Full Moon Rising - 02 (10 page)

*****

“Opcom, this is Team Leader, we are on approach to target.  One-five minutes to target zone.”  Spalding said into his lip mic.

“Copy that Team Leader.  We have satellite intel available.  Forwarding to your mobile command center now.”  The voice in their earpieces stated.

Captain Jackson Jones came over their communications.  “Received and downloading to portable PDA’s.  Prepare to r
eceive.”

Each squad member pulled up their BDU sleeve and pulled back the Velcro cover from their wrist mounted PDA’s.  Pushing the button on the side, the satellite data was downloaded and saved.  One by one they each acknowledged receipt.

Jackson came over the coms again.  “Initial intel reported a storm of fourteen baby vamps in the area.  From the IR data feed, it appears they are still in a single group and isolated in this one area, highlighted here.”  One area on their PDA’s lit up on the outskirts of a lightly populated area.  “If they are on a feeding frenzy as initial reports indicated, they’ll be pretty sloppy.  We are going to be dropping in altitude to a drop zone one click upwind of the tangos.”  Static filled the earpiece as he clicked off.

“Rack ‘em and stack ‘em boys and girls!” Spanky yelled.  “It’s party time!”  The Monster Squad all double checked their weapons and each other’s chutes.   They stepped to the line as the jumpmaster indicated the zip line above their heads.  They all clicked their static lines to it and waited for the rear cargo door to open.  Once the craft leveled out and the air inside the cargo area equalized, the rear door began to open.  The yellow light on either side of the door blinked and a red rotating light was flashing in their goggles.  The red light switched off and the yellow light dimmed out, a bright green light flashed and the jumpmaster yelled at them, slapping each on the shoulder, “Go! Go! Go!”

Each member jumped out as far as they could, feeling their chutes open behind them, checking their squad mates chutes in front to ensure a good clean opening.  As Spanky exited the C-130 he gave a yell, “Geronimo!  God, I
love
this job!”

Checking their PDA’s and compass to help guide them down, the team landed as close to their target zone as possible.  When Spanky hit the ground, he called Jackson on the coms, “Mobile command, this is Team Leader, last man down.”

“Roger that, Team Leader.  Deploying drone.” Came the reply.  “Maintaining high altitude surveillance until strike called.”

“Roger and out.” Spanky responded.  “Okay boys and girls, let’s pack 'em and rack ‘em.  These bastards are only a click away and raising hell.  Get your chutes stuffed and stowed and let’s double time it!”

8

Laura observed what she could from the Operation Co
mmand Center back at Tinker.  She listened in on the communications broadcast and everything sounded good from her end.  The team had yet to engage, but she knew it was only a matter of time.  She peered at the clock.  It was nearly sundown.  She needed to find Matt, Nadia and Natashia and get them into the cells below before the sun went down completely or things could get messy.

She had just stepped out of the Command Center when she saw Matt leading the two women to the elevator.  She had an idea that they were headed to the cells where Evan used to be held.  “Matt?”

“We’re headed down now, Laura.”  He turned and walked the short distance to speak privately.  “You know how sorry I am I can’t be here to help.”

“You can’t help it.” She said a knowing look in her eyes.

“There’s a reason I made you XO, ya know.  If anybody can handle a shit storm, it’s you.” He smiled.

“Yeah, yeah, flattery will get you everywhere.” She smiled back.  “You better hustle, Colonel.  You’re burning daylight.”

“Roger that.  Good luck.” His face serious.

“You, too, sir.”

Matt punched the button for the elevator and ushered the ladies in.  Jack came running up just before the doors closed.  “Sorry.  Had to get my squad ready for the next wave.” He said.

“I know.” Nadia said, her eyes appearing nervous.  She knew that the sun was quickly setting.

“Remember what we were going to try?  Before I left?” he asked.

“Yes.  Of course.”

“Will you try it tonight?  Please?”  Jack asked, his voice almost pleading.

“Of course I will, Jack.  For you.”  She kissed him quickly.  “We must go.”

“I love you.” He said quickly as the doors shut.

“I love you, too!” and the doors sealed in front of him.

“They’ll be fine, Chief.” Laura said from the door of the Command Center.

“I know.  But I’ll still worry.” He said, a lopsided grin crossing his face.

“Gotta keep a clear head when you’re in the field, Chief.  You can’t be worrying about what may or may not be going on back here.” She stated, trying to say what she thought Colonel Mitchell might.

