Chapter 4

Brushing against the gray wall, Ergus was pleased.

"Good job. Prepare the breach charges. Just enough for a break. This is a covert operation as usual.

"Yes, sir."

He turned and ushered the leaders closer.

"Time is of the essence. I want a clean extraction. Once we've breached the outer wall, find the whereabouts of the closest nursing chamber. Gas anything that moves. Spray anyone who resists and keep casualties at a minimum. You know the drill. Ready?"

The answer came in the form of unanimous nodding and the mechanical clicking of disengaged safeties.

"Let's do this."

On the commander's sign, a small hole was blown into the excavated concrete.

Moving in precise unison, the vanguard captured and interrogated unprepared workers. The gas squad sedated them after, leaving their emptied canisters behind, while the rear made sure to mark their path and spray down any worker that seemed conscious enough to cause an alarm.

It didn't take them long to find their destination.

In no time at all, the unarmed and ambushed nurses were subdued, and one of the raiders offered his leader a particularly large capsule.

"If you would."

Ergus accepted it greedily, tore open the lid, and began consuming its contents.

His pupils widened as the nutritious soup entered his system. Shaking uncontrollably, he dropped the empty capsule, everyone eagerly awaiting his response.

"Replenish yourselves and give the signal. We take as many as we can."

The entire troop sprang into action, and mere minutes later the first carriers began loading their live cargo.

"All tunnels to and from are on lockdown, sir. Main pathways have been collapsed, so even if they noticed, they won't make it in time to stop us."

"Perfect. Keep it that way until the carriers are done."

Ergus approached two of his men who were huddled over one of the nurses.

Noticing his presence, one of them began his report.

"She's having a panic response to the gas but is trying to stay silent."

"Move," he commanded coldly, unholstering his weapon and spraying the panicked thing down.

The nurse let out an agonizing scream.

The three men watched, unnerved, as the liquid began eating deep into the tissue. Piercing deathly wails fell on deaf ears as the nurse saw in horror the emptiness in their eyes.

"Monsters."

Were her last thoughts as the acid reduced her to a steaming pile of gunk.

"We can't afford to babysit a caretaker. Make yourselves useful. We need to be out pronto!"

No further reprimands were needed.

Satisfied, the commander watched as the shelves emptied at a frightening pace.

Contemplating if he should indulge in the spoils some more, an unnatural crack caught his attention.

A giant shadow twice, no, probably thrice his size emerged out of the darkness.

A body snapped lifeless in one hand and a horrified one awaiting the same fate in the other.

"Sir. They have a monster!"