Babel Found (17 page)

Blairsville, Georgia

With Kane and him as the only actual agency employees, Todd took it upon himself to get a lay of the land and research whatever he could on the quaint town of Blairsville, Georgia. What he found was, well…not much.

The population was barely seven-hundred people, covering just over one square mile of land. There were no bodies of water in the small slice of Appalachian foothills unless you counted the large pond on the outskirts of the Butternut Creek Golf Course.

What the town did have plenty of, however, was places to eat. It seemed like every other business they passed by was some sort of mom-and-pop joint. Kane had boasted that he tried them all, and Todd believed him. The guy could eat. Ever the prepared soldier, Kane stayed out here with Olivia for a week to scope out the rest of the town shortly after they covertly acquired Frost’s place.

But as of now, Todd could care less about the history of the hole-in-the-wall town. He was running for his life down one of the residential side streets, heading towards the main north and south road.

A flash of light turned him around almost tripping him up. He stopped and looked in awe as the empty lot burst into flames. He knew the vault-like underground bunker would hold up, Frost had seen to that nicely when building it. Olivia would survive the blaze.
That
he was sure of.

What about me?

It was a question he refused to answer until he was absolutely guaranteed of the results.

He spun at the sound of a car horn, seeing the driver of a beat-to-hell pickup truck shaking his fist at him. Todd raised his hands intent on apologizing but forgot he was still holding his gun. He got the expected reaction out of the driver.

Rethinking his lack of transportation, Todd nervously leveled the weapon at the middle-aged man, motioning for him to get out of the vehicle.

“Get out of the truck, please.”

Idiot…carjackers don’t say ‘please.’

The driver complied, opening the door and climbing out. He then raised his hands and stepped away. Todd quickly approached the vehicle and jumped in, still holding the man at bay with his Glock. If the stranger knew he still had the safety on, Todd was sure he’d have gotten his face kicked in.

“Call the police and the fire department,” Todd said, putting the truck into gear. As he completed a quick three-point turn, he looked back to the stunned Blairsville resident. “Oh, and get somewhere safe.”

With that, Todd tore down the street, tires screeching as the now carless man cursed in a very southern accent, ranting on and on about Todd’s mother making it with a potbelly pig. The seat was torn in several spots and uncomfortable as hell. It’s like it was perfectly formed for the larger man’s ass.

Before Todd made the turn north onto Cleveland Street, he glanced in his review mirror, seeing Phoenix step out of the inferno that now engulfed the empty lot. It’s exactly that moment that the local man took Todd’s advice and ran, cutting inbetween the closest houses on the south side of the street.

“Damn,” Todd said. She’d seen him. She’d recognize the rusted maroon truck from a mile away.

He made the turn and floored the pedal, swerving in-and-out of what passed as rush-hour traffic in Blairsville. The regular circulation of cars was so light that there weren’t even any traffic lights—not until you got to the center of town, that is.

Which,
he thought,
is coming up fast.

He was less than half a mile from town square. It was home to the town’s original courthouse, dating back to the mid-1800’s, currently housing the Union County Historical Society. The beautifully maintained red brick building sat dead-center, having a unique roundabout encircling it. It reminded Todd of the
L'Arc de Triomphe
in Paris. But the circuitous route here in town was nowhere near as congested or as mammoth as it was in France.

Now only a hundred feet from the center of town, Todd chanced a peek into the rearview mirror again, seeing what looked like a meteor coming up behind him. It even had a similar blistering tail of fire trailing behind it. Upon a closer inspection, one that almost made him rear-end a car in front of him, Todd confirmed his initial hypothesis.

“Holy moly…”

It was Phoenix, and she was coming up fast, sprinting up the road. Cars melted as she passed them, traveling as fast as Todd was. He was pretty sure he could outrun her if he could get out of town and onto a highway, but until then, he was screwed.

He followed the flow of traffic and merged right, blowing through the posted yield signs. Upset motorists blared their horns, shaking their fists, but quickly got the hint that he was in a hurry. Some even leapt out of their cars, avoiding the easy-to-see incoming fireball. Unfortunately, some people didn’t.

Todd flinched as a duo of cars behind him blew up as Phoenix pushed through them. He squelched his concern for the other people, knowing it wouldn’t matter unless he survived and got help. More than just Blairsville was at stake right now. It pained him to think so callously, but he knew deep down he was right.

As he rounded the rear of the old courthouse, finishing his half a lap around, the Judge entered the town square. He expected her to shadow him and head as he did around the east side of the brick building, but instead she did something unexpected. She continued straight into the 130-plus-year-old building.

The historic courthouse combusted into a hellish inferno a second later. Todd cursed to himself at the complete lack of avoidance on Phoenix’s part. She could care less how many people she killed. She was as heartless and soulless as Todd originally believed. This just confirmed it.

