Chapter five ; Hell unleashed
Kain was still working at his keyboard, within the bowels of his portal generator. He was inputting some astrological data into the mixture of programs for the Chronodeck, when Raziel appeared behind him. As Raziel came in, Kain tossed a swift look at him and resumed his work :
" Is there a reason for your interrupting ?"
" Do you really think it's necessary to attack this… Section ? After all they don't even know where your Chronodeck is. "
" Do not underestimate them, Raziel. I may have blinded their eyes, not their wits. They are more than capable to find us. But not for long. "
" And of course, you wouldn't go back now after you've already recruited Michael and Nikita. It would make you seem… unreliable. Why can't you just leave them alone. "
" How is it that you know their names ?"; Kain asked curiously
" I really don't need to justify my self to you. "
Kain stood up and faced him :
" My plans in this hell-hole shall resume with or without your approval. I told you before ; I do what is necessary for both of us. "
Suddenly Mica glided down to the hovering platform :
" Sire, your troops are ready and we await you to lead us in battle. "
" I gave no such order. "; Kain said :" I still have more data to process. "
" We wanted to fulfill some of your duties instead of you, to make it… "
" Wait a minute !"; he suddenly realized :" Tell me you didn't send the signal. "
" We… we taught you would be pleased… "
Kain grabbed her by the throat and held her over the edge. But than his angry eyes fell on Raziel. A spark of memory broke trough the anger and brought the abyss back, how he condemned him to the eternity of burning water, and guilt bubbled up in Kain's chest. He closed his eyes, annoyed by these feelings, and released Mica from his grip :
" Never attempt to guess my will again. "
" What's the problem ?"; Raziel asked :" What signal did she send ?"
" The signal to my two sheep within Section. Now they will do their part and I can't lead the assault. No one but me can complete this calculation, and only tonight will I have a clear view. "; he than gazed upon Raziel :" I don't suppose you could lead… "
" Don't be absurd ! Find your self another stooge !"
" Well, it seems that I have to be… in two places at the same time. "
A cunning smile shined on his face and he summoned Rene to do some plotting.
Clear and obvious fizzling of the ring in Michael's pocket startled him. He took it out. Just as he feared; it was buzzing and glowing. Nikita saw it too. As they looked up they saw George walking to the half-tower followed by a bunch of children of different ages. They were all dressed in green and were following in a line behind him. As the two saw him swiftly pacing by, another call came; a call for debriefing in the tower. They were away and unreachable during crisis and now came the time to justify it. It was originally meant to be rather unpleasant considering that they've had no excuse and the current state of the place, but not any more, since things were about to get far more bloody within the next half hoer. But before they left Nikita gave Walter a warning :
" If something like this happens again, stay down, and wait 'till it passes. "
" What do you mean, sugar ?"
But before she could indulge him, Michael came and called her away :
" We must go now. "
Already patched up, they left to see their superiors for perhaps the last time. While they walked, Nikita said :
" I won't let it be that simple. "; Michael looked at her :" This… Kain is a… A psychopath. We must at least give them a chance. "
He stopped.
" What is it, Michael ?"
He touched her long blue hair :
" When he grabbed you… when he wanted to bite you, I was lying in the grass. I …saw him as he is. He is something unnatural. "
" I… know. But still it isn't right to simply hand them over to him on a platter. "
" There's more to this than we know. "; she looked at his eyes :" We'll tell them with in the next teen minutes. "
" And what more can we find out within the next teen minutes ?"
Michael just continued on to the tower. As they entered to what was left of it, they found all tree discussing with haste, not noticing their entrance. The children stood aside in a group, while George was speaking :
" … only that you are too late. It seems we aren't dealing with an everyday foe. "
" Despite their obvious physical superiority, they seem to be highly sensitive to ultra-violet emission. We are modifying Section's lights as we speak. "; Operations answered back
" You think that the " Jacob " project will be enough advantage, should Kain strike again ?"; Madeline asked
And than they've finally noticed their guests. Operations gave them his penetrating glare :
" And where have you two bean during this attack ?"
