V Plague (Book 17): Abaddon

by Patton, Dirk

  With amazing vigor, the Admiral had set about getting the exodus back on track. He too had smelled the scent of death and decay on the air. Time was running out, but he already had massive teams once again working around the clock to prepare the ships and planes that would be needed.

  There was only one stumbling block remaining. A very strong Russian presence in southern California. And we had begun seeing signs of them taking an interest in the Phoenix area. There was no longer any doubt that they were aware of the impending planetary blight.

  No one knew what had happened to Irina and Igor and her uncle. We had confirmation they were picked up by the Key West. Reviewing orders issued by Admiral Huber had put a lump of ice in my guts. Had they been turned over to the Russians as the sub commander had been instructed? And another American sub sent to sink them because they were a no show at the rendezvous. Neither was responding to orders to surface and check in.

  I was having a hard time imagining my friends had survived. There had been too many opposing forces aligned against them. I’d already talked to Rachel about naming our children after them. Igor and Irina. We’d agreed these would be their middle names.

  So, I had one more task to accomplish. One I hadn’t asked for, but I couldn’t turn the Admiral down. I was going back to the mainland. Vance was going to fly me and a handpicked team in the hypersonic jet, along with the equipment the Marines had brought out of Groom Lake. I’d been briefed on it but hadn’t had time to get my hands dirty. That would happen once I was on the ground in CONUS.

  That was my reason for not wanting the cure. Not yet. Rachel had been upset when I told her what I was doing. She wanted me to stay with her and take the cure Joe had developed. And that’s what I’d have preferred to do. But someone had to go. Someone had to put an end to this so we didn’t have to fight the Russians again. A battle that was all but guaranteed to bring about the eventual end of the human race. She understood, yet that hardly meant she was happy.

  “Okay to enter?”

  Lucas stepped to the tent flap, peeked out then pulled it wide enough for Black and Viktoriya to enter. He was decked out in his best dress blue uniform and belonged on a recruiting poster. On his arm, Viktoriya was stunning in a tropical weight dress and heels.

  “Thank you for inviting us,” she said.

  “Thank you for coming,” I said, returning her radiant smile.

  “Are you used to them yet, sir?” Black asked, nodding at the pair of shiny new Colonel’s eagles on my uniform’s shoulder tabs.

  “Hardly,” I laughed. “Guess the Admiral wanted a few more senior officers he can trust. How’s it feel to be a Major?”

  “Just more paperwork,” he said with a grin.

  “You a Colonel,” Lucas mumbled behind my back. “Must be serving ice water in hell about now.”

  I ignored him, tugging at the tie that was constricting my neck. I hated the damn things with a passion.

  “You messed it up,” Viktoriya said, coming forward and grabbing my shoulders before she realized what she was doing. “I am sorry for not asking. May I help?”

  “If you can fix it without strangling me like Tonto over here tried to do, help away.”

  She futzed with the fucking thing for nearly a minute before stepping back and smiling. It was still tight, but at least I could breathe.

  “Very handsome,” she said, looking me up and down.

  “Get her eyes checked,” I grumbled at Black.

  There was the sound of a soft bell from outside the tent and they congratulated me and quickly disappeared.

  “I’ve got it when you’re ready,” Joe said, meaning the cure.

  “Thanks, Joe. For everything,” I said, warmly shaking his hand.

  “Maybe you’re not so stupid,” he said with a smile. “Maybe you’re only a fucking white man.”

  With a laugh, he hurried out of the tent. I looked at Lucas and rolled my eyes when I saw the grin on his face.

  “You look like a used car salesman,” I said.

  A lot of people had tried, but no one had been successful in scrounging up an Australian military uniform for him to wear for the occasion. Instead, he’d made a quick trip to the Base Exchange and returned with a suit off the rack. I appreciated the effort but couldn’t resist giving him shit.

  “Time, sir.”

  Jessica was at the tent flap, also in her best dress uniform.

  “C’mon, Dog,” I called.

