Marcus called his nephews and they checked with the few friends in Atlantis they could contact.
“What have you done, Uncle?� Anke asked him accusingly. “We are now considered traitors! You killed two of the Vortex guards and took two of the Stones. Not only that but Xerxes new wife heard her parents had become lost at sea and left Atlantis out of worry for them. Had you not taken the Stones she would not have been able to leave. Lord Xerxes is sick with worry. Only because she left when she did, were they able to detect your theft of the Vortex Stones and put the back-up system online.� Though the two guards were not dead, Xerxes announced it to all but their families, so Marcus would be deceived.
Marcus laughed at them until they told him about the back-up system. He became roaring mad, showing himself for what he had become, a lunatic.
“You’ll have to stick with me now,â€� he roared insanely. His two nephews looked at each other, aghast, bewildered, and terrified at what they innocently found themselves a part. Marcus could care less about his nephews. A wilder look came into his eyes. “That woman!” he raged. “It’s so clear now. It’s all her fault!â€� Marcus was out of control with his accusations.
“Uncle, what are you talking about?” Anke asked.
“That Bitch! Xerxes should have killed her when she found the Pyramid to begin with,” Marcus continued. “She did it!” He accused. “First, she stopped giving Anthony the information. If she had given him the information, I would have gotten the artifacts and I would have already been High Lord. Now she ruins my plans to expose Atlantis and prove Xerxes unfit by leaving and he finds out in time to put on a back up. I didn’t know he had a back up. Still if she had stayed where she belonged, he wouldn’t have known and Anthony’s friend at NASA would have gotten pictures of Atlantis.”
“We are not traitors!â€� Nuba protested. “And what you are speaking is treason, Uncle.”
“No, I am not a traitor either!� Marcus said. “Once we prove Xerxes is an unfit ruler, you will both be considered heroes, not traitors.� His manner suddenly changed and became calm as he explained some of his strategy to his unwitting accomplices.
“Uncle, Lord Xerxes is a good ruler. Let us take these Stones back to Atlantis, perhaps Xerxes will understand…”
“Never!� Marcus exclaimed. He became sullen and quiet, the wildness returned to his eyes. Marcus began to mumble to himself.
“Uncle?� Nuba asked, “What are you saying?�
“Leave me be, let me think. I will have to go to my back-up plan.” Marcus growled.
Anthony returned when he said he would, his mood much lighter than when he had left them. “Do you have new coordinates for me, Marcus?” he asked.
“No, not yet Anthony, but I may need you to take me to meet some friends,” Marcus explained drawing quick, questioning looks from his nephews. “Why are you in such a happy mood?” Marcus asked.
“My friend, the one who was lost at sea, the Coast Guard found her this morning. She is in the hospital with sunburn and exposure, but she’ll be okay. They will release her maybe tomorrow.” Anthony was obviously overjoyed to have his friend back, a wide smile on his face. Anthony didn’t question Marcus further about the location of Atlantis. Marcus’ eyes narrowed as he listened to Anthony’s tale of her rescue, his warped mind was hard at work trying to think of a way to use this new information to his advantage. A way to get even with Jessica for foiling his plans, still get control of Atlantis, and get rid of Xerxes. Marcus now transferred all the blame for his failed last two attempts to Jessica.
“Who?� Marcus asked, pretending to be innocent of who she was.
“Ms. Carter the Archaeologist,� Anthony repeated her name.
“Let’s go see her,â€� Marcus said in a sympathetic manner. Marcus knew if he could not use her and Anthony to reveal Atlantis, he could use her to get back at Xerxes and get even with her as well. Marcus was sure Xerxes would not stabilize Atlantis’ security until he found his wife.
He still had his second plan to sell the location of Atlantis to the terrorists as an underwater Naval base, maybe he could convince them of Ms. Carter’s importance in that and sell her to them too. Marcus laughed to himself while Anthony drove to the hospital to visit Ms. Carter. He remembered Anthony had told him Ms. Carter was in the United State’s Naval Reserves. He could just imagine Xerxes’ face when he learned his beloved wife was in the hands of terrorists.
