Rogue Alliance

FOUR



The feeding frenzy had rejuvenated Brennan’s system. His chest swelled with vitality and life. Strength, powerful and intoxicating, flowed through his veins and he was nearly drunk from it. He flexed his muscles.

“Jesus Christ. I’ve never seen anything like that,” Champlain said, standing up against the wall with a look of horror and fascination.

“I haven’t been in any other places in the facility. I know this area and where I’m kept. You said you’d get me out. So do it.”

Brennan was ready to end this chapter of his life and see the light of day. He didn’t remember much about life out in the real world, but the feel of the sun on his skin and breeze on his face was something he never forgot. He craved it almost as much as he craved his supplement.

Champlain snapped into action.

“Right. The facility is small and there aren’t many employees on site. The government must not want many people to know about this place. We should be able to go out the way I came in. We only have to pass through one guard at the door and then one out at the compound fence. I need to get my gun from the door guard. He confiscated it.”

Brennan only nodded. He looked down at his shirt; it was covered in Shinto’s blood. He pulled it over his head and fought the urge to cringe. Now that his need had been satisfied, his conscience rose to the surface. He hated the way it changed him. Whatever he had been, before they’d brought him to the institute, was gone. Now he was a monster.

Champlain stuck his head in the hallway.

“It’s clear. I’m sure they’re still tying up loose ends with whatever it was that Shinto had to take care of in the first place. Some other abomination, I’m sure.”

Abomination, thought Brennan, that about sums it up.

He followed Champlain down the hall. They stopped short when they heard the sound of laughter. After pausing, he realized the culprits weren’t getting any closer. They were most likely pissing around on break. Didn’t matter.

They rounded a corner and sprinted down another long, sterile hallway. Brennan felt high. The feeding and the impending moment of long-awaited freedom was causing his system to go into over-drive. He was ready for anything.

Champlain halted.

“Okay,” he said, “see that little station down at the end of the hall, just before the door? That’s the guard. Hang back a minute and let me handle this.”

Brennan wanted to bust through the walls.

“Okay,” he said.

Champlain’s body language suddenly shifted. He stood up straight and a wicked calm seemed to come over him. He sauntered down the hall as if he owned the joint.

“My business is done here,” Champlain said to the guard, “I’ll take my gun now and be on my way.”

Brennan ducked out of sight when the guard poked his head out of his tiny room. “Where’s Dr. Shinto? He always sees his guests out.”

“He’s taking care of other business. He’s a busy man, as I’m sure you know. He and I have said our goodbyes. Now if you don’t mind, I’d like to be on my way.”

The guard’s eyes darted back and forth.

“Uh, I guess. Let me get your weapon. Sorry, I didn’t mean to delay you, Sir.”

“No problem at all.”

Brennan wondered how Champlain was going to finagle him past the guard. He watched as he signed out his weapon then carefully pointed it into the guard’s face.

“Take your gun out of your belt,” he ordered, “throw it on the ground and then buzz me out. You aren’t going to raise the alarm or cause a scene. You’re just going to let me and my guy walk out of here. Or I will shoot you in the face. Do you hear me?”

The guard’s color had faded to an ashen-gray.

“What guy?”

Brennan started down the hall. The guard caught sight of him and his color dropped another few shades.

“Oh, no. You can’t take him,” he said, “Shinto will kill me.”

“I don’t think you have to worry about that,” Champlain laughed.

Brennan was twenty feet away when suddenly the heavy metal door just behind Champlain opened wide. A burly, bear of a man stood in the doorway and pointed his revolver straight at the back of Champlain’s head.

“Drop your weapon!” he shouted.

Brennan stopped. Champlain froze but didn’t drop his weapon. He held it steady to the other guard.

“I said drop it! You and I both know that neither of you are getting out of this facility. Now drop your goddamn gun.”

Brennan walked slowly forward. The guard gave a wary glare out of the corner of his eye. He kept his gun trained on Champlain but spoke to Brennan.

“Don’t move another step. I will shoot this a*shole.”

Brennan kept walking, slow and steady.

The guard shifted the weight on his feet. His eyes darted nervously.

Brennan didn’t say a word.

“Stop right now or I’ll shoot you and then shoot your friend.”

Brennan knew he couldn’t do both; not before he had a piece of him. He kept stalking. He was only about eight feet away.

When the guard finally panicked and made his decision, Champlain was ready. The guard jerked his aim toward Brennan. Champlain spun around and shot the guard before he got off a shot of his own. His thick body fell to the floor with a thud.

Brennan was already moving with deft speed to intercept the other guard who was lunging toward his gun on the floor. He blocked Champlain’s body just as the guard aimed and fired. The bullet nicked Brennan’s left shoulder. The impact threw him against the wall and a burning sensation seared his flesh.

Champlain turned to shoot the guard but Brennan was already in motion. Brennan hit the guard with such speed that the he flew against the wall behind him. There was a sick sound of bone cracking as his head hit the concrete partition.

Not sure if Champlain was taking aim, Brennan rolled to the ground, scooped up the gun and pointed it at Champlain. The spot between his furrowed brows was directly in his sites.

Champlain, for the first time, looked to be almost shaken. He raised a quizzical brow and spread his stance. They stood with weapons drawn facing one another.

Brennan hadn’t even broken a sweat. He knew he could kill Champlain right then and there. He cocked the gun. He stared Champlain down for another minute. Champlain looked half amused but Brennan knew he fully understood the situation. He was no match for the speed and agility he’d just witnessed in Brennan.

Brennan lowered his weapon.

“I don’t owe you anymore,” he said, “we’re even. Now let’s get out of here.”