“So this is the breakdown.” Spalding paced slowly in front of all of the Monster Squad operators. “I sat down with Major Tufo and we worked out a tentative roster. As of now, squad two is moved up to squad one. We will not be taking the unit designator of Bravo, though. We’ll stick with Delta for coms. Squad Three is now Squad Two. We will not be forming a third squad any time soon.”
Lamb stood up and raised a hand. “Spank? Are we not gonna try to replace Carbone and Apollo?”
Spalding shrugged. “Not any time soon. We have too many irons in the fire to try to replace two squad members. It’s easier just to go back to two squads.” He flipped the page and scanned his notes. “Squad Two will be keeping their personnel and adding Wallace and Gonzales. My squad will be picking up Gus Tracy. Any questions?”
Dom stayed reclined but motioned with his chin. “How’d I get so lucky as to pick up two and you get one?”
Spalding shrugged. “We had an odd man left over. Major Tufo thought that, since your team was heavy with newbies, you could use a couple of more experienced operators to help train them.”
A round of groans and mumbled epithets came from the newer operators assigned to second squad, but Dom held a hand up to hush them. “Probably good thinking on his part, but you know if we could get Phoenix to step up to the plate, we could round the teams out evenly.” Dom shot Spanky a mischievous grin.
“Good luck with that. He’s got his hands full with his own group.” Spalding flipped his notes shut. “Look, I could stand up here and bore you guys with a lot of the thought processes that went into the split, but the short end is, this is what the major came up with, so this is how it’s going to be. To be honest, I like the idea of having an extra man when boots hit the ground.”
“Yeah, whatever.” Dom stood and eyed his squad. “T.D., you and Popo work with Marshall and Erickson and work out a rotation for breaking in the new guys.”
Chad McKenzie stood up and gave Dom a hurtful stare. “Haven’t we proven ourselves yet? Jesus, you’re still treating us like we’re wet behind the ears here.”
Dom pointed a meaty finger at the man. “As far as I’m concerned, you are still wet behind the ears. You’re supposed to be a damned operator, so man up, grow a set, and act like one. What’s our motto? Bleed in training so we don’t bleed on the battlefield. So go bleed, asshole.”
Ben Charmicael, the other new operator with Second Squad groaned. “Thanks, Mac. Your whining just got us an extra ass pounding in the trainer.”
McKenzie shot him a dirty look. “Hey, maybe you’re willing to be treated like a nub, but not me. I earned my stripes. I’m every bit as good as the rest of these—”
“Check yourself,” Spalding interrupted. “Your little tantrum is liable to get you sidelined.”
McKenzie clenched his jaw so tight that his jaw ticked. He exhaled hard and nodded to Spalding. “Roger that.”
Spalding stepped back to the front and raised his voice, “Okay, hunters, get your gear together and get ready to train with your new battle buddy.”
*****
“Isn’t technology grand?” Lilith stared at the computer screen and smiled to herself.
“I’ll take boots on the ground any day to…this,” Samael snarled at the contraption that she continued to stare at. “Just because it is new does not make it grand.”
“Oh, is somebody feeling unnecessary?” She stroked his chest as she poked at his fragile ego. “The big, bad angel is feeling left out.”
“Stop.” Samael stepped away from her and stared at the demon centurions as they continued to pack their suicide devices into crates and into trucks.
“I can track their movements with this. I can actually see them unload the devices at the drop spots. Once the time comes for us to strike, I’ll be able to watch them come in and resupply themselves.” She nearly squealed with delight.
“And if you were out there with them, you could see it firsthand rather than over a screen.”
“And risk damaging this body? I just got it back, lover,” she tsk’d at him and shook her head. “Not likely. I need to keep this body pristine in order to pull off my coup d’état.”
“A coup? I thought you were going for world domination, my wilting flower?”
Lilith shot him a dirty look. “I am. But first, I must topple the largest and most powerful governments and at the same time, I will have my revenge.”
Samael turned and raised a brow at her. “Revenge?”