Marcus noticed the odd look Anthony cast in his direction and stopped laughing. He wondered if the Lady of Atlantis would know him. Anthony said she had amnesia. All the better. Marcus thought if she didn’t remember how to get to Atlantis he would refresh her memory. He started to laugh again but stopped himself as they parked at St Mary’s Medical Center.
Jessica had spent a night and two days exposed in the elements. She was sunburned and showed unmistakable signs of exposure. Her doctors knew she had been adrift at sea, but could not, with competency say for how long. She was in good condition for someone who had been adrift for four and half days, if that was how long she had been out on the Atlantic. Jessica claimed amnesia. Her last memory was unclear. Jessica remembered a hammerhead shark swimming overhead and a strong current dragging her away from Bruce. She was dehydrated, but because of several previous times when she had been in compromised situations in the elements, she always carried nutrition bars and extra water even when diving. Some of her good condition was attributed to this. In all, she spent two days in the hospital. Bruce and Anthony, Skip, both visited. Skip brought along a friend named Marcus, whom Jessica received as someone she had never met.
Jessica seemed to find him an interesting individual and spoke with him at length about her dig and archaeology in general. Skip explained Marcus was the head of the Department of Archaeology for a private college that was interested in setting up a program focusing on Florida’s emerging prominence since Jessica’s find.
Graciously, Jessica declined his invitation as part of the venture and recommended Bruce instead, illuminating why he was a better-suited candidate. She explained the Navy recalled her to active duty before she had gone diving, and she could not accept a contract with anyone at this time. Secretly she shivered, knowing who Marcus was and how dangerous he was. Fearing what Marcus was truly up to, knowing he wasn’t permitted to be here, she wondered why he was here and what he planned to do to Atlantis. It shocked Jessica to have her fears confirmed, that Skip could be involved with someone like Marcus. She held out hope that Skip didn’t realize how bad Marcus was. Perhaps he really believed he was a professor from Chile. Jessica doubted Skip would believe Marcus was from Atlantis.
General Grill seemed ecstatic to see her. Jessica pretended to be distressed to learn that their artifacts been stolen, and Captain Curtis as well as his squad had disappeared. She wondered if her act would have won her an Academy Award, she found it so difficult not to laugh. Remembering the reception at Pericles’ wedding and the resounding reunion she had shared with them brought tears to her eyes. She would miss Pericles and the six huge Marine/Atlantians she considered friends, fondly she thought of them as the Magnificent Seven.
It took no acting when General Grill told her of her parents’ disappearance. She had hoped to be told of their rescue but soon found it was a futile wish. A search was still underway but there was nothing new as of the last report. Though Jessica already was aware, she was solemn, the news putting Jessica into such a state of depression that the doctors considered keeping her hospitalized longer. Being the forceful young woman she was, she made it clear she would not stay.
“Lieutenant Commander Carter,” General Grill addressed her formally, “let me remind you. You have been reactivated, and to ensure your safety,” he leaned forward threateningly, “even from yourself, I will most certainly put a guard on you.”
Few people can stare down a General, especial one as forceful as the ta
ll and imposing General Grill. Jessica was one of them.
“General Grill, sir, respectfully.â€� She looked at him square in the eyes from her hospital bed. Her face still red with sunburn, dark circles under her eyes and she looked frail beneath the faded hospital gown. “I will most certainly,” she paraphrased him, “present you with a letter resigning my commission as a reserve officer in the Navy within the hour should you try to stop me. I still have a week before I am due at Edwards.”
Silence reigned for a few moments. “Very well, Jessica, I won’t try to detain you,â€� he sighed.
“Thank you sir,� Jessica said crisply, rose from the bed, and began to dress, unmindful of his presence.
The General, perturbed by her willfulness, but concerned for her anyway, instructed her, “One more thing, Ms. Carter,�
“Yes, sir,� she turned back, holding her hospital gown before her.
“Please, be careful.� The General said in some embarrassment.
