Chapter three ; Cards on the table
The silver dour opened revealing to Operations all that was left of teem alpha and the sweepers. The medical crew took Jennifer to the infirmary and Michael and Nikita were now under his inspecting gaze :
" I taught you canceled him ?"
" He still lives. I can't explain it. "
Operations face gained an expression of an unpleasant surprise. Though he tried to hide it, they could see that he was shaken :
" I expect you in debriefing in ten minutes. "; he said and swiftly paced away.
He was going to debrief them personally. This demand of a privileged reporting reinsured them of the seriousness of the situation. They barely had time to return their gear back, and go to the interrogation section. The routine was most unpleasant, like they haven't been trough enough tonight and after two hovers of detailed questioning, they were allowed to go home. During the interrogation they've said what happened and held only a few things back. They revealed that Kain wanted to use them as his instrument of Section destruction, but they said that they've rejected his offer. They also said nothing about that dream he forced upon them, and as a reason for his permitting them to leave, they named his demonstration and his psychopathic regard of life. They didn't know how much water did such story hold, but they were still sent home to get some rest. Nikita stopped by to Walter before she left :
" Hey, sugar. I heard you had some disturbing experience. "
" I need you to take a look at this for me Walter. "; she gave him the list of stolen high tech gear
" Woha ! Pretty heavy hardware. Is this related to that mission of yours ?"
" I need you to try and figure out what this could be used for. All for one purpose. "
" They've taught of it sugar. They must have already given this list to someone else. Someone they trust more than me. "
" But they haven't given it to you. I'm betting you are smarter than any of their errand boys. Maybe you can think of something they didn't. "
" I'll do my best. But you go home now. You look like you've bean trough hell, and I'm not just saying that. Go get some rest. "
" Thanks Walter. "
After a couple of hovers in a bathtub at Nikita's place, and at least an hover of love making, they've stretched themselves over her long silken bed and remained there from then on. Ten hovers have passed since they've returned from that mission, and still all they could think about was what they have endured during it. Nikita broke the silence :
" What are you thinking ?"
" I think it was all staged. "
" Special effects ? Droughts in the air ?"
" I'm going to refuse his deal, what he wants and offers in return. "; he looked at her asking with his eyes if she agrees.
" Whatever you decide Michael, I'll support you. "
In the moment after they were both deeply asleep.
… Corn rustled in the wind… A tree of oak, lonely in the field… corn field north of Dublin… A voice echoed trough out the dream :
" At the forest edge beneath the night sky, an evil which awaits Hansel and Gretel to come to the house of candy… "; Kain's face emerged from the smoke :" The innocent close to you are in terrible danger. Come to me and bring your answer. "
They both jumped up, shaken by this dark vision. The clock by the bed displayed 2 AM. Twelve hovers after their reception in Kain's home. Michael looked at Nikita and she said :
" Dublin, Ireland… ?"
The next moment they've charted a chopper and went to chase this evil dream.
George entered the station above the infirmary. There was a big round glass window on the floor that gazed into a white room filled with medical equipment and men in blue hazard suits. Jennifer was strapped to the table in the center, still wearing the clothes from the mission. Her skin became pale, veins jumped to the surface of it and she became sensitive to bright light. George watched, along with Operations and Madeline while one of the doctors examined the sample of her tissue under an electronic microscope :
" Amazing ! "; he said :" There are some tiny particles in her cells that are changing her DNA ! They almost seem… intelligent… "
George watched Jennifer's sleeping face. She seamed so small, and yet maybe the greatest genetic mystery ever encountered. Her skin became bluish, her hair darkened, and ears grew long and sharp. She was changing… But into what ?
Jennifer squealed and twitched. She was delirious and in great pain that choke her consciousness, so they didn't even had to sedate her. This DNA infection has spread throughout her body and was now mutating her on molecular level. All they could do now, was to watch and study this enemy from within.
