Major McCain.
Cross knew of him, knew that Randall once considered him as part of the Marine Forces called into Manhattan, but then decided against it- McCain was known for questioning orders and demanding all available information. Exactly the kind of thing that would have gotten a Marine an one-way-trip into the closest Hive.
Right now, however, the man seemed more surprised than angry about being commandeered like a lesser soldier. He cocked one eyebrow. "Blackwatch"
"Yes, sir", Cross replied. Technically, McCain outranked him. Technically, Cross also didn't care, but it would be better to not be an arrogant asshole. Randall used to be, and look where it's gotten him.
"What's the First Biological Warfare Command doing here, then?"
"I think you know why" He produced the few print-outs Blackwatch had acquired from the Asheville Police Department and pushed them across the desk.
Well to be fair, they weren't exactly acquired legally, but when someone types out a question about multiple strange deaths, Blackwatch usually gets a ping on their radar.
And perfectly perforated chests in at least two dozen bodies was exactly the kind of stuff that Blackwatch reacted to.
McCain nodded grimly. "Yes, I do. But, frankly speaking, I don't know whether it is something for you."
"Elaborate, please"
The Major blinked, then leaned back. "Until a few hours ago, we weren't even aware that there had been more victims. Originally, we'd called in the NCIS, had them investigate a suspicious death on our grounds."
"It wasn't just one."
"Nope. But that's it- it's not contagious. It's not even a disease- it's a parasite."
Cross paused, drawing his brows together. "Parasite."
McCain nodded again. "Given the size and lethality of that parasite, the agent suggested it could be conduit activity."
Cross tilted his head. "We'll be the judge of that. But I'd like to talk to that agent now."
"Well, I can make that happen." The Major grabbed his phone. "McCain here. Could you get a hold of Harrison? He needs to tell agent Heller I got a visitor who wants to see him. Good." He put down the receiver. "Colonel? You alright?"
Cross bit back a sigh and resorted to running his hand down his face. "I'm fine. It's just- James Heller, right? Previous member of the United Marine Corps. Has been on national television roughly one and a half year back, fighting giant bugs over in New Marais?"
"Exactly-" The Major furrowed his brows. "You've been there, too, haven't you?"
"I was the one who dragged his ass over there", Cross confirmed. Then sighed. "Figured one of those assholes would be around when shit's getting weird. Where is he now?"
"That's exactly what I need Captain Harrison for. He's the liaison part and will most likely know where he is." He frowned briefly. "Also, yesterday he reports that he went missing, and signs say he got killed. A few hours ago I get the report that screw that, asshole's alive. Now I'm getting reports that cops found dozens of bodies with the same kind of injury that I called him in for to begin with. Honestly, I have no idea what's going on here, anymore."
Story of my life, Cross thought grimly. Outwards, he only cocked an eyebrow when the phone chimed and the major got the answer to his inquiry.
Apparently, Heller'd gone off to investigate something, but didn't bother taking any backup along.
"It's like he wants to get dead", the Specialist grumbled under his breath. Then shook his head with a grimace. "Doesn't matter, I think. Contact me once he shows up. In the meantime, I'd like to take a look at the victim, so we can really rule out a contagion."
McCain's face twitched. Cross arched one eyebrow. "No?"
"Little problem there, Colonel. The body, all evidence we've collected- gone."
That definitely got his interest. "How?"
"Somebody took the keys to the medical building. Went down into the morgue. Stole the body and everything else. Doctor Moore already had a small meltdown because her computers are gone and with them, all her data." He sighed briefly. "We also reviewed the security footage. It's been manipulated. No chance at recovering anything."
The Specialist leaned back. This was...different. To be at the receiving end of what was a prime Blackwatch tactic.
Though, maybe it wasn't, actually. Because Blackwatch used to permanently silence anybody who was a possible witness. These guys here...just seemed to remove any and all evidence. If there was no hard evidence, no court was going to convict anybody. And witnesses could be intimidated into silence.
