CHAPTER III
STATION 110......SQUAD 18...................CAVE IN...........BLUE SHANSEY BUILDING...........222 AVE A.....................2-2-2 AVE A...................TIME OUT 11:10...
“Blue Shansey Building? Didn't it get condemned three years ago because it didn't meet the building codes of the county?” Marco asked the others as they sat at the table eating preparing for lunch.
“Yep.” Chet answered. “According to the papers the owners were supposed to tear it down and rebuild it if they wanted to open a refinery, but it was washed as a bad deal. The building was sold and marked for demolition by the new owners last year.”
“And you know all this because?” asked Johnny with a smirk.
“I read the paper, Johnny-boy. You know, r-e-a-d? Didn't they teach you that at the reservation?” Chet smirked back and reached across Marco to retrieve the bowl of lettuce Johnny had been shredding.
“Yes! They also taught us r-e-s-p-e-c-t for others,” Johnny shot back. He tossed the last leaf into the bowl and shoved it toward Chet, knocking the plate with tomatoes on it away from Marco.
“Hey!” Marco said disgustedly. “Can't you too co-exist even one day without arguing?”
“Sorry, Marco,” Johnny said and helped put the tomatoes back on the plate. “Some people just need to learn how to THINK before speaking.”
“Yeah, well, that's never been his strong point. You should know that by now,” Marco said with a grin.
“Gee, thanks a lot, Partner!” Chet called from the sink where he was washing the shredded lettuce. With a wet splat Chet dumped the whole lump into a larger bowl where he placed other ingredients. “You through mangling those tomatoes, Marco?”
“Here ya go, Partner. What are we having, anyway? Lettuce and tomato sandwiches?” Marco peered into the bowl.
“Chef's Salad,” answered Chet peevishly. “Keep it up and you wont get any.”
Johnny looked at Marco and shrugged. Chet had acted annoyed ever since the cat had appeared and taken a liking to Marco.
Mike poked his head in the door, “Animal control's here. Where's the cat?”
“I'll get her,” Marco said and hurried from the room. The slam of a door was heard and Marco's muttering to the cat followed his progress to the front of the station. A few minutes later he walked back in to the day room.
“Track said the cat got out of her kennel, but without opening the door.”
“She probably wiggled her paw through the bars and opened the door. Then when she was free it closed on its own.” Roy said reasonably as he too, entered the day room. “What's for lunch?”
“Rabbit food,” Marco told them. “Chet's on another health kick.
“This is good stuff, guys. You're gonna love it. There's meat and veggies all together, and you can have whatever dressing you want on it. There's also shredded cheese if you want it.”
“Sounds interesting,” Roy said. “Move your feet, Partner and wash the table again.” Roy tossed a rag at Johnny who had quickly lowered his feet from the table. With a quick swipe of the rag he then tossed it back toward the sink, hitting Chet in the face.
“Hey!”
“Oops, sorry. I was aiming for the sink.”
A snicker was heard and both men looked around suspiciously, but no face showed any sign of amusement. Roy was pulling plates from the cabinet and Mike was sitting on the couch.
“Where'd you come from?” Johnny asked.
“The truck bay, of course, where else?” Mike picked up the discarded paper, flipped it open to the sports page and proceeded to ignore the stocky Irishman. Henry tried to insert his way between man and paper and was pushed away for his trouble.
The tones sounded again and all activity stopped. Once it was determined the call was not for them, they went back to their different chores in the kitchen.
“Cap!” Roy called out the door into the truck bay, “lunch is ready!”
A loud crash, followed by the sounds of disgust came from the office. All the men went to see what had happened.
Captain Stanley was standing behind his desk, shirt covered with a fine powder and shimmering particles floating in the air around him.
“Who's the twit with the glitter trap?” Hank growled.
All eyes turned to Johnny, who had once before set a glitter trap for Chet.
“I didn't do it! I'm not suicidal!”
“I didn't either,” chimed in Chet before anyone could accuse him.
