“Oh, look,” Rogue cried with relief when she spotted a car approaching the boarding house. “Our ride’s here.”
“Our what?” Jessica said, distracted.
“Our ride,” Rogue repeated, pointing at a black sedan that pulled into the gates.
It drove up the driveway and rolled to a stop in front of them. The driver got out, his expressionless face adorned with a pair of dark sunglasses. His suit was neat, and his leather shoes shone in the morning light. Without cracking a smile, he nodded at the car and said, “Get in, please.”
It would’ve been funny if she hadn’t seen it already. Sadly, all of the Mayor’s security guards and drivers looked like they auditioned for a B-Grade spy movie.
Rolling her eyes, she jogged down the steps. “Come on, guys. Let’s get this show on the road.”
Seth followed quickly while Bear and Jessica took their time. As they navigated the steps, they resumed their argument. It didn’t stop there either. Instead, the bickering continued inside the car despite the stiff atmosphere.
Rogue stared out of the window the entire trip, her hand clasped in Seth’s. She stared at the passing scenery, but her mind was far away. The nature of the mission before them bothered her. Maeve had been very vague, skimping on the specifics and glossing over the details.
The sum total of their knowledge was this: They had to travel to a research facility in the north and make contact. If the facility was still intact and running, they had to re-establish communications. If something had gone wrong, their job was to retrieve the research and bring it back to Vancouver. With or without survivors.
Naturally, Seth had pressed Maeve for more, but he received nothing but hazy platitudes. The only thing the Mayor had been very clear about was the importance of secrecy. The research was classified. They were not to share anything they found with anyone else. In return, Prime would receive the promised aid. Nothing more and nothing less.
That raised a serious question for Rogue, one that loomed above all the rest. What are they hiding?
Chapter 5
When they reached their destination, Rogue was relieved to get out of the car. She grabbed her bag and exited the sedan with alacrity. Anything was better than listening to Jessica and Bear going at it nonstop. The couple still hadn’t stopped arguing and seemed no closer to a resolution than half an hour before.
She raised one hand to shade her eyes against the sun and looked around. They were in front of an old warehouse, its walls rusted and warped with time. Pale blue paint peeled down the corrugated iron in strips, and the wind whistled through the gaps in the roof. “Uh, is this it?”
“I’m not sure,” Seth replied, his tone doubtful. He turned to the driver. “Are you certain we’re at the right place?”
“Everything you need is inside,” the man replied.
“Inside?” Seth said, staring at the old building.
“Inside,” the man repeated.
“I find that hard to believe,” Seth said. “We’re in the middle of nowhere.”
The driver sighed and opened his door. “Fine. Let me show you.”
“Please do,” Seth said with exaggerated courtesy, waving a hand toward the building.
The driver removed his sunglasses and tucked them into his pocket. His jaw was like a block of granite, and he glared at Seth with open hostility. Seth didn’t back down, and they looked like two bulls readying for a fight.
“Alrighty then,” Rogue said, rolling her eyes. “I think that’s enough of that. Let’s go check out this warehouse, shall we?”
She walked toward the building and looked over her shoulder. “Are you coming or not?”
After a moment’s hesitation, Seth relaxed. “Coming.”
Rogue led the way, crunching across a broad strip of gravel. A set of double doors hung half-open on broken hinges, and she ducked into the building’s cool confines. It was dark inside, and her eyes struggled to adjust to the sudden change. Spots danced in front of her eyes, and she frowned. “I can’t see a thing.”
“Me neither,” Jessica said, removing her sunglasses.
Once her vision cleared, Rogue looked around. The warehouse was mostly empty, and the sound of her footsteps echoed throughout the space. Pigeons cooed in the rafters above, and splashes of bird poop marred the floors. She wasn’t surprised to see them. They were the rats of the air, after all, and thrived in almost any environment.
A couple of vehicles stood the center of the floor, and she squinted at the nearest one. It looked like a Jeep, old and rusted. The other one was a military transport truck, the back covered with a flap of canvas. Both were in pretty bad shape.
