Lu Cain's Report

[LU CAIN. Fort Las Vegas, Mojave Wilderness, United States of America. Tuesday 15th of June, 1880 Gregorian Calendar].

Lu Cain had ridden through the day and night in order to reach Fort Las Vegas. The eighty kilometre trip, much of it thorough darkness, had been the longest he'd ever taken on horseback. For most of the distance, he'd followed the railroad tracks which had been laid by his father's team. Only taking slight detours to ensure that he avoided any farmstead on the way. In case those settlements had also fallen to the new breed of demons. Plus, to avoid putting them in danger in the event of Cain being followed.

By the time Cain arrived at the gates of Fort Las Vegas, the first rays of Dawn were but a few hours away. His body ached due to his poor horsemanship. While his horse was in even poorer condition. It was a draft horse and had never been trained to ride such a long distance without rest. The fact that it had managed to make it this far, showed that it had great will and determination.

Cain approached the heavy, six meter tall, four meter wide steel gate of the fort's southern entrance. The two auto-cannons, mounted on defensive towers either side of the gate, swiveled to follow his movement.

"I'm from the US Railway Department, Lake Mohave settlement," Cain shouted. "We were attacked by demons. We need help."

He knew that controllers were stationed below the auto-cannons, manipulating the movement of the large guns via a system of simple pulleys and levers. Although he didn't understand how they kept track of his position, the fact that they could do so, meant that they had line of sight on him. Hopefully, they could also hear him.

No verbal response came. Instead there were half a dozen audible clicks, as the gate's internal opening mechanism was activated.

Screech!

The heavy steel gate slowly slid into the left-hand wall. Taking a whole minute before it was fully open. Behind the gate were four heavy machineguns, each manned by a fireteam of three soldiers. There were also a dozen other soldiers, armed with hunting rifles and in positions to provide support for the machinegun operators.

"Enter," a male voice spoke through a steel megaphone to the right of the now open gate.

"Thank you," said Cain.

He led his horse into the fort and waited as the steel gate closed behind him. Cain had visited Fort Las Vegas on a few occasions and was aware of the protocols in place. All unannounced visitors had to patiently wait in front of the gate's inner defence team, until given permission otherwise. Since Cain had come here without an appointment, he was classified as an unannounced visitor.

After five minutes of waiting, a trio approached Cain from the direction of the fort headquarters. They were led by a blonde male who appeared to be in his thirties.

"At ease!" the blonde haired man directed the soldiers to stand down.

Cain didn't know the man's identity nor the attractive red-haired young woman to his left. However, Cain did know the identity of the tall Native-American who made up the third member of the trio.

"James," Cain smiled at being able to see a friendly face.

"Cain," hailed the other man who possessed a hulking physique that rivalled Cain's own.

"You know this man?" the blonde man asked James.

"His name's Lu Cain," replied James. "He's the adopted son of Supervisor Lu Feng."

"I'm Corporal Morris Mason," the blonde haired man introduced himself. "This is Special Agent Catherine Douglas. And you've already met Special Agent James Hatathli."

"You said your settlement was attacked by demons?" asked the red-haired special agent. "What did they look like?"

"The settlement was attacked!" James exclaimed. "What happened!"

"I'd heard that Special Agents can be somewhat… excitable," declared Morris. "However, there is a procedure for these types of reports."

The Corporal's words calmed his two younger companions.

"Excellent," said Morris, before turning his attention back to Cain. "Let's head back to headquarters and you can file your report with me."

"My horse…" Cain hesitated with his request. "I wouldn't have made it here without him. He needs to be taken care of. Please."

"Of course," smiled the Corporal. "It's good to see some young people actually have the decency to think of others first."

"Thank you," said Cain.

He quickly patted the horse who had been his companion and support for the last twelve hours. Then followed the Corporal and pair of Special Agents back to the fort headquarters.

Any other day, Cain would be asking his friend James about how the other man had become a Special Agent. However, today, his mind was focused on one thing only. Preparing a report on the attack which had devastated his settlement. In particular, how he would describe the demons.

Demons came in an incredible diversity of forms. Some were even so human in appearance as to be near impossible to identify as demons without close inspection. However, none had ever shown human like intellect. This was why humanity had managed such a decisive victory. It was what made the demons which had attacked the Lake Mohave Settlement, so terrifying. If intelligent demons existed, then humans would lose their main advantage in the ongoing struggling between the two species.

Cain continued to churn this information in his mind. Until they reached one of the offices on the second floor of the fort headquarter. The office was of simple design, with the only furniture of note being a large wooden desk and four wooden chairs.

"Please sit down," Corporal Mason pointed towards one of the chairs, before himself taking the chair behind the large desk.

Cain did as he was told. The two special agents also followed suit. Though they arranged their chairs so as to be able to face both Cain and the corporal.

"Thirsty?" Morris poured water from a large glass decanter.

"Thank you," nodded Cain and quickly drained the glass. "Can I have some more?"