"In this case I need to speak to the doctor." That was the problem with leaving behind witnesses- if you knew how, you could get anything that was inside their heads. And this particular witness was going to be more than willing to cooperate.
Well...'willing', anyways. She owed him, after all.
McCain was eying him suspiciously, then shook his head. "I can guess. Very well, Colonel, I'll make it happen-" He cut himself off when Cross's radio screeched. He tapped it once.
"Report"
"Sir, you're not going to believe this", Captain Santos began, just as McCain's own phone chimed.
Cross glanced at the Major briefly. "Let me guess. Heller just showed his mug around here."
"And not only him, sir" It was strange how good he could imagine the exasperated expression on his captain's face. "Mercer's with him."
The Specialist blinked. Said nothing while his brain tried to catch up with what was said. "Sir?"
He snapped to attention and immediately scowled. "Tell Grayson to sit on him. Or you shoot him in the knees. At any rate, make sure he doesn't pull a vanishing act again. I'm on my way." With a snort, he cut the connection and glanced at McCain. "It appears both of us have to deal with insubordinate assholes."
"So I gathered", the Major commented in a weary tone, then got up to walk towards the door with Cross right behind him. Might as well use the time McCain needed to round up the doc to yell at Mercer.
Or shoot him. Depending on what kind of lame excuse he would pull out of his ass. Though, to tell the truth, he was intrigued, to hear just where this guy's been.
But first, establish dominance. God only knew it was the one thing that germ reacted to. Probably had one too many stray dog or cat rattling around in that skull of his.
He shook his head the next moment. Later.
"What do you know about these...parasites?" He asked instead as he followed the Major.
McCain's shrug was stiff. "Not much. All I know is that some spider thing latched onto my Marine's face, laid an egg down his throat and died. And after that, something turned his bones to rubber and chewed its way out of his chest." He stopped and grimaced. "No soldier deserves dying like that. Torn apart from the inside out." Neither did choking on their own lungs, or being torn to shreds like wet paper, or turning into mindless husks. But that was the kind of fucking world they lived in. They had to work with the cards they've been dealt.
He only wondered just who the Hell was responsible for mixing his set when he finally stepped into the frigid courtyard right after Major McCain, because his Wisemen were in the middle of it, bristling like a pack of dogs that were glaring at one particular smug alley cat. Only, this cat was the most lethal bioweapon in existence, and judging from his amused expression, he knew just how far below him they were.
Time to remind him just who was in charge here. Cross folded his arms behind his back and put his face into a sneer. "Mercer. We had a deal."
"I am aware", that little shit replied easily.
"So? Then remind me why the fuck you thought you could simply disappear and not tell anybody where you went?"
"I told Heller", Mercer pointed out, still grinning, as he jabbed his thumb casually over his shoulder towards the Evolved, who had the kind of exasperated expression on his face a pet owner would have, and that screamed 'Leave me out of this'.
"And all you told me was that nobody was supposed to worry, you weren't going to harm anybody who didn't deserve it", Heller replied, "Which is worrisome all in itself." He furrowed his brows. "And the urge I had for a while that told me to go and throw a car into the closest Abstergo-owned building probably had nothing to do with the company suddenly losing about every ranking member. Right?"
"You can't prove anything", the Runner replied with the kind of sing-sung voice that usually got children in the school yard punched by the other pupils.
Then his entire demeanor shifted, and his eyes narrowed when he turned his attention back to Cross. "I doubt you're here for me, though. You didn't find me when you've been looking for me, so you sure as Hell had no idea I was going to come here. You being here has another reason, and we just met by chance." Cross didn't change his expression, but to Mercer, it was enough, because he only folded his arms. "So why don't we skip this bullshit and you tell me why you've come down here." His teeth were slightly bared. "And my money is on unexplainable deaths linked to a ruptured chest, right? And", he glanced at the Major, "You already know it's a parasite, don't you?"
"I know nothing", the Specialist replied sharply. "If you mean however that the current situation points to a parasitic creature, then yes." His eyes swept over the other Infected, taking in the blackened skin that wasn't skin but tentacles mashed together to look like a human surface. "I can only assume you already encountered it."
