Second Chances (127 page)

“See? I think I'm safer here,” Mitch said, pulling the covers up. “Wicked wench,” he teased.

“You say that now because I'm the one giving you a sponge bath,” Sandra said. Dora snickered as Mitch blushed. “Like I'd let anyone else give you one. But if you keep it up or keep harassing my staff, I may rethink the enema policy. You may need one or two more before you are discharged,” she said.

“Meany,” he said. She snorted. “Just keep her away from any feathers and I'm good,” he said, glaring at her.

“Ah,” she teasingly pouted. “Well, they do say, laughter is the best medicine,” she said, grinning coyly at him.

“Oh very funny,” he drawled. She smiled at him.

------*------

Mitch woke from an afternoon doze and looked about. He frowned, and then touched the control to call in the nurse. “Something you need?” Tina asked, coming in. “More meds? You aren't due for any pain killers for another two hours....Oh um, help going potty?”

“No. Feathers,” Mitch said, shaking his head.

“Feathers? You want feathers?” She wrinkled her nose, looking down at Max laying on the floor nearby. Apparently the dog had found his way in here, and Mitch hadn't let anyone kick him out. It wasn't sanitary, but Mitch was Mitch.

“No. I'm not sure if this plays into the conversation I had with my wife and Dora earlier or not, but I just had a dream. One of those deja vu dreams, really vivid. Feathers and teeth. Inside.”

“Um...” Tina shrugged. “I don't know what to make of it...” she said.

“How is Chica?”

“She's fine. I left her with Regina Chastity. She's our daycare specialist.”

Mitch nodded. “Ah. Well, let someone know. Phyllis or Brian or someone.”

“Let them know what?”

“Every time I have a dream like that, something bad happens. Every time,” he said, meeting her eyes intently. She stared at him. He nodded slowly. She blinked in consternation. He nodded slowly again. “Every. Time. So, something is going to happen. Get through security, I'm not sure. Be aware and on alert,” he said.

“Um...okay...” she said nodding. She backed out the door. “I'll um...call Travis,” she mumbled.

“You do that,” he said, reaching for his tablet.

------*------

“He said what?” Phyllis asked, half laughing.

“Feathers, teeth, here. He's not sure when,” Tina said. She shrugged.

“Pretty vague on the details,” Phyllis snorted with a snort.

“It's a dream. Feeling, whatever. He said déjà vu.”

“His vaunted danger sense? You have to go through it once to get déjà vu. That could mean anything from a dino getting loose to his dog biting him. No clue,” Phyllis said.

“Well, keep an eye out or something,” Tina said. “I did my part.” She yawned.

“When is he getting out?” Phyllis asked.

Tina consulted the clock and then smiled. “At dinner. He doesn't know it yet. He's been harping about it for days. We wanted to keep him in bed to give the internals time to heal...and to keep him away from potential sources of infection.”

“I see.”

“If I run into any feathers and teeth, I'll let him know. After I shoot it,” Phyllis said.

“Definitely,” Tina replied as she stretched and left. “I'm for bed. I'm going to track Travis down and have a bit of fun. Do not disturb and all that,” she said wickedly. Phyllis shook her head as she watched the other woman leave.

------*------

“You dreamed of feathers?” Sandra asked Mitch as he got out of bed. He nodded. “Are you asking for trouble or remembering?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

He gave her a dirty look. “Funny. Not the time for jokes though,” he said, moving stiffly.

“I wasn't...okay, maybe a little,” she said. “Unlike you I have fond memories of that encounter,” she said wickedly.

“You would,” he said, sighing in relief as he sat in the chair. “So, I'm released?”

“Not exactly. We doctors talked it over, and we agreed you'd do better under my watchful eye,” she said. “Count your blessings, Cassie will be stuck in here at least another week, maybe two,” she warned. “She's already bored out of her mind.”

“Just remember I'm not up to what you consider fun yet,” he said.

