aHunter4Fire (aHunter4Hire Book 7)

by Cynthia A. Clement

  He was unlike any of the other men in her life.

  “I’m glad you’re in this dream with me.”

  “So am I.” Hunter eased his hand around her back. “We need to move swiftly. If you can’t keep up, I will carry you.”

  “I’ll do my best.”

  They jogged after Gus. He was several yards ahead of them, and just as he came to a corner, a man in a dark suit jumped out and pointed a staff at him. Gus vanished right before her eyes. Marissa swallowed back the nausea that rose in her throat.

  She might have said she wanted him to disappear, but she’d hardly expected it to happen. Before she could move, Hunter had pushed her behind him and he was firing his weapon. The world seemed to crackle with energy and then the man was lying on the floor.

  Hunter kept her behind him as they walked toward the body.

  Marissa clung to the pack he carried on his back.

  Somewhere in the recesses of her mind, a voice kept saying that this wasn’t a dream. Marissa forced the voice to be silent. This had to be a dream. If it were real, then Gus was dead. Hunter stopped. Marissa peered around him to look on the ground. Blood was everywhere and the man who’d made Gus disappear was lying in the center of it.

  “Where is Gus?” Her voice was barely a whisper.

  “He is gone.” Hunter used his foot to move the metallic staff away from the dead man’s body. “There is honor dying in battle.”

  “It’s my fault.” Marissa choked back her horror. “If I hadn’t snapped my fingers he’d still be in my dream.”

  Hunter picked up the weapon. “Gus forgot one of the important rules of battle. He did not anticipate his enemy’s next move.”

  “This has to be a dream.” Marissa’s breath caught in her throat as the full implication of what had happened hit her. “Otherwise he really is dead.”

  “He is dead.” There was no emotion in Hunter’s voice. “We must join the others. Stay behind me.”

  Marissa wasn’t going to argue. If this wasn’t a dream, then there could be other creatures roaming these halls and killing people. She wasn’t going to take that chance. She didn’t even know where she was. She’d visited many factories in her position as Executive Assistant to the CEO of a large corporation, but she didn’t remember this one. More importantly, she didn’t know how she had gotten here.

  They moved fast. There were other pale-skinned creatures lying dead on the floor of the open rooms that they passed. Hunter paused before each one and shot them with his weapon. They were scorched instantly. A couple of times he shot them with the staff he’d picked up from the man who’d killed Gus. They vaporized just as Gus had done.

  Movement was helping clear her brain.

  “We must find my boss, Douglas Norcott.”

  “Was he with you?”

  “The last thing I remember is talking to him at his home in Vegas.” Marissa frowned as she tried to remember what had happened. “He was speaking on the phone.”

  “Was that when you were captured?”

  “I can’t remember.” Marissa tried to stop the panic that threatened to consume her. “Something happened in the office.”

  She didn’t want to examine her memory too closely, but she knew that she had to find Douglas. If she’d been taken to this place, then he must be here also. They’d been planning strategy for their meeting with the Saudi government about their latest oil acquisitions in that country. Douglas had been adamant that she travel with him to Saudi and insisted that she bring him the reports that afternoon. It was late in the day, but she had made the trip to his place. They were supposed to finalize travel arrangements.

  They turned a corner and were met by a crowd of men carrying weapons. She grabbed Hunter’s shoulder. He grinned back at her.

  “They are with us.”

  Us.

  It sounded safe and comfortable. Marissa held that close because she didn’t know who she could trust. Hunter was the only one she could rely on. He’d saved her. Gus had only wanted to shoot her or leave her to fend for herself.

  “Have you completed the search?” A man who looked almost identical to Hunter stopped in front of them. “The floor below is clear.”

  “All the Albireons are dead.” Hunter held out the strange rod-shaped weapon. “A human working with them was using this.”

  “We must warn the others.” The man’s eyes narrowed. “It was to be expected that they would share and use their own technology. We hadn’t anticipated that the Albireons would have discovered the Ancients’ Staff.”

