July
Cimarron
Late Afternoon
The fresh country air was getting to him. �It brought back memories. �Memories of his
near insanity almost a year back, when he was traveling from city to city freelancing his
hunting to anyone who needed it. �Yet, things were different now. �Fallen belonged
somewhere. �He had a place. �He was a member of the EHA, the Kansas City based
hunting collective.
And this was their vacation. �Cimmaron, New Mexico. �The bastard child of the Old West
and one of Doc No's wet dreams. �It actually fit the rag-tag group of hunters pretty well.
As it was now, Fallen was nestled comfortably in an old wood chair on the patio at the
back of the hotel. �The rest of the team seemed exhausted after the trip and had retired to
their respective rooms. �But Fallen was restless. �He watched the sunset with anticipation.
He needed action. �Hunting was what fueled his blood and right now he was running on
empty.
The sound of the back door swinging open made his head turn. �Fallen's dark eyes caught
sight of Dr. No swiftly leaving the building, heading for the red truck they had parked in
the back lot. �Out for a joyride? �Or was something up? �
"What's up, Doc?" Fallen's baritone broke into the air, causing Dr. No to stop walking
towards the truck and turn his head sideways. �The Doctor caught sight of Fallen in his
peripheral vision, just as Fallen was using his one existing hand to help him rise form the
confines of the chair. �"Going somewhere?"
"Hey, Jack, didn't see you there. �Well...I was on the phone with one of my good friends.
From what I know there's some eccentric arms dealer's weapon collection lying in a
bunker not too far from here. �As luck might have it, the arms dealer's dead.� Survived by
no one but us. �I was going to drive over and go shopping."
"Well, Doc, I think I might have to tag along on this one if you don't mind. �I'm going
through combat withdrawal sitting here. �This whole quiet western vacation might be your thing,
but I need some adrenaline to keep me calm and sane. �You driving?"
Dr. No smiled to himself and nodded, turning his head back toward the truck and once
again headed to it. �Fallen followed. �They both got into the truck and drove off, dust
settling in their wake.
-------
Fallen and Dr. No arrived at their destination a short time later, the sun now completely
gone and moonlight blanketing the landscape. �Their destination wasn't what they had
expected. �The "bunker" was in actuality an old house. �A big old house, for that matter.
It looked like something straight out of Salem's Lot. �A rather large adobe villa. �That
made Fallen smile as he exited the vehicle. �"This could get interesting, Doc. �Don't you
think?"
Dr. No replied "Not just interesting. �Entertaining," as he gestured off to their right. �The
two men's gazes met on a large black van parked next to the northern wall of the house.
"Seems we've got company."
Fallen had already retrieved his custom M1 Tactical Benelli shotgun from the truck bed.
"Seems so, Doc," and he checked his waist holster to make sure he also had his Beretta on
him (fully knowing he never went anywhere without it). �Dr. No was now holding his
CZ-75, and both men slowly approached the door at the front of the building.
The two hunters were in their element now. �Quiet, disciplined, deadly. �They found the
front door still open slightly, and Fallen eased it forward with his foot. �He let out a slow
breath after the door, miraculously, did not creak. �Well oiled hinges? �Maybe this place
was used more than they had thought...
The house itself was dark, the only light coming from the moon light filtering through the
windows. �There were way too many shadows for Fallen to be content, and he closed his
slight nervousness at the situation helped his "Third Eye" kick in. �The room suddenly
became more than visible to him. �When Dr. No turned to see a door open and a pair of
glowing red eyes appear, Fallen saw the thing for what it truly was, in all its glory.
"Bloodsucker, Doc!" �Fallen pivoted, rearing his Benelli to face the creature. �The vampire
in the doorway was holding a box and seemed to be just about to take hold of the
situation, when Fallen switched the tactical forearm light of his shotgun on. �The vampire
was blinded and surprised just long enough for a 12 gauge slug to rip its head off its body.
Then a leg came out of nowhere, kicking the Benelli from Fallen's grip. �A fist flew into
play and contacted with Fallen's jaw. �The thing was assaulting him was too fast for him to
retaliate. �Fallen was on the ground after a hard punch to the gut, and he looked up to the
ugly face of another bloodsucker. �It bared its fangs and hissed.
"Anyone ever suggest you see a dentist? �Well, it just so happens you're in luck. �Today,
I'm giving away free samples of my .40 caliber bullet treatment. �Here, take two," came a
voice to Fallen's left. �The vampire looked towards Dr. No, still hissing and baring its
fangs, only to be silenced as two bullets slammed into its face. �Each struck one of the
elongated canines and then traveled diagonally up and back through the skull.. �Fallen
slowly got to his feet as the vampire�s body fell to the floor. �Then the huge man's boot
came down on the creature's skull, just to make sure.