“I intend to strike every Catholic church on the planet and level it,” she snarled. “They will pay for what they did to me.”
“Just the Catholics? There are so many other religions that could be made to pay as well.” Samael felt a swelling of pride as her eyes glazed over, imagining the blood and destruction.
“It was the Roman Catholics who hunted me down and…” She spun on him and pointed a sharpened finger in his face. “I will not be denied!”
Samael held his hands up in surrender and smiled at her. “I wouldn’t dream of trying to stop you, my love.”
10
Mark stared at the report in his hand and tried to make heads or tails of it. Why can’t they just write these damned things in English so that normal people could read them? He could feel his eyelids getting heavier as the words blurred across the page.
“I could have used this when I went to bed.” He closed the report and shoved it into his drawer. Who gave a shit what it said? As long as he could go out in sunlight and didn’t try to eat anybody, he was happy.
He stood and poured another cup of coffee and stared out the window of his office. He didn’t turn when the door of his office opened and Dr. Peters stepped inside. “I thought you were going to report to my lab.”
Mark sipped his coffee and continued to stare out the window. “Did you get a copy of the report?”
“Not yet. I’m sure they’ll send me one if you don’t share the results.”
Mark nodded and turned back for his chair. “I think I’m done being poked and prodded, Doc.” He sat down and pulled the report out again. He slid it across his desk to him. “Knock yourself out.”
Evan picked it up and gave Mark a wary eye. “What did it say?”
Mark shrugged. “A lot of words I can’t pronounce.” He sipped his coffee as Evan slowly opened the report. He watched as the vampire perused the papers, nodding to himself.
“As we expected.” Evan closed the report and placed it gently back on his desk.
“Both viruses?”
“Two distinct variants detected.” Doctor Peters sat down and studied him. Mark appeared unaffected by the news.
“So what did you call it? Werevamp?” Mark’s eyes appeared cold as he stared at the doctor.
Evan simply shrugged. “It doesn’t matter what you call it, Major. You are the only known case of an individual being infected by both at the same time. And being asymptomatic? That is absolutely incredible.”
“We don’t know that I’m asymptomatic yet.” Mark took another sip of the coffee and sighed heavily. “We’ll have to wait for the full moon before we know that.”
“But don’t you see? You are as much infected by the vampire virus as you are the wolf. Yet you are not affected by UV radiation, you have no thirst for blood, you can hold holy relics.”
“For now. We can’t know what tomorrow brings.” Mark set his coffee cup down and leaned forward in his seat. “If I learned one thing from my time in the field, it’s to never count your chickens before they’re hatched.”
“I’m not following you, Major.”
“Don’t count on my staying asymptomatic. That could change at any given moment. For all we know, the virus is building up in my system, one of them waiting for the other to weaken so that it can become dominant.”
Evan sat back and nodded. “I hadn’t considered that.”
“Maybe it’s time you do.”
“Well then you definitely need to continue your daily check-ins with me. I’ll
need to run tests and—”
“No,” Mark interrupted. “If it happens, it happens. I’m not going to try to maintain a balance with the two.” He stood and walked back to his window, his eyes focusing on nothing in particular. “If it happens, it happens. I’m not going to worry myself sick trying to prevent what’s meant to be.”
Evan groaned. “Don’t tell me you’re buying into this whole ‘fate’ bullshit, too?”
Mark turned slowly and gave him a tight lipped smile. “Why not? I am half wolf, aren’t I?”
Evan ran a hand across his face and sat up. “It’s all a crock, Major. There is no underlying ‘fate’ that runs the universe. Science can explain—”
“Says the vampire to the werewolf.” He raised a brow at the doctor.
“All explainable.” Evan held his hands out to stop him. “I know it sounds a little odd, but I assure you—”
“Doc, I’m busting your balls. I get it, okay?” Mark made his way back to his desk and sat down. “I’m just tired and cranky. I haven’t been sleeping well.”
“That’s understandable. With the changes that your body is going through, you probably don’t need sleep like you used to.”