Jessica popped up beside her, brow furrowed in annoyance. “Seriously? I expected better than this, even if we are dealing with the government.”
“We all did,” Seth said.
“The Mayor has ensured that you have everything you need to complete the mission successfully,” the driver said with a disapproving frown. “See for yourselves.”
“I do see for myself, and I’m not impressed,” Seth said, folding his arms across his chest.
“Come on, guys,” Rogue prompted when everyone hesitated. “It can’t be that bad.”
“Wanna bet?” Jessica said.
“It’s not like we have a choice, right?” Rogue pointed out. “Besides, this is more than we’ve ever had back at Prime.”
“Rogue’s right,” Seth said. “We don’t have a choice, and Prime needs us. The Exiles too. We’ll just have to make do.”
“Ugh,” Jessica grumbled, but she moved forward with stiff reluctance
Together, the group trooped toward the trucks and inspected them. Though old and rusted, the tires were sound, and a quick examination revealed that the engines were in reasonable condition.
Seth climbed into the Jeep and twisted the key in the ignition. It roared to life, and he checked the lights and windscreen wipers. Both worked, much to everyone’s surprise. “This will do.”
He checked the transport truck next, pleased when it started without a hitch. “These babies are as old as shit, but they’ll get us where we need to go.”
“See?” Rogue said. “It’s not that bad after all.”
“That remains to be seen,” Jessica said in a doubtful tone of voice. She opened the back of the Jeep and checked inside. Seth did the same with the truck, and they made a quick inventory of what they found.
Each vehicle was loaded with a crate of supplies: Water, food, fuel, and blankets. In addition, each possessed a first-aid kit, a toolbox, a spare tire, and two M4 automatic rifles with extra ammunition.
“That’s it?” Jessica said, waving a hand at the four guns.
“It’s enough. One for each of you,” the driver said with a shrug.
“You think so?” Jessica said. “Have you ever been out there? Have you faced a pack of raptors? A T-rex? Or God forbid, a Spinosaurus?”
“No, but—”
“If you haven’t, then you’ve got no room to talk,” Jessica said. “Four guns are not enough. You will have to get us more. Ammo too.”
“There aren’t any more guns to give, ma’am. Supplies are running low across the board,” the driver said, a defensive note creeping into his voice.
“How’s that possible?” Seth asked.
“The Mayor is expecting a couple of shipments from colonies to the East, but they’re running late,” the driver said.
“Surely that can’t be all?” Seth asked. “There has to be a better reason for a city-wide shortage.”
“I’ve said enough already,” the driver said, pressing his mouth into a thin line.
“Well, you can tell Mayor Finley that if we fail, it’ll be her fault,” Jessica stated.
“I’m sorry you feel that way, ma’am,” the driver said, backing away before her fury. “Your instructions are in an envelope in the Jeep. Best of luck.”
Jessica snorted while she watched him walk away, her contempt visible. Once the driver was go
ne, she turned toward the group. “Lucky for us, I made my own arrangements last night.”
“With this Ronan guy?” Bear asked.
“Don’t start again,” Jessica said with a groan. “Just get into the damn truck.”
“Fine,” Bear said, climbing behind the wheel.
“Seth, you and Rogue take the Jeep and follow us. We have an appointment to keep,” Jessica added.
“Is this about that surprise?” Seth asked.
“That’s right,” Jessica said. She jumped into the passenger seat next to Bear and closed her door. Cranking the window open, she yelled, “Stick close to us and don’t get lost.”
“I won’t,” Seth said, opening the Jeep’s door for Rogue.
“Thanks, sweetie,” Rogue said, rewarding him with a fat smile.
“Anything for you, my love,” he replied. “And did I mention that I hate surprises?”
“More than once,” Rogue agreed. She slid into the seat and tossed her belongings into the back. “But as I said before, we don’t have a choice.”
“No, I suppose not,” Seth said as he turned the ignition. The Jeep rumbled to life, and they rolled out of the warehouse and onto the road.
Rogue leaned back in her seat and studied the interior of the truck. As expected, it left much to be desired. The dashboard was faded, the windscreen cracked, and it smelled like mold. But the seats were comfortable, and there was an old travel magazine in the cubby hole.
