The Savage Night

by P. T. Hylton

  Garrett thought about that. Firefly back with the GMT. He’d never been close friends with Alex outside of work. In fact, outside of the GMT and the occasional group dinner or night at Tankards, he hardly spent any time with her. He wasn’t sure they’d ever had a one-on-one conversation.

  And yet, they’d been through so much together. The nuclear plant in Texas. The snowbanks in Colorado. If he could re-establish that bond of brotherhood, it could be his way in. Maybe he could win her over. She’d been a fan of Fleming once. If he could convince her to get behind Resettlement, maybe he could save the GMT.

  If not, Fleming would eventually decide it was time to crush them. There would be a tragic accident, the GMT would perish, and New Haven would move on without them. Their old teammate Firefly was their only hope.

  “I’m on it,” he said.

  “Good.” Fleming turned to Sarah. “I have an even more important job for you. Alex is the face of the GMT, and people love the GMT. But if something happens to her, she can be replaced and Resettlement can still move forward. There’s someone else we couldn’t resettle without.”

  “Brian McElroy,” Sarah said.

  “Exactly. We can’t proceed without his brilliance. That’s why I need you back working in his lab as quickly as possible.”

  Sarah raised an eyebrow. “I thought you might have a more important position for me. I mean, after everything I’ve been through.”

  “There is no more important position.” Fleming touched her arm. “Listen, I understand. The glory will come. You will receive the title and the attention you deserve. But there is real work to do first. I need you to learn everything you can from Brian. Starting with the daylights. I want you to become an expert. Follow him like a shadow. Siphon every brilliant morsel you can from his mind. Just in case.”

  He stopped for a moment, looking away.

  “There’s something else?” Sarah said.

  Fleming nodded. “Just as importantly, we need to keep Brian happy. Show him maybe there are other aspects of life just as important as science.”

  Sarah tilted her head, not getting it yet.

  Garrett could see where this was going, and he suddenly felt a bit queasy.

  “People like Brian McElroy get caught up in their own heads,” Fleming continued. “They need something to connect them to the pleasures of the real world around them. They need something tangible to cling to. When that happens, things like politics start to seem a little less important. You’re a beautiful and intelligent woman. I’m sure you can think of a few ways to put him in the right mindset.”

  For a moment, Garrett thought he saw a flush in Sarah’s cheeks. Then it was gone, replaced by a smile.

  “I understand,” she said. “I’ll do what I can—everything I can—to win Brian to our side.”

  “Excellent.” Fleming put a hand on both of their shoulders. “My inner circle. That’s what I love about you. You can see the big picture, and you’re willing to do what it takes to make our dream a reality. That’s how we’re going to do it. That’s how we’re going to bring humanity back to the surface.”

  12

  Alex found Brian in his lab, working on daylights. Now that she thought about it, he’d been in there every time she’d passed by for the last week. If he was sleeping at all, he was being pretty tricky about it.

  He smiled brightly when he saw her, and the circles under his eyes seemed to fade a little with the smile.

  “Hey, Captain! How you been?”

  Alex shrugged. “Not bad. Busy saving the world.”

  “Same here.” He leaned a bit closer and lowered his voice so the technicians working on the other side of the laboratory wouldn’t hear. “Word is you’re going down to see our friends in Agartha again.”

  She nodded. “Fleming says it's time for Jessica to come home. He wants her intel. That’s sort of why I’m here. Is there somewhere more private we can talk?”

  He led her to his office, an eight-by-ten-foot room with a single window that looked out on the lab. It was cluttered with stacks of paper and half-constructed gizmos Alex couldn’t identify. He hurriedly moved an old hard drive off a chair so Alex could sit.

  “I hear Sarah’s coming back?” she asked as he moved the junk off his own chair.

  “That she is. Made a full recovery, I guess. I’ll be glad to see her. I’ll just have to make sure everything’s nailed down before she gets here. Things have a way of walking off and showing up in Fleming’s hands when she’s around. No offense.”

