EMERGENCE: Annihilation, Book 6 (The Emergence Series), page 9
Reisner looked back over his shoulder at Runa, who had just removed his Glock. “That’s where we were going to meet Jody and Abby,” he said as he also pulled out his pistol. Jody, I’m on my way.
Both men snaked past the incoming rush of panicked crew members pouring through the passage, then they descended one level into a less dense file of people retreating. Hatches on either side of them began slamming shut while an overhead siren blared. Reisner was frantically searching for the galley when he saw the slumped body of a blond-haired man lying against the entrance. Reisner slowed his gait, moving up alongside the figure and pressing his fingers against the young man’s carotid while Runa covered him with his pistol.
Reisner pulled his fingers back, forming them into a fist while giving a thumbs-up to indicate the man was still alive. He looked at a smashed locker in the hallway opposite the galley where the man must have impacted the steel, wondering what force had propelled him so hard.
“I have been waiting for you to arrive, Agent Reisner,” said a deep voice from inside the galley. Reisner stood up, darting his eyes over to Runa as both men stood with perplexed expressions. The voice coming from inside spoke again, rasping and guttural. “I am surprised that you survived after we last met.”
He cautiously took two steps forward, entering the opening, his pistol extended. Roland.
Reisner swept to the right from the direction of the haunting words and saw Abby standing next to a table near the kitchen door. Jody was lying on her back, unconscious at the young girl’s feet.
Abby’s mouth hung open as another voice emanated from within. “You should have let the infection overtake you and joined our brood.”
Reisner shuffled forward, his Glock firmly pointing at Abby’s head. “Another step and your sister dies,” said the creature as she placed the heel of her boot on Jody’s windpipe.
Reisner immediately halted, keeping his weapon fixed in place. “I don’t think you want to hurt anyone, Abby, so just back away from Jody.” He could see that the teenager’s face was wrought with tension, her eyes vacillating between an expression of fear and determination. “She’s your friend.”
“I remember your friend dying at the hands of one of my alphas,” said the gravelly voice as Abby emitted a wolfish smile. “You couldn’t save him, could you—just as you won’t be able to save the rest of your pathetic species.”
Reisner felt like a knife had plunged into his chest, the images of Nash creeping into his thoughts. He drove them away, focusing on the creature before him, trying to look beyond the young woman’s face.
“At least I’m still intact. I can’t say the same for you after cracking your skull open. That must have weakened you considerably.” There was a look of consternation in Abby’s eyes, and Reisner knew he had struck a retaliatory blow. So, Roland is gravely wounded by the damage I inflicted.
Reisner saw the brief flash of someone moving in the window of the kitchen door behind Abby and knew Runa must have slipped inside. Whatever was going to happen next had to involve lightning reflexes, as Jody’s life hung in the wind.
“It is your own wellbeing and future that should be of concern,” said the voice. “Or did you think that seeing into Abby’s mind last night as she walked through the ship was just a dream? My essence still flows through your veins, Reisner.”
He felt his hands quiver, his consciousness expanding until he felt like he was floating above the ship. Reisner could see the entire fleet and the ocean extending out to the horizon as a feeling of peace flooded over him. He saw legions of drones in a city to the north who were stampeding through a small community of survivors, their bloody faces lit with terror as the paras tore them apart. Despite the carnage and horror, Reisner still felt a sense of peace and belonging.
He fluttered his eyes, trying to focus on his immediate surroundings and Abby, then he saw the kitchen door suddenly fly open as Runa darted out. Abby stepped back, deftly spinning around and striking Runa in the jaw with a half-cocked fist that had enough force to send the burly African-American into the wall.
Reisner shook his head, clearing his foggy brain while instinctively firing off two rounds, which struck Abby in the shoulder. The momentum caused her to lose her footing long enough for Runa to whip the barrel of his pistol across her forehead, then he rushed forward and slammed her into a cabinet while sending a crushing hammer fist down on her face. She moaned and slid to the floor as Runa aimed his pistol at her temple.