“Thank you, General Grill, I will.� He left as Jessica began to further disrobe.
Ms. Simon was the last trial of Jessica’s hospital stay, “I am relieved to see you, Ms. Carter!â€� she said. “But I’m perplexed. How could someone survive that long at sea?â€�
“It has been done before, Meredith.â€� Jessica replied simply. “I’m in pretty good shape and was lucky to have encountered only one hungry shark.â€�
“And the Coast Guard showed up just in time, I’m told.â€� Meredith smiled.
“That wasn’t the shark I was referring to.â€� Jessica smiled sadly back.
“So what did happen to you?� Meredith pushed.
“Bruce and I were separated.� Jessica shrugged.
“And you were found southeast of your dive sight by several hundred miles and against the prevailing currents?� Meredith was incredulous.
“Meredith,� Jessica affixed her with a firm stare, “I do not remember what happened. The last thing I do recall is being pulled down by a current. I blacked out. When I came too, it was raining, lightning and dark. Just after dawn I spotted the Coasties, set off my flare and here I am.�
“You were missing several days!� Meredith persisted.
“Maybe aliens picked me up. It is the Devil’s Triangle you know and I have no memory. Now if it is okay with you, I’ve been discharged and I’ve just learned, of all things, my parents are missing. I’m leaving.â€� Jessica brushed passed her.
Jessica had left Jupiter hospital in a taxi. She hadn’t bothered Bruce, though he was staying at her home, he wasn’t there at the time. She wanted to be alone anyway. After obtaining her parents’ car, a swimsuit and a hat, she had driven to Juno beach. There she sat, despite her already sunburned condition. As always in August, the beach was crowded, but a young woman of Jessica’s looks always draws the attention of cursing bachelors as well as the lifeguards.
Jessica was oblivious to them all, lost in her own world of misery, staring out to sea in a slight southeasterly direction. Her indifferent demeanor had begun to alarm the lifeguards and they watched her a little closer. Too many times they had seen that look and seen the one’s with it swim straight out to sea.
Jessica sat on the sand thinking of only two things, Xerxes and her missing parents, the only people in her life that she loved deeply. Having given up the true love of her life to find her parents, her intuition told her they were not dead, possibly marooned on an island, but she could not live happily with their fate unknown. She thought of her husband, knowing she could never live happily without him.
She drew a deep breath to stop the tears that threatened to fall when she thought of him. Xerxes, her heart ached for him, her body screamed for him. She wiped tears from her cheeks; the feel of his arms around her was so fresh it was painful. She relived every moment, seeing her wedding night again, but with such clarity she trembled and her blood surged hot. How Xerxes had looked at her when he handed her that first glass of champagne and stilled her shaking hand so she could drink it. Jessica knew that was when he had known she was innocent. His look had become tender and, she gulped air, gentle, she hiccupped. She knew, now, he had used great restraint and patience to arouse her body and soothe her fears, making sure her first time was heavenly. Some men, a man who had not loved her, another gasp of choked air was rent from her, would have just taken her and been done with his own pleasure. Jessica could still feel his touch and the memories of how he had caused her body to arouse and demand his. It was too much to contain, she sobbed, wiping the tears away again. She had not trusted him, she thought, Why should he care for her any longer? Her stomach ached and she remembered, much as she had that first day in Atlantis, that she had not eaten. She prayed to see two sandaled feet before her.
Jessica, lost in her despair, failed to see Bruce peddling his Trek Road Bike up on the bike path looking for her and she failed to see the two Aztec guards who saw her as well. Even after their failure, they had not given up and had again found their reincarnated sacrifice. One man was large, the typical Aztec guard, but the other was a Temple Priest, not tall and in fact, Jessica would tower over him. He went by the name Rodregeze, or Rego and was their Chief. He had come to see that this time they did not fail. Rego had dark skin, not black, but bronze tanned and straight black hair with cold, coal black eyes. His features were sharp and he was well muscled but not bulky, more to the build of a soccer player. A game he loved, especially when played in the tradition of his Aztec ancestors, with a human head.
