Chapter 91

Present – Jens – Traveling back to the cabin

We ... Well, I stole the taxi, the taxi company disabled it and locked the doors (damn 'roadside assistance' that is really just another way to spy on you). I had just shot out my side window and Yasmeen shoots out her side window at the worst possible time - just as a sheriff deputy drives up. The bullet goes through the side window of the taxi and through the side window of the deputy's car.

He flies out of his car, crouches behind it and yells, "Throw down your weapon and hold up your hands."

Yasmeen is almost frantic and apologizes, "Sorry Ms. Donaldson, it was an accident and I do not want to be picked up by the fuzz."

I fight back laughter at her comment but ask, "Zarika are you fit enough to run?"

Zarika answers, "Yes Ms. Donaldson, my arm is stable enough to run."

So I order, "Shoot out the opposite side window. That will cause the deputy to duck behind his car for safety. When he does that we're taking off."

Yasmeen does as instructed, the deputy ducks, we bail out of the car and take off running.

I pull out my phone (there are more crazy messages on it from the security system) and try again to call Liz but I still don't get an answer. I try Jack and I don't get an answer there either. I hope the girls are in good shape because we have a long assed run ahead of us...

Present – Alexi – Heading to the cabin on foot

My sister Mira and I approach the disturbance in the firmament and the formication precipitated by the unfriendly ocular units has not abated, in fact it has increased in intensity. I ease my injured sister to the ground and she cautions, "Alexi, use utmost caution as this could be an improvised explosive device."

I sense that time is of the essence so I ignore my sister's admonition and leap right on top of the disturbance! My sister Mira yells and I receive a surprise...

The ground gives way slightly beneath my feet, so with haste I reach down and begin to remove the firmament and uncover the end of a large plastic cylindrical pod.

As the threatening formication increases, I remove the earth around the end of the pod, try to lift the end of the pod but it will not move. Mira maneuvers adjacent to the plastic cylinder, examines it and states, "Alexi, the luck of lady follows us! This is one of my future husband Ben Blaine's weapon storage caches. My studies of him revealed he prepared many caches like this on his property."

As the formication continues to grow, I question, "My sister, how do we gain access to the weapons within."

Her phalangeal units deftly touch the container, then she looks at me, smiles and states...

Present – Mira – Heading to the cabin on foot

The beast which is stalking us has gained courage and is approaching closer. I rely on the greatly increased intensity of my formication to gauge the relative distance. It is apropos that Alexi occulated the weapons cache of my Ben so now if we can determine how to access the cache, we might have a chance to combat the stalking beast.

We are hindered because the only light is from a mostly full moon so I use my phalangeal extremities and finally feel a release mechanism on this cache. I smile at Alexi and state, "The release mechanism for this cache is located under my phalangeal units."

I operate the catch and the cache allows our access as we hear a slight growl and hiss from behind us. Alexi's and my phalangeal units quickly reach inside the cache and...

Present – Todd – Cabin death trap

We are like rats in a trap and the trap is the house (wait, that is a sinister metaphor for this situation). I take the flashlight out of my tactical vest, walk over to the terminal, remove my tools from my pack and attempt to pry off the bezel without success. I have a plan but it relies on gaining access to the inner workings of this security system and I have limited time - my backup oxygen only lasts 5 minutes – no make that 4 minutes now...

I knock on the wall adjacent to the terminal and as I assumed, it is hardened concrete. Jennifer knew what she was doing when she had the system installed, however I don't think she planned for this scenario. I think, the only weak point has to be the display, unless she had bullet proof displays installed. I'm thankful I saved some pistol rounds for this contingency. I draw my pistol and fire at the center of the display, it shatters and then something very bad happens...

Present – Jack and Ira – Cabin death trap

Ira is doing a hell of a job blocking the air vent and thank God because I'm a little light headed already. Then the damn fucking horn begins to blare again! I've had my fill of this damn security system and this fucking house death trap.

Since this house is already pissed at us, I figure I can't make things any worse, so I take the shovel and begin to beat the fuck out of the terminal and yell, "Take that you fucking computerized piece of shit!" Yeah, it's payback time for every computer that's given me problems in the past and that's a huge number of them. I finally hit something really good and sparks fly like crazy!

General Pain is suffering under the influence of the gas and has become aggressive. I am thankful it is focused upon the terminal and not my corporeal self. If that was the case I would be forced to slightly injure him to ensure my safety.