I’ve got to stop her before more people die.

The rest of the building exploded, throwing flaming debris all over the surrounding area. Todd needed to make it a little further out of town. After that…he’d stand his ground and fight. His odds were slim-to-none in stopping her, but he had to try. Who knows how many families were just torn apart when the old courthouse went up in flames.

“Damnit!” he shouted, punching the steering wheel. “Give me some help!”

He was about to speed through the next intersection, north of town square, but a sign caught his attention. As a result, he sideswiped another pickup truck, spinning his. The right front tire blew, almost flipping the still revolving Chevy.

Whatever.

Todd opened his door, grabbed his gun, and ran east. He headed for the first business he saw, the one with the billboard that caught his eye. The main entrance was on the south side of the westbound street. If he could get into its back lot, he may have a chance.

Sirens blasted everywhere, adding to the warlike state of things. Some were firetrucks, no doubt headed for the center of town, but some sounded like police cars.

After another fifty feet or so he cut right, successfully entering the fenced lot of his destination. Three huge white pill-shaped tanks met him, each laying on their sides. They were the key to everything he was about to do. But they weren’t the only thing that met him there.

“Freeze!”

Todd heeded the officers shouted orders, doing his best to hide his gun. Four policemen, guns drawn, cautiously headed his way. From the unsure looks on their faces, Todd could tell that these guys probably hadn’t seen any real action in quite some time.

“What’s the hurry, son?” the lead one asked.

“Her,” Todd replied, nodding towards the newest to the party.

Phoenix casually stepped into the scene. Her body was completely alight. There was even smoke billowing from her previously open, cracked skin.

“Mother of God,” one of the cops said, backing away.

Two of them turned on her but held their fire.

“Don’t!” Todd shouted. He didn’t need any more useless death on his conscience. Not today.

Thankfully, they listened.

But he didn’t, Todd raised his weapon and shot Phoenix in the chest, knowing it would have little, to no, effect on her. In actuality, the only thing it did was piss her off more. She raged, her fires reminding him of Hank’s, but these were dark red and infinitely more furious looking.

Todd turned and ran, telling the policemen to do the same. He headed for the tanks, hoping the next phase of his quickly forming plan would work. Rounding them, he continued his mad dash, praying she’d follow.

It worked.

Phoenix landed on the opposite side of the three twenty-foot-long containers, apparently ignorant—or maybe just uncaring—of their contents. But Todd knew. He slid to a stop and turned, hoping he was far enough away. He’d really like to not die.

Phoenix stepped towards him as he pulled the trigger.

“Sorry,
Paul’s Propane
.”

The single bullet went high, whistling over her head and pierced the first of the three massive propane tanks. Aided by Phoenix’s firestorm, they burst, blasting her body apart as she screamed in defiance. But would it actually kill her?

Either way, Todd was thrown back, landing in a heap on the parking lot after rolling like a tumbleweed.

Seconds later, one of the local cops stepped into view over him. He had a handkerchief cupped around his nose, acting as a filter against the noxious smell swirling around them.

“Son…” the man said, glancing back to the destroyed tanks. He then leaned in farther over the top of Todd’s head, making himself look upside down. “What in God’s name is going on?”

All Todd could do was smile and laugh, looking like a lunatic to the police officer. He was just happy to be alive.

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

Camp Arifjan, Kuwait

Nicole hated waiting for just about anything. She was like Kane in that they both liked to keep moving, never stopping. Hank was the exact opposite, though. He preferred to relax and take it easy. It’s why everyone just assumed he was a slacker, but once they met him, people were quickly proved wrong. Besides being a little rough around the edges, Hank may have been the smartest person she’d ever met. Brains really meant very little if you didn’t know how to apply the knowledge.
That
was Hank’s forte. He was the thinker. She and Kane were the doers.

Well,
she thought,
Hank used to be that way…

Hank had become a shell of himself lately. She really couldn’t blame him. They’d all been through hell lately, but Hank seemed to shoulder that burden more than the rest. She knew why too. He felt violated and was angry for it. She refused to imagine what it would be like to have her body inhabited by someone else. They would no doubt be able to feel everything you do and see everything you’ve seen. They’d experience your hopes and dreams as well as the most intimate details of your private life.

Her bare arms broke out in goosebumps at the thought. She had memories of her late husband and then of Hank that she wanted to keep hers and hers alone. Hank’s memories didn’t belong to only him anymore. They were shared.

Not that those that saw them were alive anymore.

They waited impatiently inside a restricted hangar, one not damaged by either of the
godly
phenomena. She was dressed in only a pair of shorts and a sports bra. Off to her left she watched as two men—technicians—finished modifying her BSA body armor.