Meanwhile, a black chopper landed in a very familiar corn field, north of Dublin. The two operatives stepped out and came to a clearing beneath an old oak tree. There was no one there.
" Maybe it was all just a dream. "; Nikita said
Suddenly an angry old farmer loaded his gun behind them :
" What are you kids doing in my crop !"
" We were to meet someone here. "; Michael answered coldly
" Well there's nobody here but me and you, so why don't you get up the way you… "
A phantom like shadow shrouded in mist appeared behind him and gut him from behind. Its arm punched trough the man's spine and went out the chest holding his ripped heart. The poor farmer didn't know what hit him. The claw dropped the heart on the ground, and grabbed him before he fell. Kain emerged out of the mist :
" Excuse me for a moment. "; he said politely to his shocked guests
His long fangs stabbed them selves in the old man's neck, and within seconds drained him dry. His helpless body fell down like a rag, while Kain wiped the blood of his lips :
" Yuck ! Do you have any idea what pollution does to you ! Stop poisoning your self with oil and tobacco. It will kill you before I get the chance. "
" You got to be kidding ! You want us… to think you are a vampire !"; Nikita said overcoming her shock
" Wrong !"; he answered:" I want you to obey. "
Men with guns emerged out of the field, aiming at them. Their eyes were without pupil, like they were made of glass. Four others brought a strange device with a big cylindrical tube on top of it. Kain activated the contraption :
" I was astounded to learn that my kind is not unheard of even here in this distant place. But don't think I'm one of those "Count Dracula" vampires. I'm somewhat older than that. "
" All right Nosferatu. You've made your point earlier today. What did you do to these comic book gays ? Hypnotize them ?"
" Clarity can be priceless there where chaos plagues. "; he said attuning the controls
" We have an answer for you. "; Michael dropped it before them, eager to get this over with as soon as possible.
" I'd like to show you something first … "
He punched the last sequence. At once the tube started to fizzle and sparkle. A big holoscreen appeared above, displaying Jennifer in the Section infirmary, surrounded by medical teem in blue hazard suits. She was monstrously deformed, with pale blue skin and thin black vanes on its surface. Two white fangs hung out of her mouth and her ears grew long and pointy. The " camera " than moved and displayed George and Operations gazing down trough the round glass window on the ceiling.
" How did you get a camera into Section ?"; Michael asked. It seemed that there was no end to Kain's magician tricks
" You did. Jennifer is telepathically linked to me, and I'm using this device to share her senses with you. "
The camera returned down and than they noticed the bite marks on her neck.
" Let's see how much of a vampire I truly am. "; Kain said and started whispering :" Jennifer… Jennifer… arise my child. "
She opened her red, razor-sharp eyes :
" …Sire… "
The next moment she started screaming and kicking like she was having an epilepsy attack. The doctors tried to restrain and sedate her, but she suddenly stilled her self and the green line of the EKG that monitored her heart beets became flat. She was dead.
" I'm sorry ser. "; one of the doctors said to the men above :" She didn't survive the transformation. Mark the time of death… "
" You killed her !"; Nikita said
But than the heart beets started again, only slower and weaker. She opened her eyes and looked at her bonds. They untied on their own and she silently and unnoticeably stood up. George Operations and Madeline saw her get up but for the sake of curiosity they said nothing to the unsuspecting men below. A scream of one doctor forced the others to turn around. They saw Jennifer stabbing her fangs in his neck that exploded with blood painting the wall read. Some of them ran for the dour, others for the weapons, but Jennifer jumped from one to the other slicing them with her long claws. One of them even got hold of a gun and shot her, but he only made her angry. She ripped his arm off and sucked him dry. She looked up, while blood mixed with spit leaked from her mouth. She smiled, and jumped at least ten feet to the wall stabbing her claws in the white ceramic plates, staining them with blood. She jumped again, and drew closer to the window on the ceiling. But just as she was about to reach it, George pushed a button and sealed it with iron lid. She banged at it for a while, and than jumped down to the flour. Gas started to fill the room but instead of panicking she simply laughed. After a while the room was floating in nerve gas.
