Hello. Here is chapter four.
You may realize that the name, 'Hoot' and other names that will pop up in this story are characters from the film Black Hawk Down. I do not own it at all. The use of those names is tribute to our soldiers.
"Parabellum?" Michael asked. "What is that? And why did you take me here?" Orithian parked the car and got out. So did the others.
"Parabellum is a group of highly dedicated people sworn to protect the population from vampiress and lycans," Orithian said. "And why did we bring you here? You are, for some reason unknown to us at this time, being hunted by lycans. We brought you here to protect you."
"I can take care of myself," Michael said. "You took me hostage!" Hoot groaned.
"Oh, you can take care of yourself, eh?" Orithian asked mildly.
"I just said that," Michael replied angrily. Orithian hid a smirk as he leaned against the hummer.
"Some how I happen to recall a young woman grabbing you by your throat, and hoisting you several feet off the ground against a wall. And do you think that lycan who chased down my car and damaged it was scary? You haven't seen scary. And that guy was not at his toughest. If he was fighting his hardest, it would have been quite unlikely that anything would be left for the police to bag," Orithian said. "If you want to go make yourself lycan chow, you can ask my superiors. Questions? Objections?" That outburst silenced the man. Hoot smiled as he watched. Orithian started walking towards the exit.
Orithian stopped. "By the way, my name is Orithian and his nickname is Hoot."
"Orithian?" Michael asked. Orithian grimaced at how he said it.
"When you get transferred in this line of work your last name is changed. My real last name is not Orithian," he said. "My real first name is Andrew, in case you were wondering. I know you are Michael Corvin."
"So, you're saying you're a vampire slayer?" Michael asked. Orithian headed off to the left and spoke to the man at the garage security station. Then he turned his attention back to Michael.
"Not really. I am a guardian. We do not kill vampires or lycans on sight. We only fight when necessary to protect civilians. We only hunt down to kill murderous vampires and lycans. Sort of like police. But if we come after you, don't bother calling a lawyer," Orithian replied. They entered back rooms of the insurance office. Orithian was careful to dodge any customers. He pressed his hand to the small mirror. The wall shifted and they rode the escalator one floor down to a small room with a safe.
"How can you tell if someone is a vampire or lycan?" Michael asked. Orithian winced as he unlocked the door using the retinal scanner.
"Vampires are usually extremely pale," Hoot answered. "Usually are very physically fit, not looking like a slob. Clean cut. And they like leather and dark colors. And you will never see them walking around during day."
"Lycans tend to be much more bulky and more biker-looking," Orithian said, as the door opened.
Michael looked around the underground room, people milling everywhere. Orithian continued talking as he walked towards his desk. "That woman who grabbed you by the throat, Selene. She is a vampire, a death dealer."
"A death dealer?" Michael asked. Orithian looked at him.
"Vampires and werewolves," he said, "hate each other. They are at war. It's a war that will probably only end once one side goes extinct. As the fact is, both are immortal, so the same leaders stay in power for quite some time. Death dealers are vampires who spend all their time trying to eradicate lycans by killing them all." Orithian walked towards his desk. Hoot split off and went to make a report. "Are you too tired to go on right now? We have spare quarters on sub-level two." Michael shook his head.
"I am not sure I could sleep right now," He commented. "How do you know so much about vampires and werewolves, err, lycans?" Orithian took his coat off, and his gun holster.
"We have a huge network of surveillance around the city. And we have dozens of spies. But that's classified, and I don't even know fully how we do it." He handed him a cold bottle of water. Michael accepted it gladly.
"So, are vampires and lycans much tougher than humans?" Michael asked. Orithian cleaned his gun.
"Vampires can jump, leap of building roofs without harm, cling to walls and are much more nimble than humans, faster reflexes, better eyesight, hearing, much better sense of smell. Not To mention stronger and immortal. But they can't eat normal food," Orithian said, checking some computer files. "They have to drink blood. As mauling of people or livestock is rare, they must be getting blood from another source. Lycans can turn into huge wolves when a full moon comes out. Some lycans can change without the moon, a very small number. It is extremely difficult to fight a transformed lycan is hand combat, next to impossible."
Hoot approached, startling Michael, who looked fearful of monsters.
"Uh!" Michael said, jumping. Orithian looked at him.
"Are you frightened?" He asked, studying the man closely.
"Yes,"
Michael admitted honestly.
"Not nearly frightened enough. I
know what hunts you." Orithian said. He clicked on a computer icon.
"That is what a fully transformed lycan looks like." Michael
leaned closer to the picture of the eight foot tall beast. "Feel
like staying at Parabellum?" Michael nodded. Hoot snorted.
"Orithian been telling you horror stories of his missions, Michael?" Hoot asked. Orithian growled. "We should go talk with the commander," Hoot said. He had two trays of food. Whatever was on the menu that day, probably fried fish. Hoot handed one tray to Michael, who started on it, and Hoot began eating from the other. "Oh, sorry, Orithian. Thought you could get your own," Hoot apologized.
