by Eric S Kim
Sepulveda used her laptop computer to connect the livestream to her TV. “Trust me. It’s always a thrill to see people get what they deserve.”
Sabrina set her assault rifle aside. “I hope it’s not some giant armadillo. I hate those things. They’re always so ugly.”
“You’ll be glad to know that the beast is more of a canine.”
Jerome leaned against the wall and folded his arms across his chest. He waited for the TV screen to change. And when it did, real-time footage of an enormous steel chamber emerged. It must have been twice the size of a high school gym, perhaps even bigger. Sepulveda stepped away from the laptop and let the TV show the complete details in a crisp and clear quality.
Paulina Delgado also appeared on the screen. She was placed in the middle of the steel chamber, which had two giant doors on the wall in front of her. She stood on an elevated platform with her hands bound by ropes connected to two parallel posts, with her being stuck between both columns. It reminded Jerome of how the sacrificial victims of the King Kong films had been offered to the giant ape. In fact, the scenario seemed to be an exact replica of what happened in the original movie and its remakes.
Sabrina sounded impressed. “Hey, not bad.”
At the moment, Paulina was not the same person from Stansbridge Arena. Her clothes and her bandaged wound didn’t change, but her emotions did. She had been reduced to a frightened individual who desperately tried to free herself from the ropes. The livestream included its own audio, and the Blackjacks could hear Paulina screaming for help.
Sepulveda didn’t look away from the screen. “I am so proud of this particular creation. He is absolutely brutal…just the way I like it.”
The giant steel doors on the wall in front of Paulina began to open, sliding away from each other to the left and to the right. A mild creaking noise translated well on the TV’s speakers. Paulina stopped her struggle to discover the creature that would reveal itself behind the doors.
Sepulveda continued, “His name is Zedezim. He used to be a coyote. And now, he is a part of our family.”
The Blackjacks remained silent as they witnessed an uninterrupted feast. As the giant sliding doors were now fully open, the livestream camera showed the beast in its full splendor. Zedezim was a giant anthropomorphic canine. He stood on its two hind legs and had arms that evolved to a structure similar to a human being’s. He had scruffy gray fur and two rows of sharp teeth. In terms of height, he could have been as tall as a Tennervarn Dragon, reaching a stature that almost matched a three-story building. Paulina was absolutely small compared to this beast.
Zedezim licked his lips. Paulina screamed once again. Even as she tried to pull her hands away from the ropes, her frantic attempts only kept her in a helpless position. Zedezim growled as he took his steps forward. His footsteps produced a constant stomping noise that echoed all across the chamber.
Everyone in Sepulveda’s house didn’t say a word. The livestream showed them something that didn’t need to be interrupted by a human language. Zedezim now hovered over Paulina as he looked down at the altar. Paulina couldn’t stop screaming. Zedezim reached out with his hand, which included long sharp claws. He wrapped his fingers around Paulina’s waist. The woman had now lost the slim possibility of fleeing the area unscathed. Zedezim cut both ropes with just a flick of a claw. Paulina spent her time trying to push his fingers away from her body, but her movements didn’t deter the giant beast from achieving its simple goal. Zedezim lifted her up from the altar and pulled her closer to his face. He examined her with his curious glance even as she started to shed her tears.
She shouted, “No, don’t! Let me go!”
Zedezim growled at a higher volume. He opened his salivating mouth wide and pulled her into it. With a terrified look on her face, Paulina raised her arms at the incoming entrance. Zedezim bit down on her belly and her back, which produced a loud crunching noise. His bite caused Paulina to lose more blood than before. The sharp teeth gave her more open wounds. Her screams turned into a muffled whimpering. Her legs stopped moving. Zedezim crammed her entire body into his mouth and swallowed her in one gulp. Paulina disappeared completely.
Edward whispered, “And down she goes.”
The worst way for Paulina to end her life would be to stay alive, paralyzed in Zedezim’s stomach, and just wait for the digestive juices to liquify her body for the next hour or so. Dying from the canine’s first bite would have been the better option, but no one could tell if she did.
