As we moved to prepare for the stealth incursion into Lycan territory to rescue our captives I found myself in front of the staircase that had led us down to the escape tunnels earlier on, during the early stages of the Lycan assault. Dr. Edmund Benton, the one who helped treat Beth at the infirmary, had said that the very tunnel that we entered were the first to go under the heavy assault. A part of me warned myself not to pursue this but then again there was a part of me that was uneasy and wanted closure.
Not knowing what to expect I slowly made my way down the stairs. But my journey down was cut short as I was blocked by a barricade of stone and rubble. It looked like the ceiling and part of the building had caved in and blocked the entrance to the escape tunnel. This made no sense as such an event would not have gone unnoticed or heard. It would have generated a huge commotion that would have alerted people from the other side of camp. Which means it wouldn’t have happened during our short visit to the infirmary and that the doctor’s story of the escape tunnels being closed off early into the battle was more credible. But then, what did I and Beth experience? But no matter how much I looked around I couldn’t find anything that would remotely explain the disturbing moments down in the tunnels that had Beth almost killed. Admitting to myself that there was nothing more to find there, I made my way back up. Going back up I thought I heard voices and I looked back down towards the rubble. Nothing. Was my mind playing tricks again, or was there something there that warped the very fabric of reality? Confused and concerned, I had to leave with more questions than answers.
Returning outside I see Jameson and Rolland loading crates on to A large, armored truck. Explosives with silver particles. The truck was being converted into a bomb that spreads silver dust and particles into the air. It will take care of any Lycans in the immediate vicinity. The plan was to break into the Lycan lair and get everyone to safety while the other armored truck loaded with explosive cargo, aka Bullet Train, rams in and breaks through the lair and detonates the cargo. Then we walk out casually.
“Okay, we’re ready over here Jack!”
“Jameson, Beth move to point A and remote control the cargo into the lair on my call sign. Rolland, you and I are going to break in through the main entrance and make sure everyone on our side is tucked away safely.”
“Roger that boss.”
Rolland seemed overly excited considering we were about to sneak into a Lycan lair that could have up to a hundred Lycans inside. But then again these two had a few screws loose in their heads from the first time I met them. Crazy suicidal combat junkies. Perfect for this reckless operation. I turn around to see Dr. Benton still with his concerning look.
“Doc, I need you to move to the rendezvous point with our getaway truck.”
“I’ll be there. Just make it back.”
I look at Dr. Benton for a moment as the concerning face was now full of worry. A doctor with a heart. Don’t get a lot of those anymore. Hardened doctors are usually very constrained about their emotion. Especially when they are on the field and front lines often, and I could see that Dr. Benton was no stranger to combat when I saw him arm himself with only the essential combat items against Lycans. The man knew his stuff.
“Okay, Jameson if something goes wrong and I call abort then you and Beth get the hell out and return to camp. Do not wait for anything or anyone. You got it?”
“Yeah, sure thing.”
“That goes for you too Doc.”
“Don’t worry about me.”
I look at Beth one more time. I walk over and before I could say anything Beth caught me first. She put her hand on my chest as her eyes locked with mine.
“I’ll be fine. Don’t ask me to sit this one out Jack. I am your operator.”
“Just be careful out there. You get the hell out with Jameson if anything goes wrong. You fall back immediately.”
Beth nodded. I kept my eyes locked on hers for a moment and I moved away to get to my car. Its going to be a long day. To be honest most of this plan is based on luck and we had to be ready for anything.
Soon, we were riding into Lycan territory. Normally people wouldn’t know where the territory starts and ends. Quite frankly neither does many of the hunters out here. It’s not like the Lycans were thoughtful enough to put up a road sign or anything. But they do leave warnings in the form of claw marks and animal remains. Sometimes hunters would venture into the territory thinking they’re on a trail of a bear or some other game. They would be lucky to make it out alive if they meet the wrong bear or wolf though. As we rode deep into Lycan territory, I started to realize that we have come across any Lycans at all. That was not normal. We were bound to meet at least a few as we rode straight towards their known stronghold. But nothing. I was about to pickup the radio but Beth beat me to it.
