Turner
"What do you mean, they've moved?"
The Clone leader was leaning against the wall by the armory. The recon team had just returned with their report. According to them, the aliens, or any sign of a base, were nowhere in sight. Turner sighed and walked over to the computer.
"Do we have satellite access?"
The tech messed around for a few seconds. "Yes sir, we do."
"Pull up live video for this area. I need to know where the aliens went."
Turner watched the screen as the computer zoomed in on the Karith Building. Nothing outside, except snow. Lots and lots of snow.
"Screw it." Turner said, walking away. He unholstered his rifle and sat it on the table, then leaned back in a nearby chair.
"Take it easy, Mac." Jess said, entering the room.
"What're you doing here?!"
"It's my job." she replied.
"No." Turner said, getting up. "Back to the bar with you."
"If you touch me..."
"You'll do what? Huh? I'm your superior officer."
"You're more than that, Mac..."
Turner dropped the boss act. "I know, I just don't want you getting hurt out there."
"I'm only running a computer, Mac. What's the worst that could happen?"
"I give in. But don't leave the base!"
"Of course not, sir," she said, pecking him on the cheek and heading to the nearest computer.
Turner smiled sheepishly and went back to the table. McNabb was playing cards with 24. "Care for a game of Uno?" he asked.
Turner nodded and grabbed a chair. McNabb dealt.
"Didn't this game die out about a century ago?" 24 asked.
McNabb shifted his eyes. "Yes, it did. I aqquired a deck of cards though, and learned how to play. It's fun."
Turner shook his head. "Sometimes I wonder if you are archaic in more ways than one, John."
"Shut it," McNabb replied, a touch of humor in his voice. "Now listen..."
-----------------
"Sir? Come see this."
Turner got up and walked over. "What is it?"
"We've got a visual on the aliens. They're nested in another section of the Karith building. We saw a maraudar jumping around in the snow."
"Just jumping around?"
"Yes sir. It seemed to be... uh, amused with the snow. It'd climb up a small hill and jump to the bottom, then do it again."
Turner had to smile a bit. "Like a child's game."
"Perhaps, sir. Maybe this is a peek into their mindset?"
Turner nodded. It's possible... but don't forget: a cat plays with his mouse before he eats it. Just because it looks cute from our perspective does not mean it has good intentions."
He walked over to the intercom and switched it on, picking up the microphone. "This is Mac Turner, and we've got a confirmation on alien lifeforms in the Karith Corporation building. Get ready."
-----------------
The clones marched out in rows of four, McNabb following with his own group. Turner was the last to leave.
"Be safe, Mac." Jess said, hugging him.
"Always. I'll be back before you know it."
Turner grabbed his rifle and walked out the door.
-----------------
Mac lay prone on a snowbank, peering through his binoculars.
"13, are your men in position?"
"Affirmative, Turner. We are go."
"Move up them up. Do you see the target?"
"Affirmative. Target is secure. Ready to fire."
"Take it down."
The mara was hit from 5 different angles at once, obliterating it. The steaming corpse fell to the snow, melting what was around it.
"Target exterminated."
"Good job. Let's enter the build-"
"Mac!"
"Jess? What is it?"
"We've got a problem. The Aliens were spotted in the colony, at a train station."
"How the hell did they get there?!"
"We don't know. Some civilians were killed, but the security team evacuated the rest. You need to send someone over there, Mac."
"Hell... I need all my men here."
"Innocent lives are in danger. Think about that."
Turner dropped his head, thinking. Maybe they could spare some men... but it would be risky. He brought up a mental image of the colony. If they were at the train station... god, that was on the other side. It was almost as if the aliens were trying to split them up.
"John?" he said finally, his breath fogging in the cold air.
"Yes?"
"Take your men to the train station. 13 and I will take care of things here."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. Go now. 13, meet up with me. We're going in."
Over the hills, a large group of clones rose from the snow and ran towards the building. A moment later another group showed up, heading towards the colony. "Good luck, John."
"Good luck to you, Mac. Hopefully we'll see you all soon."
Turner stood and brushed himself off.
"Lets move."
-----------------
They moved through the hallways swiftly, the glare of the flourescent lights shining off their armor. Turner listened for anything suggesting alien movement, be it a scratch, a growl, a footstep. His breathing was harsh, his blood was pumping. The feeling of battle never got old. It was his life.
"Hold it." he said. "Let's check this room."
The door didn't seem to be in working order, so Turner slid his hands under the lip and pulled up, the door rolling on its tracks. Behind it lay a storage room, complete with a second floor and an elevator. The air was old and musty, suggesting that this room had been closed for some time.
"Move on."
They passed a couple of flowerbeds, noting that none of them had been touched. The next room was huge, going up several floors and with its own elevator to boot. 24 started to push the button.
"No!" Turner shouted, then cringed as the room amplified his voice. "If they hear it, they'll know we're here." he continued in whisper. "Use the stairs."
