THE ANOINTED 3: PROPHECIES OF FIRE (3 page)

“You just parroted your uncle’s words. Have I not bled for the same cause as you?”

“Don’t you dare speak of my uncle? He was a true hero to this world. Us, not you, were chosen by the hand of god himself to bare the woes of the world. That gives us first authority on this war. Our forefather’s blood soaked each and every country in this world. A free agent? That’s the problem. You believe you have no responsibity upon your shoulders. You have been given a power that you probably don’t and will never understand. You don’t deserve such honor.”

“Who deserves anything in life? The problem is that you all are scared of change.”

“Its answers like that, that proves that you have no business here.”

“Then you have to take that up with Nathan. But I want you to listen to me closely, since we are having this little heart to heart and this will be the only time I will say this. I don’t care what you or anyone else thinks, as long as the thing responsible for my wife’s death is dead or close to it. If you don’t trust or like me, then cool, stay the hell out my way. I have seen this type of bias and mistrust on the fields of battle, and it’s those ways of thinking that could cause a bullet in the dark from friendly fire. Whatever your opinion of me, save it and put it in your video diary sweetheart.”

Sam eyes went round with indignation. “How dare you!! You sexist pig! You-,”

The rest of her words were cut short by the opening of the door behind her. Graham stuck his head in tentatively.

“Forgot my iPad,” he said in a mild form of apology. He came in and scooped it off the table by the door. “Is everything okay?”

There was a moment of uncomfortable silence as two willful people stared at each other with utter dislike. Graham tried to defuse the tension by clearing his throat. “Um Sam, Nathan also sent me to tell you that the meeting is about to start.”

Turning on her heels, Sam stalked pass Graham out the door and disappeared down the hall. Graham stuck his head out and watched her before shaking his head.

“I don’t know what you did to that lady, big country, but if I were you, I wouldn’t turn my back on her for a second. I saw a woman with the same look in Pyongyang when she caught me in bed with her sister. I had to jump out a window to escape the knife she tried to stab me with.”

“Just to get something straight, that look you just witnessed was for both of us. That was the look given to what she considers outsiders, Graham. Best you remember that or you may be running from another woman in the future.”

CHAPTER FIVE

On the wall, two monitors were running down information programs. The first one ran facial recognition program, while the second pick up all incoming data and updates on all current field operations. The woman in the sheer robe stood in front of the monitors as they moved in rapid speed.

“I’m still running the facial recognition program on the faces that were caught in profile during the attacks. A couple of the men drew blanks, but many were found in one data base or another.”

One of the monitors stopped flicking through profiles to identify a match. Isolated to a clear part of the monitor, the computer started rolling through recently known photos and information history.

“Zaki Nasr,” Data support stated.

“Once recruited and trained by Arafat’s personal elite bodyguard at the height of his power in Gaza. Wanted by Mossad for detonating a school bus of explosives right at a checkpoint of the Israeli border. A reward of one point five million dollars is the price on his heard unofficially. Last known sighting was in Miami, Fla in 2006. C.I.A. failed to assassinate him after failing to recruit him away from working for the Cuban cartels,” she read off quickly.

“I have two known hits on the suspects that were downloaded into my data banks. And at the possession leader’s request, I have hacked into NSA main spy satellites and ran all descriptions of suspect profiles. As of last night, the satellites have pinpointed two locations. Second, I share with you the profile match of Alan Bennett.”

The computer screen split into an extra section, showing a second man’s profile.

“Mr. Bennett has multiple aliases. United States Navy Seal from 1991 to 2005. Honorable discharge. Side note, in the C.I.A. databanks, he has been honored with secret commendations for saving a couple of covert operations in his black ops file that is held by the pentagon. Known fighting in Desert Storm, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Believed to been a C.I.A. clean up man until he disappeared. He is responsible for leading the attack on the estate of the Ruling Minority Leader.”

The whole screen was replaced with a detailed map of the United States.

“NSA spy cameras have shown a positive match at two locations, as of twenty minutes ago. It’s Nasr and Bennett.”

Nathan stood and put both hands flat on the table and looked around at the people in the room.

“You were updated on what has been transpiring with our infiltration squads around the world. We have started our mission to cut out the underground support system of Anais.”

He pointed to the screen where the two locations pulsated in green circles.