Mercer snorted. "Not only encountered. We found some data, along with evidence of a breeding population- and a holding pen."
"Holding pen?" Now McCain perked up "Then we need to wipe them out-"
"Bastards fled, sir", Heller cut in. "One freed the others. They escaped into the city and are now likely hiding in the sewers."
McCain inhaled sharply, Cross's eyes narrowed. Without much preamble, his hand snapped to his radio. "Colonel Cross to Fort Detrick. I need containment in Asheville. Unknown parasitic life form, fled into the city's sewage system. Likely capable of breeding."
"Understood. We'll be on the ground within the next two hours."
"Another thing, ZEUS and HADES are both present. Plan them in as advancing troops."
"Copy that."
He clicked the radio off, and turned to his team. He didn't do much more than a small nod of his head, and the Wisemen instantly scrambled to attention, forming a wall behind their leader as he straightened his back and fixed his gaze on Major McCain. "Major, I'm afraid there's been a change of plans. As of now, the First Biological Warfare Command will be calling the shots."
McCain blinked, like he suddenly woke up in a completely different reality. "Why? This area's under the jurisdiction of the United States Marine Corps."
"I am aware", Cross agreed. "However, two dozen bodies tell me that you will be soon overwhelmed with the situation- a situation Blackwatch's way more suited for than you are."
Major McCain furrowed his brows, then shook his head. "Very well, Colonel. Just make sure you get this situation under control."
"I will", Cross then turned his attention to his team. "Heller, you with me. Captain, Mercer mentioned data. Have him extract whatever he recovered. Don't let him out of your sight." He glared at the Runner, silently daring him to argue. He didn't, but that shit-eating grin was back on his face. Asshole probably thought about how to derail the situation if he wanted to, though he was following after a rather twitchy Captain Santos for now.
Good. Cross would rather have him off the courtyard for now. He wanted to avoid any unnecessary confrontations for now. He exhaled, and turned to the Major. "Now, Sir, would you kindly call in Doctor Moore? I'd like to hear what she has to say about this."
Cross and the doc had a history together, that much Heller realized after watching the two of them for only a short period of time. She was visibly tense, like she didn't know what to expect, though a lot less jumpy than when he met her first.
She seemed reluctant getting into the car, however, only got in once Heller did. As they were rolling off the compound, she finally gathered herself to ask. "You want to head to the dumping ground, do you?"
"All those bodies need to be recovered, pieced back together and identified", Cross pointed out. "Makes it easier to do it just at the site. We only need to have a look."
"Right", Doctor Moore leaned back, brows furrowing. She didn't say anything, though, just glanced at the Specialist. Eventually, she cleared her throat. "Colonel, what do you think has happened? These...parasites, or whatever they are, they don't hide bodies. Or, at least I think they don't."
Heller grunted. "You're correct on that one. These things also wouldn't drop them into a lime pit. Or shoot people trying to figure out shit", he added almost as an afterthought. His skin was itching, almost making him want to claw it off to make it stop. Surely his body must have assimilated most of the Blacklight matter by now? He leaned back in his seat. "Mercer and I, we've broken into Weyland-Yutani, you know? Found several of these things. The guys that shot me also hang around WY, so..." He grimaced. "It doesn't make a very nice picture."
Cross scowled. "Somebody owns these things and makes sure all evidence of their presence gets erased, is that it?"
"Yeah. Looks like it." The Evolved furrowed his brows. "Which means we need to be careful." He didn't need to tell them why. He was pretty sure the other two could guess as much- if there were assholes that had no problem dumping bodies into lime pits- which was a War Crime in itself- then they wouldn't have much problems producing bodies for those lime pits.
He just hoped that there were enough people present that would discourage any attempt at their lives. If not- well, they were going to realize that he was pretty tough now that he hadn't fought an acid-spewing monstrosity.
They weren't going to get him a second time. This time he had an idea of what he was getting into.
