Neoma closed her eyes.
"Resurgemus," she whispered in her son’s ear.
INTERCEPTING TRANSMISSION...
5 Alpha Team Six.. this is Mission Control.
Requesting SITREP. Do you read? Over.
6 Copy That. Alpha Team Six on standby...
Go head, Mission Control.
7 Mission Control requesting ETA aboard Apex Carrier Delta?
8 Copy That... Estimated Time of Arrival 20 minutes out.
Approximately 2000 klicks southeast from New Gate
approaching the Abyss.
Requesting permission to land. Over.
9 Acknowledged, Alpha Team Six.
Permission to land granted.
Good luck out there boys! Apex Mission Control out.
LOST IN THE ABYSS
Deployment
"Today's the day," a familiar voice jeered out from behind Ethan McCall. As he sat on a bench in the PCQ locker room, a plastic vial filled with pills hovered in front of his face.
"You can thank me later. Carpe Diem!" the voiced continued.
Looking down at his wrist monitor, Ethan read 17:45 military time. As he stood up, he turned around and faced Private Gabriel Gonzalez.
"Seize the day, huh?" Ethan replied.
Dropping the vial into his lieutenant’s hand, Private Gabriel smirked.
"Yeah, but keep leaving your medication lying around, today’s gonna be the day I find you dead slumped down in a ditch somewhere."
Ethan held the vial high above his head. He gave the container a little shake. "I still don't know what's inside these things."
"Don't think about it too much," Gabe suggested, walking over to his locker. "I'm sure the President has more important things to worry about than detailing Apex consignments. If I were you, I wouldn't want to know where my sausage came from anyways."
Ethan grinned as Gabriel passed him an unlabeled bottle of water.
"You're kidding, right?"
"All I'm saying is treat it like sausage, don't treat it like sausage... I don't care. Just take the damn pills."
Ethan snatched the bottle of water from Gabriel's hand. He placed it on the bench then looked up at Gabe.
"Crazy vato!” he uttered. “What’s the deal with you and the food metaphors... It sounds like the misses isn’t feeding you.”
Ethan got off the bench and opened his locker up. He glanced at a picture of himself as a child. Standing behind him in the picture was his mom. He tore the photo from off the locker door and place it in his back pocket. He glanced at a tiny mirror and inserted a pair of wireless earbuds into his ear.
In his four years on the Apex Task Force, twenty-three-year-old, Lt. Ethan McCall started each mission with the same routine. After setting his wrist monitor to alarm every twelve hours, he paid his respects to his mom then prepared for his operation briefing. As he prepared his load-out by his locker, he would always make it a point to prepare his gear in front of a photograph of her.
Old, severely faded, and at places creased around the edges, it was the only memory he had left to remind him she did exist. Among its flaws, Ethan saw it as perfection. Ambered in hair, curvy in her figure, the woman in the photo laid arched back across his old motorcycle.
Angela, He thought. Today will be the day.
Peeling the photo off his locker, he turned it over and read the back: Thanks for the ride, Grim!
He endured this mental exercise for the past four years, ever since she disappeared. It gave him purpose. To him, success wasn't completing the assignment, it was completing the job and bringing everyone home. He knew someday, he would find her. Holding on to this routine made him feel closer to her... or at least until it was time for him to put her away.
Captain Hunter Belmont entered the Personnel Compartment Quarters aboard the Apex Carrier Delta. Ethan adjusted his ear-buds then sets the volume on high. He put the picture of Angela in his back pocket.
"Alright fellas, you all heard the broadcast. We've been greenlit!" Hunter exclaimed as he stood in the center of the room.
Ethan continued to rummage through his locker until the locker door next to him slammed shut. Punching Ethan on his shoulder, Private Gabriel signaled him to face the captain’s direction. Ethan pulled out his earbuds. Loud music saturated the room. Hunter shook his head as the music blared.
"Change the frequency on that thing," he directed Ethan. "Act like you wanna be here."
Ethan turned the headset off and held the earpiece in his hand.
