“Fucking cunt!” he screamed, rolling over and holding himself up on his hands and knees as he shook his head and tried to wipe the blood from his eyes.
Nina came in from his side and brought her leg up in a kick that she put all her strength behind, her heavy boots connecting with his ribs, cracking several and causing him to fall to the ground again.
Bryant wheezed as he rolled on the ground and held his rib cage.
“I’m not sure if you noticed,” she said, leaning over dramatically to try to look him in the eye from a few feet away, “I’ve learned a lot since I’ve been away.”
“Fuck you. I’ll still kill you,” he said, struggling to his feet and lumbering toward Nina.
“You not going to get out and finish this fucker?” Scorn asked Lethal.
“Not until she tells me I can. This is her vengeance. She’s doing it for herself and for Acker. She’ll let me know if she needs me. She wants him to fear her, not us,” Lethal said.
Scorn huffed his frustration, but continued to watch the beating going on outside.
Nina stood her ground, watching Bryant stumble toward her with a sneer on his face while blood still poured from his nose, and he held his ribs. “Should have fucking killed you instead of selling you,” he shouted.
Nina nodded slowly. “Yeah, you should have. Because now, I’m not leaving until I’ve beaten you so badly your own momma wouldn’t know you. Then I’m going to leave your body for dead out here for the vultures to pick on,” she said as pleasantly as if she was complimenting a pair of shoes she admired.
“After we rip your fucking arms and legs off your sorry ass and beat your dead fucking face in with them!” a male voice yelled from the now rolled down windows in the SUV.
Nina giggled. “That’s Scorn. He just hates to be left out. But, my male, Lethal, the one that shot your piece of shit friend, he promised me I could be the one to be your karma today.”
Bryant turned halfway away from her to look back at the SUV, and she took that opportunity to charge the last few steps toward him and send herself airborne to take out his left knee.
Bryant screeched and went down, one hand reaching for his knee, one still holding his ribs, as blood dripped down his chin from his broken nose.
“She’s got a thing for taking out a person at the knee, doesn’t she?” Feral asked.
Scorn nodded. “I taught her that,” he said proudly. “She’s little. Can’t just walk up into a big asshole’s reach. Gotta take your opportunities where you can. Knee’s a weak point, good place to start.”
Feral nodded slowly with his lips pressed together and his eyebrows raised. “She learned well.”
“You fucking cunt!” Bryant screamed.
Nina laughed and walked right up to him, punching him in the face as hard as she could with the brass knuckles Steel had given her as a gift.
Bryant’s head swung backward and when he lifted it to face her again, he spit out a tooth. “So fucking weak you have to use tools. Can’t beat a man the right way,” he managed to get out through his split lips.
“I’m small, dickhead, not stupid,” she answered. Nina stepped back and kicked Bryant in the head hard enough to knock a man out. But he was so hyped on adrenalin, all it did was disorient him.
He lay back in the dusty, red dirt of the yard and thought he’d take a minute to catch his breath before he got up and made her sorry for ever coming back here. “You’re going to be so fucking sorry when I catch your ass,” he threatened.
“I already am. I’m sorry I ever met you. I’m sorry I didn’t kill you sooner. I’m sorry you still fucking breathe. But you know what I’m not sorry about? Ironically, I’m not sorry you sold me, because I found my people and my calling. That team right there?” she said, as Lethal and his team got out of the car at her waving at them. “They saved me. They made me one of them. And because of them, I’m just now realizing my full potential. Without your sorry fucking ass, I’d have never known all that I could be. So, I’m not going to kill you. I’m going to step away and allow the male that loves me to exert a little of his own frustration at the way you’ve treated me. I’m going to allow the males that have accepted me into their circle and taught me all they know about warfare and torture to finish you off. And just to be sure you understand, I don’t call them men because they’re not. They’re not human any longer. That facility you sold me to, they were changing the DNA of soldiers to turn them into living weapons.”
She knelt down beside Bryant and grabbed the hair on the top of his head with her fist, forcing him to look at Lethal and his team who were already a little snarlier, a little larger, with their eyes flashing and their fangs on display. “Wouldn’t be fair to not let them have a little fun, too. So, you enjoy yourself, now. Good to see you again and all that. I'm going to sit right over here and enjoy the show.” Nina shoved his head to the ground and when he groaned and began to try to crawl away, she was right back over him. She pulled her leg back and dropkicked him as hard as she could in the balls. “Okay, now they can play,” she said, as he whimpered and cupped his crushed genitals in both hands. “Have fun, now,” she said happily.
Nina walked over to the SUV smiling happily and climbed up onto the hood to watch. Lethal and the team descended on Bryant — a snarling, growling mass of male, intent on making him suffer as much as possible. The screams Bryant filled the air with were high pitched and girlish in nature, as her male and her team stripped his flesh from his body while literally tearing him limb from limb. Nina watched emotionless as the man that was responsible for so much pain in her life, paid for his crimes against her at the hands of the male that would treasure her for the rest of her days, and the males that would always have her back no matter what she did or where she went.