Still, his stomach tensed once they got out of the car and approached where he basically resurrected a few hours ago. He still wasn't sure what had happened, only that it had been far from pleasant.
"Huh", Cross grunted when they came close enough to see the makeshift morgue, "Wonder who that might be."
Heller followed his gaze, brows furrowing at the sight of the unmarked black limousine parked amidst all the police vehicles. It clearly didn't belong here.
The Specialist snorted. "Let's see who got spooked enough to show up here." Without hesitation, he walked towards the large white tent the Asheville Police Department had erected as lazaret to sort and identify the bodies. Doctor Moore fell in step behind him while Heller hesitated at first. He glanced back at the car, discreetly sniffing the air to try and pick up any lingering scents before he went to bring up the rear of the small group.
The tent was what was basically a variation of a party tent, and it was the biggest around. Two other tents flanked it, likely housing computer equipment and a office of sorts. This one was where they stored the bodies, trying to piece them back together. The stench of decayed meat stung in his nose, but he has long since grown used to it. (Waking up at night, still smelling the infective materials in the air, still hearing the Infected clawing at the walls, trying to get to him)
Cross's back straightened then, drawing attention towards a tall, broad-shouldered blonde man with a stern face and the sheriff's badge attached to his coat lapel. He was also currently in a deep discussion with a thin man who wore his shoulder-long hair slicked back. He wasn't familiar to Heller, but the guy standing right next to him was- the man too noticed the Evolved and inhaled sharply.
No wonder. People might get a little surprised if they meet the guy they shot in the head just the day before. Too bad they were surrounded by cops at the moment. Cross might be able to ignore Heller starting fights, but the Sheriff probably wouldn't. From the looks of it, the Iron Bear was thinking the same. So all the Evolved could do was throw a nasty leer into the guy's direction to show him he recognized him and was just hoping to meet him once they were alone.
"Trust me, my facility has the needed capacity to store and process the remains", he heard the dark-haired man say, and his neck hair stood up straight. For a moment, he thought of McMullen, which made no sense since he never even met the guy.
"I am aware, Doctor Eisenberg", the Sheriff agreed. "And your papers seem to be in order. However, until we have finished examining the bodies, they will stay on site."
The doctor arched one eyebrow. "I see. Well, thank you for your time. Just contact my office, and we will pick them up." He nodded at the Sheriff, eyed the three newcomers briefly with the kind of look usually reserved for roaches, and walked out. The Sheriff let out a huff, and didn't move until Doctor Moore cleared her throat. "I assume that one was not one of the federals?"
The man snorted. "Nope. Eisenberg, head of WY. Wanted us to hand over the bodies to his guys. Got all necessary documents, signed by a state senator too. Wonder how he got that one, which means it'll become tough trying to pull excuses out of my ass to stop the process." He turned to them, now finally becoming aware of the three of them. "On that note, what are you doing here?"
"I assume for the same reason he just did", Cross threw in, folding his hands behind his back and straightening his back to express authority. "Colonel Robert Cross, First Biological Warfare Command."
The Sheriff only furrowed his brows. "McCain send you?"
"McCain didn't send me. General Rooks did, with the order to investigate the bodies you discovered." Cross cocked his head, silently daring the man to question his authority. He didn't.
Heller wasn't surprised. Cross demanded respect wherever he went, and if it wasn't for his insubordinate nature, he would be Major, or even General by now. The Sheriff however did throw a fleeting look at the doctor, who shrugged with a grimace. Then Heller noticed the name tag below the star-shaped badge. 'Moore'
Huh. They were married then.
The doctor sighed and addressed her husband. "As far as I've seen, this is serious, Charles."
"How serious?"
"Remember when I told you about that weird accident on the compound?"
"Yeah" He furrowed his brows. "Wait-"
"Died from the same causes as your guys here, from the looks of it. But I need to confirm."
"You got data?"
"No. Somebody broke into my place, and took everything." Her tone was frustrated. "That's why I brought Agent Heller and Colonel Cross along."