13 nodded and went up the left staircase with his men, while Turner and his men took the right. They walked down the narrow walkway in a row, each man moving slowly to assure proper footing. Slowly it began to sway. Turner looked up from his feet to see a dragoon sitting down at the end.
"Oh sh-"
It turned and bit through one of the cables, and the walkway shifted downwards to the right. One of the clones fell over the edge to the ground below. Turner shut his eyes. When he opened them, he saw that the goon had resumed watching them, wearing a feral grin full of teeth. Turner stared at it, not moving.
Without warning, it turned, chewed through the other cable, and leaped to freedom. Time froze for a moment... and then the walkway fell.
----------------
McNabb
They arrived at the train station within the hour. Nathan brought them up to date as they built their base.
"Apparently the aliens nested in one of the trains. Berlinger 102, old model. It's been out of use for years now."
"How long were they there, do you think?"
Nathan shook his head. "Days, maybe weeks."
McNabb shook his head. "They'd go hungry. I'm thinking... less than a day, maybe."
Nathan was shocked. "That recent? And there's that many of them already?
"How many are there?"
Nathan walked over to a door and opened the peephole. "Look for yourself."
McNabb walked over. He couldn't believe his eyes.
---------------
Turner
Turner fell forward, rolling down the walkway. He cursed whoever made this with no railings, wishing he had something to break his fall. At least there was the ground.
He landed face down, breath nearly knocked out of him. He filled his lungs with air... then remembered the clones that were behind him and rolled out of the way.
The clones landed behind him, yells of pain and shouts of surprise filling the air. Turner glanced behind him only to see a mass of arms and legs. As he helped sort them out, he was relieved to find that no one was seriously hurt. They organized themselves and looked up.
13 and his men were on their way, rushing down the stairs as fast as possible. No more aliens were in sight, and for that Turner was thankful. He gathered the men and laid out a plan.
"Alright, I'm going to take half the group and go through that door up there." he said, pointing to the door on the second floor. "I want the rest of you to go back outside and find another entrance into the building. Use your 3D map, if you must. We've got to find another way into the alien base and destroy them. Any questions?"
No one had any.
"Ok, let's move. Stick together and be careful. We can do this."
Turner raced up the stairs, men close behind. He approached the door, which slid open automatically. They searched the ceiling, walls, floor. Nothing.
"Where the hell are they?"
"Down the hall, look!"
On the floor sat one dretch, alone. It didn't move, make a sound, or give any other indication it was alive. One of the clones approached it slowly, nudging it with his foot.
"It's dead, sir."
Turner nodded. "13, what is your location?"
"We're on a staircase leading up to to the second floor of the building. There's a door here, and we can see something through it. Hard to tell what it is, because the glass is cloudy. We're going to shoot through it."
Turner heard gunfire, then a scream. He pushed past his men, only to find one of his clones who had wandered ahead. Blood was gushing from his wounds.
13 stepped through the broken glass and shook his head sadly. "Damn."
"Do you hear that?" another of the clones asked.
Turner listened. It was the tiny pattering of little feet... times 100.
Without warning a swarm of dretches burst through the far door. The clones jumped up and ran, leaving their wounded comrade behind. Nothing could be done for him now. The dretches swarmed over him, tearing at his flesh and chewing on his bones. Another clones was taken down, and yet another tripped on the stairs. Before anyone could save him, he too was taken under.
Turner ran as fast as his legs would carry him, gasping for breath. He felt a stab in his side, and his legs were beginning to hurt. He felt on his belt, praying to God or anyone who would hear him that he had a grenade. Nothing.
He went sprawling, his legs unable to carry him any farther. As he hit the floor, a grenade rolled out of a pouch on his belt. His eyes widened, for he was sure he hadn't had any.
Grabbing it, he pulled the pin, rolled over, and threw it. It exploded, the heat rushing back at Turner and what men were left. The biggest part of the alien group was destroyed, and Turner grabbed his rifle. "Kill the rest!"
The others opened fire, bullets tearing through the remaining dretches. Several of them dodged, jumping onto the walls and ceiling. Turner tried to keep his aim on them, but it was hard. One of them launched itself at his head. He moved, but one claw scratched his cheek as it flew past. One of the clones stepped on it, crushing it. The others escaped.
"Fuck." Turner said.
At least 7 men had been taken down. Turner was saddened to see that 24 was not among those living. He collapsed to the floor, his body to tired to do anything. His heart was wounded, for each clone was, after all, him. How long can a man go on, dying over and over again? Turner cursed the aliens, cursed them for everything they'd done to him and his men. But it wasn't over yet.
Not till every last one was dead.
----------------
McNabb
"Is this a joke, Nathan?" John asked, narrowing his eyes at the other.
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"There's nothing out there. If this was an error on your part, you are going to pay."
