Chapter Five:

Out of all the special ops forces under William Stryker's command, there was only one team he had complete confidence in when mission failure was not an option.

Their official title was S.E.A.L. Platoon 4-77, but everyone, including those in command, always referred to them as the Carnivores.

Each man on the team had been recruited personally by unknown predecessor of Stryker, but they still followed the new Colonel's orders dutifully. The main contact of this team was named Logan (no one knew for sure if that was his first name or last name), but the Carnivores did not have any identified leader.

They were soldiers, assassins, former terrorists. Each man was skilled at tracking and eliminating targets, almost to an unnatural degree, and Stryker knew he would need that team if Charlene McGee was ever to be located, and acquired, again.

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"Colonel?" a soldier dressed in street clothes said formally as he entered Stryker's makeshift office at the former company headquarters of Systems Operations.

Stryker glanced up at the younger man, and gestured for him to step forward. The soldier handed the Colonel a red folder with the mission details.

"Report," Stryker said curtly, "Have all targets been found?"

The soldier nodded, "Yes, sir. We found them just east of River Mead. We brought the five boys back with us and they are secured in their nursery again."

Stryker's eyes narrowed, "Nursery?"

"Yes, sir," the soldier replied, "That's what the Systems Ops people called it..."

"Did they?" Stryker interrupted him sharply, and glanced down at the report in the red folder, "Tell me, Captain...how many of your men were injured bringing these innocent children back to the nursery?"

The soldier shifted nervously on his feet.

"Eight, sir," he answered honestly, "Only one critical...and the two who lost their hearing are expected to make a complete recovery..."

There was a moment of lingering silence before Stryker offered the soldier a reply.

"And...you believe...the term 'nursery' is an accurate description of where these boys need to be kept?"

The soldier straightened his shoulders, "No, sir. Of course not, sir."

"What about McGee?" Stryker continued coldly, "Has platoon 4-77 reported back yet?"

"No, sir," the soldier replied, and the Colonel looked surprised as the younger man continued, "At least...not to me, sir. Logan is waiting to speak with you next, sir."

A broad and unpleasant grin spread over Stryker's face.

"Very well. Now, why don't you go set up a little guard on the little boys in the nursery...and await further instructions."

The Colonel's tone was vicious and condescending, but the soldier dared not to argue with the powerful commander and headed out the office quickly.

A moment later, another man entered the room and closed the door with a loud bang. Stryker did not flinch at the sound, or when the man approached the desk. Logan stood just under six feet tall, but his broad torso and ferial appearance made him seem larger than he was. Stryker knew almost nothing about the man who went by the code name Wolverine in combat, or any of the other men in platoon 4-77. What he did know, was that the success rate of the Carnivores in their missions. One hundred percent...and he like those odds.

"Report," was all Stryker said.

"The Lot 23 group is secure, but I'm sure you knew that...sir," Logan replied, adding the last word as almost an afterthought.

"And McGee?" Stryker asked, cutting to the point and ignoring the other man's tone.

"No information so far," Logan said darkly, "But we are refocusing our efforts."

Stryker nodded, "Good. She has a long history of running...and you are aware of her gifts..."

"Yes, Marko has interrogated several witnesses who confirm the accounts from Rivermead," Logan said.

Stryker raised a curious eyebrow at this. If Logan seemed agitated about the lack of information regarding McGee's whereabouts, the sentiment must be shared by the others members of the Carnivores to have allowed Cain Marko to question bystanders. He mused for another moment before speaking.

"If these reports are accurate," Stryker said, "Then one of the Systems Ops boys is supposed to be a psychic of some kind. Like a seer or a shaman or some nonsense..."

He watched Logan's reactions carefully as he continued.

"However..." Stryker's drawl twanged noticeably on the word, "Given the state of Rivermead...there might be some truth to the rumors. Perhaps you should consider interrogating that child as well..."

Logan glanced away from the Colonel, and Stryker could have sworn he saw hesitation on the other man's face.

"Problem, soldier?" Stryker asked coyly.

Logan glowered down at him, "I don't like kids...sir."

"There not children," the Colonel replied somberly, "They're weapons...bred into aesthetically pleasing casings. Feel free to use them as you would any other device at your disposal. Dismissed."

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When the wolf-like man entered the room, four of the Lot 23 boys cowered in terror in their bed rooms. Andrew, however, the one most of the staff at Systems Operations had called the Seer, sat calmly at one child-sized desk, rolling his cane back and forth with one hand as Logan sat down across from him.

"I knew you were coming," Andrew said pleasantly, "I told the others not to worry...you're not the one who kills us..."

Logan stared at him with a deep frown, a little unnerved by the way the boy's dark sunglasses would follow his movements, even though the boy was completely blind.

"Then you know why I'm here..." Logan said, his voice almost a growl.

"Charlie," Andrew said in a quick breathless gasp that may have been a sob.

Logan nodded, somehow knowing the blind boy would sense the affirmative.

Andrew took a long breath before he spoke. He did not want to tell this dark man where Charlie was running to...but that was what had to happen. It always happened this way, every time he saw it.

"She's dreaming...Logan," Andrew said, "She's dreaming of snow..."