A trail of blood exited Zedezim’s mouth and dripped down his chin. He didn’t wipe it off. Instead, he brought his head up and howled at the ceiling. He was satisfied with his snack. His current posture, complete with clenched fists, would have scared off hundreds of Failures back into the Dead Zone. Thanks to artificial evolution, he became a creature with a frightening ambition, a beast that could devour anyone that Sepulveda offered to him.
Jerome could tolerate the way that Zedezim devoured Paulina in his own nasty way. But the creature itself gave him an uneasy feeling. He remembered that the beast used to be an ordinary coyote roaming the desert. Now, Sepulveda transformed him into a giant canine with a ravenous appetite. Jerome let out a slow sigh. Paulina’s fate would be embedded into his memory, just like when Cheryl Chung had been eaten by one of the dragons at Fireside Air Base.
Just as Zedezim turned around and walked away from the camera, Elliott broke the silence in the living room by saying, “Well, I don’t think I’ll be having dinner tonight.”
Sepulveda chuckled. “Don’t feel so weak. We should cherish this moment. Zedezim has done us a favor, thanks to me and your boss.”
Sabrina’s eyes lit up. “Hey, I have an idea. Why don’t you bring this coyote fellow to Stansbridge Arena and have the audience watch him eat people? It’ll be like a whole new way of getting rid of Failures. Forget Alaska. California’s got the right stuff.”
Sepulveda smiled as she turned off the TV. “I’m already looking into it, but thanks for the reminder.”
Sabrina laughed with glee. “I’d be buying the tickets before they’re even announced. It’ll be fun. It’d be like the Olympics, except everyone loses to the beasts.”
Elliott replied, “Just be sure to buy one for me, too.”
Preston raised his hand. “You can also count me in for that.”
As the Blackjacks discussed the possibility of Ironbark Animal Kingdom extending their usage of animals straight to sports entertainment, Jerome didn’t say anything. He was silent as he left the living room and made his return upstairs to continue his own surveillance.
4:23 PM
The rest of the Blackjack Troopers had followed Virgil Hamilton back to Santa Ana. They gathered at Mystic Lightning Headquarters and would spend the rest of the day guarding the CEO in the building. Lionel stayed in Hamilton’s office on the top floor while the other Blackjacks wandered in and around the main building, which was eleven stories high. Lionel stayed seated in one of the chairs provided by Hamilton, who gazed out the window in silence.
Lionel gave him warning. “Mr. Hamilton, don’t stand in front of the window. Gordon might have a sniper rifle and he can get a clean shot at a safe distance.”
Hamilton turned around and moved away from the window. “Good thinking. I certainly wouldn’t want to die like an idiot.”
Lionel activated his earpiece and asked Hector if there were any important updates involving a possible infiltration. The captain only received trivial information from his teammate. Even if nothing had changed throughout the day, Lionel didn’t lose his concentration. He stayed alert as he kept his eyes on Hamilton, who took a seat at his desk.
The boss remarked, “Well, I’m convinced that this Gordon guy is nothing but a wuss. He finds out you’re here and he makes a run for it. ‘Fuck the mission, I’ll just find a new home in Antarctica’.”
Lionel replied, “That would be the only logical answer, sir.”
Hamilton snickered as he leaned back in his c
hair. “You and your squad are doing a damn fine job.”
“Don’t lower your expectations just yet. Gordon is still nowhere to be seen, and that means he could be planning a surprise attack at any moment now.”
“But I do have the right people for the job, don’t I?”
“Yes, you do.”
Lionel sighed. “Ah, Squad A-X-9. Do the five-star reviews lie?”
“No, sir. The civilians are proud of us.”
“Oh, that’s good to hear. Your good reputation is untouchable.”
“Thank you.”
Hamilton’s frown was a clear sign of a change in his attitude. “It’s going to be a sad day when the nominations will be valid. If Gorvex ever takes you away from this company, then I’m going to have a hard time finding a suitable replacement.”
