Spores (13 page)

“Are you not hungry?” Shouted, Miles.

The man slowly turned his whole body, “Oh, man. Why did you have to do that? Now she’ll want to meet you and that ain’t gonna end in smiles.”

A human-like head attached to a black serpent neck slithered out from between Dustin’s leg. Miles backed away but found his path blocked by a dozen of the bright red beetle creatures.

“You should have stayed where you were,” whispered Dustin as tears cleared a pink path down his dirty cheeks.

Chapter Twelve

The short burst turned the two attacking creatures into several chunks of bloodied green fur. Jackson changed his magazine and fired another volley into the advancing swarm of creatures. The things finally appeared to be getting the message. Jackson watched several of them break off from the rear and slither into a ventilation shaft. He wondered if the little bastards had been taking pointers from that now dead frigid chick.

“Good work, Jackson.”

He nodded to Colonel Hall, wishing he’d have put this twat in the cage along with Tyler. “We’ve still got a fair way to go yet, Sir. I’m not sure if the ammo will hold out.”

Hall slung his assault rifle over his shoulder and removed a long dagger from his side. “In that case, chaps, we had better conserve what little ammo we have.”

Jackson looked at Brickman who shrugged back. The Colonel may have been a pompous fucker but he wasn’t a coward. Jackson grinned and followed his superior’s example. Hall’s spontaneous actions had just bought him a few more minutes of life.

“They’ve all gone,” said Brickman. He looked at the Colonel “Do we keep to the planned route or follow Jackson’s idea, Sir”

“Why are you even asking me that bloody stupid question? Of course we stick to the planned route, I’ve no intention of allowing these nightmares to kill any more innocents.”

Jackson decided that it probably wasn’t a good idea to inform this dickhead that his men had already disposed of the civilians. The three of them were the only live humans left on this level. The rest of his men plus the few chosen girls were already on the roof.

Jackson pulled out his own knife and carefully inched forward, keeping his eyes on that broken grille. They were going to the wrong way, deeper into enemy territory. They’d already passed the stairway that would have taken them straight to the roof a couple of minutes ago. In retrospect, it may have been a better idea to kill Hall there and then, but just before they’d reached the junction, a huge swarm of the furry bastards had almost turned him and the others into burger meat. At the time, it made more sense to keep him alive, they needed all the help they could get.

“Look out!”

Jackson felt something hard scrape across the back of his ankle, a moment before Brickman shouted his warning. He dived forward before spinning around with his knife out in front of him. Jackson saw a large red insectile animal scuttling towards him, its overlarge pincers clacking like crab claws. Jackson shouted out before thrusting his knife deep into the creature’s soft underbelly. The thing screamed before rolling over. Jackson grunted then pulled the blade out.

Jackson watched the thick blue fluid drip off the metal then sighed loudly. It didn’t seem right that those fuckers should piss out blue blood, it just wasn’t normal. Jackson lunged forward and pushed the knife up through the base of the Colonel’s jaw. The man let out a surprised ‘ack’ before falling back and collapsing against the wall behind him. Jackson watched Hall’s crimson life fluid bubble out of the wound and nodded in satisfaction.

“Look at that, Brickman” he said, grinning. Jackson wiped the bloody blade across the Colonel’s trousers. “At least he still bleeds the proper colour.”

Brickman nodded then quickly turned away. Did Jackson just notice a touch of doubt in the big man’s face just then? He pressed the tip of his index finger against the blade, and then drew tiny circles across the metal.

“It had to be done, you know that don’t you?”

Brickman took the magazine out of the Colonel’s fallen weapon then searched through the officer’s pockets.

“Did he really need to die? I mean, couldn’t we have just left him here?” Brickman turned his head. “Tyler was a cunt; he got what he deserved, but Hall looked after us.”

He crouched down and rested his hand upon the big man’s shoulder. The man didn’t flinch. Jackson smiled; he gained reassurance that Brickman trusted him completely. It would be so easy to thrust this knife into the man’s chest.

“I didn’t want to do it, Brickman. You need to believe this. There are certain things that I should have told you about him, about those fucking scientists.”

He looked at the small pile of items that Brickman had pulled from the Colonel’s pockets. Buried underneath some small change and folded photograph was a laminated ID card. Jackson picked it up, not all that surprised that Hall had been in on it as well.

“I’ve found out the truth, Brickman.” Said Jackson, nodding, “you see, our so called superiors plus a select group of high foreheads have played us all for fools. Keeping stuff hidden from us, thinking they knew better. Doing what they’ve always done.”

He snatched the Colonel’s bayonet out of Brickman’s hand then pushed him towards the door. “Go on then, I dare you. Run for the chopper and see how far you get.”

He kneeled beside the corpse, then used the bayonet to cut down the front of Hall’s jacket.

Jackson heard him rushing forward but couldn’t move out of the way in time. Brickman put his hands around Jackson’s throat and dragged him back.

