Five hours later, the four-wheel drive vehicle slid through the narrow entrance of the fortress and came to a stop. Karl ordered the soldier sitting in the back seat to get out of the vehicle. Bradley opened the door and half stepped half fell out onto the ground. Karl dispassionately watched as Bradley stumbled toward the open arch of the entrance. All of his other men were gone—destroyed by the alien and Avery Lennox.
Bradley manually activated the heavy metal gate, and Owens pulled up in front of the stronghold Karl called home. He opened the passenger side door and stepped out of the vehicle.
“Bradley, man the turret,” Karl ordered.
Bradley opened his mouth to reply, then his eyes widened in shock and he fell forward. There was a long thin black shaft protruding from the center of h
