10. Death Squad
There was a rumbling coming from all directions inside the ship. Everyone gasped. Something big was happening. They didn't know what to expect.
Cindy, who was still holding the portable fire extinguisher, was stunned. Did any of this have to do with the shattering of the small glass box containing microchip? Cindy felt she had done something stupid. She looked at Tet who was looking at her holding several microchips in his hand.
Ben's eyes never left the monitors. He realized something had happened. The rumbling seemed like a bad sign. His teammates were downstairs and outside. He couldn't lose his guard.
So far there had been nothing suspicious on the monitor screens. Uh, wait a minute! What was that? Ben's eyes widened. From the large monitor screen he saw several figures appeared to be moving. The figures were vague because there were so much steam in that room. But Ben was sure that those figures were not humans. They were too tall. And what was that behind their backs? Ben was frowning while trying to make out what he was seeing.
Good heavens! Those were wings!
Ben's hand was ready to hit the ship's horn. He would assess if the situation was under control or not. But in any case, the laboratory door had a maximum level of security.
While outside, Ran and Rabat also heard a rumbling coming from the ship. The two of them rushed in. There had been no signs of danger from Ben yet. So Ran decided to check on Tet and Cindy. They were both in the ship's hold. The closest place to the source of rumbling.
Just as Ran and Rabat got to the outside of the laboratory, both were startled by a loud banging from inside the laboratory door. Tet and Cindy were not there. Were they inside and unable to get out?
Not knowing what the code was or how, Rabat almost reached for the button, speculating to open the door. But an arm hastily grabbed him. It was Tet's.
Tet put his index finger to his lips and gestured with the corner of his eye into the laboratory. Rabat and Ran realized something was in there. They saw Cindy was closing her eyes and tilting her head slightly. She was using her ability to sense the surrounding.
Cindy opened her eyes. She picked up a mosquito spray in the medicine box and crept up the stairs to the wheelhouse. She signaled Tet, Ran and Rabat to follow what she was doing. The three men followed what Cindy did. Walking slowly after spraying each other with mosquito repellent.
At the wheelhouse, Cindy opened her mouth which had been tightly closed the whole way up.
"They can mark our distinctive smell with a super sharp sense of smell. That's why we need to spray our body with this as a camouflage. They are very dangerous. I can feel it, trust me."
"What do you mean mark it Cindy? And who are they?" Rabat looked into Cindy's eyes. He got used to her black eyes by now.
"Marking as a target of course. They are the death squad created by the researchers on this ship. For what purpose, I don't know," Cindy explained, not taking her eyes off the screen.
Everyone turned to the monitor. The thin cryonics vapor had almost completely disappeared. Now they could clearly see what creature was pounding on the laboratory door.
The creatures were the same species. Up to two meters high. Could be 2.2 meters. Sturdy with chrome colored skin. Their heads resembled the vultures they had encountered in the field of bones. Wings were wide and sturdy. Their hands were long with long nails. Similar to the strange lions and tigers they met some time ago for the first time.
Cindy gasped. The creatures were a mix of all sorts of strange beasts on this island.
Everyone was silent. Stunned by the discovery. The creatures were incubated in cryonics tubes and they were resuscitated inside a maximum security laboratory on a mysterious research ship. By whom? What for?
Tet handed Ben some microchips. Ben would know how to access it. All information could be found there. They were both curious and anxious at the same time.
Ben checked the chip then looked for the most appropriate chip reader but could not find one that fit. Ben scratched his nose. There must be something. Or it could be somewhere else. Ben looked around again.
He found it! Apparently the chip reader was in the captain's cupboard. Ben inser ted the chip into the reader and connected it to one of the monitors.
Death Troop Rising-Code DTR V1. This high-tech research as well as advance level genetic engineering was initiated by an international research institute called Bio Research and funded by a consortium of several giant weapon manufacturers who chose not to be mentioned in this file.
The purpose of this research is to create a death squad as a replacement to the existing conventional weapons, which are no longer efficient. This death squad is organic being and a hybrid of several rare animals developed by Bio Research on Bone Island.
The target market of this death squad mega project are developed countries after the DTR V1 is tested and deployed in the Middle East war theater in the next three years.
The Bio Research headquarters will closely monitor the time of the death squad reanimation stage. A special team will land on Bone Island to start the next stage.
Everyone had mixed thoughts after finished reading the message. They had never thought that their interest in conducting scientific research in a country called the Land of the Bones would drag them into the vortex of this horrendous conspiracy.
They stumbled upon a development of lethal weapons. And it would be tested in real warfare! Very soon!
An alarm sound startled them. Several small dots flickered on the radar screen. Ben shouted reminding everyone.
"They're coming! Ran, what do we do?"
Ran replied firmly, "We won't let this happen! This is dangerous for world peace. We must prevent it. Ben, can we move or hide this ship? Don't forget to turn off all transponders showing the position of this ship."
Ben nodded, "I've checked all the instruments and engines. Everything is working. A leaky hull at the top won't be a problem if we are not caught up in storms and big waves. Where are we headed, Ran?"
"What about the rock pinning the ship on the hull, Ben?" Tet asked.
Ben smiled broadly, "Don't worry, mate. It was all actually just a camouflage as if this ship was stranded. The coral is artificial. See this!" Ben pressed a few keys on the keyboard.
Voila! Two large rocks that clamped the ship's hull shifted slowly to the right and left. The ship floated freely.
Ben continued the next trick. There was a low hum as the ship moved out of the reef into the open sea. Ran clenched his fists in satisfaction. The rest of the team clapped. This ship could sail!
"There's only one thing we must remember, guys. We are close to the Bio Research team. Even though I turned off the transponder, I'm afraid they could track us using satellite. So, it's better if we hide this ship in a nearby island," Ben explained and looked at Ran.
"What do you say, Ben?" Rabat looked at Ben.
"I have marked the large island to the southeast. Less than 10 Nautical Miles from here. There are lots of secluded bays to hide this ship."
"What's the name of the island on the map, Ben?" Cindy asked.
"Skull Island. I don't know why it's called that. Hopefully there aren't many real skulls in there," Ben replied with a bitter smile.
The four people looked at each other.
"To Skull Island it is!" Ran decided.
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Meanwhile, on the monitor screen of a large ship bearing the Bio Research Charly logo, there was bustle and noise.
"The Bio Research Alpha's signal suddenly disappeared, captain!"
"Track it with the satellite!"
"There's a minor glitch with the satellite coverage, Captain. Clouds are thick. We can only do it in two hours from now."
"Shit! Report to the head office. Quick!"
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