Chapter 109 The Beast
The sub-basement garage was a place the Spire had forgotten.
The space contained a massive underground structure which contained remnants from past times through its collection of obsolete items including nonfunctional hover-cars and decayed transport trucks and recovered metal scrap. The air carried a scent of oil and aged rubber and welding ozone created a sharp stinging odor.
The garage contained The Beast which stood in its center at the base of a bright halogen work light.
The vehicle started as an armored personnel carrier during its wartime service with the Coalition. Vane transformed the vehicle into an entirely different form when he removed its complete computerized exterior and replaced it with raw steel material.
Vane described her as unattractive while he used his mechanical hand to remove grease from his forehead. The device contained no digital components because it operated using analog technology. The machine only requires a carburetor and pistons to generate enough torque to move heavy loads.
I walked around the vehicle. The surface of the vehicle had been painted in a black shade which absorbed all light. The window openings had been changed to narrow slits which used fortified ballistic glass and steel mesh for protection. The tires had a construction of solid rubber which lacked air for puncturing while they were covered with heavy chains.
The front section contained the most frightening elements of the design.
Vane had attached a massive V-shaped snowplow to the front of the vehicle. The plow blade edge had been sharpened to a razor point while its surface was fitted with serrated spikes constructed from rebar.
The machine operates as a meat grinder according to Ryker who touched the cold steel surface of the plow.
Vane named it a Rot-mover because it functions as a device which destroys all spider nests the user encounters. The device will turn all spiders into paste because it continues to operate when it contacts any spider material.
Ryker asked about the Engine.
Vane grinned while he patted the hood and said The engine uses combustion as its power source. I obtained a V12 diesel engine for my PTO from a generator. The engine produces deafening noise with violent vibrations which generate black smoke. The Rot will experience great discomfort from it.
Ryker responded positively to the instruction because he wanted to begin the loading process.
Our group spent the following hour to prepare The Beast for its next mission.
We possessed very little material. We had a few crates of ammunition and the last medical supplies and the remaining chemical drums of bleach from our purge operation. Kael brought down a lead-lined case which contained explosives materials that included mining charges which were obtained from tunnel project equipment.
Kael informed his team that C4 explosives could destroy an entire city block while he secured his explosives case to the carrier's rear section. The vehicle requires careful driving because all bumps will lead to an explosion hazard.
Vane described our end as a brief firework display which would last only a short time. I understood the instructions.
Baron arrived with his team. He brought along four of his biggest combat veterans. The wolves approached the vehicle cautiously because they detected something unusual. The wolves detected the diesel scent but they climbed into the back without showing any signs of resistance. Baron took the shotgun seat, checking the action on a massive, belt-fed machine gun mounted to the roof hatch.
Baron described the structure as a cage which moved like a vehicle.
Ryker identified the vehicle as a tank.
He turned to me. I stood at the back door position while I watched the ramp which reached up to the lobby entrance.
Ryker called out to Elara using his soft voice.
I looked at the man who stood before me. He was dressed in tactical gear while carrying his Star-Metal sword on his back. The King appeared to go into battle but his eyes showed deep remorse.
He asked me whether I was prepared to stop using the light.
I told him no because Ryker they are frightened. The spiders will swarm the roof when I stop the beacon because the darkness will return.
Ryker explained to Jaxon that the plan was already understood by him. The personnel will secure all higher floors while they will control access to the lobby area.
I whispered that it felt like I was going to leave them behind.
Ryker declared our action would protect the people. He took my face in his hands. We will discover the source which needs to be eliminated. The Queen defends her subjects by fighting for them instead of hiding with them.
I nodded while I fought to control my emotions.
I said okay lets go to our next destination.
The Farewell
The group gathered at the freight elevator area which would transport the Beast to the blast door entrance.
Kael accompanied Commander Jaxon at the location. Jaxon appeared older than he did one week earlier. The uniform of Jaxon showed signs of heavy wear while his eyes appeared darkened. Kael appeared to be weak while he held onto the datapad device.
Kael handed the pad to Ryker while he said Here. I downloaded the coordinates Dr. Sato broadcasted. It’s an offline map, printed to the drive. No GPS. You’ll have to navigate by landmarks.
Ryker stated that they already knew the path because he directed his group north toward the storm's center.
Jaxon stood after Ryker addressed him with the command to take control of the situation.
Jaxon stood straight after Ryker ordered him to take command of the situation. The two soldiers who remained behind would stay to protect their base station.
