I had to move on, it wasn't easy for me, my sister and I had been close, but I knew the best way to honor her was to finish the mission. The next placement spot was near where Anna had died, it was a small cavern I walked into it and placed the C-4 in the dead center. I walked back out of the cave.
"This is Erik; can I get a progress report?" I said.
"This is Carlos," Carlos said, I wondered how he got onto our frequency. "You guys are in deep shit. Most of the people you released have been recaptured, I'm the only human left and there are on three," I heard a blast of Dracon beam fire. "Make that 2, Hork-Baijar left, I don't think this plan is going to work you guys need to get out of here…"
"It's ok Santos I planned it this way, I need a charge update." I said.
"All charges are panted but we've got a problem," Becky said. "Jake and Cassie are pinned down at their last placement site, and Cassie has the detonator, and things are getting worse, they've called for a Blade Ship it'll be here in about ten minutes and we don't want to be here when it arrives trust me."
"I'm on my way." I said and began to morph. I grew my fangs first. Then my ears migrated and my vision increased, my hands became paws and fingernails claws. My legs reversed direction. My feet and nails changed like my hands. Soon I was a cougar and felt the familiar grace and speed.
(Jake, Cassie where are you?) I asked. A hail of gunfire answered my question.
"Garlat get Andiliate." I ran in the direction of the sound and soon came upon a tiger that was bloodied standing in front of Cassie who was knocked out cold. There were several Hork-Baijar rushing toward them they were being taken down by the tiger.
(Jake,) I said. (Is Cassie ok?) Jake's voice was dripping with furry, and fear.
(I don't know,) He snarled clawing at a Hork-Baijar. (She got hit by a stray Dracon Beam and hasn't moved since.) He tore another Hork-Baijar in two.
(Have you placed the charge?) I asked joining the battle by pouncing on a Hork-Baijar
(Is that all you care about!) Jake yelled. (My girlfriend could be dead and all you want to know is…) I turned to him and roared in his face.
(If we don't place these charges in the next ten minutes we're all going to die. They've got a blade ship incoming and it's crew will make short work of us, now I've already lost a friend, my brother in law and my own sister to this mission, so I want to succeed so their deaths won't be in vain, now have you planted the charge or not?) I had to claw another Hork-Baijar during the monologue.
(She. Planted. It.) Jake snarled.
(Good,) I said I looked at her body; the detonator was in her right hand, I took it in my mouth. (Retreat, all units retreat, get to the exits split up.) I ran off, we had planned this we would split into small groups; I would have Becky, Karen and Jordan with me. We would be the ones to set off the charge. (You know your assignment so get out of here! Jordan follow me.) I ran toward the exit I was quickly joined by Becky and Jordan, Becky took the detonator.
"What now?" Jordan asked, as Dacron Beam fire began.
(We run like Hell and get to that exit.) We ran full force. The exit was in view, it was an overhang, and the entire pool would be visible from it without having to worry about getting caught in the blast. It was 50 yards away. 40... 35... A human blocked my path I pounced on his and crushed his ribcage. 30 yards. Four Taxxons barred our path I literally tore through them. 15 yards. 10 yards, 5 we were there.
We ran into a tunnel built into the overhang. I demorphed. Becky sat up the detonator she placed the keys in the slots and one key in the middle, the master detonator. I looked over the pool it was utter chaos. Shots being fired in all directions. Dead bodies everywhere smoke rising from misfired Dacron Beams and… Jake dragging Cassie through the pool. I spoke into the radio on my lip.
"Jake get out of the blast zone!" I said.
"I can't leave Cassie."
"Is anyone else down there with you?" I asked
"No they won't help me I'll do it myself though I'm not leaving her!"
"Jake get out of the blast zone that's an order."
"I don't take orders from you!"
"I'm being serious Jake; I will not compromise this mission for your sake."
"Fuck you!"
"All right if that's the way you want it…" I said. "Becky detonate on my command."
"Erik! No!" I heard Rachel's voice. I ignored her, Jake was pigheaded at times, I remember another pigheaded individual, of course his pigheadedness saved my life…
"Detonate on my mark, 10... 9... 8... 7...6...5...4...3...2"
"You wouldn't dare!" Jake yelled.
"1... Mark one!" I said. Becky turned the key on the detonator.