"Listen up, you mutts!" Hunter directed to Alpha Team. “Our orders are clear. We're descending into the Abyss. Once we find the new water source, we test it out and mark its location."
Hunter brushed the back of his short dark hair.
"As we all know, there have been reports of young boys missing in the Central District. HQ has received a tip that somewhere out in this area, they might be found. If we find these boys... we secure them, take them back to HQ, then let brass handle the rest."
"You mean process them? Like us, right" Gabe heckled, still preparing his gear. He turned his back on Hunter. "Not everyone was born into the high life of Advent City."
The rest of the team returned to their lockers in agreement. Ethan continued to look onward. Captain Belmont stared back at him.
"You with me, brother?" Hunter spoke.
Ethan said nothing. He put his ear-bud back in his ear and loaded his gun. He cocked the chamber then placed the pistol in his locker. Hunter walked up to him.
"Well, I guess my lieutenant is not communicating today!"
He looked in Ethan's locker. Hunter smiled as he glanced inside.
"So tell me, brother...” he whispered. “...where’s your photo?”
Ethan slammed his locker door shut.
"You got something you want to say to me?"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Gabe interrupted, as he forced himself between the both of them.
Hunter threw up his hands as he walked out of the personnel quarters. Ethan began to follow. Before he took a second step, Gabe lunged at Ethan and held him back.
"He's an ass man,” Gabe uttered. “Don't get butt-hurt about it.”
Gabe flexed his left arm.
“Besides...” he continued. ”...with the gun show on tour...” he held up his other arm. “She would have fallen for these cannon busters anyway!"
Ethan stood silent.
Gabe kissed his biceps.
Ethan walked past Gabe and went back to his locker. He picked up his assault rifle then holstered his pistol at his waistline. Gabe approached Ethan and put his hand on the lieutenant’s shoulder.
"I don't need your assistant, private."
Gabe shook his head.
"No problem, LT... just looking out.”
He released his hand.
“No need to pull out the angry black man routine."
Ethan’s muscles tensed up as he pulled his protective vest over his head.
"Is brooding the newest thing that’s poppin' these days?" Gabe sneered.
"Keep pushing it, private."
"My ass! Hunter got you beat! Those baby blue eyes ain't intimidating shit!"
Ethan paused as he stared at Gabe. Simultaneously, they broke out in laughter.
"Uh, huh... see what I mean." Gabe continued.
Ethan smacked him on the back of the head.
"Go on, go... Get outta here."
Ethan covered his mouth as he cleared his throat. Gabe looked at his wrist monitor as he walked away.
"Just a heads up too...” Gabe uttered. ”...there's no such thing as a little guy. We all need someone to cover our ass."
Gabe pointed at his watch.
"Time for Viejo to take his meds!"
An alarm rang on Ethan's wrist monitor. He checked his watch then reached in his chest pocket. Popping two pills in his mouth, he put the medication back in his pocket. He reset the timer on his watch for 12 more hours then looked around. He inserted his other earbud an
d changed the frequency.
[Radio chatter... Landing confirmed.]
Hunter walked back into the room and approached Ethan. He signaled the rest of the guys to prepare for exfiltration. They looked at one another then walked out.
"Listen McCall...” Hunter growled. “I need you to stay focus. I don't want any of your shit out there today."
Ethan pulled away and took a step back.
"Don’t think for one second I didn’t know about your fling with Angela... better yet, my wife."
Ethan didn't move.
"Yeah, you remember that day, don't cha, brother?" Hunter continued. "After all this time... here we go again."
He patted Ethan's chest pocket then swung his shotgun over his shoulder. Ethan clenched his fist.
"Get outta my face, Hunter."
They stood in gridlock, both refusing to back down.
"It's been four years," Hunter protested. "The Abyss doesn't change that."
Ethan gripped his fist tighter.
"We're doing this my way-”
“With everyone going home?" Ethan interrupted.
Hunter tilted his head back.