" With Kain. "; Michael answered lightly
Suddenly all the attention in the room was directed at them. Nikita continued instead of Michael :
" He dragged us to him to witness Jennifer's performance. He… somehow had it on his monitor. "
" Why didn't he just let you witness it first hand ?"; Madeline noticed
" It seems he has some higher intention for you. "; Operations added
" His only intention is to get back wherever he came from. "; Nikita said :" He cares for nothing else here. "
" Yeas, that's thru. "; George answered :" Unfortunately we can't give him that. "
Michael's eyes gained a larger shape and his thin closed lips cracked lightly. Nikita was confused :
" What do you mean " give him " ?"
The tree looked at each other, and Madeline said :
" Kain's machine will have unacceptable casualties. "
" Casualties… ?"; by that time, Nikita knew from that dreadful list many options for destruction, but she didn't expect what came next
" Our planet will become unfit to support life. Any life. "; Madeline said coldly
Their two hearts suddenly changed sides from neutral to determined
" Kain is going to attack. "; Michael dropped it in front of them
At the same moment one of Kain's children was entering the room few hundred feet below them, where the main generator was running. He already took care of the guards, and with a swift blow at the control board and a few more on exact spots, he disrupted and destabilized its work, forcing it to shut down.
" What ?"; Operations asked :" When ?"
The lights suddenly went out, but the computers and the auxiliary systems were still running.
" Now. "; Michael answered
" Biercof, what's going on !"
" The main generator went out… Wait… the sensors are picking up something… somebody took over the elevator system ! It's going up !"
" Stop it !"
" I can't ! Systems aren't responding !... I must try to activate the backup generator. "
" You'll have to do it manually. "; Walter said, holding his tool box :" let's go. "
" You did this !"; Madeline said referring to them two :" Why else would he leave you alive !"
Operations took his gun, but just as they taught he was going to shoot them, he offered it to Michael :
" I don't know what's your role in this, but right now I need every man I've got ! Get down there and defend Section !"
Michael took the weapon, and he and Nikita went down to join the crowd. The main force gathered in front of the entrance-elevator. Crunching sounds started to emanate from the other side, and suddenly a stream of sparks begun poring out of them, while they were seared from the outer side. The sparks cut a big hole, and as it was completed, the dour exploded to the far end of the corridor. Slowly and with grace, Kain stepped in. Time was frozen for the next few moments, as the two enemies observed each other, and than his word coldly cracked the silence :
" Attack !"
A horde of bats flied in trough the hole, pass him and trough the shower of bullets. While his children scattered them selves all over the underground chambers, Kain him self stroke down the way to the tower remains cutting and hacking a bloody path with his claws. But those that fell aside, or those that would flee or hide, were left alone, and he and the others didn't bothered with them. It was a ruthless battle, if not a war, and it wasn't easy for vampires to progress trough, but they did. The blood of their foes healed any wounds they would receive, and the number of men started to decrease exponentially. Even with battery UV flash lights were they unable to defend themselves before the horde that slaughtered them and knocked out the systems one by one.
Michael and Nikita caught up with Davenport and together they've came face to face with Mica, Kain's third bourn. They started shooting her, and she jumped on the wall, bounced back of the ceiling and grabbed Michael in flight with one hand. Nikita shot her in her arm, causing her to let him go, and Davenport went in closing her from behind. Michael landed back on his feet next to Nikita, but Davenport didn't since Mica slugged him pass them two. But as they were reloading she hissed and yelled :
" Not with you, lambs !"
And jumped trough the went.
Kain finally reached the grand hall, from where the tower could be seen. George, Operations and Madeline were watching him trough broken window, for all the monitors were of. Kain tore apart one of their operatives as a display, but as he turned left he found a bunch of children, dressed in green.