She snorted, caressing his shoulder. “I know that. And I'll remind our son not to bounce on his dad's tummy.”

“Gee, thanks,” he muttered.

“So, let's go,” she said, stepping behind the wheelchair as Max got up and then pirouetted in front of the chair in excitement. “If some dumb mutt will move,” she hinted loudly.

“He's not as dumb as you think,” Mitch said, looking over his shoulder. He turned back just as Max came in for a hug. He fended off the paws but they were just distractions from the German Sheppard's long muzzle and longer tongue. He coughed.

“Not what you had in mind for a tongue lashing?” Sandra asked, giggling.

“No,” Mitch coughed, eyes closed as he tried to turn away.

“Ah, he
wuves
you honey!” She teased.

“I'll sick him on you for the same treatment later,” Mitch said, finally getting the dog's collar and pulling him off.

“Don't you
dare
!” Sandra said severely enough for Mitch to snicker. She swatted him upside the head for his trouble.

Max whined but Mitch ignored it in favor of stroking the dog's ears. Max rested his head in his lap for more attention. “He's been worried about me, I can tell. I haven't spent a lot of time with him. Or you or Tucker,” Mitch sighed.

“Well, you've got a lengthy convalescence ahead of you, so you can take the time,” Sandra said, bumping the wheelchair. Max snuffled and got out of the way. She bobbed a bow in thanks and then kept going. The dog followed in their wake. “Just don't you dare try to get Tucker to ride him again!” She scolded.

Mitch chuckled.

------*------

Dozens of eyes watched from the trees on the other side of the concrete moat and wall. An occasional rustle and chirp could be heard, but otherwise silence. A flock of small turkey sized raptors were on the other side of the Capital's northern wall, eying the herds in the pastures on the other side of what they saw as a complex stone barrier. They had been driven out of their territories by larger raptor packs that had moved in to claim them. They'd banded together into a larger flock than normal but that hadn't been enough to keep their lands.

Lost, hungry, and needing meet to sustain themselves and to feed the chicks, they were attracted by the earthy scents of the herds in the pasture.

The alpha pair studied the barrier, noting the netting. They climbed higher in the tree, then waited until the wind was just right. When they had enough of a tail wind they let loose and jumped into the evening sky in a rustle of leaves and feathers.

They glided through the top wires effortlessly and then landed in the trampled grass and dirt of the pasture beyond. They turned and clucked at their flock. There was some agitation in the trees before the beta and then the other raptors followed them.

When all were assembled the alphas split up and head for the herds just as the computer detected their intrusion. It set off alarms, lighting off spotlights and sound FX speakers along the perimeter. Startled the raptors turned to look over their shoulders and then headed away from the blinding lights and noise.

Their intended targets did so as well, clustering together and moving away.

An automated vehicle drove up to investigate. Its lights and sound drove the alphas to change course to the human base.

The dying light and the large flock made the identification of the threat hard at first for the computer. When one of the animals paused long enough for the computer to get a still shot from an interior camera it rapidly scanned its database and identified the threat. The warning of raptors in the compound came with sirens and klaxons. However, the computer reacted too late; the lights and sirens meant to deter animals on the perimeter instead drove them on into the human compound since they were going off behind the animals.

They passed through the interior pasture fences, over the road, and then paused on the other side to get their bearings, huddling in the shadows of the courtyard wall for the moment.

The alpha raptors encountered their first serious opposition in the form of the base’s robots. GP, mini-me, droids, and other robots that had been moving about on various tasks were bypassed by the raptors. A few were knocked over by the animals. They thrashed about on their backs like overturned turtles. One raptor got a bite in but then stepped back and made a clucking sound to alert the others that the plastic and metal things weren't food. They moved on.

They passed through the open garage bay doors and into its interior. The alpha cocked her head and noted a biped prey open and close a door by moving the latch up and down.

