by Jake Bible
Hands started slapping at his shoulders and he turned, his sunglass-shaded eyes looking the blonde up and down.
“What’s up, chica?” Hector grinned. “Having fun?”
“There’s a shark!” the blonde screamed. “It just ate a guy!”
Hector frowned at her and slowed the boat. “A shark? I don’t think so. I haven’t seen a shark in these waters in years.”
“There!” one of the other girls screeched. “Oh, God! It has someone else!”
Hector looked where the panicked girl pointed and ripped his sunglasses off his face so he could get a better look. Only fifty yards away a boy was being shoved through the water, half his body swallowed inside the massive jaws of a shark that defied logic.
“Ay dios mio,” Hector whispered.
“Get us out of here!” another girl screamed. “Take us back! TAKE US BACK!”
“Yeah, yeah, no problem,” Hector nodded and turned back to the wheel.
He gunned the throttle and spun the boat back towards the Playas Rosarito pier. It took all his strength not to concentrate on the water in front of him and not the water behind. If he looked back and saw that shark again, he was certain he’d freeze up. How’d that look in front of the pretty gringas?
“It’s coming!” the blonde screamed, her hand pounding his back. “Hurry!”
“I am!” he shouted, swatting back at her. “Stop it!”
The blonde, in shock and scared for her life, didn’t stop, just kept pounding on Hector and screaming at him to go faster. He was fine until she grabbed his arm, causing him to swerve violently.
“Knock it off!” he shouted, shoving her away.
And right off the boat.
The girls screamed for him to stop, but Hector had no intention of doing that.
***
As the boat sped away from Vanessa, she couldn’t believe it was all happening. She’d saved up all year to go on the summer trip to Baja with her friends. It was her last fling before senior year at UCLA.
But all of her dreams, hopes, aspirations, disappeared in one chomp as the shark came at her from below, taking her entire body into its mouth before falling back to the water. Vanessa’s blood actually spurted from the shark’s gills as water rushed back through them.
***
Hector heard Vanessa’s scream, even over the roar of the boat motor and the shouts of the other girls, but he didn’t slow down. He kept the throttle pushed and aimed the boat for the closest pier.
But his path was quickly blocked as a fifteen foot wide mouth opened before his precious boat. He swerved to the side, sending two girls flying right at the shark. The shark’s mouth clamped down as the girls flew inside. Blood was everywhere and Hector tried not to throw up, but the vomit wouldn’t be held back.
He puked all over himself as he changed directions and hit the throttle again. Yet the boat started to slow, not speed up and Hector slammed his hand against the throttle over and over. The motors whined and then he smelled smoke. He whipped his head around and screamed as he saw the shark that had its jaws clamped onto the dive ledge.
Hector cut the motors and looked around for something to use as a weapon. One girl was still onboard, and when he couldn’t find anything large enough to hit the shark with, he decided to distract it.
“WHAT ARE YOU DOING?” the girl screamed as Hector picked her up and threw her over the side.
She screamed her head off. Then her head actually came off as the rest of her was swallowed whole. Hector shrieked as the head popped up into the air, spinning over and over until it landed right next to him. He tried to kick it away, but lost his footing.
And fell into the water.
Blood. That was all he could see. Blood.
It was so thick he never saw what came at him from the side, killing him instantly as it crushed his body like he was hit by a Mack truck.
***
The other vacationers on the water started slamming into each other as they panicked and tried to get their watercrafts back to the shore as fast as possible. Hunks of fiberglass filled the water along with terrified tourists that splashed and screamed as they were pulled under one by one, sometimes two by two, by chemically driven eating machines.
The monster sharks gorged themselves, oblivious to the plastic taste of sunblock and silicone implants.
***
Gunnar looked at his phone and shook his head.
“Same number?” Kinsey asked, shouting over the roar of the helo’s rotors. “Who the hell is it?”
“I don’t know,” Gunnar replied as he adjusted the microphone on his headset. “I don’t recognize the number.”
“We’re here,” Darby said from the pilot’s seat. She brought the helo around in a tight circle then slowly lowered it to the street below. “Five minutes.”
“Thank you, Darby,” Ballantine said from the co-pilot’s seat. “We won’t be long. Kinsey?”
“Yeah, what?” Kinsey snapped. Ballantine raised his eyebrows at her tone. “Sorry. Shitty day.”
“I can imagine,” Ballantine nodded. “It would have been considerably more shitty if I hadn’t arrived with Darby, don’t you think?”
“Yes, thanks,” Gunnar said.
“Right,” Kinsey nodded. “Thanks.”
“Care to join me so we can fetch your cousins?” Ballantine asked, looking at Kinsey.
“Sure,” Kinsey replied as she yanked open the door and jumped down from the helo.
“Sis!” Shane yelled.
“Kinsey, my binsey!” Max shouted as the two brothers casually leaned against a SWAT van, several angry looking police officers glaring at them.
“My binsey? What the fuck is that?” Kinsey asked as she shoved through the police officers and hugged Max then Shane.
“Fuck if I know,” Max grinned. “Rhymes with Kinsey.”