“The enemy is still out in the open, fearing no consequences for their actions and I vow to strike at every opportunity. The reason why I asked you here today is that the Ruling of the Eclipse votes on the overall actions of war dealing with the Guards of Gabriel. I ask for each of your votes now to step up our war efforts that will flush out the rats. How does the council vote on sending the guards into these areas to kill or apprehend these men by all means necessary?”

One by one, a vote was taken. 12-0 for what Nathan had proposed.

“Sam and Kimiko, you will both have separate commands of the guards for this operation. I want your units split into alpha and omega groups. Each one striking at both locations. The whole purpose is to capture, if possible, use force if necessary. Don’t forget that the dead do not talk, we need these men for information that will bring down Anais’ vast web. This mission is crucial to the security of the sect itself.

‘Data support will keep you informed on any changes that occur at these compounds and a lay out of them. I’m sorry, I can’t lead this operation myself, but know that we will all be with you. The sect values your bravery. Plan well and fruitful hunting.”

The two men who represented those in Vatican City were as different as night and day. While one straddled the line of obesity, the other was almost rail thin. The thinner man’s head was shaven bald with trim facial hair and the round man’s hair was receding from the middle of his head outwards. They dressed modestly in grey and black, like two ordinary men enjoying a day off from work.

That was not the case however. These two men spoke for the Vatican and those who controlled it. The Vatican itself was layered in three sections. The Pope, the Vatican, and a cabal of six men who controlled them. The names of these men were never known but their influence reached far and wide. Only dangerous men lived in secrecy. Their reasons were many.

The round man smiled in greeting as Nathan entered the room alone and motioned for him to join them. The room they were in was used as a breakroom for the men and woman at the complex. The colorful plastic chairs scattered in random order. Nathan chose a blue one right across from the man.

“Archdiocese, it’s an honor-,”

“Please, no titles sir,” interrupted the thin man.

“Names?” asked Nathan. The thin man shook his head.

“Names are even more dangerous than titles, sir. Officially, we are not here. It’s the reason why we asked you not to meet us in a very lavish room.”

“Fair enough. And why has your…brothers seen fit to make a visit at this point in time?”

“The whispers we heard was that you are losing your grip on the demon. This is bringing the world on the brink of ruin. Our council warned your previous leaders that you couldn’t continue to pacify the demon without finding a way to kill it,” stated the Archdiocese.

“Vatican City has been brief on the situation numerous times, if they think Anais can be killed, we are opened to suggestions. The problem is, however, that your brothers believe that it’s some kind of evil spirit that can be exorcised. You fail to admit that Anais is a fallen angel.”

The Archdiocese hissed, like he was burnt.

“That is debatable. And blasphemy, I might add. But still, that doesn’t change the fact that you’re losing control of the situation. Our brothers believe it’s time for us to take over the operation. We are calling in our maker.”

Silence met those words. So that was the reason why they were here.

“No.”

“No?” the Archdiocese asked.

“You stated your case and I gave you my answer. No. Our people has been pacifying the problem since the re-birth of humanity. Your order is old, but we are older. I will not let unqualified people take over something you have no understanding of.”

He looked both men directly in the eyes.

“Your order will be dead and wiped out within a week.”

“But…but we were told you would honor the words of your forefather! You know the sacrifice we made for you! Will not be honorable?”

Nathan studied the two men in front of him.

“I have no problem having you here in an advisory role, but as far as commanding our operations, that’s not going to happen.”

The Archdiocese’s face became red with rage. “This is an insult to the treaty you have with us! We are a powerful order in our own right. We don’t need crumbs you throw now to hide the fact that you’re an oath breaker.”

“Call me what you will. I’m truly sorry that this misunderstanding is causing such a problem between us when the course of action calls for unity, but you’re under assumption that you know how to deal with something you don’t truly understand. It would be a grave error if I allow it to take place. I mean no insult to you and yours but neither will I lie to you or myself. You will be accommodated, but not in a command role.”

The archdiocese looked ready to reply with angry words before the thinner one laid a restraining hand on his shoulder.

“My brother, the possession leader is right.” He said in a very soft voice.

The Archdiocese’s head snapped around in surprise and disbelief.