  Alex held up her hands. “Hey, I’m guilty as charged. I own up to my role in taking those daylights.”

  “The difference is you’ve changed. She hasn’t.” His expression turned dour for a moment, then he forced a smile onto his face. “What did you want to talk to me about?”

  Alex scooted forward in her chair. “It’s about the trip to Agartha. I need to figure out a way to speak with Jaden.”

  “The head vampire?”

  Alex nodded. “I was wondering if you could help me arrange a plausible breakdown for the away ship.”

  He leaned back in his chair, lacing his fingers behind his head. “I see. You need to be there at night.”

  “Exactly. The ship’s a backup. It shouldn’t raise too many eyebrows if it breaks down, right?”

  Brian frowned. “Fleming’s a lot of things, Alex, but he’s not an idiot. If you spend the night down there, he’s not going to believe it’s an accident. The guy’s already suspicious of us. If you do this, he might stop playing politics and decide it's time to throw you in a cell. Or worse.”

  She sighed. “That’s kinda what I was thinking too. I was hoping you’d do your genius thing and come up with a workable solution.”

  Brian leaned forward, and his chair let out a high-pitched squeak. “Look, as good as you are at combat, as good as I am at mechanical engineering, Fleming’s just that good at politics. He’s three steps ahead of us. He’ll see through any breakdown ruse.”

  “I guess you’re right.”

  “I know I am. You said it yourself: I’m a genius.”

  Alex laughed.

  “Look, you really need to talk to Jaden? You’re going to have to do it during the day. Get into Agartha fast, get all the information you can, but make sure you get back here before sundown.”

  After Alex left Brian’s office, she went to see CB. Technically, he had an office at the Hub to go along with his fancy colonel title, but he still seemed to spend all his time at GMT headquarters. She found him in his sparse old office, angrily tapping away at the tablet in front of him.

  He didn’t look up as she entered. He just kept typing with his index fingers. His fingernails made a loud click every time they came down on the screen.

  “You don’t have to type that hard, Colonel,” she said. “You keep pounding away at it like that, you’re going to either break the screen or your fingernails.”

  He grunted. “You know what the most significant change that comes with a promotion is, Goddard? It’s not pay. It’s not respect. It’s paperwork. If I knew being a colonel involved filling out so many forms, I would have stayed a lieutenant.”

  Alex lowered herself into the seat across from him. “That bad?”

  He set the tablet on the desk and looked at her. “I’ve got engineering up my ass wanting to know why we’re using so much power, so I’ve got to fill out a report to keep them happy. Agriculture is requesting some damn seed found only in central Asia, so I’ve got to prioritize that request. The badges are so depleted from the way Firefly cherry-picked half their officers that they’re asking for the GMT to pull shifts for them, and requesting a detailed breakdown of our time that proves we can’t help. On top of that, Fleming is ordering more missions in the next few weeks than would be humanly possible for a team of fifty.”

  He gestured at the cast on his arm.

  “And that’s not to mention this damn thing. I can’t wait for it to come off next week.”

  Alex whist
led softly. “And to think, I thought fighting vampires was the tough part.”

  A slight smile crossed CB’s face. “Speaking of fighting, I heard you had quite the evening the night before last.”

  She suddenly wished blushing was a voluntary action. “I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Oh?” he asked. “I received a report of an extremely drunk young woman causing a scene at Tankards.”

  “Not uncommon,” she countered. “Why would you think it was me?”

  “This young woman knocked out three bouncers.”

  She winced. “Guess that explains my bruised knuckles.”

  His face grew serious. “Alex, I’m here if you want to talk. And I don’t mean that in some bullshit, theoretical way. I’m really here. Right now.”

  “I know that. Thanks, CB. I’m just not ready to talk about it. Not yet.”

  He nodded. “Okay. I can respect that. What time are you and Owl off to get Jessica?”