“It’s not a word, dude,” Shane said. “You can’t just rhyme shit. You have to use actual words.”
“Fuck those rules, snules,” Max said.
“It’s good to see you two,” Kinsey smiled.
“It is,” Ballantine said. He looked around at the chaos of the scene and shook his head. “I’m looking forward to the story that goes with this mess.”
“Oh, it’s a story,” Shane said. He frowned at the helo. “Nice ride. Wyrm II? Really?”
“Your services are needed,” Ballantine said, ignoring Shane’s comment. “Or, Team Grendel’s services are needed, to be more precise.”
“About fucking time,” Max said. “It’s been almost a year. You don’t call. You don’t write. We were beginning to think our time with you meant nothing, Ballantine.”
“It hurt, man. It hurt,” Shane added. “Use us, abuse us, and toss us aside.”
“There have been logistical issues to work out with the company,” Ballantine said.
“You talked to Ditcher?” Max asked Kinsey.
“We will be meeting Captain Chambers shortly,” Ballantine said, gesturing to the helo. “So, if you don’t mind, we are in a hurry.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Max said. “What about the Wrangler?”
“Can’t make us leave his baby here all by herself,” Shane said.
“Your Jeep will be taken to the San Diego PD impound lot,” Ballantine said. “It is part of a police investigation.”
“So are these two assholes!” a man snarled as he stomped up to Ballantine. “And they have quite a few more questions to answer before they are released!”
“I think not,” Ballantine said, looking at the man’s nametag. “Sergeant Velasco, is it? You’ll want to speak to your captain. I am sure she will explain everything to you.”
“She has,” Velasco snapped. “And I don’t care. These jokers shot up a pickup truck on I-5!”
“It had it coming,” Max said.
“Shouldn’t have let those bad guys ride in it,” Shane added.
“Sure, pickups get mixed up with the wrong people, we get that,” Max said.
&
nbsp; “But that’s no excuse,” Shane continued. “It should know better. Those guys were obviously cartel.”
“Stupid pickup,” Max said, shaking his head.
“What the hell is wrong with these guys?” Velasco asked, looking from one brother to the other then at Ballantine.
“It’s a mystery of science,” Ballantine smiled. “I’ll take them off your hands now. Thank you for babysitting.”
“He wanted to have his boyfriend over, but we said we’d tell Mom and Dad,” Max said, pointing at Velasco.
“And we didn’t get our snack,” Shane frowned. “Shittiest babysitter ever.”
Velasco just stood there, eyes wide, mouth hanging open.
“Right,” Ballantine said, clapping the brothers on their shoulders. “Shall we? Thank you, Sergeant, for your cooperation. The service you do for our citizens does not get enough credit.”
They left the sergeant with his men as they hurried into the helo.
“Darby!” Shane shouted as she started the rotors back up. “How the fuck are you, killer?”
Darby gave him a thumbs up then looked back at Max.
“Maxwell,” she croaked, her voice even more throaty as it was filtered through the headsets.
“Maxwell?” Shane asked, looking at his brother. “Is there something I don’t know?”
“Nope,” Max said, winking at Darby. Her upper lip twisted with the small hint of a smile as she took the helo up.
“Wow,” Shane said. “My brother Max is the player today.”
“How’d you find us?” Max asked Ballantine.
“Same way I found your cousin and Gunnar,” Ballantine said. “Vincent Thorne.”
“Right,” Shane said. “That’s how he got the info to us so fast.”
“He called you,” Max said. “Good thinking.”
“It was,” Ballantine said.
“So where to now, boss man?” Max asked.
“We fetch your uncle,” Ballantine said. “Then rendezvous with the rest of the Team and crew.”
“Crew?” Kinsey asked. “You mean the Beowulf crew?”
“Precisely,” Ballantine said. “I do apologize for the limbo I have put you in, but I needed to make sure the Beowulf III was perfected before I could even consider placing any of your lives in danger again.”
“Perfected?” Kinsey asked. “Does that mean shark proof?”
“It does, Kinsey,” Ballantine said. “I have spent a lot of political capital over the last few months to turn the Beowulf III into the greatest shark hunting vessel in history.”
“Does it have a water slide?” Shane asked. “Because if it doesn’t have a water slide then you have failed, Mr. Ballantine.”
“Lay off,” Max said. “This isn’t funny. This is serious.”
“Thank you, Max,” Ballantine nodded.
“A water slide would take up the space needed for the Jacuzzi,” Max said. “And it would stick out like a sore thumb. Duh.”
“Right. My bad,” Shane nodded.
“I have missed you gentlemen,” Ballantine said. “It’s never boring with you two around.”
Gunnar’s phone rang again and he shook his head.
“Answer it,” Kinsey said.
Gunnar pointed to the roof of the helo. “Too loud. Whoever it is finally left a message. I’ll check when we land to get your dad.”
“Five minutes,” Darby said, banking the helo sharply.
“Not the weekend we expected, huh?” Max said to Kinsey.
“Still good to see you guys,” Shane added, smiling at Gunnar.
