Stone Soldiers 5: Black Knight Down (6 page)

"Open your eyes, please," Dr. Farb said.

Phillips did so, and saw Farb maneuvering the small metal box on the end of a long, mechanical arm attached to the ceiling, down in front of him. It was pressed against his face, rubber gaskets forming a molded seal with his face.

"And, one... two... three!" Farb said, flipping a switch on the side of the box.

A panel retracted and an ethereal yellow light bathed Phillips’ eyes in its glow- pouring out of the two eyes he now found himself staring into. One was distinctly humanoid, the other more lizard like, with a vertical slit over the cornea- the eye of Medusa and the eye of a basilisk.

The warmth of the healing waters of the Fountain receded from Phillips' face- replaced by a numbing chill that spread quickly down from his head, over his shoulders and out to his fingertips and toes. In just a little over a second, his body was turned to stone.

Dr. Farb waited a moment, then flipped the switch back in place, once more covering the eyes in the refrigerated box. Then he moved it away from Phillips face and leaned in close to examine him.

"I'm fine, Doc," Phillips wheezed, forcing himself to breath. It was easier this time- after his first transformation, forcing himself to move air in and out of his stone lungs so he could speak had been difficult. But, over a month as a petrified man had given him plenty of practice.

Dr. Farb undid the shackles that had held Phillips to the table during his transformation. The stone soldier sat up slowly and swung his heavy feet down as Farb flipped a switch to raise the platform back up.

"Welcome back, Zeus," Dr. Farb said.

Phillips made a grimace as though he were in pain. "Call me Chad- I hate those stupid code names."

CHAPTER EIGHT

Once more, Mark Kenslir steered a small speed boat into a slip in the underground dock of Argon Tower- the short ride, through an underground canal from Homestead AFB, complete.

Two soldiers in camouflage ACUs dashed over and secured the boat to the dock, then helped Josie out.

"Home again," Josie said. "I think that was our shortest mission yet."

"Is that really it, Colonel?" Victor asked, pulling himself up onto the dock. At just over four hundred pounds, his stone body was too much for the soldiers on the dock to help with.

Kenslir grabbed a duffel bag of gear and leapt up onto the dock, landing lightly despite his own weight.

"Contractors will move the anomaly to Groom Lake for now."

"Area 51?" Victor asked. "Where they keep the aliens?"

Kenslir rolled his eyes. "You've been listening to Jimmy too much. There are no aliens at Groom- it's an aircraft testing facility."

"Then why send the Black Knight there?" Josie asked, falling into step beside her grandfather as he walked away from the dock. "Where do they keep the aliens?"

"It's a remote, heavily secured site- it'll be fine for examining the anomaly."

"So..." Victor asked behind him. "Are there aliens?"

Kenslir paused at the double doors leading out of the dock, holding them open for his two young companions. "Let's go check on Jimmy and Phillips."

The walk from the dock was a short one, and once more Josie and Kenslir found themselves outside a vault door, a small group of soldiers at the ready. Colonel Phillips, repetrified and wearing a fresh set of ACUs, was there as well.

"Boss- how'd the trip go?" he asked.

"Nothing for us to worry about," Kenslir said. "How's Kane?"

"Been very quiet in there. Camera feed shows he hasn't changed. I'm told he did scream a little, at first."

Kenslir crossed to the control panel beside the vault door and pressed an intercom button. On the small screen of the panel, Jimmy could be seen sitting in a chair, head down, arms on his knees. He still seemed human.

"Kane?"

Jimmy looked up, then got up out of the chair slowly.

Beside Kenslir, Josie gasped. Jimmy was still human, but he no longer seemed his normal scrawny, skinny, knock-kneed self. He had filled out, like a body builder, with impressive muscles that strained his shirt and shorts.

"I'm okay," Jimmy said. "It really hurt at first, but other than needing some bigger clothes, I think I'm okay."