Mental wheels within the predator turned as it learned from seeing how something was done. Slowly it went to the door and investigated, tapping at it with its class as other raptors hissed or clucked softly. A chirp made them silence themselves. She cocked her head this way and that studying the strange branch, then reached up and pulled down on the lever opening it. The air conditioning on the other side of the door pushed it open more. A claw and muzzle got enough of a grip to open the gap and then the animal was in. Others followed the alpha female, on the hunt.

Mitch got the report of animals inside the building, but he was groggy and confused. He thought it was a false alarm until he heard the screams and remembered his dream. He stumbled out of bed, forcing his aching body to move. He grabbed his pants, but then dropped them. He swore and decided to skip them. He stumbled as Sandra woke. “What's going on?” Sandra asked.

“Get up. Trouble,” Mitch said.

He opened the door to see the raptors on other side, cawing and posturing at screaming people. Max got past Mitch and through door, barking and snarling at the intruders. “No Max!” Mitch yelled, too late. The dog pounced on one raptor and killed it with a bite to the neck but three others swarmed the dog, swiping at it with their long claws. One of the claws landed on his rump, inflicting enough pain to make the dog retreat. Max took off running and yelping, trying to get clear and gain some fighting room.

Mitch felt his wife's hand on his arm pulling him back into their room. “What do we do?” Sandra demanded.

“Fight,” Mitch said.

“Mitch!”

“Check on Tucker,” he ordered as he yanked off a blanket and robe, then grabbed a 9mm hand gun from his gun safe. “Get in there and barricade the door,” he said. He waited as she shot him a look and then retreated to their son's room when she heard him stirring at all the noise. She murmured something to Tucker just as Mitch settled himself, took a breath and then yanked the door open once more.

He went into bedlam of teeth, claws, and screaming people and animals. Grimly Mitch flapped the bedding to push the animals back to give him maneuvering room as he shut the door behind him. With his retreat cut off, he had nowhere to go but forward. He went in and used the robe to distract one of the raptors on his left. He threw the blanket and netted two others, then shot and killed one other as it ducked the blanket and jumped at him. The shot was lucky, slamming it midair and tearing it apart in a welter of gore and feathers.

The loud bark of the pistol in the confined space of the hallway made humans and animals alike cringe. He kicked the raptor trying to shake off the robe, catching it and sending it flying into the wall with a thud. It slid down to the floor and remained still for a moment.

“Mitch!” Sandra said, opening the door behind him.

“Get back in your rooms!” Mitch snarled, pushing Sandra back into the room.

“Fuck that, fight!” Travis said, coming around the corner with a towel wrapped around one arm and a battered lamp in the other. Mitch nodded tightly as the SEAL hefted a lamp like a club.

Half naked the two worked with Tsakhia and Mussad to attack animals, clubbing the ones under the robe and blanket into gruel.

Mitch stepped back, covering them. He noted the other animals. They watched the humans take down part of their flock. They behaved like birds, cocked their heads, fluttered their feathers, squawked, strutted, bobbed their heads in and out, but they studied the humans with ferocious intensity. Mitch leveled the pistol at the nearest one. It fluttered in agitation and then turned to run. They were very fast animals he remembered. They darted in and out, up and down, rebounding off the walls and preventing him from getting a shot. He chased after them slowly, not willing to be drawn into a trap if they turned the tabled. He found the bodies of two cats that had been killed in battle.

“Mitch! Get the hell back here! Get in your room; we can handle this,” Travis snarled, coming after him.

“Hell with that. This is my home,” Mitch said, feeling the adrenalin run through his body. He followed the animals as a pack of dogs came around the corner. He stepped back, ready to let the dogs pin the animals as he snipe them from a distance...if he had a clear shot, he realized.

Mitch's dogs cornered and killed one of the predators. However, a few of the other dogs didn't fare so well; four were killed by the small but vicious predators. They were surgically precise; if a dog exposed its throat, they would dart in and rip their throat out with an extended claw. The dogs were too used to animals that fought with just their teeth, not razor sharp hooked claws.