|
Dark Iteration (chapter 7)
By solidshoe
Dark Iteration
7: Base in the Rain
Five men walked in the rain. Each was glad to be free of the church, which had begun to seem
more like a prison. Now they were out in the open, where heavy rains fell, cocao trees danced, and darkness
loomed. Many of the walkways that had been bathed in blood were now alive, servicing thin streams of
reddish water that cascaded out into sewer drains or into grass. The rains were here, in effort to wash the
death and destruction from the streets of Pocoa. Sadly, however clean the would become, rot would still
reside of the surface. Del Vista Pocoa would truly never be completely cleansed of the horrors; of the
darkness.
The black, star lit sky, had given way to dark clouds that swam over the huge moon. The great
ocean and black mountains beyond were lost in the static imagery of the down-pour. The crickets no-longer
chirped their night songs. The swarms of flies were now seeking shelter. Insect kingdom would choose not
brave the elements, though some other species would. Man, reptile, early-homosapian...they roamed the
confines of the resort, each with it’s own motive, and all determined to survive.
They walked into the rain. Tired, but alert at the same time, the soldiers were lost in a sea of
confusion. It seemed that death had created a room for them; one with four walls and no doors. Escape
seemed impossible, and yet they would try. As brave as they wanted to believe they were, each of the five
men had eagerly come to the conclusion that death was not pretty, and that they wanted no parts of it. So
why were they moving into the darkness, where death surely lurked?
Because it was better to die on your feet, than on your ass.
On your ass, death was guaranteed. On your feet, there was always a chance. So they moved
against the concrete steps and the paved sidewalks. They stepped away from the church, walking into a
world that seemed to defy all reality. It reminded them of Dorothy and the land of OZ, only in this version,
the Cowardly lion would rip you to shreds, and Toto would eat at your insides. The yellow brick road was
replaced with bloodied cracks, and the flying monkey wore silk polymer stealth gear. Escaping this place
would take more than the simple clicking of crystal heels.
Del Vista Pocoa stretched out into the soaked night. The dance hall still burned with a fire that was
defying the rain. The wind only caused the fire to pick up, sending heavy billows of smoke into the darkness.
It wouldn’t be long before the entire building was reduced to ashes. The soldiers would stay away from that
place.
Where they WERE headed, was a place called ‘SeaShell Brothers Plaza’, a small drugstore type
place where they could find food and maybe even supplies. The plaza seemed intact, with the only damage
to be seen in the rain coming in the form of a crack on the single-pane entrance door. The glass hadn’t
shattered, so the door looked like it was ripe with translucent webbing. The lights were off the inside, even
though the rest of the resort had ample power. Somebody, or worse, something, had turned the lights off.
Maybe a group of survivors were inside, praying that the darkness would keep any intruders at bay. Maybe
they didn’t realize that if the Lizards wanted in, they would get in, darkness or not.
Or maybe the Thunder Lizards had already gotten in somehow, destroyed the circuit breakers, and
tore the place to shreds. The darkness could be hiding a number of bodies.
However, that was unlikely. One thing the soldiers had noticed, was that there were NO bodies
lying around the resort. The lizards apparently hauled all their victims away. So even if their had been a
struggle inside the plaza, there would likely be no bodies. Instead, they would find streaks of blood heading
in the direction of the exit the lizards had used. So far, the men didn’t see any streaks around entrance.
That still left the back.
“Tango team, you two check the back. Be careful. Remember, there aren’t just lizards out here.”
Dillinger said, his breath emitting vapor in the rain.
“We’ll stay on our toes. We’re not back up here in five, pull out of here, and fast.” Tango Leader
said as he partner turned to look at the entrance to the alley that would lead to the back of the building.
“Echo, you and Bravo private take opposite corners up on the curb. You see anything, hear
anything, you move your ass.” Dillinger said to the remaining two men.
“Captain, in this rain, visibility is going to be limited. Something happens to us, you might not hear
it, and you sure won’t see.” Echo private said.
“I think we need to stay together. This isn’t a normal exercise anymore. We shouldn’t be splitting
up-” Bravo private said to his partner.
“Guys, trust me, OK. You’re both right. But even in this weather, we need eyes everywhere. You
understand? If we’re huddled up, it makes us that much easier to pick off. Spread out, at least one of us has
a chance of seeing or hearing something another one of us might miss. Go with me on this one.” Dillinger
said.