Kenslir typed in a code on the control panel keypad and the huge blast door popped open a few inches, then slowly cycled open the rest of the way. He had to grab Josie by the arm to keep her from running in.

"Just wait."

Once the door was open, Kenslir nodded to Phillips and walked in.

"Whoa- you stink!" Jimmy said, his nostrils flaring. Kenslir walked closer and pulled a flashlight from a pouch on his vest. He stepped up to Jimmy and shone it in his eyes.

Jimmy squinted from the bright light. "I swear- I feel fine."

"Close the door," Kenslir directed. Behind him, the huge door slowly cycled shut by itself. When the retractable security bolts had popped back into place, he reached for the gold and silver collar around Jimmy's neck.

"Cross your fingers."

The collar popped open and the Colonel gingerly removed it from Jimmy's neck.

"Whew, that's a lot better," Jimmy said, reaching up and massaging his neck. "That thing is a little on the small side."

Kenslir handed the collar to Phillips then pulled a small folding-blade knife from a pocket of his vest. He opened the blade and held out his free hand. "Give me your hand."

"What?"

"Give me your hand."

Jimmy watched the Colonel with suspicion, but did as he was told. Kenslir took the hand then quickly ran the blade across Jimmy's palm.

"Ow!" Jimmy said as a cut appeared, blood oozing out. He tried to jerk away, but could not break Kenslir's grip.

The blood only flowed for a moment, then stopped. As the three men watched, the cut sealed back up, and healed fully in just a few seconds.

"Whoa!" Jimmy said. "How'd I do that?"

"You're in a transitional phase," Kenslir said, wiping the blade clean on Jimmy's shirt, then folding the knife and putting it away. "You've got the strength and healing powers of a ‘wolf, but a full transformation was blocked."

"So I'm like super-powered now?" Jimmy asked, a big grin spreading over his face.

"For now. But next full moon, without the collar, you could complete the transformation."

Jimmy's smile evaporated. "What do we do? I have to keep wearing that thing?"

"I think I know someone who might be able to make us something a little bit smaller- but until then, yes, if you want to stay like this, the collar seems to be required."

"Is that why you stink- I mean, because-" Jimmy stammered, cheeks flushing.

"You've got heightened senses now- same as me. You're going to find a lot of things are different."

"Is Jimmy all right?" Josie asked over the intercom.

"He'll be fine," Kenslir said, heading for the door. "Let's assemble the unit- time for a debrief on all of this."

***

An hour later and Kenslir was standing at the head of the table in the Detachment's main briefing room. Gathered around the large table were Kenslir, Josie, Jimmy, Smith, Phillips, Victor and the four newest Stone Soldiers- as well as several Airmen, Sailors and Soldiers, all in utility uniforms from their respective branches of service. Department heads from the various units assigned to the Tower, they were all wondering what this rare meeting was about.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Colonel Kenslir began. "There's been quite a few changes around here, and more are coming."

Everyone picked up the tablets laid out on the table before them and began reading along.

"First off, we're separating into two teams- Alpha and Bravo. For you new Stone Soldiers, when your training is complete, three of you will join Captain Smith in Hawaii. Johnson- you'll remain here in Miami with Bravo team, under the command of Colonel Phillips."

Jimmy raised his hand. "Two teams?"

"After the events of the past few months, the Pentagon has decided to proceed with Phase II of the Medusa program. Two teams, positioned on opposite sides of the country for reduced response times. The two back up MA-12s and a new MB-1R will be deployed to Pearl. Major Karr and her crew will remain here in Miami with another Lancer and our two Ravens."

One of the Air Force officers in tigerstripe digital camouflage raised a hand. "What about Tower security?"

"No changes- Pearl will be providing their own security for our Team there. Miami will remain Detachment HQ- we'll just have a team permanently deployed for more rapid response in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. "

Josie raised a hand. "What about us?" she asked, indicating herself and Jimmy.

