Special police DekaOps

25

“Are you sure this is a good idea?”, said a blue skinned alien with pig like features. He mopped his brow with a dirty rag as he looked nervous. “I mean to let them know where I am. Let them know what this is?”

Agent Chatrox silently studied the jellyfish like creatures floating round in a fluid tank in front of him. Every so often one would sense him and try to attack him, only to be stopped by the special glass barrier between them. Not taking his eyes off the tank he replied, “This was the plan the bosses came up with. Don’t you have any faith in these ‘pets’ you created?”

“I would put my creations up against any Deka unit in the known universe,” he said feeling insulted. Then the nervousness crept back in, “But a black badge unit.”

“They are just like any other Deka unit,” the Agent said sharply. “They have a little extra training, a little extra freedom. That is all.” Tightening his cloak around him Chatrox continued, “Besides you have your newest shipment and those new toys of yours.” Finally facing his customer Chatrox let his curiosity get the better of him, “Why does a scientist need two laser whips?”

“My family were slave masters for generations,” he answered. “Before my intellect was discovered my Father taught me several techniques that I modified for my own personal use.” He stated to check the readout on another tank, this one containing some rock like pods. “But why this particular black badge unit? There’s like four in the entire galaxy.”

“Because this is the one stationed on a singular planet,” Chatrox answered. “So your pets won’t have to wait that long for them to arrive. The bosses also wants to hurt the black badges, remind them they are vulnerable. They tried to prove it with Waven and his group. They momentarily succeeded when they killed the unit lead by the tiger. And they almost did the same to this planet’s unit, but they proved to be unpredictably resilient.” Chatrox lips twisted into a disgusted snarl, “Even without their leader.”

“But I’m not sure they’re ready yet,” he said. “In a controlled environment they work wonderfully.”

“Than think of it as the ultimate field test,” Chatrox cut him off. He walked up and talked into his ear, “Just think of it Tras. If your little pets can take out a black badge unit you will be able to name your own price from then on. Everyone in the galaxy will be knocking at your door.”

The alien thought it over, Chatrox could almost see the credits in his eyes. Placing a hand on the tube he said, “Even if they don’t perform as planned they can still do some damage. The data gathered from this incident would be most helpful.”

“Excellent,” Chatrox removed a data pad from under his cloak. “Set some of your pets in these locations. I have studied this particular unit for a long time. In fact I’ve know their leader for far longer. I am confident I know how he’s going to react when he hears the news.”

***

Pierce looked over the information in his hands for the hundredth time, he wasn’t sure what to make of this at first. Then Michelle said it was legit but part of him was expecting it to be a prank from somebody in command. Still they had to follow through on this information, especially if it was on the New Mexico/ Mexico border. The team filed in line as soon as Michelle called them. He waited a few beats before saying anything. “Ladies and gentlemen, we have a unique situation on our hands. We have an Alienizer who wants to change sides.” Like he expected they didn’t believe it either.

“No way,” Ace exclaimed.

“I know, but Command sent this one,” The Major informed them. “They received the transmission this morning and immediately handed it to us.”

“How often do these jumps happen?”, Dan ended up asking.

“Not often,” Michelle answered. “More times than not the Alienizers find out about it and the jumper is never heard from again. Even after they’re in SPD custody they can find a way to get to them at times. As you can imagine that tends to give those who want to a case of cold feet.”

“So who’s feeling lucky this time?”

Michelle pulled up an image of a blue skinned alien, “His name is Tras, he’s a geneticist who specializes in highly unauthorized experiments. According to his file he was a highly respected member of the scientific community. Then he started voicing the idea that he and his fellow scientists should be creating life in order to understand it better, the more intelligent the better.”

“Five bucks that didn’t go over well,” Boomer quipped. D.E. nodded his head in agreement.

“That goes without saying,” she continued. “He went underground soon after. This is the first time anybody heard from him since.”

“So why now?”, Dan asked looking suspicious.

The Major took over, “He says he’s tired of living on the run. He’s willing to exchange what he knows about the Alienizer organization for asylum. Command sees this as a high priority and wants him in custody as soon as possible.”

Still looking skeptical Dan said, “So we escort him to a safe house to be named later.”