Nathan looked out the peephole. McNabb was right. There was nothing there.
"But..."
McNabb snarled and pushed past him, disgusted. Nathan followed him, protesting. "I'm telling you, I saw them. Small, brown, six legs. There were some others too, pink ones and a couple red ones."
McNabb looked at him for a minute. "Alright, assuming you're not lying, where'd they all go?"
Nathan shook his head. "How the hell should I know? Jesus, it's not like I'm going to post a guard out there to keep tabs on them. They killed three innocent people, McNabb. Three!"
"Ok, they did. I'm sorry I blew up at you. I'm just a bit pressured lately. All this fighting, it'll get to me in the end."
"It's ok, John."
McNabb nodded. "Are the men ready?"
"Yes. I'll go get them."
McNabb went to the armory and selected a mass driver, along with the battery pack. He put it on and hooked the power cord up to the driver. Satisfied, he waited for the men. One by one they arrived, lining up in a row.
"Pick a weapon from the armory. We've got a few new toys, including a pulse rifle ans what the science team calls a painsaw. You can thank McGregor for them when we get home. And we are going to get home, am I clear?"
"Yes sir!"
"These aliens, they've gone too far. Not only have they killed out soldiers, but they've killed our citizens. Some mans wife isn't coming home to him. A parent went to school, worried that their child hadn't come home yet. Instead, they find out he's at the morgue. You understand what I'm saying here? These aliens have violated our life, our very existance."
"Yes!"
"We're going to teach them a lesson. You see, when you attack a man, he doesn't stand there and take it. He fights back. Maybe these bastards have conquered weaklings before, because they didn't fight back. Well, we do. And they've attacked us enough already. Today, we make our stand. We've got our chance to wipe them out, and it starts here and now. Are we ready for this, men?"
"YES SIR!"
-----------------
"Room clear?"
"Clear!"
McNabb followed his men out, staying in the rear. The mass driver made an excellent sniper, capable of picking targets off from extreme distances. He dropped into a crouch and snuck along the wall, eyes searching every nook and cranny.
"Wait, John!"
He turned around and saw Nathan. "What is it?"
"Come this way. We've got a secret way to the trains."
McNabb got up and followed them through a large room full of boxes. "Mechanical parts," Nathan explained. "In case the trains break down. We've got part of the floor torn up over here, to allow easy access to said train. As it happens, 102 is down there because of renovation. Crew was gonna salvage any parts from it and send it to the scrapyard."
"So it's where the aliens are holed up?"
"We think so yes."
McNabb nodded and dropped down to the box below. Nathan followed him. The train stretched out before them, like a road into the past. It had been to times and places they would never see. Its steel grey body spoke in dreary tones, suggesting its life had been somewhat dull and was about to get worse. McNabb could concur. He dropped into a prone position on the roof of the storage car and waited for his men.
The door across the room slid up, his men on the other side. They moved forward, motioning to him. He acknowledged that he'd seen them, and dropped his hand back to his gun. He aimed it slowly from side to side, finger on the trigger. He motioned for his men to stop, waiting. He could hear them below, crawling and walking, waiting for the surprise opportunity to attack. Suddenly the doors of the cab slid open, and the alien hoarde was unleashed. The dretches swarmed out first, crawling over everything, including each other, to get to the humans. His men opened fire, the gunshots sounding extremely loud in the big room. McNabb waited a another few seconds, and unleashed him own surprise.
In a matter of seconds he took down 6 dretches, missing once. He waited for the weapon to re-energize, then opened fire again, trying to clear an opening for the man with the saw. One of the other soldiers rushed forward with a flamethrower and opened up, unleashing a wall of flame. A dretch bypassed him, jumping on the tank and biting it. It exploded, causing a shower of body parts to rain down. It was all the sawer needed, and he started running for the open door. He barely making it inside as it slammed shut behind him.
McNabb and the others cleared out the remaining dretches, of which there were only a few. They all waited outside for a few minutes, and then the door opened, revealing a smiling blood and gore splattered marine. "I got them all. One basilisk, and the granger, were hiding behind some crates. They didn't stand a chance."
McNabb smiled. "And the eggs?"
"Two of em. Got them both. We won this battle, sir."
A cheer rose from the small group of soldiers. "Good work, son." McNabb said, now beaming. He removed his portable radio and switched to Turners channel.
"This is Hawk Eye #2, come in #1."
Nothing.
"I repeat, this is McNabb with Hawk Eye #2, come in!"
Then there was nothing, again. McNabb swore and replaced the radio from where he got it. "We're going to Karith Corp Headquarters. Turner isn't responding. Gather what you need and let's move."
Suddenly, static. McNabb grabbed the radio and placed it to his ear.
"Haw-....tack. Overwhelmed. Th-.....seven men. We ca-...much lon-.....elp us."
Silence.
Dead silence.
---------------
The End of Chapter 8