The Sheriff's eyes turned sharp. "Because if somebody steals a body, they won't hesitate to do more harm?"
"Exactly"
"And", Cross interjected, "This is a body drop-off site, as you probably noticed. None of these people died here. Somebody collected their corpses and tried to destroy evidence. Evidence that hints at a type of Biological Weapon."
"Parasites", Heller added. "Like some wasps, only much bigger and more dangerous."
"Parasites killing humans?" Sheriff Moore blinked. "Is this some kind of joke?"
"If it is, it is a damn unfunny one", Heller growled. "Because there are people out there trying to hide whatever is going on, and they don't shy away from murder or War Crimes."
"Murder?" Sheriff Moore was alerted. "When? Who?"
"Yesterday. Me", the Evolved declared. The Sheriff blinked at him blankly. Heller waved his palm. "I got better, but that's not the point. When I figured out where that parasite fled to, I actually encountered it- I managed to kill it and would have brought it along, but then a bunch of guys were there suddenly and they don't want to talk. Next thing I know I wake up in a hole full of corpses. That about cover it?"
The Moores both winced. Cross only cocked an eyebrow, his expression was almost blank, though Heller could read the What the Fuck clearly enough. He only shrugged in response, because what else was there to say?
Thankfully, Cross decided to take over. "The sooner this is finished, the sooner we can gauge a threat level", he pointed out. "Sheriff, if you would? I need to speak to you."
"I say", the man rumbled, still slightly off kilter. "Because I got a hole full of bodies and I want to know what is going on." He glanced back towards the other two, then walked out of the tent towards one of the smaller ones. Heller and Moore remained behind. The doctor put down her kit and started to rummage through it.
Heller cleared his throat. "So. Husband?"
She nodded. "We've been married for three years now."
"Good for you" He watched how she went to the closest body that wasn't as decayed as the others, to kneel down and start working on it.
He knew what she would find, however. The hole was almost exactly like the one in Chris, the sternum had been punched through cleanly, and he would bet the ribs were rubbery and full of bite marks.
And the Bears are the ones who put these guys there.
Heller snorted and turned his focus on the Hive Mind. "Yup. Plus the guy's been here? That was the guy that shot me. Pretty sure." He furrowed his brows as he watched the doc extract a rib to check it, and yeah, she could bend it easily. "What did you find?"
No names, sadly, but I got some other things. A pause. I don't know whether I like it.
"No?" Heller crossed his arms. "What exactly did you find?"
Some basic data about behavior. They seem to target threats first, before focusing on potential hosts or prey. Intelligent, they've proven themselves to be highly adaptive and smart, making it hard to keep them locked up. Their communication seems to be based on pheromones and I guess some form of Hive Mind. Basic anatomy, too. Their life cycle- you were right, they are capable of maturing within hours, provided they have food to ingest.
"The rats"
Yes. Small mammals are best, it seems. And get this- these guys never bred these things over at WY. They just went to collect eggs from what they're calling an egg pit. Somewhere under Asheville. No definite location, far as I can tell.
"Great. So these things are breeding."
Yeah, but slowly, it seems. Data suggest that they prefer higher temperatures than what we have currently.
The Evolved furrowed his brows. "Still, that would suggest mothers."
It does. However, if that information was in here, it no longer is. Seems like somebody removed it. Mercer's influenced seemed to fade slightly for a moment. Strange.
"Strange?"
Most data is not older than what? Three months? Starts at that time with the egg pits, but before? Only data on behavior, body size, stuff like that. It looks suspiciously like they only had one specimen. At least until the end of last year. Where are the others coming from?
Heller frowned deeper, eyes locked on Doctor Moore though not really seeing her. Only one? But...how could there be more of these things now? Was there a second thing of the opposite sex, and they had made the new ones? Would seem a little unrealistic, to have one running around for God knows how long without anybody noticing.
An idea came to him suddenly, and he grimaced. "The dead thing at WY had been female, right? What...what if all of them are? What if they don't need a mate to reproduce?"
Mercer hesitated. You mean like...clones of their first one? Parthenogenesis?