“Roger that, ma’am.” He smirked.

Laura gave him a little wink and went back to the Command Center. 

*****

“What was that about?” Matt asked Nadia on the ride down.

“Jack had a lot of questions back home.  He found out that natural born wolves can shift at will, and that when we shift on our own, we have control of our Halfling form.” She answered.

“Except when the moon pulls us.” Natashia added.  “During the full moon, all wolves are given over to their wolf instincts.

“Jack asked if we had ever tried to shift
first
before the moon pulls us, and then try to retain control over the Halfling form.” Nadia finished.

Matt held the elevator door open for them and indicated for them to turn right.  “Well?  Has anybody ever tried it before?”

“Not to our knowledge.” Natashia answered.  “If they have, they have not shared the answer.”

“But tonight, I promised Jack that I would try.” Nadia a
nswered.

“As will I.” Natashia said.

“Wish I had that option.” Matt said as he escorted them to the silver barred cells.  “Ladies, this will be our home for the evening.”  Matt entered a keyed sequence into the keypad on the wall and three cells opened.  “I’m setting them to open again at dawn.” 

Matt began to undress and paused.  He flushed somewhat.  “I um, didn’t take into consideration…” he turned to the women who had both already stripped of their clothing and stepped into their cells.  He quickly turned back around, his face a bright red.  “Um, okay.”

Nadia shifted as soon as she entered her cell and as expected, had assumed the form of a true wolf again.  Natashia assumed her Halfling form and stepped into her cell as well.  Matt heard heavy breathing and turned again and nearly shit himself.  “Okay, that was quick.”  He muttered.  “Here, let me get the doors for you.”  He walked over and shut both cell doors with a clang, then stepped back to his cell.  He stripped down to his boxers then shut his cell.  He glanced around and realized that neither wolf was paying him any attention. 
Aw, fuck it!
  He pulled his boxers off and flipped them outside the bars.  He walked to the middle of the cell and waited for the shift to take place. 

This was the part he hated the most, the anticipation of the shift.  Usually, his heart would race and his head would be pounding, but this time, he was calm.  He realized that for the first time in years, he wasn’t nervous, or excited or ready to rip somebody’s head off.  He couldn’t feel his heart pounding in his chest and he wasn’t slobbering like a wild beast.

He turned to the cell bars and although Nadia in her wolf form was in the cell nearest him, he called out across to the other cell.  “Tasha!  Can you understand me?”

The Halfling turned and looked at him.  It snarled something and stepped closer to the bars, he couldn’t really say that he could
read
her face, but he could tell that she was paying attention to him.  “I’ll take that as a yes, since I can’t really understand wolf.”  He cleared his throat and averted his eyes for a moment.  “I’m not very good at showing gratitude, but…I just wanted to say ‘thank you’.  I mean it.  This is the first time in…years?  Perhaps since I was first attacked?  I really don’t recall, but it’s the first time since maybe forever that I feel even close to…
normal
and it’s just before a shift.”  He could almost swear the Halfling smiled.  “Anyway, I don’t know what you did, or how you did it, but, thank you.”

The Halfling nodded at him, so he knew that she unde
rstood.  He stepped away from the bars and as he did, he noticed Nadia, and his mind raced back to the young girl he saw cornered, the fear in her eyes, how her eyes began to glow, then she shifted, he pulled his weapon and shot her, and he felt a pang in his heart.  He knew then what his wolf knew.  She was special to him, regardless of the pain he had tied to her, she
meant
something to him.  He had to save her from the ice…and then the world went from color to black and white and the wolf took him.

*****

Nadia held her wolf form as she listened to the Colonel speak with her mother.  She could tell that his words were heartfelt.  He finally found a peace that he hadn’t had in years, perhaps in his entire life as a wolf.  She turned and looked at her mother and saw her smile.  She knew that her mother couldn’t ‘speak’ to the colonel in a way that he could understand, but she could read her.  She had been Halfling with her and hunted in the woods enough with her to know every move of her body, every line of her beautiful face and every word that she spoke as a Halfling. 

She waited for the change to hit the colonel.  She knew that once he shifted, if she kept her mind about her, then she would be in control during the shift.  If she could maintain that control throughout the night, then Jack’s theory would be correct and wolves throughout the world could live their lives without fear of the full moon and what they might do under its influence.  No more locking themselves behind silver barred rooms, no more chaining themselves in dungeons.  No more being a prisoner that one night of the month when all wolves want to run free.