“What? Surely you can’t be serious brother! Our order sent us here to take over a debt that was paid in our blood. Now you agree with this man?”

“Sometimes it’s hard to accept a hard truth when it’s dealing with yourself, but as enlightened people, we must sit aside useless arguments about who is right or wrong and worry about who will suffer the most. The unsuspecting world. Whatever we have come here to say has been heard, contemplated, and rejected. What is the use of continuing to push an issue that will be more toxic than good? No, what we must do is compromise. These people are at war, what do they care about words spoken long ago?”

“It’s not that we care not for our vows, friends, it’s just that as you said, my order is at war. My brothers and sisters are dying, even now as we talk, over something that shouldn’t have taken place. We may have had some setbacks but if I hand over this problem, the world is doomed. I’m willing to make a compromise of sorts, but I will not lose sleep if you go back to Vatican City angry at my decision. It’s something I’ll live with. You made sacrifices, this is true. But tell me where have you been now in our greatest need? If we fail, the whole world pays the price.”

“Sir, it is not of our order to pick sides in conflict, especially when we voted to take over the handling of the demon. While we share your future of peril if the demon is left to his own devices, we do not share in the belief that it will bring about the apocalypse, as you say. There are many signs that judgement day is almost upon us but our order believes the demon is nothing more than one such sign.”

“Then while the Vatican is wise in many ways, its ignorance in this matter is unacceptable. And because of it, I will not let you endanger everyone with such thoughts.”

There was a long drawn out silence as the two men digested the words.

“We will have to discuss this with our order. When a decision is met, we will continue this talk between our orders,” stated the thin man.

“Until then, you are welcome to observe our operations, but let your leaders know, there’s no room from compromise.”

“Understood,” he replied.

CHAPTER SIX

The hot Arizona sun painted the sky a soft rainbow of colors as day was caught between giving way to the cooler night. Many people who never visit this far west believed that the state was nothing but a desert. But there were many areas dotted with trees. An ironic thought, Sam thought to herself, as she watched the sun sink slowly inch by inch, taking daylight with it.

She motioned with a black gloved hand, causing black tinted visors to close with audible snaps as twelve men behind her closed jet black shock troop helmets. Sam flipped her own down and the swift coming night turned into a dark green picture as the light weight night vision technology in the visor was activated. Data support continuance outline of the area via satellite scrolled down the right side as it rotated angles while underneath, infrared and motion sensors identified anything in front of them.

The temperature around them was steady dropping, but she ignored the chilly feeling as she gripped the H&K MP5 tactical assault weapon. Switching on the strong infrared sighting beam, she chambered one of the sixty rounds in the head for something to calm herself and keep her mind off the impending assault. The MP5 would spray half of its clip in under twenty seconds, if that’s what she chose to do. Usually, the weapon held only a thirty round magazine but all sect weapons were modified and fitted with added improvements.

Each round was capped with Camphine, an explosive liquid that detonated on impact, the sect only used such ammo when it went on code black alert. Not all held H&Ks. Four of the twelve held powerful tranquilizer needle guns, in case of an encounter with Pallida Mors or in the event that hostages were taken. There was a reason why the lethal MP5 outnumbered the needle guns, if the enemy even took a breath the wrong way, there would be no hesitation to kill him and whoever was with him.

This was a very dangerous man. They were just outside of Springer Ville, Arizona, just minutes away from the border of New Mexico. The NSA satellite had matched the face of the wanted mercenary five hours ago, along with six or seven others on the property. Data support had not been able to match their shadowy profiles to any the sect had on file, but that didn’t make them any less dangerous.

Sam and the rest of her team had moved into position to ring in the area, once they had arrived at the drop zone in sleek Blackhawk military helicopters that had taken off from the rooftop of the sect’s headquarters hour ago. She had kept her men out of sight as she split up her force, leaving her captain in charge of eight men not with her. Everyone had their orders but as an old military saying goes, a plan only survives until there’s first contact with the enemy.

The area itself laid quiet, as if their targets had cleared out before they arrived, but she saw no update from Data Support of movement of any kind out of this area. It made her think that the enemy was up to something. Perhaps waiting on them. She couldn’t tell, but she disliked the eerie feeling of such stillness. The area consisted of two large barns on each side of the property with a smaller building flanking a slightly bigger one that was the main house.

