{This story takes place in the now dead dimension a number of months prior to the story that is detailed in the Death Of A Dimension series posted earlier)
Three weeks ago, Kingston, West Indies was devastated by the fifth Filth bomb to detonate about the globe since 2012 or there abouts. The first city to fall was Tokyo. The bomb that detonated there was the smallest of all. Before 2021 two more bombs exploded. Following Tokyo there were detonations in Beijing and Quebec. Each bomb is larger than the last.
Gaia mobilised her defences and the fight was on. The fronts stabilised for over a decade then in 2034 Havana suffered the biggest bomb until three weeks ago, when Kingston was hit. To say Gaia’s defences were rattled was a vast understatement. The Barn, while not officially affiliated with the council or any of the factions, still paid them heed and assisted when able. As time went on this cooperation increased as the Dreamers assault went from strength to strength.
Venice needed to know how the bombs were getting bigger and who was doing their tech. They needed information from ground zero … For some reason, both Ceara’s Mum and Da had vetoed family involvement in such a mission. This work could be performed by faction operatives.
This didn’t sit well with Ceara, in her opinion the best defence was a strong offense. And the strongest offence required good solid intel. In this case the best intel would come from Ground Zero of the biggest filth bomb to have ever been detonated. There may be a clue to what made it stronger, to where any new tech was coming from, that sort of thing.
She also felt that she and her squad of Confidi were the most qualified to get it. She planned to conduct a ‘Foreigny’ That is a completely unsanctioned mission, this time not just by the factions and Venice … But the family as well. This was risky because this meant there would be no backup and an emergency extraction would be difficult, if not impossible.
As the situation in the world had deteriorated each of the triplets had had a Confidi team assigned to them. Ceara’s team consisted of Kase , Karen, Jonas and Anders. While all four agreed to accompany her, Karen had been the only one to suggest that the plan was a bad one, she couldn’t see what Ceara hoped to achieve.
Regardless of this misgiving they prepared their kit and the five headed to their objective in the dead of night. It took them a day and a half to reach Jamaica and this was made more difficult by the destruction of the Norman Manley International Airport when the filth bomb was detonated. There was also the fact that the tiny Caribbean nation was in disarray following the capital’s destruction. Social order had all but broken down.
This was good and bad for the team. The near lack of any official response and the disruption to local law enforcement services meant that there was little to worry about regarding being seen armed to the teeth and sneaking about. Bad, because the locals were spooked and Jamaica was in the top 100 of armed citizenry. The locals had little idea of the true nature of the attack of their peaceful nation, and a squad of armed intruders could easily be part of that destruction.
As it turned out these issues didn’t adversely hinder their advance towards the remains of Kingston. The bomb had been detonated in the middle of the city in the middle of the day. The destruction was terrible to see. There were Squid Heads, Spindle Legs and Filth Dogs everywhere. Black goo oozed from door and window frames. Filth bubbled and flowed from the ground.
Ceara was hoping to get to ground zero to see if there was anything left of whatever delivered the device. Hoping beyond hope that she could find something to help stop further attacks.
The squad advanced slowly, avoiding any filth creatures taking detours as required. The direct route to ground zero was consistently blocked but they were still able to go in basically the right direction.
After a good 90 minutes of careful advance, they were crouched across the street from a large building that appeared to be some sort of convention centre. Any further progress would have to be through the building; there were large groupings of filth creatures blocking other approaches. Unexpectedly, the beast’s attention seemed to be focused away from this building. Not wishing to look a gift horse in the mouth the team silently moved across the road and into the building.
They found themselves in a large foyer area … they fanned out covering the area in front, with Kase covering their six. There was a large site map near the escalators heading up. Ceara studied it and memorised a path through to the other side of the building, which would take them closer to ground zero. They would have to ascend a number of floors before reaching a fire escape that would allow egress to the ground they were trying to reach.
The only light available being the soft glow from the emergency exit signs and the like, they made their way upwards, passing through a number of auditoriums that all seemed to have been vacated in a panic, while the display screens had powered down the desks were covered in papers and pens. Some still had open laptops or tablets. Considering the outside, the panic was well justified. Ceara wonders briefly if any of the attendees had managed to find safety. She doubted it.
The squad moved silently on up and their path led them into a large auditorium. Kase and Karen moved closer to Ceara as she drew the remainder of their path in the dust on the floor. Their telepathic abilities meant the squad was able to maintain silence.
This silence was suddenly pierced by blood curdling screams and the sound of automatic weapons fire. Ceara turned in time to see both Anders and Jonas being dragged into the mass of darkness that was the filth. Their telepathic screams abruptly ceased. The three of them bolted in the direction Ceara’s mud map had indicated. The filth surged after them.
The three barrelled down the empty corridors trying to find a way out. They still had an idea where they needed to be … but rather than trying to gather intel, their aim was now to escape.
At last, they see the exit … only to have their hopes dashed as the door had been completely blocked by rubble … Having no other choice, they left the planned path behind and hurried along corridors that will hopefully lead them to another fire escape.
A corridor door blocks the way and the three of them hit it simultaneously. There is a combined stumble and Kase hits the ground hard … before he can get to his feet or have either Karen or Ceara assist him a large shadow hound grabs his ankle and backs away dragging the screaming Kase with it. The huge hound body blocks the door keeping the mass of filth at bay. Ceara and Karen have little option but to run again.
Unlike Anders and Jonas, Kase’s telepathic screams only slowly fade from their minds as they sprint.
At last, a door with a softly glowing light above it embossed with the magical words ‘Fire Escape’. This one opens easily and that starts the five-story descent. Behind them the chase has restarted. The inhuman growls, snorts and moans growing closer.
Finally, the pair reach the lower door and Ceara sobs as she pounds on yet another door that is partially blocked. Their escape is so close but so far. She repeatedly crashes against the obstructed door and it slowly starts to open. Screaming aloud, Karen implores her to hurry, the need for speed punctuated by automatic rifle fire only pauses long enough to change magazines, Hurry … I don’t think I can hold them long.”
Just as the door bursts from its frame Karen gives a scream and the fire stops being the controlled bursts from a few seconds before, it’s now continuous until the firearms action locks open. A squid head has it’s tentacles wrapped about her head and its teeth bite into her neck, and she looks at Ceara, eyes wide and desperately screams her last “OH FV<K ME! …. IT’S KASE … DON’T LET THEM TAKE ME!!”
There is only a moment’s hesitation as Ceara lifts her rifle and empties her clip into Karen and the beast. She shifts and the air shimmers as she takes on her Wolfen form and sprints away.
A normal wolf doesn’t cry. But Ceara is far from a normal wolf. Tears stream from her eyes, her thoughts cannot get past that one thing “What have I done!?”