Even shorter chapter, sorry. 823 Words
Chapter Eight
The team joined them in seconds, and Jess sent them off into an unknown danger, glancing briefly at Becker, who smiled reassuringly.
The incursion was at, of all places, a flower shop. The lobby was clear, but as Becker neared the back they heard small hisses. They burst through the door to find dozens of little creatures hopping through flowers, pots, and swarming around on the shelves.
"What are they?" asked Emily.
They were about the size of a cat, but had scales like a lizard. The heads were feline with green eyes and cat-like ears. They were kind of a brown, pea-green in color.
"They're ugly," said Jess. "Like they don't know what creature they are."
"I got a read from the anomaly," said Connor. "They're from the future ."
As the men moved around to get good firing positions, the cat-lizard things hissed and arched their backs.
"Easy," cautioned Matt.
Becker nodded, signaling his men to move slowly.
Lt. Flowers carefully moved to a corner. He looked for the signal. Becker gave it and everyone fired.
The things leapt out of the way.
"Damn!" screamed Becker.
"Nimble things!" cried Matt.
They scattered: leaping, crouching and jumping. The team and back up soldiers tried frantically to re-aim.
"Ah!"
Becker looked to see Flowers mauled by about ten of the things.
"Get them off!" cried Becker.
"They seem to be working together," observed Emily.
She was right. They worked like a pack, ripping and tearing at the struggling man.
Becker and the others tried to get between Flowers and more of the creatures. They kept coming, jumping on the lieutenant.
"Ah!" he screamed as they bit everywhere: his face, eyes, arms and legs. They had sharp, pointy teeth. Their long claws scratched at his tac vest.
"Get 'em off!" screamed Flowers.
Becker looked at Matt. He nodded.
"Concentrate your fire! Get Becker a way to them!" the Irish man screamed.
The others nodded. They blasted at the things, making a path for Becker. He blasted through the creatures, kicking the things as necessary.
He was going to get to Fred Flowers.
Becker blasted as many of them as he could. Finally, he reached Flowers. He began blasting them off. Some of them were actually stuck to the Lt. with their teeth or claws. Becker had to manually pull them off.
"Keep them down and away from Flowers!" screamed Vale.
"I've got the ones to his head!" cried Bilson, shooting the things point-blank. Vale helped pull the bloody creatures off too. Finally, Flowers was freed.
He was a bloody mess.
"God," said Becker softly. "Easy. You're OK, Fred. You're going to be fine."
"Medic!" screamed Vale.
EMD fire continued behind them. Bilson kept the other creatures away from them as Vale and Becker tried to stop the bleeding.
"He's bitten everywhere Cap."
"I know," whispered Becker.
Flowers gasped for air. His face was swollen from the attack. "Bad?" he asked weakly.
"No, not too bad," lied Becker.
"Regina," whispered Flowers. "My wife, Regina…"
"It's OK. You'll see her soon," said Becker.
"Ladonna…"
"They'll both be fine," said Becker.
"She's only three…" said Flowers, gasping.
Bilson and Vale traded worried looks.
Becker kept his focus on Flowers. "Easy, Fred. Take it easy. Regina and Ladonna are fine. You'll be fine. You hang in there."
Flowers nodded, then he passed out.
Becker breathed in slowly.
"Becker.." said Jess, in his ear. She'd been quiet through the whole attack.
"I'm OK."
"How is Fred?"
"He's…bad."
"I'm so sorry. The medic is onsite. I have ambulances revved up and waiting."
"Thanks. You're brilliant."
She said nothing. She was trembling.
"Medic's here!" cried Matt.
Becker looked up to see the paramedics coming.
He moved off to let them work on Flowers. The team picked off the last of the cat lizards.
"How is he?" asked Connor.
Vale shook his head. "Not good," he whispered.
"He'll be fine," said Becker calmly. "We'll get to the docs and he'll be fine."
Everyone nodded.
"You did a great job," said Jess softly in a private line.
"It wasn't much," said Becker.
"I know you're worried," she said. "We'll get him to the doctors, and he'll be fine."
Becker took a deep breath as he watched the medics load Flowers into the ambulance. "Right."
Matt put his hand on Becker's shoulder. "You go with Fred. We'll handle these things and the anomaly."
Becker nodded. "Thanks."
"Lester is informing Regina personally, and he'll bring her to medical," said Jess.
"Good," said Becker, climbing into the ambulance. "Jess? Can you be there when we arrive?"
She chuckled. "Already ahead of you. Epstein will take over the ADD as soon as you and I are done speaking."
He chuckled too. "Thanks, Jess."
"No problem. "
"I think it's very bad."
"I know."
"I need you."
She smiled. "I'll be waiting for you. It's going to be alright."
"I hope so."
End of Chapter Eight
