CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE TRIAL BY FIRE
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
TRIAL BY FIRE
The motorcycle procession slowed as they approached the rig gates.
In the parking lot, they could see the trucks that belonged to Declan and the other Nightmare Hunters.
The armed Praetorian officers at the gate had apparently been warned ahead of time, because they opened the gate and waved them directly inside.
Greyeagle and Kade led the group to the parking lot beside Declan’s truck and began parking. Declan and the others came out to meet them.
“Mornin’ y’all,” Declan said, smiling.
“Good morning,” Greyeagle said as Sarah climbed off the back of his bike.
“Nice t’ see ye,” Riordan added.
“Good morning, ladies, gentlemen, Alphas, assorted supernatural entities, and future patients,” Doc said.
I sincerely hope everyone enjoyed a restful evening because I have the uncomfortable suspicion that today will be memorable in the most painful and medically relevant sense possible.
Therefore, I am left with the dubious honor of reminding you that worst-case scenarios have the unfortunate tendency to follow Declan like a dark shadow.
So, as this day progresses, I recommend caution. ”
“Doc says good morning and be careful today,” Jed added, grinning.
“Well, Doc,” said Siobhan, “if the last hundred and fifty years ‘r so has taught me anythin’, it’s that ye ain’t wrong about Declan.”
Declan shrugged but didn’t argue the point.
“Wait, what about that time in San Francisco back in 1888?” asked Jed. “I thought that was you who started the fight.”
“No, I started the shootin’,” corrected Siobhan. “Ye try t’ run in a hoop skirt.”
Declan chuckled.
“There was that time in New Orleans when Doc wore the hoop skirt,” Declan added.
“That was for a perfectly explainable and fully justifiable reason,” Doc said, shaking his head. “I was in disguise.”
“Ye was a hidin’ from a jealous husband, is all,” Declan replied.
“Doc has a way o’ findin’ trouble wherever we go,” Riordan said, grinning.
“Usually of the female variety,” added Six-Killer.
“I’m married now,” Doc said defensively. “I assure you that those days are far behind me.”
“There’s a reason we can’t go to Slidell anymore,” Jed added.
“Et tu, Jedidiah?” asked Doc indignantly. “That was some time ago.”
“Yeah, it was a while ago,” Jed said, “but not long enough for that girl’s brothers to forget your face.”
“Touche,” Doc said, acknowledging the point. “Yet, I fail to recall you complaining about my way with the ladies in Sicily back in 1943.”
“That’s only because she had a sister,” Jed corrected.
“A sister who sent you postcards until she passed, if I recall,” Doc countered.
“Alright, ye feckin’ idjits,” Declan said. “Time t’ get yer game faces on. We could be ass deep in monsters at any time now.”
“I like these guys,” Kade said. “They’re funny.”
“Give it time, boyo,” Declan said. “We’ll cure ye o’ that notion. Doc tends t’ get a mite long-winded from time t’ time.”
“And he hasn’t been already?” asked Kade.
“Lad, ye ain’t seen nothin’ yet,” Declan replied. “Wait till he gets on a roll.”
Doc smiled and tipped his cowboy hat at Kade.
“Hell, I’ve been ridin’ with him since 1865, and he loses me from time to time,” Jed added.
“Where’s Abby?” asked Greyeagle, trying desperately to get them back on track.
“She’s in the command tent with Wisdom,” Declan said. “I didna want her out here when the fireworks start.”
“Good call,” Greyeagle replied. “Where do you want us?”
“I’ll leave that t’ ye and yer people,” Declan said. “We’ll take the inside perimeter so’s we can evacuate folks when things get started.”
“Why don’t they evacuate now?” asked Kade.
“B’cause Red Basin won’t shut down without a real threat,” Declan replied. “They won’t shut down on me hunch.”
“I think it’s a fair bit more than a hunch at this point,” Kade said, pointing.
Three news vans and four buses pulled up outside the gate. The protesters were about to start setting up.
“What about them?” asked Jed.
“We evacuate them too,” said Greyeagle, “if it comes to it. Until then, we ignore them.”
“If ye have t’ transform,” Declan said, “it might make the nightly news.”
“Won’t be the first time,” Greyeagle said, nodding at Kade.
Kade grinned and fist-bumped Greyeagle.
“Idiots,” Sarah said, shaking her head.
“So, how do we deploy?” asked Kade, nodding at Greyeagle.
Greyeagle and Kade both glanced around to see if any of the Makhótaneo’o had a problem with that. None of them seemed bothered by it.
“How about this?” asked Greyeagle. “You take Mason, Kodiak, Tashunka, the Mohawk Twins, and Jason. You’ll be the heavy hitters and first line of defense. I’ll take everyone else, and we’ll be the RDF.”
“The what?” asked Kade.
“Sorry, old habits,” Greyeagle replied. “Rapid Deployment Force. We’ll back you up or Declan’s team, depending on who needs us. We’ll be just inside the wire. You and your team will be outside the wire.”