“My mind does. My body feels fine, but my mind spins so fast that I feel like I’ve almost burned it out.”
“I think I have something that is safe for both halves to take that will help you sleep.” He stood and turned for the door. “Just, please, reconsider the daily checkups. Even if you don’t want to work on maintaining balance between the two viruses, we still need to monitor your systems. You truly are unique.”
Mark nodded. “Aren’t we all?”
*****
Jack checked his watch and placed a steadying hand on Kalen’s shoulder. “Hold on there, Speedy. It’s daylight back home. You might be able to open us something inside here, but we’d still have to trek across the grounds to the hangar.”
Brooke flipped her hood up over her head. “I’m good, Chief. The sun won’t bother me.”
Jack hooked a thumb over his shoulder toward Azrael who was still nursing his arm. “You might, but Jolly Gray Giant over there would turn to stone faster than you could blink. I don’t know about you, but I’m not up to carrying two tons of solid granite.”
Azrael shot him a dirty look and crossed his arms over his massive chest. “I doubt that I would weigh two tons.”
“Regardless, I’m not hefting you across the grounds. We’re camping here.” Jack popped a squat and settled in for the day. “Smoke ‘em if you got…” He cast a glance at the group milling about the cavern. “Never mind.”
Gnat settled in next to Jack and pulled his pipe. “Don’t mind if I do.”
Jack pulled the long stem pipe from his lips and set it aside. “We’re in a closed environment. I’d rather you not. Besides, Sneezy, it will stunt your growth.”
Gnat gave him a dirty stare and snatched his pipe back up off the ground. “I get the distinct impression from your tone that I’ve just been insulted.”
“Who me? Never.” Jack shook his head in denial and flipped off his flashlight, allowing the cavern to go dim.
“Would you care for natural light?” the Guardian asked.
Jack turned to Azrael who simply shrugged. “I could use the rest to heal.”
“Sure, Phil, knock yourself out. Light us up.”
The Nephilim placed hands on the large stone that was the hidden doorway and the group watched as it slid silently to the side at his touch. Natural sunlight washed partway into the interior and Azrael almost immediately began stiffening, his body covering in a light grey coating of stone. Within moments, he was solidly encased in the stone sleep.
The Guardian stepped closer and examined his still form in the light of day. “Incredible.” He traced a finger over the gargoyle’s folded wings and pulled his hand back carefully. “You’re certain he is not a demon?”
Kalen nodded. “I am certain.” He turned and stood at the doorway, his gaze cast outward as if waiting for something.
Jack pulled his radio and placed the ear bud in place. He tried to radio Tinker and found that either the rock encasing the cavern or the distance had them out of range. “Kalen, open me a channel.”
The elf cast a weary glance at him then used the rock from the doorway to open a portal. Jack radioed the base and informed them of their situation. He sent word through the duty officer that they wouldn’t need the transport that the XO had authorized and that at sundown they’d return.
When asked about the weapons they had gone in search of, Jack hesitated. “Uh, that’s affirmative, but apparently there are just enough for my crew. I guess the Wyldwood left that part out.” Jack chewed at his bottom lip as he lied. He hated to be dishonest, but it was much easier than trying to explain that the offspring of an archangel refused to allow them to use what was at hand.
As he flipped off the radio, Jack reached for an MRE. “Anybody hungry?”
Brooke stared at the foil pouch and narrowed her gaze. “Got any O positive in there?”
Jack hesitated and shot her a questioning look. “Roast beef count?”
“I was just messing with ya.” She patted Kalen on the shoulder, “If I get too hungry, I’ll take a chunk out of sugar cookie here.” Kalen shuddered as he remembered his ‘dream’ and he gave her a knowing look that had Brooke blushing and turning away.
“What is a Wyldwood?” The Guardian bent low next to Jack, his voice low.