“Look at this,” Rogue cried, thumbing through the wrinkled pages. “I’ve only seen a few of these in my lifetime.”
“Me too,” Seth said. “Save it for the trip.”
“Good idea,” she said, putting the magazine back.
“What’s in the envelope?” Seth asked, pointing to the thick brown package on the dashboard.
Rogue took a quick peek inside. “It looks like a map, a list of some sort, and a couple of pictures of office stuff. Let’s wait until we can all read it together.”
“Okay,” Seth said with a quick nod. He took a sharp turn to the right and sped up to keep pace with Bear and Jessica. “She’s in a hurry.”
“No kidding,” Rogue said. “Any idea who this Ronan is?”
“Nope. I’ve never heard of him,” Seth said. “You?”
“Me neither. I just hope she knows what she’s doing,” Rogue said.
“You and me both,” Seth said, reaching over to squeeze her hand. “Are you ready for this trip?”
“I’m ready,” Rogue affirmed. “Besides, I’ve got you by my side, and that’s all I need.”
Seth grinned, and the next few minutes passed in companionable silence. It gave Rogue a chance to get her thoughts in order, and she mentally prepared herself for the ordeal ahead.
She harbored no illusions. The mission would not be a walk in the park, and the dangers were real. Plus, they had to be successful, or Prime and its citizens would suffer. But she’d meant what she’d said to Seth. I am ready, and I won’t let anything stand in my way.
Chapter 6
Jessica and Bear drove to a small park not far from the wall that surrounded Vancouver. A ring of trees bordered by shrubs and wildflowers surrounded a patch of grass. A couple of picnic tables dotted the space, and with the mountains in the backdrop, it was both tranquil and picturesque.
Sadly, they weren’t there to enjoy the scenery, much to Rogue’s disappointment. Instead, she forced herself to focus on more mundane matters such as the promised surprise and the meeting with Jessica’s contact, Ronan. She wasn’t sure what to expect and wondered what he’d bring to the party.
A concrete lot provided parking space, and Seth pulled up next to the transport truck. As one, they exited their vehicles and looked around. Only two other vehicles occupied the lot: A battered Ford pick-up truck with a 50-caliber gun mounted on the back and another truck with a canopy.
Rogue whistled when she spotted the 50-caliber. “That’s one big ass gun.”
“It sure is.” Seth waved at something. “And that must be Ronan, Jessica’s contact.”
“Ronan?” Rogue asked, craning her neck. “Where?”
“Over there,” Seth pointed, and she spotted a figure exiting the Ford.
“Huh. Interesting,” Rogue said, studying the man in question.
He was tall and well built with broad shoulders. His hair was dark and cut close to the scalp. A five o’clock shadow lined his jaws, and his clothes were rough and practical: Hiking boots, jeans, a flannel shirt, cowboy hat, with a bandanna tied around his neck. He’d rolled up his sleeves, and an ugly scar marred his right forearm.
“Interesting isn’t quite the word I would use,” Seth said, pointing at Bear and Jessica. The pair were still at odds after their earlier argument, as evidenced by their stiff manner.
“Yeah, you might be right,” Rogue added, watching the way Bear glowered at Ronan. Jessica, however, did not look worried at all and threw caution to the wind.
“Ronan, is that you?” she cried.
“In the flesh,” Ronan replied with a dazzling smile.
Jessica returned his grin, and they hugged with the familiarity of old friends.
“You haven’t changed a bit,” Jessica said, her eyes sparkling.
“Neither have you,” Ronan said, eyeing her up and down. “Still as gorgeous as ever, I see.”
Jessica waved him off with a chuckle. “Stop it. You know I hate compliments.”
“It’s not a compliment if it’s the truth,” Ronan quipped.
Rogue watched the scene with growing horror. “Oh-oh. Somebody’s going to die.” She shifted closer to Seth and whispered, “Doesn’t she realize what she’s doing?”
“Doesn’t seem like it,” Seth said.