“Done,” said Kade. “Saddle up, boys and girls.”
“Mika,” said Greyeagle, “you take Dusty, Betsy, Jonah, Evan, and Aiyanna. You take the north side of the facility, and I’ll take the south side.”
Mika nodded and began rounding up his people. Kade watched for any sign of resistance from his people and smiled when he found none. They really were beginning to work together as one pack.
Outside the wire, the protesters had already begun chanting, “Our oil, our blood!”
“Yeah, this isn’t going to end well,” Greyeagle whispered as he glanced at the group forming along the fence.
“They’re well inside the blast radius if that well goes up,” Sarah said, sensing Greyeagle’s hesitation.
“Yeah,” Greyeagle said. “So, let’s make sure it doesn’t explode.”
“Hey,” said Sarah, placing her hand on his cheek. “I love you.”
“I love you, too,” Greyeagle said, closing his eyes for a moment and leaning into her hand. “But please don’t think like that. We’re coming through this together.”
“I don’t think we can beat the Ma’êstse-hóhkeso,” Sarah said. “We barely slowed them down last time.”
“We’ll find a way,” Greyeagle said, taking her hand and squeezing it gently.
The groups peeled off and headed for their assigned zones. Kade led the big hitters a short distance away and pulled them together as they walked.
“We can’t worry about the camera crews,” he said.
“Be ready to shift on a moment’s notice.
Call the spirits. Just don’t let them change you just yet.
Tashunka, I want you and the Mohawk Twins to take the rear of the formation.
I want Jason, our only shaman, with me. Kodiak, you and Mason are the big guns.
You be ready to hit in either direction.
Remember above all, protect the shaman. He might keep us alive through this. ”
“Thanks, cousin,” Jason said, nodding.
“Anytime, cuz,” replied Kade. “You just keep the mojo flowing, and we’ll cover your ass as best we can.”
“What about the protestors?” asked Mason.
“Fuck ‘em,” said Kade. “They’re not our problem until they are. Right now, they’re not a priority. That’ll change when the Ma’êstse-hóhkeso show up.”
Kodiak nodded in agreement.
“But when they are?” asked Tashunka. “What if we need them to evacuate quickly?”
“Then you and the Twins shift and scare the fuck out of them,” Kade said. “They’ll run. Trust me.”
Kodiak chuckled, and Mason grinned.
“Ready, Big Bear?” asked Mason.
“Born ready,” Kodiak replied.
“When this is over,” Mason said, “I know a place not far from here that serves the biggest fucking buffalo steaks you’ve ever seen. My treat.”
“Sounds good to me,” Kodiak said, nodding. “I’ll never turn down buffalo steaks.”
“My man,” said Mason.
The ground rumbled slightly beneath their feet.
“Game faces, girls,” said Kade. “They’re coming.”
Across the compound, Greyeagle felt the rumble. He nodded at Sarah, and she activated her radio.
“Everyone get ready,” she said. “This is how it starts.”
Declan signaled to the other Nightmare Hunters and nodded.
“They won’t shut down till we confirm it’s the rock beasties,” Declan said. “Wisdom’s ready t’ hit the panic button. Our job ‘ll be t’ get ‘em all out safely. Doc, when the fightin’ starts, ye fall back and organize the medics. As much as I hate t’ admit it, we’re gonna need ‘em.”
“Shall I head there now?” asked Doc. “I should begin setting up a mass casualty triage center.”
“Go, lad,” Declan said. “Godspeed.”
Doc nodded and raced off toward the tent where Wisdom had set up a command post. It was time to get the medics organized before they came pouring in.
Setting up after the attack would waste time and cost lives.
Jed watched Doc and said a silent prayer for his brother and best friend.
Then, he threw in everyone else for good measure.
Another tremor shook the ground, this one stronger than the last. It wouldn’t be long now before the first of the creatures burst from the ground.
Greyeagle turned to Leah Red Willow.
“You’re a trained healer, right?” he asked.
“Yes,” she replied.
“Would you go help Doc with the triage center?” asked Greyeagle. “You can always come back to us if things aren’t going well.”
Leah nodded and raced off toward where Doc was now organizing the medics from the facility. She was not only a trained medic, but a trained healer from her Choctaw family. Greyeagle watched her go and nodded at Sarah.
“I’ll cover her place in line,” Sarah said, falling back slightly.
Greyeagle met her gaze for a moment, then nodded at her. Sarah was in this fight and wasn’t going anywhere, no matter how much he wished he could send her to safety.
“Wisdom to Greyeagle,” crackled the radio.
“Go ahead,” Greyeagle said.
“Any chance I can get you to coordinate the orchestra again?” asked Wisdom.
“Not this time,” Greyeagle replied. “My place is here, with my people.”
“Understood,” Wisdom said. “I’ll try to do my best.”
“Ask Abby,” Greyeagle suggested. “She was a cop, too. She can handle it.”
“Good call,” Wisdom replied. “Out.”
Outside the wire, the first of the Ma’êstse-hóhkeso emerged from the rocky soil.