasn’t keen for Troy to put himself in enemy territory. “Are you sure? You could be killed.”
Smiling for the first time since he’d returned, Troy gripped his bicep warmly. “Don’t worry about that. I’ve survived worse.”
CHAPTER TWENTY: TL
The bark from the tree hit him before he even realized anyone was firing. Ducking sideways, he slid down from his beast, grabbing his M4A1 as he went. Once his boots touched the ground, he slapped the beast’s hide for it to run and buried himself in the ferns. Knowing his attacker would still have his position, he moved as quietly as he could to the nearest large tree trunk, and ducked behind it.
The crack of gunfire followed his every move, even once he was safely hidden behind the two-foot wide trunk. Standing up, careful to keep his elbows inside the line of the tree, he held his gun against his chest. “What the hell are you doing?”
Being deep in hill country, he didn’t really expect a reply. The residents in this region didn’t need a reason to shoot at a stranger. Just by being there, he was trespassing and he knew it. The gunfire was coming from about twenty feet to his left. Being so close, he thought he might be able to circle around the shooter and catch him or her by surprise. The forest around the tall trees was dense with shrubs and large ferns. He needed to get beneath the blanket of green, and move carefully so he wouldn’t give away his position.
There was no chance he could hit the shooter concealed behind the tree, but figuring it would at least distract him or her, he pulled a M67 grenade from his vest. Allowing his gun to rest in its sling, he pulled the pin and quickly threw it to his left, hoping to get close enough to the shooter to make them duck. As the frag exploded, he dropped to a low crouch, moving swiftly through the bushes. Rigid branches and wide flat leaves slapped at his face and body, while he moved in an arc intending to route back to the shooter’s position.
An explosion of gunfire was directed at his previous position and he dropped flat to the ground. The shooter had missed his movement, and he was fairly sure there was only one person firing. Whoever they were they weren’t too smart, and hadn’t moved themselves when they should have. Given he’d just proven he knew where they were by throwing a bomb at them, they should have moved. Still lying flat to the damp ground, he crawled as slowly as he could over the rotting leaves. He held his gun tightly to his side to stop it from getting caught in the bushes, and cause any movement that might betray his position.
While he slowly circled around the shooter, he heard a voice in his ear. “Well, this is quite good fun.”
Turning his head to his left, Overwatch was crawling beside him and he silently mouthed, “What are you doing here?”
Overwatch gave him an impish smile. “Hanging out with you. Why are you whispering?”
Given the circumstances, it was a pretty stupid question. His immediate thought was Overwatch could betray his location, and he was about to say so when the fool stood up. Pointing to about ten feet in front of him, he declared delightedly, “Oh, there he is.” Grinning widely, he added, “I do so love it when you find me. I get to join in and that’s so much better than just watching.”
He slowly parted the bushes, and lifted his head slightly to see a man wearing filthy ACUs, shades and a baseball cap. He was crouched against the tree in front of him, peeking around it. Unfortunately for the man, he hadn’t realized he’d moved and was still trying to locate him behind the other tree.
Pulling his gun into a firing position, he aimed directly at the man’s head as he stood up. “Drop your weapon.”
Startled by his voice, the man turned, but continued to hold onto his gun. “What the hell are you doing on my land?”
“Have you got deeds for it? ‘Cos if you don’t it isn’t your land. Now, drop your weapon.”
“What
are you gonna do? Shoot me?” Wearing a sneer, the man waved a bottle at him, and he guessed it contained the Water of Life.
“We could spend all day shooting one another and drinking the Water of Life, or you could just tell me what your problem is. I’m just passing through, so there’s no need for this kinda bullshit.”
Overwatch walked through the ferns to take a closer look at the shooter. He was a small, wiry man loaded down with a tactical vest, and an AR15 that seemed too big for him. It wasn’t the man who caught his attention, but the lack of impact Overwatch was having on the forest around him. He didn’t exactly glide through it, but ambled like a man taking a relaxing stroll. The bushes didn’t move or rustle, and it was if he wasn’t really there.
