Modern/Delta Green - The Beginning of the End (COMPLETED)

No Man's Land: Conclusion

“Any clues?” asked Hammer.

Archived flipped through the book. It had a skeletal winged serpent on the cover.

The full title of the work was Mein Triumph oder Drittes Buch, meaning "My Triumph or The Third Book". The author was listed as Adolf Hitler, and on the title page was written "Nach Diktat niedergeschrieben und redigiert von Dr. Olaf Bitterich" ("Dictated to and edited by Dr. Olaf Bitterich").

“It’s morbid, that’s for sure,” said Archive. “There’s not much actionable information in this book. Only Bitterich, in his two prefaces, mentions an SS-Karotechia, and no member of it other than Bitterich himself is named. In his first preface, the doctor rambles on about the privilege of taking the Führer's dictation after having fled the siege of Berlin on the advice of the great Siegfried. The second preface is a series of sycophantic hermeneutic exercises in which Bitterich connects phrases from the book with recent events, foreseen by Der Führer.”

The world of the living, according to Mein Triumph, was a thin veneer kept in place by the enemies of the Aryan race while they poisoned and destroyed the true pillars of the world. Death was never permanent, though for most people, the afterlife was hollow and writhing with maggots. The iron-jawed martyrs of national socialism and other incarnations of Germania's spirit stood ready to fight unblemished, but must be called forth by a ruthless triumph of will. Until then, they were sheltered by an essence at the center of existence.

These ideas were combined with lengthy passages echoing the theories of Madame Blavatsky and her Theosophical Society, but with a heavy emphasis on race and other ways in which “men are not born equal”. Much of the language and ideology recalled Edward Bulwer-Lytton, particularly his “Vril.” There were several rituals framed as ancient ways in which to focus the latent psychic force inherent in “pure” Aryans, though there were many visions of technological dominance as well.

“There are several chapters of Mein Triumph devoted to the concept of alternate timelines,” explained Archive. “One such timeline leads to a German invasion of the American mainland. It is implied in Mein Triumph that the unforeseen advent of nuclear weapons prevented the Jews from provoking that war.”

“A timeline we prevented,” said Jim-Bean. “Right?”

“I hope so,” said Archive. “But we won’t know for sure until …”

“January 19, 2038,” said Hammer. “Then it’s run, revel, or suicide.”

“There’s still one part I don’t get,” said Jim-Bean. “Who’s A Cell? And how were they compromised?”

“I don’t know,” said Hammer. “But I’m not sharing any of this with Majestic-12 and neither should you.”

“That’s easy.” Jim-Bean lit a cigarette. “I try to share as little as possible with them anyway.” He peered over at Archive. “You going to hang onto that thing?”

Archive held up the Elder Sign. “This? This saved all our lives.”

“Sure,” said Jim-Bean. “Just do me a favor. Don’t date any tattooed Asian chicks.”

Chapter 34: A Love in Need - Introduction

This story hour is from the scenario “A Love in Need” by Brian M. Sammons in “Secrets.” You can read more about Delta Green at Delta Green. Please note: This story hour contains spoilers!

Our cast of characters includes:

• Game Master: Michael Tresca
• Kurtis "Hammer" Grange (Fast Hero/Gunslinger) played by George Webster
• Jim “Jim-Bean” Baxter (Charismatic Hero) played by Jeremy Ortiz (http://www.ninjarobotstudios.com)
• Joseph “Archive” Fontaine (Dedicated Hero/Acolyte) played by Joe Lalumia
  

A Love in Need is a quirky scenario about the unlikely romance between an alien sorcerer and a giant fat woman who is protective of her dying son. I was ready to run the scenario straight as is, but couldn’t help altering the plot to fit it into the rest of the campaign’s overall mythology. Thus the alien sorcerer became a protomatter steward, the mother was altered by the Mi-go, and the child is actually a biogenetically engineered source of BIOSAN-6. In other words, he’s Patient Zero of a virus that could wipe out protomatter once and for all.

