Frontal Assault

Liberator’s voice came from the other end of the line. “It’s done. They took the bait.”

Atlas smiled a Cheshire grin. “Good.”

*****

“It’s a trap, boy. Trust me on this.”

Freedom ignored Tilby as they slowly circled the factory warehouse in Iniri’s car. She sat in the backseat, eyes closed, focusing her empathic abilities on any readings coming from inside.

The building seemed quiet. No sign of security outside the usual warnings posted around doors. Except for a few cars in the parking lot and a trail of smoke from the factory stacks, it seemed empty. From all outward appearances, it seemed like a small factory working with a barebones third shift crew.

Freedom knew they had the right place.

“I won’t disagree with you, Ed, but frankly I don’t care. I’m tired of being fucked around with. Ever since I left Champion, the shit’s gone south. It’s time to take control.

Tilby’s mustache shook as he exhaled gruffly. “How exactly do you plan on getting in there?”

Freedom pulled the car in to a spot in the parking lot. “We go in the front door.”

“You’ve got to be fucking insane,” Tilby said.

“Been there, done that. You got any real objections, Tilby?”

Tilby pulled his shotgun from under the seat. “You’re going to get us all killed, but in for a penny, in for a pound. What about Iniri?”

Iniri’s eyes shot wide open. “We’ve got to get inside.”

“We know,” Freedom said. He held a .45 out to her. “We’re on our way now.”

“No, you don’t understand. Annabelle’s inside and she’s in danger.”

“What?”

“They have her,” Iniri said. “Annabelle Montalvo is a prisoner in that facility.”

Freedom shoved his door open and climbed from the car. Ready or not it was time to move.

“Well, then, I guess we’ve got a girl to save.”

*****

Annabelle woke to rough hands stroking through her hair.

“Richie?”

She opened her eyes to see a massive gray from all around her. The monster held her in his lap. Even as her eyes opened, he continued to stroke her like a pet.

Annabelle could see now that the creature resembled pictures of cavemen in her science textbook at school. A Neanderthal. Only far larger and gray.

Annabelle tried to suppress the fear from showing on her face. She doubted it worked. What does this thing want with me?

Behind her, she heard the hum of an automated door opening. She tried to turn in the creature’s arms, but a shooting pain in the back of her head stopped her.

“Get the girl up,” a man said. She recognized his voice. “We don’t have time for the bonding. We need the creature now.”

Two men lifter her by her arms as the Neanderthal started to growl. She looked up to see another three guards holding cattle prods on the beast as she turned her head towards her captor’s leader.

Liberator smirked. “Don’t do anything stupid, girl. You may have survived this monster, but you won’t live much longer.”

Liberator nodded one of the men to move just past her left. She turned just in time to see the needle disappear in to her arm.”

“Look on the bright side,” Liberator said. “If you’re lucky, you might end up as strong as me. Of course, hundreds died horrible painful deaths before it worked for me.”

Liberator turned back to his men. “Leave her here. All we need is the Neanderthal.”

Two soldiers ran their electric prods in to the Neanderthal’s back. The creature roared in pain and shot up to his feet. Liberator dove against the wall as the Neanderthal charged upward. With two swipes of his massive, hairy arms, the Neanderthal sent a pair of guards flying out the door.

The remaining guards released Annabelle to face the beast. She slumped to the ground barely conscious.

The Neanderthal roared as he grabbed the men by their weapon arms and yanked them in to the air. He smashed the two men together. Annabelle cringed as she heard the audible crack of bones.

The Neanderthal stepped forward and held a hand out to Annabelle. Through the haze, she saw it wavering before her and reached up to it. The creature easily lifted her to her feet.

The Neanderthal grunted and waved his head towards the open door.

“Okay, okay,” Annabelle said. She took a weak step forward. The world spun around her.

“I don’t feel so good—”

Annabelle fell back to the floor.

The Neanderthal roared again. He stomped forward and out of the room as Annabelle’s vision continued to grow hazier.

She clenched her eyes shut, but it didn’t help. She blinked them open to see Liberator looking down on her.

The costumed man laughed. A moment later, he was gone. And Annabelle was alone again, unable to move a muscle.

*****

Tilby kicked in the front door. The startled desk guard looked up to see Freedom, Tilby, and Iniri all holding guns on them.

“Drop anything you’re carrying right now,” Freedom said. “Work with us and no one will get hurt.”

The guards shot towards the desk. “Don’t,” Tilby said. He fired the shotgun and the slug glanced off a plexiglas shield as it shot down from the ceiling.

The running lights above the doors changed from white to red. A moment later, the alarm began to blare.

“Well shit,” Freedom said.

“Front’s the best way, huh?”

“Screw you, Tilby. I didn’t’ see you working on a better plan.

Beside the entrance to the complex, three other doors, all at forty-five degree angles, all led out in to the facility. The one straight ahead was behind the secured front desk. The two front guards bustled out as the other two door opened.

“Guys,” Iniri said. “I think now may not be the time for bickering. I think we have a way bigger problem now.”

They both turned towards her.

“What?” They both spoke in unison.

“Company’s here.”

Guard after guard, all dressed in riot gear, emerged from the doors. Over two dozen men surrounded them and raised their M-16’s.

From the middle of the pack, Liberator emerged. He laughed at the surrounded heroes.

Freedom sighed. “Double shit.”