" The infamous " Jacob " project. "; Kain noticed :" Let's see what you've got !"
They were telepathic, genetically gifted with strong mental powers, and now the group turned its powers towards Kain. Their minds battled, and many of them started to bleed, but their number overwhelmed him, and Kain was tossed on the other end of the hall. He got up, smiling and disappeared in a cloud of smoke. The children started to look for him with their senses. One of them broke the water tube and slightly floated the room, to see him standing. But Kain wasn't standing. He was hanging from the sealing, looking down on them. He extended his palm, tossing lightning in the water, and trough it, on all of the children together. They screamed as their minds were being incinerated, and their bodies boiled in hot electricity. After they all dropped barely alive, Kain fell down, and one by one drained them of their blood and power. They struggled, and tried to stop him, but alone they were no mach to him.
Kain dropped the corpse of the last one in the pound, looking back at the tower. His pray was gone. They fled to the hangar where the chopper was waiting for them. And than, Kain sent a whisper :
" Now is the time !"
Operations, Madeline and George swiftly walked to the craft but as they've approached, a great earthquake stroke them. A blast of light and an orange and read cloud filled the area, disintegrating half of the chopper, and the rest of the nearby equipment. The lightnings emerged as the portal opened before them, and when it closed Kain was blocking their path :
" Yesterday on a throne, tonight in the mud. Yesterday you were something. Now, you are nothing. How low did you fall under my shadow…"
" I'm sure we can work out some kind of a deal. "; Madeline said
" Yeas. This is what I had in mind… "
He took out a tiny bottle of purple liquid and tossed it in front of them. As it broke on the metal flour, it begun to evaporate thick purple smoke that started to fill the room :
" You die, and I win !"; he said with his red eyes glowing like lasers
Madeline started chocking and fell down. Operations yelled and grabbed her, but he too started to chock. In a while all three were lying on the ground experiencing a strong epileptic attack, while their skin started to wrinkle it self. The last thing they saw were those demonic red eyes fading away in the cloud of purple smoke while his words ringed in their heads :
" You will feel the burden of age a hundred times grater than I did… "
Kain appeared on the main computer terminal, where Biercof worked. He started to type down something so fast, his hands were barely visible. In a few moments the computer displayed :
"Uploading virus. Warning ! Security breach ! Erasing all of the files. Breach in the protected area ! Erasing all files ! Level 10 files erased. Level 20 files erased. Entire file directory erased !"
Kain smiled self satisfied as he gazed around at the rubble of once proud Section one. The place was deserted, except for many dead bodies that lied in the scraps of glass and metal. The fuse boxes were destroyed, wires torn out of the walls, and all of Section's magnificent power, lost. The place that was once the most terrible anti-terrorist organization in the world, now resembled a hangar where something exploded. Now it was just a dark empty underground cavern.
Michael reloaded his weapon behind him, loudly, to make his presence noticeable. Kain turned and found him and Nikita, with weary and angry expressions.
" Smell that air… "; Kain smiled :" It smells like victory. Victory for all of us. "
" And what's our victory ?"; Nikita asked with sarcasm in her words
" You two… haven't done anything I've asked, but you performed admirably indeed. I am in such a good mood right now, that I'll let you walk away. Go ! Have your freedom or what ever. Though you'll need a lot more than desires to put this place back on its feet. "
" We aren't going and nether are you. "; Michael said coldly
" What ?"; Kain laughed
" You failed to mention the cataclysm clausal in our employment contract. "; Nikita said
" You simpleminded fools ! Do you honestly think I care about this place ?"
" Than you confess !"
" I didn't say that. Listen to me if you want my answer ! I don't care about your world, at least not enough to destroy it. Why do you doubt my word when I've kept it so far ?"
" You've kept it all right. And did you actually give us time to warn any of them ? You've killed nine tenths of this place, and it's population, our friends amongst them !"
" You try my patience and my mercy ! I won't repeat this again ; Get yourself out of my sight, or die !"
