Evolve, p.28
Evolve, page 28
part #2 of Logan Reed Series
“Roger that,” Night-1 replied, “will rendezvous with you ASAP, hang tight.”
Hang tight…right…
Apollo knew what he had to do but he had no idea how he was going to do it. His teammates were trapped down there and were about to have company.
If they don’t already.
He’d almost been found when the twelve-man tactical team ran past him. Falling as soon as he squirmed back into the hidden entrance, he screamed in pain as he landed hard on the floor of the tunnel. He knew it’d be a miracle if he hadn’t broken his rib even worse.
Now, he ran, following the path from before. If his calculations were correct, he’d come up on the Nsanga cave…
“Now,” he said aloud as he halted his mad dash. At least two dozen Ru’kan hunters were standing outside his destination. But unlike the ones from before, these tribesmen looked different, they looked in control. They looked…peaceful.
Not wanting to provoke them, he lifted his hands, only getting his left hand halfway up. He winced as the pain stung him again. “Hi,” he said, trying to remember some of the words Fitz taught him. “Friend,” he said in Swahili. Four of the Ru’kan men stepped towards him. Apollo held out his arms in defense. “No… Friend… Fayng…”
They stopped and looked at one another.
“Fayng?” one of them asked.
Apollo just nodded.
Damnit, he thought, thinking of the right word.
“Hurt…”
The eldest of the men looked doubtful of his claim.
It’s because she’s basically immortal.
“Hurt!” Apollo yelled, wanting to move. “Fayng hurt!”
The desperation in his voice must have struck the right chord because they looked at each other and nodded, motioning for him to join them. Nervously, Apollo accepted their invitation. They let him through and he marveled at the men’s muscular build, but also at their ages. They were all older like Fayng was. He really knew very little about the woman except that she and her son had apparently befriended Fitz.
Leading a group of savage senior citizens was something of a new experience to Apollo. While not a kid, the thirty-two-year-old Brett Nickson had what Fitz joked as a “baby face.” Every so often when on leave, he’d get carded while trying to buy beer if not in his hometown where everyone knew everyone else.
How things have changed…
The elder of the group put his hand on his own chest and said, “Oopla.”
Oopla?
Apollo did the same, saying his real name. “Brett.”
“Brett,” Oopla said, looking uncomfortable with the simple name.
Apollo waved them to follow and they did. He ran as fast as his beaten body would let him. As long as he didn’t have to do any sudden or bone jarring movements, he knew he’d make it without incident.
But would they make it in time?
39
“You’re a part of the Wohn Tod?” Zeus asked, fists balled.
Ares, looking very smug just smiled. “No…Phoenix. The Wohn Tod are long dead.”
“What’s the difference?” Fitz asked. “You guys don’t wear swastikas anymore?”
Ares just laughed. “You and your jokes, Gray.” He turned to Logan. “How you haven’t killed him by now is beyond me. He’s insufferable.”
“At least he’s genuine!” CJ shouted.
“Thanks?” Fitz replied. He wasn’t sure if he liked the backhanded compliment.
“You know what I mean, Gray,” CJ said. “You are real, unlike Pete here.”
Logan hadn’t spoken in a few minutes, watching as six of the twelve members of Ares’ unit rappelled down the cliff face. As he surveyed the newcomers, trying to exploit any weakness in their methods, Logan remembered something Ares had said after first meeting him.
“Back at the Bullpen,” Logan said, “during the night of the attack… You said your grandfather was German and that’s where you learned the language.”
“So,” Ares said.
“He was a Nazi, wasn’t he?”
Ares stood at attention, dramatically clicking his heels together. “Yes, but for only a short time.”
“What the hell does that mean?” Zeus asked, hands raised.
“My grandfather was a genius and was quickly recruited into the hierarchy of the SS. Once inside, he met others who sought a greater goal.”
“He was recruited into the Wohn Tod by Mengele,” Logan said, finishing Ares’ explanation, “wasn’t he?”