The sound of a soft sneeze turned all eyes to the room behind the men. There on the floor sat the gray tabby cat just recently removed by animal control. She sneezed again then looked up at the men and blinked green eyes at them as if to say, ‘What's going on?'
Marco's grin flashed across his face. He reached out and the cat leaped to his arms.
“I thought animal control came and got her!” Captain Stanley said, surprise on his face.
“They did. She must have gotten away again.” Mike reached around Marco and stroked the cat's head. She rewarded him with a gentle butt of his hand, the gesture easily read.
A thump was heard, then the sound of nails clicking across the floor heralded the srrival of Henry, who sniffed around on the floor before looking up and seeing the cat in Marco's arms.
“Woof' Henry said and was given a reply of “Meow”. Henry gave the equivalent of a doggy shrug and headed back to his favorite spot. The cat jumped from Marco's arms and followed.
“What was that all about?” asked Roy.
“Maybe Henry was giving permission for her to stay.” Mike said. The others looked at him. Mike shrugged, “Who says animals can't communicate?” He turned and headed back to the day room. “I'm ready for lunch!”
E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!
“Storm's a brewing!” Johnny said as he and Roy headed back to the station from Rampart. They had just finished a rescue that had involved a woman and her Doberman pincher.
“Looks like a really bad one, too,” Roy answered. “I hope it holds off until we get back to the station.”
E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!
Dixie sat at her desk, her mind floating half way between here and there when a slight movement caught her eyes. She turned her head and peered into the shadows by the elevators. The day had turned cloudy, but that did not explain the overly dark corner in the waiting room. She rubbed her eyes, thinking it was just a play of the light when she saw it move.
“Dix?” a soft voice said, breaking her eye contact with the shadow. “Something wrong?” Dr. Morton was standing beside her, his hand resting on her shoulder. “You've gone awfully pale.”
“No, no, I'm okay, Mike. I...thought I saw something over in the corner by the elevators. I guess I must be more tired than I thought”. She glanced back to the corner and saw that the shadow had indeed become lighter.
“Didn't your shift end an hour ago?” he asked her.
“I'm waiting for Patsy to check in. She had to run up to personnel for a minute.”
“Umm, okay, but you get out of here as soon as she returns. It's getting ready to let loose and it looks to be a bad one.”
Dixie nodded, “I noticed. Don't worry, I'll be home long before it hits.”
Morton grunted at her in a friendly manner. She was his favorite of all the nurses and he felt a certain protectiveness about her. If it had not been for her, he may never have made it through his internship.
After he had left, Dixie looked toward the corner once more. The darkness had not returned and she brushed it from her mind.
E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!
IT slid between the double doors and into the soothing darkness below. IT had found a place to hide and feed. No one seemed to care when it fed and no alarms were raised. One had seen it. One had to be vanquished.
IT had noticed the dimness before the One. IT could feel the electrical impulses building in the air like a giant magnet. The pull was strong, beckoning for IT to come out of hiding, but IT knew the falseness of the claim. IT would wait. Time was on ITS side and patience was being learned the hard way.
E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!
CHAPTER IV
Dixie hurried from the building, hoping to get to her car before the weather broke. She glanced upwards at the ominous rumble of thunder. One large drop hit the ground in front of her.
Once at her car she opened the door and stopped in surprise. A gray striped tabby cat was laying in the driver's seat. It was curled into a tight ball, tail wrapped snuggly around it.
“Now, how did you get in here?” she asked it.
The cat looked up at her and yawned. It blinked its luminous green eyes at her then stretched to its full length.
“I don't know how you got in here, but you can't stay. I'm not allowed pets at my apartment.” She felt silly standing in the parking lot talking to a cat. She reached down and ruffled the cats hair. “Come on, out now.”
The cat blink again and turned its back on her. The cat caught its tail and gave it a good lick before turning in the seat three times before settling back down, flatly refusing to budge.
“Now look, cat, this is my car and I said you can't stay, now shoo!” Dixie reached down to pick the cat up and place it on the ground, but the cat immediately fluffed up and spit and hissed at her.
