Page 3 of Pooch Planet

Antoine leaned back in his chair, angling toward the digital screen wall behind him, then touched an icon on the remote pad to dim the lights. “Bring up the feed.”

Every gargoyle had excellent night vision, so the need for overly bright illumination wasn’t necessary. Unfortunately, it appeared that the scene had been filmed with one of the devices the dog shifters used that didn’t capture images in the same way.

According to the report he’d just downloaded, the film had been taken by accident. The mutt who’d turned the film into the G-Force police assigned to Pooch Planet, said it was part of his security set-up. He’d placed a camera on the back porch of his house directed at the woods behind his residence. Apparently, something or someone had been poaching eggs from his chickens but hadn’t harmed the poultry. When his chickens had gone crazy one night, he’d retrieved the film to watch and had discovered images more disturbing than an egg poacher.

As Antoine studied the stream, he couldn’t make out anything unusual. So far, only the occasional bug and some swaying branches as a breeze picked up showed on the digital film. Antoine was beginning to wonder if the mutt was either imagining things or had streamed the wrong tape, when the chickens started squawking and pouring out of the henhouse in a frenzy.

A brief flash of something black with glowing red eyes swooped down from above the frame, ripping several of the chickens to shreds in an instant, feathers and blood flying everywhere. It then whirled by the lens and roared out an unholy screech before flapping its wings and disappearing in a rush. If the creature hadn’t been much larger than a crow, Antoine would’ve assumed it was a gargoyle.

Thank the heavens it’s not. He’d be crushed if the killer was one of their own.

The end of the film was greeted with silence. Antoine brought up the lights then swirled his chair around. He faced his somber team, folding his hands on the table as he leaned forward to speak.

“Before I comment, I’d like to hear your thoughts.”

While the individual identity of the killer was unknown to him, he was almost certain he knew where the murderous creature had originated from. Perhaps he was wrong, but he didn’t think so.

Tully cleared his throat. “I hate to say it, but whatever that was, it struck me as something out of the Hades Galaxy.”

A few of the investigators nodded their heads, but the grim expression of one in particular caught Antoine’s attention.

“Isis, did you have something else you’d like to add?”

She leaned back in her chair and rubbed her chin. “Well, one of my earliest classes at the Academy was in Old Earth paranormal species.”

One of their latest recruits interjected, “And those were the ones who were banished to the Hades Galaxy, right?”

Isis regarded the recruit. “Yes. What I just saw, I’m afraid to say, appears to be a bat demon. Or, what the ancients would describe as a vampire.”

A collection of gasps sounded.

Another detective spoke up. “We haven’t had a report of a bat demon in ages. What makes you think that blurry thing flitting about on the screen is one of those?”

Isis grunted. “That particular aspect of the image only reinforces my belief. They were notorious for presenting that way.” She shook her head, sighing. “Look, I’m as shocked as you are that a bat demon would have the nerve to cross from their galaxy into ours to feed, but I don’t think I’m mistaken. The study of Old Earth predators has always been a sort of hobby of mine, a fascination, if you will.” She turned her attention to Antoine. “Sir, do you have any thoughts on what you saw?”

He sighed, not wishing to entertain the idea that she was correct but having no choice. “I agree. Everything about what we saw would support your belief. As we all know, this is of great concern. Perhaps we’ve been lulled into a false sense of security after all this time. Maybe the new generation of demons and other unholy creatures have determined that the G-Force no longer possesses the power to protect their people from paranormal forces.”

Tully winced. “At the risk of sounding blasphemous, what if we don’t? Our modern force hasn’t been educated in the art of battling the paranormals. It hasn’t been needed.”

From the moment the terror of what he was witnessing on the screen had sliced through him, Antoine had thought the very same thing. “I need to bring this to the attention of Commander Ward immediately, have him gather the Generals and Admirals on the Notre Dame so we can formulate a viable strategy.”

More murmurs traveled around the room. Tully regarded him again.

“What about you, sir? Will you be assembling a team once you meet with Commander Ward?”

“Yes. I’d like you and Isis to take the lead with me on this, so be ready to leave for the Notre Dame within the hour. Once we arrive on the ship and meet with the G-Force command, I’ll request a platoon that can be deployed immediately.” Antoine let his gaze travel the room. “Then we leave for Pooch Planet.”