“Yes, he was. The Wohn Tod were light-years ahead of the SS in their research and my grandfather was at the forefront of it, taking over when the doktor died. I’m a legacy of sorts—as is my father.”
“Howard?” Zeus asked. “I’ve known your dad for years! He’s a fucking Nazi?”
“Once again, Dave, no, you’re wrong,” Ares replied. “We aren’t Nazis…not anymore at least. Hitler had one goal in mind when he started his war. We have a higher calling.”
“What’s above world domination?” Fitz asked, likewise ready to tear Ares apart. He knew that Zeus and he could kill the man on his feet, but then he glanced back down to his own chest and found the red dot that was still pinning him in place.
“You want more than the world,” Logan mumbled, thinking out loud. “You want to be them—gods. You need the pure Nephilim blood to do it too.”
Thankfully, Logan knew it would be impossible to get unless they went for a dip in the frigid waters now smothering the nesting grounds, and with the aquatic Nsanga still around there somewhere, he knew it was a long shot any of the Phoenix team would make it back alive.
Ares turned to Fayng.
Bugger.
“Pete,” Logan said, seeing the man’s eyes burning holes in her, “don’t do this. I’m pretty sure you’d lose a handful of your men in the process. You’ve seen what she can do firsthand.”
“You have my intentions wrong, Captain,” Ares said, still staring at Fayng. “Why don’t you tell them for me?”
Logan glanced at the Ru’kan elder. “What does he mean?”
She faced Logan and then Kiani. “I had my suspicions when I first met you. Something seemed off in your team.”
“Off?” Fitz asked, standing next to Logan and CJ.
She nodded. “I wasn’t sure. There are many scent trails in the jungle, but as you’d guess, there aren’t down here—only Ka and Nsanga. Each of the species has its own unique smell. As I’ve spent more time with you, I’ve become more and more sure that one of you is special.” She stepped forward and held out her hand…to Kiani. “You are not what you say.”
“What?” Kiani said, glancing back and forth between Fayng and Logan. “I don’t understand.”
“I know,” Fayng replied, “and I wouldn’t expect you to.”
“She’s one of them, Logan,” Ares said. “She’s a Ru’kan.”
Logan’s face fell, shocked. “I…”
“Logan,” Kiani said, crying, “I didn’t—”
“I don’t care,” Logan finished. “It doesn’t matter.”
Tears streamed down Kiani’s face now. She could barely keep it together as the knowledge of her past set in. She was one of the savage creatures. She looked up at Fayng and realized that not all of them were monsters, just the ones who wanted to be.
“My mother—”
“Was not your real mother!” Ares shouted. “She lied to protect you from the truth. You always wanted to know why you couldn’t remember anything before your ninth birthday, well, this is it.”
Kiani faced him. “How do you know that?”
Ares smiled. “We have agents everywhere, Kiani. No one’s secrets are safe from us. Years ago, one of them came upon a journal kept by the renown explorer, Karl Mauch. He noted an encounter with a small child—a girl—shortly after discovering the Great Zimbabwe. We believe that little girl…was you.”
“Mauch?” Logan asked, remembering the story Jan had told him, “but that was back in the 1870’s—over 140 years ago—” Logan’s voice caught. “No… It can’t be.”
Logan heard footfalls as the six men finished their descents and headed their way. Soon, they’d be within range of an easy kill shot. He wanted to act and knew he could put Ares inbetween him and the shooters. But the others would be at risk, including the two kids hiding behind the medic and nurse.
“No offense, Fayng,” Fitz said, looking between her and Ares, “but why Kiani over her?”
Ares answered. “We believe Kiani’s DNA is ripe with the purest strain of what we need. While Fayng’s would no doubt be harvestable, Kiani’s is unused and therefore less diluted.” Logan was about to ask what he meant but got cut off. “But unfortunately, I don’t have the time to go deeper into the science of it. We must be going.” He held out a hand to Kiani. “Ms. N’ta, unless you want your beloved and his friends to die down here…”
Kiani met Logan’s eyes and stepped over to Ares. Logan just nodded at her. He’d find her if it was the last thing he ever did. They’d be reunited after the dust settled, and when it did, Ares, along with the mysterious Phoenix group, would be dead and once again a pile of ash.
