by Michael Bray
“This.” Tomlinson gestured to the boxes stacked beside the desk. “A whole life’s worth of work packed into goddamn boxes. Really makes you wonder if it’s worth it.”
“I thought you might be looking forward to your retirement.”
Tomlinson looked at Andrews, noting that the younger man too carried the burden of the last few years. “When we first started this, you had black hair.”
Andrews nodded and absently touched his mostly grey crew cut. “Yeah, I remember. A few less bags under the eyes too.”
“Drink?”
Andrews shook his head. “No thank you, sir. Long drive ahead of me.”
“Suit yourself.” Tomlinson sighed, and looked across the desk. “And it’s just Chris now. You can drop the commander stuff.”
“I’m not sure if I could get used to that to tell you the truth,” Andrews muttered.
“That makes two of us.”
“So what now? How will you spend your retirement?”
“Retirement,” he drained his glass and slammed it on the table. “That’s the word they keep using but that’s not how it is. We all know they canned me, put me out to pasture. This is just their way of saving face.”
“It could have been a lot worse. For both of us. Let’s face it, sir.”
“Chris.”
“Let’s face it, Project Blue was a disaster. It was only a matter of time before they shut it down. We got off lightly under the circumstances.”
“Oh, I know how it works, Martin. Believe me, I know that big wheel will just keep turning no matter if you or I are still on the bike. I also know someone had to be thrown under the bus for it, and that it was always going to be me. It’s just…”
“You hate to leave things unfinished,” Andrews said quietly.
“Exactly. Those things are still out there. There was a sighting off the coast of Hawaii a few days ago. Two dead, another barely escaping with his life. The idea of handing this over to someone else to pick up doesn’t sit right.”
“Try to forget it. That’s what I’m doing.”
“Easy for you to say, you still have a job tomorrow. Do you know how difficult it’s going to be to get up in the morning and know I have nothing to do? Nowhere to go?” Tomlinson looked broken, tired. Andrews could see it was going to be difficult for the commander to adjust to civilian life.
“No, I don’t,” he replied, looking around the office. “But maybe a change will be good for you. Away from this, away from here. Are you staying in D.C?”
Tomlinson shook his head. “No. I don’t see the point. There’s nothing for me here now anyway.”
“You got anything in mind about what comes next?”
Tomlinson shrugged and loosened his tie, unfastening the top button of his shirt. “I have a place down in Florida. It’s close to the coast but away from the tourists. Maybe I’ll head down there, do some fishing. Get a little sun.” He pulled the loosened tie over his head, tossing it on top of the boxes by the desk. “What about you? What’s next for Martin Andrews?”
“I’m staying here, or so I’m told. I’m being put onto a new project with Groves. It’s uh…” He shifted in his seat and looked at his hands.
“It’s fine. I get it. Not something you can share with me. Not now that I’m technically a civilian.”
“I’m sorry, I wish I could say more but my hands are tied.”
Tomlinson held up a hand. “You don’t have to explain, Martin. More than anyone I understand how the machine works. I hope you have more success on whatever it is than we did with this damn mess.”
“Thanks, I appreciate your understanding.”
“Now will you please have at least one damn drink with me?”
It was still early, but he thought for old times’ sake he shouldn’t say no. “Sure, why not.”
Andrews waited as Tomlinson grabbed a second glass and poured them both a brandy. For as much as he didn’twant it, he took a sip anyway, appreciating the quality. Rich and smoky with a kick of fire. “Damn, that’s good stuff.”
“It should be. It was expensive,” Tomlinson replied as he sat back at his soon-to-be former desk. “You know, as we sit here, you and I in this office that will soon belong to someone else, I just realized how lucky we both are.”
“Lucky?” Andrews said, unsure where Tomlinson was going. “I don’t feel too lucky if I’m honest. We got our asses kicked”
Tomlinson stared into his glass, swirling the golden liquid around. “I remember when I was first put in charge of Project Blue. I remember Russo, and being sure he would be the best option to lead the project. God, how wrong can a person be.”