“Stop—don’t shoot,” yelled Reisner as he rushed up to them. He stared at Abby’s limp figure, seeing the innocence present in her eyes just before she slipped into unconsciousness. Reisner heard a patter of footfalls behind him and turned to see the master-at-arms and two guards rush into the galley. He stepped aside, moving closer to Jody as the men began to restrain Abby.
Reisner knelt down next to his sister, placing his gun on the floor and gently stroking her face while listening intently for her breathing. After confirming she was alive, he hunched down further, pressing his forehead against hers. “Jody, girl, what did I get you into, bringing you out here?” He brushed a lock of her brunette hair off her face as she groaned and began to flicker her eyelids. He held her in his arms, helping her to sit up.
Jody rubbed her fingers against the side of her head as she looked up at him. “Will, what happened?”
He held her close, looking back at the iron shackles on Abby’s ankles and wrists as the guards picked up her limp body. “We had a tiger in our midst.”
Reisner felt his sister press into his chest as he further embraced her. He tried to settle his thoughts. It felt as if the roots of his psyche had just been violently torn from their soil and cast into a fiery cauldron.
Chapter 21
With dusk nearly upon the jungle, Nick emerged from the small hacienda, wiping the slurry of fresh blood and adrenal fluid from his lips. The living room behind him was filled with the wails of several humans tied to the wall.
He walked down the leaf-littered stone sidewalk towards a shade ramada made from palm fronds and sat down at a table beside a pile of nautical maps. He slid out a small, folded topo map of the region but then felt a sudden stab of pain in his frontal lobe. He winced, leaning back, catching movement to his right as the lone female alpha in his group staggered out from the treeline. It moved with difficulty, dragging its right leg. Gray fluid was flowing from its ears and nose while its mouth hung agape. It extended its arm out towards him as he leapt up, catching the creature before it collapsed.
Nick gently turned the creature on its side, examining the head for signs of trauma then probing her mind. He could the feel the pain as if his own blood was boiling and sensed her voice in him, the shrill sounds of agony and fear ricocheting off his psyche. What has happened? How can I help you? It wheezed out a bronchial cough as fluid gurgled in its throat. The ropy parasite inside tried to push up through the gray mess but only fluttered its head then went limp as the alpha’s body slumped in Nick’s arms.
The voice in his head faded like a mighty torch being extinguished in the wind. Nick felt his chest sink, and the base of his neck grew tight, as if someone had plunged a red-hot spike into his spine. He looked into the alpha’s glassy eyes then lowered her to the ground as Crixus and another alpha gathered beside him. He scrutinized the fluid still throbbing out from the dead creature’s orifices then looked up at the two figures next to him. He only sensed the same confusion in their minds, wondering what could have killed so mighty a creature. Nick picked up her body and then stood, walking over to the shade of a large palm tree, where he laid the alpha down against the trunk.
Though he did not grieve as he would have in his previous life, he felt the loss of a unique mind that once looked to him for guidance and was now gone forever.
“What happened to you, my sister?” he whispered as he turned and watched the sun setting along the horizon. He wanted to thrust his clenched fist into the dispassionate star and retrieve some life-yielding power that could change the outcome of his departed alpha.
Sometimes he was unsure if his disbelief in God was unfounded as the reins of his former religious indoctrination tugged on his intellect. Why would a god do this to his own creation? If you are real then why let those created in your image suffer as they have—or did you let us come into existence to punish them?
He thought of the future of his kind, knowing the U.S. fleet was in possession of a deadly bioagent that could kill thousands of their brood. He also knew his own biology was unique—radically different than the other alphas—and that it could be the key to the next step in their evolution. But there is only one other like me, and he is too weak. Nick craned his head up towards the heavens, searching for some signs of divinity in the clouds, then he thrust his fist up. There is no God. I will find a suitable woman, and she will give birth to a real god.
Chapter 22
Lachesis
BSL-4 Lab
Abby’s right eye remained undilated as Selene flashed a small penlight into the pupil. She stepped back from the gurney, her yellow biohazard suit crinkling as she moved towards the observation window and flipped on the intercom button to speak with her observers on the other side.