Michael shot him with his shot gun making a hole on him and swaying him backwards, but he just returned back in his previous position. All tree stood calm while the wound healed. Kain had his eyes fixed on his chest with an empty face. And than his lower lip slowly glided down exposing his clenched jaw :
" You insolent insects. "; he said calmly but with a tone that slowly rose :" You would choose oblivion, rather than to trust my word ! Now we shall dance, and your blood shall be my feast tonight !"
With these words he jumped between them punching them as he flew. They fell down shooting at him, but he was dodging the bullets faster than they could aim. He lifted one big desk and hurled it towards them, forcing them to cease fire and take cower. It landed in the water making a huge splash, and when they came out again, they saw him crawling on the walls like a spider, entering one dark corridor and vanishing in the shadows :
" Do you dare to enter my world !"; his laughter echoed from within
After a moment of hesitation, they followed him in, slowly pacing trough the layer of water on the floor. It was so dark they had to rely on their hearing as they walked, step by step trough the black water.
At once a shade passed by them and tossed them in the pound. The lights of their guns flashed in the impenetrable dark, and went silent again. They were separated by an entire corridor, at least that's what they saw while they were firing. As their guns stopped they've heard half loud giggle, and than Nikita screamed. Michael ran splashing trough the water and stroke a wall where ha last saw and heard her. She was gone.
" Nikita ? Where are you !"
He yelled but no answer came. Cold sweat dripped down from his face as he realized. He was alone in a nightmare. Her scream came again and this time a gunfire followed it. He again ran to it's source and found her in one slightly lit corridor. She was mad with rage, but with terror in her eyes. At once she attacked him with bare nails screaming like mad, but he managed to hold her down until she went calm again. He had to shake her a couple of times before she woke up, and than she jumped in his arms :
" I…couldn't… I couldn't… He's playing with us. "
A sound of metal hitting a flour startled them. It came from the interrogation rooms. Nikita grabbed her gun and took a deep breath.
" Can you go on ?"; Michael asked
" We must. "
They boldly stepped forward.
Light was emanating from the interrogation room displaying a moving shadow on the corridor wall. Someone was inside. They approached the dour, observing the interior. The room was like a white circular hole with only a silver metal chair to which one would be shackled during the questioning. The light was coming from the left, beyond their view. Nikita kicked the dour open and they found Biercof, with a flashlight in his hand working on some wires that were sticking out of the broken panel :
" What are you doing here !"; he asked shocked and startled.
" What are we doing here ? What are you doing here ?"
" I'm repairing the conductors of the backup generator. If me and Walter can fix the lights, we could turn the tables around. "
" I have never heard of such conductors. "; Michael said and pointed his gun at him. Biercof backed away, frightened and nervous :
" It's kind of a backup, backup... Walter had it installed once… "
Observing his reaction, Michael lowered his weapon :
" Hurry up. Kain is here somewhere. We'll protect you until you are done. "
They stood before him, with their back to him, and facing the dour :
" Good. "; Biercof said :" If I were Kain… "
His voice suddenly changed :
" …I would be terrified. "; Kain said dispelling the Biercof-guise
They realized who it was, but not soon enough. Kain grabbed them both by their throats and raised them high above. He tossed Michael on the wall, and took a look at the metal chair. As Michael flew trough the air, the chair broke itself of the flour and lunched at him, twisting and deforming while it flew. When he stroke the wall, the peaces of the chair stabbed around him, making shackles that chained him on the spot. Nikita was now alone against him. She tried to kick him, but it had no effect. She kicked again, and again, and she was about to strike again, when her body froze. She couldn't move and her thoughts started chocking again. But this time something was different. Kain's mind that overwhelmed hers, wasn't the same. It was less intense and les painful, but still it came over her like a cloak of shadows. She succumbed to his powers and faced Michael while he came behind her :
" Let her go. "; Michael said, begging :" Please. "
" Don't worry, Michael… "; Nikita whispered slowly, like singing :" My lord will let me take you… we will be his children… "
" Indeed you shall. It's time to kiss your weaknesses god by. "
" No !"; Michael yelled
But it was too late. Kain stabbed his fangs in Nikita's pale flesh. At once she twitched with a shock of pain and suddenly went down on the flows of closing darkness. Kain was draining her slowly, making her enjoy it like ecstasy. While he feasted on her sweet warm blood Michael was desperately trying to free him self. But it was in wane. He could only watch helplessly as Nikita faded away from the light.