Men in gas masks opened the metal dour and slowly entered the green fog. One of them screamed, than another, and another. In the end Jennifer left the room and broke the protective plastic dour on her way out, thus poisoning the men outside. Before it could get any worse, emergency ventilation drained the gas to disposal, but Jennifer was no longer there.
The entire Section was placed under red alert. Corridors started to seal them selves. The inner sensors were scanning for any sign of the intruder, but she knew well the layout of these devices and now empowered by dark gift, she dogged them easily.
" If this is rely happening, than why don't they call us in ?"; Michael asked
" How could I have you here if they call you away ? I'm gamming your phones to seem like a glitch in the central. "; He gestured to Michael's pocket
Michael checked his phone and heard Kain's giggle emerging from it. He instantly dropped it on the ground, and looked angry at their host, who pointed his attention on the screen.
Jennifer made a bloody slaughtering path throughout the Section corridors, but swiftly so she wouldn't be sealed in, and finally she reached her first target.
" These are the cards on the table. Now you choose your answer carefully, les you want an innocent to die… "
From Jennifer's point of view they saw Biercof turned with his back, lost in security systems data. He was on his keyboard, completely clueless of the danger behind him. Suddenly Walter yelled form the next room ( that was separated by an iron grate from Biercof's post ) :
" Look out !"
Biercof turned to find Jennifer, who caught him by the throat. She pressed him on the grate near the code terminal. Walter grabbed a gun, and started shooting at her, but she reached for Biercof's table and threw it on the grate before him. It stopped it, but the air pressure was so enormous it knocked him away several feet. She than looked back at her pray :
" Open the doors. "
"… Jennifer… "
" Hhhsssss ! Open the doors little Biercof !"
His hand moved for the keys. He punched some numbers, and suddenly the panel sizzled out.
" Now all the codes are erased. Not even I can restore them. "
Kain laughed :
" I can see why you like this kid ! Pity… Kill him !"
Jennifer threw him on the flour and kicked him away like a toy she was displeased with. She than jumped at him like a bat, but just as she was about to land, Nikita broke :
" Stop !"
Kain looked at her with a question mark written all over his face and Jennifer did the same. Michael joined :
" We shall do as you ask. "
" There. That wasn't so hard, now was it ?"; he gestured to Jennifer and she released him
She than came to the grate and grabbed it down. Her strong muscles started competing over the hydraulics of the machines. She screamed in pain, but still the pistons started to burst and the oil exploded its way out of them. The other operatives caught up with her, only after she passed under it, and ran on her way.
The rest of the remaining operatives gathered in the tower where George Operations and Madeline went. They were observing the situation on the monitors but than Jennifer vanished from their sights again. Suddenly there was a loud bang and a claw-like fist broke trough the ceiling, withdrawing the next moment. They all started shooting at that spot. Than she passed over the window, and they directed their fire there. A few more times she punched trough the floor and the walls, and than she stopped.
" Sees fire !"; Operations yelled
A squeaking sound started to echo. And than they realized; with her punches and their shooting trough walls, they sawed the half of the tower in which the operatives were. The construction snapped, and they all went down with it in the abyss below. Nothing was left of them but a bloody mass of flesh, glass and black metal panels.
George came to the edge and looked down, but jumped backwards again as Jennifer leaped in from above. She was all bloody and still wearing her torn black clothing from the mission. Her two white fangs glittered within her sadistic, blood stained smile :
" My master has a message for you… "
" Jennifer… "
" …This is nearly the beginning !"
She started laughing like mad, louder and louder, but suddenly a pair of glowing eyes emerged from the shadows behind her. The creature had a blue stream of energy on its right arm, and it lunched it trough her hearth. She was shocked in pain and fell to the ground, as Raziel stepped to the light.
