Read Beyond Hades: The Prometheus Wars for Free Online

the equation, but Talbot wondered how much opposition there had been to what had gone on, opposition which the general or his superiors had overruled. Judging from the stony gazes cast by quite a few of the passengers, the decision had been far from unanimous, and now these people were seeking someone to blame for their predicament.
    And Talbot, bearing the same face as the man who had ultimately opened the door to Tartarus, seemed the perfect target for their animosity. He swiftly dropped his gaze and walked awkwardly between the rows toward the rear. Captain Benedict had been absent since the thermo-carrier had embarked, and Talbot was curious about his whereabouts.
    Arriving at a solid wall, Talbot was confronted by two sets of stairs, one going up and the other descending. He took the set going down.
    The steps were narrow and steep, like those on a ship, and he descended them backwards with care. At the bottom he turned and almost fell over in shock. Ranged out before him were rows upon rows of armored vehicles: fourteen HMMWV Humvees, five LAV-25s light armored vehicles, six HIMARS rocket delivery vehicles, and seven M1A1 Abrams battle tanks.
    "Replacement vehicles for the ones they've lost at Base Bravo," said a voice behind him. Talbot spun around and saw Captain Benedict descending the stairs. "They're probably the last ones we'll be able to get out of Quantico."
    "What's going on here, Captain?" demanded Talbot. "And don't give me any bullshit about protocol. I need information." Captain Benedict ran his shaky hand back through his hair, and Talbot caught a glimpse of how anxious he actually was.
    "The truth is we're losing a battle against a foe we don't even know how to fight."
    "But the United States has the best military force in the world, with the most advanced weapons. How can you be losing?" asked Talbot.
    Captain Benedict raised haunted eyes and met Talbot's gaze. "The things we're fighting aren't from this world. They're immune to almost anything we throw at them. You saw that damn cyclops back there. It was only thanks to luck we were able to trap it the first time. Now it's loose again, and it'll destroy the entire base before coming after us."
    "Come after us?" asked Talbot. "Why would it come after us?"
    Captain Benedict's eyes flitted away. "They're drawn to you, just like they were drawn to your brother. We're not sure why."
    Talbot's legs buckled unceremoniously, and he only barely managed to lean back against a Humvee, avoiding complete collapse by gripping the hood so hard it hurt.
    "Your brother wasn't killed in a rockslide," continued the marine. "He died doing something else entirely, but leading up to that point, every single creature which got loose was hunting him. Like the gryphon attacking us midair - or did you think that was just a coincidence?"
    Talbot thought about it. He hadn't had time to consider why the creatures were attacking them, he'd been too terrified. Thinking back, though, that wasn't real fear. What he was going through now was real fear. Right now he wished more than anything to return to that level of shock, the same as he'd felt in the Super Stallion. He was moved so far beyond it now, into pure, absolute terror that he felt sure he might suffer an aneurism at any moment.
    "Once you're within proximity of these beasts, they'll lock on to you, just like they did your brother. And we can't stop them."
    "Don't sugarcoat it for me," muttered Talbot, his voice thick with sarcasm as he moved away from the Humvee to stand unsupported once more, albeit on shaking legs.
    "I'm sorry, Doctor Harrison, but when somebody asks me something, I prefer to be honest. At least now you know where you stand."
    "How does something like this happen without everyone knowing?" asked Talbot.
    "How does the Yeti stay out of the media? The Loch Ness Monster?" countered Captain Benedict. "Nobody wants to believe it. Plus, the President ordered a complete and utter media blackout on this issue. Some