Startled, Dixie took a step back. She tried to remove the cat again and this time got a swipe of paw, claws sheathed, and a warning growl.
“Problem, Dixie?” a familiar voice asked.
“This cat won't let me get her out of my car!” Dixie sputtered.
Mike Morton laughed and reached in to gently pick the cat up and rub its head. A loud rumbling purr came from the animal. She stretched upward and rubbed her head against his chin. With a quick lick she turned and jumped back in to Dixie's car.
“See! What's wrong with her? She let me pet her, but when I tried to get her out she hissed at me and tried to claw me.” Dixie looked in exasperation at the animal now placidly sitting in the car.
Another low rumble filled the air. A bolt of lightening flashed, causing the area to temporarily brighten. Dixie caught the sight of a dark shadow that was quickly swallowed by the darkness left behind after the flash. She stepped back in shock and fear. She had seen that shape earlier, and possibly even before when she had almost been late for her shift.
“Dixie?” Morton said, dancing on one foot. The head nurse had tromped his foot in her haste to back away from the cat.
“What? Oh, Mike, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to step on you!”
“Morton shook his head, “ Better you than a truck. You don't weigh as much.”
“What?” she asked.
“Never mind, I'll tell you later.” Mike grinned at her.
“In the meantime, what'll I do about the cat?” Dixie looked at the now sleeping animal.
“Take her home with you?” Mike asked, scratching the tip of his nose.
“I'm not allowed pets.”
“Hmm, I'm not much of a cat person, either.”
“Dixie, Mike, is there a problem? You two are getting ready to get wet.” Kelly Brackett, head of the emergency section of Rampart, strode up to join the two beside the car.
“Where'd you get the cat?”
“I didn't.” Dixie scowled.
“What's the problem, then?”
“I can't get her out. She hisses and spits when we try to get her out.”
“Hum, tell you what, how about I take you to dinner and when we get back, maybe she'll be gone.” Brackett smiled down at Dixie.
“Well, if you two have it covered, I'm outta here!” Morton told the couple. “Try and stay dry!”
“Thanks, Mike!” Dixie called to his departing back.
“Well?” Brackett asked.
“Fine, where're you taking me?” Dixie closed and locked the door. The cat yawned and stretched and made itself more comfortable.
“You better not die in there!” Dixie told it.
Brackett laughed and took Dixie's elbow, “Come on, Cat Woman, before you get your fur wet.”
The two made it to Brackett's car and inside just as the deluge hit.
The cat sat up and looked out the window at the departing vehicle. With a rumbling purr of approval she lay back down and waited for the darkness to come.
CHAPTER V
Thunder rolled and lightening flashed. The rain fell in heavy sheets making visibility almost nothing. Inside the car the cat lay sleeping. A sudden coldness alerted it to the presence of another.
Evil. IT was pure evil. IT boiled in anger and frustration. IT had been thwarted yet again from the prey IT sought. One reason lay unconcerned in the vehicle. IT waited until the blackness descended once more then quickly sailed into the vehicle that sat quiet before IT.
With a rush, IT slipped through the hood and into the vents, then into the car where the cat lay waiting. IT knew the cat was there and IT hated the creature even more than the frustration of going without.
The cat yawned and stretched, waiting. The only sign of life was the occasional flicking of the tail and a tremble in the whiskers. The cold did not bother her.
A finger of darkness crept through the vent, searching. Another followed, and yet another. Finally, most of the darkness was in the car, filling it with its death-like chill. Still, the cat did not move. IT became bolder and surrounded the cat, leeching the life from it.
A bright light flashed, causing pain to fill the darkness. IT howled and writhed. Another bright flash and IT lost the presence of the cat. A hiss filled the darkness, then a yowl. One final flash and IT left the car, pain and anger lanced through IT.
The cat sat, waiting, but the darkness did not return. With a loud purr, the cat slipped through the car and out, then vanished.