“Jack… are you there?”
“Yeah….”
“I don’t like this Jack. We’re almost near the stronghold and we haven’t seen a single Lycan.”
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“Just keep your eyes open. We separate on the next path.”
Too late turn back now. Whatever they had planned, it seemed they either didn’t care about outside interference or they were expecting us. Either way, it wasn’t good for us. But they ain’t the ones driving a truck loaded with explosives. I hear Rolland sitting in the passenger side arming himself with an assault rifle and a few grenades. I’m pretty sure this guy thinks himself as Rambo, cause his mentality sure fits the profile.
“Rolland… get ready.”
“I was ready when we left Boss….”
Rolland’s sadistic grin was now so big that it hung from ear to ear. His wide-open eyes full of excitement and expectation. He was like a mad dog on a leash trying to break free.
“Rolland, cool your head. The priority is rescue.”
“Rescue… sure Boss…”
Rolland replied in the most unconvincing facial expression. I was sure the minute we broke through that lair Rolland would act like a wild angry tiger released into the wild. I was also depending on that rage to attract attention. Sorry to say… Rolland was bait. Running the scenario in my head again, I saw our destination up ahead. A large stone fort, seemingly built a long time ago surrounded by tall concrete walls that was no doubt built much more recently.
“Rolland, open the gates!”
“I got the key right here boss!”
As I shouted towards Rolland he had already popped half way out of the passenger seat door with a grenade launcher in hand. As we neared the steal gates he fired at the gate. The grenade blasted the gates wide open as we rushed passed it. Rolland fired a second shot onto the main gates of the fort itself to create a large hole for the armored truck to ram through. This time, we finally met the enemy. Lycans jumped out of every corner in their dire-wolf form. Without the full moon they can not change into the monstrosity of a werewolf. The dire-wolf form is their usual transformation form, a wolf five times the size of a common wolf. They were strong and agile. But the armored truck was stronger. We mowed pass the waves of dire wolves trying to stop us from advancing.
“Ha ha ha ha! Die you bastards!”
Rolland was seemingly having a laugh about the whole situation as I kept ploughing straight, break through walls and dire-wolves in the process. Finally the truck broke into a seemingly large empty area that was no doubt the center of the fort. It was a large round open space with walls that reached up to three stories high with an open ceiling that let in sunlight into the area. In the center of the open space were a gathering with some faces I recognized. I peered out from my window and grinned.
“Bradley, need a lift!?”
“Die sons of bitches!”
Rolland suddenly jumped out with his assault rifle blazing. It caught them off guard as most were still shocked at the truck that had rammed through the front door. As the bullets flew and struck many Lycans in their human form, everyone came to their senses and all hell broke loose. Most of the Lycans changed to their wolf form and galloped at Rolland as others started to flee to the other exits. I took the opportunity to get to Bradley and the captured scientists.
“Jack, I never thought I’d be happy to see you!”
“Bradley, were on a bullet train mission.”
“Bullet train!? Jack you reckless son of a ….”
“No time! Get to cover!”
I shouted at Bradley to get to cover as he unwillingly started to scamper behind stone pillars. I looked at Rolland who just so happened to also look towards me. I gave him a nod and he understood. As Rolland started to get to safety I picked up my radio.
“Beth, do it.”
“Copy.”
With that I dug for cover as a remote controlled armored truck carrying explosives smashed into the entrance on the otherside of the fort and created a massive explosion that shook the ground. The blast was so huge that we could feel its force at the center of the fort. As the aftermath of the explosion subsided I looked over to Rolland who was also holding up a remote.
“Rolland, evac now!”
“On it Boss!”
Rolland turned to his remote and started to activate the armored truck we drove in with. The truck was carrying a less heavier explosive package enough to break a hole into the fort wall. As the truck rammed into the wall it exploded and created a massive hole that tore through several layers and opened a gap straight outside.
“Bradley!”
I shouted at Bradley who took it as a sign to run out the newly made exit with the other scientist that were being held. He then turned to me and shouted.