The agents are completely ignorant of the real story. They’re after Jason, the mysterious boyfriend who gave a potion to Lucy Ennis. But that’s just an excuse to lock the agents up in a motel. From there, it’s a slasher flick on steroids, combining the best of Joy Ride, Identity, and Vacancy. It was all over in the span of just two hours.

The content of the potion has a tie to a future scenario. And that scenario involves a certain animated object that has no business being animated. I had no idea the effect it would have on this scenario.

This is also the first time I used a rule I invented from one of my sourcebooks (Blood & Blades: The Profiler’s Guide to Slashers). It had the exact chilling effect I intended.

Finally, we get to see just how far Hammer is willing to go to protect the Conspiracy.

Defining Moment: There’s something moving in the dripping blue cardboard box. Something Jason calls his pet.

Relevant Media

• Critical Locations: For D20 Modern and a lifesaver, since Delta Green rarely provides maps.
• Secrets: The source for this scenario.
• Joy Ride: One of the scariest movies about two punks being jerks over a CB. If you were a kid in the 80s who pretended he was someone else over a CB and pissed off truckers, you know what I mean. This is the source of the "jaw ripping" as well as the shotgun trap and truck attack.
• Identity: The classic Ten Little Indians only at a roadside motel. A little contrived, but still very good. This is the source of the plot involving Taggeret and Jawolalski.
• Vacancy: Now this is the scariest staying-in-a-motel type movie! The ambush in the hotel room is straight from this movie.
• Blood & Blades: The Profiler's Guide to Slashers: Finally, an opportunity to use some of the stuff I wrote!
• Down With the Sickness: by Disturbed. Because you really do need to get down with the sickness.

A Love in Need: Prologue

I can see inside you, the sickness is rising
Don't try to deny what you feel
(Will you give in to me?)
It seems that all that was good has died
And is decaying in me​

- Down With the Sickness by Disturbed​

Click to expand...

MCKINLEY, NM—Hammer turned the windshield wipers on as the storm whipped itself into a frenzy.

“So we flew out here for what again?” asked Jim-Bean, cracking a window so he could blow cigarette smoke out the crack.

“Remember Jason? The guy who gave Lucy Ennis that ‘potion’ that reanimated her dad?”

Jim-Bean rubbed his forehead. “How can I forget.”

“Well Jason Jawolalski was sighted in McKinley. Our job is to pick him up.”

Archive, sitting in the back, chuckled. “So that’s why you brought me?”

Hammer nodded, struggling to see through the downpour. “You did a great job with those Nazi corpses, so I figure if this Jason guy gets creative with his potion you’ll come in handy.”

Jim-Bean flipped on the radio. It reported flood alerts and chimed six o’clock.

“As I recall, the Elder Sign was useless against Henry Ennis—“ began Jim-Bean.

“Elder Signs vary in magical strength,” Archive interjected, cutting him off. “The one I have now is much more powerful.”

“Sure,” said Jim-bean. “Whatever.”

Distracted by the conversation, Hammer glanced up in time to see a silhouette in the path of the car. He jerked the wheel hard and the car skidded.

A body hit the left side of the hood, bouncing up and over. The car kept sliding and a telephone pole flashed into view. Hammer slammed on the brakes.

The car rammed into it, triggering the air bags. Sparks and snaps crackled overhead as the power lines tore away and the pole fell across the hood of the Honda Civic.

Hammer, Jim-Bean, and Archive staggered out of the vehicle.

Jim-Bean tried his cistron. No signal. Archive ran over the man in the street.

The man was a pitiful travesty. He was shaking and shivering, his limbs twisted and withered, and his skin had open, weeping sores covering it that drained a noxious ichor. A steak knife was clutched ineffectively in one hand. The man wore only pajama bottoms. Archive fished through his pockets and pulled out his wallet. His license identified him as John Andrews.

“Don’t move, John, we’re going to get you out of here!” Archive shouted to Andrews in the rain.

Hammer struggled with the car, but wasn’t able to get it out of the ditch off the side of the road. The mud was churning from the downpour.