Andrews set his glass down on the desk. “Nobody could have seen that coming. Nobody could have known how far he’d go.”
Tomlinson shrugged. “I should have known. I should have seen it. That was my job. Of course, he said all the right things, made all the right calls until he went off the rails. Thinking about it, I should have quit then after that mess, but I still believed in it. In what we were doing, in what we were trying to do. The more I think about it, I’ve had enough of secrets and lies. Maybe retirement won’t be so bad after all.”
There was no answer Andrews could think of to say. Instead, he sipped his drink, wondering if one day he too would be a tired-looking old man broken down by the system. He stood, holding a hand out towards Tomlinson.
“Best of luck to you, sir. I hope you enjoy your retirement.”
Tomlinson followed suit, standing and shaking hands with Andrews. “I appreciate everything you committed to this project, Martin. I know we didn’t always see eye to eye, but you can be damn sure I tried my best to always do the right thing.”
“I’m sure you did. In fact, I know we both did. Let someone else deal with it now. We did everything we could. It’s someone else’s burden to bear now.”
“Maybe,” Tomlinson said as he released Andrews’ hand and picked up his glass. “Or maybe not. Either way it’s done now. Good luck, Martin.”
“Same to you,” Andrews said as he moved to the door. He glanced back at Tomlinson, and was struck by how he looked. Suddenly, the commander with the big, booming voice was just a broken old man, drinking alone at his soon-to-be former desk. There was sadness to it, and Andrews could only hope that Tomlinson would find some kind of peace. He checked his watch, noting that he was running late. For him, the wheel still turned and he was still very much a part of it. He had a flight to catch, and couldn’t spare more time looking into the past. He felt like there was something more he should say, but nothing poignant came to him. Instead, he turned away and walked down the hall, leaving both Tomlinson and his own past behind him.
CHAPTER TWELVE
TRITON SPIRE
Pacific Ocean
As determined as he was to hate it, Rainwater was impressed with the Triton Spire. The Incognito had pulled up to the outer dock which ringed the spider-like facility and Decker had led them inside the structure.
“Welcome to the Triton Spire,” their host said as he showed them into the large communal area inside the facility. Comfortable seats were clustered in threes and fours around numerous flat screen televisions. At the back of the room, a large kitchen area was busy as chefs prepared delicious smelling foods. Staff dressed in blue polo shirts with the Decker Industries logo embroidered on the front sat in groups, others ate or played pool on one of the three tables scattered around the space.
“This is our recreational area. Although it doesn’t seem like it now, this section of the spire is quite spectacular during daylight hours when the sun is at its peak. These windows, as you can see, offer a breathtaking view of the Pacific. This is where our staff come to unwind and relax after the work day is done.”
“How many people work here on a permanent basis?” Jade asked, looking around the room.
“We have facilities for up to a hundred permanent staff members to live and work here; however, at the moment we have around forty.”
; “This must have been expensive to build. Must be a bitch in a storm,” Ross said.
“It was. Actually, making the structure safe against the elements was a key consideration. The spire itself is attached to the seabed in a similar way that skyscrapers are built to withstand earthquakes or impacts. Shock absorbers in the foundations allow the structure a small amount of lateral movement which is more than adequate to withstand anything the ocean can throw at it.”
“This is attached to the seabed?” Rainwater said, giving Decker his full attention.
“Oh yes. This area which you see now is only a small portion of the overall structure. The lower portion is approximately sixty percent larger than the upper. As you can imagine, construction at such depths proved difficult. In fact, Decker Industries have pioneered several brand new and groundbreaking techniques unique to us in order to complete the construction which would have otherwise been deemed impossible.”
Rainwater turned towards Decker, still angry at having being deceived. “Enough of the sales pitch. Since you brought us here, why don’t you show us what you said you wanted us to see?”