A pair of bare feet slapped up behind her. She didn’t look to see who it was. She already knew.

“How’re you holding up?” he asked, sincere.

“Not well,” she answered truthfully. She didn’t have to lie to him. “I’m worried.”

A large hand was placed on her shoulder and it squeezed. She instinctively grabbed it and squeezed back. She turned up to the taller man, her eyes starting to water.

“I’m afraid I’ll never see him again.” She felt a single tear roll down her normally stoic face. She’d barely been holding it together since she saw Hank fall.

Kane turned her fully around, his face soft. He pulled her in and hugged her like only a big brother could. It was shared feeling too. The three of them held a bond that very few could appreciate. She let go emotionally and softly sobbed into his chest, feeling his strong, yet, gentle arms hold her until she was through.

She pushed away. “Thank you.”

He simply nodded. “I’m gonna go check on our gear.”

Nicole watched the mountain stomp away, heading for the two men working on rigging their armor. It wasn’t the usual setup for an air drop. They wanted to make sure everything would attach correctly between the BSA and the chute rig. They were afraid that the padding on their backs wouldn’t let the pack sit right.

Plus, it gave her and Kane an opportunity to clean up. It had been a long and grueling day so far and Nicole could’ve used the scalding hot shower regardless.

She rolled her neck and flexed her toned arms and back, trying to rid herself of the tension and anxiety she felt slow-cooking her nerves alive. The last time she felt like this about a man was her deceased husband, Tomas.

“He’s a good man,” a voice said from behind.

She turned, unperturbed by her current attire. The fact that she was in as good a shape as most of the men here actually made her even more comfortable. She was naturally beautiful like her mother and her aunts. Seeing men eye her from across the room was nothing new. But when she started to train and lift, she added another reason for them to stare. She welcomed the attention if only to catch them in doing so. She reveled in the
‘oh shit’
look she got from the opposite sex, or even the other women. She would give someone a reason to look, but not at her face or her body. She wanted them to see the strength she felt on the inside.

Carrack stepped forward. “He cares for you.”

Nicole glanced back to Kane and then to Carrack. “Yes, he’s a good man.”

“I meant Hank.”

Her eyes found Carrack’s. “How do you know? You only just met him.”

She wasn’t sure why she was getting on the defensive. Carrack was right after all. Hank
did
care for her. He was a good man—a great man.

“Sorry,” she said.

He waved her off. “You can tell a lot about someone pretty quickly when you do what I do, Ms. Andersson. Call it a sixth sense about people. Boyd is a solid person from what I gather.”

Nicole nodded.

“Plus,” he said, getting Nicole’s attention again, “I don’t know a single man who could have done what he’s done. I don’t have a single man here—some of whom are the best in the world at their jobs—none of them could have shouldered the load and come out smelling like roses like Hank did. Not even my nephew.”

Her eyes started to tear up again.

Damnit,
she thought, wiping them away before they could fall.

“You don’t mind those,” he said, pointing to her eyes. “All that tells me is that you care deeply for him—which is good. You’ll need that strength and conviction in order to survive the night.”

Nicole didn’t need any more details. She knew where they were going. The risks were high. American Special Forces soldiers on Iraqi soil were one thing, but those same soldiers dropping right on top of one of the holiest of ancient Sumerian sites... She doubted that they would be welcomed with open arms.

Hence, the airdrop at night.

The plan was for them to perform the run-of-the-mill HALO jump from 20,000 feet. The High-Altitude Low-Opening jump would allow them to stay mostly undetected as they free-fell, eventually opening their parachutes at the last moment possible. They’d be less exposed to possible enemy fire that way too.

She wholeheartedly agreed with that part. Getting shot out of the air wouldn’t be a good thing.

“What can we expect when we get there?” she asked.

“Hard to tell, honestly,” Carrack replied. “Eridu is revered by some who believe in the old ways. Others see it as a pile of rocks in the desert.”

“So we’ll need some luck.” She bit her lip, not liking the thought of having no control.

“Yes and no. Remember Ms. Andersson, you are going to have some of the most highly trained men this desert has ever seen with you. After what we all just saw, these men—myself included—are completely onboard with annihilating everyone on this planet without a standard genetic code. Excluding Hank, of course.”

“General, sir,” a man said stepping up next to them. “You have a call.”

He nodded to the soldier and turned back to Nicole. “You are in good hands, Ms. Andersson. I suggest you try to get some rest before the drop. If all goes according to plan… It’s going to be one hell of a night.”

The Kur

“This it?” I ask, stepping towards the void in the side of the sphere. The sight in front of me isn’t what I expected, to be honest. All that’s here is some unimpressive stone workmanship and a cracked floor.

“No,” Terra said, stepping out first, “this is only the foundation of the great tower. We must walk the rest of the way.”

“Why?” I ask.