  She sat up a little, happy the conversation had moved on from her emotional state. “About an hour.”

  “Good. And you will be back around eighteen hundred hours?”

  Something about the way he said it made her think this wasn’t just a casual line of questioning. “Yeah. Why you want to know?”

  He looked away. “No reason. I just thought I might meet you when you come back. To make sure you made it safely. And Owl. And, you know, Jessica.”

  It all clicked, and Alex smiled. “CB, why didn’t you ever tell me you had a thing for Jessica?”

  “It’s not like that. I just want to make sure you get back safely.”

  She didn’t have any interest in his coy games. Not after everything that had happened. “You should go for it.”

  For a moment, he looked like he was going to protest again, but instead he said, “You really think so?”

  “I do. And don’t wait. We both know nothing’s guaranteed. Make the time you have the best it can be.” She stood up and started to go.

  Then CB called her back. “Alex, I need you to do something for me when you get back tonight. Something dangerous.”

  She turned back to him, her interest piqued. “What is it?”

  “I need you to get a tape from a camera.”

  Owl began her descent toward Agartha about thirty minutes after sunrise local time.

  Alex had been quiet for most of the trip, thinking about the covert mission CB had given her, and what it would mean for the future of New Haven if she could get that tape.

  Now that they were getting close, she needed to focus on the task at hand.

  “No facts this time?” Alex asked Owl.

  Owl glanced at her, annoyed. “First, this isn’t a real mission.”

  “How is it not a real mission? You owe me facts, Owl!”

  The pilot ignored the comment. “Second, I don’t know shit about this place. That’s why we’re here, right? To learn.”

  Alex couldn’t argue with that. Instead, she picked up the radio and contacted Agartha. She smiled when the person on the other end handed the radio to Jessica.

  “Alex! I can’t wait to see you.”

  “Same here. New Haven is falling apart without you.”

  There was a pause. “Wait, really?”

  Alex laughed. “No. Not yet, anyway. But it will eventually if we don’t get you back there.”

  “Roger that, Lieutenant.”

  “I’m a captain now. But, listen, I have a favor to ask. I need to speak with Jaden.”

  She heard a bit of rustling on the other end, then a male voice came through. “Alex, it’s George. Listen, I’m sure Jaden would be happy to talk to you, but it’s a little sunny for his tastes. He’ll be sleeping until tonight.”

  “I get that, but this is important.”

  “Really, Alex, I can’t just—”

  “George, I’m going to pound on his door until he answers. You might as well cut out the middleman and wake him up yourself.”

  She heard Jessica in the background say, “She’ll do it, too.”

  George sighed. “I’ll see what I can do.”

  An hour later, she was following George down a long, stone hallway. Jaden had agreed to see her, but only in his quarters and only alone.

  George cleared his throat. “It’s really saying something that he agreed to this. He must like you.”

  “That, or he’s hungry,” Alex quipped.

  “Uh, yeah, about that…”

  Alex paused mid-stride. “Wait, I don’t actually have to be worried about him trying to eat me, do I?”

  “No, of course not! I just meant… Well, he’s going to have day sickness. He might not exactly be at the height of good spirits. He’d never do anything to hurt you, but…”

  “That doesn’t mean he won’t bite my head off.”

  George chuckled. “Metaphorically, yes.”

  He stopped in front of a steel door with an impressive-looking locking mechanism. “Here we go.”

  He rapped on the door three times.

  “Come,” a low voice said through the door.

  George pushed the door opened and gestured for her to go inside. “Have fun.”

  Alex walked into a dimly lit room. She blinked hard, trying to force her eyes to adjust, but she could only see vague shapes.

  “Alex,” Jaden said in a shaky voice. “I hear you wanted a word.”

  “Thank you, I do. Any chance we can get some light in here?”

  “Right. Sorry. Light isn’t so necessary for vampires.”