Decker forced a smile, clasping his hands in front of him. “This is part of what I wanted to show you. This structure. This facility. All of it is part of proving to you that we have taken every precaution necessary.”
“Only knowing those creatures are dead and can’t be recreated will do that. No matter how hard you try to sell this place, I’m still not buying.”
“As I already stated, if you want to leave I can arrange it. The Incognito won’t be leaving for a few days; however, if you still feel the same in the morning I will arrange for a helicopter to come in and take you back to the mainland.”
“Ye got a helipad here too?” Ross asked.
Decker nodded, back into his stride. “On the south side roof. We thought it prudent to have one in case of emergencies. As I said to Mr. Rainwater, we took every precaution.”
“So you keep saying.”
“Look, Henry, I – Do you mind if I call you Henry, by the way?”
“Actually, yes.”
Decker’s cheek twitched, and Rainwater thought he was seeing the man behind the mask for the first time. “Manners cost nothing, Mr. Rainwater.”
“Neither does common sense. I already told you from experience this is a bad idea, and yet here we are letting you flaunt this place like it’s the greatest thing on earth.”
“This is why I ask you to give me a chance to show you first hand. After all, your friends seem interested enough to see the rest of the structure. If you don’t want to, you are more than welcome to stay here in the recreational area and watch television until the tour is complete. It’s entirely up to you.”
Rainwater looked at Jade and Ross, hoping they would have his back. Unsurprisingly, they both waited, neutrally and with what looked to be genuine excitement at what lay ahead. He supposed he couldn’t blame them.Neither of them knew what they were dealing with. They had heard his account of what happened, but even so he still didn’t think they really, truly understood. He also didn’t want to leave them alone with Decker. The man had a great sales pitch, and Rainwater didn’t think it would take much for him to be able to swing them towards his way of thinking. “No, I’ll come along and see what you’re doing here. I may as well since I was dragged out here against my will.”
“Very good,” Decker said, clapping his hands together and ignoring the comment. “Please follow me, there is lots for me to show you.” He led them out of the recreation area and into a corridor.
“I’m trying to get a sense of the layout of the facility,” Jade said, increasing her pace to walk alongside Decker. “We’re moving towards the center of the overall structure now, correct?”
Decker nodded, thrilled to have at least a partially willing audience. “Yes. The best way to think of it is like a spider’s web of sorts. The central spire which connects the undersea structure with the surface being the spider in the center, each of the pods like the recreation rooms, living quarters, gym, and restaurant are connected by corridors around the core central structure, giving the entire facility the structural strength it needs.”
“Impressive,” she said, glancing over her shoulder to Rainwater and Ross who were dragging behind, one grumpy, the other taking everything in.
“It truly is,” Decker went on, pausing at the end of the corridor, a steel door blocking their path. “We’ve employed the very best architects and engineers to construct this facility. It is them who are deserving of your praise and recognition. I just signed the cheques.” He looked at them, each in turn, thin smile on his lips. He punched a number into the keypad by the door which slid open. “Welcome to the core,” Decker said as he strode inside. The room was circular, the outer edge ringed with doors which led to other areas of the facility. In the middle was a central circular wall, which was featureless apart from the elevator doors in its center. The roof of the core was glass, stretching in an impressive dome above their heads.
“Wow,” Jade said, grinning at Decker. “Now that’s impressive.”
“Oh, that’s not even nearly the best part. Watch this.” Decker walked to a control panel on the wall then turned back to them. “Enjoy the view,” he said, then flicked a switch. The lights in the core were extinguished, plunging the trio into darkness. For as much as he was growing to hate Decker, he couldn’t deny the stunning beauty of the view. With the lights off, the sky above the dome seemed endless, filled with what looked like billions of stars. They stared open mouthed, struggling to take it all in.
“It’s incredible,” Jade whispered. “I’ve never seen the sky like this. It looks so…full.”
