Bitesize 3.8

Bitesize 3.8

Ed hadn't seen a wolf transformation before and he wasn't going to get to see it this time either. All he saw was the red blob of Dennis as the chopper pulled back up into the sky. The blob showed hotter, getting white near the centre as Dennis did his thing and it took off running. Ed watched it and the pilot too with his nightvision tracked Dennis as he ran off across the fields. All Ed could feel was the tension as they flew, following Dennis across the rural countryside. He had no idea what to do when they caught the T-alpha. He had no idea what Crowley was up to either. All this uncertainty was playing hell with his nerves. He remembered the tablet of Diazepam and swallowed it. As the minutes slipped by he felt much more relaxed, eager even to get this night over with. For maybe fifteen minutes there was nothing, just the red blob of Dennis bouncing around his thermal vision then there was a noise. Even over the noise of the chopper he could pick up the faint sound of a long howl from Dennis. The seconds slipped by like an eternity until Ed heard an answering howl. He pushed the button on his headset.
"You guys hear that?"
"Yep. That wasn't Dennis." said Katia, "Get ready Ed."
Ed looked down at the red blob that was Dennis. He scanned around the immediate area, looking for anything else. And then he saw it. Some distance away but growing bigger by the second, a second red blob. He flicked the goggles to nightvision and watched as the T-alpha loomed up out of the night. It was big, bigger than Dennis for sure. The two were shortening the distance between them at an incredible pace and Ed quickly aimed the rifle at T-alpha, watching down the scope. He was moving fast, too fast for Ed to keep him in his sights long enough to get a clear shot. All he could do was bide his time and watch. Both Dennis and the T-alpha ran closer and closer. The closer they got the more they slowed down and watching them through the scope Ed finally saw his opportunity. The pair were almost walking as they finally approached one another and with a good few seconds of view Ed squeezed down on the trigger. The rifle kicked back into his shoulder and his view through the scope jarred upward.
"Hit." confirmed Katia.
Ed didn't waste any time. He looked down at the scene, heard the howl of the T-alpha and lined the scope up again. He was staring at the beast's back as it prepared to escape and he fired again.
"Hit." Katia's voice again.
Once more he lined up the scope but the huge wolf was lumbering off, not running but still managing some speed. Ed struggled to follow him with the scope. Loathe to let him get away when he was close Ed swung the rifle left, aiming where T-alpha was running and fired.
"Hit I think." said Katia over the headset.
Ed breathed a sigh of relief. It had been a wild shot and the hit was pure luck. He watched the wolves down below now. T-alpha had slowed right down and was staggering, still futilely trying to escape.
"Hit the collar." said Ed, taking one last shot at T-alpha. The fourth tranq seemed to do the trick and the beast finally toppled over. Dennis followed too, succumbing to the tranquiliser collar Katia had triggered at Ed's command. The chopper pilot circled around them and brought them down some distance away. Ed slung the rifle to one side and he and Katia ran out towards the wolves. They ran past the prone wolf form of Dennis straight to the T-alpha. Seeing it up close Ed could finally appreciate its size. It had to be over eight foot tall and its skin rippled and bulged with muscle. Katia whistled beside him.
"Would you look at the size of that thing?"
"I know." said Ed, "It kinda looks like André the Giant in a wolf outfit."
"André who?"
"A wrestler, from the Eighties... Never mind. Come on, let's get it in the chopper."
They grabbed a leg each and pulled the beast over the damp grass.
"It weighs a frigging ton." Ed complained, pulling hard.
They got it to the chopper and tried to lift it in but it was way too heavy. Katia went to fetch the pilot and together the three of them managed to manhandle it into the copper. Dennis was next and they had a slightly easier time with him. Once both creatures were safely loaded aboard the pilot took off once more. Ed sat in the back keeping a watchful eye on the two.
"Do you think they'll come round before we get back?"
Katia shook her head.
"We know the collar will work fine on Dennis. He'll be out for four or five hours."
"And the T-alpha?"
"Hard to say but you shot him four times. I'm surprised it didn't kill him."
Ed watched the creature's laboured breathing.
"I wonder what he looks like, you know, as a human."
Katia shrugged.
"We'll find out soon. You think this thing can stop Crowley?"
"I have no idea. I hope so. It's big enough and fast enough. Crowley might have power but he's still mortal. We have the element of surprise. Given the right circumstances I reckon this thing can tear him apart. Look at its claws. Nearly four or five inches long. Oooh." Ed's face lit up suddenly.
"An idea?"
Ed nodded.
"Maybe. Even if it can't stop Crowley... what if we soak its claws in poison or something?"
Katia laughed.
"Are you serious?"
"Why not?"
"For all we know Crowley has the same power as Raddick. It might not even be able to scratch him. Besides. Why even waste time using the wolf if that's your plan?" she nodded toward the discarded rifle.
Ed shrugged.
"Crowley might even hide in the mirrors. Think T-alpha could survive through there?"
"Let's just get back and find out where we stand first."
Ed slumped. She was right. It was too early. They still had so much to do. They couldn't make any definite plans until they knew more about what Crowley was up to. Ed just hoped that Alf had managed to recover his father safely.