“If one can infect like that, imagine what two of them will do?” Vorn remarks.
“Let’s just hope that Team A will join up with the other two and stop them before that happens,” Keane growls.
The director breaks radio silence to warn the teams of the attack. “This is no longer a recovery mission. Burn it and get out!”
Team A moves immediately back up seven floors to escape the way they came in. They know that the change in mission means that Team C will move onto the basement and set the fires. The power is cut, including all fire alarms.
When the speaker on his wrist pad speaks, the soldier lifts his wrist and listens. Before moving to greet his fellow soldiers. The two soldiers turn and run swiftly down the stairway leading three floors to the main lobby. He is waiting for them when they enter with weapons raised. “Don’t kill him, he’s one of ours!” The director orders them.
The snakes over his face swirl and spread to reveal the soldiers horrified face. He opens his mouth to scream and vomits a stream of silver snakes at them. One soldier raises his wrist mounted flamer and sprays a stream of fire at the small snakes, while the other tosses a liquid gas bomb at the new creature. Unable to scream and blinded by the gas, he can’t see the moment his brother in arms pulls the trigger igniting him in orange flames.
Hundreds of snakes drop to the ground in an attempt to escape. They race straight for the nearest soldier. He tosses a liquid gas bomb covering them with fuel and instantly they shift direction swirling towards the front door instead. Both soldiers leap through the door to escape and turn just in time to ignite the writhing mass following them. The office is now glowing with red flames and they run around back to meet up with the team in the basement.
“That’s no way to kill an immortal,” Keane stops pacing as he realizes what he is saying and turns to Sebastian. “No offense, I just need to be there.”
Sebastian stands and walks slowly towards Keane. “Is my daughter on your list of creations to be destroyed?” he hisses.
“Oh, don’t get your panties in a knot.” Keane grumbles. “She’s my kin too. I did manage to protect her this long.”
Vorn joins the discussion by stepping between them. “He’s right Sebastian, however, what you and the Guild have failed to realize is that what we just witnessed changes everything. These are not natural born creatures. They are genetically created with one purpose in mind, to infect humanity.”
Keane pales and sits hard on the couch. “It can’t be!”
“Surely your Guild can stop one creature.” Sebastian demands.
“Yes, if they know how. Didn’t you watch that with us? You saw what it did!” Jumping to his feet Keane races from the room. “I need to make a call.”
Keane steps into the hall and dials the number. “We were hoping you’d call,” the voice answering says.
“Burn Dubai! Don’t send anymore Guild members inside. You must listen to me. These creatures are inbred, immortals, blended with apex predators. They are bred with one purpose in mind, to infect humanity. Bring me in.” Keane demands. They talk for a few minutes and Keane hangs up. Turning he finds Sebastian watching from the door.
“Do you need a lift?” Sebastian sighs and looks at him with an arched brow.
“Aye, I do.” Standing taller her steps forward, “You’ll watch over her for me. I have work to do.” With that, he spins and goes to pack.
Vorn waits for them to leave and decides to watch as the team in the basement begin setting charges to light up the building. Anya walks in smelling fresh and clean from her shower. Her dark hair is still damp as she stands next to him. Vorn reaches up and grabs her hand, tugging her close to him. She smiles softly and leans into his heat, savoring the feel of him next to her.
“What did I miss?” she asks quietly before leaning closer to watch the creature enter through doors leading down to the basement levels. He sniffs the floor with the blood stained bodies and runs towards the door. “What is that?” Anya gasps as he places both hands on the inside walls of the stairs, the snakes flow off his body and down into the basement revealing the werewolf hidden underneath by the serpents. He drops to all fours and leaps over the handrail, dropping down ten levels below.
Anya sits back and Vorn squeezes her hand as they watch a soldier slam a door closed and two more run into view, barricading the steel door further with benches pulled from the surrounding rooms. The other two teams are busy setting time delayed ignition devices in the sub levels. The devices are similar to the ones set on the roof top. With one exception. These are not bombs. These will burn hot, igniting everything around them in molten flame. They watch as the teams join up and head out through another stairwell door moving towards the surface. A white flash on the screen silently shows the devices going off and the sub-level filled with fire and smoke as that camera goes dead.
The lobby camera above shows the area filled with smoke, heat and combustible gas allowing the flame to rise up through the structure of the building. After the flames consume everything in sight, the gases that wick through cracks in the floor above combust and ignite the second level on fire. On and on it goes, spreading
