Chapter 19

(a few minutes earlier)

The sun was disappearing over the colony. The guards for the first shift had woken up from their rest. This included Li Chen.

Adewale had done a good job finding willing people. Many of them had experience in military or policing. So Adewale had no issue with finding qualified individuals. Having 41 in total and himself by the end of the second day. Most of them were patrolling the town with batons. While 10 were patrolling the perimeter with rifles.

They had learned from Adewale that the AI could emit an orb of light, moving it as close to the forest as possible. Illuminating a few feet inside, which before were pitch black. It looked as if 10 ghosts were floating around the colony boundaries.

As Li Chen patrolled the perimeter of the colony, he noticed a slight amount of movement in the northern tree line.

He couldn't see any more movement. However, Li Chen was not that naïve.

"Relay to all guards that I may have seen some movement." Li said while keeping his eyes and rifle aimed at the forest.

Li Chen could feel his stomach drop as he saw a silhouette of a long waving tail, just at the edge of the light.

He raised his gun in anticipation. But during the next few moments, nothing happened.

He started doubting himself. Maybe he was seeing things. Staring into the unknown can affect a person. He had seen comrades shoot guns into the darkness because your eyes can play tricks on you.

Li Chen was not seeing things, as his AI glowed red.

Three Swiftstalker's had burst out of the darkness of the forest. They killed a guard and were moving into the colony.

"Where are the last reports?" Li asked in a rush.

"I will show you Li." His AI replied. While giving off a blue holo of Li running in a direction towards the outer apartments a hundred meters from him.

As he approached, Li could hear the screams from people in apartments. He could hear banging noises. He heard Adewale's voice being relayed through the AI.

"They are attempting to break into apartments. They are smashing at the metal doors. All guards with rifles we need you now!"

Li Chen picked up his pace. As he approached, he saw the body of a guard. His rifle was still at his side. Clearly not having taken his warning.

As he looked towards the noise. He saw three Swiftstalker's attempting to open the door to an apartment. Working together to rip at the metal, which was quickly deforming.

Li got down with his back facing the forest. The threat was now inside the colony.

Aiming his rifle while he had a chance. He pointed at one of the Swiftstalker's. The monsters were relentless in their scratching, just as he got a shot in. The Swiftstalker's broke down the door.

Bang!

The swiftstalker he was aiming for moved its head inside the building. The bullet missed it and hit the right side of its back. Causing red blood to splatter out. The creature let out a pained roar.

It suddenly picked up speed, and the rest of its body entered the apartment.

Li heard screams of multiple people, clearly having piled in together. This made his blood boil; he knew they were already dead.

Not letting that stop him, Li aimed his gun at the other beasts, which were rapidly darting their heads around, looking for the origin of the bullet.

The instant one of the Swiftstalker's eyes connected with Li's.

Bang!

This one connected directly with the lizard, destroying its brain and any other functioning part of the head. The armor-piercing rounds did a lot of damage.

The other Swiftstalker saw him immediately and roared in anger!

It changed directly towards lee, using all its strength to move forward. It raised its tails up beside it like two cobras ready to strike.

Li Chen quickly tried to aim at his sight. However, the beast was too fast for even trained human reflexes.

The monster dodged each shot Li took. Every time it gauged where he was aiming and dashed in a zig-zag pattern.

The gap was closing fast.

Li doubted his ability to survive this ordeal. As the monster was nearing the range needed to attack with its tails. Li huddled down behind the unfinished wood wall. Hoping he could get a shot off if it jumped above him. The beast at close range was more likely to clip him off. His only chance was surprising it before it saw him.

Cold sweat dripped down his forehead as time seemed to slow. His grip tightening on his rifle as he raised the barrel and pointed it up.

Li heard another gunshot before he could finish the action.

Bang!

He felt something hit the other side as the wall behind him shifted.

Then nothing.

"Li, get your ass up! We still have one more!" A voice said through his AI.

Remembering the third swiftstalker, Li gathered himself and jumped up. Turned around and propelled himself over the wall. The dead beast was a foot away from him. It had known to not approach above him.

These beasts are smart. Li couldn't help but compliment them on their fast learning.

Keeping focused, he ran to the now silent apartment. His back was against the wall. But before he could make a move. Someone threw a rock in front of the apartment opening.

Making a loud noise and rattling on the ground. The swiftstalker's tail came out before it could stop. Hitting it and shattering it into tiny pieces.

It all happened in less than a second.

Li was shocked. He didn't realize just how fast the reflexes of these beasts were. Had he poked his head over, he would have lost the ability to use it.

Li Chen assessed the situation. The Swiftstalker's were formidable opponents, with their long, piercing tails and their bony, agile bodies. They were also fast, capable of running up to 150 km/h. But Li Chen and the other guards were well-trained and equipped with armor-piercing rifles.

The best option was to draw the beast out. Li started moving away from the door, stopping a few apartments down.

As he moved, Adewale and three other guards took up positions across the street, aiming at the smashed in doorway. He looked around and found a board near him from the construction.

Adewale picked up the piece of wood and threw it again at the doorway. This time a little farther from the entrance. Forcing the beast to come closer to the entrance for its tail to reach.

The instant he saw the tail piercing the board, Adewale yelled, "FIRE!".

Each soldier unloaded their clip into the building. The armor-piercing rounds breaking down the concrete as they missed their mark.

The beast was roaring in pain.

However, the darkness of the room and now the dust and smoke from the gunshots did not allow anyone to see what had happened.

The roaring turned into whimpering, then died out.

"CEASE FIRE!" Adewale boomed.

Li, who had moved a few apartments down, started moving back to the apartment. He grabbed a broken piece of concrete and rolled it into the entrance.

Nothing.

Taking a few moments for the dust to settle. Li felt dread over what he knew he was going to witness.

He took a deep breath while Adewale and the others were still holding their position. As he was about to move his head into the apartment. He stopped and smacked his forehead in stupidity.

"Hey, could you let me know if the Swiftstalker has ceased functions?" He whispered to his AI.

"Yes, Sir while I cannot register current life functions. I can see if the animal appears dead." His AI responded.

"Do it."

The glowing orb hovered around him before it drifted into the apartment. There was silence, and then the orb reappeared.

"The Swiftstalker appears neutralized. However, it also killed 4 colonists inside."

Hearing how many people were inside the building. Li became filled with rage. "DAMNIT!" he smashed his fist against the wall in rage.

Another five died in tonight's attack.