Apocalypse: The Savior with System

33 Dividing the Loot

Thanks to Eric’s tracker, he was able to see Paul and Rahu arrive. Originally, the plan was to disable the security with the codes and infiltrate the arsenal through different points.

Until he received a message from Rahu:

Wait twenty minutes after we arrive.

Eric glanced at his watch. Two minutes had passed.

“What are we waiting for?” Andie asked, eyes darting every which way. “Is the security still up?”

“It’s been down for the last hour or so,” he said.

“You think they already know it’s down?” Judith asked next.

Eric nodded. “I’m sure they already knew it the second it shut down and I can imagine the chaos inside. The security people would be trying to put it back up. But I’ve inserted something to prevent them from fixing it.”

“Another code?”

Eric gave Judith an apologetic glance. “A virus.”

Eli laughed mirthlessly. “A virus. Of course.”

“What I don’t understand is why we have to wait but I trust Paul and Rahu. Maybe they found out something and are just being cautious.”

The rest of his companions retreated into silence, each of them counting the minutes until the fourteenth began. Eric hoisted his carbine up. He nodded for the others to do the same.

“I know you’d rather not use those things but we have to if we want to succeed here,” he told them regretfully. “Anyway, just ready them, keep your eyes and ears open, and when I say ‘Go!’ we all sta—“

Eric was cut off when the unmistakable sound of a gun or guns being fired reached him. He held up a hand to push his companions a few steps backward. Frowning, Eric held up his phone to call Rahu but was beaten to it when it gave out a single beep.

“Eric, stand down for a bit,” said Paul.

“Paul? What’s going on?”

“Slight change of plans, man,” Paul replied. “Wait until it’s all quiet then we move.”

It was a strange request, not to mention not the original plan. Eric shrugged and ended the call, moving his eyes to the main gate. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Rahu and Paul slowly moving towards the high wall, then disappearing again towards the back.

When the twenty minutes elapsed and the gunfire died down, Eric signaled to follow him. Slowly, they moved towards the main gate, which was weirdly unmanned. The sniper towers were dark and seemingly empty. Eric moved forward and gave the steel gate a light push. The gate opened without resistance.

The arsenal was built with a wide courtyard around which branched out different buildings. Like every other arsenal, the place would have to be well-populated even at night, with guards and sentries, and other members of the military roaming around. Tonight, however, the place was eerily quiet and empty.

Judith gave out a small squeak as she fell over something.

“Jesus,” Eli breathed in awe. Eric turned around slowly, his eyes widening at all the scattered dead in the courtyard. Blood, brains, and guts flowed like tiny rivers on the stone floor, gathering in dark red puddles. Andie bent forward and vomited.

“Did they—“ Judith began but Eric interrupted her.

“Paul and Rahu know their guns but this isn’t their work. They’re good but not that good.”

“Then who did?!”

Before Eric could answer, movement caught his attention. He raised his gun higher, prompting the others to do the same, all barrels pointed to one spot in the darkness.

“Who are you?!” Eric yelled. “Identify yourself!”

He was answered with a husky feminine laugh. The sound of footsteps reached him. Eric stepped back, trying to shield his companions, his eye to the gun, and his gun to the unseen enemy.

“Show yourself!”

“Alright, alright! You’re an impatient one, aren’t you?”

And into the light stepped a vision.

A pale woman dressed in white, cat-like eyes and blood-red lips. A sniper’s rifle dangled from one hand while the other hand patted her short dark hair into order.  Straight, white teeth glowed at him when she grinned. She stepped forward. Judith raised her gun higher. Andie and Eli followed suit.

Eric was frozen to the spot.

“Eric! Eric!” Judith frantically whispered, nudging him with an elbow. “Do we shoot her?”

No! I mean, yes! No! I mean, no!

He opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out. The strange woman’s eyes zeroed in on him. She grinned wider.

“I guess it’s done now,” he heard Paul say. Paul and Rahu finally appeared. “Didn’t have to use a single bullet.”

Eric watched in silence as Rahu stood closer to the woman and said, “Half, as agreed.”

“Are we going to draw a line now?” she asked in a teasing manner. Rahu grunted. “We share the armory but the military lab goes to the Doctor exclusively. That’s the deal.”

The woman looked at Judith, gave her a once-over, and smirked. Judith raised an eyebrow. “I only need specific weapons and information, so don’t worry. I won’t be taking up too much space or get in your way unless…” she gave Judith another unkind look “…you get in mine.”

After getting a nod from both Rahu and Paul, she turned to Eric, completely ignoring Judith, Andie, and Eli. “I have a lot of names but you look like you’re worth the real one. Quinn Vega, at your service…was at your service.” Andie and Eli shyly introduced themselves, receiving only the barest of acknowledgments. She looked at Judith and said, “Judith Merkel, obviously,” not giving Judith a chance to introduce herself.

“And this is my friend, Eric Mayer,” Paul inserted, gripping Eric’s shoulder hard.

The woman called Quinn Vega smiled sweetly at Eric. “Eric. Mayer. Plain and simple.”

When no one spoke, she just laughed and told Rahu, “I don’t think I left anyone but just in case, check the basements. I’m beat so I’m turning in. See you around!”

With a jaunty wave, she turned around and headed into one of the buildings.

“Eric, man, you can close your mouth and put the gun down now,” he heard Paul say to him, felt the pressure of Paul’s hand on his trigger arm. Eric put the gun down and raised his eyes to find Rahu give him an almost pitying look before the giant motioned for Eli to help him with the bodies. Andie decided to stick close to Judith.

“W-Who the hell is that?!” Eric exclaimed.

Paul gave him a long, searching look, and shook his head. “Oh, man! I didn’t see this coming. It’s a long story but I’ll tell you in a while. Let’s clean up after her first.”

“What?”

Paul laid an arm across Eric’s shoulders. “She’s bad news, Eric. Friendly advice: stay away from that woman. Professional advice: stay away from that woman. In conclusion, stay away from that woman.”

Eric nodded absentmindedly. “Is she from that underground thing with Rahu, too?”

“She’s Rahu, female version, minus the grunting and a bit more sociable but I’d rather you don’t engage with her.”

“But she doesn’t look like—“

“That’s the point. She shouldn’t look like what you think she should,” Paul explained, leading Eric into the main building. They entered the lobby and even there, bodies littered the floor.

“Before we talk further, you have to get the security back up,” said Paul. “All this blood is going to be scented by zombies in the area and we don’t want a horde of them attacking us.”

Eric gave a startled jump. “Oh, right! Give me five minutes.”

He opened his gear and immediately worked on getting the security system fixed. In no time, Eric succeeded. Then they saw Judith and Andie entering. Judith had a scowl on her usually placid face while Andie looked pale.

“I’m no stranger to death but it’s just too many human bodies,” Andie groaned. “She’s a real killer, that Quinn lady. She’s not going to murder us in our sleep, is she?”

“I don’t think so,” Paul reassured her…reassured everyone. “She won’t dare with Rahu around.”

Andie yawned. “Are we going to check the floors now?”

Eric and Judith shared a look. “Let’s leave it to the boys tonight while we find somewhere to sleep.” Eric handed Judith a tablet which opened to a map.

“The mess hall and dormitory is on the second floor,” Eric said, pointing to a marked position on the tablet. “We’ll bunk down as soon as we finish the clean-up.”

Judith nodded to the men and led Andie up to the dormitory.

When they were gone, Paul said, “Let’s go.”

Wordlessly, Eric followed behind his friend, his eyes straying to the dark where Quinn Vega, assassin extraordinaire, went.