Kraken Rising

CHAPTER 21

Aimee crushed her eyes shut as the huge helicopter she rode in descended. Her stomach roiled as a shivery knot of fear coiled tight in her belly, and she dry-swallowed to keep the stinging bile from surging up into her throat.

She held tight to the image of Joshua, his huge gray-green eyes wide with excitement when earlier he’d asked her to bring him something back — a penguin, just a baby one — and then he’d moved on to asking about his dinner, as if she was just popping down to the store. She smiled as she thought about him, but felt tears in the corners of her eyes that immediately froze solid.

The mother in her screamed its rage at her stupidity for allowing herself to be convinced to come back to the ice. “To stop a war,” she whispered, her lips moving but no sound leaving them. How can that not be a good thing for my son, for me, for everyone? she thought, but it wasn’t convincing enough to silence the maternal rage.

She used one bulky forearm to wipe her face and looked along the crowded cabin. Other than her, there were six huge people inside the cold helicopter. The heating had been turned off now to acclimatize the occupants, and from each, clouds of vapor puffed from mouths and nostrils as they grinned and joked. They were like a different species to her. Each was big, but made doubly so by the bulky snowsuits they wore. There was only one person she recognized — Casey Franks. The woman had let her eyes slide to Aimee when they had boarded, and nodded once. All HAWCS then. Aimee was to be the only diplomat; they were the muscle.

Their leader was a tall man with a shaven head and skin the color of dark coffee. Captain Mitch Dempsey never seemed to blink and the way he moved told of immense strength held in check, and a quiet and confident authority. He had caught her looking at him a few hours back, and he’d casually saluted her with a finger, but then ignored her… and then that was it. The HAWCs had been polite but had refused conversation, and after several attempts, she’d lapsed in and out of dozing as best she could in the loud, and now cold, craft.

The helicopter settled onto the packed ice and snow. Immediately, the door was slid open and a blast of icy air rushed in to sting her exposed skin. She buried her face into her collar, her eyes shut as she whispered: I will see Joshua again soon, I will see Joshua again soon…

“Head’s up, Dr. Weir.” She looked up as a figure in goggles and thick hood held out a hand towards her — not one of the HAWCs. She nodded, hiked her kit to her shoulder, and grabbed the hand. When her feet touched the snow her heartbeat kicked up a few gears.

She squinted; McMurdo was bigger than she expected — prefabricated square box houses mixed with multi-story buildings… and a lot of them. It was more a small town than a camp. Machine-like, the HAWCs leapt free, grabbing boxes and bags. They already knew where they were going and headed towards a smaller building a hundred feet farther into the falling snow.

The person helping her out ignored the HAWCs as if they didn’t exist, and instead led her to a large square building with a path towards it cleared in the snow. As soon as they got within six feet of it, the door swung open, and they rushed in, someone dragging the heavy door closed behind them.

The man who’d led her into the building swept his hood back and stamped his feet. He pushed up goggles and grinned — teeth white against cold blasted red skin.

“Sergeant Bill Monroe. It’s a pleasure to have you down with us, Dr. Weir.” He tore off a glove and stuck out a hand.

Aimee leaned forward and shook herself, trying to dislodge the crystals of ice that were rapidly turning to liquid in the warmth of the hallway.

“Plee corr ee, Ai…” She put a hand over her mouth; it was taking a few seconds for her lips to warm back up. “Please call me… Aimee.” She took off her own gloves and returned the handshake.

Sergeant Monroe pointed to a bear of a man with a bushy beard. “Big Ben Jackson, our go-to guy for everything from fixing a generator, to cooking roast beef.”

“Doc.” The huge man stuck out his hand, and Aimee gripped it, his fingers totally encircling her own.

Monroe then grabbed her by the arm. “Come and meet the rest of the team, and we can talk about what we need to do. Just need to make sure your other friends are settled in.”

“Need me to tag along, Bill?” Jackson asked, his face becoming serious.

“I got this.” He nodded at Aimee. “Get the doctor a hot drink and introduce her around. Back in five.” His hood went back up, and goggles down, as he headed for the door.