“More like here,” The Major corrected. “Since this base is unknown to the Alienizers they feel it is the safest bet for now.”

“Lovely,” Dan muttered. “Let’s get him and get him back here,” he addressed to the others.

They complied and went out the door. All except D.E. who noticed Rev was hanging back a bit as well. “Something wrong buddy?”

“I am not sure Terry,” he said. “I am feeling uneasy about this assignment.”

“I think we all are Rev.”

“I know, but…,” he seemed lost for words for a second. “I am experiencing a sensation of dread that I am finding unnerving.”

“It’s probably just who we’re after,” D.E. offered. “What I just heard about this guy is creeping me out too.”

Rev thought it over but didn’t look all that convinced, “I hope that’s all it is.”

***

The trip was uneventful and quiet. D.E. and Boomer was trying to get Rev out of whatever funk he was in with little success. While that was going on Dan was studying the area of the meet. “D.E., I know Command says this guy is important but I want to cover our butts just in case.”

“Do you want me to take sniper position?”, He asked. Dan said he did.

“Captain,” Rev spoke up, “is it wise to split us up in this situation?”

“Probably not,” he admitted, “but something telling me that we would be worse off to keep us in one spot. Boomer, go with D.E. as his spotter.”

“You got it,” Boomer complied.

“Rodger,” D.E. said soon after.

They landed in a clearing near the meet point. Dan ordered them to activate the Dekasuits as soon as they landed, just in case the Alienizers choose then to take care of the “defector”. They waited a few minutes after D.E. and Boomer headed out to give them time to get ready. Rev kept glancing in the direction they went, still unable to shake that feeling.  A ten minute walk lead to another clearing and a compound of some sort, camouflaged to look like the surroundings. Another minute went by before Tras walked out followed by a couple of Batsuroids. Ace went for her D-Shooter Dan held up a hand to stop her. “My apologies,” Tras said after he ordered the Batsuroids to stand down as well, “but I can’t be too careful.”

“I understand,” Dan said. “I hope you don’t mind if I have to do the same.”

“It’s not a problem I just want to get this over with.”

“Something else we can agree on. If there’s anything you need to grab you might want to get it now. I’m not sure how much time we’re going to have before your former friends come looking for you.”

“I don’t think that’s going to be a problem.” The way Tras was smiling was making Dan nervous. “You see I’m already protected. Several of my creations are lying around in the open, just waiting for anybody to come near them. Like your companions for example.” Looking back he nodded to the Batsuroids who raised their weapons and stepped foreword.

“I think it’s going south,” Boomer said. He was watching the situation through a pair of binoculars.

Above him on a mountain ridge D.E. already had them in his sight as he lay on his belly, “I see it.” He lined up a shot but before he could pull the trigger a cracking sound got his attention. Looking to his right a rock near him was splitting in half. All he could get out was, “What…?”, before a jellyfish looking thing jumped at him.

Dan and the other drew their weapons, “Why am I not surprise this was a trap,” Ace said. Dan was wondering what was taking D.E. so long.

“As always the grunts know more that the masters,” Tras said. “Much like how Agent Chatrox knew you.” Before they could say anything he continued, “He knew you wouldn’t totally trust the situation. So he had me set out my pets accordingly. I must say I am proud of this particular creation of mine.”

“Call off the Batsuroid,” Dan ordered but he was ignored.

“I based these off your jellyfish. They can secrete an acid that can melt through just about everything, including Dekametal. But their main objective is to latch ion the head of the nearest target. Then they take over sending the target into an uncontrollable rage. After that they either take total control of the target dies. They even developed a means to stop themselves from being removed before they are finished. Of course then it’s too late. I must say though, it is a thing of beauty.” Their License beeped and Tras smirked at them, “One of you might want to get that.”

Keeping his D-Colt on Tras Dan warily answered, “This is Stevens, go.”

A panic Boomer responded, “Cap we got a situation here!” Gunshots cut him off and somebody yelled in the background.

Ace went cold as she went, “D.E.”

“Right now you have two options,” Tras said. “You can either attempt to take out my bodyguards and apprehend me. Or you make a futile attempt to save your companion.” Ace and Rev looked at each other while Dan never took his eyes off of Tras. Then he quickly turned around and ran for D.E. location with the others right behind him. Tras had a nervous smirk on his face, “Just like I thought. We need to get out of here now.”

