Psi Factor: One’s own way

Автор:  Anastasia

Открыть фик целиком в отдельном окне

Connor broke the connection.

What did it mean? Did Connor Doyle officially denied given instructions?

Frank Elsinger, the chief of OSIR was slightly irritated. He didn’t’ expect such a behavior, not in this open way and certainly not from Connor Doyle. Something had to be wrong. Doyle didn’t look well... Then it struck Elsinger: was he possibly contaminated? Was it because of this that he opposed to hand over this really dangerous living thing?

Elsinger couldn’t and wouldn’t risk anything. Though he knew about the parasites and the team members were surely replaceable but this team was now too valuable to risk it...

He reached for the receiver. After pushing several buttons he created a connection that couldn’t be bugged and which number was known to only two people: him and the chief of the Gamma – team with whom he now spoke.

"William? Frank here," he started and continued. "I need a complete team. Place of action: Russia. The number of the official case is 321147, the required information you’ll find in the unofficial file 321147 – Gamma – 3719.

An alpha team is already there. There are presumably problems. Connor Doyle is presumably contaminated, the others could be that as well. You and your team got a task, to get them out of there, I can’t risk to lose the whole team. But," he added, "no one should know you’re there. Good luck."

With these words Elsinger put the receiver back into its cradle. There was the gravity of the situation written on his face, but it was not the only thing, reflected in his face. There was something else... worry?

He was in pain. His whole body seemed aflame with pain, but he shouldn’t show it. Not in front of his team, this would only lessen their concentration and distract them from their work now more important than the state of his body. He had to end this case but not the way Elsinger wanted him to do. His own way. And he wanted to get out the team with no losses. This was the least he owed them after all the long time together.

He guessed, that he wouldn’t survive in the mission and it made him sad. There was so much that would stay unsaid... To his team... to Lindsay. He hasn’t been able to tell her what he really felt for her. But now it was too late. To do it now meant to make everything worse and he swore, that he’d tell her if he survived the situation. But in the same moment it looked like a cowardly promise.

Was he perhaps already persuaded in his subconsciousness that he wouldn’t survive and that’s why he could give oaths like this? He didn’t know and therefore decided, not to ponder over it and to hope for the best.

"Gamma 2 to Gamma 1, we’re in the position. Microphones, ultrasound – and infrared sensors, warmth – and movement detectors are installed and ready for work. Send you all the measures and video signals."

"Gamma 1 to Gamma 2. Understood. The data transformation successfully completed. Please inform about the other plans and actions of the alpha team."

"Understood, Gamma 1," three members of the Gamma team, dressed in black, moved in the darkness of the building. Two gigantic parasites crept not far from them but didn’t notice them.

"Gamma 2 to Gamma 1, protective suits tested and ready to use."

"Understood, Gamma 2," confirmed William and looked again at his monitors, situated in a little hidden basis, 200 m away from the factory building. A lot of little moving objects were to see, but only a little bit of it were humans. There were already many parasites hiding in this building, too many.

The whole operation took place at a high level, that could escalate to the highest security phase. Something had to be done about it.

The Case Manager of the alpha team possibly came to the same conclusion, cause the team looked as if they were about to get away. Some minutes ago Dr. Cooper, the zoologist, was contaminated. Not even Gamma team could prevent it. Although they could determine the position of the parasites, what could they do? Not a thing. They had to stay undiscovered. Luckily Cooper lived, but for how long?

William looked at the little monitors and listened to the talks. Doyle has just ordered an immediate retreat. He himself ran to the cellar of the building, to open the doors.

A dangerous plan, considering the parasites, William thought, worried. William activated the intercom, but before he could say anything, there was a message from one of his teams. "Gamma 2 to Gamma 1, they get away. Doyle is on his way to the pressure controls, to supply the doors with energy."

"Understood," confirmed William shortly, before he contacted the next team: "Gamma 3, be ready."

It was a bit tight, but they still made it. Now they were hidden in their secret places and waited, but they didn’t have to wait long, cause several minutes later he went down the stairs. He could hardly walk, pressing his one hand to his stomach and hurried on, touching with the other hand the walls and apparatus. His face was twisted with pain, his hair plastered to his scalp, wet with perspiration. He could hardly breath.

Then he made it to the control center. He started to turn the levers, one after another.

The team heard the compressors starting to function. Soon it will be over.

The three members of the Gamma team watched him from the dark corners of the room, were ready and waited for action. Everything had to go on smooth, if the operation was a success. Now it wouldn’t take too long, it’d start any moment. They watched each other. The chief of the team made a movement with her hand and the both men nodded.

Meanwhile exhausted Doyle leaned on the wall and was sitting on the floor. He stretched out his hand to the last lever.

The both men wanted to leave their shelter as the chief stopped them. She showed them the little screen. Four red spots – these were they and Doyle –, a lot of blue spots – these were the parasites -, and another red spot was approaching the room. In this moment Peter Axon ran down the stairs. He was armed with nitrogen against the parasites. He wanted to stop Doyle, to get him out, but Doyle wouldn’t agree, telling Axon about his plan to open the doors. Together with Axon they turned the levers. Then they argued. Peter didn’t want to leave Doyle alone. The team members watched nervously one another. They were short of time. If the parasites got Doyle first, everything was too late.

Peter scanned the surroundings and also noticed the parasites. Luckily the detectors couldn’t differ between human and animal signals so that the team stayed unnoticed. The three looked at each other, relieved.

"Go, Peter, it’s an order." Peter still lingered, but he saw determination in the eyes of his friend and finally headed the stairs. He turned to look at Doyle for the last time, then started to run. He ran to save his own life, he knew it. And he had only little time.

Connor’s pain was now unbearable. The parasite in his stomach turned around and created waves of pain, that seemed to flood Connor’s whole nervous system. He shrunk at the control wall, clinging with one hand on the lever, that meant freedom for him and for all the others. Freedom from the present and future pain, caused by the creatures whose origin still couldn’t be determined. He waited another few seconds, hoping that his team was already outside, hoping that Peter was safe as well. The parasites were coming nearer, he could feel their presence like a cold shower down his spine. He closed his eyes, thought about his team, thought about Lindsay and turned the lever.

Nothing.

What happened? It took him an effort to open his eyes but he was too weak. The last thing he saw, before he drifted off into a deep unconsciousness, was a silhouette of a man, hurrying towards him.