by S. L. Menear
“I am Vasili,” he answered in an arrogant tone.
“Which of you has the most serious injury?” I glanced at the men. They all looked pretty bad.
Vasili nodded at a man on his left who was bleeding more than the others.
I pulled the man forward. “You three, wait there.” I placed my right hand over his chest wound just in case the bracelet might work again. It lit up, and the wound healed. Apparently, the bracelet had recharged itself from Earth’s electromagnetic energy. “Are you okay now?”
He nodded, wide-eyed.
“Go stand inside that tube.”
I waited until he was inside the tube and then pulled another man forward. He had a nasty gash on his thigh, claw marks on his left arm and across his chest, and a cut over his right eye. I put my right hand on his thigh, but the bracelet didn’t work. Now I knew it needed about an hour to recharge after each use.
“Sorry, it needs to recharge. Join your comrade in the tube.” I waved him in.
Soon, all four men were standing in the tube.
“I’m sending you up to my team. Cooperate, and they’ll treat you fairly. They’re good people.”
I sat on the throne and activated the crystals. The door to the tube closed, and seconds later, the men shot upward and disappeared into the vertical tunnel.
As I sat in silence, a voice whispered inside my head, “You have passed the final test, Queen of Atlantis. Find the Blue Dragon and save them.”
Once again, I opened the door to the tube. This time the crystals in the throne remained lit. I stepped inside, and the door closed. Seconds later, I rocketed to the surface, and the sphere zoomed out of the night sky and hovered in front of me. I grasped it and placed it inside my bag.
“Did you miss me, my liege?” I approached Banger and my team, standing under a full moon.
Banger grinned and hugged me. Then Mike took his turn.
“You had us worried, sis. A Black Hawk will pick us up in thirty minutes. Are we taking them with us?” He thumbed at the mercs.
“Yes, I have a plan.” I walked up to Vasili. “You know Sweetwater will feed you to his lions if he catches you. I would like to offer you and your men a better alternative.”
“I am listening.” Vasili looked into my eyes.
“Your best chance for survival is to help us get Sweetwater. Lead us to him and let our soldiers dispose of him once and for all. You will be free to do as you wish after that. What do you say?”
“Is good plan, but I do not know where he is. Only our general knows location of Sweetwater’s camp. Dmitri was supposed to bring motorized climbing ropes and meet us at chasm under entrance steps. Take us back there and I will convince him to help you. As it is, our mission failed, and Sweetwater will kill Dmitri too. He will want to help you.”
I glanced at Mike, who said, “Good idea. I’ll ask the pilot to fly us back there.”
Forty-five minutes later, we landed near the Humvees and found a body at the base of the sandstone formation that housed the steps. The man had a bullet hole in the back of his head.
I looked at Vasili. “Dmitri?”
“Nyet.” Vasili looked around. “One Humvee is missing. Looks like Dmitri made other plans.”
Twenty-Three
Camp Baledogle
It was late at night when we arrived back at the base. We gathered in the conference room to debrief and report the loss of SAS Lieutenant Bryce Manning. The team’s mood was somber as Mike related the circumstances that led to Bryce’s death. I couldn’t help feeling that it was partly my fault. If only I could’ve saved him.
When the base commander dismissed us and left the room, Lance stood and said, “I’d like the team to stay a few minutes.” He glanced at his watch. “I really should’ve mentioned this before, Sam, but I kept thinking we’d have the Blue Dragon by now. I hate to bring this up so soon after losing Bryce. You need to fly home tonight.”
“We’ve still got four days before Sweetwater’s ultimatum expires.” I glanced at my teammates.
Lance shook his head. “We still have four days, but today was the last day before you have to be home.” He hesitated. “You really should leave now to get back in time. You can sleep on the airplane.”
“What are you talking about?” I studied his face.
“Your captain job with Luxury International. You’ve missed too many flights over the past year.”
“That couldn’t be helped. Jeff wouldn’t expect me to let Ross die just to fly an airline flight.”