"Yeah. You also said that it was possible they are copying their host's DNA. Wouldn't that improve their overall genetic fitness without them needing a second party to supply chromosomes?"
...You are aware that if all of them are possibly female, then basically all of them can lay eggs.
Heller grunted. "Great. A bunch of self-promoting highly lethal parasites-"
Parasitoids
"-that got acid for blood. Fucking wonderful." He snorted and uncrossed his arms. "Gotta talk to Cross about that one." Mercer didn't reply, so Heller turned his attention to the doc. "I'll be heading over to Cross for a bit, okay?"
She eyed him, brows furrowing. "You know what is going on, don't you?" She asked. "H-"she cut herself off. "You weren't there. Not really. Withdrawn. And I know about...you. You know things now, right? He- he told you. Your superior conduit?"
Okay, that was a load of bull. Heller could tell she was trying to hide something, including her knowledge about his real nature. It made his skin crawl, muscles twitching underneath, claws yearning to break free-
He stopped himself, grinding his teeth when he realized what he was going to do. He usually had better self-control than that, but anger was pulsing through his body for no reason at all-
Then he noticed the open thermos can on a low table, steaming gently. His eyes narrowed. "What was that about pheromones?"
These things communicate using pheromones.
"Including trigger an attack?"
...It appears that way.
"Fuck" Heller instantly surged to the front, grabbed the doc, and bodily hauled her off the ground and towards the tent opening-
The opposite site was torn down in that moment as a pitch-black thing burst through screeching.
At the same second, gunshots and screams rang out all around them. Heller's blood was roaring in his ears, drowning out the doc's terrified shrieks. Couldn't fight this thing now, had to protect the others. Couldn't fight this thing because the acid was going to eat through him-
The thing screeched and threw itself at him, claws blazing. He wanted to meet it with talons of his own, they were already ripping from his finger tips, but he remembered acid and spray and pain just in time and altered his tactics to kick it into the side and get it off his ass that way.
In the same motion, he threw himself backwards and right through the thin tent plane, outside into the cold and fresh air and away from the stuff telling him to hurt and shred and kill.
"Heller!" The order snapped him to attention, and he nearly forgot why he was out here or with who, when he became aware of Colonel Cross and Sheriff Moore just outside of the 'office' tent.
And the dozen or so black things surging towards them.
Cross and Moore only had their small handguns on them, and they were barely having any effect- it took at least two full magazines to center mass to drop one, but the others still kept coming. Heller snarled and jumped between the pack and the Specialist, finally letting go of the doc as he spun to face the black things.
They stopped their rush, screeching at him. He replied in kind, snarling and fanning his claws wide as a threat. He couldn't rip them apart, he knew, the acid would hurt him again.
He wouldn't need to make direct contact, however.
In the very second the black things decided to attack, he thrust both his hands out, palms flat to the front to displace vast amounts of air in a very short amount of time. It hit the creatures like a sledgehammer, throwing them back in a cacophony of pained screeches and snapping armor. He killed at least one by breaking its neck, too. The others were flailing,struggling back to their feet when he leapt at them to drive his knee deep into the chest of another one to flatten it. Its armor ruptured, spraying acid everywhere, but he managed to get clear this time, diving at the next one instead. This one was ready however, and it spun to slash its claws at him, tearing deep groves into his forearms.
Heller snarled, nearly doubling over when another one jumped on him, biting and clawing at his back. He instantly kicked out to get the first one to back off, then twisted around and grabbed the second's elongated head to brutally yank it off his back- ripping something that felt suspiciously like a piece of himself in the process- and slam it into the ground. It flailed and shrieked, he silenced it with a stomp on its throat that shattered its spine.
The first one hissed and lunged again, he managed to catch its bony wrists and spin it around before bodily throwing it against the closest tree with a hollow crack, toppling the tree and crushing the thing beneath it. Its wails were cut off instantly.
The others however, didn't bother with him. While he'd been busy, they slipped past him to jump Cross and Moore again.