  “Must be nice.”

  “It has its moments. Daytime generally isn’t among them.”

  A light came on, illuminating the small room. It was adorned with nothing but a single bed, a desk, and a chair. Since Jaden was sitting on the bed, she took the chair.

  He was shirtless, and he wore loose cotton pants. An odd choice for a meeting, but she couldn’t exactly blame him. She’d woken him at an inopportune time.

  “Sorry about all this,” she said. “I needed to talk to you, and I can only come down here during the day, so—”

  He held up a hand. “It’s fine. Let’s talk.”

  She looked at his face, first only to avoid staring at his sculpted chest and solid shoulders. But then she noticed something. The usual look of concentration was gone, as was the hint of laughter that normally lived at the corners of his eyes. He looked to be in a sort of daze. Even the way he moved was odd and exaggerated. Like he lacked fine-motor skills.

  Day sickness, she realized.

  As if reading her thoughts, he rubbed at his temples. “You’ll have to forgive me for not standing to greet you. I didn’t think you’d want to see me stumble around like an idiot. My legs don’t work so well in the daytime. Or my hands. I can barely hold a pencil.” He glared up at her. “A less trusting man might suspect you’re trying to have this conversation while I’m mentally weak. Perhaps you think I’ll let some useful information slip.” There was a hint of a growl in his voice. “That’s not what you’re up to, is it?

  “It’s not like that,” she quickly responded. “I agreed to meet you alone in your quarters. We both know you could kill me in five seconds flat.”

  “I’m tired,” he said. “It might take six.”

  “Regardless, I’m trusting you. I’m asking that you trust me in return.”

  “Fine. Then talk.”

  She swallowed hard, wondering if this had been a mistake. It wasn’t just his movements he was having a hard time controlling. It was his emotions too. Anger bubbled under his words, like he might lunge at her at any moment.

  “I was wondering if you might be able to tell me more about vampires.”

  “That’s why you woke me?” he snapped at her. “For a history lesson?”

  “Yes. But there’s a reason. The people of New Haven want to Resettle the Earth.”

  He was silent for a long moment, then he said, “Go on.”

  She told him about the mission at th
e prison, being as honest and forthcoming as she could, in the hopes it would lead him to do the same. Jessica had already told him about Resettlement, so there was no need to hide it.

  She told about the way the vampires had first gathered at the doors of the buildings, but had later stopped doing so. And, as painful as it was, she told him about Hope’s death.

  “I’m wondering if you can shed any light on what happened. How did the vampires work together so well? How did they know what was happening in other buildings? Why did that vampire start to change when it fed on Hope?”

  Jaden was quiet a moment before answering. “Thank you.”

  “For what?”

  “For putting your trust in me. I’ll do the same. I’ll tell you what I know.”

  Alex leaned forward, and as she listened to him speak, the bit of fear she’d been holding on to at being alone in a twelve-by-twelve room with a vampire slipped away.

  He closed his eyes as he spoke, as if relaying this information clearly was taking all his concentration.

  “Vampires have a sort of a psychic link,” he said. “We can’t communicate mentally with words, but we can share emotions. General concepts. For example, if you were to attack me right now, assuming I felt I was in danger, every vampire in Agartha would sense it and come running.”

  “I wasn’t planning on it before,” Alex said dryly, “and now I’m really not.”

  He opened his eyes and looked at her. “We can also communicate slightly more complex concepts. For instance, if I wanted the vampires to meet me in the control room, I could communicate that mentally, as well as a general notion of how urgent the request was.”

  “Huh. And Ferals can do this too?”

  His face darkened. “Before this conversation, I wasn’t sure. But from what you’re saying, the answer must be yes. It could be even more powerful in Ferals than in true vampires. Their minds aren’t clouded by complex thought. They live purely by emotion and instinct. It would make sense that they would be able to work as a group even more effectively. As to your other question, Ferals who feed can return to true vampire form.”