Gardens of Destruction
CHAPTER 36

In the solitude of his bungalow, Mark meticulously gathered the essentials for their clandestine escape. A tactical withdrawal from the operation had been his stratagem, citing a tumultuous psyche as his pretext—an element of truth veiled within the deception. Now, enveloped in the quiet of the room, he assembled a modest arsenal: civilian attire to blend into the crowd and weaponry that could easily be concealed beneath. His life, a relentless tapestry of evasion and pursuit, had accustomed him to the shadows, even from those sworn to protect. His past engagements, stretching beyond foreign soils to the very heart of his homeland, painted a target on his back—a truth he was acutely aware of. Anonymity was his cloak, his very existence erased from the ledgers of the world, his identity a mere fabrication. The essence of who he was, lost to the winds of time.

Shaking off the weight of these somber reflections, Mark felt a distinct shift in the tides of fate. This mission bore a different mantle; it was a rescue, a salvation of an innocent—though he questioned if innocence remained. His mind wandered to past conversations with Patterson, debates filled with doubts and moral quandaries, yet the path forward was clear. A solemn vow had been made to a mother, a promise to shield her and her child, their destinies now intertwined with his own until the precipice of escape beckoned. A silent pact had been forged within him, a resolve unbeknownst even to his own conscious thought.

With the jeep laden with essentials and a few provisions, Mark surveyed the near-deserted base, the silence a stark contrast to the looming chaos. The military had departed, their focus honed on the operation at hand, leaving Mark to the shadows that had always been his refuge.

His plan was unadorned in its simplicity: a silent takedown of the guards, the retrieval of the child and her mother, and then the vanishing act he had perfected over years of covert operations. Complexity was a luxury they could not afford.

His first objective lay within the barracks of a scientist, one of the few remnants in the base. The darkness shrouded the building, the silence within suggesting its occupant’s deep slumber. How one could find rest amidst the brewing storm was beyond Mark’s comprehension. Armed with an infrared scanner, he assessed the premises, pinpointing his target ensconced in bed. The window, slightly ajar, was his portal to entry. Silently, he maneuvered through the narrow opening, the deep slumber of the scientist unbroken by his intrusion. The scent of alcohol hung heavy in the air, explaining the man’s oblivious state. Armed with a pneumatic injector filled with sedatives, Mark needed only to find a patch of exposed skin. A silent discharge ensured the scientist’s continued slumber, granting Mark access to the coveted pass card, conveniently stowed in the pocket of the lab coat.

As Mark set forth towards Jana’s quarters, the night erupted into a cacophony of explosions and tremors, as if giants tread the earth. The sky, illuminated by the fiery dance of light and shadow, held a macabre beauty that captivated Mark. For a fleeting moment, he yearned to be amidst the fray, to witness the spectacle firsthand, yet reality beckoned, pulling him back to the task at hand.

It all started. The earth groaned under the wrath of titanic explosions, mimicking the march of colossal trolls through the wilderness. The skies transformed into a canvas of chaotic brilliance, with each detonation painting strokes of vibrant hues across the firmament. There was a sinister allure to the spectacle, a thought that briefly ensnared the captain’s mind before the pressing reality reclaimed its hold.

Approaching the shadowed outline of Jana’s quarters, the world outside seemed suspended in an eerie calm, as if the chaos of the operation had cast a veil of silence over the rest of the base. His knock on the door was met with the soft patter of footsteps, and the door creaked open to reveal Jana’s anxious visage peering out.

“Is it you?” her voice trembled, betraying her inner turmoil.

“Are you ready?” Mark’s gaze bore into her, seeking affirmation.

“Yes, everything’s prepared,” she responded, her voice gaining strength as she lifted the pack that lay waiting at her feet.

“Excellent, let’s move out,” Mark declared, casting a wary eye around, half-expecting shadows to spring to life. Jana’s hand found his, seeking reassurance as much as offering it.