***

They ran as fast as they could, praying they weren’t too late. Dan told them to double time it as they hit the mountain. Ace was trying not to think about the worst. About three quarters of the way up Rev saw something blue and slowed down just long enough to pick it up. It was D.E.’s helmet and it looked like a hole was melted into it by the right temple. “No,” he whispered and he dropped the helmet and quickened his pace. They found Boomer first, he was in pain but he made them go ahead.

They found D.E. further up grunting in pain and clutching at his head. “D.E.”, Dan called out. He stood up and looked at them. There was a jellyfish looking thing attached to his forehead but the rage in his eyes made them pause. Suddenly his D-Shooter was aimed at them and he fired. Dan was able to get out of the way but Ace took a shot in the chest. Rev ran in and jumped up, planting both his feet into D.E.’s chest as he knocked him down. Boomer recovered and knocked the Shooter out of his hand as he and Dan jumped on top of him to keep him down. He started fighting against them as Ace joined in. “Get that fucking thing off of him!”

“Captain,” Rev said looking at him, “Tras…”

“I know what he said,” he snapped. “It doesn’t mean it was true.”

“And it doesn’t mean we can’t try either,” Ace said. He started kicking at her, “Damn it D.E. fight it!”

“Come on buddy,” Boomer said, “You can do this.”

Rev pulled out a scanner and tried to study the creature. D.E. started to thrash around harder. “Hold him still.”

“What to you think we’re trying to do?!” Boomer yelled at him. He was getting freaked out at the hate and rage in his best friends’ eyes.

Dan and Rev both tried to keep his head still as the scanner did its’ work. “It bonded itself to his skin,” he said after awhile.”I am seeing some sort of appendage in his head. It appears to have pierce his skull and into his brain. There appears to be several tendrils coming form the appendage,” he said after scanning a bit deeper. “It seems they are bonding themselves to his nervous system and various synapses. “I can not tell for sure, this scanner is not strong enough and he refuses to stay still.”

“Can you get it off of him?”, Dan demanded.

“I am…,” he looked at the readout again, “I am not sure. We must get him back to the Shepard before…”

While they were talking D.E. was able power them off and scramble away. He turned and pointed another D-Shooter at them. Boomer discovered it was his after they checked their weapons, he must have grabbed it while he was getting away. Ace quickly pointed her weapon at him but her aim waivered slightly, “Drop it D.E..”

He looked like he was struggling as the Shooter slowly lowered. His eyes went back to normal but looking pained he struggled and he said,” Cap… I need to talk to you. Face to face.” Dan hands never left the handle of the D-Colt. “Don’t… don’t you trust me.”

Biting his lip for a moment Dan replied, “Yeah D.E., I trust you.” Cautiously he removed his helmet and the others did the same. D.E. raised the gun again, Dan dropped his helmet and aimed the D-Colt at him. “That thing on your forehead is another thing entirely.”

Smiling weakly as tears started to well up in his eyes D.E. said, “That’s what I always liked about your Cap. You were always straight foreword with me. I never told you how much I appreciated that. How much I appreciated all of you.”

“You can tell us that any time you want,” Dan told him. “Just drop the Shooter.”

“I’m trying,” he said. “It’s getting too much control over me.”

“Fight it D.E.,” Ace pleaded, “please fight it.”

“Terry we will get you back to base,” Rev spoke up. “We will think of something.”

“Yeah,” Boomer said quickly, “and if Rev can’t figure it out I sure the SPD big brains…”

“I don’t think there’s a plan B for this one,” D.E. said suddenly.

“There’s always a plan B Terry,” Dan told him, wanting to believe it himself.

“You don’t understand,” the tears started to fall, “I heard you and Rev. I know what you guys were talking about.”

“He is an Alienizer jackass who was trying to scare us,” Dan quickly told him. “We’ll do everything we can to help you. Just put the gun down before that thing makes you fire.”

The Shooter shook in hand but it wasn’t dropping. “I can feel it inside me. It’s growing right now, it feels like it’s trying to take over my mind. Like it’s trying to get into my memories. Finding out what I know and who I care about.”