“Because,” she replied, “even I can’t move these. The passages are older than I and hold a strange power over my abilities. I cannot move them. It’s as if a secondary force is holding this place together.”

She leads me forward, obviously knowing the way.

“Come here much?” I ask.

She shakes her head. “No, but I can feel the way. Not all of my ability is blocked.”

“You can feel it?”

She nods. “I can feel everything below the surface of the earth. It is my domain.”

Okay,
I think,
kind of vague.

“What are we—”

“Shhh,” she says, finger to her lips for silence, “You’ll wake them.”

“Wake who?” I ask, whispering.

“Those that still reside here.”

“Come again?”

She fully turns to me. “Not all of those that tried to flee the great tower were able to. Some still exist to this day.”

My eyes go wide.

“But that was thousands of years ago!”

“Shhh.” Her eyebrows narrow in anger. “You do not want them to find us.”

I put up my hands. I know the drill. Generally, as a rule of thumb, you don’t want to draw any unwanted attention to yourself when you’re trapped in an ancient fortification like I am now.

“How are they still alive?”

She shrugs.

“You don’t know?” I ask, surprised.

“How am I supposed to? It is older than I. I am from An’tala, not Eridu.”

“Eridu? You’re kidding me?”

She shakes her head. “It’s where Enki resides. It’s the name the locals gave this place.”

“Enki?” I ask, trying to keep my voice down. The consecutive bombardments are starting to make me dizzy. “The Sumerian god of wisdom and magic—the creator of their world?” It’s a fitting name for
the master
, actually.

“The same,” she simply replies like it’s old news.

Ancient history, actually.

“The foundation that surrounds the Citadel is known as the
Kur.”

The Kur—the Sumerian underworld… Great, this just keeps getting better and better.

“So the tunnels within the foundation of the Tower of Babel, which is beneath the ruins of Eridu, are actually what was considered the Kur, the Sumerian hell?”

She thinks, but nods. “Sounds right.”

I stroke my temples. “Great, another ancient hell.” I turn away, but stop and wheel back around. “And these residents of the Kur, are they the tortured souls of some kind of devil?”

Surprisingly, she actually shakes her head in the negative. “No, they are the tortured souls of Enki himself. His…nightmares. It’s what he and my father called their experiments. Except…Enki didn’t alter their DNA in any way.”

“What did he do?” I ask, regretting the question.

“He tinkered with their minds. He controls them.”

Well, doesn’t that just suck?

“So,” I say, “Nannot’s master was the most ancient and powerful of Sumerian gods?”

“My master as well—all of ours, actually,” she replies. “His ways are as primal as you would think. He has no qualms about anything he does. No weaknesses. He’s been here since the tower was built, waiting for a chosen vessel to come and fully release him.”

“Chosen vessel?” I ask, unfortunately knowing where this is going. Nannot wanted my body as well. He saw potential in it. Either my body was truly for Nannot, or as I’m starting to fear, it was ultimately intended for his master, the earliest
sorcerer
of the kingdom of Sumer, Enki.

“What did you mean by
fully release
?” I ask.

“I’m not sure, honestly, but it has something to do with a body. Something about him not being able to survive outside the Citadel without one. Yours is apparently what he needs to go topside.”

“Where did Enki come from?” I ask, still needing more answers.

Again she shrugs. “Some say he was just a once-in-a-lifetime gifted human, granted abilities beyond our understanding. It’s like how some people see generational geniuses like Da Vinci, Newton, Einstein, and Hawking... Or…” her eyes burn into mine, telling me that what she’s about to say is what
she
believes, “some think he fell from the heavens with the Source Stone and he is also not of this world.”

My eyebrows raise. “You think Enki—your master—is an alien?”

She nods. “But not in the traditional way that modern man has portrayed them to be. I believe Enki may be a type of living virus. When Thoth unlocked the power of the stone, it awakened him, using Thoth’s form to secretly build strength and invade his mind. I don’t even think Thoth knew he was being manipulated. Enki is just a large-scale organism doing what they do best.”

“And that is?” I ask, thinking I already know the answer.

“Destroy life... Viruses do not think. They just act as they’ve been programmed to do. The only difference in Enki is that he thinks as freely as he acts, but still follows his original guidelines—his protocols. Cancer tries to destroy your body’s cells. It’s the only thing it knows. Enki knows what he wants
and
he has the ability to work around the things that get in his way. He’s the ultimate being.”

“It’s why people as strong as the Judges and your parents feared him,” I add.

She nods. “Those living still do.”

“You really think Thoth didn’t know about him?”

“If he did, he didn’t let on,” she says. “He believed in evil, but I’m not sure if he knew exactly what it was. He once told of when he denounced the sins of his past and how he felt the
evils of the world
leave him.”