The sheriff continued using his handgun, but he started targeting the thing's heads with marginally more success. Cross abandoned his gun completely and jabbed his knife into one's throat, then followed up with his stun baton to its maw. The black thing dropped back shrieking in pain.
Then Heller was upon them, slamming another palm thrust into their direction to get them to back off and give the two men some space to collect themselves.
"The fuck are these?!" Cross snapped, reloading his handgun and visibly wishing he was packing something heavier.
"Those", Heller ground out, "Are what happen when the parasite grows."
The adult things screeched and leapt at them again, and the Evolved went to meet them in the middle without any thought for his own safety. He collided with three things at once, knocking them down- and instantly whirled on his heels to throw himself at those things closest to Cross and the other two. He was just vaguely aware of Cross ordering reinforcements, and the Sheriff alternating between worrying over his wife and yelling into his radio.
People were screaming in the background, cut off brutally when claws tore them apart, but Heller knew damn well that he couldn't help them- Fuck, he wasn't even sure he would make it, not to mention the way more fragile humans he was trying to protect- but he had to do something.
He snarled and slammed both claws into the ground to yank a sizable piece of soil up to use it as bludgeon of sorts. The main problem was it was mostly soil, which meant that, even frozen, it wasn't much of a bludgeon. He smashed the first two black things and the clump of earth fell apart, partly on its own and partly eaten away by the acid.
Fuck this, back to the hands-on-approach then.
The Evolved lunged at the next creature with his leg outstretched, kicking and twisting its head almost off its bony shoulders. In one movement, he whirled in mid-air, back-handing the next thing to throw it across the area so it crashed into the shrubbery.
The second he made contact with the floor, he exploded to the front again, arms spread wide to clothesline two more to drag them away from the pack. His talons closed around their throats at the same time, and he smashed both together, satisfied when hearing their pained shrieks and the cracking of bones. When he dropped them, both were still squirming, but not moving much either way.
Good enough, because he couldn't really worry about that- the others were still around, and somehow he could swear there were more of them now.
He leapt the distance back towards Cross and the Moores, stomping another of those things into the ground while he was at it. "Get the people out of here!" He snapped, spinning around to grab another creature and wrench its head around to kill it. "I don't know whether we can stop them!"
You don't need to stop them.
The ground cratered as several two-story tall spikes erupted from the soil and shredded a dozen of these things at once. The others fell back shrieking, when a second cluster of spikes caught them and turned them into mist.
Their blood was instantly biting into the chitinous constructions, burning massive portions off, but the spikes collapsed into themselves, revealing themselves to be hollow anyways.
Then Mercer stepped around the partially collapsed tent, grinning arrogantly as one of his claws shifted and turned into his Whipfist. He threw it to the front, slashing through another ten or so of the creatures in one swipe. Sure, the acid was eroding his weapon so he merely brushed the last few things, but it was enough for now. The others bounced backwards, screeching.
Heller decided to take whatever he could get and launched himself at the greatly reduced pack, shattering another one's ribcage and snapping two more necks when he heard the familiar sound of a Blackhawk closing in.
When Hellfire missiles impacted into the ground, burning another bunch of the creatures to ashes, the remaining ones turned tail and fled instantly. They would be impossible to chase down once they got into the dark surrounding woods, giving off no body heat or scent themselves, and Heller was about to follow them when Mercer stopped him with a lifted claw. "No need", he declared with a wide grin. One claw on his Whipfist was missing, clearly broken off, and Heller needed a moment to realize that. "I'll know where they are."
Yes, of course Cross is Alex's dad. What else is Cross supposed to be to him?
Small Easter Egg here, too.
And, you know, for all the buildup I made here with how dangerous the Aliens are, they are dying pretty fast when encountering Alex. Not that there was any other outcome, that guy is clearly in the 100+ Power Class and got a whole bag of tricks that don't need him making direct contact with an enemy.
Still wondering why people always say that people like Cole, Naruto, or friggin' Dumbledore have any lick of a chance against this juggernaut. No, really.