* * *
Running had become something of an issue for Apollo, making it hard for him to breathe. Every single step caused his cracked rib to bite back. Whenever he found a rhythm, he’d hit a crag in the stone floor or another part of his body would give out and throw off his balance.
No longer leading the pack, Apollo watched as they neared the halfway point around the jungle. It was just past the spot where they jumped. Even though it had only been a day since they’d done it, Apollo could have sworn more time had passed. So much happened since then.
Oopla’s second in command, a man whose name Apollo couldn’t even begin to pronounce without butchering it, stopped and pointed to a secondary tunnel to his right. The two men began babbling to one another, getting Apollo’s attention.
“What is it?” Apollo asked, shrugging hard. He overemphasized the motion, needing the two men to understand his question. Body language was one thing that was universal in every culture.
They did the same for him. Oopla pointed at himself and then Apollo and then the tunnel. He then made a half-moon motion with his hand, saying that they wanted to take the tunnel and pop out somewhere else.
Apollo didn’t like the idea of leaving the main path and taking a seemingly longer detour, but Oopla sniffed the air and pointed again. Apollo couldn’t smell a damn thing but then the old man said, “Fayng… Hurt…” He held up his hand like he had a gun and sniffed the air.
They tracked the unknown team!
“Go,” Apollo said, nodding his head.
Oopla was happy that Apollo got the message and ushered him through, along with half the others. The portion of elders that didn’t join them, instead, leapt to the trees and began climbing down to the moss covered jungle floor.
As Apollo was enveloped by darkness, he smiled. They were about to set up an old school ambush. He drew his sidearm and held it at his side. His other hand found Oopla’s shoulder and the group’s leader shepherded him and eleven other elders forward. If they could time it right, they may just be able to take down the attacking force before he lost anyone else in his team.
Who were they, though?
The only people that knew their exact location were their handlers in the military and whatever contacts those handlers used in the CIA. Was there a leak somewhere in the government’s pecking order—maybe the military’s? If there was, it would put their team here at a serious disadvantage and those still back at HQ in Tanzania would be sitting ducks if someone wanted to pop in for an explosive visit.
At least the compounds are highly defended, he thought, remembering the surface to air missiles he’d seen when he was given a tour of the complex by Zeus and Ares.
He knew them from years before while they all were going through the last stages of their training before they were able to join Delta. They both seemed like good guys.
Oopla picked up his pace, pointing to his ear. It was in Apollo’s limited vision and he knew what it meant. They could hear them. Whatever noise they were making must have been bouncing off the tunnel walls, traveling to them.
Apollo picked up his pace and easily matched their speed. It was more of a fast walk and it limited the movement he felt underneath his tactical vest. Damnit, he thought, stripping it off as they moved. As soon as it slid from his body, he felt some relief around the break. He sighed and then took a deep breath, grinning like an idiot in the darkness. It still hurt, just not as bad. But, it also left him open for an easy kill.
Oh, well, he thought. He’d just have to kill them first.
40
Logan watched as Ares led Kiani away, back towards the cliff face. As she moved, someone from above lowered a harness. It was similar to the one he and Fitz used in their younger years. They loved to go spelunking, camping in whatever secluded cave they could find. It was a nice way to beat the heat.
“What now, boss man?” Fitz whispered. “We can’t let that prick take her.”
“I know,” Logan said, biting his lip so hard he tasted blood. “But what?”
Logan looked at Fitz. “Any ideas?”
He tugged on his beard. “Shit if I know. You’re the leader aren’t you?”
“Got anymore flash grenade things?” CJ asked.
“Wouldn’t do much,” Zeus replied, “the effects wouldn’t last long enough for us to clear the area.”
“He’s right,” Logan said, looking around. “We’re kinda out in the open here.”
