“I’d like to speak with you,” Alex said with a glance at Reynard. “Alone.”
“Certainly,” Max said with a good natured smile. “We were just finishing up here.” He turned to Reynard. “I’ll see you here at four, then.”
“Sure thing boss,” Reynard said, sparing a moment to frown at Alex on his way out.
“Captain,” Max said. “Have a seat. What’s on your mind?”
“The guns,” Alex said, lowering himself into the chair Reynard just left. “I’d like to get them back, now that we’ve returned.” The chair was warm from Reynard’s ass, and Alex tensed, finding even such indirect contact distasteful.
Max frowned. “Whatever for?”
“You wanted them for protection while we were gone,” he explained. “But now we’re back. In light of what happened, I’m going to make a security force out of my people. Patrick, Sandi, Tom. And Ryan, of course, once he’s better.”
“I think that’s a great idea,” Max said, leaning back in his chair. “But I’ve made Reynard, Bob and Kristoff my assistants, and I’d like for them to be armed as well. As governor, I have the authority to make that decision.”
Alex frowned, trying to think of a retort. Max was infuriatingly accommodating, which was part of what made him dangerous. Alex had no doubt whatsoever that Max was manipulating him, or trying to, but there wasn’t much he could do about it. He was the governor, however much Alex didn’t like it.
“I don’t believe that to be the case,” Alex said in a measured tone. “My orders are clear, I am to support you, but maintain control of the arms room, and I interpret that to include everything in it. I see no reason for your assistants to be armed, and I want my guns back.”
Max narrowed his eyes at him. He held his hands over his lap, fingertips touching, and watched him in silence for a moment. His expression changed subtly, became more confident, as though he had expected this and had prepared himself.
“No,” Max said finally. “I don’t agree. You are to maintain control of the arms room, yes, but I am in charge of the facility, and that includes, to borrow your own words, everything in it. This is not open to discussion, I also have my orders. You may arm the people from your team, and your idea for a police force is a very good one. I cannot spare any of my men for such work, they are far too busy organizing and supervising our efforts to become self sufficient.”
Alex didn’t like the word “police.” Police served the politicians, and he wasn’t about to do Max’s bidding or enforce his decrees, he was only interested in protecting the people of the colony. He started to speak, but Max raised his hand to hush him. “Do not forget that we are not, as we first thought, alone. I have been in contact with the government, or more accurately what is left of it, and I have been assured that we will receive their full support and attention once things settle down. If you have a problem with the responsibilities and duties that you have been given, I have no doubt I can find someone to replace you. The DNA locks, while out of my control, are not out of theirs, and they can be reprogrammed remotely.” It didn’t sound like a threat. The way Max spoke he could have been asking Alex if he was tired and wanted to sit down.
Alex stared at him, stunned. It had never occurred to him that he could be replaced, but the more he thought about it, the more obvious it seemed. The “government,” a charitable term for whoever was left in charge, clearly had a link to the facility, since they had updated his orders, given them control of the barrier and broadcast that ridiculous presidential address. There was something about the idea that didn’t quite add up, but he couldn’t put his finger on it.
“Let’s not end this on an antagonistic note however,” Max continued. “You’ve done a good job so far, and you can hardly be blamed for misinterpreting your role here. After all, it’s not like your position came with a ‘how to’ manual. Go ahead and create your police force, and report back to me first thing tomorrow morning with a status report. You can use all the people you took with you on the expedition, except of course for Barbara. Her talents are too precious to waste on such matters. And you can only have Tom until we figure out what his purpose here is supposed to be.”
Alex got to his feet. “Fine, I’ll do that.” He turned to leave.
“One more thing,” Max said. “Before you go.”
“Yes?”
“Don’t ever lay a hand on one of my men again. I heard what happened with Bob at the warehouse, and I’ve decided to overlook it in this one instance. I’d also suggest you stay away from the alcohol, especially when armed. You weren’t doing anyone any good last night. Someone else could have been attacked, and you would have been too drunk to notice. You may go now.”