Fallen brushed himself off and looked to Dr. No. �"Thanks, Doc. �Didn't really expect to see
vampires here, did you? �That all of them?"
"That's all that attacked us so far," was the reply as Dr. No looked to the door the
creatures had came out of. �"Bet that leads to the collection we came here to raid. �I say
we act like good robbers and grab our loot."
"Sounds like a plan, Doc."
Fallen retrieved his shotgun and frowned in disgust. �"Motherfucker was strong. �That
kick damaged the bolt. �Makes it useless until I fix it," he threw the Benelli to the front
door. �"I'll get it on our way out."
Dr. No nodded and Fallen walked towards him and opened the door they were heading
through. �In front of them was a long staircase, leading into a basement. �Fallen went first,
Dr. No following. �They ended up in a large room, filled with display cases and boxes.
Fallen looked around the room, gazing at exotic and antique weapons. �Guns, knives,
swords, and various other collectibles as well as a lot of the common arms trade weapons.
� This guy was an eccentric. �Fallen turned and spoke, "Light switch is behind you, Doc.
� Mind hitting it?"
The lights came on, illuminating the room and the display cases. �Dr. No was turning back
to speak to Fallen when suddenly he stopped. �The bigger man gave him a questioning
look right before Dr. No dived into Fallen's midsection, taking him to the ground. �It
wasn't even half a second later an array of �bullets passed with nothing by a hiss right
where the large black man had been standing. �The two hunters rolled into cover behind a
display case.
A voice came from overhead, from the other side of the room. �It was high pitched, whiny,
and as annoying as the energizer bunny. �"What are you doing in my house? �Get out!
These are mine! �Trespassers!"
Fallen spoke in return, "Your house? �Word has it the owner of this place's dead."
"Hey, Fallen, I can almost place a bet that the owner is dead. �And that's the owner, the
old coot of an arms dealer we came to rob. �Must've been added to the vampire kingdom
so they could have free access to his trade," came Dr. No's voice, loud and clear.
"You're all human waste, you don't understand. �This is mine! �I�ve spent years building
my industry! �My network!"
Defiantly an eccentric. �And he kept right on talking. ��Meanwhile, Dr. No was gesturing
to Fallen. �Fallen looked to where Dr. No's gaze was settled. �A water pipe. �And it
seemed it was somewhere over the vicinity of the energizer voice. �The vampire himself
must've been hiding behind a pile of boxes, out of view. �Fallen nodded to the Doc, who in turn
holstered his CZ-75 and readied his Schofield. �He was going to make this shot count, and
since he couldn't see the vampire he needed something to warrant surprise.
Dr. No counted off with his fingers as he aimed. �1......2.....3! �All at once, the shot rang
out and Fallen shouldered the display cabinet, knocking it over. �The vampire's voice rang
out in surprise the Schofield bullet exploded and water showered over him. �Just as soon, Fallen
jumped over a table displaying knives. �Out of the stump Fallen had to end one arm, a
sword of fire erupted. �The scream seemed to burn in the vampire's throat. �Quite literally.
There was one downside to the plan they had. �Both men, and a lot of the weapons were
covered in sewage...and the water was rising. �"Let's get what we can carry and salvage,
we'll have to leave the rest!" came Dr. No's voice calling to Fallen. �Fallen just nodded
and started to look around for something he could easily carry in their bags..
After filling their bags with just as much dry supplies as they could warrant. �They packed
away a CAR 15 and an SR16, a couple MP5 SD6�s, and an old WW2 M1. �Not to
mention a few other smaller goodies they felt would round off their collection.
Then, Fallen's eyes fell upon something he knew he just must have. �A Colt Peacemaker.
The Single Action Army. �He reached to remove it from the display case, and then nodded
to Dr. No, who had claimed a couple of C96 Mausers, a Luger P-08, and a 1889 Colt
New Navy revolver. �The two men left with their loot.
As they reached the truck Fallen observed "I think that went well, Doc."
Dr. No nodded and smiled, happy with a job well done.
------
Back at the hotel things were normal. �The girls seemed to have been slightly concerned
at where they had been. �Chainsaw helped them sort through what they had taken. �
Fugitive seemed to be sleeping. �
In fact, back at the hotel, things were more than normal. �After all, it was all just another
day's work for the EHA...From Sea To Shining Sea.
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