IT did not see. IT was hurting and hiding in the darkness. IT would return to the master, the one who called IT back into the world. IT rose and floated among the clouds until its destination was reached, then IT slipped to the ground and into a hole in the brick wall. IT would wait.
E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!
The lights in the building flashed one, twice, then went out completely. The lightening was almost continuous. The wind howled around the doors and windows. The large double doors on front of the building rattled and shook, trying to loosen their moorings.
One extra loud rumble of thunder and Henry was under the sofa, whining and shaking. The cat strolled into the room looking unconcerned, and certainly not frightened. She peered under the sofa at the shaking dog and meowed a question at him. Henry howled an answer, but refused to leave his hiding place. The cat purred at him and crawled under the couch.
E!E!E!E!E!E!E!
IT was elated. The darkness provided safety. IT slowly left the hiding place and headed for the building, but a bright flash of lightening and the return of lights inside sent IT scurrying back to the safety of the hole.
E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!
The bay doors rattled open. Flashing red and white lights played a pattern across the walls and floor. The rattling of the doors was covered by loud thunder and the sudden flash and crash of lightening.
“Get that door down!” Cap yelled over the sound of thunder. Roy pushed the button and watched the weather until the door blocked his vision. He peeled his turnout coat off and shook it out. Water droplets flew everywhere.
“Watch it, will ya!” Johnny groused as water hit him in the face. “I'm wet enough already.”
“Don't feel like the Lone Ranger, Pal!” Chet grumped at the lanky paramedic.
“Coffee! I need coffee!” Marco headed for the day room. “Hey, who drank the brew and didn't put more on!”
“My fault!” Mike called as he headed for the dorms.
“Where's Henry?” Chet asked, looking around. Another flash of lightening was followed by a roll of thunder. Chet winced at the brightness. When his eyes had refocused he saw Henry's tail peeking out from under the sofa. A low whine and a soft mew was heard.
Johnny and Chet knelt by the sofa and peered under it. Henry and the cat were laying as far back under the furniture as they could get. The cat was on top of the dog holding one of Henry's ears. She licked it in a reassuring manner, then murmured to him in her own way.
“Awe, come on out, Henry. It's just a little thunder and lightening. Come on,” Chet wheedled.
Johnny rolled his eyes and reached for the dog. “Come on, Henry. We're here now. Mamma Chet will protect you from the big bad thunder.” He glanced at his friend to see the reaction he would get and grinned at Chet rolling his eyes.
After some coaxing the dog scooted from his hiding place and leaped at Chet.
“Oof! Henry, you big oaf! Get off me!” Chet shoved the dog from his lap and stood. “Crazy mutt.”
Henry climbed on to the sofa and looked hopefully at his favorite person. The cat came out and jumped up beside the basset. She rubbed against the dog, murmuring in her own language the reassurances the hound needed. Henry flopped down and the cat climbed on top of him. She gave his ear a lick then curled up and went to sleep.
“Will you look at that,” Marco said in wonder. “I've never seen a dog and cat be friends before, especially if they didn't grow up together.”
“Yeah, it's weird, kinda like what's been happening around here.” Johnny stood with his hands braced on his hips, looking at the pair. “Strange indeed.”
“Anyone want some coffee?” Roy interrupted the two's conversation before they could actually agree on something. Chet, he noticed, was scowling at the two men.
“Sounds good, Roy,” Cap answered.
“Not me, I'm turning in. If the lights go out, I want to be horizontal.” Johnny stated and left the room.
“Me, too,” Marco said.
E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!
IT waited, crushed as far into the small hole as possible. The storm had passed in the night and now bright morning sun filled the area where IT lay hidden.
Suddenly, IT felt a pull. The Master was calling, but IT could not answer, not as long as the light shone so brightly. The light hurt. IT writhed with impatience. The call was strong, stronger than it had been when first IT came to the presence.
As quickly as the call had started, it ended and IT could rest once more. IT was weak from hunger. Tonight when darkness fell, it would strike and feed. The call had been so strong. Yes, tonight IT would feed and it would answer the call.