CJ’s shoulders dropped, defeated. “I’m out of ideas then.”
“Move!” one of the masked men shouted, jamming the barrel of his rifle into Logan’s back.
They were forced to the river’s edge where Logan knew they’d be executed and dumped. Then, the rushing water would sweep away their bodies, leaving no evidence of the crime.
Not that anyone would know where to look.
Fayng stepped up to Logan’s side. “Logan…”
He looked down at the shorter woman. Her eyes met his and he instantly understood that she knew something. She sniffed the air. Her eyes never leaving his. Then gently, she took his hand, where he felt her claws elongate just a bit. She sniffed the air again and looked towards the tree line.
“Family,” she said in Swahili.
Logan smiled and nodded. They were about to have company.
A commotion erupted closer to the trees, of which Logan was the furthest away. He leaned forward, around everyone else, and saw what was the matter. The medic and nurse were turned the other way, shielding the two kids.
Shit, Logan thought, bastards are going to kill them too.
“Natui ma’phee salu ta,” Fayng said in her native tongue, getting the girls attention. They both nodded and glanced between Logan and Fayng. “Get ready,” she whispered, only loud enough for him to hear. When things went south they’d act and protect the girls. It needed to happen soon too. CJ was starting to get involved now, berating the soldiers for aiming their weapons at children. They needed to end the threat before Ares’ men were given the kill order.
Giving Kiani one more glance, Logan and everyone else flinched as two quick gunshots rang out from above. Almost immediately after, two of the shooters from above fell from the cliff, dead. Diving out of the way, Kiani landed just feet from one of the men’s bodies as it hit with a crack of bone on stone. Then, gunshots erupted everywhere, sending everyone into motion. First, a wave of Ru’kan led by—
“Is that Brett?” Zeus asked, watching his man step out and put three rounds into the nearest soldier. A dozen tribesmen swarmed around Apollo, mercilessly slashing and biting the other gunmen. Two of the elders went down in a hail of gunfire, but as soon as they died the assassins were slaughtered, their attackers flickering green, hooting and hollering the entire time.
“Logan!” Kiani shouted, running towards the trees. He watched Ares pull his gun but think better and holster it. He needed her alive apparently and instead took off after her.
As soon as Logan made his move the tree line exploded with another sneak attack. Fayng shouted something at the children who instantly reacted and stepped into the fast-moving current. They were swept away by the water, but also taken away from the men trying to shoot them. Both Logan and Fayng reached in and snatched them up, Logan giving his catch to Fayng as ran after Kiani and Ares.
A soldier leveled his gun at Logan but died on his feet as one of the Ru’kan drove his claw-tipped hand through his back, punching a hole through his chest. The soldier's rifle fell free and Logan caught it in stride never stopping. Zeus unsheathed a knife and threw it, killing another of the Phoenix strike team members nearest to Logan.
The medic and nurse were next, acting in unison, as one of them slapped the gun away from the soldier closest to them. The other woman went low and kicked out his feet. As soon as his back hit the ground, they were on him with a flurry of punches. The sight of the kids being held at gunpoint must have been too much for them and they killed the gunman with just their fists.
Logan ran after Ares as he disappeared down the path cleared by the large Nsanga female. He lifted the rifle and prepared to fire from the hip but stopped. He needed to be careful with his rounds. Kiani was ahead of them both. He could just as easily hit her as he could Ares. So, he pushed himself harder, wanting to get closer before attempting something so rash.
“Waterfall!” Apollo shouted from above. “Get to the waterfall!”
Must be how he got out, Logan thought, leaping over a fallen tree. I thought he was dead?
Bullets slapped a tree next to Logan, sending him sprawling behind another. Had Ares stopped and fired or was he just blindly firing while he pursued Kiani? Logan could dodge the shots if Ares was running but if he was sitting and waiting for Logan, he’d have a wide-open target to put a bullet in.
“Pete!” he shouted.
No answer.
“Janus!”
“Sorry, Logan,” he yelled back, “but I can’t talk!”