Both men nodded to Dillinger, then turned and headed out into the rain. Dillinger turned to patrol
the front of the Plaza. He down at the ground, viewing the patches of grass and concrete. There was no
blood. Everywhere else, there was blood. What was different here? He didn’t like it, and he feared what
would be found inside. While thinking, he squinted into the night, testing his visual accuracy, trying to see
out far into the wet night. His heart stopped momentarily when his brain assumed he would see something,
perhaps red eyes in the night. When he looked, he sighed. There was nothing there.
Tango team moved through the thin alley. Richard Irons and Gary Black, both wet and very
scared, moved swiftly, anxious to get to the back of the building. Neither man liked the rain; both had been
on night missions that had gotten wet. In the rain, anything was possible due to the extraordinary cover the
rain provided. It was a snipers wet dream, and an assassins too.
They moved steadily, M4’s drawn with itchy trigger fingers, and eyes scanning both sides of the
clean resort alley. Unlike the grand alleys in the city, there was no trash. Giant rats didn’t hide among
soiled blankets and old newspapers. Vagabonds didn’t lurk in cardboard tents and dirty shopping carts. The
Plaza’s ally was clean as a whistle. No blood, no trash, nothing. However, what would the back of the
building be like? As the men moved silently, they wondered what they would find.
After a minute and a half, they arrived. The back of the plaza was in as pristine a condition as the
side ally had been. A tall concrete wall separated the plaza from the next street, and on top of the wall, a
night light was humming a quiet blue. There was still power on the grid of the plaza. That meant the
problem with the plaza’s lights being out was entirely due to something having happened on the inside.
Tango team moved up the concrete to check the back entrance. They scanned the emergency exit for a
couple of seconds. It was in good shape. It even looked locked.
There were no windows in the back. The men walked around to the other side of the building. A
small walkway led to a side door with a set of windows to the left and right. The rest rooms...One of the
windows was wide open. Somebody might be inside, somebody dangerous. Tango team walked quietly,
trying very hard not to cause a splash in the puddles of water. When they were back at the opposite side,
they made their way back up the front of the building.
Dillinger turned to the approaching men. They came out of the alley and powerwalked up to the
captain. They certainly seemed to have some news.
“Bathrooms are on the other side of the building. The back and side doors look fine, but the
windows wide open. I think it’s safe to assume that the lizards passed this place, and whoever was in side is
either still in there, or long gone.” Gary, Tango private said.
“It could be the caveman. He has to know that we need supplies. He could be in there.” Richard,
Tango leader said.
“We have to chance it. Doesn’t look like the lizards gave a second thought to this building. Maybe
it was closed today. Maybe they just didn’t feel like breaking in the glass. Whatever, we’re lucky. We need
supplies. If that....that thing is in there, then so be it. We have weapons.” Dillinger said.
“Where are Bravo and Echo back-up?” Richard asked.
“OK, from here on out, we use civilian names. This isn’t exactly a military op any more. Names
Dillinger.”
“Richard Irons.” Dillinger nodded, then turned to the other man.
“Gary, Gary Black.”
“OK, we have that out the way. Richard..can I call you Rich? Rich, the other two are on the
corners. There and there. Fill them in, bring them down. Gary, show me this window.”
Richard Irons moved into the rain. Gary and Dillinger turned to head to the side of the building.
Five men stared at the window on the side of the Convenience plaza. Dillinger, Richard Black,
Gary Irons, Douglas Yates, and Adam Hill, all survivors, none trusting the wide open window. It seemed to
easy; too much like a trap. And yet it seemed to simple to be a trap. True, sometimes the simplest ways
were the best, but it was also true that good soldiers would know a trap when they smelled one. The
bathroom window didn’t seem like a trap. It was, however, very out of place.
“Look, I’ll go first. I’m tired of this fucking rain. If someone has anything in store for us in here,
then....then so be it.” Yates said, separating himself from the men. Slowly, he walked up to the bathroom
window. Placing his wet hands on the base, he pulled himself up, and soon, he was sliding into the dark
window. The other men watched in anticipation as marine issue boots disappeared into the black murkiness.