He shook his head. “It’s not that simple. Jeff has to keep the airline’s flights manned. If you don’t show up for work tomorrow, he’ll have to fire you and hire a replacement while our other captains take up the slack.” He sighed. “Dang it, Sam, if he keeps covering for you, he’ll lose his job.”
“I feel terrible about this.” I bit my lip. “I should’ve realized the awkward positions I’ve been putting him in. It’s eight hours earlier there. I’ll call him now and resign so he won’t have to fire me.”
“Dang it, Sam, everyone at LIA loves you.” Lance hugged me. “We don’t want to lose you. Can’t you shoot home for your flight sequence and then rush back?”
“If I do that, by the time I get back here, Ross and Derek will be dead. They’ve saved my life more times than I can remember. I’m not about to desert them just to keep the job I love.”
He turned to our team. “There has to be a way to save Sam’s job.”
“The military has 767s.” Mike looked at me. “Since this is a top-priority mission, General Ryan could send an Air Force 767 pilot to replace you until this mission is completed.”
I frowned. “It’s not that simple. The FAA has strict training and currency regulations for airline pilots. And the military pilot would need an Airline Transport Pilot rating and pilot medical certificate. Military pilots don’t have civilian licenses. It won’t work.”
“Could they borrow a captain from another airline?” Banger asked.
I shook my head. “I appreciate your concern, but I’ve been a problem for my airline long enough. I’ll turn in my wings. Ross and Derek are my top priority.”
I hugged my teammates and sent them to bed. Alone in the conference room, I called the chief pilot at Luxury International Airlines, my boss and friend, Captain Jeff Rowlin. I hated to resign, but it was the only way to ensure Jeff didn’t take the blame for my many absences.
His deep Texan baritone greeted me. “Hey, Sam, it’s good to hear your voice. Did you find Ross and Derek?”
“Jeff, it’s good to hear you too. I wish this call was under better circumstances.” My voice caught.
“What happened? Is Ross okay?” His tone conveyed deep concern.
“No, Sweetwater has him and Derek hidden somewhere in Africa. I’ve been given an ultimatum to find an artifact and deliver it to Sweetwater in the next four days or Ross and Derek will be killed.”
“I’m sorry, Sam. Is there anything I can do to help?”
“No, my friend.” I paused. “That’s why I’m calling. You need a captain you can depend on to show up for flights. I’ve taken advantage of your kindness far too long. It’s time I faced facts. My life keeps pulling me away from my job. I can’t ever thank you enough for all you’ve done for me. Please accept my resignation so you can replace me with someone reliable. I hope we’ll always be friends.”
“Dang it, Sam, I hate to lose you.” He hesitated. “I might be able to cover your flights this week.”
“I appreciate the offer, but you’ve covered for me too many times already. I don’t want to put your job at risk.” I sucked in a deep breath and fought back tears. “I’m turning in my wings.”
He sighed. “I’ll miss you, Sam. Everyone will. Uh, Lance still has another week of vacation. Is he with you?”
“Yes, he’s part of our small team. Mike and Banger are with me too.”
“Sam, I wish you nothing but the best. Please stay in touch and let me know how things turn
out. We can finalize the paperwork when you get back.”
“Thanks, Jeff, and give my best to everyone at LIA.” I hung up and cried like a baby.
The next morning, day four in my seven-day search for the Blue Dragon, I rubbed my sore, red eyes and met my team in the conference room.
We sat around the table, awaiting Commander Bob Metz and the base commander.
Mike looked at me. “What’s wrong with your eyes? Have you been crying?”
I nodded, trying not to cry again. “Bryce’s death and my resignation hit me hard—too much loss lately.”
“Oh.” Mike hugged me. “Sorry, sis.”
Lance bit his lip. “Sorry, Sam. How did Jeff take it?”
“He understood and wished me well—you know how he is, always a gentleman.”
Lisa sensed I was struggling and changed the subject. “Have you talked to Professor Armitage?”