Jim-Bean stood in the middle of the road, surprised to see a pair of eyes staring back at him from Andrews’ car. It was a young boy, maybe ten years old.

“How bad is he?” asked Hammer.

“Bad,” said Archive. “We need to get him inside, fast.”

“His car won’t start either,” said Jim-Bean, pointing to the distant lights of a roadside motel. “The closest shelter is there.”

“Great,” said Hammer. “Archive, you take Andrews. Jim-Bean, you take the boy.”

“You take him,” said Jim-Bean quickly. “I’ll carry our gear.”

Hammer shrugged and led the boy out of the car.

A Love in Need: Part 1 – The Motel

The Prairie View motel was a one-story, L-shaped structure. A rustic portico ran the length of the front, affording sheltered access to each of the twelve units and the office. A primer painted pickup truck sat outside the office, under a "$19.00 A NIGHT" sign that hung over the office screen door. Above that was a crooked "VACANCY" sign.

A bell above the screen door of the office jingled as Hammer entered.

The tiny wood-paneled room had several security video monitors on the walls behind the desk. The image of Hammer entering the office filled the screens.

Around the room, a few stock scenery pictures hung on the wall and a stuffed jack-a-lope, a rabbit with glued-on antlers, rested on the counter. At the rabbit's feet was a desk bell, with a sign: RING ME.

Hammer rang the bell.

There was some rustling, then a man with a nametag identifying him as Kraygen appeared from the back room. He was in his forties, five-foot nothing and a hundred thirty pounds in his sweaty t-shirt and jeans.

He caught a glimpse of Archive carrying the bloody Andrews in a fireman’s carry towards the motel. "Jesus, what happened?"

Hammer flashed his badge. “My name is Agent Hammer, CIFA. I need to get this man to a hospital immediately.”

Kraygen nodded and picked up the desk phone. He tried a line, clicked on the receiver, clicked again. Nothing.

“I’m not getting a line. It happens in the rain. Saint Jude’s has twenty-four hour emergency. Thirty miles east, but I don’t think you’ll make it in this storm. Need a room?”

“Two, actually.”

Kraygen threw him the keys.

A tall attractive redhead with green eyes ran out into the rain from her room, summoned by the commotion. She was dressed in slacks, a casual blouse, and minimal jewelry.

“Oh my God!” She caught sight of Andrews and Archive. “What happened?”

“This man is hurt. He needs medical assistance.”

“I’ll take him back to my room. I’m a doctor. Doctor Amanda Kliss.”

Jim-Bean nervously ushered the weird little boy after them.

A Love in Need: Part 2 – The Room

“Crikes, this is rough,” whispered Jim-Bean, looking around.

The room, if it could be called that, had stained shag carpet. There were torn farm animal print curtains. Cigarette holes were burned into the paisley bedspread draped across the bed. Artificial plants hung in the corners of the room.

Archive rushed Andrews into the bathroom and placed him in the tub. The bathroom was no better. It had a broken tile floor, a rusty faucet and a water-stained commode.

Archived turned on the faucet. Brown water splashed out, gushing several roaches out with it. The bugs scurried around the sink and then slither down the drain.

“Anyone have a first aid kit?” shouted Kliss. “He’s in shock, he’s losing blood.”

“We just happen to have one,” said Jim-Bean. He tossed a rucksack onto the bed.

Archive tore it open and ran back into the bathroom. He snapped on a pair of plastic gloves. Then Archive peeled back Andrews’ shirt, causing blood to weep copiously into the tub.

“That doesn’t look good,” he said to Kliss. The look on her face confirmed his diagnosis.

Andrews clung to life. The boy sat nearby on the bed, just staring at him.

“All we can do is try to make him comfortable,” said Kliss.

Andrews’ eyes fluttered open. He looked into the next room, watching the boy.

Slowly, laboriously, in a glottal effort that sounded as though he were talking through a mouthful of mud, Andrews whispered, “horrible … it … must stop …”

Kraygen stood in the doorway. “What the hell happened?”

“He was out in the road,” snarled Hammer, angry with himself. “I didn’t see him …”

Andrews let out a deep shuddering sigh and closed his eyes. Archive put two fingers to Andrews’ neck.