She watched him and she saw the look on his face…as though he saw something in her that he recognized.  He remembered something, but she couldn’t know what he was thinking.  He was about to say something when the change hit him.  What?  What was he about to say?  She’d never know now, for he was a Halfling with no control over his human mind.

The Colonel stood there a moment, contemplating its su
rroundings.  The Halfling looked at Nadia and smiled at her.  He gently slipped his arm through the silver bars and touched her wolf face.  She rubbed her face against his large Halfling hand and the Halfling scratched her behind the ears.  Carefully, the Halfling withdrew his arm and sat on the floor.  After so many years of waking to find himself in these cells, he knew exactly what the silver bars meant.  Perhaps he was simply happy to have company this night.

Nadia looked toward her mother.  Nadia certainly felt in control of herself.  Did her mother maintain control?  Natashia looked at her daughter and Nadia saw a tear roll down her mot
her’s cheek.  She was smiling.  She understood the true meaning of this experiment as well, and so far, apparently she had control.  Nadia whimpered and her mother shrugged.  She sat down near the back of the cell and leaned against the back wall.  While they may have ‘control’, they were certainly bored.  It was going to be a long night.

9

Laura was working topside when Evan checked in.  “I think somebody tried to wake me.” He said sheepishly.

Laura smiled.  “Oh, yeah.  It truly is like trying to wake the dead when you’re out, isn’t it?”

“Sorry.  I hadn’t rested in days and…”

“No worries.  We took care of it.”  She said, pulling the stack of reports together and shuffling them.  “Good to have you back with us, though.”

“Has the colonel already gone down below?” he asked.

“Oh yeah.  Along with Jack’s wife and mother-in-law.”

“Who, what?” Evan asked, obviously not expecting that a
nswer.

“Oh, that’s right.  You were asleep.” She smirked.  “Seems Mr. Thompson is married now and the whole “famn damily” gets furry in the moonlight.”

Evan was literally in shock.  His mouth hung open and he was at a total loss for words. 

“Close your mouth, doc.  You’re attracting flies.” Laura quipped.  “Besides, we have an op on the ground and a potential shit-storm brewing.  We have two other single confirmations and I’m expecting seconds at any moment.”

“I’m still trying to wrap my mind around the whole werewolf marriage thing.” Evan said.  “It gives a whole new meaning to ‘getting a piece of tail’ doesn’t it?”

“Oh my god, doc!  Did you just make a joke?” Laura feigned shock.

Evan smiled.  “I thought it was rather smart for off the cuff.”

“It
was
pretty sharp.”  She admitted.  “For you, especially.”

“Hey.  That stung.” He whined.

“Can’t help it if your sense of humor sucks.”

“I
am
a vampire, Laura.”

“That’s no excuse, love.” She said and planted a light kiss on his cheek. 

Evan gave a light shiver.  “I love it when you do that.”

“I bet you do.” She purred.  It had been a long time since the two of them had worked toward their relationship, but seeing Jack with Nadia gave Laura the desire to rekindle what they once shared.  Still, they had a lot of work ahead of them tonight.  She had to try to remain diligent.  She cleared her throat.  “Have you eaten yet?”

“No.  I came straight up.”

“Fine.  Grab something real quick.  It’s likely to be a very long night.” She said.  He turned to get a pint of donated blood and she pinched his bottom, just to remind him that she
could
be playful and
still
be in charge.  She didn’t expect that he’d jump though.  And scream.

He turned and faced her, eyes wide.  “Sorry.  I wasn’t e
xpecting that.”

She stifled a laugh.  “You are
so
manly, Evan.  I could just eat you up.” She purred, then turned and left him standing there with a goofy stare on his face.

*****

Foster made arrangements for a car to transport him to the docks.  Just as he was stepping into the car, Damien came rushing out of the darkness toward him and his body guards.  “Wait!  Wait!  Don’t leave without me!”

Paul rolled his eyes.  Surely this half-wit didn’t really think he was going to attend a blood-alliance with him?  “Wait for what, baby vamp?”

“For me, of course.” Damien said, breathing hard from running across the warehouse.  “You wouldn’t leave me behind, would you?”

“Why would I take you?” Foster asked.

