ENTER THE STALKERS 3: RAINBOW SLAYER
The Merry Prankster

Chapter Seven: Escape From Innsmouth (Part1)

Arkham Road, Five miles outside town

Innsmouth, Massacusetts September 29, 2000 2100 hours (The Wandererverse)

Saint looked back at the flickering torches that were coming closer and closer. The Jedi-in-Training flicked off the safety and readied the Heckler & Koch Mk23 for action. I had better let Obi Wan lead Brian and Ruth out while I take care of the posse.

Clearing his throat to get the other's attention, Saint outlined his plan, "We need to make a change of plans. Ben, I need you to take the lead and get our two charges to safety."

Obi Wan looked suspiciously at his companion, "Just what are you planning this time?"

The Jedi-in-Training held up his pistol, "There are too many bad guys coming up the road for you to handle in your unique manner. I, on the other hand, have three extra mags for my H&K and can cover you guys long enough to escape."

"Anthony, you don't have to play the hero. We are far enough to be gone by the time the mob get here," chastised the Jedi.

"Will you two make up your minds already? I really don't want to stay here any longer," complained Ruth.

Obi Wan placed both hands on his friend's shoulder, "Anthony, you have good intentions and your heart is in the right place. However, in spite of training with your teachers and St, Wolf, you are still showing too much recklessness when performing your good deeds."

"Can we discuss this later?" asked the Jedi-in-Training.

Brain and Ruth looked back at the town. "Yes, Can we?" chimed the two teens.

+++ The four had been walking along the road for at least at least twenty minutes, when Obi Wan experienced a tremor in The Force. Heeding the warning, the Jedi knocked Brian and Ruth to the ground just as a bullet passed where Brian had been standing. With his charges safe, he turned his attention back to his partner. The Jedi-in-Training was not in sight. He reached out into the Force to locate his companion.

Saint dove into a ditch at the sound of the first shot. He slowly peeked over the edge of the ditch to see a flash appear from a nearby tree.

Making a quick mental note of the shooter's position, Saint began to low crawl through the high grass. He silently moved behind a nearby rise and waited for the next shot. The third shot was real close if the sound was any indication. Saint, took a deep breath and waited, one, two, and three. After reaching three, he rose up, pistol ready. The hybrid sniper was only fifteen feet away and facing in the other direction.

Jebediah Marsh had suspected that the strangers were on their way out of town after Walter Billingham's phone call earlier that evening. Playing it safe, the hybrid has assigned men to each road with the purpose of slowing down the strangers enough that any assembled pose could catch up with them. Walter Gilman, a hybrid who normally was found at the firehouse had been chosen to watch the road to Arkham. Spotting the strangers walking up the road, he quickly fired. Thanks to Obi Wan's quick response, he missed. Stifling a curse, he reloaded his hundred-year old Remington. The sound of a snapping branch off to his left caught his attention. The hybrid had not even turned completely around when three bullets caught him in the chest and head.

Saint slowly walked over to the prone figure. Kicking the body over, he discovered that their attacker threatened them no more. Finally, he raised his hand and gave the all clear and rejoined his companions.

+++

The group had not gotten five hundred yards down the road, when Saint noticed car coming up the road from Innsmouth.

"We've got visitors, TAKE COVER!" ordered the Jedi-in-Training.

Two minutes later a late model blue Ford Taurus stopped next to their hiding place. The driver, a middle aged man of average height, exited the car and took a long puff on his cigarette. He looked around for another minute before yelling out, "Anthony Christopher, Ben Quigby, you can all come out now. Horace sends his love."

Obi Wan motioned for Brian and Ruth to stay hidden while he and Saint checked out the stranger. Saint kept his pistol visible, yet pointed to the ground as he took the lead.

"You said Horace sent you?" asked the skeptical Jedi-in-Training.

The man blew a smoke ring and growled, "Yeah, here we were nicely settled in, monitoring developments when who should show up but you two. Then you blow the operation to Hell." The man stalked Saint and poked him, "You just ruined two years of hard work. Thanks to your little stunt, the locals have turned on any stranger who was left in town. My people were barely able to escape with their lives. Although after reading your file, I should have expected you to pull a stunt like burning down two blocks."

The Jedi-in-Training began to see red. "Now wait just a gosh darn minute. Those locals were about to drag Brian to some temple and be sacrificed. I had to do something to distract the guards so Ben could break him out of that jail. Wait a minute, Horace has a file on me?"

"Yes he did and when I first saw how thick it was, I nearly had a heart attack. The 'Old Man' described you as a younger, more reckless version of 'The Wanderer' and boy was he right about that." The gentleman finally revealed the grin he had been holding for so long and held out his hand. "The name's Lucas Mackay, Bureau 13. Luckily we had already discovered what the Marshes had been up to and were about to withdraw our assets to get ready for the next stage."

"And that stage would be?" asked Obi wan.

"Taking out the bad guys in this town once and for all. The hybrids are plotting something major. Near as we can figure they worship this great beast named Cthulhu and intend to free it from it's sleep. Then, there is the fact that we have identified known Department Satan agents frequenting the Marsh mansion and the Order of Dagon for the last two months."

Saint let out a low whistle, "That ties in to what we know about them wanting to sacrifice Brian. By the look on your face, that's not the half of it. Let me have it."

"One of my operatives reported seeing what looked like battle droids from that Star Wars movie guarding the Marsh Mansion and the Order of Dagon."

"How much do you know about me and my companion?"

"We know that your companion is a real life Jedi Knight and you are currently training to be one. Horace also informed us of the attacks in California last week. I did love that video from the car chase. Thinking about trying out for the lead in the latest Mad Max movie?"

"Cute, real cute," responded the Jedi-in-Training. "How many people did Horace assign to this operation?"

"Basically, my team, Team Steelclaw and the mermaid's" responded Lucas."

Saint began grumbling, "That's not going to be enough."

Obi wan recognized the look on his friend's face, "I know that look. What are you planning this time?"

"The assets assigned to Lucas are not going to be enough to pull this off. In fact, I'd say all we have going for us right now is hope. Since I don't put much faith in hope, I'm going to make some calls.

+++

Author's Note: I've decided to try breaking up the chapters and posting them in smaller chunks. This way, I'll be posting more often as opposed to once a month. So, I have one question, which do you prefer, the long chapters or the smaller chunks?