“It has begun, hasn’t it?” she whispered, a note of dread lacing her words.

“Yes, the operation is underway. Hell itself has been unleashed back there. But we have a more pressing mission now. The battle won’t reach us here!

“... or will it?” Mark pondered silently.

As they approached, Jana’s eyes widened at the sight of the firearm resting on the front seat. “We’re not going to use that, are we?” her voice was edged with fear.

“Let’s not dwell on pointless questions,” Mark chided, his tone brooking no argument. “It’s there if we need it. We’re not off to a charity ball.”

With a heavy heart, Jana watched as Mark secured their gear. Once everything was in place, he turned to her, his expression softening slightly. “Take a deep breath, put on your mask of calm, and let’s head inside.”

“What am I supposed to do?” she inquired, a hint of defiance in her tone.

“Act natural. Right now, you look as though someone’s stolen your purse,” Mark’s reprimand was sharp.

“I’m a scientist, not an actress. What do you expect from me?” Jana shot back.

“We’re here to save your child, remember? Pull yourself together and follow my lead. I need you to distract the guards at the lab door when we get there.”

“How exactly?”

“Start an argument, make a scene, anything to keep their attention on you.”

“Why?” Jana’s confusion was evident.

“Just do as I say, alright?” Mark’s command left no room for further discussion.

As they entered the deserted building, an uneasy silence enveloped them. The absence of life was marked only by the occasional buzz of a lone insect and the flickering of a faulty light. They moved swiftly through the corridors, fortunate not to encounter a soul. It seemed the operation had drawn everyone away from the research center.

Finally, they reached the lab corridor. The guards, stationed by the door, rose to meet them, their expressions a mix of surprise and suspicion.

“How are you, gentlemen?” Mark greeted them, attempting to ease the tension.

“Captain, what are you doing here?” one guard asked, his tone wary.

“We’re here for the mother to visit her daughter.”

“At this hour? Sir, I can’t let you through without orders,” the guard hesitated, clearly torn.

“Go ahead, call it in,” Mark suggested with a shrug, confident in his ruse.

The guards, caught off guard by the request during such a critical time, hesitated. Seizing the moment, Jana unleashed a torrent of indignation, her voice rising in a crescendo of anger and frustration. Her tirade, aimed at the guards for barring a mother from her child, was startling in its intensity.

“Shame on you! Can’t you see a mother’s anguish? My child is in there, and I will see her, orders or not! I don’t need permission from some pompous fool to be with my own daughter!”

Her outburst, coupled with attempts to push past the guards, threw them into disarray. They were unprepared for such a confrontation, especially from a civilian.

“Ma’am, please, we’ll sort this out,” the guards stammered, unsure how to handle the escalating situation.

In the midst of the chaos, Mark saw his opportunity. With the guards distracted, he deftly administered a swift, silent dose of sedative, rendering them unconscious. As they slumped to the ground, Mark couldn’t help but admire Jana’s unexpected performance.

“What did you do?” Jana gasped, witnessing the guards’ collapse.

“They’ll be fine, albeit with a nasty headache,” Mark assured her.

With a deep breath, Mark pulled out the magnetic access card, sliding it through the scanner with a trembling hand. The light flickered green - a small victory in their harrowing journey. They quickly dragged the unconscious guards inside, closing the door with a muted thud.

Jana’s desperation was palpable as she rushed to the glass that separated her from Valentina. The child, seated on the bed with eyes closed, snapped them open and fixed a haunting gaze on her mother. “Mommy!” she whispered, a faint echo in the sterile room.

“Are you okay, my dear? Did they hurt you?” Jana’s voice was a torrent of worry and love, pouring out in a deluge of concern.

Meanwhile, Mark struggled with the door of the glass cell, his frustration mounting. “Damn it!” he cursed under his breath. Jana, panic-stricken, turned to him, “What’s happening?”