“It’s the lack of artificial light,” Rainwater mumbled, still staring at the dome. “People in the cities don’t see the sky like this. It’s masked by the glow of streetlights and loses its impact. With the lights off in here, there’s nothing to obstruct them.”
“Aye,” Ross said. “I’ve seen stars like this oot’ in the North Sea. It never gets old.”
Decker flicked the switch, the lights flickering back on and hiding the impressive display. “Anyway, we should move on, I’m sure you are all eager to see the lower levels,” he said, walking to the elevator and pressing the button. As they waited, one of the other doors which ringed the core slid open.Darrel walked towards the group, the frown he was wearing showing that his mood still hadn’t improved.
“Ahh, perfect timing,” Decker said. “This is our lead animal behavioral scientist, Darrell Conway.”
The trainer didn’t offer a hand or a smile, he simply looked at them, then turned to Decker. “You shouldn’t be taking people down there. Those things are dangerous.”
Decker flushed, barely hiding his anger. “Darrel, these are our guests. Show them the proper respect please.”
“No, its fine, that’s the first thing I’ve heard that made any sense since I got here,” Rainwater cut in.
Darrell looked him up and down, then shook his head. “But you’re still going down there to gawp and stare. Typical.”
“Hey, I know about these things and how dangerous they are. In fact, I’ve been trying to tell your boss how big a mistake he’s making since I got here but he doesn’t seem willing to listen.”
Decker looked rattled, and ran a hand through his hair. “Darrell, Mr. Rainwater here had several up close and personal encounters with the original creature. Please show him the respect he deserves.”
Darrell nodded, then turned to Rainwater, looking him up and down. “That true? You faced up to the original one? The three hundred foot one?”
“Yes.”
“Then you’re the biggest idiot of them all. At least the rest of them can blame ignorance. What’s your excuse?”
Rainwater grabbed him by the t shirt before he could stop himself, as Mackay stepped in to stop the potential fight.
“Enough!” Decker said, also stepping between them. He glared at Darrell, their noses inches ap
art. “How dare you disrespect my guests in such a way? You’re an employee here. You do as I say when I say it.”
Darrell pulled himself free, straightening his t-shirt. “I was making a point. It’s not my fault nobody here wants to listen.”
“You were being disrespectful. I think you owe our guest an apology.”
“Its fine,” Rainwater said, staring at Darrell. “Just a misunderstanding. Don’t worry about it.”
“No, it’s not fine, Mr. Rainwater. I refuse to have my staff behaving in such a way. Darrell, apologize immediately.”
Darrell stared at Rainwater, then turned towards Decker, snorting down his nose. “This is all bullshit,” he said, then stormed away, disappearing through one of the outer doors and deeper into the facility.
“I’m sorry about that,” Decker said as the elevator doors chimed and opened. “I’ll make sure Human Resources are informed and take the appropriate action. Please, if you would step onto the elevator, I’ll show you the rest of the spire.”
Jade, Decker and Ross entered the elevator.
“Are you coming, Mr. Rainwater?” Decker said.
Henry stood on the threshold of the elevator, heart thundering in his chest. Every instinct he had told him not to go and yet his curiosity, perhaps the desire to see one of the creatures again to remind himself that they were actually real was even stronger. He wanted to speak, but no words would come.
“Mr. Rainwater?” Decker said, staring at him with raised eyebrows, one finger on the controls to hold the door. “Are you coming or staying?”
He was starting to sweat, thinking about how it might be down there, how it will feel to know there was the crushing pressure of the ocean above his head. He swallowed and glanced at the dome, wishing he could see the stars again. Reluctantly, he stepped into the elevator. Decker took his thumb off the button, the doors sliding closed. Rainwater closed his eyes as they began to descend to the bottom of the spire.
II
Rainwater was sweating, wishing the others would stop staring at him. Even Decker was watching with a look of concern.