"You'll remain here in Miami as well. Victor is being replaced on Alpha team with a new candidate-"

"What?" Victor sat up in his chair, his stone face showing surprise.

"
I've convinced the brass that an investigative team is still necessary. Despite your inability to blend in with the general population, you'll be a part of that team, Mr. Hornbeck. Along with Ms. Winters and myself. "

"Uh, and me?" Jimmy asked, looking around.

"Your status will be determined once we get a better understanding of your current state. You and Ms. Winters will be accompanying me to an offsite facility where one of our top researchers will evaluate you."

"So how long does this training last? Dean Johnson asked.

"As long as it takes," Kenslir said. "We'll have to hope nothing comes up where we need a team before then."

"And the anomaly?" Josie asked.

Kenslir frowned. "As you're all no doubt aware, a satellite of unknown origins has crashed in Oklahoma. Myself, Hornbeck and Winters have investigated and determined it to be a Dark Object. The Air Force is moving it to another facility where it will be studied. As such, it is no longer a Detachment concern, and we are under orders to not discuss the matter any further. All section heads are to ensure a complete sanitizing of all records regarding the matter."

"But it's magic!" Josie said. "I thought that was our job?"

"Until it demonstrates a threat to national security, it is not our concern. "

"Well, that's kind of anti-climatic," Victor said under his breath.

***

In Salem, Oklahoma, Lt. Col. Hunt felt the same way. He handed over a large binder to a man in a tan and black, civilian paramilitary uniform.

"The Object is now officially your problem, Mr. Smith."

Smith, a thin-faced man with high cheek bones and beady eyes, accepted the folder smugly. "That's
Marshal
Smith," he said, raising one shoulder a bit higher so the winged rank tab on his Black Cauldron private security uniform could be seen better.

"Right," Hunt said, putting a cigar in his mouth. "Have fun with it,
Marshal
."

Hunt turned and walked away, climbing into the back of the last troop transport truck to ride with his men. He keyed the throat microphone he wore. "All good, let's head out."

The column of trucks and Humvees started up, rolling out into the setting sun, headed for the nearby airport where they would load up on Air Force transports and be flown back to their respective bases.

Hunt watched the crash site dwindle from view as the convoy headed away. The fencing, lights and guard towers around the impact crater remained, but the crater itself was being covered by a prefabricated structure similar to a circus tent. Tan and black contracted security uniforms were everywhere, securing the site and preparing to begin the laborious task of moving the object to Groom Lake.

Hunt thought it was odd that the military would turn such an important task over to a private contractor- but that was how the military did things these days. Soldiers, airmen and sailors did the dangerous work and private contractors did the heavy lifting. It wasn't cost-effective, but with Congress keeping the military small, there wasn't much other choice.

Hunt turned away from the open end of the truck, almost missing a long black limo racing past from the other direction, passing them, headed for the site.

"Contractors," Hunt grumbled, shaking his head. It would save the government money to use Air Force personnel, but instead they handed out pricey contracts to corporate suits that rode around in limousines.

The limo pulled to a stop and Marshal Smith snapped to attention and saluted.

The driver emerged and hastily circled the car, opening both rear doors on the passenger side and helping Simone Schuster emerge. Behind her, the other witches all followed, stepping out of the car one by one.

Where before the women had been dressed like corporate headhunters, now they wore black evening gowns that brushed the dusty ground, hiding their feet. Low cut, the dresses showed off their large busts. Each wore their hair in long braids hanging low down their backs, and their lips and nails were painted black.
Only Simone stood out from the rest, wearing a large silver pendant on her chest, set with a large purple, amethyst stone that seemed to glow.

"Ma'am!" Smith said. "The site is ours!"

"See," Simone said, turning to Miranda House beside her. "It pays to have devoted followers in Washington."

Simone took the packet Smith was holding and handed it over to House. "Lead the way, Marshal- let's see just what we've managed to catch."