The picture of the holoscreen vanished as Jennifer died and Kain, displeased with the ending of the show, kicked the machine so hard his foot broke trough it.
Raziel devoured her soul, to great surprise of all present. Her spirit was visible until it went under his rag, illuminating his jaw-les face. He covered it back, and than inspected his hosts :
" Now you know what you are up against. "; he said :" In this war you can not win. Flee while you still can. "
" Why are you helping us ?"; Madeline asked
" You are many things, but you are also a necessity. "
" That's not what I asked you. You have no love for Kain do you ? In fact, you must have bean close once, but now you want him dead, as do we all. "
" Do not presume to influence my judgment, mortal ! Can a mouse understand the mind of a cat !"
" She says that we might have something in common. "; Operations said :" What did he promise you ? To take you with him when his machine works ?"
" You bore me, human. I've said what I had to say. Do what you want with it. "; he turned to go
" He didn't tell you about the side effect did he ?"; George said. Raziel turned and looked at him. George continued :" The machine won't work as you may think. "
" And what would you know about it ?"
" We analyzed the storm that brought you here, and came to a fatal conclusion; If such a storm would be generated from here it would cause great distortions in our planets core, and destroy us. "
" What ! You are lying !"
Operations turned the monitor on :
" At first every volcano on earth would erupt, but that's just the beginning. Great earthquakes would be next, followed by gigantic sea waves and tornados, and than the worst would come; our planet has a magnetic field emanating from its core that serves as a shield against radiation from space. Kain's machine will cancel it, making the intensity of Sun light alone increase to a lethal level. Everything, not just the humans, but everything, will die. "
Raziel was staring at the screen. He was shocked and chilled to the core. If this was the price of his return, than he was not willing to pay it. And than again, these people had not the slightest idea of the principles of such travel. And the other portals he and Kain used before never caused anything like this. Or maybe it was the nature of this world, and this world alone, or Kain left out some security measures due to the time limit. Raziel's supernatural mind processed this with an incredible speed. And than he tossed a look at Operations. He was staring at him for a few moments, while George spoke :
" You are an intelligent creature, you know that he is capable for this. We offer you an alternative. You help us defeat him, kill him if possible, and take his device for our own. We aren't as… stupid as you might think. Our people can find a way back for you, without any danger for us. What do you say ?"
Raziel took a deep gaze at him and than Madeline. After a few moments he answered :
" No !"
" What ?"
" I can see into your souls. Greed and deceit bubble up from your eyes. You have no intention of helping me. You just want to gain some of his power. "
" We want to save our world. I don't think you shall let him do this, now that you know. "
" I know that you haven't got a clue of his design, and you can't be certain of anything. If Kain truly plans to leave this place in ruins, I shall stop him, but I'll do it alone, without your interference. "
He turned to go again, just as armed men managed to enter the tower from the other side. They were stunned to see him, but still aimed their weapons at him. He paid no heed, and Madeline smiled :
" Than we have no choice but to hold you for interrogation. I'm sure we can find some way to make you more… cooperative. "
He laughed :
" Oh please… Who do you think you're talking to ?"
" Surely you know, that this isn't the kind of place one can just enter and leave when he wants. "; George said
" No really ?"; he shifted in the spirit realm and vanished with one taught on his mind :
A warning has bean given. Their fate is now their own.
After that interesting chatter, the three leaders gestured their operatives to leave :
" It seems that we are alone again. "; Operations concluded
" Not necessarily. This one might yet prove useful. "; Madeline said
" In the mean time we have an attack to prepare for. Start making the modifications. I'll take care of the reinforcements. "; George tossed and went on his way.
Back in the corn field Michael and Nikita were still surrounded by Kain's armed men. Kain went out of this ring and said one word :
" Kill. "
The two jumped on the ground, while the others started shooting. After it was done, they found themselves unharmed, and the others that were around, were now dead. Kain extended his claw, and simultaneously drained them all of their blood. He than tossed Michael a small silver ring :
" When this starts to buzz, gather my tree heads all at the same place within half an hover. And when I strike, anyone who doesn't get in the way will be spared. You have my word. "
" What about the information you promised us ?"