“How are you doing that?”
By now, Overwatch was only inches from the man’s face, peering at him with an amused expression. “Doing what?”
“Walking through the forest without making anything move.”
The man sneered derisively. “Crazy, are we? Why are you talking to yourself?”
“Oh, only you can see me,” Overwatch replied cheerfully.
Deciding he’d deal with that problem later, he refocused on the man. “Yeah, you’re stuck in the forest with an armed lunatic at gunpoint, so what do you wanna do? Who do you think will get off the first shot?”
The man stood up with his weapon hanging loosely by his side. “Forget it. I’m bored with this already.”
“Why were you shooting at me anyway?”
“There’s nothing to do out here.”
“That’s not a good enough reason to try and kill a man.”
“I don’t want to be out here,” the man replied sulkily.
“Then why are you?”
“Because they made me.”
“Who’s they?”
The man tugged his wraparound shades from his eyes, revealing the blueness they concealed. “Oh, you’re a super hunter. What are you doing out here?”
Becoming petulant, the man wiped his nose on his sleeve. “Nothing, and that’s the problem. I’ve been out here for ages and there’s nothing to do.”
“So, why don’t you leave?”
His eyes widened in surprise. “And go where? Do what? This place sucks now.”
“You mean since the hunters left,” he replied dourly. “What are your orders?”
“To wait out here doing nothing.”
“What are you waiting for?”
“How the hell would I know?” The man replied sharply. “Possess this, kill that, go here…nobody tells me why.”
“What about the person with you? You know, the trapped soul inside the body you stole.”
“Oh, him…he whines a lot.” As if the thought had only just struck him, he added, “I think he’s bored too.”
“Why didn’t you all just leave after you lost the battle?”
“Why do you keep asking me questions I don’t have answers to?” Giving his question a little more thought, he added, “Well, I suppose it means we’re not done yet.”
“Not done doing what?”
The man’s face lost its comical expression and grew sinister. “Taking control of mankind. Why else would we be here?”
“Why do you think you’ve got a chance of doing that now the hunters are gone?”
With a barking laugh, he replied, “Why do you think the hunters are gone? And why do you think this has anything to do with them?”
“There aren’t any hunters. We would have heard about that. And if it weren’t for the hunters, you wouldn’t have stood a chance.”
“You’re wrong. There’s always a chance. There are always more greedy, needy, small-minded people than you think, and they don’t wish well for their fellow man. There’s always room for the Devil. Man makes sure of that. As for the hunters, they were only ever one weapon in hell’s arsenal, and you must know that. If anything, man’s greatest enemy is himself.” With a slight shrug, he added, “And you guys just gave up and left. It’s not like you cared that much.”
They’d genuinely believed their job was done when they’d left, and he was shocked by the demon’s interpretation of their decision to leave. On reflection, he supposed there were super hunters still on earth, and they never did check whether all the hunters had died. Perhaps they were wrong to believe the one battle was the conclusive end to the whole war. “How many more super hunters are there hiding in the forests?”
The man’s eyes narrowed. “How stupid do you think I am? I’m not telling you that.” With a triumphant smirk, he added, “But you’ve made a mistake thinking the hunters are gone.”
The demon was typically arrogant, flighty and crudely cunning. He knew inside it was a soul desperate to escape. If the demon wouldn’t tell him anything useful then he had no use for it. Tightening the grip on his gun, he prepared to fire.
The super hunter’s tone changed from arrogant to whiny. “Hey, don’t shoot me! There’s a real person in here.”
Without losing his aim, he asked, “Who are you?”
“I was in Hull’s Army and then these assholes possessed us. It’s not my fault I’m stuck with this freak.”
“You don’t sound too upset about it.”
“Well, you’ve gotta make the best of a bad situation, now don’t you?”
