Michael stared at him. Blackwell didn’t appear insane. In fact, he didn’t look at all worse for the wear, and neither did Sid Damon. They had been secured in Blackwell’s private emergency chamber, which was thick as a bank vault and came equipped with oxygen tanks that could last for up to two days if the bunker was ejected into the ocean. Once strapped in, they only suffered from the nauseating effects of an all-too-real roller coaster ride, but fortunately didn’t have to expel the pod from the ship. It gleamed like a silver bullet a few yards away, completely unscathed.
The motley crew of survivors gathered under the shade of the wreckage, which hung over them like the corpse of a metallic whale. Michael recognized Sergeant Chen and Ariki, the hulking Maori soldier. Next to him was Charlie Foxtrot. She applied stitches to her leg, sewing up the wound as if it were a piece of fabric. Corporal Lurch Davies chomped on a cigar next to a decidedly nervous-looking Private Hayes, while Guy stood atop a hilltop a few yards away, surveying their surroundings.
Michael gazed around in disbelief. “This is it? All who survived?”
Lurch spat and squinted until his face contorted. “Looks like it.”
“Damn.”
Hayes chewed on his fingernails while eyeing the rest of the ragtag group. “So… anyone else think that was a little insane?”
Charlie Foxtrot smirked. “What, you gone belly-up on us, Hayes? Thought you was a fiend for action. That’s what you keep saying, anyway.”
“Action, yeah.” He blinked rapidly. “I didn’t sign up for this, though. You saw what happened. What it was that attacked us. Monsters, man. Goddamned monsters.”
She said nothing, turning her gaze back to her stitches. The uncomfortable silence spoke for all of them.
“Some freakish, sick creatures I couldn’t even dream up in my nightmares. Anyone else get a memo on that? ‘Cause I sure didn’t.”
Nathan folded his arms and glowered at Blackwell. “Mishap? Is that what you’re calling this? A ‘mishap’ is waking up late for work and stubbing your toe. What just happened to us is no mishap, it’s a disaster.”
“I’m not kidding.” Hayes’ head swiveled as he tried to find a sympathetic face. “We got screwed, man. We’re out of our league. We need backup. Or better yet, a fast ride outta here.”
Lurch fixed Hayes with a hard glare. “Shut your face, Hayes. ‘Fore I’m forced to shut it for you.”
Nathan turned back to Blackwell. “Hayes is right. You just lost most of your crew in a freak storm that didn’t even register on the forecast.”
Hayes nodded. “Don’t forget about the monsters. Those disgusting, mutated freaks.” He looked to say more, but took a second look at Lurch and closed his mouth.
Blackwell waved a dismissive hand. “I get your point, Nathan. Their families will be well compensated for the tragic loss. I’m sure Hollywood will make a heroic movie about it one day. But I think our current situation requires our immediate focus for now.”
“That’s right, Nate.” Damon’s mouth twisted. “Time to man up. Not that you know anything about that. I still don’t see how out of everyone on that ship, you civilians managed to survive. Just dumb luck, I guess.”
“This wasn’t supposed to happen.” Elena’s face was deadly pale. “We were supposed to have a full squad and support from the command center. We’re just bare bones. No one has our backs.”
Damon gave her a skeletal grin. “Thought you’d be sitting pretty while the rest of us took the risks? Things change quickly in a storm, sweetheart.”
“That’s not the only change.” Blackwell took a look around and grimaced. “Sad to say, I have no idea where we are. Or the direction of Stein’s lab.”
“Why not?” Nathan asked. “You shipped them here.”
“Yes, but none of this was here then.” Blackwell gestured to the thick, ominous rain forest. “The lab is somewhere in all of that, but the exact location is beyond me.”
Elena’s eyes widened. “You mean to tell us this entire jungle grew in just a few months?”
“That’s exactly what I’m telling you. It’s unexpected, but we’re dealing with the unknown here. aberrant energy apparently forces reality takes a back seat, so what can we do?”
Michael cleared his throat. “We can wait here on the beach until backup arrives. That’s the sane option.”
“I’m sorry — didn’t you just survive a storm of godlike magnitude? One in which our ship was not only decimated by mutated crustacean creatures, but also by a monster squid that ripped through a military vessel like rotted cheese? You think it’s possible to get cellular or satellite signals out from this place?” Blackwell’s laugh was bitter. “We already tried. And you think we have backup coming? Some savior to rescue us? Granted, Nathan’s untimely message has undoubtedly reached my father, but I wouldn’t count on some miraculous rescue anytime soon. It wouldn’t surprise me if krakens and deadly squalls were a regular occurrence for anyone trying to get here.”
“In other words, we’re on our own.” Damon dropped an assortment of military gear on top of a varied stack of firearms. “The goal is to find the facility and get a direct signal out, or better yet locate the sub that was docked there. It’s our best option for getting out of this hell hole. So forget about camping out and strap on your hiking boots. While you were busy napping, we did some salvaging. Managed to secure enough guns, but not enough ammo. What you got is all you have, so don’t waste it.”
Michael picked up a tactical vest and tried it on. The straps were more difficult to adjust than they appeared.
“Let me help you, crazy man.” Ariki nearly pulled Michael off his feet when he secured the harness straps. His dark eyes stared at Michael in an almost wary manner.
“I saw you get pulled out into the storm. One minute you’re walking like a man dreaming, then boom.” Ariki clapped his heavy hands together. “Tentacles everywhere and you get swept out in a rush of water.”
Michael shrugged. “I don’t remember any of it. Got lucky, I guess.”
Ariki laughed. “You stay by me, then. I think I’ll need some of your luck.” He looked on as Michael pulled a M9 pistol from its holster and peered down the sights. “You look like you know how to use one of those.”
“I do.” Michael ejected the cartridge and examined it carefully before reloading it. “I spent a lot of hours in firearms training after my experience last time.”
“Last time?”
“Last time I was in this kind of situation. In an Aberration.”
Ariki gave him an appraising glance. “Yeah, I think you’ll do fine, bud. Maybe you’ll help me survive this like you did.”
“We’ll help each other out.”
Elena had quickly donned a helmet and vest, and armed herself with several handguns and a MK8 rifle. She assisted Nathan, who appeared even more helpless than Michael with the gear.
Damon’s mouth twisted. “Why bother? I don’t see any abusive dads around here. Seems to be the only thing Nathan can hit with a bullet.”
Nathan gave him a cool glance. “Guess you better hope things don’t come down to me having to save your life by my aim.”
“Worry about saving your own life, Nathan. It’s worthless to everyone else.”
“Enough talk.” Guy’s hard stare took in everyone in the makeshift camp. “We’re leaving. Don’t weigh yourself down, because we’ll be running.”
“We’re leaving now?” Blackwell stood quickly and adjusted the bulky pack on his back. “Do you know where we’re going?”
Guy pointed toward the shore. “Away from that.”
They all turned. Michael felt his chest tighten in response.