“That’s just your imagination Terry,” Boomer told him.

“I don’t think so.”  D.E. was quiet for a few moments. Then his voice was barely above a whisper as he said, “I told Rev the reason why I fight is I’m afraid of what will happen to kids like my brother and his friends if we let a nasty one get away.” The tears started to fall freely as he added, “I think I’m becoming one of the nasty ones.”

“No your not!”, Ace argued. “We’ll… we’ll think of something.”

The D-Shooter in his hand stopped shaking. “D.E. drop the gun or I’ll…,”Dan couldn’t finish the sentence, or he’ll what?

“I love you guys,” D.E. told them. “I have to tell you guys that before…,” he trailed off. “I loved every second of it. The Major, Michelle, every mission we went on. All of it.” He closed his eyes and looked like he was struggling again. Boomer and Ace toward him but he looked at them. “If this doesn’t work tell my… tell my family I love them.” Slowly he started to raise the gun toward his head.

“Terry don’t do it!”, Dan ordered. All of them were too afraid to move. He put the barrel parallel to his head, pointed at the creature and closed his eyes.

“Terry!” Ace and Rev yelled.

“Terry don’t…,” Boomer cried out.

He pulled the trigger and shot through the creature. D.E. looked at them and smiled weakly. A rancid smelling liquid came from the creature as he rolled his eyes into the back of his head and he dropped to the ground. “Terry!” Ace cried out as they ran to him.

“Do not do this to us Terry,” Dan told him as Rev ran a scanner over him. It beeped wildly as his life signs became erratic.

“The creature injected some sort of toxin into him before it died,” Rev said. “It is paralyzing his systems, trying to stop them all together.”

“Counter act it!”, Ace ordered.

“I am trying to calibrate the correct anti-toxin now,” his fingers danced over the scanner. Boomer clutched at his hair feeling totally helpless.

Dan grabbed D.E.s head. “Fight damn it! Do you hear me? That’s an…,” the scanner started to emit a long continuous beep, “…order,” he finished weakly. All of them looked at Rev as he stared at the scanner. Slowly he reached out and put one hand on his face to close his eyes. He sat back and started praying. Boomer wrapped his arms around Ace as both of them started crying. Dan punched the ground in anger and tears started to drop by his fist. Slowly he looked at the compound in the distance.

***

“Hurry up you idiots,” Tras ordered his Batsuroids and Anaroids. “We have to be packed and on that transport now. If any of those black badges survived they’re going to bring SPD down on top of this place in force. And I don’t want to be here when that happens.” He quickly went over and checked out the readout of a chamber ready for transport. These were still fairly new and could be damaged easily. “Don’t worry,” he spoke to the creatures inside, “I’m going to take good care of you. I don’t want you to get hurt before I can put you in your shells.”

The roof above him exploded and Tras dove for cover out of instinct. He saw that the rubble crash on top of the tank. As the light poured in four ropes dropped through with the black badges following soon after. Before he could give an order they fired on his bodyguards as soon as they landed. Ace and Boomer were firing at anything that looked mechanical. Rev dropped anything that near him. Dan made a small hole into the chest of a Batsuroid with his D-Shot, then he saw a tank with more of the creatures in it. He didn’t even think twice as he fired at the tank until it cracked and spilled its contents. He walked over and stepped on one of the creatures, grinding it under his heel. “Leave my creation alone!”, Tras screamed.

He grabbed the handles of the laser whips on his belt and activated them. Tras whipped the twin beams at him. Dan dodged, making him hit his own equipment. The Alienizer cursed at him and started swinging wildly. Ace and the others tried to get out of the way and Dan couldn’t get out a shot. Knowing he had to close that gap fast Dan ran in. Tras swung both beams horizontally toward each other. Switching the D-Shot to his left hand he drew the D-Colt and slid under the beams. He fired twice, a bullet for each shoulder that made Tras drop the whips. Then he fired two more times, this time at the knees and made the Alienizer drop. Dan quickly got to his feet and stared at him, looking so helpless at the moment. Putting the D-Shot on a table next to him he reached up and removed his helmet, red eyes glaring at Tras. Ace saw what was happening, “Cap what are…?”

