The Shadow Man

Eleven

I pull back the slide on my rifle. If push comes to shove, I probably won't even be able to fire it. Still, my men feel some comfort knowing they have guns.
I can't believe Larson wants to put his trust in a full on stranger.
"Sir, Drop in 30."
I nod, looking to my 4 man team.
Each of them has a nervous look on his face.
"Don't worry. I've fought with them before.
I think I know how to handle it if talks go sideways."
I nod, sliding the rifle across my back.
"You ready?"
I ask, looking to the young man beside me.
"This is my first drop sir."
He says.
"Stick with me, you'll be okay."
I say.
"Out!"
Without a second thought I leap over the edge.
My boots slam against the dirt.
My knees shake from the impact of falling 30 feet.
Four men slide down, gently landing around me.
"Forgot to tighten that."
I mutter, grunting as I stand up.
After removing the harness, the jet soars off into the sky without a sound.
"Move in."
I whisper.
My men follow my lead, rifles held in front of them.
Through the woods we walk, moving closer to a cabin at the end of a dirt road.
It's not an impressive building.
Ancient poles feed wires to it from off the ground.
The windows are completely dark, showing no light inside.
"Fan out, make sure no one sees you. Hold your fire, I mean it I want your fingers off the triggers."
They nod, obeying my orders.
I move towards the front of the house, fighting the urge to reach for my rifle.
If he sees me with a loaded assault rifle in my hands, I have no doubt he'll attack.
I hear something thud a few feet away, landing in a crunch of leaves.
I pull the pistol from my leg, aiming the flashlight at the sound.
Reynolds lays there unconscious.
I walk over to him.
In the distance I hear blows landing along with the grunts of another soldier.
Behind me, another flies through the air as he fires off his automatic weapon.
The assailant lands on another of my men, raising a wrist blade over his head.
"Stop!"
I shout, holding my gun to his head.
He turns his attention towards me, his eyes flaring with energy.
I pull the rifle from my back just as he fires a bolt of energy at me.
His power charges up my weapon, allowing it to fire.
I aim it at his head, pulling the trigger.
His body spins as he flies off my soldier.
You have to use their own stuff against them. Larson is going to be happy knowing his Nolite prototypes work.

"Has he said anything?"
Asks Larson.
"Not a word."
I say, shaking my head.
We stand there in front of the two way glass.
6 men stand with him inside the room, he's chained by nonmetallic chains.
I walk in.
He looks up, luminescent green burns in his eyes.
There's no metal in the room, so he can't escape.
Larson did a good job Nolite proofing the room.
"Jackson Rone."
His voice is thick and course.
He doesn't make eye contact.
"Why do you hunt me?"
He asks.
"You know who I am."
I observe.
"One of the first things I did, was access a computer. I know everything the internet knows."
I take a seat in front of him.
"Why haven't you broken free yet?"
I ask.
He pulls his hands apart, snapping the chains like plastic.
The 6 men behind us raise their rifles.
I lift my hand, waving them down.
"Approximately 14 days ago, one of the Nolite Crucibles partially activated, throwing out signals from a world far from here."
I say.
He looks me in the eye.
"That is none of my concern."
He says.
I look at him.
"We recorded this sound."
Ghostly moans and monstrous screams echo through the speakers.
His eyes lift to the ceiling, slowly filling with shock.
"several days ago, the Shift went missing, leaving no trace of his whereabouts or who took him."
He tilts his head.
"What does that have to do with the sounds?" He asks.
"Because a signal was emitted the night he was taken, in the place he was taken from. That signal was a marking of the Nolite Crucible. You see the Crucibles leave a mark on-"
"On all who pass so they can be identified should they escape from Asylum, I know. I assume that's how you found me, Correct?"
He asks.
I nod.
"The sound, how does that relate?"
He asks.
"It's the call of a Depeer."
I reply.
"Yes I know that, they are still here on Earth, but what-"
"I spent over a year fighting them. That is a distress call. It's calling for help. And that other sound you heard...
It's not alone. I think they are gathering for something."
He strokes his chin, thinking deeply about the information disclosed to him.
"The Shift, you say someone took him.
You assume he was taken?"
He asks.
"Why?"
I think back to the debriefing of the incident in Anchorage.
"The scene where he disappeared shows strong indications of a struggle. Shattered cement, bullet holes, scorch marks, broken glass and the likes. Someone definitely had a hard time taking him down."
He says.
"So what am I to do here?"
I lean forwards, looking him in the eye.
"You're a Nolite. I know you are. And I know what you can do. The only difference between you and him is that you have spent your entire life around other Nolites, he has not. You know how they act, you know how they think."
"You want me to help you find your friend."
I nod.
"My name is Kaleo Xek'oz."
I nod.
"Jackson Rone. But you already knew that. It's nice to meet you."