Chapter 3

In the garage situated in the basement of the Sanctuary, Henry and Magnus loaded bags of equipment and weapons into the back of Henry's van. The security cameras were conveniently pointed away from their covert operation.

"I've entered the co-ordinates you gave me into the vans GPS. It's a hidden facility at the base of the mountains. Times must be hard if they can't afford a new secret HQ and have to use a cave. Where did you get these co-ordinates from anyway?"

"Tesla, he has his uses."

"Hey guys," said Will, interrupting the secretive duo and making Henry jump guiltily.

He slammed the van door shut and tried to look inconspicuous, a difficult task under the gaze of a forensic psychologist.

"Where are you off to?" Will asked curiously. Magnus was as cool as a cucumber as she answered him.

"We received a call from an old friend. We're just popping out to give them a hand. We shouldn't be long."

"A hand doing what?" asked Will.

"Pest control."

"I see. Do you need any help?"

"We can manage. Would you mind checking the underground levels while we're away? There is an unusual smell emanating from the lift shaft. I think we may have a mirnak infestation again."

"What are mirnaks?"

"Oh, you'll see," she smiled serenely at him.

"No problem, I'll get Kate to help," and he sauntered off trying not to let his suspicions show. They were definitely up to something.

"What are mirnaks?" Henry asked puzzled, after Will had gone.

"A distraction."

"Won't he figure that out pretty soon?"

"It is inevitable that they will discover the truth, at least we can postpone it temporarily."

"The Big guy is gonna be so mad," Henry said with a worried air about him. Magnus looked at him sympathetically.

"If you wish to reconsider your decision, I would understand."

Henry snapped back to reality, his eyes narrowed as he realised she was trying to put him off again.

"With all due respect Doc, I am not letting you drive my van anywhere. Remember what happened the last time?"

"I thought we agreed to never again mention the incident."

"We did. I'm just saying, a complete re-spray of the bodywork is not easily forgotten."

Noticing the glare she was giving him Henry wisely changed the subject. Magnus' driving skills were legendary, for all the wrong reasons.

"Shall we go?"

Hours later, the Foss-mobile pulled up on a dirt track in what could be called, the middle of nowhere. Mountains towered away in the distance for as far as the eye could see.

"This is it," announced Henry. "This is as far as we can drive. According to this data the Cabal perimeter begins over the next rise."

Magnus handed Henry a gun.

"Uh," he didn't know what to say, Henry didn't use guns.

"Just in case," she reassured him. "Only use it if you have to."

Henry carefully put the gun in his belt and threw a bag of equipment over his shoulder. He handed Magnus his PDA with the route they had to take on the screen. They left the track and entered the forest for a short time before climbing out of the cover of the trees and down a rocky slope, sliding over scree and dusty soil until they reached a perimeter fence topped with electrified razor wire.

"If that doesn't just scream Cabal hospitality," said Henry grimly, remembering the last time he had faced the Cabal.

The fence ran for eleven kilometres along the mountainside and at the centre of the site was what once had been a cave, backing deep into the mountainside, originally used by cavemen, later as a nuclear bunker and now, Cabal HQ.

"The last time we tried to break into Cabal HQ, we got caught. They were watching us the whole time. This time I am prepared. I've got the access codes to one of their satellites and managed to patch into their security feed. I've put all the security cameras on a loop so they wont see us. I've also got a floor plan of the facility, we've got a route to the central server room and from there we can take control of all the central systems. All Cabal data will be ours," he finished with relish.

Magnus frowned, she hadn't planned on sneaking in, just walking through the front door and seeing what would happen had been her plan.

"Doc?" Henry noticed her preoccupation.

"It is imperative we gain access without them being alerted," stressed Magnus, reconsidering her idea now Henry had offered an alternate entry. "Then, I want to find the directors."

Henry listened carefully as she opened up a little and told him more about her mission.

"The Cabal have been recruiting heavily for security over the past few months. They are attempting to get their numbers back up after John took out so many of them. It seems as though they aren't having much luck at it, not many people want to work somewhere with such a high death rate."

"How do you know that?"

"Tesla."

"How does he know this stuff? I know he's supposed to be smart, but still."

"Who watches the watchers? The Cabal have been searching for him for a very long time and he is always a step ahead. I am certain he encourages them, he loves the attention."

Magnus and Henry ducked down behind a boulder as a perimeter security patrol went past. Two guards dressed in full combat gear with bullet proof vests and helmets, paused and surveyed the area as the trespassers listened in to their conversation.

"Will you try and look professional," one guard hissed at the other. "This is the first time they've let us out on our own."

"They must be some of the new recruits," whispered Magnus. "They look very young."

"Everyone looks 'very young' to you," Henry grinned cheekily at her.

One of the guards tripped up as they attempted to resume their patrol. A female voice could be heard cursing.

"Why didn't they give me boots that fit?" she moaned.

"I bet they pulled these off a dead agent to cut costs," mused the other guard.

"What?!" shrieked the clumsy guard.

"Shhhhh, try and be cool. Haven't you heard about the staff turnover at this place? It's higher than McDonalds, that's why they don't give out new uniforms to everyone."

"Just as well, because even McDonalds wouldn't employ us. A worldwide ban on all McDonalds just because you've got a mustard problem."

The blonde guard glared at her partner and sniffed hautily. "I bet those boots smell of the last guy to wear them."

"Ewwwww."

The blonde guard hoiked her gun over her shoulder and sighed.

"They don't really smell. I bet they sprayed them like they do in bowling alleys," she reassured her partner. "I wish they'd give us back our tasers, this gun is really heavy. C'mon we've got another 5 circuits to patrol before we can go for lunch. Todays special is cherry pie." They continued their patrol of the perimeter kicking up a cloud of dust as they walked, their position evident from miles away.

Magnus and Henry exchanged a grin, breaking in just got easier.

In the main hall of the Sanctuary, Will found Kate and Bigfoot peering intently into a recently delivered crate.

"Hey, where have Magnus and Henry gone, do you know?"

"Zip it Will or you'll wake them," warned Kate.

"They were looking awfully suspicious," said Will, ignoring her instruction. "They said they were going to help a friend with some pest control."

"Maybe they have," growled Bigfoot. "Don't you trust them?"

Will looked unsure of himself.

"I guess. It was a bit weird though. Have you noticed anything strange about them recently?"

"Something strange about Magnus and Henry?" Kate snorted. "No Will, whatever gave you that idea? They're as normal as pie, 158 year old werewolf pie with fangs. Geez, give it a rest. Don't you ever turn off the shrink thing?" asked Kate. "Now shut up or you'll wake these little guys."

"What are they?" Will asked, curious as to what was holding his colleagues rapt attention.

"Awww, they're so cute," he cooed and leaned over the box to stroke one of its occupants. He jumped backward and into the air as he screamed in pain.

"Arggh, get it off me, get it off me!"

What resembled a cute fluffy little dormouse while it slept was an angry pincushion of sharp fangs and spiked hackles attached by its teeth to Will's curious finger.