“Why wouldn’t you?”  Damien cried.  “Who discovered the upcoming attack on the hunters?  Me, that’s who!  Who tracked down the wolf and the contact information to this Thorn guy?  Me, that’s who!  Who tracked down where this guy’s island was located…well, okay,
sort of
located?  Me, that’s who!” Damien pointed at his chest, thumping each time.  “Face it, Paul.  You need me.  I’m a key player here!”

Paul was almost impressed.  Impressed that this asshat thought so highly of himself.  Paul withdrew from the car and stood to face Damien.  “Allow me to clarify a few things for you, baby vamp.”  Paul began.  “You live because I allow you to live.  You feed because I allow you to feed.  You shit because I allow you to shit.  You fuck because I allow you to fuck.  And you do what you are told to do because I tell you to do them.”  The waves of power emanating from Foster dropped Damien to his knees, his eyes lowered to the pavement.  “Do not think for one moment that I
need
you.  You need
me
!” he growled.

“Any moron could have stumbled upon those punks.  Any moron could have tracked down the wolf and any moron could coerce the information from him that led us to this point and this time.  The very thought that I
need
you?”  Foster leaned down close to Damien and whispered in his ear, “Perhaps you’d like to rethink your previous comments?”

“F-forgive me, master.”  He stammered. “I overstepped my station.”

“Yes, you did.”  Paul said as he stepped back into the car.  “Go clean something before I decide I’d rather use your skin as a doormat.” He said dismissively.

The car pulled away leaving Damien groveling on the pavement.  As Foster’s tail lights pulled out of sight, Damien lifted his eyes. 
Perhaps you should rethink my importance, master.

*****

Laura was listening in on the events beginning in California when Lieutenant Gregory stepped in to the Command Center.  “Sorry to bother you ma’am. We have another secondary.”

She simply nodded and held out her hand.  “When it rains…”

“Yes, ma’am.” 

“Where’s this one?”

“Mexican zombies, ma’am.” He said with a half-assed grin.

“Oh, for the love of…”  She rubbed her temples.  “Seriou
sly?  You’d think something like this the Federales could take care of.” She snapped.  She knew then that she feared something more was going to come of the case in California, but this was all part of the job.  “Fine.  Alert Second Squad.”

“Yes, ma’am.”  Gregory exited and headed topside.  Laura waited for the amber alert light to come on and she didn’t have to wait long.  She held her finger over the alert button to keep the claxon from blaring in the Operation Command Center.  As soon as it began, she silenced it.

“Time to make the doughnuts.” She muttered.

Apollo and his team had their gear already loaded on a flat and in the back of a deuce and a half before Gregory made it topside.  They knew something else would happen since it was a full moon and they were ready and waiting.  As soon as Gregory handed Apollo the file, the team loaded in the truck and slipped into the night, headed for a fast transport to central Mexico.

*****

As Third Squad reached the target area, Spalding halted his group.  He slapped Sanchez on the back and ordered, “Three-Three, take over watch.  Cover our six.”

“Copy that.”  She took off toward an overhang that looked out over the small valley town. 

“Two, you and Four head toward that small apartment co
mplex.  You see anything, key your mic, but maintain radio silence.”  Hank, the Padre Michaels nodded and grabbed Dave Marshall to take with him.  “Three-Five, you’re with me.”  Spanky told TD Wallace.  “We’re going to head to the village center and hit the businesses.  If we spot anything, we’ll do the same.  Copy?”

“Roger that.” Hank said just as the two teams broke off.  As they separated and got about halfway to their target zones, Sanchez broke in across their earpieces.

“Over watch established.  You’re five by five.” She whispered.  She received two clicks back on her earpiece.

“Team Leader, Mobile Command, drone has picked up a
ctivity 500 yards to your west.  Repeat, activity five-zero-zero yards to your west.”

“Roger that Mobile Command.”  Spanky responded.  “Two, fall back on my six and we’ll converge at the water tower, over.” He ordered Hank.

“Roger.”

“Team Leader, Over watch, I have a clear line of sight to the tower, no activity.  South of the tower visual is blocked from here. Over”

“Copy that, Over watch.  Cover our six for us.  We’ll take care of the flanks. Over.”

