"Do you have anything new to add Mr. Harris?" The General asked.
"Yes, sir. Since our hearing and sight range is superior to theirs, we've been able to hear them talking and watch them without them knowing it. We've overheard them saying things in regards to experiments on what they're calling HST's. What that stands for, we're not sure. We've also heard them refer to their Operation as the Initiative, which, I thought had been shut down after WW II."
"It was. It had a specific job. Intelligence gathering regarding Hitler's activities with regards to demons and shut down those operations. Once that was done there was no further need for them."
"Well then either someone didn't get the memo or they've rebranded themselves and restarted. And it looks like they're taking after Hitler this time."
"What state do you think we'll find your people in, Mr. Harris?"
"It'll depend on whether they've been given any food, sir. Protectors, like Slayers, have a higher metabolism. After a week without food, they may not even be able to walk on their own. We have our own medic, who's trained specifically in our care, Jesse McNally. I'd like him kept close so as to treat any injuries or issues they have."
"Agreed. Also, given the fact that they've got demons and we don't know for sure what they are doing with them, I want your Pack involved in the assault."
"General, short of knocking us out and tying us up, you'd be hard pressed to keep us out of it."
"I thought so. We go in an hour. Gear up."
"Yes, sir."
An hour later the assault, which began simply by walking into Lowell House and arresting people, continued with overriding the controls on the elevator found inside, as well as an industrial size one and breaching through a back door that the Pack had found. Once into the main facility things began to get very interesting indeed.
"What the Hell do think you're doing and who the Hell are you?" A women's strident voice could be heard demanding information.
"I am General Mark Abraham, ma'am. By order of the President of the United States this entire illegal facility is being shut down. All personnel are being detained. All military personnel involved in this illegal Operation will be subject to Court Martial. All civilian personnel will be tried in closed court. The charges include, but are not limited to kidnapping, illegal experimentation, false imprisonment of civilians and treason. Do you have anything you wish to say?"
"I don't know who the Hell you think you are, but the Initiative is a legitimate Organization, it was founded to study HST's and determine a military purpose for them."
"The Invitative was begun during WW II. It was an intelligence gathering organization whose purpose was to determine what Hitler was doing with these creatures. After the war it was ordered shut down by the President. Whoever thought it was a good idea to take up where Hitler left off has led you all straight into treason."
"Why do you keep saying treason, General?" Riley Finn asked.
"What's your name and rank soldier?"
"Captain Riley Finn, sir."
"Captain, really? I say treason, Captain, because when WW II ended, the United States and allies signed an agreement that none of us would engage in capturing, experimenting on or attempting to use demons for military purposes. That's why this is treason."
"But sir, someone has to do something about these things."
"Someone is, Captain. The United States has had squads in every branch of the military, except the Coast Guard, dealing with these things since the civil war. We know what we're doing. You're the ones breaking the law here. Not to mention, violating Posse Comitatus."
"We didn't know."
"Not a valid defense. If you'd done your due diligence you would have."
"That's what that kid kept saying."
"What kid?" Xander spoke up.
"Calls himself Tor Hauer. Claims he's with a local militia, sir."
"He is. Please show us where he and Heidi Barrie are being held." The General answered.
Riley showed them.
Xander felt sick when he saw Heidi. She was laying on the floor of a white room. She didn't look like she was even breathing. "What have you done to her?" He demanded to know.
"We've just been running tests, that's all. They've been on a hunger strike. Refusing to eat anything we bring to them."
"Food drugged." Xander heard Heidi say, in a faint voice.
"You've been drugging their food?" He asked, incredulous.
"How do they know that? Besides, it was so we could do tests."
Just then Jesse arrived with his kit and knelt down beside her. After a quick assessment, he started an IV and said. "We need to get her out of here immediately. Helped me get her to the ambulance. Grandma's waiting for us."
The General ordered several of his people to help move Heidi out and they continued on to Tor's cell, where they found him in the same condition. After getting Heidi into the first ambulance, Jesse returned and repeated his actions with Tor, before moving him out as well. The group continued going through the cells, killing the hostile demons and freeing the non hostile ones. Those that were willing to accept help were given it. Those that weren't willing to accept help were escorted to the surface and freed.
It was a somber group that met up at the Magic Box afterward. What they had seen in that facility would haunt them for a long time. They were used to demons being the monsters. This was a whole different ball game. One that scared the crap out of them all.
Thanks to their heightened healing ability Heidi and Tor did recover and eventually returned to patrolling. But the emotional recovery was going to take much longer.