“The lab assistant’s card doesn’t have access. I can’t open the door,” Mark growled, kicking the glass in vain.

Despair settled heavily on Jana as she slumped beside the glass cell, her dreams of escape shattering as swiftly as the hope in her heart. Mark, fueled by frustration and desperation, grabbed a chair, repeatedly striking the glass, but it remained unyielding, mocking their efforts with its stubborn resilience.

“We’ve failed, Jana. I don’t know what more we can do,” Mark sighed, his voice heavy with defeat.

“No,” Jana’s voice was resolute, “I’m not leaving without Valentina. I’ll stay right here until they arrest me again. She’s my life, Mark, and without her, I have no life. Go, save yourself. You’ve done enough.”

As hope dwindled, the room’s speaker crackled to life. “Mommy!” Valentina’s voice, eerily distorted, filled the room.

Jana leaped to the glass, pressing her hands against it. “Yes, my love!”

“Step... back!” Valentina’s voice was strange, otherworldly.

Mark’s instincts kicked in, pulling Jana to a corner and flipping a desk for cover. “Shield your eyes,” he warned.

Valentina grasped her peculiar staff, and with a swift motion, transformed it into a medieval-like mace, its tip bristling with sharp spikes. She swung with an inhuman strength, shattering the glass into a rain of shimmering fragments. The staff reverted to its original form, now a simple rod adorned with intricate patterns.

Stepping out of the shattered cell, Valentina’s composure was unsettlingly calm. She grasped her mother’s hand. “Mommy, we must go now!”

As they exited the laboratory, the distant sounds of battle enveloped them once more. They moved through the corridors, thankfully devoid of human presence. Jana shielded Valentina, ready to protect her at all costs. Luck was on their side as the few soldiers they encountered were too preoccupied with the ongoing chaos to notice them.

“Quick, to the car!” Mark urged, striding towards the parked jeep. “Wait for us! Don’t rush, the hardest part is over.”

“Nothing is over yet. We still need to get out of this base,” Mark replied, concern etching his features.

As they settled into the jeep, Davidson’s concern about the vehicle’s noise was swiftly overshadowed by the chaos of the ongoing explosions, rendering their getaway nearly silent against the backdrop of turmoil. Igniting the engine, he steered towards an exit, concealing Jana and the child beneath a blanket, a makeshift veil of anonymity amidst the pandemonium.

“Are you both alright back there?” he called out, his voice cutting through the din of their escape.

“Just drive, don’t worry about us. Let’s get as far away as possible,” came Jana’s muffled response, her voice a blend of anxiety and determination.

Approaching the exit, Davidson’s trained composure was put to the test, his every move scrutinized by the guards. Despite his extensive training, feigning innocence was a challenge.

“Captain Davidson, where are you headed at this hour?” queried the guard, his suspicion palpable.

“I’m under orders. Please, let’s not delay any further and open the gate,” Davidson replied, a hint of impatience in his voice.

“Orders, sir?” The guard was clearly conflicted, caught between protocol and the authority emanating from Davidson.

“Do you really expect me to report to you? Open the gate,” Davidson pressed, his frustration mounting.

The guard, hesitant, ultimately decided to let them pass, not wishing to challenge one of their own. “Good luck, Captain. Whatever mission you’re on, I hope it goes well,” he said, a mix of respect and concern in his voice.

“Thank you, you have no idea how much I need it,” Davidson responded sincerely, driving off into the night.

No sooner had they distanced themselves from the base than the alarm blared, a stark reminder of the peril they were fleeing from. “That’s for us, I assume! Stay down!” Davidson barked, accelerating into the darkness.

As they veered off the main road, the dense forest enveloped them, providing a temporary sanctuary from the relentless pursuit they anticipated. “You can come out from under the blanket now. We’re clear,” Davidson announced, a tentative peace settling in the vehicle.

“We made it, didn’t we? I can’t remember the last time I felt this relieved,” Jana said, her voice tinged with a fragile hope.

