Agent M: Testament (The Agent M Series Book 2) (52 page)

Heavy breaths forced their way out of Michael’s lungs. He had exerted quite the effort in dispatching this trio. A good long rest was long overdue. The FBI agent wasn’t sure how much blood he had left flowing through his veins but it was enough to keep him conscious and as far as he was concerned, that was more than enough.

Michael turned his attention to the Paladin. Davis baited and swept away at the creatures with ease. His efforts kept them at a good distance but he was doing little to no damage to them physically. Unless warriors of Testament had a phenomenal cardio program, the young Paladin would not be able to keep this up for long.

As the metal staff danced in his companion’s hands, Michael began to notice a pattern. The Paladin would swipe at the creatures and push them back but then begin to slash at the grounds as if he were trying to write or draw something. Sparks of light spewed forth with every twist and turn. Davis was planning something but the FBI agent wasn’t sure what that was until he spoke once more.

“Lure them this way Michael!” Davis shouted while driving his staff into the gut of one of the creatures.

The Paladin held it there for a second and then with a mighty swing he launched the creature into the other that attempted to charge him from behind.

“I will dispatch these beasts at once.”

Michael couldn’t understand or believe what he had just heard but the way the Paladin had said it breathed a wave of assurance and confidence into the FBI agent. He turned around and noticed the group of beasts slowly getting up and readying themselves for another wave of attacks. Even fist sized bullet wounds couldn’t take them out. Michael had already snapped one spine just as he finished off Ryoo Myung-Dae and they still kept coming after him. Their only hope to eliminate these creatures once and for all may very well be in the hands of that young Paladin. Just as Michael has done once before, he was going to trust in him to live up to his word.

The beasts ran forth towards the FBI agent. Slowly at first their wounds began to regenerate but soon picked up a steady pace. One sprinted ahead of the other two and dove at Michael roaring as it grew closer. The FBI agent spun to the side allowing it to strike nothing but the air that was previously occupied. Michael unleashed a devastating side kick right in the creature’s gut and forced it back into the air towards the awaiting Paladin.

Davis slammed his staff just underneath the monster, trapping it in a circular prison of light. It continued to claw, kick and howl but the near invisible walls did not bend. Underneath the writhing beast, runes written in a foreign script that even Michael did not recognize began to glow and slowly fill the chamber with white light.

The next two ran towards the FBI agent at the same speed only this time, only one leaped forward while the other slid on the ground and opted to take the strategic approach of hitting him high and low. Michael shot his fist up while jumping into the air to avoid the low assault. His fist cracked against the drooling maw of the leaping creature and slammed its jaw shut cutting its vile tongue clean off. Michael stomped his foot upon landing onto the previously broken spine of the beast down below. It whined and wailed as per usual at this point. The FBI agent kept his heel dug into its back as he grabbed the second creature that had still been tasting the sky by the ankle and swung it over towards the Paladin where another prison of light awaited.

Michael turned his attention towards his final prey. He heard the staff smack the ground once more indicating the second had been successfully captured. With that off his plate, he could now focus all of his attention on this last annoyance. The FBI agent picked up the beast at the back of its neck like a cat being punished for bad behavior. It continued to attempt to defy him by slowly snapping his jaws and weakly swiping with its claws. Michael had enough of this charade and gently tossed him about a foot off of the ground before crashing his fist square against its sternum splitting it in two. The beast was sent flying so quickly that Davis had to dodge as it traveled and slap the ground a bit further away from him with his staff to trap the creature.

Time had granted the FBI agent a much needed breather as the last two continued their assault on the Paladin. He continued to push them away with his staff while subsequently luring them into his traps. The fourth beast tried to slash at Davis’ midsection but was greeted with the blunt end of his staff and then quickly found residents like its three companions before him the cages of light. Last but not least, the final monster jumped high into the air. After seeing the way its brothers went down, it opted for one last act of defiance by striking in a manner not yet attempted. With its razor sharp fangs wide open, it came down on the Paladin looking to consume the young man’s entire head in one foul bite.

The creature’s screamed quickly faded into squeals. It was unable to consume the delectable meal firmly attached Davis’ neck but rather enjoyed the fine luxurious taste of six feet of solid steel. The staff shot through its throat and forced its way out near the beast’s tailbone. Not the cleanest way to finish off a slight against God but effective nonetheless. Davis dumped the body in its intended spot and lightly tapped the ground next to it incasing the final creature once and for all.

Light began to swell within the chambers. It all started to make sense. Davis had been preparing for this the entire time. He was not arbitrarily swinging and batting the creatures away. He was giving himself time to draw the symbols on the ground that would aid him in completing his goal. All five beasts were completely trapped equal lengths apart and from a good distance, it appeared to be in the shape of a pentagon.

Davis stood in the center between all chambers of light and began to chant. Unlike the glowing script on the ground, Michael could understand this language. It wasn’t every day someone spoke Latin as if it were their native tongue but the young Paladin commanded the language better than he did his weapon during the passing battle. They appeared to be bible scriptures of some sort but even with Michael’s eidetic memory, he never heard any of those in that big black book of theirs.

As the Paladin spoke, the light began to grow. The creatures within continued to whine and thrash about. Michael took a closer look and he could begin to see fear growing amongst their savage expressions. Whatever the young Paladin was doing must have been affecting them on levels that even the FBI agent’s unchallenged IQ could comprehend. The Paladin kept revealing more unique secrets with every passing moment. This did not bode well for Michael's growing apprehension of Testament and their ongoing threat on his life.