A moment later, a ball of light appeared, and began dancing over the inside of the window. Then
Yates was back, and sticking his head out the frame.
“Bathroom’s clear. I tried the light switch, and nothing. Power’s out in this one. But the
bathroom is OK.” Yates said, sliding back into the darkness, his flashlight making shadow puppets on the
restroom wall. Then the other four men stepped up to enter the building. A minute later they were all
inside.
“What do we do about that window? Leave it?” Hill asked, standing against the left wall of the
ladies restroom.
“Lock it. Somebody else wants in here, they’re going to have to make some noise.” Dillinger said.
“Shit, I’m anxious to check out the rest of this place.” Gary said.
“Yeah, I hate small places. Lets see what else this place has to offer.” Dillinger said, moving
toward the door. Then he opened it.
Five flashlights danced over the small aisles of the drugstore. The place was in perfect shape. Not
so much as a bag of chips was off the racks. It seemed to good to be true, but the soldiers had found a place
that hadn’t been compromised, and they would use it to their advantage. Still, there would be no sitting
around eating ice-cream or reading magazines. They needed a way out, and more importantly, they needed
weapons.
Up and down the black aisles, each man moved. The small halo’s of light danced over salsa cans,
Black-Tail X-rated magazines, six foot tall cardboard race-car drivers holding sweepstakes coupons. The
soldiers mouths glistened at the sight of six packs and whisky, drinks they’re adrenaline pumped bodies
would do better without, but at the same time, drinks that their palettes craved. Instead, they grabbed
bottles of seltzer water, Powerade, even milk. Anything that would give them a little pep in their step.
In the health and fitness section, their hands passed over powerbars, protein shakes, iron pills, etc.
Max-fitness White Chocolate and Almonds; food that did more for the body than the typical Baby-Ruth bar.
The closer the items to the Marine regulated fitness rations, the better. The small microwavable containers
filled with Chief-Boyar D, Campbell’s Soup, Mighty Man Chili, they were would do the body good. The
only thing missing was fresh fruit. How they would love a fresh banana or even some pineapple. Still, in
their situation, the small cans of fruit salad were better than nothing.
Their little home away from home, at least for the time being, was turning out to be a god-send.
Still, it wouldn’t last. Sooner or later they had to go out.
“Hardware. That’s our reason for being here.” Dillinger said, moving away from a bin of instant
cameras.
“Over here, chief. “
Dillinger moved into the hardware\home repairs\plumbing aisle of the store. “I need a bag...a gym
bag if you can find it. Two or three to be more precise. There’s some good stuff over here.”
Gary and Yates appeared in the aisle, bringing with them small duffel bags that bore the ‘Seashell’
insignia. Dillinger grabbed up the bags, then proceeded to fill them with bottles of Liquid-Plumber. He then
took another bag and began filling it with DD batteries and spools of outdoor twine. Finally, Dillinger
turned to the other men and began talking.
“We need lighter fluid, and fire. Lighters and matches are fine, but see if you can’t find some of
those ‘As advertised on television’ instant grill torches or something else along those lines. We’re going to
make some home made grenades, so I grab plenty of condoms, balloons, whatever you can find.” Dillinger
said.
“What about flaming cock-tails? This place has plenty liquor.” Hill said.
“That’ll do nicely. “
“Sir, I think I know how me can make some motion sensitive explosives.” Richard said.
“I’m all ears.”
Richard and Dillinger walked toward the back of the store. Richard wanted to show Dillinger
something. They gathered near the employee’s only lounge of the plaza. Richard went inside. Dillinger
followed. Once inside, Richard pointed to a bramble of packing hay. Inside the bramble, there were three
boxes of motion-sensitive lamps. Dillinger was interested to see where this was going. Richard walked over
the lamps and pulled on one of the boxes.
“OK, these lamps are battery operated, which means we can use them as make-shift mine sensors.”
“How?”
“It shouldn’t be too hard. We need wire and a highly flammable substance. We strip the lamps
down to the sensors and battery inputs, we run two wires from the negative and positive nodes of the
batteries, and we submerge the other ends of those wires in the substance. The lamp’s operate in low
frequency at all times, meaning they’re never really off. It’s just that when their sensors are activated, the
lamp requests an extra surge from the external batteries. When that surge is requested, the wire is surged as
well, and in effect, the liquid becomes surged, then----”
“Boom. Sounds good. The lamps have an on off switch? They don’t even need the batteries to
work?”