“Don’t celebrate just yet,” Davidson cautioned, his tone sobering. “Being outside doesn’t mean we’re safe. From now on, we’re the prey, and they’re the hunters. And they’re particularly interested in Valentina.”

The stark reality of their situation hung heavy in the air, dispelling the brief respite of their successful escape. The jeep rumbled on, a lone beacon of defiance against the encroaching darkness of the forest and the uncertain fate that lay ahead.

“How’s the child doing? Is everything okay back there with you two?” Davidson inquired, concern lacing his voice.

“She seems fine,” Jana replied, holding Valentina close. “It’s strange, she doesn’t talk to anyone else but me. After everything she’s been through, I can’t blame her.”

“Considering what I’ve seen inside that asteroid, her survival is nothing short of miraculous,” Davidson mused, his thoughts drifting to the harrowing experiences within the alien structure.

“She’s resilient and fierce. There’s no doubt in my mind she did whatever was necessary to escape from... whatever horrors lie within,” Jana added, her voice a mix of admiration and sorrow for the ordeal Valentina had endured.

Several hours into their journey, Mark brought the jeep to a halt, cutting the engine as the forest’s hushed whispers enveloped them. Jana stirred from her slumber, her voice laced with confusion, “Where are we? Why have we stopped in the middle of the forest?”

Exhaustion weighed heavily on Mark. “I can’t keep driving. I need to rest a bit.”

Jana, ever the helper, offered, “Shall I take over the driving?”

“No,” Mark dismissed the idea, his tone final. “It’s risky on these unseen paths at night. We’re near a town, according to the navigator. Tomorrow, we’ll get a new vehicle.”

“Are we stealing it?” Jana’s voice was a mix of concern and curiosity.

“Why steal when we can buy a used one?” Mark’s reply came with a reassuring smile, a hint of a plan in his voice.

“And now, let’s set up the tent and catch some sleep. We should be safe here, hidden from prying eyes.” Mark’s confidence seemed to echo in the quiet of the forest as he skillfully erected a military-grade tent on a clearing, his expertise a testament to his past.

Jana couldn’t help but exclaim, “Impressive!”

“It’s all about experience,” Mark said, shrugging nonchalantly as if setting up a tent in record time was the most natural thing in the world.

Valentina emerged from the jeep, her demeanor not reflecting the expected weariness of a child her age. “How are you, sweetheart? Did you manage to get some rest? Would you like to sleep in the tent? It might be more comfortable than the car,” Jana fussed over her, her maternal instincts in full display.

Valentina simply shook her head, settling instead on a nearby rock, her presence bringing a silent yet profound energy to their makeshift camp.

Mark, seizing the moment, announced his intention to start a fire, turning to Valentina, “Val, would you come help me gather some wood? Your mom can prepare some food in the meantime.”

Without a word, Valentina followed Mark into the embrace of the forest, her mysterious staff never leaving her side. Jana watched them go, a mix of anxiety and trust coloring her thoughts.

The forest, generous in its offerings, provided them with an abundance of dry branches. As they collected the wood, Mark attempted to bridge the gap between them, sharing his own experiences within the enigmatic structure they had both encountered.

“I was there too, you know? I wanted to... save you,” he ventured, hoping for some response.

Valentina met his gaze, her silence a vast ocean of untold stories.

Mark continued, “I’ve been in many battles, but that place... it was different. There were too many unknowns, don’t you think?”

A nod from Valentina was the only acknowledgment he received.

“Do you think... do you think we have a chance against them?” Mark pressed, seeking some insight from the young girl who had seen more than any of them.

Valentina’s unblinking eyes held his, a silent sentinel in the twilight of the forest. She shook her head slowly, her silence more eloquent than words, and returned to her task with a serene focus.

Suddenly, Jana’s scream shattered the tranquility, pulling them back from their moment of connection.

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