He displays extraordinary strength as he flails the terminal into submission. Then the most curious thing happens: A large amount of electrical discharge exits the terminal. This event should not have transpired!

Then something even more amazing occurs...

Present – Alexi – Heading to the cabin on foot

My sister Mira's and my phalangeal units fight to find the weapons within this weapons pod and we unfortunately acquire the same device. There is a slight growl and hiss behind us so I release the weapon and turn to face the stalking beast.

Even with the limited illumination, I occulate a large Puma concolor which is intent on attacking. I remember my studies and attempt to make myself larger by waving my phalangeal units away from my body and vocalizing at the bestial feline!

However my studies again prove to be inadequate in this situation. The Puma concolor begins to yowl and slink toward me. I must protect my infirm sister Mira, so I charge the beast. My unexpected action initially works however...

Present – Mira – Heading to the cabin on foot

Alexi performs the most brave and foolish act of his short life! If I can not with utmost haste acquire and load this weapon, his life will be further shortened. He is using his corporeal self as a human distraction and foolishly charges the Puma concolor, which action temporarily startles the beast...

The weapon and magazine are now within my phalangeal units so I begin the SPORTS¹ of the weapon just as...

¹ Defined in a previous book – Acronym for Slap, Pull, Observe, Release, Tap and Shoot All the steps to make sure a semi or fully auto weapon is ready for battle

Present – Todd – Cabin death trap

I gain access to the control circuits of the security system by shooting out the display however that triggers the klaxon again. I immediately realize this security system has a self-preservation feature which has been triggered and which I just triggered again.

There are always weaknesses in every system so I just need to find the one in this system. I find the circuitry behind the system and realize which system it is, and unless I can disable it then it will disable us.

I take my stun gun out of my pack, hold it close to the circuitry and hold down the trigger. I play the sparks across the circuit boards and integrated circuits and ... Thank God it works! The gas stops and I hear the lock on the door deactivate...

Present – Ira and Jack – Cabin death trap

I alert Jack, "I am not sure what you did but it appears the security system is currently offline."

He crows like a rooster, "Yeah, I guess I showed that damn piece of shit who was boss!"

I was not certain of that but I knew not to look a gift equine in the mandibles. I jump down from the chair, grab the General's phalangeal unit and state, "Sir, we must depart this domicile haste of post."

Damn, I showed that fucking computer who was fucking boss! It felt good as hell beating the shit out of it. Ira wants to leave the house, however I have a responsibility to Masha and Ivan in the tunnels. She grabs my hand and I explain to her, "Ira you can leave if you want, but I'm going to the tunnels to see if Masha and Ivan are okay."

Ira states, "Then I will accompany you, otherwise it would appear as cowardess."

We head towards the basement and I worry like hell at what we will find.

Present – Alexi – Heading to the cabin on foot

I charge the large Puma concolor which temporarily shocks it, then it regains its composure and charges me. I know that when it is close enough it will attempt to leap and use its mass to knock me to the ground. Therefore, I will need to dodge this frontal attack and hope to grab the beast by the segmented backbone extension of its spinal column.

We draw closer and closer and I observe the Puma concolor tense its muscles and then it leaps. I react in time so that the Puma concolor passes over the top of me. I reach up with both hands and grasp its segmented backbone spinal extension. A malignant roar emanates from the Puma concolor as I hold on and pull with all my strength...

Present – Mira – Heading to the cabin on foot

I am impressed with Alexi's action dodging the Puma concolor's frontal attack and having the wherewithal to obtain a purchase on its segmented backbone extension. Now it is my turn to enter the fight! I raise the weapon to my shoulder knowing that my Ben must have this weapon sighted perfectly for one hundred meters. Therefore, I aim about two inches low and release a three shot burst into the thoracic cavity of the Puma concolor. While the Puma concolor slows, it still tries to turn and reach Alexi. I take careful aim once more and release another three round burst, this time the puma collapses to the firmament. However Alexi also collapses.

I slip down the shallow grade on my derriere toward my only brother and begin to pray...

Present – Todd – Cabin death trap

I haul ass outside of the cabin just in time! I correctly assumed the high voltage discharge from my stun gun would force the system to reboot. I just make it outside as the warning klaxon sounds again warning that the system has reactivated.

I hoped Jack and Ira would join me outside the cabin, but since they're not here, I assume they have been incapacitated. I do have a mission to complete and make a few quick checks. I prepare my bow and slip toward the main gate...