  He jumped up and I sidestepped before he could rub against my leg and cover my uniform with fur. Taking a deep breath, I stepped out into the sunshine with him and Lucas following. We walked past a small crowd that had gathered, coming to attention in front of Admiral Packard and raising a salute. He returned it and nodded for me to stand at ease.

  We stood on a broad lawn on the shore of Ford Island, smack in the middle of Pearl Harbor. A short distance away, across impossibly blue water sat the gleaming white USS Arizona memorial. It was a beautiful setting, I just wished I couldn’t smell the decay in the air.

  Lucas stood at my side, Dog seated between us as I looked around at the assembled attendees. With a few minor exceptions, I didn’t see anyone I hadn’t fought beside over the past year. It was gratifying and humbling that they would take the time to come out for me.

  There was a stir at another tent that had been erected well away from the one I’d used. Mavis, looking like a totally different kid in a dress and sandals, stepped out. She smiled and waved at me, then held the flap open. A moment later, Martinez appeared behind her and I was amazed at how beautiful she was in a dress with her hair perfectly coiffed. I’d only ever seen her in an unflattering uniform.

  Rachel emerged into the sunshine and the breath caught in my throat. She was radiant. Beaming. Glowing. Heart stopping. And every other ‘ing’ in the book. The simple white gown she’d selected was gorgeous and I couldn’t take my eyes off her.

  Martinez and Mavis hurried down the aisle to stand across from me, then Rachel came forward with a bouquet of white flowers clutched in her hands. Smiling at the Admiral, she came to stand in front of me and I took her hands in mine.

  “Shall we?” the Admiral asked in a quiet voice.

  I could only nod.

  Taking a deep breath, he looked across the guests and began speaking.

  “We are gathered here today to celebrate the joining of this man and this woman...”

  69

  The Key West rolled gently in the dark swells off the California coast. Twenty miles away was what had once been Santa Barbara. A lightning sparked wildfire in the surrounding hills had wiped it away a few months ago and nothing remained other than a few skeletal reminders of what had once been.

  A thousand yards to port, the Colorado hovered in the water, just below the surface. Its photonics mast was the only part of the boat that showed as the more advanced submarine watched and listened for enemy ships and aircraft.

  A team of SEALs waited in a RHIB as Chief Strickland and Igor helped Irina move across the hull of the submarine. Once they were aboard, the boat operator backed them away and accelerated for the distant coast.

  The swells might have seemed gentle, but as is normal for the Pacific they were long, which meant deep troughs and high crests. Soon, Irina was riding with her head hanging over the side. Igor had a firm grip on her belt.

  “Told her she shouldn’t have eaten,” Strickland shouted over the roar of the fast-moving boat.

  Igor glanced at Irina to make sure she wasn’t paying attention before giving the SEAL a grin. Strickland returned it and settled back for the rest of the ride.

  Forty minutes later the operator throttled the boat back, the heavily muffled engines all but silent. Seemingly still far ahead was a narrow, white line that was the moon shining on surf crashing on the beach. Strickland and all the SEALs were scanning with night vision and thermal imaging equipment as the boat slowly cruised back and forth on a course parallel to the coast.

  When they were satisfie
d the landing area was clear, the operator pointed the bow at it and goosed the throttle. They shot forward and within less than a couple of minutes there was the scrape of sand against the bottom.

  Strickland was already out in the water, scanning the beach with his rifle. With Igor’s urging, Irina went over the side and for an instant disappeared beneath the surface. He was right behind her, pulling her up and onto the wet sand. A low rumble was the only sound the RHIB made as it backed, turned and headed out to sea.

  They quickly moved across the beach, climbing into a series of low dunes that were sheltered from the strong breeze blowing off the ocean. Igor stayed with Irina as Strickland made a circuit of the area, ensuring they were alone.

  “Good for the moment,” he muttered when he returned.

  “I’m glad you came with us,” Irina said.

  “Kinda wanted to see this through to the end,” he said with a shrug and a grin.

  A mournful, wailing scream came to them on the night breeze. It was quickly answered by dozens more which sounded in all directions.

  “Oh, fuck,” Strickland muttered.