“I’m sure it won’t be a tough time. Squad K-W-3 is very close to matching our success.”
Hamilton leaned forward in his chair. “Do you think you have a good chance at becoming a Zadith disciple?”
It wasn’t hard for Lionel to tell the truth. “I am confident that A-X-9 will be chosen.”
“I feel the same way…though not completely.”
“What makes you doubt our success?”
“I’m not doubting it. I’m just remembering what happened back in La Palma. Singletary, the dragons, everything. You’re lucky that you haven’t been charged with taming a dragon. That Ivisian Emerald kept you here in Anaheim for good.”
Lionel did not worry of a possible confrontation between him and the CEO. “Like I said before, I had no other choice but to chase down Mr. Singletary with the most reliable transportation available.”
Hamilton narrowed his eyes. “It’s not the dragon that worries me. It’s the reminder that you used to do the exact same thing a long time ago. Yes, you and I are the only ones who know about it. And Mr. Murdock as well. But can we keep it safe when Gorvex is involved? That’s the part that complicates things.”
Lionel had enough time to give an answer. “I’m sure Gorvex will understand. I did quit the business after all.”
“Yes, you did. But not in the way that I’d imagine it. Murdock told me all about it a long time ago. You didn’t quit because you wanted to believe in Gorvex, did you?”
Lionel kept calm as he replied, “No, I didn’t.”
“You see, that’s what I’m worried about. You never agreed with Gorvex’s true intentions. You and your friends tried to fight him off, but you got your asses kicked. And now, that giant robot will know about it. And we can never tell if he’s quick on forgiveness or staunch on pain and suffering.”
“He won’t get rid of me. Do you really think that I’d spend the last eighteen years yearning for a blast from the past? Gorvex has changed my mind about a lot of things, including being a dragon rider.
“So you really did change your mind about that?”
“I had to. Gorvex would never let it happen again in his world.”
“Well, I certainly hope so. If Gorvex is kind enough to forgive you for your first occupation, then I’ll die without a guilty conscience.”
“Trust me. He’ll be glad that he has selected a man who is aware of the errors in his past.”
There was a knock on the door, and Hamilton let the visitor in. Lionel turned around to see that Woodrow Lockhart had stepped inside the office. Anyone would quickly identify the forty-year-old Blackjack just by his black-colored cowboy hat mixed in with his coat and tie.
“No change in the system. No one in this building brings a tactic that illumines their true necessities. It’s a silent wasteland with only the falcons to look after.”
Lionel nodded. “Stay vigilant regardless.”
Hamilton already overlooked the most recent discussion with Lionel. “Woodrow, let me ask you something. Do you talk that way even when you’re telling a waitress what you’re ordering for lunch?”
Woodrow appeared amused by the question. “The truth is a chase that requires no tricks. Go ahead. You will see it in the cracks.”
Hamilton groaned. “Too late.”
A slight beeping noise arose in Hamilton’s desktop computer. Just as the boss checked the email that he had just received, Lionel whispered to Woodrow, “Did you check on the Blackjacks in Sepulveda’s place?”
Woodrow nodded. “Nothing to see. Just a room with a beautiful view.”
“What about Victoria and Rebecca?”
“They’re on their way back. They’ll join us in about fifteen minutes or so.”
Hamilton had a big smile on his face. “Mr. Quintana has received your signatures.”
Lionel asked, “So what happens next?”
“I don’t know, but I have a feeling that the Chairman is already making plans.”
FIVE
5:02 PM
Preston decided to take a little break from his duties, even as he kept his FAMAS G2 rifle firmly in his hands. He stood on the balcony and cherished the gorgeous view of the beach. From down below, Emerald Bay was peaceful and devoid of a crowded environment. The late afternoon equaled a slow progression of beachgoers departing from the beach. Civilians left the coach as the sun began to descend into the Pacific horizon. The seagulls formed as a shapeless swarm when they were airborne above the sand. Only one seagull flew alone, away from the group. It soared above Sepulveda’s house and disappeared above the rooftop.