  Hunter handed it to the other man. “It is very effective.”

  “Where is Gus?”

  Another man wearing a military uniform interrupted. He’d come from the stairwell and pushed his way over to them. She’d seen plenty of his type since she started working for KT Oil. He was at least six feet tall with short-cropped dark hair. Under different circumstances, she would have found him attractive, but right now his dark blue eyes were flashing impatience.

  “Dead.” Marissa didn’t hide the horror she felt.

  The military man looked at her. “Where did you pick her up?”

  “The Albireons had her in an experiment room.” Hunter eased her to his side. “Gus wanted to leave her.”

  “I agree.” The military guy put his hands on his hips. “We can’t bring her with us.”

  The effects of the drug that was in her system were wearing off. Marissa could see clearly that she had walked into some sort of military operation. This was no dream. Despite the obvious seriousness of the situation, that didn’t excuse bad manners.

  “I’m grateful you guys rescued me.” Marissa pointed her finger at the military guy. “I wish you would stop talking like I’m not here. I have perfectly good ears and what I’m hearing is that you don’t give a damn about what happens to me.”

  “He is concerned about the battle.” Hunter shifted the pack on his back. “We will not leave you behind. It is important that we get to the upper levels before our presence is detected.”

  “I agree. I am Yagar.” The man who looked like Hunter held out his hand.

  Marissa hesitated a second before shaking it. She didn’t want another shock like Hunter had given her. These guys looked like secret, black-ops-military. They might all be connected to an experimental monitoring system that stunned anyone who got too close. She didn’t have to worry. There was no shock. Just a warm firm clasp before he freed her hand.

  Yagar pointed to Hunter. “You have met Firbin.”

  Marissa shook her head. “He is Hunter.”

  Firbin grinned. “I am a Hunter. My name is Firbin.”

  Marissa rubbed her hand against her temple. “Who’s the military guy?”

  “I’m Barton.” He nodded at her. “I am in charge of the H. R. F.”

  He could have been in charge of anything. She didn’t have a clue what H.R.F. stood for. Barton straightened his shoulders when he said it, so it must be important.

  “The others have cleared the lower level. It is time to move.” Yagar motioned for them to start up the stairs. “We must make our escape.”

  “The woman stays here.” Barton’s voice was firm. “We can’t risk bringing her along. She might be a spy for the enemy.”

  Chapter 4

  “THERE IS NO honor in leaving a woman undefended and in danger.”

  Firbin lifted Marissa into his arms. A sharp jolt of awareness went through his body. It was a strange experience. He had never felt this from touching another human. He had never held one in his arms before, though. There was something compelling about this woman that he couldn’t shake. No matter what the team said, he had every intention of bringing her with him.

  “There is no time to argue.” Yagar pushed them through the stairwell door. “A woman is never left to defend herself. It is against the Sacred Code.”

  They started to move up the stairs. Marissa struggled in Firbin’s arms. “Have a care. I will not drop you.”

  “I can walk
on my own.”

  “There will be time for that later.” Firbin tightened his grip. “I will not let harm come to you.”

  Marissa eased back against his shoulder.

  “I thought your name was Hunter.” The woman’s soft voice tickled his ear. “I’m Marissa O’Brien by the way.”

  “Hunters are warriors.” Firbin turned his attention back to the stairs. “We are here to defeat the Albireons.”

  “Those are the creatures you killed?” Marissa asked. “What does the military guy have to do with them?”

  “The Albireons are the scourge of the universe and we are trying to wipe them off Earth.” Firbin kept his voice low. Barton was only a few steps ahead of them. “He is leading the Human Resistance Force. Hunters have combined forces with them to defeat the Albireons.”

  Firbin glanced behind him. So far no one was following them. That didn’t mean there wouldn’t be someone waiting on the fifth floor.

  At the landing on the fifth floor, Yagar had halted the forces. This needed to be a combined effort if they were going to make a successful escape. Firbin put Marissa down beside Yagar. She barely reached his shoulder.