“Right, the lamps have an internal battery that powers the sensor only, but it needs an external
battery to actually charge the light. These lamps even have a timer, meaning we can set them way ahead of
time and not have to worry about setting the sensor off ourselves.”
“But? There’s always a but, so lets have it.”
“But, this is all useless without a highly combustible fluid or substance. Alcohol would merely
catch on fire. Lighter fluid, it would work better, but again, it wouldn’t explode. I take it your home-made
grenades might do the trick-”
“No, their little more than flaming cocktails with a little bounce. No, but I do have an idea. The
pan mines. Each of us is carrying what.....six mines? That would work, using our own mines to make a
bigger bomb.”
“You’d have to take the mines apart to get at the good stuff. That’s the work for a professional
bomb expert, not a few field grunts who’ve seen too many episodes of McGuiver and read a field manual or
two.”
“There’s always the poor man’s way in life. Why take the mines apart when we can just use them
whole? Think about it. We submerge the mines in the flammable liquid, the surge hits the liquid, the liquid
ignites, the fire sets off the mine, boom. It’ll take more effort to make, and it’ll certainly be bigger than what
you had in mind, but it’ll work. The pan mines aren’t gonna do us any good out here. The lizards and even
that Neanderthal have probably been trained in mine avoidance. So we just use the mines in another way.”
“That would work...the mines are submersible. Shit, that’ll work. We just need enough liquid and
some containers big enough to hold the liquid and the mine. Then there’s the wire. Never knew a grocery
store to carry wire.”
“How many lamps?”
“Each box holds two. Six lamps.”
“Good, we make the bombs to hold two mines. Double the punch. Nothing, man or not, walks
away from that. We lure Mr. Ape Man into that, and it makes our whole night a lot easier. We can’t even
think about looking for a transport out of here until we get that monkey off our backs.”
“Well, we have to figure that sooner or later, he’ll have to come for us. It’s up to us to decide
where we make that stand. We find the place, rig it, and lay low. It could actually be as easy as that.”
“I doubt it’ll go that easy.” Gary said from the doorway. He’d caught the last part of their
conversation.
“Well--” Dillinger began.
“Cap, you saw that thing. It’s stronger than us, it’s faster than us, and it’s more agile. The damn
thing flipped through the air and flew BACKWARD after touching the floor. With reflexes like that, who’s
to say a bomb could even touch it? I’m all for getting that thing, but cap, it isn’t gonna be easy.” Gary said.
“That’s why we make it so he HAS to come for us in one, and only one way. You’re right, that’s
going to be damned hard. But it has to be done.” Dillinger said.
“OK, but say he somehow knows about the motion-bombs? Then what?”
“Then we kill him the old fashion way.” Dillinger said.
“With hot lead.” Richard spoke, turning away from the men to prepare the bombs.
The bomb making process was actually very simple, though one mistake, and the whole store might
go up. Richard Irons had worked it all out in his head, and now it was coming together nicely. First he had
to remove the lamp casing; basically, he tore the lamps down to just the sensor panel and the DD battery
input notch. Then, using telephone wire, he fused one end of the wire to the negative and positive coils of
the battery notch. The other end of the wire was submerged in a large Tupperware plastic bowl, which was
filled with two pan mines and a two bottles of Pennzoil. The bomb was set. Now, he would just have to set
the sensor timer to five minutes, then insert the batteries. Whoever came waltzing through the area when at
the end of that time limit, would get blown away. The bombs were actually quite compact, though they
would never fit in any bag. The hard part was going to be getting them from one place to the next, without
the Neanderthal watching. If it suspected they had such a weapon, it would surely alter any plan it had
formulated.
Then came the problem of placing the bombs in such a way that the intruder would never see them
before walking all over them. That would be hard to do, unless there were objects strewn about. Well, one
step at a time. The night was just beginning. It wasn’t even midnight yet. The darkest hours had yet to
come upon them.
For now, there was time to think.
Later, there would be running and shooting. Worse...
Death.
to be continued.....
1/7/02 2:32:01 AM
Comment on this fan fiction!
|
|
|