“Is he … dead?” asked Kraygen.

Kliss nodded, tears in her eyes.

Hammer swore softly to himself.

A Love in Need: Part 3 – Vector

Jim-Bean approached the boy, brow furrowed.

“So kid. Did you see anything? Anything you want to share?”

The boy just stared at him with his dead eyes.

Kliss came over. “He’s just a boy. Can’t you see he’s in shock?”

“Oh I can see all right. And in my experience, the cute little kids are the most dangerous.”

Kliss blinked. “You can’t be serious. I think you’ve been reading too many horror novels, Agent …”

“Jim-Bean,” he said. “Don’t worry, this won’t hurt a bit.”

Jim-Bean lifted the Realizer crystal around his neck with one hand and focused on the boy.

The boy was on his back, awake. Something chitinous and fungal loomed over him. There were either multiple things or it had more than one pair of arms.

An odd tool, made of a black shiny material and covered in strange stains was held in fine manipulators with two opposing nippers, one set ending in a blunt, soft spur-like “thumb.”

“Be still David,” whispered a deep, barely feminine voice. “This will only take a minute.”

Jim-Bean’s first reaction was that the boy was being tortured as a long slice was made down the boy’s front. But then he realized it was some form of alien surgery. Where humans cut precisely and carefully with sterilized tools to prevent infection or fatal hemorrhage, the aliens ripped and rended with their bizarre instruments. Skin was ripped away without any forethought or design.

Then he realized who he was. He was inside Andrews’ head.

Andrews was being held upright, was next to David. He moaned, terrified. A pair of huge, meaty human hands held him fast.

Nippers yanked forth a raging, slimy thing out of the boy. It looked like a quivering organ that had a life of its own. The tool moved over the gaping wound of David’s ribcage and the bloody rent was healed without a scratch.

It was Andrews’ turn. A bloody slash tore open his abdomen. Jim-Bean/Andrews screamed. The twitching organ that had been torn out of the boy was placed inside him. And then it was sewed back up.

Immediately, Andrews broke out in blue pustules. Unlike the boy, he had no benefit of anesthetic. Even as the wound was sewed up, he arched his back in a guttural scream...

Click to expand...

Jim-Bean fell back from the vision, gasping. “His name is … David.”

“How do you know that?” asked Kliss. “By just staring at him?”

Jim-Bean looked down at his arm. Little blue buboes broke out.

“Not again,” he whispered.

“What the …” asked Kliss. “Are you infected?”

Jim-Bean ran into the bathroom and pulled the knife out of his boot. Kliss caught sight of Jim-Bean slicing the knife across his forearm just before he kicked the door closed.

And all throughout, David tracked Jim-Bean with his dead gaze.

A Love in Need: Part 4 – The Prisoner

The motel room was illuminated by a police cruiser. The flashing lights were eerie in the rain. An athletic, middle-aged man in a sheriff’s uniform stepped out of the sedan. There was a second person in the back of the cruiser.

“You the manager?” he asked Kraygen.

“Yeah?” asked Kraygen nervously.

The stranger carefully held out his police I.D. “Office Tageret. I’m transporting a convict. The law grants you the right to decline us service – but the roads are flooded and I could use a room.”

A muffled cackle came from the back seat of the sedan.

“… it’s an emergency.”

Hammer walked over, flashing his own badge. “Agent Hammer, Counter-Intelligence Field Agency. Who’ve you got there?”

“Jawolalski, Jason Jawolalski.”

Tageret dragged Jawolalski out of the cruiser and over to the room that Kraygen unlocked for him.

Jawolalski’s long black hair was tied in a ponytail. He had brown eyes and a two day’s growth of beard.

“That’s our man,” said Hammer. Jim-Bean joined them from the other room, his arm drenched in blood. “CIFA put out the APB. We’ll take him off of your hands.”

“What the hell happened to you?” asked Tageret. He was perceptive enough to notice that they all had cuts and scrapes.

