by JL Oiler
She screamed as her orgasm shook her body, but he continued to hammer his cock deep into Thorn's supple frame giving her every inch she could take. Sliding his hand around her front, he buried his fingers into her dripping folds, rubbing her clit and spurring another cry from her lovely lips.
John was so close to his own release that his head began to cloud driving all thought of control from his mind. He howled loud as he felt the muscles in his body stiffen and then he bit down into the throbbing vessel of her neck as he spilled his seed deep inside Thorn.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Thorn awoke snuggled tightly against John, his strong arms cradling her to him. Twisting just a bit, she saw him smile. How long had he laid there watching her sleep? She felt deliciously sore and satisfied to the point Thorn thought she might actually start to purr.
“Did you sleep well?” John asked, kissing the curve of her shoulder.
Thorn thought he’d bit her there last night but now as he pressed his lips gently against her skin, she saw no sign of any bite.
“Wonderfully,” she replied with a crooked smile. “How are you feeling?”
“Good enough that I think we’d better get up or I’ll spend the next week seeing how many times I can have you scream my name,” John informed her as he reached to give her breast a soft squeeze before sitting up.
Several disgruntle minutes later, Thorn slipped on her shoes and joined John in the dayroom. He’d went to gather the rest of his team so they could finally discover what information they’d conveniently been denied. Every man in the room with the exception of Beamer, turned and gave her a shit-eating grin as she stepped from John’s room. Evidently, the sound of their extracurricular activity had spilled over into the last night.
“Are you girls gonna stand around all day snickering or are we going to go see what the hell’s going on?” She asked, placing her hands on the flare of her hips.
“Yes Ma'am,” Bell said, snapping to attention and making her giggle.
****
Everyone filed into the conference room. John kept Thorn close at his side, uncertain why he’d felt as though he needed to keep her safe even here in the Nest. The whole place had a different sort of feel since the discovery of the doctor’s deception. How far did this ruse go? Who exactly was involved? John certainly hope the General had gotten to the bottom of all this.
“Bell, close the door please,” General Striate ordered as the virtual screen sprung to life delivering images of several soldier in desert uniforms.
John examined the images of the men displayed before them, recognizing a few of them from the base in Afghanistan. Frowning, he realized all were listed as killed in action and all were originally from this very base. Squeezing Thorn's hand, a disturbing thought flickered in the back of his mind, the ramifications so dark he dare not think of the possibilities.
“We’ve been interrogating Dr. Hough and discovered some disturbing information that might explain the increase of activity near the base. It would seem that prior to the creation of this team, Hough and a group of several top individuals attempted the same procedures which ultimately allowed this team to form. The difference being they chose to inject soldiers killed in the line of duty. They took corpses with single impact injuries and thought perhaps the regeneration process would reanimate those individuals.” The General paused to take a drink of water Miss Williams handed him and to allow those around the table to absorb what he had said.
“So these soldiers are wondering about town causing all this chaos?” Hark asked, leaning in to get a better look at the men in the photo.
“Not exactly,” Striate told him. “Only three of the six soldiers injected were considered viable.”
“Excuse me, sir,” Bell interrupted, scratching his head. “There are only five men in this picture.”
“Exactly. The sixth soldier wasn't recorded anywhere. We only know from the good doctor that he exists.”
“So let me get this straight,” John began with a drawn out sigh. “We’ve got dead soldiers running about killing civilians around the base.”
“That’s what we believe. Though their goal is not immediately clear,” the General confirmed.
“So what’s the plan?” Bell asked with his usual gung-ho tempo.
“We find these things and we kill them,” Hark said as John nodded in agreement.
****
Thorn could feel the state of heightened awareness in the room squeezing everyone like vise. Each of the team members went in different directions once they exited the conference room, everyone seeking different types of Intel they could bring to the others when they reconvened. This left Thorn feeling out of place and less then useful once again.
“Hey Thorn,” Karen Williams called to her as the thin woman stepped into the hall. “How about me and you go hack the doctor’s computer files and see what we can find?”
Now that sounded like something of use and Thorn wasn't about to pass on the chance to be a part of what was happening here.
“Count me in,” she replied happily turning to follow the woman toward Dr. Hough’s private quarters and office.
“You two best be careful,” John called after her. “You never know what else the man might be hiding.”
“We will be,” Thorn called back, happy to finally do something other than watch.
Hough’s rooms were off the medical lab and accessed through a steel door with optical scanner. Luckily Karen wasn't just the General's person assistant but somewhat of a computer whiz. In a matter of seconds, she’d had a set of wires plugged into some sort of box with digital numbers rolling around. It amazed Thorn how quickly her friend could bypass security as the thick door slid open.
Letting out a long whistle as the automatic lights flickered on, both women looked around. The man lived in a lab right out of an old horror movie. Shelves lined the walls filled with various colored liquids with things floating inside. He had ever body part imaginable inside those glass containers as both women looked about wide-eyed.