<<<<<<<>>>>>>>
Days later Lethal and his team sat at the back table in the cafeteria while they listened to Law address their community as a whole. They’d freed five new teams and seven new females since taking David into custody, and had followed half a dozen leads on tracking Dr. Waller. They’d returned four more guards, three medical personnel and a custodian to their jail. David had information and readily gave it, but more than half the facilities he was aware of were no longer in existence. He knew the names of countries and towns, but for the most part only had a few names to offer up. He now spent much of his time on the internet’s dark web under the watchful eye of Roscoe to be sure he was doing what he was supposed to, searching for evidence of Waller and his people, searching for supplies or personnel they may need.
Lethal glanced over toward Nina who listened intently to Law as he explained why he believed it was time to go public. He allowed his gaze to travel over the rest of his team sitting around their table. They were each highly skilled males. Even Nina was unequaled in many of the skills they’d taught her. They involved her in many of the missions, and as long as the males weren’t those who personally wronged Nina, there was no problem. She was as professional as the rest. He looked around the room. They were more than two hundred strong now. The Variant had become their own people, their own diverse nationality, so to speak. And while some of them had no desire to leave Alliance, others did. And some of the women that’d been rescued were more than ready to go.
“It’s time,” Law said from the front of the large room. “It’s time to let the world know what we’ve endured. Time to let those that have to date remained hidden know we’re coming for them.”
“But wouldn’t that put any others still out there into jeopardy?” a voice asked.
“It’s always a possibility. But, we’ve basically taken this as far as we can without going public. We’ve followed all the leads we uncovered, as well as those provided by Colonel Bates. Our jail, though an exemplary high-security holding facility, is packed full — all three stories. We need to be able to transfer the individuals that we know can’t give us anymore information to the custody of the government. The best way to do that is to make the public aware fi
rst so that they have to be held accountable. In addition, if we make our existence known, hopefully, others who may not even be aware they have information could come forward. Maybe they’ve wondered for years what that old facility on the hill is doing behind all those fences. Maybe they saw five males moving quietly through their town. Could be anything they noticed in passing and didn’t think much more of,” Law said. “Maybe letting those we hunt know that we’re hunting them will make them trip up so they’re easier to be found.”
“Fear can make a man make mistakes. Flush them out into the open when they’re nervous,” Lethal said aloud.
“Exactly!” Law agreed, pointing at Lethal. “And in the meantime, we show that we’re working with the government, we show that we are controlled and trustworthy despite the treatment we’ve received, and we get the public on our side. We turn over the prisoners that we’re done with, and prepare for new ones. It’s our first step to being recognized as individual citizens who deserve the same rights and freedoms as everyone else. The same rights and freedoms we once had, when we were someone other than we are today. We’re Variant, and we need to be recognized as such.”
“And reparation! We should be paid for the atrocities we endured,” Scorn shouted.
“Absolutely,” Law answered.
“Why you always worried about reparation? What the hell you going to do with any money they give you anyway?” Steel asked.
“I want a motorcycle. A big one!” Scorn said grinning. “Chicks love motorcycles,” he said confidently. Then he looked over at Nina. “Tell ‘em, Nina. Chicks like bikes, right?”
Nina shrugged. “Some do, I guess.”
“Really?” Scorn objected, insulted that Nina didn’t agree with him.
“Okay, fine. We looovvvve motorcycles,” she said.
Scorn grinned. “See? Told ya.”
“When do you plan to make the announcement?” Brutal asked. “I want to know in advance so that we can shore up security around the perimeter. I’m sure we’ll end up with all kinds of curious crazies coming to check us out.”
“We’re looking at Thursday of this week. We’ve been in touch with those in the military and government who have been working behind the scenes to support us and approve our missions as government operations. We’ve been classified as top secret-need to know only. That’s going to come to an end to a degree. Our inner workings and missions will still be kept private. Those who were behind the original facilities and funding of Waller and those like him around the world will soon come to light. While we believe he was the individual to spearhead the processes, we know there are other medical professionals out there who ran their own facilities and looked to him for guidance. We believe this could all go straight to the top of the governmental branches of our country. We have to be prepared for anything,” General Ferriday explained.
“Does anyone have any comments or questions?” Law asked. When there were none forthcoming, Law addressed the room again. “Okay, since everyone understands, we’ll take a vote. We don’t have time to go through a written voting process since we’re planning to start trying to plan a press conference by the end of the day. So, we’ll do this the old fashioned way. Any and all opposed to making ourselves known to the world raise your hand.”
Three males raised their hands.
“Mind if I ask why?” Roar asked from his place at the governing board’s table.
“Don’t want to get those still out there killed,” one of them answered.
“Agreed,” Roar said. “But if we can’t find them, we can’t free them. We’re thinking of offering a plea deal for any who have a team hidden away, but set them free after knowledge of us is given during the press conference.”
“You’re going to let the fucking people who bought them walk away?” another asked.
Ice grinned. His facial expressions, even when he was slightly amused, were unnerving. “No one walks away. But we can let them believe they will,” he said a little too gleefully.
“All in favor of the press conference,” Law asked.
All but the original three who had concerns raised their hands.