Jim-Bean nodded to the other room. “Car accident. We’ve got one dead body in the other room.”

Tageret shoved Jawolalski into the motel room. “You can kill Jawolalski too for all I care. This piece of garbage has enough convictions to put him away for awhile.”

“If you’re gonna cuff him to something, the toilet’s bolted down good,” said Kraygen.

Hammer shook his head. “Keep him in sight. Cuff him to the bed.”

The beds, like everything else in the motel, were bolted to the floor.

“Thanks so much for your assistance,” said Jawolalski, pissed.

Tageret dragged Jawolalski over to the bed.

Jawolalski growled in his face. “I got stripes,” he sang, “stripes around my shoulders…”

Ignoring him, Tageret cuffed Jawolalski to the bed frame.

“I got chains, chains around my feet … And them chains, them chains, they’re ‘bout to drag me down.”

Tageret smacked Jawolalski’s head against the side of the bed frame.

“Ow! Bastard!” shouted Jawolalski.

“We’ll take it from here,” said Hammer. “Did he have anything on him?”

“Yeah,” said Tageret. “A 9mm automatic pistol and a weird cardboard box.”

Jim-Bean arched an eyebrow. “What kind of box?”

Tageret shrugged. “Dripping something. I tried not to touch it. It’s in my trunk.”

Hammer leaned down to face Jawolalski. “What’s in the box, Jawolalski.”

Jawolalski flashed a gap-toothed grin. “What box?”

“We know about the potion you gave Lucinda Ennis,” said Hammer.

“Lucy?” Jawolalski cackled. “How’s her dad doing?”

“Dead. Both of them.”

“Oh wow,” Jawolalski feigned concern. “That’s too bad huh.”

“I’m not going to ask you again, Jawolalski. What’s in the box?”

Jawolalski smirked and said nothing.

“We’ve got a dead body in the other room,” said Hammer. “Along with a little boy. We’re not sure whom he belongs to.”

Tageret nodded. “I’ll check it out.” He left.

Lightning fast, Jim-Bean pulled a knife out of his boot and stabbed Jawolalski in the thigh.

“AAAAH!” screamed Jawolalski. “Jesus! What the hell? I got rights!”

“Ever hear of the Patriot Act?” asked Hammer. “Right now you seem like a terrorist with a biological weapon to me. You don’t have any rights.”

Jim-Bean yanked the knife out of Jawolalski’s thigh, triggering another screech from him. “DAMN IT! Fine! Fine! I’ll tell you. It’s insurance. I think I’m bleeding to death …”

Hammer roughly bandaged up the wound. “Insurance? Insurance for what?”

“I worked for a company. A company that makes some weird $#!t called Sapphire. If you met Lucy’s dad you know what it does. Turns out they’re crazier than even me. I needed out. So I took a little piece of insurance to make sure people take me seriously. ‘Course, with my history I couldn’t very well go to the police …”

“What company?” asked Hammer.

Jawolalski started singing the ABC song.

“Cut that out!” said Hammer. “What company?”

“Amalgamated Bio-Carb. It’s a pharmaceutical company.”

“What’s in the box?” asked Jim-Bean tersely.

“Rover. Here boy!” He started whistling. “Here boy!”

Tageret opened the door. “What’s going on in here?” He caught sight of Jawolalski’s blood on the floor.

Hammer got up abruptly. “Give me the keys to your car. We’re going to check out this box.”

Tageret threw the keys to Hammer.

“Watch him,” said Jim-Bean to Tageret as he passed. Then they both set out in the pounding rain.

A Love in Need: Part 5 - What's in the Box?

The box in the trunk smelled like some type of chemical. The sides were stained from the inside by some kind of bluish fluid.

Jim-Bean moved to pick it up when the box moved. Something was wetly flopping inside the box.

Exchanging a glance with Jim-Bean, Hammer slowly reached out to pick up the box up. It shuddered.

Hammer opened the door to the additional room he had rented from Kraygen.

“Hey!” shouted Jim-Bean to Kraygen, who was standing in the doorway to Dr. Kliss’ room. “You got a fish tank or something?”

