Gerald and the others appeared in an abandoned warehouse. Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie immediately reacted to the sudden change.
"Confirm the perimeter is secure." Gerald ordered.
The three newbies immediately took action while Dasher scanned the surroundings.
After peering through the doors and windows of the warehouse, the three reported.
"No signs of movement."
"Clear."
"Nothing in the surroundings."
The three returned to Dasher's side and started taking stock of the inside of the warehouse.
Bravo pointed to the SUV in the corner. "That…"
"Yes, it is the combat assault vehicle that you bought." Gerald answered. "But I spent a point to reskin it so that we can blend in. The armor and functions are still there, even the weapons that came attached."
Bravo pulled the keys from his pocket and clicked the button.
*Eep* *Beep*
The lights flashed and the blacked-out SUV unlocked.
"Thanks." Bravo replied with a smile.
"Not only did I waste my prior rewards to bring you all here, but I bought a few other things that will help. Now I really need to stress this fact. I have had to make sacrifices to bring you lot here, this may be a good opportunity for you all, but this is my work, this is what I do. If you cock it up and die before you help me or reveal to the locals that we're from a parallel world somehow, I will suffer the consequences. So do your jobs and do them well."
Without saying anything else, Gerald walked to a dilapidate locker on the side of the warehouse. He pried it open and pulled out a large case. Setting it on the ground, he opened it to reveal four smartphones and four sets of glasses.
"Take them." He said before walking towards the entrance of the warehouse.
The four others grabbed a phone and the eyeglasses that suited him best.
"I am not really one for glasses. Besides I have perfect vision." Alpha said.
"Put them on." Dasher commented. "They aren't just glasses."
When they put them on, they turned into sunglasses. The others were surprised to notice that with a thought, night vision and or thermal vision could be activated.
"And I am sure that the phones are packed with goodies too. Don't lose them. These things can't fall into the hands of the locals." Dasher said while he headed towards the car.
The others quickly followed and Bravo slid behind the wheel and started the engine.
Gerald had finished opening the warehouse doors and the SUV drove through and stopped for him to get in. He opened the front door and sat next to Bravo.
"Take a left." He instructed while connecting his phone to the computer in the center of the consol.
*Ding*
"Okay. The car has been uploaded with the highest military security clearance on this planet. Your phones also have the same clearance. People on this planet don't use badges. Police, military and so on whip out their phones. Familiarize yourselves with how to activate your badges so you actually look believable. In your phones you will also find a decent amount of information about this world and plenty of maps of the area. Right now, we are thirty miles outside of Dawn city. We will have to get through the quarantine first, then we will meet up with the locals in charge inside and form a plan of action from there." He then turned towards the Bravo. "Just follow the GPS."
The group rode without speaking. The only noise that could be heard was fingers tapping on phones.
Bravo kept his eyes on the road, occasionally casting a glance at the man sitting beside him who was just staring blankly at the scenery that was passing by as they rolled down the deserted highway.
As they drew closer to the city, tanks and soldiers began to line the roads, temporary barracks were set up on the perimeter.
Fifty-foot-tall metal walls had been erected around the city in the distance. Helicopters circled the city as the number of soldiers moving around rose.
Several military vehicles blocked off the highway before it entered the city. A man in uniform followed by several soldiers stood in front of the vehicles. The man held up a hand to single the vehicle to stop.
"Park in front of him and let me do the talking." Gerald said.
Major Willis stood in the center highway, perplexed about the car in front of him. The highways surveillance system hadn't reported anyone coming. He had to rely on one of his soldiers to inform him that someone was approaching. This unexpected visitor had put him in a bad mood.
When the car came to a stop, a man in a black suit stepped out of the passenger seat and walked unhurriedly towards him.
The Major angrily waited for the man to saunter over. Eventually, the man in black stopped in front of him while looking him over.
"This is a restricted area, I don't care who you are, but you are allowed to be here. Turn-."
The Major was cut off when the man in black raised his phone. A terrifying symbol flashed across the screen. The phones of the major and the soldiers in the area dinged with recognition.
"Major Willis is it?" Gerald said while pulling off his glasses and wiping them clean with a handkerchief before putting them back on. "I have been sent to deal with what is inside."
"Has… Has Central found a cure?" The major asked nervously with a quick change of attitude.
Gerald sighed. "Let's not talk about that. You know that onsite intel is always better than what those computer jockeys can provide. What can you tell me? Report!"
The four in the car listened closely as Bravo turned up the volume in the car. They could hear the conversation that Gerald was transmitting with his phone.
Major Willis stood at attention and started speaking. There were many people who could make his soldier's phone ding in recognition, but there were only a few who could make his phone chirp. And there were even less people who weren't in military garb that could cause his phone to react. Those who could that came in black suits were not people to trifle with. He spoke and held nothing back.
"Reporting. The creatures have been growing in number. Our scientists believe the virus is only transmitted through contact, but we can't rule out an airborne spread. The quarantine will continue indefinitely. These things… They are stronger than any man, twice as fast and viscous. Once someone turns, the lose themselves entirely. Our researchers are collecting as many samples as we can in a hope of trying to find a cure to change the people back, but so far… our efforts are useless. So far, none of the creatures have attempted to escape. My mission is to let no one leave, creature or civilian. My orders are to… to shot on site."
Gerald nodded. "Take me to it."
"To what?"
"The one you have captured." Gerald replied.
"Yes sir."