“Hey Thorn,” Karen said from behind her, making Thorn spin to face the woman who held up a small jar filled with a dozen eyeballs. “I have my eyes on you.”
Both burst into laughter. Not that it was all that funny but given the tension of the situation, it worked.
“Please tell me this is not what I think it is,” Thorn said, spying a jar which most definitely contained a full set of male reproduction organs. “That’s sick.”
“Damn, that just isn’t right,” Karen agreed.
The computer and two tall filing cabinets sat in the far corner, Having their fill of the doctor’s creepy collection, they headed that direction. Karen would handle breaking into the files on the computer as Thorn looked for something to make quick work of the cabinet locks. A strong paperclip should do it. Bending one straight and the other into an L shape, she began the task. A few grumbles and cuss words later the first click sounded, signaling success.
The top drawer contained all Hough’s military paperwork, every reprimand, promotion, and re-enlistment, along with a copy of his birth certificate. Nothing worth reporting there. The second drawer was a whole lot more interesting, it had a file for each of the current team members including photos and medical reports. It appeared that each of the men shared a career ending medical condition or injury, an IQ at roughly the same level, and reports indicating high levels of willingness to self-sacrifice. Thorn did find it odd that all the files were color-coded blue with the exception of Beamer's, who was tagged yellow.
The last drawer made Thorn's mouth drop open. It was a large, hulking file on her. It had copies of work schedules, emails she'd written to her sister in-law and pictures spanning the period from Thomas’ funeral until the evening she first met John. Staring at the images of her standing in front of her brother’s grave marker caused a chill deep inside. What the hell was going on here?
“How close are you to breaking his encryption?” Thorn asked Karen.
&nb
sp; “Just about there,” she replied, punching a few more keys then wagging her eyebrows smiled as the screen jumped to life. “Tada!”
“Great, I want to know what this asshole's interest with me is,” Thorn grunted, tossing her file on the desk.
****
John flipped through the phone log for the past month for the second time, gradually eliminating one number after another. One number continued to pop up. It appeared to originate somewhere near base however the extension dialed was a small office off the dayroom, not the lab or doctors quarters.
The uneasiness in his gut from earlier returned with a vengeance. Something was hiding here just below the surface, taunting John to discover it. John looked at his team mates scattered about the room. All seemed buried in their task, all that was but one.
Beamer had a strange half smirk on his face as he flipped through a surveillance log he was suppose to be examining. Every now and then, he’d check his watch and the slight grin would get a bit larger. Something was definitely off. John motioned for Hark who stopped what he was doing and came over, taking the seat to his right.
“I want you to go the control room and have them pull the images for the team office for these days and times,” John said low, sliding the highlighted paper toward the other man. “If I’m right we have a fox in the hen house,” he said, shooting a glance across the room to reveal his suspicion.
“You go it,” Hark replied quietly before standing and heading out.
John wondered if Thorn and Miss Williams had found anything of interest yet. He was glad she wasn't here, knowing she was safely out of the area if his qualms were to be confirmed. The last thing he wanted was for her to become a target because of anger directed at him. Still, he longed to have her at his side. H sighed with realization. He loved the woman, even if they’d only truly known each other a short while.
Hark reappeared a cross look on his face telling the results before he could speak.
“What are we going to do?” he asked as John surveyed the room and considered the next step.
“Lock the door. It’s time for some answers.”
John stood, shooting Bell a silent command to flank Beamer as Hark clicked the deadbolt into place. The resonating click caused Beamer to raise his head, his eyes going wide as he realized the entire team now stalked toward him. They had him cut off, nowhere to go, no one to call.
“I want some answers,” John growled as he felt his beast vibrate through him, ready for a battle it knew would come.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” came Beamers snarling response as he stood, knocking his chair over in his haste.
“Then perhaps you can explain these or why you keep checking your watch. What are you waiting for?” Rose countered, tossing the pile of papers he’d been examining across the table.
“You have no idea,” Beamer shrieked, his body shaking in rage. “None of you're half of him and he wants her. What he wants he gets!”
“What have you done, worm?” Bell asked as he moved to close the space separating them.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Thorn gathered her entire file up along with several things Karen printed from the doctor’s computer and began to follow the woman out, intent on rejoining the guys in the dayroom. This was a lot to absorb. She’d been thinking that her run in with the creature while at work was just a case of being at the wrong place at the wrong time. However, with these new revelations she was no longer so certain. Could she really be a target of some sort? She was no one of real importance in these matters.
She waited as Karen punched in the code, which would open the door back to the corridor, her arms loaded down and her mind on the hope John might have found something as well. The large metal entries slid apart and Thorn felt her heart nearly burst from her chest as she looked into the face of her brother Thomas standing before her. She tried to speak, but could form no words as she stared at him, the papers she carried falling forgotten to the floor.
“Hello sis.”
“H..H..how?” She finally managed, still standing unmoved.
“He’s one of them,” Karen said, looking between them, pale and obviously frightened.