“No, I’m waiting for his call.” I checked my satellite phone.
Mike crossed his arms. “Do you have any idea why the Eye sent us into that hellhole?”
“I got the answer right before the tube sent me to the surface.”
“Well?” Lance looked at me. “Spill it.”
“I was meant to recover the crown and scepter, but ultimately the entire adventure was a test, especially what happened last.”
“What are you talking about?” Mike leaned forward.
“After I sent you guys to the surface, I tried to follow you, but the tube wouldn’t work if I wasn’t on the throne.” I paused. “Since the sphere had deserted me, I had no way up.”
Banger raised a brow. “I don’t understand—you came up through the same hatch we did.”
“That was after I’d sent the four mercenaries up, even though I could’ve easily killed them.” I glanced at my teammates. “I thought maybe you could persuade them to help you find Sweetwater’s camp.” I shrugged. “It didn’t look like I’d get out, and I wanted to save Ross and Derek.” I sighed. “Besides, they were in bad shape at that point—I kind of felt sorry for them.”
Mike squeezed my shoulder. “Saving your enemies was the final test?”
I nodded. “Right after I sent the mercs to the surface, a soft voice speaking Atlantean told me I’d passed the final test. It called me Queen of Atlantis and instructed me to find the Blue Dragon and save them.”
“You entered the tube again, and that time it worked?” Lisa asked.
“Yep, it sent me up to the surface where the sphere returned to me, like it had all been planned by somebody. I don’t know what to think about all this, and I’m not certain who the voice was referring to when it instructed me to save them.”
My satellite phone rang, and I snatched it up. “Hello? Ben, thanks for calling. Our trip to Tassili n’Ajjer turned out to be my final test, but we didn’t find the Blue Dragon. Any ideas?” I put the phone on speaker.
“Did you find any evidence of the lost civilization?” Ben asked.
“We found a vast cavern about fifteen hundred feet under the plateau. It had buildings, statues, a big lake, and lots of nasty critters trying to kill us.”
“Any evidence it might’ve been an Atlantean community?” He sounded excited.
“It was definitely Atlantean.” I paused. “Ben, we’re on day four of our seven-day ultimatum. I’ll tell you all about Tassili n’Ajjer later. Right now, we need help finding the Blue Dragon.”
“I asked if you found anything under the desert because if you did, I’d know where to send you next. I have it all mapped out for you. Can you commandeer a Black Hawk?”
“Yes, our mission has been given military priority because we suspect the Blue Dragon might be another Atlantean WMD. What’s our destination?” I felt a surge of hope.
“You’ll follow a trail across the Sahara from Chad to Timbuktu, focusing on major ley-line intersections. Investigate each site that has a high EMF signature. The find in Tassili n’Ajjer proved you’re on the right track.”
“We really thought we’d found the right spot. The city and lake were beneath a desert—an arid enigma, they were cloaked in eternal darkness, and I thought maybe some of the weird critters down there might’ve checked the primordial paradox box.”
“Oh, no, my dear, primordial creatures would have to have existed from almost the very beginning of Earth. The lake you found down there is much more likely to have been from primordial origins.”
“I’ll keep that in mind as we continue our search. Can you email me the track you mapped?”
“I already sent it to the base commander. He’ll give it to you at your briefing. Call me if I can help with anything else, Sam.”
“Thanks, Ben. I hope my next call will be good news. Bye now.”
Bob and the base commander walked in and took seats at opposite ends of the conference table.
The base commander handed a map and papers to Mike. “This is your new mission track. I’m sending your team in a Black Hawk so you can land wherever you need to.” He paused and glanced around the table. “The course covers several countries. I know your ultimatum only has three days left after today, but it could take a lot longer to search all the ley-line intersections. That WMD is a high priority.”
Bob broke in, “Obviously, we intend to rescue Ross and Derek, but if our time runs out, you must still locate the Blue Dragon. It could be a threat to millions of people.”