"You've been listening to my comms... That's a direct violation to a superior officer."
"Don't give me that shit, Hunter!" Ethan injected. "Our main objective isn't searching for those boys. We've been tipped about their whereabouts for weeks. The only reason we're out here is for the water... so your old daddy dearest can feel like a hero again."
"Fall in line, Ethan," Hunter demanded. "The fact that you're adopted makes it that much sweeter. As your Captain, I’m giving you an order."
Hunter headed towards the doorway.
"Since there's nothing else to say... do your job like a good dog and locate that water. You're familiar with the area, right? So go out there and figure it out."
Hunter left the PCQ as he proceeded to rendezvous with the group. Ethan picked up his last bit of gear and followed behind him.
Alpha Team Six exited the carrier and headed towards the edge of a huge canyon. As the sun beamed down on the barren wasteland surrounding them, the group began to set up their gear for repelling. The transport hovered above them.
Ethan looked around the canyon. He realized it had been years since he last stepped foot here. His eyes stopped short of a few yards ahead of him.
What a waste, he thought. Nothing grew from those seeds.
Ethan stood in silence for a moment.
"Snap out of it, McCall... you're up!" Hunter bellowed.
Seeds
While riding his motorcycle through the dusty desert, Ethan looked through the lens of his dark shades at the side view mirror. He glanced at Angela as she hunched over behind him from the back of the bike. Looking at their reflection together, he didn't stare long. Angela wrapped her arms around Ethan's waist as the air whipped around her face. The wind blew briskly, as strains of hair obscured it. She smiled as the sunlight beamed across her face and off her designer shades. With pride, she looked back at Ethan in the side view mirror. Ethan's mind wondered. He questioned his actions spending the day with her. She was his brother's wife, but he couldn't shake the feeling that she was in need. Being married into the Belmont family was inherited with secrets. Angela's pain-staking marriage to Hunter was no exception.
Ethan skidded his bike as the road ended. His massive chrome chopper came to a stop a few yards away from a massive canyon. Taking off his shades, he looked onward beyond the wasteland and into the Abyss. As the two of them both got off the bike, Ethan pointed towards a location a few yards ahead of them near a coved recess. Together, they continued to walk along the edge of the canyon.
"Right here," Ethan uttered as he halted abruptly. Following close behind Ethan, Angela bumped into him.
"You wanted to see how the flower was grown, right?” Angela looked up at Ethan and nodded her head.
“Well... This is as good as it gets!”
Ethan removed a sack of seeds from his coat pocket. He held it in his hands.
"How long before they grow?" Angela asked.
"A few months, maybe? It depends on how much sun they can get. We won't go down too far, they won't get any light pass here. They'll survive... even without much water. At least here they won’t be disturbed."
Ethan reached for her hand. He put the sack of seeds in her palm and closed his fingers over hers. Their eyes connected. Angela smiled as she held on to his palm gently. With a slight hesitation, Ethan pulled his arm back releasing himself from her grasps.
“What's wrong, Grim?”
Without responding, Ethan continued to walk further down the canyon. Angela sighed as she bit her lip. She scurried up along beside him. Holding tight to her stomach, she followed Ethan deeper into the Abyss.
Shadows from the Past
Ethan repelled into the chasm. Joining the others, he went into tactical formation. Hunter tapped Ethan on the shoulder and directed him towards the front as point man.
"Heads up boys, anything can be around these corners. Don't wanna stick our noses into shit we can't sniff."
The team checked their communications and turned the safety off on their weapons.
"We're the ones with the guns, Capt!" Gabe insisted, "Ain't much to sniff when you can just blow it away like a running nose!"
Ethan smirked.
"Yeah, you right," Hunter agreed as he gripped his shotgun. "But speak out of line like that again, and that smart mouth of yours will have to find a new face."
Gabe looked at Ethan. Ethan shrugged. Gabe clutched the barrel of his gun and straightened himself up.
Hunter circled a finger in the air, signaling the team to advance.
"Jameson...” he uttered, “...check your monitor for heat signatures and movement."