“If I were a physician giving a routine physical, I’d say she’s in perfect health. Vitals are excellent, skin color is ideal—hell, even her gums are pink like ours. Outwardly, I can see how she remained under the radar for so long.”
General Dorr stepped forward past Runa and Reisner, slamming his curled fist onto the speaker button. “I need more than that, Doctor—what’s on the inside?”
Selene glanced at the barely visible bullet wounds on Abby’s bare shoulder. “Whatever is going on, it’s already enabled her to heal those holes in her arm. Accelerated growth and tissue repair from the amount of hormones surging through her body, probably—much like the other alphas, though I’ve not seen anything on this scale.”
Selene moved robotically to her right, her movement confined by the bulky suit. She slowly pecked on her laptop keyboard, activating the computer monitor on the wall opposite the window. “Let me pull up the results from the MRI and CAT scans so we can get a better picture of what’s really going on beneath the surface.” She moved closer to the screen, anxiously double-checking the steel shackles and chest restraints affixing Abby to the gurney.
As she stared at the CT scan, Selene’s mouth hung open and her pulse quickened. “This is beyond anything I could have imagined.”
“What exactly are we looking at?” said Runa.
She held her gloved hand up. “Just give me a minute to process this.” Selene narrowed her eyes, studying the ribbony creature that seemed fused to Abby’s spinal cord. The two-foot-long black parasite resembled an eel, its dorsal fin fluttering along its back while a thousand tiny tendrils snaked out from its other side, their tips disappearing into the cervical and thoracic region of Abby’s spine. Selene’s eyes traced their way up the terminal end of the parasite to a triangular-shaped head that floated freely but had six floss-like appendages emanating from the tip. Below the head were two narrow gill slits that fluctuated with movement as the parasite wriggled with each exhalation from Abby’s lungs. At the tail end of the body were slender tentacles that snaked down towards the kidneys, their tips thrust deep into the adrenal glands.
Selene almost felt like she was back in her university parasitology class at Johns Hopkins as fascination overtook her. She moved to her right and stared at Abby’s limp body while her mouth went dry. My God, what’s happened to this poor girl? She must be a prisoner in her own body—and mind.
“What are you thinking, Doc? Talk to me,” said Dorr in an impatient tone.
She reached for her penlight on the steel table under the monitor and switched the setting over to a red beam. She pointed at the image, highlighting the sinewy parasite. “This creature almost resembles a snipe eel, but it’s far from that.” She moved the red light over towards the tail. “I’m guessing these are feeding tubes that deliver pure hormones from the adrenals to the creature. This young woman’s adrenal glands are nearly double the size of an adult female’s, so her body is clearly working overtime to sustain this thing.”
Selene moved the beam up to the central body then over to the head. “In most respects, this creature is a much larger version of a typical parasite found in the blood of an alpha—only those are more primitive in appearance.” She encircled the hair-like appendages around the head. “Except for these—I’ve not seen this type of anatomy before.”
“They almost resemble the antennae on an ant,” said Reisner. “Could those be used for communication with another alpha?”
“That’s what I would surmise, but there’s no way of knowing right now.” She looked over at Abby’s face. “She’s heavily sedated, so she won’t be communicating with anyone for quite a while.”
“So, how do we remove that thing from her body?” said Runa.
Selene lowered the penlight, scrutinizing the image on the screen. “Without killing her? I’m not sure it can be done. The parasite has infiltrated her nervous system and most likely controls all of her physiological functions.”
“Yet she’s capable of autonomous thought,” said Reisner. “She was able to hold a normal conversation with us earlier on the ship.”
“And evidently reacted with concern to save Jody’s life on the dock when that crate broke loose,” said Runa.
“Then threatened to kill her in the galley while nearly knocking your top off from what you described,” barked Dorr as he glared at Runa then Reisner.