“That’s it, then. We’ll make arrangements for a press conference. As I said earlier, we’re looking at Thursday. We’ll keep you posted as things develop, any questions in the meantime, you know where we are. Any of the board can answer your questions, General Ferriday, or Roscoe,” Law explained. “Thanks for your time.”
The minute the meeting was over, everyone began to speak amongst themselves and the murmur in the room was near deafening.
“Ya’ll ready?” Lethal said, getting to his feet.
“Lethal!” General Ferriday said, coming through the crowd trying to get Lethal’s attention.
Lethal turned around and waited for General Ferriday to get to them.
“Lethal, I was hoping to catch you before you left here today. I understand you’re out on another mission this evening,” he said.
“We are. It’s just intel though. What can I do for you?” Lethal asked.
“I was hoping you and your team would agree to be at the press conference.”
Lethal was surprised at the request. “Why? What could we possibly add that you and your people can’t already handle?”
“Fear,” General Ferriday said with a smile. “Just like you talked about it.”
Epilogue
Two looked down at himself and smoothed a hand down the navy blue Alliance uniform he wore.
“Looking sharp, Two,” Nina said, winking at him as she went by.
Two smiled. “I’m happy they included me,” he said with a smile.
“You’re always one of us, Two. I already told you that,” Lethal said from the table he stood beside speaking with General Ferriday, General Howard, Lieutenant General Kent, Colonel Bates, and Law.
Two smiled at Lethal happily.
“I’m looking pretty damn impressive myself,” Scorn said, nodding his head and looking around the room at all the television news crews that were there to film them this morning. He caught the eye of one of the women and winked at her sending her into giggles. “See?” he said. “I still got it.”
“You don’t even know if you used to have it,” Steel snapped.
“Oh, there is no doubt that I have always had it,” Scorn snapped back.
“Oh, really? And what makes you think that?” Steel asked. “I don’t see nothing telling me that.”
“Good, ‘cause if you were chasing my ass for your own purposes, I’d be a little put out,” Scorn answered, walking away from Steel.
“Hold up,” Steel called, walking in the direction Scorn had gone.
“Hey!” Lethal called out. “Both of you, cut the shit!”
At once both males stopped their habitual bickering and quieted down.
Nina noticed two of the women who were with the news crews glance toward Lethal appreciatively at his display of control. She was practically biting a hole in her tongue so she’d not threaten them, but it wasn’t even necessary. Lethal noticed them and her reaction.
Lethal whistled sharply. Most of the people in the cafeteria/temporary press conference facility looked over at him. “Public service announcement. Some of us are mated. We don’t welcome attention from anyone other than our female. If you’re interested in a male here, or a female here, I suggest you go about it respectfully, because if you piss off a mated male or female, it’s not going to be pretty.” Then he went back to his conversation. Not ten seconds later he looked up directly at Nina. He offered her a smile.
“Female,” he growled. “Your male needs you. Right here,” he said, staring at her seductively while he pointed to a place beside him.
Two smirked. “Possessive much?” he asked.
Nina chuckled and walked over toward Lethal, coming to a stop beside him. Lethal looked down at her and put his arm around her, pulling her in to his side and dropping a quick kiss on her cheek.
“How’d you know?” she asked, smili
ng up at him.
“We’re trained to notice everything. Even females looking at us appreciatively while our female considers taking out their knees,” Lethal said with a grin.
“I was just going to tell them stop looking at my male,” Nina grumbled.
“I didn’t think it worth taking a chance that it was all you were thinking,” Lethal answered.
“Gentlemen, if you could take your places and prepare yourselves, we’re ready to go live when you are,” one of the producers said.
“Where you want us?” Feral asked Lethal from across the room.
“We’re going to line the wall behind the table the governing board and the Generals, and other officers will sit at.”
“And stare intimidatingly into the camera?” Scorn asked hopefully.
“Not exactly, son,” General Ferriday said. “First we want you fully helmeted, seen and recognized as a well trained, fully capable team of operatives. At the end we’ll allow you to be seen, hopefully even by Waller and all who worked with him. We hope to make him so nervous that he trips up and we find him.”
“Cool,” Scorn said, walking over with Steel to take his place beside Lethal, Nina, and Two who were already getting into position.
Feral stayed where he was.
“Feral?” Lethal asked.
Feral shook his head slowly. “I think I’m going to sit this one out. I’d just as soon stay anonymous if it’s all the same to you.”
Lethal gave a single nod. “Done. Anybody else want out?” Lethal asked.
“Nope, we’re good,” Two said, after looking at Scorn, Steel and Valor who’d just walked over to join them.
“Everybody ready?” General Howard asked.
Lethal turned his attention back to General Ferriday, and nodded in agreement to whatever he’d said.
“We’re going to introduce ourselves, explain the situation, and introduce Law and the governing board of directors. We’ll mention Lethal and his team and explain that they’re an example of our SOT teams. When we’re finished, we’ll allow Lethal and his team to speak to Waller directly,” General Ferriday said. “We do not address the women who were taken as rewards. Some of them will be going home and they should not have to face public curiosity if they choose to keep their experiences private.”
Beginnings Page 48