Jameson checked his gear. A bright yellow light emulated from off his tracking device.
"Nothing to report, Capt."
"Maybe we should split into two groups," Ethan suggested, lowering his weapon. "We could cover more ground."
Hunter held up a fist as he paused. The group stopped. He approached Ethan and turned off his headset communicator. The rest of the Alpha team advanced forward.
"I must be a mumbling fucktard! Did you not understand me earlier, McCall?"
"So that's it!" Ethan replied, "Not a single compliance"
"We're here-"
"...with a direct order from-"
"...for the water Ethan-"
"...headquarters!"
"...and nothing else," Hunter argued.
The two of them stared at each other.
"There's no one here, McCall. Just look at this place. Even if we found those boys would you really want them back at New Gate? The District is filled with enough people and their problems as it is. Finding a few missing boys won’t do dick."
Hunter walked back to the group. He turned on his headset.
"It would only drain the Districts already limited resources, and we'll be right back out here looking for more water. The last thing we need is more recruits for Chaos," he added turning towards Ethan.
Ethan checked his wrist monitor. One of the gauges were set to alarm in 9 hours. He regrouped with the others as they walked further into the chasm. After walking a few hundred yards, Jameson's monitor flashed red.
"Hey, Captain... check this out!"
Jameson rushed forward.
"Liquid gold!"
He ran in a grotto which pooled into a reservoir. He cupped his hand in the water and took an enormous swig. Gabe shook his head.
"You're a brave man, Jameson! You'll never know who or what could of wash their ass in that."
Jameson poured the water on top of his head.
"Hey man... just means more for me."
"I'm saying, You never saw the Survivor Man?" Gabe continued.
Jameson looked at the other guys. "You mean the fool who travels to the Bog with a camera crew."
"Yeah, he never drinks the water."
"He can't.
Besides, it's easy when you're not the one carrying the 80-pound bag of equipment. My prayers goes to the cameraman who records that crap."
Jameson climbed out of the reservoir.
"Isn't the Bog suppose to be off-limits to civilians, something about sacred land?"
Hunter looked at the two men.
"I guess...” Gabe replied. "We lived in the District... people would say all sorts of shit... Jameson, you know that!”
“Mythos and fairytales. Most of those stories were to keep the little bad brats in line... but I don’t know... other stuff, man... if it were true... we would be in some cosmic shit!"
"Chaos believes in all that cosmic weird shit."
Jameson stared at Gabe.
"Yeah...” Gabe paused as he glanced back at Hunter. “I know.”
Hunter put his shotgun on his shoulder.
"I don't think you do,” he replied. “A place like that sounds like a good place to hide a body."
Jameson and Gabe looked at each other as he walked off.
As Jameson removed his shirt, he twisted it dry. He unpacked his equipment, and put on a new one. The monitor on his wrist flickered. He smacked the device with his palm. It came back on.
Marco glanced in Ethan's direction.
"Lieutenant...” he uttered. “...you found something? You're kind of quiet over there."
Marco walked towards Ethan. He notice the white flower Ethan held in his hand. Upon closer inspection, Marco noticed the trim of the flower’s petals were red.
"What in the world is that?" Marco asked.
"Besides the obvious...” Ethan replied with a smirk. “I more curious to know as to how it got down here."
"That flower... it looks like an Oblivious. That species is rare. The only difference is, that flower, has red trim along its edges. Most flowers I came across had petals that were just white."
Ethan nodded his head.
"I'm impressed!" Ethan confessed. "Didn't take you for the nursery type."
"Apex chose us all for a reason, right."
Marco bent down and inspected the water.
"Looks like the water checks out,” he uttered. “It'll be good enough to distribute."
Ethan stared into the reservoir. The cavern was dark besides the flickering of electronics and spotlights. Even though the water appeared clear on the surface, Ethan noticed more of the same flowers beneath the water. He stood up and put the Oblivious in his shirt pocket.
Raising Sera- Lineage Page 2