"Let your stomach settle a bit," instructed Morris. "I read in a science journal, that drinking water too quickly when you're thirsty isn't good for you."

"Of course," agreed Cain. "Can I give my report now?"

Cain had decided on what he'd say and was now impatient to provide an accounting of the massacre.

"Please do," instructed Morris, as he pulled a journal.

"My name is Lu Cain, employee of the US Railway Department," Cain began by introducing himself. He had previously heard his father do the same thing when Lu Feng had reported about cattle rustlers. Thus Cain mimicked the introduction to make it sound more official and hopefully impactful. "This morning after breakfast… um around eight o'clock. The US Railway Department's work crew, led by my father Lu Feng came under attack by demons. The assault was rapid. Although I did not personally witness it, it was clear that our machine gun tower quickly fell to the demons. I prepared to engage, but was ordered by Foreman John Henry, who was visiting us that morning, to instead warn the main residential settlement at Lake Mohave."

"Did you see which demons attacked your construction site?" asked Special Agent Douglas.

"No," replied Cain. "I followed orders and went straight to the settlement. I wanted to fight at my father's side… but… I also knew that our main base had few fighting men aside from our Marshall. So I followed orders…."

"Have some more water," Morris handed Cain another glass. "You did good. Following orders instead of our own desires… that's the sign of a good soldier. So please, continue with your report."

"Thank you," Cain drank the offered water and returned to his recounting. "When I arrived at the settlement… it had already been raided by the demons. So many dead….

I ran into Father Guan Yong. Our settlement's priest. He told me what had happened. A new type of demon which resembled a corpse. It would bite its victims and inject them with some kind of poison. When the victim died, they would rise up and have the same abilities as the demon which had bitten them.

Also, Father Yong said that some of the demons were intelligent. He told me that after certain people fell, they'd then stand up and attack others with weapons or tools. This is something I also saw for myself. He told me to go to Fort Las Vegas and to report that our settlement had been wiped out."

"Intelligent demons?" the Corporal frowned. "Is that what you said?"

"Yes," declared Cain. "I know it's unbelievable. But it's true. Then Father Yong died and quickly rose up as a demon. He tried to bite me… to poison me. I managed to avoid being bitten. I also managed to kill the demon."

"How did you kill it?" asked Catherine.

"I stabbed it in the heart, like I was taught," recalled Cain. "It staggered a bit afterwards but then fell down. I also slit its throat and stabbed its brain just in case. Then I headed here."

"Did you know if you were followed?" asked Morris.

"I didn't encounter any more demons on the way," stated Cain. "However, I did skirt any settlements. Just in case they were also infested. And also, in case I was being followed. I didn't want to place those settlements in harms way."

"That's good thinking," stated Morris. "Do you remember anything else?"

"Um," Cain tried to think of any information he'd left out. "Father Yong said a group he led to escape the settlement had been attacked by demons who had taken over the body of miners."

"Anything else?" asked Morris. "Anything at all will help."

"I'm sorry," apologised Cain. "That's all I can remember."

"That's fine," said Morris as he closed his journal and stood up. "Special Agent Douglas and I will report to the fort commander as soon as he wakes. Special Agent Hatathli will remain here and if you remember anything at all, please tell him."

"Of course," agreed Cain.

"You did well," Morris placed his hand on Cain's shoulder. "If you need to rest, then James will show you the barracks. However, please do not speak of this event outside of this office. There are soldiers and other residents of Fort Las Vegas who had family and friends at the Lake Mohave. Not everyone of them has your composure. So, spreading this information would lower morale and could cause a panic."

"I understand," acknowledged Cain.

Cain waited for Morris and Catherine to leave the room before turning towards his friend.

"James, I'm sorry I couldn't save your family," Cain apologised.

James' family were traders who had set up shop at Lake Mohave.

"You did all you could," comforted James. "I'm also sorry about your loss."

"I didn't see my mother or father perish," said Cain trying to cling onto some hope. "I also didn't see any member of your family. So, it's possible they're still alive."

"It's possible," agreed James. "Our parents are as tough as they come."

The two youths fell into silence, before Cain decided to ask the question that had been playing on his mind.

"What Gift do you have," Cain asked his childhood friend.

Special Agents were supernatural trouble shooters directly employed by the international Coalition of Humanity. They were chosen due to the possession of a special ability called a Gift. These Gifts had first started manifesting a decade after the arrival of demons.

Some people considered the bearers of these Gifts, as unnatural. However, the Coalition of Humanity saw their value and started to gather and train them.

"I don't fully know yet," James sheepishly replied. "I just know that suddenly I'm smarter. Plus, I can remember things perfectly. That's why I wasn't taking notes when you gave your report. Because I can remember everything you said with perfect clarity."

"You… smart?" Cain laughed.

"Hey!" James protested in mock indignation. "I is always beens smart I is."

The joke made Cain laugh until he yawned.

"You tired?" asked James. "I can escort you to a free bunk. It's probably best you get some sleep."

"You're right," agree Cain. "But wake me up when the army decides to head out to clear out those demons. I want to go with them."