“I understand.” I thought a moment. “So far, every time Sweetwater’s mercs have failed, the survivors have been fed to lions at his secret camp. When you release the four men I rescued, have a team follow them. If Sweetwater’s men capture them, your team can follow them back to the camp and rescue Ross and Derek.”
Bob glanced at the base commander. “That’s a good idea, Sam. I’ll have a covert team tail them when they’re released today.”
Mike said, “It might not be that easy. If I were in their shoes, I’d have the men split up so they’d be harder to find.”
“Good point, Mike,” Bob agreed. “I’ll order them to dog every man. We only need one to lead us back to Sweetwater.”
The base commander pulled out a recording device. “Let’s get started on a more detailed debrief than last night so you can begin your next search mission.”
Two hours later, Bob and the base commander looked at us like we’d lost our minds.
“It all sounds too crazy to be lies,” Bob said. “I could see by your faces as you relived the events that you were speaking from terrifying memories and grief over losing Bryce. Once this Blue Dragon thing is settled, I’d like to send a team down there for a thorough scientific exploration and recovery mission.”
“Then you’d better plan for a safe way in and out because our entry path and unusual exit may not be available anymore. I definitely don’t want to go back down there.” I glanced at my team.
They all shook their heads.
“We’ll worry about that some other time.” Bob glanced at Mike. “Give me an equipment list of what you’ll need on this mission, and I’ll get everything loaded on the Black Hawk while your team gears up.”
Mike handed Bob the list. “This should cover everything. After our previous adventures, we have a good idea of what we need now.”
Bob examined the paper. “A C-17 loaded with replacement equipment landed this morning. We should have everything you need.”
The base commander stood. “Team dismissed.”
Mike stood. “Team, meet me outside in thirty minutes. A van will take us to the airport.”
We nodded at the base commander, said our goodbyes to Bob, and filed out the door.
Sweetwater’s Hideout
“Bloody hell!” Sweetwater yelled into his satellite phone. “Only four survived?”
“Miss Starr saved them. She tried to make them tell her the location of your camp, but they didn’t know where it is, and your new general is nowhere to be found.”
“And the Blue Dragon?” Sweetwater paced in front of his office
window.
“They’re closing in on it. They’ll probably find it today or tomorrow.”
“Tell me where they’re going and I’ll can send another team to shadow them.” Sweetwater glanced at the video screen showing Ross and Derek in their cage.
“You’ve got a bigger problem. Covert operatives are following the four survivors from your Tassili n’Ajjer team. They intend to track them back to your base if you bring them there for lion fodder.”
He stopped pacing. “I’ll order my men to kill them on sight instead.”
“Bad idea. The covert team could follow or capture your assassins and use them to find you. A better plan would be to ignore the four men, play the long game, and deal with them a year from now when they think they’re safe.”
“Fine, then I’ll send men after Samantha Starr’s team.”
“That hasn’t worked out very well. I suggest you leave them alone and wait until they bring your prize back to Camp Baledogle. Then I’ll steal it, and you won’t lose more mercs.”
“All right, but if you cross me—”
The man on the phone interrupted. “Relax, I’m in this for the money, and I know you’ll pay me a small fortune when I deliver Samantha Starr and the Blue Dragon to you.”
“Keep me posted.” Sweetwater ended the call and stared at his lion pen through the window.
Black Hawk Helicopter
We landed on the sand at the fourth intersection of ley lines on our track map. The first three had turned out to be false leads. My head tingled from the electromagnetic energy that was concentrated at the site.
Lance climbed out and glanced around. “Nothing but a whole lot of sand.”
“Distract the pilots while I check the Eye.” I walked behind the helicopter where the crew couldn’t see me.
When I held the Eye, it projected an image of gold lettering that repeated the instructions to find the Blue Dragon in the Dark Continent, ensconced in an arid enigma and a primordial paradox, cloaked in eternal darkness.
“So, basically, no help at all.” Banger kicked sand, sending it down a dune.