It was then Thorn noticed the peeking fangs and amber color to his eyes. Could It be possible that Thomas was the unknown subject from the first of Dr. Hough’s little experiments? It was the only explanation that fit.
“What are you doing here?” Thorn asked as Karen began to ease back toward a call box.
“I’m here for you,” Thomas said as he shot his hand out and seized Karen by the neck, lifting her completely off the floor. “I have big plans for our family.”
Thorn leapt forward, attempting to pull his arm down as Karen struggled to get free as he continued to squeeze her neck until the woman began turning blue.
“Let her go. You’re hurting her, Thomas.” Thorn pleaded as he pushed her away with his free hand and laughed.
“Why Thorn? She’s nothing but another sheep,” he chuckled.
“I said let her go!” Thorn screeched, throwing a hard kick into the back of his knee, knowing her friend couldn't survive much longer if she failed to act.
Thomas tossed Karen against the wall as Thorn's foot connected and his knee buckled slightly, not adequate to bring him down but obviously enough to get his attention. Thorn considered making a run for it, however that would leave an unconscious Karen unprotected and despite his current state, she still couldn't come to grips with her brother being anything other than the man she’d known.
“Nice to know you still have some spunk,” Thomas growled as he slapped her so hard she flew backward, skidding across the tile. “Though I must say your manners suck.”
Thorn stared up at the man she’d once known. He might look and sound like Thomas but he wasn't her brother any longer. The man she’d known would never act in such a way. This was wrong, he was wrong and for the first time in her life, she feared him. Panic gripped her and Thorn looked about wildly for anything she could use as a weapon against him.
“What’s wrong, sis? You don’t seem happy to have me back,” Thomas snarled, stalking toward her, an evil grin twisting his pale, thin lips.
****
John ran as fast as his beast could, flashing through the halls with Hark and Bell close behind, a mixture of panic and rage driving him forward. He had to find Thorn. They’d left Beamer a broken, bloody mess locked into one of the specimen holding cells. The asshole was lucky the kid had kept him or Hark from killing his sorry ass once they discover the bastard was playing both sides. To think one of their own, along with the doctor, had let Thomas inside was unbelievable. Then again, the knowledge that his former best friend was now the enemy he hunted wasn’t any easier to swallow.
The sound of Thorn's frightened scream filled the air, nearly causing his beast to break free of the thin thread of control he held. John needed to reach her, his sanity depended on it. Reaching the last door way, he pounded the pass code into the small key board as both his companions looked at the door blocking their way as though at his word hey would tear it away. Sucking in a breath, he stared at the chaos revealed when the door opened.
Thorn was nowhere in sight, only a semiconscious Karen who leaned against the wall, large welting finger marks visible on the pale flesh of her neck. Papers and images lay strewn about the floor, photos of Thorn sitting in her car outside a club where she’d watched him, ones through the windows of her home, and even one taken at Arlington. They’d been watching her, planning this.
Bell moved to Karen’s side gently helping her to sit up as John focused on the next door. Evidently, Thomas knew they would try to follow. He’d managed to destroy the control box, blocking their attempt to reach him before he exited the Nest.
“Bell, take Karen to the infirmary and call the General. Tell him what’s going down then meet us in the armory. Where going to find my girl and put her brother back in the grave,” John ordered as he took out his K-bar knife and used it
to pry the fried panel from the wall. If Thomas was collecting family members then he had an idea where they could find him next. With a bit of luck they could be waiting on him before he could get Thorn stashed and get there. John hoped to God he hadn’t yet hurt her.
It took several agonizing minutes and several choice words before John was finally able to override the mechanics of the doors and slide them open. Heading for the armory, he ran through a checklist in his head of all the things they would need. Luckily there were a few weapon modifications made in the past few weeks that the good doctor and even Beamer were not privy too. Things that were about to get their first live test.
“So do you have a plan or are we just going to run in and kill everything?” Hark asked as they entered the experimental weaponry lab.
“That thought had crossed my mind,” John admitted with a shit-eating grin as he ran his clearance card to open one of the lockers. “But I don’t plan on being so reckless. My gut tells me he’ll stash Thorn somewhere and attempt to grab his wife and daughter as well.”
“So are we actually going to let that monster get his hands on some kid whether she’s his or not?” Hark asked concerned.
“No, I plan to head him off and force him to tell me where to find Thorn.”
“Well I hope he follows the plan,” Hark told him, grabbing the large weapon that looked like it was straight from a science fiction movie off the holder. “Now this is what I call a weapon.”
“Damn boss, you got one of those for me?” Bell asked, walking through the door.
“Here you go kid,” John said, tossing a similar weapon to the youngest team member before grabbing one for himself. “What did the General have to say?”
“He said he wasn’t going to tell you not to do this, because you wouldn’t listen anyway. So he wished you luck and said he’d find a way to handle the shit storm he thinks is coming,” Bell informed John while grabbing an armload of special ammunition.
“Is Miss Williams all right?” Hark asked with a slight grin.
