“So, what kind of research do they do here?” Andy asked as they plodded down the dark hall. Only the emergency lights were on now, although why they didn’t have normal lights on Andy didn’t know.
Frink answered this one quickly. “Paranormal experimentation.” He didn’t go any deeper.
“I’m guessing the public doesn’t know about it and all of the employees are sworn into secrecy,” Andy said.
Both of the other agents answered in unison. “Correct.”
Andy sighed. The supernatural was a vast and question-filled topic, and it looked like the dickwads that knew everything weren’t going to share their knowledge.
The team continued walking down the hallway to the loading bay undisturbed by anything beyond the explanation of science.
***
N4Z4R3N3, as it had been identified, clawed at the metal door fruitlessly.
It had gotten here through the ventilation system, but it couldn’t escape that way. The vent was in the ceiling, and not even the rogue specimen could reach it. It would just have to wait for a security team to open a door for it.
N4Z4R3N3 wondered why it hadn’t seen any more humans since the foreign men that had injured it. Security teams should have been patrolling. Looking for it. Trying to kill it. Trying to avenge their fallen kind. But there was nothing. Curious.
Then it heard a slight metal scrape above it. It glanced up at the metal balcony that lined the upper part of the spacious room. It saw an open entranceway and several dark figures emerging though it. Now was its chance.
***
“What is it?” asked Frink.
“The scientists called it Specimen N4Z4R3N3,” Johnson answered. He pointed his sidearm at the creature in the loading bay. He didn’t quite fire yet. “We have been ordered to eliminate it.”
“It might be difficult without Bionic,” Andy remarked. He fidgeted with the settings on the rocket launcher. “Are you sure we shouldn’t call in for some back-up?”
Johnson didn’t respond. He seemed suddenly frozen. The other two agents looked where he pointed his gun.
The creature below them was gone.
“Shit,” Andy remarked.
Then a feral, angered figure leaped out from behind a crate near them. The thing rammed into Frink’s side, knocking the scientist over. The Professor was already unconscious.
Andy reacted with lighting speed. He swivelled his loaded launcher toward the beast and fired, knowing he wouldn’t hit Frink. He was stunned to see the creature face-on. It looked like a clown in a broken straitjacket with dark face-paint and claws. Its eyes were narrow and hateful.
But the freak was agile. It swerved and avoided the shot, and the rocket hit the wall far behind it. The experiment used the distraction to lunge at Andy.
Meanwhile, Johnson opened fire on the specimen with his Berreta. Five shots rang out, none hitting their mark. The creature reached Andy and grabbed him by the necktie. It jerked down.
As Andy fell forward, Johnson retreated down the stairway, continuing his fire to draw the specimen away from his downed team. The attempt worked, and N4Z4R3N3 jumped after him.
Unfortunately for Johnson, he had just emptied his clip and didn’t have time to reload. He spun around and raced down the rest of the stirs. He leaped behind a crate when he reached the bottom.
The specimen pursued, crawling down the stairs impossibly fast and soon catching up to the agent.
Johnson rose to his feet and kicked the crate in front of him at the creature. The wooden container broke open with the force of Johnson’s foot. The box shattered completely when it contacted the creature. Out rained several automatic weapons.
Johnson hurriedly picked one up and whirled toward the creature while raising the machine gun to his shoulder.
***
Andy rose to his feet, readjusting his tie and tie-bar. He then heard a stream of automatic weapon fire. The agent ran to the railing and looked into the bay below.
Johnson had a military-grade machine gun and was shooting at the specimen.
“Take me to the nearest chemical storage area,” Frink gasped behind Andy. Andrew jumped in shock. He whirled around and stared at the rising scientist.
“Where is it?” Andy asked.
“Sub-Hall B-1,” Frink gasped as he got to his feet. Andy could barely hear him over the gunfire below. “If I can get a cyanide canister out of there, I can fill the water reservoir of the shower room –which is Sub-Hall B-3– with it.” The Professor grimly smiled. “Then Johnson can lure the creature into that room and trap it while we bathe it in acid.”
“Like Auswich,” Andy said. He looked around for the entrance to Sub-Hall B-1. He saw a door with that label on the ground floor, behind the dodging creature. Andy gulped. “Let’s go,” he said.
***
Johnson fired until he emptied the clip. The experiment was amazingly good at dodging, but the agent managed to hit it a few times.
While the agent searched for another clip in the broken crate, he heard Frink’s voice in his earpiece. “Cover me and Andy,” the voice said, “Then draw the creature into Sub-Hall B-3." Johnson glanced back and saw Agent Andy and the Professor climbing carefully down the stairs.
Then the specimen recuperated and jumped back to Johnson. The agent didn’t have time to react.
Then several shots impacted the mad clown-creature from the side. Johnson looked over and saw the remainder of Team Petticoat firing handguns from the open door to Sub-Hall B-4.
***
Andy and Frink scurried to the entrance of the chemical storage room and entered the override code on the keypad. Frink ran into the place, shuffled around some canisters, and found exactly what he was looking for.
Andy then did his part. He moved over to a removable grate in the floor and shot its lock off. The agent lifted it off and shot a hole into the pipe beneath.
Frink brought the container over, opened it, and carefully emptied its liquid contents into the pipe below. Andy stood up and signaled to Johnson.
***
Johnson yelled to the remainder of Team Petticoat and pointed toward the door to Sub-Hall B-3, the shower room. The dark-suited agents ran to the door of the that room, easily avoiding the confused and injured specimen. One of the men entered the access code while the other fired at the specimen.
Johnson ran at the specimen, firing his automatic gun and pushing it toward Sub-Hall B-3. The simplistic creature ran at the now-opened door with the two agents from Team Petticoat. It dived at one of the men and knocked him into the room.
Agent Johnson yelled for the man inside the hall to turn on the showers. He then ordered the other agent to close the door to the chamber.
Both of the Team Petticoat agents understood that they to make a sacrifice. Each one did his part, and soon the creature was trapped inside with cyanide showers. So was a Bureau 13 agent who had given his life. He would be honored.
***
When the security teams finally arrived, they opened the door to Sub-Hall B-3. In it were the remains of human bones, muscle, and a tattered suit as well as the fizzing, bubbling remains of something less-than-human. They would have to sanitize the area and bury the former agent.
At least everything was now safe and under control.
***
Specimen N4Z4R3N3 hid in the ventilation shaft near the lethal shower room. It would soon be able to leave this cramped place and silently escape the research complex.
It was just grateful it had illusory magic.
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