“Sure,” said Kraygen. He jogged back to the office and returned with an algae-covered, dried out husk of a fish tank with smelly gravel. “Ain’t had fish in this for years.”

“Thanks.” He took it from Kraygen.

“So what’s in the—“

Jim-Bean closed the door on him. He turned back to Hammer.

Hammer placed the box on the nightstand next to the bed. Jim-Bean placed the fish tank over the box.

“Ready?” asked Jim-Bean.

Hammer nodded. “Ready.”

Jim-Bean focused and stretched one hand towards the box.

It slowly, carefully tore open, seemingly of its own accord. In the darkness, a single eye glittered from the feeble light provided by the single bulb above them.

The thing shuddered. Something wet and pink slithered inside. With a sudden jerk, it twitched its way out of the box.

What lay inside the fish tank was an absolute abomination against nature. The head was that of a German Shepherd, its right eye blasted away by a bullet wound. There was a wound in the skull which had exposed the brain tissue. The jaw bone was out shot out of its right hinge. Even so, its jaw muscles jerked spasmodically. The flesh of the bloodless stump was stained faintly blue, as was the exposed brain tissue.

“What. The f$%k. Is that?” asked Jim-Bean.

The single of the dog’s head rolled madly. It twitched its way to the side of the tank, the wet tongue leaving saliva stains as it slapped against the tank.

“Sapphire in action,” said Hammer. “If this ABC company is manufacturing this stuff …”

The door burst open. It was Tageret. “What is going on in here?”

Jim-Bean stood up abruptly, positioning himself between the tank and the cop. “Nothing. I thought I told you to watch Jawolalski?”

“I was! He was talking about something about a dog’s head? Said you guys tortured him?”

“You left the prisoner alone?” growled Hammer. He stalked out the door past Tageret and into the holding room.

The room was dark and empty. The bed had been torn away from the floor. The rear window was open.

“Damn it!” shouted Hammer.

Tageret skidded behind them. “He can’t get far,” said Tageret. “Not in this.”

Jim-Bean came out. “Kraygen! Get over here!”

Kraygen came back from the other room. “What’s up?”

“You got any weapons?” asked Hammer.

Kraygen looked from Hammer to Tageret nervously. “I … uh …”

“We’re not going to arrest you, Kraygen. We’ve got an emergency; our prisoner escaped and we’re going to need every man available. If you’ve got weapons, we could use your help finding Jawolalski.”

Kraygen seemed relieved. “Sure. Follow me.”

He led them to the main office. “I got two old pistols that hang over the mantle here,” he said, reaching up behind an overhang. “You wouldn’t think they work but I keep ‘em in good condition.” Kraygen’s expression changed as he pulled one of the long pistols down. “That’s strange.”

“What?” asked Hammer.

“One of the pistol’s missing.”

“$#!T!” snarled Hammer. “How about ammo?”

“Oh I keep it in a drawer over …” Kraygen looked over the counter. “It’s all over the floor.”

“All right, our target is now armed,” announced Hammer. “But he’s wounded. He won’t get very far. Kraygen, any place you think Jawolalski could hide?”

Kraygen pondered. “Well there’s the repair shack out back …”

Hammer nodded. “Load that pistol, you’re coming with me. Jim-Bean, Tageret, you two go around the other side. We’ll check room by room and meet at the shack.”

A Love in Need: Part 6 - Jaws

Rain pounded the moonless landscape, hitting so hard that the up-spray was as fierce as the downpour. Occasional bursts of lightning took snapshots of twisted Joshua trees.

The lights of the motel become fainter. The sodden muck tried to swallow their feet. Hammer pulled himself from the quagmire, climbed a rise and hurried over it. Lightning flashed and he caught sight of the maintenance shed.

Jim-Bean and Tageret arrived on the other side. The door swung open and closed in the wind. The chain that normally locked the shed had been snapped in two.

With both Glocks out, Hammer peered around the opening into the darkness of the trailer. Another flash of lightning illuminated the outline of Jawolalski’s form, his back to them.