“Jack, the others are being held in the holding cell down below! Get them out and I’ll approve of any stunt you do in the future!”
“I’ll hold you up to that Bradley! Now get out of here, Beth and Jameson will be waiting for you outside!”
Bradley nodded at me with a sign of approval on his face and I nodded back. To be honest it wasn’t a bad feeling, or it could have been the adrenaline pumping positive thoughts into the brain. Whatever the case, we made through the first half of the plan.
“Rolland, how much ammo do you have.”
“Enough Boss.”
I grinned and walked on towards the exit the other Lycans fled through. I kick open the door to see total mayhem that had took place due to the explosion. I saw countless Lycan corpses that were turning to ash, no doubt due to the silver dust that the explosive blasts pumped in through the entire fort. I hear screaming coming from further in as I and Rolland started to make our way through in search of a way down to the holding cells Bradley talked about.
“Stay sharp Rolland, the silver dust would have done damage but stronger Lycans would still be strong enough to kill us in a single claw.”
“Roger that Boss.”
I take a quick glance at Rolland standing ready with his assault rifle. Blood shot eyes full of excitement and bloodlust. Damn, looks like its only a matter of time until Rolland loses it and goes full berserker mode. Rolland was not only a combat junkie, he had a blood thirst like a damn vampire. If he saw enough blood, he would go into a state of complete isolation and go on a rampage. His nickname ‘Berserker’ was tagged to warn others of his blood lust nature. I had to be very careful to assess his state now. As I did so we came across stairs that spiraled down into a dark passage.
“Rolland, take point.”
“Aye sergeant.”
Rolland introduced himself as an ex-ranger and was very smug about it. He was very happy around other ex-military hunters and would sometimes call them by their past rank in the military. But that was only when he was completely under the bloodlust rage. It was a clear sign that he was ready to jump into rampage mode any second. Knowing this I had no choice but to follow Rolland down the spiral stairs.
“Rolland, keep steady… Rolland?”
Rolland stopped returning replies to me. Bad sign. The spiral stairs lead us deeper into the basement levels where torch lights were the only source of light. It was damp and dark. I looked over the railing of the stairs to a black void that awaited us. I glanced at Rolland who was very silent, for a second the blazing glow from the torch light stained him red and I thought I saw a demonic spawn leading the way down to an oblivion. My fingers reached down to my rifle as it slid behind the trigger guard and touched the trigger. My grip on the rifle tightened as tension grew. I stared at Rolland’s back as he slowly descended down into the void ahead of me, still glowing red against the torch light as if covered in blood. Any moment I expected him to turn around with crazed bloodshot eyes in full rampage mode. But then… he stopped.
“Rolland?”
“Sarge… do you hear that?”
I suddenly focus on hearing and I hear it too. Scampering foot steps coming up from below. I pick up the muzzle of my rifle and aim it down over the side of the stairs as did Rolland.
“Remember, identify first.”
Rolland nodded in response. We focus our rifles onto the stairs below waiting for the figure to catch up to the footsteps. Quickly glancing towards Rolland I see his eyes gleaming as he focused his full attention on to the stairs below. His wide open grin expressing his anticipation and excitement. His teeth clenches as his grin widens, I follow his eyes quickly towards the stairs and see shadows casting on the staircase wall by the torch light. Then I hear growling and then… suddenly out of the void tearing out from the shadows two Lycans jumped out.
“Rolland!”
“Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!”
Rolland screamed his demonic laughter as he let his rifle rip. Blazing the air of gunfire to stop the Lycans mid-air and fall to their doom. But then, before I could call him, Rolland started to run down the spiral stairs screaming in laughter. I tried to call after him as I started down the stairs behind him. But I stopped to a loud explosive blast.
“Rolland! No grenades!”
Rolland had dropped a grenade down the stairs. I clench my teeth hard and start to bolt it down the stairs not carrying what I may run into. I could smell smoke and I could hear the rifle fires. But I could also hear screaming in between them. God damn it. I have to get down there fast!