The human trapped with the demon surprised him. He’d always assumed they didn’t like being possessed, but this one didn’t seem to care. If anything, he appeared to have made his peace and was collaborating with it. “How does the demon know how to use a gun if you don’t show it how?”
“Like I said, you’ve gotta make the best of it. And to be fair, it has its upsides.”
“You’re collaborating with the enemy of man,” he said angrily.
“Maybe, but it’s not like I’ve got a choice.”
“There’s always a choice, you spineless asshole.” Without any thought, he pulled the trigger, and shot the man between the eyes.
“That was stern,” Overwatch remarked, as the man fell to the ground.
“Humans are collaborating with the Devil.”
“Of course they are, but they always do. How else would the Devil gain any ground?”
“But it’s stupid.”
Overwatch erupted in delighted laughter. “Collectively mankind always is. You can’t save them from themselves, Conquest, but it is your role to try. Luckily for you, War and Pestilence are somewhat more pragmatically minded.”
He didn’t always agree with how his brothers dealt with life, and irritated by Overwatch’s apparent agreement with them, he asked sharply, “Why do you say that?”
“Go find your beast. We’ll talk some more as we go.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: Axe
He was a tall, leanly muscled man, with strong features and a crop of hair hanging in thick dreadlocks. Speaking in a cultured way that bespoke of a university level education, his clear intelligence was at odds with his shaggy hair. “There aren’t enough of us to defend all the towns from a wide scale attack.” The man with dreadlocks swept his arm across the crowded room of eighty town leaders. “Between us we represent about four hundred thousand residents of Eden, but we believe there’s at least three million people in the U.S. alone, not taking into account Canada and Mexico. And we could be wrong. There could be a lot more people than we’ve estimated.”
“Why should we defend anyone who won’t join us?” A voice called out.
They were meeting again at his old town, seated in a rough semi-circle in the town hall. He’d set up a meeting table at the front of the room, but rather than sit behind it his chair sat in front of it, making him part of the group. TL had disappeared, and Faith was sitting outside the circle with BD watching the proceedings. He wasn’t sure why she’d been interested in attending the third meeting of the town leaders, and thought that perhaps she was trying to stand in for the absent TL.
The lean man holding the floor was known as Diesel, and his name didn’t match his look or his acc
ent. Usually a quiet man who sat in the background, today Diesel was making his presence and his personality known.
Identifying the speaker, Diesel took a step in her direction. “Stand up when you speak. If you believe in what you’re saying, then stand up so we all know who you are.”
Diesel’s gentle confrontation made him smile. He was right to get the people to stand behind their words and not simply call out problems. This was a man he needed to get to know, and he leaned back in his chair happy to let him hold the floor. As the chair creaked under his weight, Harry caught his eye and winked at him. Having control of the only known refinery, Harry was someone they all respected. Without him, they’d have no fuel for their vehicles or power for their towns. He’d taken the time to fly to Harry’s base and explain the lack of cohesion in the Council of Eden. He’d promised to lend his weight to their cause, and brought his straight-talking partner, Genny, with him.
A dark haired woman in her forties pushed her way past the untidy collection of chairs to the middle of the room. “My name’s Leah and I’ll stand behind anything I’ve got to say. We need to get all this shit out on the table or we’ll never pull in the same direction. I ask again, why should we defend towns that aren’t part of the Council?”
Diesel nodded. “It’s a fair question, and the answer depends on what you see us as.”
“What do you mean?”
“Are we one country, or are we a group of towns with a shared vision?”
“What’s the difference?”
“If we’re a group of towns, then we’re only here to protect the members of our group. Of course, that’s problematic because we’re not in a common region, which means we’ll be spreading our resources very thin. If we’re a country then we need to bring all of the towns into this Council.”
A man stood up and raised his hand. “We can’t make ‘em join us. They’re all so damned busy fightin’ with one another, I don’t think they’ve got any resources to spare anyway.”