“Jawolalski!” shouted Hammer. “It’s over. Get up.”

Jawolalski didn’t move. Hammer nodded to Kraygen and he flicked on the light.

Jowalaski was tied to the pole, but his head hung down. Blood and gore streamed down the front of his chest, accompanied by a horrible gurgling sound.

As Hammer move closer, Jawolalski’s head jerked upwards in pain. His lower jaw was completely ripped off.

“HOLY $#!T!” screamed Kraygen.

Jawolalski’s tongue flopped helplessly, choking on his own blood. With another wheeze, he expired.

“W-what kind of an animal DOES that?” asked Kraygen.

“The kind that cuffs you to a pole first,” said Tageret. “It’s time to get out of here.”

“I’m not waiting for that thing to kill me!” shouted Kraygen, panic in his voice. He ran screaming into the night, back towards the motel.

Jim-Bean sighed. “Civilians.” He held his crystal and focused.

And was rewarded with a flash of a giant hand, the same puffy paw he saw holding Andrews before.

Jawolalski screamed, but it was cut off as the hand shoved its way into his mouth.

Jawolalski managed a terrified moan before the hand ripped downwards. With incredible force, it tore Jaowlalski’s jaw off, snapping through, tendons, teeth, and flesh.

Click to expand...

Jim-Bean stumbled backwards.

“What?” asked Hammer.

“Let’s just … let’s just go,” he said.

A Love in Need: Part 7 – The Plan

“What was all that screaming?” asked Kliss, stroking the boy’s hair in an effort to keep him calm.

“Jawolalski’s dead,” said Tageret, out of breath. “There’s a corpse in the bathtub. And I don’t know for sure but I think I saw a dog head flopping around in a fish tank.” He addressed Kliss. “Take your car and get out of here. You and the kid.”

Archived looked back and forth between them. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Where are we supposed to go?” asks Kliss.

“How much gas do you have?” asks Tageret.

“Half a tank.”

Tageret checked his watch. “It’s almost three. You can drive till dawn on that. Just keep moving.”

Making up her mind, Kliss nodded. She snatched up her keys and dragged David behind her.

“Wait!” Archive got up from the bed. “We don’t know if it’s safe.”

But it was too late. Kliss pushed the boy around to the passenger side. Then she yanked open the door to the driver’s side …

KA-BOOM! A huge explosion rocked the motel.

A mushrooming fireball billowed from the front of the motel. In the office, the window shattered from the shockwave. Kliss’ vehicle was a raging inferno. The fire popped and hissed in the pouring rain.

Archive ran over to Kliss. She was alive, but unconscious and badly burned.

Tageret ran over to the boy. “Where’s the kid?” He shouted, looking around where the boy’s body should have been. “I can’t find him!”

Hammer and Jim-Bean ran out from around the opposite sides of the motel.

“What the hell happened?” asked Hammer.

“Kliss’ car exploded,” said Archive. “They’re not going to let us leave.”

“I’m not givin’ em a choice,” said Tageret. “Everyone in my cruiser.”

Hammer shook his head. “We make our stand here. Running is suicide. Besides, they may have rigged your car too.”

“I’ll take my chances out there than with stay whatever ripped Jawolalski’s jaw off. If you wanna stay, stay.”

Tageret leaped inside his cruiser and turned the key in the ignition. Jim-Bean flinched.

CLICK.

Tageret flipped the key back. More clicks.

Tageret shook his head and then noticed something. The hood was raised just a few inches. Like someone worked on the engine then silently closed the hood.

His eyes jumped to the police radio ... gone ... just wires.

Tageret climbed out, his gun cocked and ready. He moved around the front of the car, scanning the area as he lifted the hood.

FWOOSH. A flash of pincers and pink wings. Cilia waving madly. Tageret disappeared with a yelp into the gray skies.

His scream returned a second later as his body smashed into the roof of his car.

“Alien dogs,” whispered Jim-Bean. “They’re back.”

“We’ve got to make a stand here,” said Hammer. “Archive, get Kliss to a room and see what you can do. We’re going to check out the office.”