All three of them had been hit by Franks’ shotgun. Kurst had a few pieces of buckshot lodged in his torso. Four had lost an eye. The Spider had gotten the worst of it though. The illusion had slipped completely, and Tsuchigumo was sagging against the wall in its natural form, twitching and spasming, as occasional gushes of green slime pumped out on the elevator’s floor. Its hairy claws clutched at the massive hole in its body as its mandibles clicked rapidly.

They were nearing the lobby. “Disguise us now or not,” Kurst told the monster. “Either way, I will live. We can fight our way out and leave you to perish, or you can stick to the plan and perhaps Stricken’s doctors can save you. The choice is yours. Make it now.”

The Spider chittered at him, but then the air seemed to shimmer and the noise filled his ears. The hideous insect visage was replaced with the young Japanese girl. The green slime turned to red blood, but she was still injured. Four appeared to be a different MCB agent, though he was still missing an eye. He put his hand to it, as if the injury was actually debilitating. Kurst knew that he would look like an actual employee, of whom Stricken had provided the Spider a photograph. Kurst picked up the Spider and cradled it in his arms, like he was carrying a wounded human. The illusion was so complete it even felt like a tiny human.

The doors opened.

The security checkpoint was a confused mass of excited bodies. MCB security was trying to coordinate with officers from other agencies, but there was an understandable hesitancy to involve those who weren’t cleared as to the MCB’s secret mission.

“She’s been shot,” Kurst shouted. “I need an ambulance.”

“This way.” One of Foster’s men, dressed in MCB body armor, took hold of Four and acted as if he was guiding the wounded man. “Hurry.”

The humans were looking for Franks. Any messages indicating possible assailants other than Franks would have been electronically blocked by Renfroe.

They were rushed into the parking garage. A few ambulances had already arrived. Of course, one had been prepared by Special Task Force Unicorn. Nine met them on the way. She sent him a telepathic vision of her wounding Director Stark and killing a dozen others. Foster, now dressed as a paramedic, was already in the driver’s seat. Renfroe was at the back door, but he would not come near the Spider as Kurst shoved the creature inside. Their human accomplice looked ill at the sight of the many other wounded being tended here. Kurst got in and Foster had the ambulance rolling before the rear doors were even closed.