  “I am set to clear the hallway.” Firbin reached out to Jehon. “Are you in position?”

  “Yes. When you are ready, begin.”

  Firbin reached into his pack and pulled out an anti-matter explosive. He wasn’t going to take any chances. There were probably soldiers waiting to ambush them. They had invaded a secure military zone and it was reasonable to expect a security force to be waiting to attack. The only thing in their favor was that the actual Air Force Base was not aware of the secret area they were in.

  He crouched and opened the door wide enough to throw in the explosive. Again the white smoke was the only indication that it had detonated. He waited a few seconds and then opened the door wider. A barrage of gunfire met him. He may have killed the soldiers close to the door, but there was a huge number remaining.

  They were outnumbered.

  He returned fire and then slammed the door shut.

  “Give me the weapon.”

  “You can’t seriously mean to use that on humans.” Captain Barton’s voice was filled with outrage.

  “Yes. A human used it first.” Firbin’s voice was quiet with authority. “This isn’t a game. I don’t care if they are human or not. They are firing at us and that makes them the enemy. We have men to get to safety and a mission to finish.”

  Yagar handed him the weapon.

  Barton swore and turned away.

  The Ancients’ staff was effective. Within seconds of aiming and firing, all resistance had ceased. Firbin handed the weapon back to Yagar before easing out into the hall. It was empty. All evidence of the soldiers was gone.

  It was a sad truth of battle.

  Soldiers died.

  Firbin kept his rifle ready and pointed as he walked to the area that led to the tunnels. It was eerily empty. The weapon the Albireon had acquired was frighteningly effective. He reached the stairwell without incident. The way was clear for them.

  “Start moving.” Firbin gave the okay to Jehon and Yagar.

  The sound of running footsteps echoed toward him. He kept alert for anything that might be out of the ordinary. It was as if the Albireons had surrendered this base. That was a good sign. If all it took was a surprise attack, then the battle for Earth would be quick.

  Jehon reached his side. “I hear you picked up a survivor.”

  Firbin grinned. “A woman. She was a prisoner of three Albireons.”

  Jehon frowned. “We were told that this was strictly a base where they met and dispersed. No humans were to be held here.”

  A tingle of sensation went up Firbin’s spine. He knew someone was watching him. Marissa was several feet away and he looked into her pale-blue eyes. There was still confusion and terror there, but also a glimmer of awareness. Whatever she had been drugged with must be wearing off.

  “Barton wanted to leave her behind.”

  “That doesn’t sound like the human.” Jehon raised an eyebrow. “This battle must have unnerved him more than we expected.”

  “Gus was disintegrated.” Firbin kept his voice low. “One of the humans had an Ancient’s Staff. I thought the weapon was long destroyed and left for legends.”

  Jehon was going to say something, but at that moment Barton joined them. “Did he tell you what he did?” His voice was filled with outrage.

  “He cleared the hall.” Jehon’s voice was devoid of emotion. “It was a smart tactical move and saved many of this unit’s lives.”

  Barton’s jaw clenched for a second and then he exhaled a loud breath. “You’re right. I’m too close to the men who guard these aliens. It wasn’t so long ago that I was one of them.”

  “Lives will be lost.” Jehon pulled his weapon closer. “It is the nature of battle. I hear that we lost Gus. I am sorry.”

  Barton nodded. “Let’s get out of this place.”

  Firbin couldn’t agree more. He pulled his pack off and started to assemble a circuit of explosives for their escape. He used the same system that had been set to blow the stairs in an ambush attack. This time he would set it to blow outward and block anyone from following them.

  “There are more armed soldiers on the rail platform. Clear it.” Jehon motioned to Niail and Weise.

  The two ran to the bottom of the stairs and rounded the wall firing. There were a few rounds of return shooting. His fellow Hunters were quick and competent. The skirmish was finished within minutes. They gave the all clear signal with their arms and the rest of their team made their way down to the platform.