“ADOLERE!”

Brilliant columns of light ignited all around the Paladin. Even Michael's glasses that were designed to protect him from the resonating blasts of stun grenades and flash bangs couldn't contain all of the light that exploded. Unlike those weapons, this light didn't burn or cause any type of pain. The warm white glow bathed all around the FBI agent and he could feel the throbbing torment swelling all over his body begin to dwindle.

The light soon faded into tiny stars raining down all around the warehouse. Michael surveyed their surroundings and was unable to find a single traces of the creatures that had left him in such a battered state. This magic that the Paladin manipulated was both ominous and powerful. If caught on the wrong side of it, Michael actually feared where he may end up as he still couldn't find the logic of where those creatures left. Even their distinctive animalistic scent had vanished.

Dryness littered the throat of Dr. Shin. He couldn’t even begin to comprehend what happened let alone what he just saw. Five of his precious warriors had disappeared in the blink of an eye. They were designed to be fearless, destructive, and most importantly, indestructible. This wasn’t how things were supposed to end.

Surveying the scene below at least afforded Shin a bit of comfort. Though the one clad in white was no worse for wear, the main target had seen better days. Perhaps all the General needed were five of these soldiers at his disposal instead of just the one. Michael Madison appeared to be on his last legs and if he barely survived the initial five, perhaps it was time to up the ante.

The doctor crept up to the control panel where the remaining twenty-five switches laid to rest. He was tired of playing games with these two. They had a mission to complete. Shin did not come all the way out here and spent a decade of his time preparing for this opportunity just to see it wasted by two unknown variables.

Michael could feel pain rearing its ugly head back in. Unfortunately for him, one of the many talents the Paladin lacks is the ability to heal others. Then again, perhaps this was all part of their plan. Michael was in no place to fight another wave of those creatures let alone someone who has proven they could hold their own against the same and come out completely unscathed. This was not an ideal situation and certainly one of the most dire the seasoned FBI agent has ever come across.

“Perhaps you should go,” the Paladin stated.

Those were the last words the FBI agent expected to hear. The aftermath of the initial battle has left Davis with the distinct advantage. Testament could complete their goal right here and now if they so desired. Despite the history lesson he received earlier, this one has proved himself different from the organization he served. Maybe it was something he saw in Michael’s eyes but his words were both comforting and favorable given the circumstances.

“Not yet,” Michael hissed.

He clenched his fist and tried to force another surge of adrenaline to flow through his damaged body. It may very well exhaust every ounce of strength he had left but at the very least, he’ll go down fighting.

“This is my mission.”

“Forgive me Michael,” Davis started. “But I can sense more of them coming now. And I fear for your safety. I understand the nature of your work but as luck should have it, our goals have become intertwined. A great injustice has been created here and I am sworn by my oath to Testament and our Lord to remedy any slights against the Father.”

The Paladin looked over to Michael with a sincere but serious glare much like the one the FBI agents would give to his prey.

“This is my mission now, as well.”

Relief started to settle in. Michael believed he could take this man at his word. This just proved it. After all of his training and watching hundreds of others lie to his face with the same expression, the FBI agent knew he could trust him now. Testament may have put him on a hit list but Davis was the only one who never even brought it up since they first met.

“Besides,” he smiled before Michael could respond.

The Paladin tossed over the keys to their vehicle which were quickly snatched by the FBI agent.

“I believe you have somewhere else to be.”

Michael’s memory slapped him in the face almost as hard as the Paladin’s words had. Their battle here had delayed pursuit on the FBI agent’s new target, Ryoo Myung-Ho. He could already be at the White House or worse, he’s been inside the whole time. The original plan was to assist in the peace talk operation. Michael was supposed to aid the Secret Service from the outside and as soon as this thought continued, he could feel his heart sink to the center of the earth.

“Or is it someone else to see?”

The words faded into the dank air of the warehouse as Michael ran off to finish what he had started in Vegas. The wound in his ankle wasn’t given a moment of attention. All thoughts were on getting to the White House and stopping this threat once and for all.

As Michael exited the dock door he took note of the gear left behind by the defeated soldiers. One of particular interest stood out to him. The FBI agent took a short detour and collected the RPG-7 and loaded it with the last remaining grenade. He had no idea what he would be walking into when he got there but he’d rather have it handy and not need it than need it and not have it. Ryoo Myung-Ho no longer had any places to run or hide. Justice was coming straight to him.

The doctor watched Michael Madison run off with his tail between his legs. This couldn’t have been a more picture perfect scenario. As much as he would have loved to watch his soldiers tear him limb from limb, that wasn’t a part of their primary objective. General Semyon did Shin a great service by warning him about that man but he gravely overestimated his abilities. Wherever he was running off too won’t be far enough. The country would fall whether or not he lived to defend it.

The warehouse had fallen quiet once more. Shin looked down at the holy-garbed man that dared to remain in his presence. Perhaps the doctor could offer a few more words to encourage him to leave like his friend a few moments prior.

“It appears your friend did not live up to the hype,” Shin taunted as he snickered.

For a man that was built from the ground up to have the Agent M formula flowing through his veins, his combat prowess left much to be desired.

“Why don’t you go and join him? There’s nothing left for you here but death.”

“I’m afraid cannot do that,” the Paladin replied.

His tone had lightened to a chipper and friendly demeanor that was uncommon for soldiers in the doctor’s experience.

“I will offer you a chance to surrender. Cease these activities at once and submit yourself to detention. It will make things a lot easier. No matter what path you choose, the outcome has already been decided.”