Alex had to stop himself from answering or nodding. He walked out, and didn’t stop walking until he was sure he was out of earshot.
“Fucking dick,” he swore, turning around to glare at the direction he had come from. There was no one around, which was good, because he was in no mood for spectators. He was furious, mostly because he knew that Max had cowed him. Throwing that curve ball, the idea that he could be replaced, had so unsettled him that the rest was child’s play. Max was a master manipulator, alright. He had played Alex like a violin.
He started walking, his hands clenched in fists. When he saw Yael’s cabin, he stopped. He had been on his way there without realizing it. As much as he could have used her company, he decided to honor her wish to be left alone. He had to deal with this on his own, and the more he calmed down, the clearer his course became.
“I’ll give him a fucking status report.” It was his turn to do the manipulating, and the first part of that would be not giving Max what he wanted. When the so called governor confronted him, Alex would play it off as though he had forgotten. Max was very well suited for his role, but then so was Alex. Toying with his superiors had been one of his more enjoyable pastimes in the army, and he had gotten quite good at it—Medlock hated him for a reason. Max didn’t know who he was fucking with.
Alex had some pretty strong advantages to work with. There was no reason at all to believe Max knew the contents of the arms room, and that gave Alex a lot of leverage and wiggle room. There was also the fact that Max was not very well liked in the colony—the response he had received when he’d called for a vote made that clear. Alex wished he had never interfered, but then things probably wouldn’t have turned out much differently, not after the presidential address.
If Max wasn’t going to give back his guns, Alex would have to settle for making sure that his people were much better armed than Max’s goons.
He looked for Patrick and Sandi, but couldn’t find them anywhere. Just as he was about to head to the arms room to use the security cameras, he spotted Kristoff by the beach, arguing with three young women who had apparently been sun bathing. The newest of Max’s lackeys was tall and thick, though not nearly as big as Bob. He had short cropped blond hair and a goatee, and despite his long and pointy nose he probably would have looked a lot less goofy without his gold wire rimmed glasses.
“Go get changed and report to the barrier gate,” Kristoff said. “This isn’t a god damned vacation!”
“Go fuck yourself!” one of the girls said. “I don’t know who the hell you think you are, but you can’t order us around.”
“Problem?” Alex asked as he walked up.
“Yeah,” the girl said, and Alex immediately recognized her as the other of the two who had watched his test, Michelle’s companion. “This asshole wants us to go dig up some field. Tell him to leave us alone.”
“Or better yet,” another one of the girls said. “Shoot him.”
“Stay out of this,” Kristoff told him. “Unless you’re here to help me.”
“Help you?” Alex said. “Why would I do that? These ladies want to be left alone.” Alex relished opposing the goon, but he knew he had to get himself under control. Nothing would be served by openly defying Max, at least not yet.
“Max has made it clear,”
Kristoff said, obviously annoyed. “That everyone has to pitch in. This isn’t a game, we’re all alone here. Everyone has to work to grow food, or when we run out of nutrient powder we’ll starve to death.”
“These people just found out the world is gone,” Alex said. “Give them a fucking break.”
“Yeah,” the first girl said. “Asshole.”
“I told you to stay out of this,” Kristoff said. “If these bitches don’t get off their lazy asses—”
“What the fuck did you call me?” one of the girls shouted as she jumped to her feet. She started walking towards Kristoff, fists clenched.
“Hold on now,” Alex said, putting himself between them. “Let’s not start fighting.”
“This little faggot called me a bitch!” she said. “Tell him to say it to my face!” She wasn’t particularly large, but that attitude hadn’t come from nowhere. Kristoff was confused by her sudden hostility, but Alex noticed the slight shift in posture that indicated he was ready for a fight. He was almost sorry the lackey didn’t go for his pistol, which would have given Alex an excuse to take it away from him.