The man who ordered heroic acts through his words indicated that survival was the only goal to achieve. He ordered them to sustain all air scrubbers while they kept all doors secured. If we aren't back in three days...
He did not need to complete his statement. The ending was not necessary for him to say.
Ryker gripped Jaxon’s shoulder. "Make sure we come back."
Ryker headed toward the car.
"Mount up!"
We entered the vehicle.
The Beast's interior space restricted movement because it contained the smell of aged leather and oil. Vane took the driver’s seat, flicking switches on the analog dashboard. Baron could not fit comfortably into the passenger seat because his knees touched the glove compartment.
The back compartment contained both the explosives and the wolves while Ryker and I sat there. The room stayed dark except for the red light that shone from the instrument panel.
Vane announced the beginning of the ignition process.
He turned the key.
The machine produced a three-part sound that included chugging noises followed by a loud roaring sound.
The V12 engine produced a loud scream instead of a gentle purring sound. The whole vehicle to shook violently. A dark cloud of exhaust fumes erupted from the back exhaust pipes. The sound produced from the past world combined filthiness and loudness with a forceful sound.
Jaxon shouted from across the room when the elevator was about to ascend.
He pressed the wall button.
The freight platform started to move upward with a loud groaning sound.
I shut my eyes. I accessed my chest area to search for the Origin Stone connection. I found the magic thread that powered the rooftop beacon.
I spoke my apology to the Spire inhabitants.
I cut the thread.
I experienced immediate loss of the connection. The city street lost its bright white sun when the massive sun above the city disappeared. The surroundings of the Spire area became completely dark.
We ascended into the entrance area of the building.
The Beast displayed its reinforced windows which allowed me to view the refugees who were outside. The group stayed close together as they used chemical flares and candles to create light. They appeared tiny and delicate in the dim light.
The people watched as the black tank emerged from the floor. The audience did not shout with excitement. The audience simply observed the events.
The Beast exited the elevator to face the primary blast door.
Ryker used the intercom to direct Vane to increase the engine speed.
Vane pressed the accelerator pedal with full force. The engine emitted a loud roar while the tachometer reached its maximum value. The vehicle shook itself free from its restraints.
Ryker used the radio to call out to Jaxon by name.
The opening process will begin in three... two...one...
CLANG-HISSS.
The steel bolts were released forward. The blast doors began to move open after the grinding sound started.
The audible sound immediately reached our ears.
SCREEEEEE.
The sound created by the spiders resembled the noise made by one million spiders.
The doors opened wide and revealed their presence. The area outside the plaza contained many objects. A black carpet covered the entire area outside the plaza. The ground and walls and steps of the building were covered with three feet high piles of spiders.
The people saw the open door. They saw the fresh meat inside.
The people moved forward.
"Punch it!" Ryker roared.
Vane released the clutch pedal.
The Beast took off in an explosive movement.
The spiders jumped at us when we reached the opening.
THUD-CRUNCH.
The plow collided with the wall of spiders.
The object felt like hitting a solid object. The steel blade crushed the spiders which led to their black ichor spraying onto the windshield to create an instant glass coating.
Vane activated the wipers to make the washer fluid spray onto the windshield. The streams of bleach solution sprayed onto the glass which removed all of the dirt and stains.
We departed from the Spire and proceeded to the main plaza.
The Beast lost control on the wet road while it moved through the crowd. The chains of the tires captured the spiders to help the vehicle move on the concrete surface.
Baron shouted that the people were on the roof while he turned the turret wheel.
DA-DA-DA-DA-DA-DA.
The heavy machine gun opened fire. Baron used his weapon to shoot the roof of the vehicle while he killed all the spiders that moved to stick onto the armor. The cabin space inside the vehicle became filled with brass casings that fell from the ceiling.
Ryker ordered everyone to move toward the main street while he yelled.
Vane struggled to control the steering wheel. The Beast blasted forward while increasing its rate of speed. We crashed through the plaza's fountain area by breaking all the stone decorative pieces.
We managed to exit the building.
The Spire's blast doors started to move backward to create a seal that would block Jaxon and the refugees from leaving their sealed-off location.
We found ourselves in complete solitude within the shadowy city.
The streetlights were dead. The buildings formed dark shapes that reached unto the sky. The only light illuminated the area through the Beast's high-beams which created two beams of yellow light across the dark area filled with people.
The Beast. The command was given by Ryker who looked through the small window to observe outside.
Vane gritted his teeth while he switched vehicle gears.
The Beast drove forward at full speed as it smashed through a line of derelict vehicles to accelerate into the darkness.