  Firbin would be the last to leave.

  It was his responsibility to ensure that he destroyed the stairs and any access to the rail system from the base. When he was finished, it would take a long time to clear the debris. Every stone and step was to be demolished to rubble that would clog the entranceway. That would buy them enough time to reach safety.

  He was connecting two of the ignition switches when someone sat on the stair beside him. “Aren’t you going with the others?”

  Shock and then a shiver of pleasure went through Firbin at the sound of Marissa’s voice. “I must set the charges. You need to leave.”

  Marissa took off one of her shoes. “I’m staying with you.”

  “It is not safe.”

  “You’re here.” She grabbed the heel of the shoe and slammed it against one of the stairs until it broke it off. “There. Now I’m even.”

  Firbin looked up with a frown. “I do not understand. How can a person be crooked?”

  “My shoes.” Marissa held up a navy pump in one hand and its heel in the other. “Somehow in the scuffle that brought me to this place, the heel of one of my shoes was broken. Now I can walk on my own.”

  “You did not like me carrying you?”

  Marissa shrugged. “Maybe I liked it too much.”

  Firbin grinned. She was an unusual person. Most people in her situation would have rushed away to be with the others where it was safer. Instead, she thought it was safe with him. The only explanation was that she did not understand his work.

  “I am the explosives expert.” Firbin placed more of the thermite along the railing. “You need to get a safe distance from me.”

  “Are you good?”

  “I am a Hunter. We do what is honorable and right.”

  Marissa giggled. “I meant are you good at explosives?”

  “I am the best.”

  “Then there is no need for me to run.”

  “It is as you wish.”

  Firbin shrugged and continued setting the charges. Time was important and if Marissa wanted to stay beside him, so be it. It was comforting in a strange way. He wasn’t going to force her to do as he asked. She was a woman. Women were to be obeyed.

  “How long is this going to take?”

  “A few more minutes.” Firbin moved to the opposite railing. “I need to ensure we are not followed.”<
br />
  “That would destroy all of your plans.” Marissa sighed. “I still don’t understand how I came to be here. Where are we by the way?”

  “Nellis Air Force Base.” Firbin set the last charge. “We are in the secret area though. Most of the military personnel are unaware that this place exists.”

  “They probably don’t know those creatures exist either.”

  Firbin reached out for her hand. “It is time to leave.”

  Marissa pushed herself upright and ran down the stairs. Firbin gathered his tools, threw them into his bag and made one last inspection before he followed her. When he reached the platform, he guided Marissa to the last remaining truck. He helped her up into the seat and then jumped in himself.

  Jehon was driving.

  The rest of the Hunter team were in the back seat.

  “This is Marissa O’Brien.” Firbin introduced Marissa to the unit in general and then he pointed to each of the men. “You’ve already met Yagar. Jehon is the leader of our team. And of course there is Niail, Weise, Demil, and Thero.

  Marissa nodded at each of the men. “I’m glad to meet you. Thank you for letting me come with you.”

  “It is as it should be.” Jehon put the truck in gear. “The others are safely away.”

  “I’ve set a timer.” Firbin held the mechanism up. “We have thirty seconds. Go.”

  He flicked the switch.

  The seconds seemed more like hours. They had passed the first blast door by the time the percussion of the explosion reached them. The truck rocked violently for several seconds. Marissa grabbed his hand and held tight. Firbin sensed that she hadn’t expected such a serious explosion.

  “I used the explosives that were already set by the Albireons,” Firbin explained in a quiet voice. “They had no intention of any of us surviving.”

  “Your talent has once again saved us.” Jehon nodded. “I have informed Ardal of the weapon.”

  “It is concerning.” Niail spoke from the rear. “The Ancients made use of such a staff, but they destroyed it eons ago.”

  “It is very effective.” A shiver went through Marissa. “One minute Gus was there and the next he was gone. Why would someone invent such a thing?”