“He’s sorry,” Alex said, holding his hands up to keep them apart. “And he’s going to apologize, aren’t you Kristoff?” The pointy nosed man started to protest, but shook his head and cursed under his breath.
“Fine,” Kristoff said. “I’m sorry I called you a bitch. But if you don’t work, you don’t eat. When the powder in your dispenser runs out, don’t go to the warehouse for more. You won’t get any.”
The girl seemed to deflate, and looked questioningly at Alex. “Can he do that?”
“Yeah,” he said. “I think he can. As much of an asshole as Max is, he has a point. We have to work together.”
“Don’t talk that way about the governor!” Kristoff protested. “He’s doing the best he can to make sure we survive!”
“Yeah, sure,” Alex said. “He’s a real humanitarian.”
“I’m not a construction worker,” one of the girls said. “Making me dig holes is fucking cruel.”
“If you don’t want to dig,” Kristoff said. “You can help the others make boats.”
“Boats?” Alex asked.
“There were plans and tools in the warehouse for outrigger canoes,” Kristoff explained. “There’s a party outside the barrier that way.” He motioned towards the patch of trees on the western edge of the beach. “They’re cutting down trees to build the boats.”
“Are Sandi and Patrick there by any chance?” Alex asked.
“Who?”
“Two of my group, the ones that went out exploring.”
“Oh, yeah, I think so. At least the girl is. The guy—Patrick—he’s with the first farm detail.”
“Good, go get them for me.”
“Excuse me?” Kristoff asked, raising his eyebrows. “Get them for you?”
“They’re not workers,” Alex said sternly. “They’re soldiers.” He looked down at Kristoff’s waist and saw the radio clipped to his belt. “Get whoever is in charge out there on the horn and tell him to send those two back here right now.”
“On whose authority?” Kristoff demanded.
“Mine. Do you have a problem with that?”
“I’ll have to ask Max.”
Alex was about to snap at him, but stopped himself. There was no point in letting his ego make matters more complicated than they needed to be. He had Max’s approval, however much needing that approval rankled him. He wasn’t ready for the rank they had given him, or the responsibility that came with it—he knew that. He was too young, too irresponsible, too impulsive. He was, however, the only thing standing between these people and a man he was starting to believe might just be a tyrannical lunatic, and he had to man up to the job.
“You do that,” he said.
He watched Kristoff bully the three girls into going to their cabins to get dressed for work, then waited while he radioed Max to confirm Alex’s request—and he had to consider it a request since he apparently lacked any real authority in Max’s eyes. Finally Kristoff asked that Sandi and Patrick be sent back to the beach. Alex asked about Tom, but Kristoff didn’t know where he was, and a quick radio conversation confirmed no one else knew either.
“Thanks for getting us out of there,” Patrick said as soon as Alex met him and Sandi by the barrier. “I appreciate it.” There was a guard stationed on the colony side of the barrier with a radio, acting as a gate keeper.
“Me too,” Sandi said. “I felt like a damned slave.”
“Don’t mention it,” Alex said. “We have work to do. A lot of work.”
They searched for Tom for almost half an hour and finally found him hiding out in Barbara’s infirmary room in the warehouse. Ryan was there too, resting in bed, his shoulder covered in clean white bandages. Wawa was sitting on a stool, grinning and staring at the newcomers.
“Alex,” Barbara said as soon as she saw him. “I’ve got a lot to tell you!”
“In a sec,” Alex said. “First I have to speak with all of you.”
“You’re going to want to hear this, Chief,” Tom said. “She’s found something big, real big.”
“What is it?”
“We may not know who destroyed the world,” Barbara said. “Or why, but I think I may have found an important clue as to how.”
Chapter 21
“What am I looking at?” Alex asked, straining to keep the image in focus. He had never been good at looking through microscopes, though this was the finest such instrument he had ever used. The level of detail on the tiny piece of cloth was amazing. He tried not to think about what that piece of cloth actually was.