Jack patted the ground, inviting him to sit. As the Nephilim settled in, Jack pointed to Kalen. “She’s the leader of his village. She has the ability to ‘see’ things. So do a lot of the elders.” Jack washed down his mouthful with a swallow from his canteen then leaned back against the wall of the cavern. “Apparently they see some sort of threat headed our way, but whatever it is, it isn’t clear to them exactly what it is. They just get bits and pieces as it’s needed.”
“And she is the one who told you where the holy weapons were hidden?”
Jack shrugged. “Well, she told us, but I think somebody else told her. I’m not sure of all the details as it seems that she prefers to go through Kalen now instead of talking to me directly.”
The Nephilim eyed the elf still watching the terrain outside the doorway and nodded toward him. “Is he the leader?”
Jack grunted. “I’m supposed to be. I’m not sure how I got roped into that job either.” He took another bite from the MRE and shook his head. “I owe the Wyldwood. Maybe she figures this is a way to pay her back.”
The Nephilim turned a curious gaze to him. “How?”
“How, what?”
“How do you owe her?”
“That is a very long story.” Jack placed the MRE to the side and wiped his hands on his pants. “Suffice to say, she sent a small army of warriors to help us fight another big threat. She didn’t have to, but she did. And like an idiot, I told her that if she ever needed anything, just ask.”
“And she asked.” The Nephilim nodded. “Perhaps her insight is more attuned than you are aware.”
“Perhaps. Or perhaps she didn’t have anybody else that she was willing to toss to the wolves.” Jack gave the Nephilim a smirk. “Think about it, Phil. Whatever this threat is, we’re going to need weapons made for angels to fight it. What the hell is as strong as an angel?”
The Nephilim rubbed his chin and glanced over his shoulder at the stockpile of ancient weapons. “I can think of only one thing: an angel.”
*****
“I’m proud of you. I was afraid you were just telling me what I wanted to hear.” Evan pressed the phone closer to his ear, his voice barely a whisper. “You do realize that you’ve broken nearly all of the rules there are, right?”
Laura pressed her forehead to the cool, painted block wall and sighed heavily. “It was worth it, Evan.” She glanced toward the nurse’s station and smelled the coffee brewing. She turned around and leaned against the wall, her foot propped under her. “You know, in all the years
I devoted to the squads, I never once asked for anything. I figure taking a little something when I need it? It’s justified.”
“Ha!” Evan snorted into the phone and shook his head as he spoke to her. “Justified? Sweetie, if that’s what you have to tell yourself, that’s okay with me. You know I’m not going to judge you. But I also know you. Your conscience is going to eat at you until you confess to Mitchell.”
Laura pursed her lips together and squeezed her eyes shut. “Dammit.” Her voice was barely a whisper, but it may as well have been yelled across the phone to him. “It was tearing at me before I ever got here. You don’t know how many times I nearly turned around or just picked up the phone or…I had to do something!”
“I know you felt like you did.” Evan sat down gently and stared at the picture of her pinned to his corkboard. “Laura, I’m not going to say that Mitchell would have understood what you did, or that he would give you his blessing, but he’s known you a lot longer than I have. Don’t you think that if I can be understanding in the situation, that he could too?”
She shook her head. “No, not on this. I’ll be lucky if I don’t inherit your cell once he finds out.”
“If you truly believe that, then you need to make sure he never finds out.”
“Evan, they do inventory on the serum. He’ll find out.”
“Already taken care of.” He smiled at her gasp on the other end of the phone. “I’m a man of many talents, and accounting for two broken vials was child’s play.”
She bit at her lower lip as emotion swelled within. “Have I told you how much I love you?”
“Not today you haven’t.”
“Well I do. Oh, and my father wants me to tell you that he wants grandchildren,” she laughed.
Evan stiffened slightly and stared off into nothingness. “I would like nothing better. Unfortunately, it can’t happen. At least, not with me.”
“You don’t know that for sure.” She realized that she had hit a nerve and wished she had kept the comment to herself. “Evan, there’s always a chance. Besides, our lifestyle isn’t exactly conducive to raising children.”
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