Adrian Smith - The Fourth Phase

The Alpha and the new arrivals made short work of the attackers. She watched as some of the attacking Variants were chased down and disposed of. With a final huge bellow, the convoy Variants jumped back onto their rides and the convoy started to move off again, heading west. Maggie shook her head. It was as if nothing had happened. She pulled her cap down tighter over her head, and prayed her disguise would last awhile longer. As she crept the 4x4 through the gap, she could see the victorious Variants picking up the bodies of the dead and lumbering away across the fields.

Maggie held up a shaking hand. She had faced the Taliban in Afghanistan and insurgents in Iraq, but seeing the Variants battle each other had shaken her to the core. She gripped the steering wheel, willing herself to stay strong. She had some kids to rescue.

Maggie glanced up to heaven. Look out for me, Princess. Mom has to fight a demon.

Jack bent down and helped Dee from the lake. Pain from his fresh wounds shot up his spine. He took the whimpering form of Max from Dee and laid him on sand. Max’s eyes met his. He managed a small wag of his tail and licked Jack’s hand. Gently, he checked over their adopted dog. He had no cuts or tears on his skin. When Jack pressed his hand against Max’s ribs, the dog let out a pained howl and licked at Jack again. Seeing the injured Max, Jack couldn’t help the tears forming. As an animal-lover, seeing any injured animal pained him. Especially a loved pet. He leant down and kissed the dog on his head.

“All right buddy, we’ll get you home. Hang in there.”

He looked up at Dee. She was rubbing herself dry with the small hiking towels they carried in their packs. She paused, smiling at him, watching. He always admired how she found the time to smile at him despite everything that was going on. He knew she was just as concerned about the boys as he was. Six had told them about the Trophy King being on the island, and with what he and Dee had discovered, he was in no doubt now: this attack had been planned.

Could they even think like that?

Like the others, he thought they had left that beast behind on top of that mountain. With this attack, it seemed to Jack that this Alpha not only had retained its human intelligence, but used it to collaborate with humans. And had come for them to settle a score. Memories of the nest he and George had escaped from, and the horrors that lay within, came flooding back. Jack swallowed down the lump that was forming in his throat. Not only did he feel guilty for not being on the island to help defend against the attack, but he felt some responsibility for it. His escape and his actions had caused the Alpha to purposely seek them out to mete out his revenge.

Dee reached out, grabbing his arm. “Hey, come back to me, babe.”

“Sorry, I just feel guilty. What if this is our fault, Dee? What if the Trophy King came here for us?”

“I know, Jack. I feel it too.” Dee knelt with him beside Max and kissed his cheek. “We’re going after him, right?”

“Remember in Fellowship of the Ring when Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas went after Merry and Pippin?”

“Of course. We’ve watched that movie so many times!” she said, punching his arm.

“Dee, we’re going after them, because the thought of the boys being in that place cuts into my soul. I know what’s there. I couldn’t go on knowing that and not doing anything about it.”

He pulled her into a hug, kissing her neck. Tears filled his eyes. Dee once again pulled away from him. Standing up, she shouldered her pack and checked her rifle before holding it ready.

“Well, come on then. Pack light, for we travel far and swift.”

Jack grinned at her. Standing, he cradled Max into his arms. With a last look at the crater lake, he followed his wife’s striding figure back into the caves.

Jack’s arms burned with the exertion of holding the injured Max. He paused and shifted the weight of his load, attempting to relieve some of the pressure. Dee was scanning ahead, looking for other Variants.

Where there is one, there are many.

He had radioed Ben with the news of what they had discovered. Ben had relayed the information that patrols had encountered several groups of the beasts, and warned them to stay vigilant. They stopped several times to rest, the last few days of madness finally catching up with them. After forty-five minutes, they made it back to the village. The sun was beginning to sink lower in the sky, bathing the small settlement in an orange glow. Activity buzzed all around them as they made their way to the old hotel. Several soldiers wearing chemical suits and masks were stacking dead Variants into piles, ready to be incinerated.

Entering the FOB, he gently laid Max on his bed near the door. Jack scooped out a few biscuits and scratched his ears. Max licked Jack’s hand and wagged his tail in appreciation.

Jack scanned the room. Ben was standing at the main table, deep in discussion with a couple of sergeants. Spotting them, he waved them over.

As Jack approached the table, he could see a large map of the island spread out on it. Red circles had been drawn over it, one of which circled the lake. It was going to take them a while to flush out the remaining Variants, and with so many caves on the island, perhaps never. Ben gave one of the sergeants an order to set up a perimeter with rotating patrols. Jack reached for Dee’s hand and grasped it, comforted by her touch.

Ben turned and looked them over, shaking his head. “You two have to be the luckiest sons of bitches I’ve ever met.”

Jack glanced at Dee. “Why?”

“How many Variants were in that crater?”

“Five or six?”

“Five or six. Yet here you are, still living and breathing.”

Ben glanced down at Jack’s wounds, which were seeping blood. “Jack, go and see the Doc after we’ve finished here. I’m going to be tied up here most of the night. I want you two to get some sleep.” He paused, looking at them in turn. His voice softened. “Look, I know you’re worried about the boys, and you have every right to be. If what you say about the Alpha is true, I know you want to go charging off after them. But you guys need rest. You look like shit. Get some sleep. We’ll plan a search and rescue in the morning. I’m posting a couple of guards at the villa.”

Jack rubbed the back of his neck, feeling the wispy hair with the tips of his fingers. “We think he’s taken them back to the dam.”

“You don’t know that for sure, Jack. He could’ve moved his nest somewhere else.”

“Maybe Ben, maybe. I just know he has. Like that friggin’ dam has some weird cosmic meaning.”

Ben reached out and grasped Jack’s arm. “Get some food and some rest. We’ll sort it out in the morning.”

Dee gave Ben a squeeze. “Thanks, Ben. See you in the morning.”

Jack smiled as she hugged the grizzled old soldier.

A private Jack didn’t know ran out of the radio room and approached them. “Sir, I received a radio call. We have a boat coming. She says she has children on board.”

“Thank you, Private. Radio back to her to approach slowly to the south dock.”

Ben turned to one of the sergeants. “Tell your men to lock and load. We don’t want to get caught out again.”

The sergeant turned and left. Ben looked back at Jack and Dee. “Jack, go and get patched up. That’s an order. Dee, if they do have kids on board, they will respond better to a friendly face. I need you with me.”

Jack and Dee nodded. Jack embraced Dee, then headed to the infirmary, stopping only to scratch Max behind the ears. Jack was pleased to see that Max had eaten all his food.