The info from Data Support reported that the place was supposed to house, raise, and breed thoroughbred racehorses. It was confirmed by the sharp smell of horse dung and sweat that hung in the air like a fixture of the environment. The reading she was picking up from her visor told her that the houses took up only one of the barns and she picked over what this place was actually used for, then she dismissed the thought.

She had seen cleverly designed compounds doubling for training facilities before. The sect had many.

“Wolf hunter, awaiting your signal,” the voice of her captain stated through their wireless transmitter and receiver.

“Copy that, be on guard until we know exactly what we’re dealing with. I’m not trying to be on the wrong end of any surprises.”

“Roger that. All is in place on this side.”

Sam took a deep breath and exhaled loudly. Darkness finally descended completely. “Weapons locked boys,” she said while lifting her own weapon.

“Trendsetter, you sure everything is in place?”

“From this part, I’m detecting multiple heat signals of hostiles,” replied her captain.

“Looks like they’re asleep then. On signal, we’re going hot.”

The sounds of weapons clicking around her sped up her pulse.

*****

Kimiko stopped to study the dingy looking warehouse in front of her and frown to herself. Her team had landed in Seattle, Washington almost two hours ago by helicopters. She wiped the rain from her eyes and shook her head. She could see why this was one of the wettest states in America, as a steady drizzle had fallen since the moment their feet touch the ground. There couldn’t be that much water trapped in the clouds, but evidently there was.

The warehouse gave her a bad feeling when she laid eyes on the grimy four section building that looked like it should’ve been boarded up and abandon. The sides were wet by the rains like a dirty surface that was finally washed clean and the windows were chip and cloudy. Etched on the side in blue letters gave a name to the building.

Seattle Transport, Inc.

She had wasted enough time. She turned to use her knuckles to rap on the back of the truck behind her. The noise of the door being rolled up echoed around the nearby buildings. Men stood ready with assault weapons dressed in the dark black helmets and suits of the Guards of Gabriel. There were ten men, each looking ominous as five lined each side of the truck. All of them had one hand gripping a rope that hung from the truck’s walls to keep their balance once the truck began to move.

Upon the opening of the door, the first two on front trained their weapons on the opening. Now they lowered their weapons and reached out glove hands to help her back up into the truck, and she gave the signal that they had all been waiting for. It was time. One of the men at the back slapped the metal sheet divider that separated them from the driver twice. The engine coughed, turned over, and roared to life as the door to the back of the truck was shut once more, placing everyone in complete darkness.

In seconds, they felt a slight lurch as the truck’s brakes were released and the truck moved. Kimiko took out her RES and held them both in one hand as he waited. There would be no comforting words of encouragement to the men with her. Words were unnecessary. They knew their jobs and what role they would play in the assault. If not, death would be their repercussion.

A price they would try to avoid. She felt herself sway as the truck slowed then applied brakes as it stopped. The warning beeps sounded loudly before coming to a stop. She knew that the truck’s back door now pointed at the front of the warehouse’s main gate. The driver’s door opened in the front and slammed with the driver coughing briefly before complaining about the weather.

Kimiko took out a device with her free hand that was no bigger than a cellphone and switched it on by placing a thumb on the screen. Data Support was locked on to a NSA satellite that fed a clear image into the monitor. The myth that spy satellites couldn’t see through cloud cover was just that, a myth. Technology found a way around such problems, always would.

The driver took up the screen as he approached the small guard house that sat on the other side of the gate. His movements became animated as he started to talk to the guard inside. No sound came from the monitor, there was no need. The conversation wouldn’t last long. The small guardhouse was still before a sharp bright light started bobbing and a guard stepped out into the rain scowling. Kimiko held up a hand with RES in the glow of the light and the message was passed back amongst the men.

Get ready to move.

The driver was dressed in a light tan uniform and cap with the warehouse’s lettering etched across his hat and the right side of his shirt. In his hand, he held a computer tablet that had replaced the outdated clipboard and gestured at it with annoyance. The information on the tablet had matched with what the guard had in his own records, as Data Support had hacked into the company’s scheduling records for this delivery and the warehouse blueprints.