“I wish I knew,” Barbara said. “They were all over the samples I recovered. Rocks, concrete fragments, even the dust. I found them on the dog collar too, but at the time I thought it was just some kind of infestation.”
“They look like water bears,” Alex commented as he messed with the focusing knob. The tiny creatures, apparently dead, looked like flabby eight legged monsters with wrinkled skin and thick heads. Their fat stubby legs were tipped by either whiskers, claws or spikes—Alex couldn’t tell. They were mostly translucent under the strong light, and he could actually see a brain in their heads, right next to a pair of eyes. There were also things in their bodies he couldn’t quite identify, odd looking organs with unnatural shapes. They were strange little creatures.
“Yes,” Barbara agreed. “Tardigrades. Fascinating animals, though none of what little I know about them would even begin to tell me why the hell they are all over every piece of debris.”
“What are tardigrades?” Ryan asked.
“Little animals,” Barbara explained. “These are tiny, a fraction of a millimeter, though some species grow to one, one and a half millimeters. They can survive very harsh conditions, even the vacuum of space, or stay desiccated—dehydrated—for years.”
“Where do they live?” Sandi asked. “And why are they called water bears?”
“Because they walk on their legs like a little bear,” Alex said. “I saw something about them on the Discovery Channel. Here, have a look.” He stood back, allowing her to use the microscope. Patrick moved behind her, eager for his turn.
“Gross,” Sandi said. “Where do they live?”
“All over the place,” Barbara said. “But nothing like this. You can find a few almost anywhere, but I’ve never seen so many everywhere. I did a biology paper on them in college, before med school. And these look different from any I remember, though admittedly there are many species of tardigrades, most of which I haven’t seen.”
“You think these are something else?” Alex asked. “A new species?”
“I don’t know,” she admitted. “But they obviously have something to do with what happened in Honolulu.”
“Do they live in the ocean? Maybe a tsunami left them behind.”
“I don’t know,” Barbara said. “It was an undergrad paper... need I say more? I really don’t know that much about
them. But I don’t think a tsunami destroyed the city. It was too…well… surgical, whatever it was.”
“Yeah,” Tom agreed. “But Alex has a point. Maybe not a tsunami, but something left these things behind, and left them dead. They’re supposed to be tough, right?”
“Yes,” she said. “Very tough. Extremes of temperature, radiation, climate.”
“What are you going to do now?” Alex asked.
She shrugged. “I’m going to run some tests, try to get a closer look at them. I wish I had an electron microscope, but this bad boy is all I’ve got to work with. It’s pretty powerful, but I need to figure out a way to get in close without depth of field problems. These things are too three dimensional for their own good.”
“What is it you wanted to tell us?” Tom asked. “When you came in here?”
“Oh,” Alex said, frowning as he remembered the Max situation. He took a peek out into the corridor, and finding it empty, he closed the door to the infirmary.
“I wanted to talk to you guys about Max.”
“He’s lost his fucking mind,” Tom said.
Alex smiled. “Agreed. How about the rest of you?”
“If you want to know if I’m with you or him,” Sandi said. “I’m with you. All the way.”
“Me too,” Patrick said.
“And me,” Ryan said from the bed. “When I can get out of here, at least. For now it will have to be in spirit.”
“Wawa,” Wawa said, perhaps picking up on the energy of the moment.
“I’ll go along with whatever you’re planning,” Barbara said. “I like our little group, I trust you guys. I don’t trust Max. I don’t like what he’s doing with the farms and boats. People should work because they understand the situation and want to, not because he threatens to starve them if they don’t.”
“Heard about that, huh?” Alex asked.
“I filled her in,” Tom said. “And it should be obvious I’m with you.”
“Thank you guys,” Alex said. He was so grateful that he had a hard time keeping his voice level. If Yael had been here it would have been perfect, but he didn’t need to hear her say it to know she was on his side. He felt his bravado rising and felt the desire to make bold declarations. He steadied himself, took a deep breath, and possibly for the first time in his life, acted with foresight and thought.
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