"Ride with me." Gerald said as he walked back to the car.
Gerald opened the door for the Major before returning to the seat. Charlie moved to the back row and joined Alpha to make room.
The Major looked around the car in surprise. Its interior was designed in accordance to a luxury SUV of Gerald's world. It was foreign and new to the major, but it wasn't anything that couldn't have been constructed in this world.
The Major looked at the older man sitting next to him. He could feel a strong military bearing coming from the man next to him. He noticed the three younger people in the car, but he had no doubt that the man in his late twenties that had spoken to him ran the show.
The soldiers entered their vehicles and separated the blockade and allowed them to pass.
The Major directed Bravo to the off ramp and through a few side streets. Several soldiers opened the garage of a heavily armed building and let them in before securing the entrance again.
When Bravo parked the car, Gerald got out with the Major and gave a two-tone whistle. The four others quickly followed into the research facility.
Gerald held his phone to the security door control panel. It then opened for him. The Major tapped his phone on the console to log his entry. The other four mimicked his actions while they brought up the rear.
"Sir." The Major said hesitantly. "Since Central has sent you, I am guessing they have developed some sort of plan."
"Umh." Gerald grunted, giving a non-comital answer.
When the last security door opened, the group filed into the room lead by Gerald.
The researchers jumped with a startle after the sudden interruption. "Hey who are you? What are you-. Oh Major Willis, I wasn't expecting you. These are…"
"They have been sent from Central." Major Willis said.
Gerald looked around the room while his four subordinates couldn't take their eyes off the cage in the center of the room that was covered with a black cloth. They could hear a raspy breathing coming from inside.
"Silence." Gerald said while holding up his hand.
"What is going on?" One of the researchers asked after getting up from his microscope.
"SILENCE!" The major commanded.
The researchers stopped moving. All their attention was focused on Gerald as he walked around the room, looking at their desks, picking up random papers and inspecting what they were doing.
After circling the room, he made his way towards the cage in the center of the room. Only a foot in front of the cage, he turned and looked towards the researcher who stood next to the light switch.
The man understood and dimmed to lights to ten percent of their capacity.
Gerald slowly reached out his hand towards the black sheet that covered the cage. The room was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop as the researchers and the other held their breath.
He took the sheet into his hand and pulled. The black cover slid from the cage.
*Bang*
The creature inside smashed against the cage, a foot in front of Gerald.
"Ah!"
"Yelp!"
The others jumped back and stifled their cries as Gerald stood unflinching in front of the high strength plastic cage. The thing inside snarled and clawed at its cage as it tried to bite at the plexiglass with its extended teeth.
Bravo nudged his two companions. The others didn't notice their shook, but Bravo did. They got the message an composed themselves.
Gerald tilted his head to the side while staring deep into the eyes of the creature for a moment. He then turned his back to the creature and looked at his companions. Dasher was able to keep his head about him and looked eager. While looking at the three newbies, he could see fear, but also excitement and a willingness. All the while, the creature behind him raged at its confines.
After sweeping his gaze across the room, Gerald turned back to the creature. It still wore the human clothes it was wearing when it was turned. The man's hair had all fallen out. Its eyes were entirely black. Its fingers had lengthened into sharp claws. And a few teeth had lengthened to better puncture skin and suck blood. The vampire spawn was postured with a hunch as it seethed with its inhuman strength.
Gerald pulled out his phone and tapped a few times. He then moved it towards the locking mechanism of the cage.
"Hey what are you doing!" The lead researcher shouted. He rushed to try and stop Gerald, but Dasher was faster and restrained the man without saying a word.
The major put his hand on his holster as the creature moved towards the back of the cage away from the door.
*Click* *Clank* *Clunk*
Gerald took off his glasses and stuck them in his breast pocket before removing his jacket and held it to his side with his arm outstretched. Bravo moved first and took the jacket before retreating. He then began to roll up his sleeves and then took his tie and tucked it into his shirt, between his buttons.
*Clank* *Clunk* *Clink*
Reaching into his pocket he pulled out a metal ballpoint pen and held it in his hand.
*Clunk* *Clunk* *Clunk*
The door unlocked and swung inwards.
"REEEEEE!" The vampire spawn screeched while charging forward.
Gerald took a step into the cage while keeping his eyes locked on the creature.
Its hands were outstretched as it charged as fast as a car.
When the creature's claw was only a few inches in front of Gerald's chest, the man twisted to the side in a flash.
The creature's mouth wretched wide open as its face turned and it tried to bury its teeth into his neck.
Gerald's hand moved faster than their eyes could track.
"AHHHHHH!!!!!"
The creature screamed as it tumbled forward and slid past Gerald before it crumpled on the ground writhing and thrashing its limbs.
The others quickly backed away as the creature moved and flailed but didn't get up.
Gerald, with his back still to the creature, pulled out his tie and straightened it before unrolling his sleeves and re-buttoning them. He then turned and walked out of the cage, stepping over the creature who had stopped moving. Reaching out, Bravo passed him is jacket. He put it on, before pulling his glasses back out. After buttoning his jacket, he pulled the edges of his sleeves to keep the crisp and clean look.
Then kneeling down, he rolled the creature over to its back and looked into its eyes that were now cloudy and lifeless. Reaching to the side of its head, he pulled his pen out of its ear canal. Taking out a handkerchief, he wiped off the blood and bits of brain. He then tossed the handkerchief onto the corpse.
"Burn it and all the sample you have collected."