Walter pooled himself, all filthy and with a spanner in his hand, out of the shaft tunnel of the back up generator :
" Ok. "; he said to Biercof who was at the top of the platform where the manual controls were :" Try it now !"
Biercof entered the sequence in the panel. The generator coughed a few times, span its power like a dead car engine, and went silent again.
" Damn !"; Biercof yelled and kicked the fuse box at his feet.
Suddenly it sparked so strong it knocked him down of the platform. But as he fell the generator suddenly coughed again and started humming. It was working. Walter got him up :
" You did it !"
" It's all in the ankles… ( ouch )"; Biercof said
Kain drained only third of Nikita's body fluid. She was all dazed as he released her from his dominating bite, still spinning her mind with his telepathy. As he turned her to face him, her eyes fell at his bleeding wrist. She just had to kiss it. To taste the red liquid that was dripping down from it. Michael was yelling behind her, but it was only a breeze to her ears.
Suddenly the wave of bright purple light exploded in one corridor and like a flood it showered the interrogation room. At once Kain was blinded. His skin started burning, exposed to high amount of light radiation. He started hissing and smocking, and before he could realize, he released Nikita out of his hold. She came to, and resumed kicking him. Blind as he was, he could purely defend from her, and with her final stroke she knocked him on the wall. He landed on the torn out fuse box he pretended to be tinkering while he was disguised in Biercof illusion. Thousands of volts streamed trough his body making the lights blink a couple of times and ultimately bursting in sparks. He screamed and roared as the electric power seared his flesh and mind. Finally he fell down with bad burns all over himself sobbing and crawling like a dying animal.
The shackles that were holding Michael chained to the wall, fell of by them selves and he and Nikita came before their vanquished foe. But as they turned his body over, it wasn't Kain any more, at least not in the face. It changed to a different, yet familiar form :
" He-( hack )- he… I guess you didn't expect this coming… Michelle… "
It was Rene, Michael's childhood friend. Together they were rebels in France, before jail separated them
" It can't be you. "; Michael said :" You're dead. "
" I have bean given a second chance… ( cough )… My lord brought me back… his strongest… after you betrayed me… after she killed me. "; he said referring to Nikita.
" I did … what was right. "; Michael answered
"… ( cough… cough ) You stabbed me in the back…. ( cough ) But it meters not… not any more. I've had my vengeance… at last "
Michael knelled beside him :
" Rene, if there's anything left of you, tell me where can I find him. "
" Sorry Michelle … Rene you knew is dead… you've destroyed him. I…( cough ) now I've returned the favor… "; he looked at Nikita :" You will get the pleasure of watching her… slowly wither to nothing… ( cough-cough ) "
Nikita touched her bleeding throat :
" What have you done to me ?"
" I gave you… half. "; he said :" But half alone isn't enough… I die… for my beliefs and you follow… because you have none… "
" Why… why was it you instead of him ?"
" You think he would waist his time with you… ( cough )… Master had to stay home to… complete… to complete his creation… He only took out the head prize. "
" Operations… Madeline… George !"
" Rene, please, tell me where is the device. "
" I've told you too much already… rot in your defeat and… God by… Michelle… "
His words trailed away and he died, turning into ashes that dispersed on the white flour. Nikita looked at him and they both realized that Rene was right ; they were defeated, Section was dead and Kain himself eluded them. Rot was beginning to muster…