“I can’t let you do this, Jackson, this is defiling the dead.”

In panic, Jackson swung out with the knife; he heard a distant voice curse and the pressure around his neck lessened. He dropped the weapon, grabbed both of Brickman’s wrists and pulled them forwards. The big man flew over Jackson’s body and landed on Hall’s head. Jackson didn’t wait for the man to recover, he saw masses of the things piling into the room. Jackson picked up the knife, pushed the blade deep into the officer’s stomach and drew it down towards the groin.

He leapt up and ran to Brickman. “Watch, you fucking idiot.”

Two bright blue nightmares rushed ahead of the main pack and dived onto the man’s open stomach. They both locked their gaze upon the soldiers before simultaneously burying their armoured heads deep into the gash.

“Jackson watched it get closer, not understanding why it seemed so fascinated with them. He glanced at Brickman, then saw the shallow cut in the man’s shoulder.

“Oh, fuck,” he said.

Jackson slammed the blade into the animal’s back, pinning it to the floor. “Get that wound covered up, you idiot. Hall won’t keep their attention here for long.”

They both pushed their way through the mass, toward the open door. Jackson saw the steps and the way to freedom just a few metres from where they were.

They cleared the swarming creatures and hurried over to the stairs. Another burst of gunfire reached Jackson’s ears. Brickman pointed to another group of Type Twos heading for them.

Jackson sighed then set off in pursuit. He jumped over a yellow furry abomination and thanked the lord that the fuckers were still docile.

He’d made sure of that, not only with Hall’s sacrifice but ensuring he’d sated the other one, the huge monster. It would hopefully not call out to the Type Twos until they’d got out of here.

“Wait up, Brickman.”

Jackson ran past an open door; he’d already explored that room and found that unlocked computer terminal and the terrible secrets it contained.

“The stupid arrogant bastards,” he muttered.

He heard another burst of gunfire, louder this time. He hoped he was in time to save them. Jackson couldn’t afford to lose any more of his men.

How would Tyler have reacted if he knew that his death was partly just to test a theory?

Another creature stood motionless in the middle of the floor; as Jackson neared, he saw it was busy cleaning up a spot of fresh blood. He’d have to deal with Brickman’s arm when he caught him up.

There was no way that he could afford to lose his right hand man. “I shouldn’t have cut him.”

Jackson knew that he should have shared the new information as soon as he found out. Instead of just expecting him to blindly follow orders.

“That’s what the officers would have expected.”

As Jackson approached the next fire door, he heard the unmistakable sound of murmured conversation emanating from the next room. He grabbed Hall’s pistol, approached the door, and ran his thumb up and down the mottled grip.

He cautiously pushed open the door. “Don’t open fire,” he said, not wishing to become a casualty. His men were well trained; even so, he had no desire to find himself riddled with bullet holes.

Hayder and Brickman both nodded. He was more than relieved to find at least one more of his men still in one piece; but Pembroke, on the other hand.

“I’m ashamed to say that I thought you’d given up on us,” said Hayder. “This place is like a fucking maze.”

Jackson
had
given up hope but he had no intention of telling him that. “You know me better than that,” he muttered. Jackson’s eyes were locked on Pembroke and in particular, his arm held in a makeshift sling.

“I stamped on the bastard,” he laughed,” You should have heard it squeal. As for the arm, it’s only a scratch, nothing to worry about. It’s not like it hurts or anything.”

Jackson nodded and slowly reached for his knife. He promised himself that he’d make this quick and painless for the unfortunate lad.

Hayder abruptly backed away; Jackson saw panic appear in the man’s eyes. Did Hayder suspect what Jackson was going to do? Jackson suddenly found himself looking down the barrel of Hayder’s rifle.

“Jackson, behind you!”

Brickman’s shout unfroze his feet, he spun around and almost laughed out loud when he spotted a fluffy green Type Two crawling up the door.

“Put that fucking gun away,” he snapped, “That thing won’t harm you.” He then saw another blood splat by Brickman’s feet and sighed.

“For crying out loud, Brickman. Will you get that wound covered up? It’s your leak that attracting them.”

“I’m sorry, Sarge, but we were unable to find your woman. Believe me, we looked everywhere.”

Jackson looked to his left and grinned, he tapped an air vent with the tip of his knife, “You didn’t look in the right places. Don’t you let it worry you, I’m sure you did your best; besides, the bitch has been found and dealt with.”

Brickman took a pace back when Pembroke took a step towards Jackson. “When do we leave then?” asked Pembroke. “I’m anxious to taste that fresh Scottish air.”

Jackson nodded, “Soon,” he said, smiling.

“Before we do leave, I need to explain a couple of things. The situation has changed. Our starting afresh plan has gone out of the window. The days of enjoying life and shagging with have to wait for a little longer.”