Bear growled an unspoken threat as he stalked toward Ronan and Jessica. His hands were curled into fists, and a muscle ticked in his jaw. He looked anything but happy, and Rogue was certain disaster would strike.
“I can’t watch,” she said.
“Me neither,” Seth replied.
“Tell me when it’s over,” Rogue added, preparing for the worst.
Jessica saw Bear coming but appeared unfazed by his hostile expression. Still, anyone who knew her could detect the slight edge to her voice when she spoke. “Ronan, I’d like to introduce you to someone special.”
“Someone special, huh? Who’s the lucky guy?” Ronan asked, still engrossed in their conversation. He turned and spotted Bear heading his way, and his expression froze. “My God, is that a man or a mountain?”
“That’s Bear, my boyfriend,” Jessica replied with a hint of smugness.
“Ronan?” Bear asked, his voice like gravel being poured into a concrete mixer.
“Er, that’s me,” Ronan replied, not looking too sure of that fact. He leaned backward to put space between them, but it had the opposite effect. Instead, it looked as if he cowered beneath Bear’s bulk.
Bear stared at him for a few seconds before he stuck out his hand. “I’m Bear. Nice to meet you.”
“Er, nice to meet you too, I think?” Ronan said, his eyes wide. They shook hands, and he winced when Bear crushed his fingers.
Bear smiled, baring his canines. “I don’t think we’ll have any problems, do you? I think we’ll be great friends.”
“Of course! Great friends, er, no problems at all. None, zero, zilch, nada,” Ronan replied. Still nodding, he retrieved his crushed hand and shook it to get the blood flowing again.
Bear cocked his head at Jessica. “Your friend seems nice.”
“Oh, he’s very nice,” Jessica said. “Aren’t you, Ronan?”
Ronan ignored her, still working his squashed fingers to get the sensation back.
Rogue watched the entire exchange with astonished glee. She nudged Seth with her elbow and leaned into his side. “Sometimes I forget how imposing Bear can be.”
“Uh-huh. Especially to strangers,” Seth agreed. “His hands are the size of dinner plates.”
“Yeah, he almost broke my
ribs during our first hug,” Rogue said with fond remembrance.
“Yes, I know exactly how Ronan’s hand feels right now,” Seth agreed, flexing his fingers in sympathy.
“Shall we go introduce ourselves?” Rogue asked. “It would lighten the tension.”
“I don’t know. I’m enjoying this,” Seth admitted.
“Me too,” Rogue said, a grin tugging at her lips. After a while, she sighed. “Come on. Let’s go. Ronan is starting to squirm.”
“Alright,” Seth said with a hint of regret.
Rogue strode toward the trio with Seth in tow and introduced herself. “Hi, there. I’m Rogue, and this is Seth.”
“Ronan,” the man replied with an expression of relief. “And these are my colleagues,” he added, waving toward the two pick-up trucks behind him.
An older man, his hair graying at the temples, got out of the Ford. His expression was somber, and Rogue guessed he didn’t smile often. “The name is Nigel Perels. Nice to meet you.”
Two more men climbed out of the second vehicle. One was young and skinny. His sandy-colored hair stuck out at all angles, and his skin bore the scars of teen acne, but his eyes were sharp and missed nothing. He bobbed his head like a bird’s and said, “You can call me Spook.”
“Spook?” Rogue repeated. “That’s a—”
“Weird name. Yes, I know,” Spook said, shifting from one foot to the other. “But it’s my name.”
“Okay,” Rogue said with a shrug. “Whatever you say.”
“Don’t mind Spook,” the other man said, stepping forward. “You’ll get used to him, or you won’t.”
“Won’t, won’t,” Spook said. “I’m betting you won’t.”
“Play nice, Spook,” the guy said. He was dressed in khakis and looked like a hunter; his shoulders were broad, and his head smooth-shaven. “I’m Daniel.”
“It’s a pleasure, Daniel,” Rogue said, taken aback when he clasped her hand in both of his. His teeth were dazzling against his mocha-colored skin, and it was hard not to react to his charm.
The Extinction Series | Book 8 | Primordial Earth 8 Page 3