The LAB

Chapter 21

Sirens wailed in the morning air, rattling walls and windows as well as the cars inside the building. Officers burst into the rooms, shouting orders to get gear and to be fast about it. Fear was in the air, and strong, and yet the only vehicle not in panic was the Blazer. Jaslo was confused as to why everyone was speeding around in such chaos, but as everyone gathered outside she soon picked up the scent. Her eyes went wide as their commanding officers came out with the news.

"A beast has been spotted around the southern side of the town, and it's taken several lives already. We are tasked with slowing it down until heavier units can be deployed!" The Officer informed as he paced in front of the group. The large SUV nodded as he got the shout of a response from the group, all but from one vehicle. Jaslo watched as everyone got ready and psyched up for this confrontation, and something in the pit of her tank turned. The scent was familiar in the air, not just fear but the carnage. How could she pick it up from here? They were nowhere near the area of town the beast was seen in.

"Blazer! Double-time!" A yelp of surprise left the small SUV as she bolted off to rejoin the rest of the group. They traveled down the city streets, heading down smaller roads where the aftermath of brutal murder could be seen. Several cops had to stop as they heaved what was in their tanks while the rest of the group tried to drive on. Jaslo only looked over things, she had done worse to vehicles in those walls underground, but it was still odd to see. Cars torn apart, halves of them missing and each forever frozen in a state of fear, fluids splattered everywhere and some even still on fire from the way they had been torn apart. Part of her wanted to chuckle at the reactions from the other vehicles, but another part of her wanted to finish off the cars. Her speed decreased as she shook her front, giving a groan as she did. These words were not her own, what was happening?

"Jaslo!" Nick came darting out from an alleyway, instantly going to the Blazer's side.

"Nick? What's going on?" she asked the smaller Nissan, his transmitter blinking rather rapidly for once.

"You shouldn't be here! Mago is in the city and you are his link! You need to get out of here as fast as you can!" Nick nudged the Blazer, but it was no use as she kept driving with the group. She started to question things more, but one of the lead officers caught on to the Nissan and quickly came over. Nick was faster, zipping off between the buildings and quickly losing the cop before Jaslo could even say another word to him. Was her link the reason she was thinking like a true Lab Beast?

"WHAT IS THAT?!" Everyone looked forward as the tall form of a serpent-like Pontiac peeked around a building, much higher than any of the vehicles in the group expected. Jaslo froze as his green eyes locked onto her own from this distance, his long clawed arm slamming down onto the road as the rest of the creature's body came into view. It was Mago, and now she had more panic than any car around her. Most vehicles instantly drew their weapons, taking the orders from the officers perfectly, but each shot doing little to no damage against the beast's hide. His tongue flicked out before the jaws sprung open with a loud hissing screech. For once, the Blazer only had one thing on her mind... RUN.

"Get back into Formation!" Jaslo didn't listen, she turned tail, her engine springing to life with every cylinder it had, and her tires gripped the road as she tore off out of the city itself at the highest speed she could. Even if the Officers could stop her, there was no point behind it, as she was long gone before the beast started to give chase. Mago lifted his body off the ground and thundered after her on his arms, his tail swinging into buildings and trees as he gave chase. The two made quick work of leaving the city, with a hoard of vehicles trying to keep up to the two. Jaslo was desperate for someplace safe, and she made the wrong move of heading out into the desert surrounding the city. She was heading home, and leading not only the worst killer from the Lab there, but a group of normal vehicles as well.

The sound of jet turbines was the last thing anyone heard before a loud thud and the screech of pain. Jaslo stopped to see what had happened behind her, and instantly knew the trouble she had just caused. Dan had his wings outstretched, digging his claws and fangs into the neck of the serpent assassin, who in turn dug his own claws into the jet beast. The two giants rolled through the terrain, hissing and roaring out as they battled for life and death, with an audience watching from either side. Dan took off into the air, only to slam back down onto the beast with such force that the sound itself caused many to cringe and look away, yet it made barely any difference. Mago's heavy tail swung, the blade at the tip slicing deep into the jet's back and rendering his hind legs useless. Dan's pained roar as he fell brought tears to Jaslo's eyes instantly. She had been through enough fights to know where this was leading, and her mind was linking stronger to the snake that she knew what he planned to do.

"Leave him alone!" Jaslo screamed as she pulled out her gun, for once in her life holding it firmly and firing shots right into the beast's eyes. Mago was temporarily distracted, long enough for other officers to join in, firing in any open wounds he had and into his eyes and mouth. Mago's screech nearly deafened a few of the cars before he charged at them, only to be stopped by a set of jaws around his tail. Dan snarled as he bit down with all his might, hearing the crunch of the bone within Mago's tail give way under the pressure. The serpent turned around, jaws open as he struck his target. Everyone froze, there was no way the jet could walk away from this. Dan's eyes went wide as fangs sunk deep into the top of his head, Mago only grinned as he added insult to injury, depositing venom before yanking his fangs free from the jet. Jaslo reversed slightly, just as Dan let out a pained whimper without releasing the serpent's tail.

Time slowed down to a crawl as the jet quickly faded from this world. His eyes growing dull and rolling back into his head before he finally let go of Mago's tail. Various fluids leaked from his injuries and mouth, the full extent of the venom taking its course as the serpent finally had enough and dove into the ground nose first, tunneling into the dirt and vanishing quickly with a screech. Once things had calmed down, Jaslo quickly went to Dan's side, placing her front tires on the side of his face. She knew nothing would bring him back, he was already gone, and tears stung her eyes as they raced down her hood and fenders. It took awhile before she placed all tires on the ground once more, nuzzling against the beast's face before sobbing.

"I'm so sorry Dan... it's... my fault..."