Preston took off his black cap and smoothed his blond hair. The cool ocean breeze gave him a good reason to relax by calming him down with its invisible motion. The young Blackjack closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh. Nothing exciting happened in the first hour of guard duty. Nevertheless, he continued to keep a sharp focus. Blackjack Troopers had no intention of giving an uncaring performance, and Preston needed to follow the most basic example. He began to view the outside more carefully. He checked the other houses that stood on the edge of the cliff. So far, he didn’t spot Gordon Steele’s face anywhere.
The footsteps from behind caused him to turn around and see Jerome joining him on the balcony. He had kept his beret and trench coat on ever since the beginning. He even kept his EMR in a scabbard behind his back. He drank from his glass of orange juice that Sepulveda offered to him not long ago.
“Beautiful day out here.”
Preston put his cap back on. “Yeah, it sure is.”
“I might buy a house here ten years from now.”
“I could buy it right now.”
“Probably not a good time to show off.”
Preston lightly laughed it off. “I didn’t mean to brag. I’m just being honest.”
“Try to lie once in a while.”
Preston couldn’t help but smile at his teammate. “If that’s what you want.”
They viewed the bay together in silence, watching the waves crashing onto the sand. As Jerome took another sip of his orange juice, Preston suddenly remembered something that happened just an hour ago.
He cleared his throat. “You know, that painting upstairs is pretty awesome, isn’t it?”
Jerome replied, “Probably one of the greatest ever.”
Preston stepped a little closer and asked, “Is there something I should know about?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, you mentioned that there was something between you and your dad. And then, I remember what Paulina said to you back in the arena. I bet it’s something serious, isn’t it?”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea to try and see what’s going on in someone else’s personal life.”
“It’s hard not to. I bet it has something to do with dragons. Does this have anything to do with the things that happened last week?”
“Not at all.”
Preston pointed his finger at Jerome. “You’re lying ‘once in a while’, aren’t you?”
Jerome didn’t flinch. “What gave it away?”
Preston chuckled. “Hey, it’s okay. I’m not the gossipy type of guy. I don’t spread stupid rumors around.”
“I’ll believe it when I see it.”
“So is it a serious problem between you and Lionel or not?”
Jerome placed his glass of orange juice on the railing. “Let me put it this way. My dad did something in the past and he never told me about it. It wasn’t a betrayal. It was something else.”
“What’d he do?”
“I’m keeping that part confidential.”
Preston was amused. “Come on, man.”
“Hey, that’s all I’m gonna tell you. My dad did something that’s better left forgotten. I mean, it’s better that it’s forgotten. He’s given himself a better life because of it.”
“Is it about dragons?”
“That’s a bit of a stretch.”
“Paulina did say something about it. She said, ‘you should have seen the things that he has done’. That’s an ominous statement, and you know it.”
Jerome leaned in. “Preston, let me handle it. He’s my father, not yours. And he’s right. The things that are forgotten should stay that way.”
“And do you believe that?”
“Of course, I do. I can accept it through his own perspective, and I can understand why it’s best to put it in the past and keep it there.”
Preston already gave up on the search. “Well, whatever it is, I hope it’s the best decision for the both of you.”
But deep inside, he hid his amplified curiosity from Jerome.
The sniper proclaimed, “Thanks. It’s a little complicated, but things will always work out.”
“Lionel is a great man. He always does kick some ass in the best ways possible. I’m glad to have a captain like him.”
Jerome leaned forward a little more. “Yeah…it’s too bad he’s been dating women since high school.”
Preston just had to look away in amusement. “Okay. I guess I got carried away for a little while. But it’s a good thing I knew about it sooner.”
“I mean, really? A ‘late-night snack’? That’s what you came up with?”
Preston laughed. “Hey, don’t be a hypocrite. If a woman said it, it’d be fine for you. But when I say it, it’s just a trip all the way to Fuck-This-Shit-Ville.”