The guard shook his head, hating being in the rain, disappeared, and seconds later, the gates started to roll back. Once the guard returned, Kimiko wasted no time rolling up the truck’s back door. The guard’s eyes went wide with fear as he watched black figures with guns jumping down to the ground. The warning he wanted to scream out was locked in his throat as a short needle-like dart stuck out the side of his neck from the driver’s gun.

He took one step backwards, clutching his neck before his legs gave way as the sedative rush through his system. His eyes rolled into the back of his head as he fell to the wet asphalt. Without words, the men spread out and disappeared into the shadowy sections of the warehouse until only two men, Kimiko, and the driver remained. She nodded to the driver as she stepped over the guard’s body and the other two men followed her.

The driver would bring the truck inside the gate and secure it again, in case someone unexpectly showed up. Kimiko touched the left side of her ear and the device there activated her infrared contact lens, causing the deep shadows to jump into focus almost immediately. She had dropped the now useless satellite feed in the back of the truck as she had exited.

Only instincts and her eyes would guide her now. Taking one RES in each hand, she hit the release buttons with slight pressure of her thumbs. The razor sharp blades shined, even though the misting rain as they extended their long reach. Everything stayed quiet as nothing moved around them. She led the two men to the wide doors of the main warehouse as the property was separated into two smaller warehouses.

“Trailblazer to all units, confirm your positions,” she spoke, eyeing the doors for any signs of movement. None could be allowed to escape.

The words were barely out her mouth when a blurring shadow passed close to her right and vanished quickly. She had just been able to catch it on the edge of her vision. Signaling the two men behind her, she continued to search for what she had saw. The men raised their weapons, guarding every exposed area. Their jet black helmets gave off tiny dots of light that reflected off the raindrops on their helmets.

“Do any of your visors pick up any movement?” she asked, watching the night.

She was having a feeling in her gut that something was wrong. A thought came to her suddenly. Her scouting units did not report.

“No, team leader, our sensors are quiet. It may have been a bird of some sort,” replied the man on her left.

Before she had a chance to voice her concerns, the night behind her lit up in silenced gunfire. The faint popping sounds echoed unnaturally into the night. Kimiko turned in time to see one of her men fly through the air. Half of his face was torn to shreds. The remaining man was firing his weapon in a continuing burst, only the lightweight silencer attachment hid the sound.

A figure was coming out the pitch black night slowly, like a phantom. The explosions as the bullets hit it didn’t seem to stop it as it howled and shook them off. A second one appeared behind the man and gripped him by the back of the neck and lifted him up into the air. Kimiko brought her RES down in an arc, cutting the massive arm off at the elbow.

The gun was quiet now but the scream of rage was more than effective in replacing the sound. The man himself fell to the wet ground, the half severed arm still attached to the back of his neck. Kimiko’s next swing took the beast’s head from its shoulders. She turned and prepared herself for the second one. It came like a blur, roaring its fury.

She stepped back and cut it across the chest, opening up a deep wound. Bending down, she cut the legs out from under the beast. The man put his foot on its neck and emptied the rest of the clip into its head. He sat down on the ground and realized that the arm was still on his neck. He slung it away with a curse. Puzzled, Kimiko bend down and pressed her hand to the Pallida Mors chest. It would start to turn human soon. Its body temperature was ice cold.

It was the reason their infrared had not detected any body heat. It also sent a chill down her spine. They knew that they were here and hid their movements by somehow switching their body temperatures.

“All units report!”

Curses and screams started to fade in and out in her ear link as the night seemed to come alive.

“Switch your sensors to purely motion detection, weapon on needle dart mode,” she advised anyone that could hear her and braced herself for what she knew was coming.

It didn’t take long. Two more shapes emerged from the side of the warehouse running sideways on the wall, as if it was normal. The man beside her must’ve recovered because he started to erupt a steady spray of needle darts. The Pallida Mors in the lead was pin cushioned in darts, one sticking squarely from one eye. Its steps slowed as the drugs quickly took effect, it stumbled, tripping to the ground rolling as it did so to land in a puddle of rainwater.

The second one, now aware of the effective weapon, dodged the projectiles by hopping from wall to wall, not staying in the same spot. It was a disregard for gravity. Kimiko saw its razor sharp teeth bare momentarily before stepping forward to meet the raging Pallida Mors. It leaped like a stalking leopard into the air as a stream of darts started to embed themselves in the wall behind it.