“Equipment malfunction,” he snapped. A cold hard stare fixated on Tras he walked up and placed the barrel of the D-Colt right between his eyes. Tras started weeping and begging for his life as Dan finger started to curl around the trigger.

“I too,” Rev said making Dan look over his shoulder, he was removing his helmet, “appear to have an equipment malfunction.”

“Ditto,” Ace said as she did the same.

Boomer joined in, “Somebody is really going to have to check into that when he get back.”

Dan turned his attention back to Tras. His lips curled in disgust as he started to squeeze the trigger. Tras closed his eyes but nothing happened. Dan put the D-Colt back in its holster and backed away grabbing the D-Shot along the way. “We do this legal.” He raised his OpsLicense in front of him and pressed the button on top, “Target orders.”

It felt like forever as X and circle flashed between them. Boomer was muttering, “Come on X, Come on X.”

The circle flashed between them and Dan muttered in disbelief, “Apprehend target?”

“HAHAHAHA!”, Tras cried out in relief. Dan stared at the License in his hand for a long time before slamming it shut. Motioning for Boomer and Rev to get him they put the D-Whoppers around his wrist and hauled him up. As they came toward him Dan got in Rev’s way and forced him to stop as Boomer and Tras kept going. He smashed the butt of the D-Shot into the back of Tras’s skull and he crumpled to the ground.

Ace looked shocked for a moment but then she smiled slightly, “He resisted arrest. I saw the whole thing.” Dan said nothing as he headed for the door.

***

The Major and Michelle were together when they got the call. Dan called for the area to be quarantined until a specialized SPD clean up crew could take care of the remaining creatures. But both of them were confused and a little worried, Dan sounded off. Like he wanted to say something more but couldn’t. Of course Pierce heard that tone in his voice before and prayed he was wrong about it now. They waited anxiously in the hanger as the Shepard landed. As the ramp lowered some technicians ran in like protocol demanded when they had a prisoner. They heard Ace angrily shout, “Get that son of a bitch off my jet!” Michelle looked at him feeling confused. A confusion that grew in both of them as the techs carried a bandaged up Tras on a stretcher past them.

Dan, Ace and Boomer followed looking angry and upset. Michelle found her voice and asked, “What happened to him?”

Not looking at her as he past Dan replied, “He fell.”

Ace continued with an, “Into a door.”

“A lot,” Boomer finished as they kept heading for the hanger door.

“I can’t over look this,” The Major said. “A line was crossed…”

“Major,” Michelle gasped and grabbed his shoulder. He looked at her and saw tears starting to form. Then he looked at the Shepard. Rev and another tech were carrying out a second stretcher, this one carrying a body bag.

Pierce closed his eyes as they started to water up and lowered his head. Tapping the bottom of his cane on the hanger floor he finally said. “It would have been nice if they let us know he was that clumsy from the start.”

***

Dan paced the floor of his quarters. His mind was so mixed up right now he didn’t know what to do. Looking at his reflection he knew there was one thing he had to do before anything else. Throwing his bomber jacket over his uniform he walked out of his room. The Major and Michelle looked surprised to see him as he entered the Command Room. “Dan where do you think you’re going?”, the Major asked.

“There’s something I have to do,” was his only answer as he headed for the elevator.

“Wait a second Dan,” the Major tried to cut him off, “Command wants to talk to all of you about this.” He continued for the elevator door. Pierce motion for a couple of people to get in his way. He was relieved when Dan didn’t try to fight his way past them. “I don’t know what’s going through your head right now but it has to wait until this is over.”

“He died on my watch.” Dan looked at him and repeated, “There’s something I have to do.”

Nodding as he finally understood the Major ordered the techs away from the door. “I’m sure Command will understand if you’re a little late for the debriefing.”

Taking a jeep Dan headed for the city. He had only been to his destination once, but he was only passing by at the time. If only he was visiting again under better circumstances. Pulling up in front of a house he saw an older couple sitting on a swing on the porch. Steeling himself he got out and headed toward them as they stood up. Back in the army a couple of his buddies who had to do this said that sometimes the family just knew the moment they saw you. Watching them brace themselves Dan got the feeling they knew too. Stopping a few feet in front of him he tried to keep his voice steady as he said, “Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy, it’s about Terry.”