Isaac's eyes flickered when he scanned the area. "No ambush waiting, no detectable traps or bombs. If they're not here for the aqueducts, then what the hell are they doing?"
"One way to find out," Heretic said. He fearlessly strode ahead, entering the mouth of the cavernous tunnel that lay ahead of them. Vigil and Spitfire followed on his heels, then Isaac. Ronnie glanced at Castle, who motioned her forward.
"I got rear guard. Go ahead."
She followed Isaac into the darkness of the ancient tunnel, activating the visor of her helmet to seal her from the choking haze of humid fumes and dust. Sweat slicked her skin under the combat gear, making every movement uncomfortable. The sounds of shuffling footsteps, harsh breathing, and dripping water were unnaturally loud in the confined setting. She fought off the dizzying sensation of claustrophobia as they cleared the darkened passageway and approached the dim light at the end.
They stepped from the tunnel into a chamber carved into a series of narrow, walled-off walkways crusted with ancient dirt and dead vines. It could have been another world for how alien it appeared, an underground maze shrouded by humid fog that drifted from the densely packed dirt floors. It was impossible to see where they were going. Dead ends were common, forcing them to backtrack and take a different route. Frustration made her tense, wary of the oppressive gloom and stifling heat that surrounded them. The drugs Isaac injected earlier killed the pain from her injuries but made her feel lightheaded, nearly dizzy as they went along.
Her attention focused when a sound rumbled along the walls. Something groaned, voice thick-tongued and inhuman. It snorted, sounding close and far away, impossible to pinpoint. Whatever it was, it sounded bestial. It sounded massive. She pulled her sidearm from the holster and checked the fusion cartridge, arming the electrolaser rounds.
Vigil glanced up. "I'm going up for a look." His boots pulsed, propelling him to the top of the towering wall, where he quickly disappeared.
"You sure you want to just—" Ronnie paused when Heretic followed suit, razor-edged wings snapping out of the casing on his back. He silently ascended, tunic fluttering as he sailed over the wall.
"Just great." Ronnie glanced at Spitfire. "Don't tell me — you've got coiled springs in your heels, right?"
Spitfire lifted a finger. "Quiet. I'm trying to listen, yo."
Isaac's head swiveled back and forth. "My radar is going haywire. There's some massive interference nearby. I'd bet it's affecting Vigil's sensors too."
Castle glanced at the holoband around his wrist. "All surveillance is slagged right now. We're blind."
Spitfire crouched, one finger pressed against the side of her hood. "Can't make out what V is saying. Something's in here. Something big."
"Yeah, figured that out already," Ronnie said, placing a palm against the muck-covered wall. It shuddered beneath her hand, then rumbled as if struck by something massive. Moldy dust rained down on her shoulders. The muffled sound of voices and animalistic bellowing sounded uncomfortably close.
Isaac waved her back. "They're coming through the wall!"
Ronnie leaped sideways as the wall collapsed with a thunderous roar, concrete smashed to powder from the force of the bodies that tumbled through, limbs entangled. Ronnie landed on her back, aimed her handgun, and opened fire on the monstrosity that shook Vigil and Heretic off as if they were little children.
He was a giant, built like a walking tank with brass-colored horns protruding from his squat, ugly head. Beady eyes glimmered like candles from the shadows of his overhanging brow, and his oversized teeth were clenched in a grinding snarl. Covered only by a tattered loincloth, his skin was mottled, complexioned like an old rusty pipe. Her electrolaser rounds bounced off his hide without any visible damage. It wasn't a huge surprise. She had no idea why Joe Blow was down there or why he wore a headpiece that made him look like a minotaur, but she knew it was going to be a hell of a fight to take him down.
He stumbled, gave a dizzy shake of his head, and walked right into Isaac's heavy right hook. His metal-clad fist struck Joe's face with the force of a piston-powered battering ram. The sound boomed in the chamber, raising a haze of powdery grit.
Joe Blow barely moved.
He snorted, seized Isaac by the face with a thick-fingered hand, and slammed him into the floor, buckling the ground from the impact. Joe followed up by stomping an oversized foot into Isaac's back, crushing him further into the earth. Throwing back his bestial head, Joe Blow bellowed in a gravelly voice. It sounded like a wail of rage and anguish, warbling and strange as if he lost the power of speech. His eyes burned with delirium, quivering when he focused his tormented gaze on her. Whatever happened to him seemed to have amplified his strength while dampening his mind. His expression was pure rage, but his bloodshot eyes practically pleaded for an end to his suffering. She'd seen the same expression on bad drug busts from fiends who screamed while being pinned down, minds eaten alive by whatever poison they'd taken.
She backed away, joining Spitfire and Castle as they fired pulse rounds from a safe distance. Once again, the weapons only annoyed Joe. Heretic flitted around the towering figure, hacking at its legs with his glowing blades. The weapons sizzled when they glanced off of Joe's skin, raining molten sparks. Heretic altered his attack in mid-motion, slashing at Joe's face. The blade caught Joe under the chin, cutting into the harness that secured the horned headpiece. Joe swung a backhanded fist, knocking Heretic back through the damaged section of the wall with a crunching sound.
Vigil leaped on top of Joe Blow's back and grabbed his horns with both hands. Joe thrashed, growling as he tried to shake Vigil off. His thick back and shoulder muscles clenched, his massive neck twisted, his knotted arms reached up to seize Vigil, who planted his feet into Joe's shoulders and yanked with all of his strength. The half-severed harness strap snapped, Vigil flew backward and slammed into the ground, still holding the horned headgear. The interior of the helmet was lined with blinking sensors.
Joe Blow tottered drunkenly, blinking while fighting to keep his footing. His eyes rolled back and arms flailing, he crashed to the broken ground in a cloud of dust. The group slowly gathered around as he lay there with his eyes closed, chest heaving from the effort of breathing. Vigil dropped to a knee beside Joe, placing a hand on the giant's shoulder in a surprisingly gentle manner.
"He's still alive."
Joe Blow's arm shot forward, fingers encircling Vigil's neck. His inflamed eyes snapped open.
"You again."
Vigil dangled in Joe's grip, hands futilely trying to pry the knotted fingers loose. "You're being controlled, Joe. Try to fight it."
"Told you. Told you what Diabolis can do. You still keep coming after them."
"Someone has to."
Joe grunted, loosening his hold. "Said… he'd kill her."
"Who?"
"Honey. My wife. She's… a synoid. Don't judge. Not like… any woman would love a mug like mine. Not without being paid, anyhow. Can't… live without her. Had to do what I was told."
"It's okay, Joe. I'm going after Janus. Anyone working for Diabolis is going to think again after today. Diabolis will be finished."
Joe grunted, wincing as he placed a hand over his head. "Nothing's finished. Just circles. Heads of hydra. Snake eating its tail. Janus doesn't… matter. It's the other you have to… takedown."
Vigil leaned closer. "Other? What other?"
Joe sagged, eyelids fluttering. "Two faces. Not one, but…" His voice trailed off when he lost consciousness.