“Roger.” Sanchez sighted through her scope and followed her team as they cut through the town’s main street.  She o
bserved the Padre and Marshall approach from the north and fall in behind Spalding and TD.  She scoped ahead of them out another 200 yards and saw movement to the team’s right behind a small building that they couldn’t see through.  “Team Leader, Over watch.  You have activity 200 yards ahead, behind that yellow building.  Unknown number. Over.”

“Copy that.” Spanky said, “Third Squad, go silent.”  Sanchez watched them screw suppressors on to their weapons, never missing a step as they advanced toward the building.  As they double timed it to the side of the building, Spalding used hand signals to send the Padre and Marshall to the east side of the building.  Spalding and TD ducked low to stay below the windows and advanced to the west side. 

“Tangos on the south side, boss.  Twenty yards tops.” Sanchez whispered into their ears.  She received a click in response. 

“Team Leader, Mobile Command.  Tangos are converging into one group again.  If you’ll hold your position, I’m bringing the drone around for another pass.  Give me 20 seconds.” Jac
kson said calmly into their ear buds.

He, too, received a single click.  Sanchez watched as Hank pulled his fist to a halt position and held it for Marshall, his ear turned to listen to the tangos behind the building.  Marshall a
djusted the ring site on his P90, turning the REM T-3 LED indicator lower for the low light conditions.

“Affirmative, Team Leader.  Group has reformed to your south and is about to breach your west side.” Jackson stated.

“Go.” Spalding whispered.  Sanchez watched as Hank spun the corner as soon as her ear registered the command, Marshall right on his heel, Spalding opened fire on the first vamp that came into his field of vision, TD stepping to his left and dropping low to do the same.

Sanchez sighted in and fired on distance targets that neither could engage at close range that might break away from the group, starting at the far end and closing in.  In short order, she had run out of tangos and soon heard Spalding order in her ear, “Cease fire, cease fire.  All tangos down.”  There was a series of clicks and static then he came back, “Mobile Command, are you picking up any strays with the drone, over?”

“Negative Team Leader, all clear from here.”

Sanchez was still checking the area when she heard som
ething snap behind her.  She glanced over her shoulder to see a vampire standing behind her.  “Contact!  On the ridge!  No Over watch, repeat, no over watch, engaging!”  She rolled as she called into her lip mic and pulled her P90 from her upper back just in time to shoot the vampire up the middle, ending with its head.  The vampire had jumped to tackle her and landed where she had been laying, covering the team below.  She looked beyond where it stood and saw a wave of oncoming vampires.  “There’s a shit-pot more of them up here guys!  You better hustle your asses or I’m toast!”

“Rerouting drone, Over watch, hold your ground.” Jackson stated.

“Like I have a choice?” she muttered as she began choosing her shots.  She knew that she had to be careful.  The P90 submachine gun would empty a fifty round magazine in 3.3 seconds in full auto.  She was trying to keep her shots at semi-auto, but found it difficult.  The semi-transparent magazine made it a little easier to tell when she was getting low on ammunition, but in the dark, with the dark amber plastic magazine, it was still difficult to tell.  At best guess, she was facing at least thirty vampires, and they were advancing quickly.  She was placing her shots as best she could, two to the chest, two to the head, watching the bodies drop, but for every vampire she dropped, two more filled the space.

She changed magazines as quickly as she could, but it lost her precious seconds and the vampires were advancing on her position.  She was too close to the edge of the drop off and even with the augmentation, she knew that she’d not survive the fall.  She wasn’t worried about being bitten, but she was worried about being rent limb from limb. 

“Hold on Maria, we’re on our way.” Hank said.  She could hear him huffing as he spoke. 

“I’m holding them as best I can, Two, but I’m running out of ammo!” panic rising in her voice.  “Where the hell are they coming from?!” she yelled.

She heard a sound that sounded like a giant zipper ripping the sky open and watched as fire flew from the heavens to her right.  Bodies exploded and a giant path erupted in the middle of the advancing vampires.  “Bought you a little time, Over watch.  Keep the fire going while we come around for another pass.” Jackson spoke in her ear.

“I’m on my last carbine mag.  About to switch to pistol.” She reported. 

“Understood.” He replied.

“We’re almost to you, Three.” TD reported to her. 

“Lose the suppressors!” Spalding barked.

The sky lit up again and the giant zipper sound came once more, this time from her left as another large swath of bodies erupted, limbs, blood and gore spewing into the night air.  Sanchez dropped the last of those close to her just as her carbine spit the last of its ammunition.  She flung it across her back and drew her pistol.