With a sad sigh, Jessica rose from the sand. She had not brought a towel and she slowly walked into the calm surf. Rego saw her first and pointed her out to his larger companion. Both men were dressed in black jeans and to the amusement of the beachgoers; they waded into the water after removing only their shoes. They started toward Jessica standing with her back to the beach in thigh deep-water still gazing southeast. About the same time, Bruce saw her and carrying his light bike down a dune walk over, started toward Jessica too. Always alert, the lifeguards watched the weird scene shaping up on their beach, relieved the woman they were concerned about had a friend close by, but perplexed about the two Central American men who seemed to be chasing her.
Jessica had no intention of swimming out to sea, though it may have looked that way. She walked a little further out, about breast deep and floated, the salt water felt so relaxing, yet she was unaware of the Aztecs. Through her sunglasses, she saw Bruce carrying his bike; she stood up and waved smiling at how funny he looked. However, she wouldn’t have left her bike either. He waved for her to come in.
Something bumped her, a familiar bump. Then she saw the fin and in the crystalline green water, the other twenty feet of Hammer swam by. She smoothed her hand over his the length of his gray satin body. Only if she had run her hand the opposite way of his skin would it have felt rough or abrasive. He turned and swam by her again
Relieved, the lifeguards looked from Bruce back to Jessica, and then they saw the fin and because the water was so calm and clear the rest of Hammer. Immediately, they cleared the water, causing pandemonium. Taking advantage of the panic, Rego and his large companion, not recognizing the cause for the panic, went after Jessica.
“Hammer!â€� Jessica laughed. “You’re going to ruin the tourist industry but I’m happy to see you.â€� Gently, she patted the big brute’s head. He nudged her. “Have you seen Xerxes? Is he okay? Oh Hammer, I wish you could take me to him.â€�
Jessica saw Bruce wildly wave for her to come in as the lifeguards were in a panic. Then she saw the Aztecs coming after her. No way was she getting out of the water. Hammer would never hurt her, but the Aztecs wanted to kill her. She stared in amazed shock as they came running into the surf.
“Hammer, do you know what Aztecs are?� he nudged her. “Do you know they want to kill me?� anoth
er gentle bump. “Well here come two now.â€� Jessica started to swim away parallel with the beach, Hammer just beneath her like a loyal guard dog. The big one reached her first. He grabbed at Jessica then he saw Hammer and started yelling in Spanish. Hammer knocked him out of the water he landed back in the water with a terrific splash. People on the beach were staring in mute amazement at the unbelievable scene playing out in the water. Rego’s English was poor and he started to berate the larger man in Spanish. Jessica started laughing. With all the stress from the last few weeks it just seemed so unbelievably funny she could not help herself.
On the beach, the lifeguards stood in bewildered astonishment with the rest of the crowd. One had gotten to a jet ski and seemed to be debating starting it, but it didn’t seem to be clear if his intervention was needed. Out in the water, this beautiful woman and what appeared to be a twenty-foot or larger Hammerhead shark was defending her from attack by two Central American males and she was laughing about it. With another powerful nudge from the shark, the larger man took the hint and swam to shore.
Jessica turned her angry brown eyes on Rego. He must think he has special powers because he is a priest, she thought, he was so intent on his mission.
Rego grabbed Jessica by the foot. Incensed, seconds later by a bloody nose, her other foot had persuaded him to turn her loose. He said something in broken English and grabbed her arm. Jessica punched him in the face. So far, Hammer was just swimming alongside her. The Priest’s final mistake was to grab Jessica around the neck and pull his ceremonial dagger. At the glint of the gold dagger Hammer swam into defend his Lord’s wife and his friend. Rego screamed and dropped the knife cursing in Spanish, Hammer had chopped down hard on his buttocks, then severely shook him a bit and let go.
By now, the lifeguards began laughing, though they still came to the man’s rescue. It was clear he had gotten what he deserved. Swimming for all his worth Rego headed for the beach, leaving a bloody trail and Jessica’s laughter ringing in his ears.
Atlantis Vortex Page 34