"Forget it," Orithian said. He dug through his desk drawers until he found a meal replacement bar. Mint chocolate flavored, but he only had water at his desk. Several minutes later they finished eating.
"Anyway, where was I? Oh yes, vampires and lycans," Orithian said. Hoot blew out a breath. Orithian scowled. "Anyway, the lycans are more like a pack of wolves. The vampires are more cunning, and more like people in habits. The vampires are winning at the moment in their war, in case I didn't say so already."
"We should go speak to the commander," Hoot repeated. Michael looked around.
"How do you finance a base like this? Is this a government agaency?" Michael asked.
"Oh no," Orithian said. "We don't report to any branch of any government. They ask to many questions. But we do own some major companies. Heckler and Koch, for one," Orithian said as he walked towards the elevator. No reason to take the stairs. Michael smiled.
"A group of vampire and werewolf slayers own a major gun designing corporation?" Michael said. Orithian pressed the elevator button.
"We deal with criminals as well. Murderers, kidnappers. Not just vampires and lycans," Hoot said seriously. The elevator arrived. They stepped in pressed a floor. No one spoke as it went down, deeper underground.
The elevator beeped open. It was a steel-colored rectangular room, with three doors evenly spaced apart. Orithian went and stood in front of the middle door. Hoot stood next to him, and gestured for Michael to come over. Michael suddenly realized their was a video camera above the door. The door slid opened quietly, and they entered. It was a long, elegant hallway.
Along the hall were pillars, reaching to the high ceiling. There were around 20 guards, standing perfectly spaced apart, on both sides of the hallway. The helmets they wore had built in night vision, thermal vision, and each had a R.A.S. system, which allowed them to see what the security cameras around the underground complex saw. Each guard was dressed in black leather, with a sword hanging from their belts, and each held a high-power machine gun capable of stopping nearly anything. Orithian strode past them confidently. At the end was a set of double doors. Orithian paused.
"Michael, we are about to see Commander Garrison. He is the leader of Parabellum in Europe. He is the general in charge of this base. Be respectful." With that warning, he opened the doors. Orithian and Hoot saluted. Commander Garrison was an aging fifty year old general, his hair grayed. He was at a huge oak desk with various papers and displays. He got up and walked over to the three.
"Good to see you again, Andrew," Commander Garrison said. "You been surviving with him, Hoot?"
"Yes sir," Hoot said.
"Sir, this is Michael Corvin." Orithian said. "We had to bring him here to protect him from lycans, sir." Garrison shook Michael's hand.
"Very sorry you got dragged into this, son." Garrison said. "So, what is your take on what is happening, Andrew? I read the report Hoot submitted"
Orithian took a breath. "Well, the lycans are after a human. Michael, in particular. And they are very determined. You read on the report, and what happened to the hummer?" Garrison walked back to his desk and picked up the paper.
"Yes," Garrison said. "So far we have few leads. Michael, I think it would be best if you stay here for a while. Is that okay?"
"Yes, sir." Michael said, tensely.
"Good. Hoot will show you to a room." Garrison nodded at him. "Orithian, remain."
Hoot walked out with Michael. Garrison picked up the report. "Andrew, we are trying to stay out of sight. Please be more remembering of that fact, okay?" Orithian nodded. "We do our best not to stop and chat with vampires. Try to stay under the radar, even in events such as these. I do realize that sometimes contact is unavoidable, and we can't just kill whoever sees us. "
"Yes, sir," Orithian said obediently.
"Good," Garrison said. He picked up another sheet. "About five minutes ago our watch posts around that vampire mansion report a lot of activity. A high-level vampire, called Kraven, left, with his entourage. Head out there and see if you can follow them. Spy on them. I would send someone else for this mission, but you're one of the few men I have that can stand up to vampires in a direct fight. Be careful," Garrison said, stressing the last two words. "Try to not be seen." He glanced at his computer screen. "You'd better hurry. Get one of those listening devices or a small camera before you go."
"Yes, commander," Orithian said, running towards the door.
"One more thing," Garrison called to him. Orithian skidded to a stop and looked back.
"Don't take a hummer," Garrison said, before going back work.
Hope you liked this chapter. If it was wordy and too much talking, sorry. I was reminded that Michael couldn't magiaclly know everyone and thing without being told.
Thanks to Cass of the East for reminding me to complete the explaining to Michael! Thanks, Cass.
By the way, who do you think should kill Viktor, if he dies; Selene, Kraven, Michael, Orithian, Lucian, Raze, or Hoot? I might follow the vote, I might not.
I will make a part where Orithian explains how he got into the job, and the whole story 'Choose your Side' will end with Michael and Selene together.
One more thing. I love all positive reviews. And reviewers. But reviews are better when they are clearly written. Please write clearly, or I feel I am missing a critical idea that could make my story much better and it makes me feel bad.