Kraken Rising

CHAPTER 11

Sam Reid came down the hallway and saw Alex Hunter waiting at the solid metal doors of the secure elevator that would take him down to the weapons research and development area below the USSTRATCOM base. Like on most of their missions, the special ordnance Alex would need was not in any armory, arms store, or weapon dealer’s manual anywhere in the world. Most of it was experiential, or reserved just for him and the HAWCs.

He smiled, easing up behind him, sniper silent, but he already knew Alex could hear what others could not. Sure enough, Alex spun.

“Boss.” Sam grinned, holding out a fist for Alex to bump. “Down to the toy store?”

“Oh yeah. Little party down south I’ve been invited to, need some extra kit,” Alex responded.

“I heard,” Sam said. “Wish I could tag along, but this damn MECH suit doesn’t exactly fit in tight places.” He grinned. “I need plenty of space to work my magic.”

“Magic?” Alex scoffed. “Is that what you’re calling lumbering around, breaking all the office furniture these days?” He laughed easily with his big friend.

“Well, I get to stay right here where it’s nice and warm.” Sam slapped Alex on the shoulder. “You can freeze your butt off all on your own.”

“Hey, maybe I’ll tell Hammerson I need a bulldozer — a Samdozer. We’ll see who freezes first.” Alex raised his eyebrows.

“Samdozer, huh? Yeah, I like that.” Sam looked at his HAWC team leader. Hunter never seemed to age; probably another side effect of his treatment. But it was his eyes that carried the scars; they were haunted. “You okay?”

Alex nodded, looking away. But after a moment he stepped in closer. “Aimee’s place… there was an incident. You know about it.” It wasn’t a question.

“You heard about that?”

“Hammerson told me.” Alex’s gaze was steady.

Sam waved it away. “Was nothing, we took care of it. Don’t worry about it.”

“Can’t do that, Sam, ever. What happened?” Alex’s eyes bored into his.

Sam remained tight-lipped for a moment longer. “Okay.” He guessed if Hammerson had already told him, then what the hell. “We had a minor intrusion at the family home. What we ascertained from the bodies, it was a couple of Chinese Special Forces. They were good, we were better, so they’re dead.” Sam held up a hand. “And don’t sweat it; they never laid a hand on Joshua.”

“He was there?” Alex’s eyes widened. “He was fucking at home when those torpedoes came in. It was a hit?” Suddenly Alex was in Sam’s face. At around six-two, Alex was about four inches shorter than Sam, but the big HAWC knew Alex could tear him in half in the blink of an eye. Sam went to back up a step, but Alex’s hand came up fast, catching hold of his wrist.

“What happened, Sam?”

Sam remained calm. “They came in hot, and went out horizontal. We took ’em down hard. But there’s no ID, no traces, no leads — like I said, they were good.”

“Where are they?” Alex’s words now came from between his teeth.

“The bodies?” Sam frowned.

“No, fuck the bodies. Joshua, Aimee?” Alex’s fingers started to compress on Sam’s wrist.

“Safe — nothing can get to them. Rein it in, boss.”

“Where the fuck are they?” Alex’s words were more a roar. The pain in Sam’s arm was now intense, his own huge hand was beginning to go numb as the blood flow was cut off and the bones ground together. Sam gritted his teeth, watching and waiting, knowing escalation was only seconds away. Veins began to show in Alex’s temples, and his other hand had curled into a fist.

“I’m not fighting you,” Sam said evenly. “But know this, while I’m alive, nothing, nobody, no time, will ever touch them.” Sam laid his other hand over Alex’s.

Alex’s entire body seemed to vibrate, and Sam knew the war with the Other inside him was raging. He hoped to god he was able to contain it.

“Rein it in, boss. We’re in this together. While you’re on-mission, I’ll look after them.”

Like a pressure cooker having the lid removed, Alex let go of Sam’s forearm and stepped back. The veins in Alex’s temples vanished and the fire in his eyes subsided.

“Yes.” Alex exhaled, blinking. “Yes, I need you to do that, Sam. Be their guardian.” Alex looked up, his eyes now dark and haunted. “Where I’m going, things will get a little… crazy. If anything were to happen to me, I need someone here to look after them.”

Sam put his hand on Alex’s shoulder. “I can do that.” Sam didn’t bother with the bullshit you’ll be fine speech. Every mission the HAWCs were assigned to was one where good people died.

Sam gripped Alex’s hand. “We are ghosts; in and out without a trace.” Alex smiled, repeating the words in unison with the big HAWC. “We are the sword and the shield. If any get in our way, they will fall.”

Alex’s expression hardened. “Yes, and they will fall.”

Sam nodded, and turned away, trying hard to resist the temptation to reach down and rub his bruised wrist. One thing he knew for sure: he’d hate to be the guys who tried to stop the Arcadian on this mission.