“This thing is a killer, if it’s an alpha,” Dorr continued. “It’s probably been biding its time to learn about our fleet and waiting for the right opportunity to strike a blow.” He glanced down at his watch. “I’ve got a briefing with the president and my senior officers in thirty minutes.” He thrust his chin up at Selene. “In the meantime, I want this creature to be your sole focus, as long as you can keep it heavily sedated so it doesn’t pose a security risk here. Run your damn tests, do more bloodwork—open her up if necessary, but get me answers.” Dorr bit his lip, aware of the shocked expressions around him from his last comment. “Don’t forget that we are at war—this lab is also the battlefield.” He waved his arm out to the right. “And out here at sea, if there are any more of these things hiding on board our vessels.” He turned and swung the door open like he was fleeing a burning room then disappeared down the hallway.
Selene slid up against the window, staring at Reisner. “Dissection while she’s alive, Christ—promise me you won’t let it come to that, either of you.”
Runa just rubbed his sweaty forehead while Reisner pressed his hand against the window by Selene’s helmet. “There are a lot of roads to cross before we’d even head that way.” He glanced past Selene at Abby, his throat growing parched. But there may come a time when drastic actions have to be taken.
***
Dorr returned to the U.S. Coast Guard vessel, the Endurance, which served as central command for their small fleet. He barely made eye contact with any of his crew enroute to his quarters. Once inside, he closed the door and pressed his back against it as if he was holding back an incoming wave. He removed his hat and flung it on the bed then walked to his desk, noting the ten minutes he had left until his video briefing with President Hemmings from her office on the Coast Guard vessel Reliance, a half-mile from his location.
He felt like his head was trapped in the grip of a mighty hand. His heart was racing as if he was running uphill with a rucksack full of rocks. He heard the daily announcement from his XO coming over the speaker, the man trying to sound uplifting as he delivered the news about the weather and the fleet’s present status then closed by mentioning that Dorr would address the crew later that evening in his weekly report. Dorr swung around, grabbing a gold trophy off the desk and smashing it into the intercom speaker on the wall. “Leave me alone!”
He kept whaling it until the plastic console splintered apart on the floor and only the mangled wiring remained. Dorr gripped the trophy, staring at the smashed figure on top, realizing it was his oldest daughter’s soccer award, the one from the championship game her team had won—the same game that he had missed two years ago because he was deployed. He gasped, slumping to his knees, staring at the damaged figure on top. He licked his dry lips, pulling the trophy to his chest as he fought back the tears. “The general must remain in control at all times—for his men, for his country—always in charge.” His chest shuddered as he clutched the object, his head lowering as rage began replacing his sorrow. “No beach to walk on with my kids, my wife.” He ran his hand along his quivering cheek. “There’s nothing left in this goddamn world to fight for anymore—it’s all gone. This entire planet should be fucking nuked before it’s completely in their grasp.”
He staggered to his feet, stumbling over to his desk. He gently placed the trophy down, letting his fingers glide over the nameplate. Dorr leaned over, opening the bottom drawer of his desk and shoving his hand past the three empty bottles of bourbon until he found a half-full one.
Twisting off the cap, he clumsily poured some into a glass. He gulped down the fluid like it was apple juice then poured another. Dorr walked to the porthole window and anxiously pried open the latches, letting in the rush of cool air. He wanted to climb down below into one of the skiffs and drive until he found an uncharted island—someplace free of creatures, crew members, and any decision-making. What will make all of this go away? He stared at the remaining whisky in his glass then at the service awards hanging on the wall above his bed. He muttered the saying etched in gold letters on his last award from three years earlier: “For meritorious conduct in the line of duty.” He raised his glass in a toast at his reflection in the glass frame. “Here, here, General. To a job well done. Who the fuck cares.”
Dorr finished his drink then set down the glass, staring back at the ocean and thinking about the mysterious new creature on the Lachesis. He took a deep breath, his scattered mind suddenly refocusing into a laser intensity he hadn’t felt in weeks. She may be the key to cracking open their communication and cutting off the heads of their leadership. Maybe there is still one last ray of hope in this otherwise meaningless world. He rubbed his chin, forcing his posture upright and pulling his shoulders back. But will Munroe have what it takes to get the job done? No matter—the welfare of this creature won’t interfere with my efforts to end this war. A year from now, if we’ve destroyed these monsters, no one is going to give a rat’s ass about some civilian girl who got a shit deal from the universe.