" I would have given them too, but I won't, since you originally wanted to reject my offer. Be grateful that you got even this much !"
Michael watched him silently, but his anger burned quite loud inside. Finally he spoke:
" You are a sadistic animal. "; Kain slowly turned towards him :
" Such words can cost you dearly, Michael. What are you thinking in that primitive mind of yours ? You think that your decades can match my centuries ?"
Michael stood in attack position. Nikita too. Kain smiled :
" Who said I can not use just one of you ?"
They started to circle around him with their knives in their hands. Kain stood still and waited for them to strike. They begun to attack him only to find that no meter how fast they would move, he was always twice faster. He dogged their blades with ease, and than punched Nikita in her chest, lunching her away in the corn. Michael went on alone trying to use his best moves, and finally he made a cut on Kain's chin. Kain looked at him undisturbed while the wound vanished like it was never there. The next moment he absorbed red energy from the air and started swinging his razor sharp claws so fast they became transparent. First he punched Michael, making him drop his knife, and than tore his clothing and cut him in thousands of places. Small cuts, but thousands of them. He was ready to drop, just as Nikita jumped at Kain from behind. But instead she passed trough a cloud of mist, and fell on Michael knocking him down. She stood up, holding Michael up and giving him his knife back. Kain was gone. At first they taught he left, but than his demented laughter echoed the air. They stood back to back, and started observing the surroundings for him.
Kain was behind the tree under which they stood. He tossed a look at the branches and than reached for the roots. A sound of braking wood filled the silence, and Michael yelled :
" Look out !"
He pushed Nikita away as the tree fell down, ripped from the ground. She stood up badly bruised :
" Michael ! Michael, where… "
At once she was paralyzed. Her body disobeyed and froze it self in place. She simply stood there unable to act, while the red claw in a black glove slowly came from behind over her shoulder, and she felt Kain's chin over the other. She tried to resist, to brush him away, but his presence fulfilled her, binding her will and choking her strength. He was speaking to her thoughts, suffocating everything else :
" Can you imagine what it's like… What it's like when eternity is tomorrow… when power is your dark gift… when blood is sweet as drought… "
She was drunk with his voice, lost in the sea of his mind :
" You look so fresh… so tasty… my Nikita… Wouldn't you like my sharp kiss upon your skin… ?"
His fangs came out and touched her neck. She was at his mercy helpless to defend or protest. But the next moment she felt the link between them crack as Kain roared in pain. It was Michael, stabbing him with a big sharp branch from behind, plunging it so deep it came out trough his chest.
Kain grabbed it and like with a lever, catapulted Michael in the air, making him land most painfully in the corn field. Nikita got up and ran to him, while Kain was roaring in agony and ripping the wood out of his flesh. Trough a hole on his chest one could see the horizon behind him, but still it begun to heal and shrink. Nikita grabbed Michael, placing him over her shoulder, and ran for the chopper, but something hit her from behind and she collapsed on the ground. She turned only to be pressed down by Kain's foot. His wound was gone. There was no mark on him not even a scar :
" You shall suffer for this insult !"
" We had a deal !"
" We still do. But this is a bonus. "
He reached towards the chopper, and a green flame glittered in his claw. The craft started to emanate squeaking sounds, and slowly began to bend and twist. Soon it was all a bunch of burning metal and junk. They will now have to explain a lot when they get back to Section. He continued :
" Go now, but remember; I can also attack with rage instead of mercy and all shall drown in lakes of blood. I shall gather my forces and I shall come to them in the night, and my visit shall not be kind. "
Nikita watched him in his madness and realized :
" You think you are a god ?"
" No. But I'm the next best thing. "; he shifted in his bat form and vanished in the night.