“You too,” Gunnar nodded as his phone rang one more time. “Jesus!”
Darby banked the helo the other way then circled an apartment complex for a minute before setting down in the large parking lot where Vincent Thorne stood waiting.
“Convenient that a helicopter can land in your parking lot,” Ballantine said, shaking the man’s hand as he climbed into the helo.
“Not so much convenience as just good planning,” Thorne said.
Max and Shane shook their uncle’s hand and then looked over at Kinsey.
“Hey, Daddy,” Kinsey said, leaning across them to hug her father.
“Hey, baby,” Thorne said. “Been too long.”
“I did invite you for dinner last month,” Gunnar said.
“True, you did,” Thorne responded.
Gunnar’s phone rang again.
“Dammit!” he snapped. “Who the hell is it?”
Ballantine tossed him an audio cord. “Plug it directly into your headset. You’ll be able to listen to the voice message that way. Must be important if they won’t stop calling.”
Gunnar plugged his phone into the headset jack and played the first message. Everyone watched him as he listened, his eyes growing wider and wider.
“I appear to be right,” Ballantine smiled when Gunnar unplugged the phone. “Care to let us in on the mystery?”
“We need to make a detour,” Gunnar said. “There’s someone we have to meet.”
“That’s not going to happen,” Ballantine said. “We have a very strict timetable to keep.”
“Monster sharks?” Shane asked.
“Monster sharks?” Max echoed.
“We need to make this detour,” Gunnar replied.
“Michael Pearlman?” Thorne asked, looking at Ballantine. “Is that who called?”
“Yeah, how did you know?” Gunnar asked.
“How do you think we knew to come rescue you?” Ballantine said. “Commander Thorne contacted me as soon as the Reynolds needed help. One branch of the trail led to Mr. Pearlman, which led to you, Gunnar. As a former lover of Mr. Pearlman you were on a short list of possible targets by this cartel that has caused so much trouble today.”
“He didn’t say much, but I know where he is,” Gunnar said. “He says he’s in a lot of trouble and needs my help.”
“Considering the day so far, I am sure he does,” Ballantine said. “But first we get to the Beowulf III. Mr. Pearlman got himself into his situation and he’ll have to hang tight for just a while longer.” He held up a finger before Gunnar could protest. “If he is involved with what I think he is then we’ll want the full Team as well as the resources the Beowulf III can provide.”
“B3,” Max said.
“Way shorter,” Shane said.
Ballantine looked over at Darby and she shrugged.
“B3 it is then,” Ballantine smiled. “Settle in, we’ll be at the B3 in just a few minutes.”
***
Chief Officer Martin Lake -mid-thirties, tight cropped black hair, brown eyes, a perpetual no nonsense look in those eyes- watched as the helo landed on one of the three helipads built into the upper deck of the Beowulf III. He made a quick announcement over the PA to the entire ship and 20 person crew that the Wyrm II had landed safely. About twenty meters longer and ten feet wider than the Beowulf II, the B3 could accommodate three helos at once, as well as four full sized enclosed lifeboats, four zodiacs, and two mini-subs. It was more equipment than Lake thought was needed, but Darren Chambers was the captain of the B3, and between him and Ballantine, there was no stopping the overkill.
“Wow,” Chief Engineer Morgan “Cougher” Colfer said as he stood next to Lake on the bridge and watched the helo power down. His long, stringy black hair flopped in his face and he brushed it aside. Average height, he looked like he would be more at ease at a comic book convention instead of on a research vessel outfitted for Special Forces Operations. Only his suntanned skin and calloused hands betrayed the fact he was used to working hard on a ship and not sitting at a desk writing code all day. “We’re really getting back in the shit, huh?”
“Yep,” Lake said.
“You cool with this?” Cougher asked. “It didn’t turn out so great last time.”
“Last time we thought we were hunting Darren’s whale,” Lake said. “And ended up getting hunted by giant sharks. This time we’re doingall of the hunting. We know what to expe
ct.”
“Yeah, right,” Cougher laughed then honked a namesake cough into the crook of his elbow. “When it comes to that Ballantine guy I don’t think we ever know what to expect.”
Lake just shrugged as he looked down on the deck, watching as Captain Darren Chambers hurried up to the helo pad.
***
Late twenties, dirty blond hair, bright blue eyes, Captain Darren Chambers looked more like a GQ model than an ex-SEAL and Captain of the Beowulf III. The black t-shirt he wore hugged his muscles and stretched tight as he ran up the steps to the helipad.
“Hey!” he shouted as the helo’s doors slid open and everyone piled out. “Welcome aboard the Beowulf III!”
“B3,” Max said, shaking Darren’s hand.
“There was an executive decision,” Shane said, shaking Darren’s hand next.
“Captain Chambers,” Ballantine smiled. “I’ll be in the briefing room.”
“Howdy to you too, Ballantine,” Darren said. “Darby.”
“Captain,” Darby nodded and followed Ballantine down to the deck and then up a set of stairs to the glass window enclosed briefing room just past the bridge.
“Hey there, son,” Thorne said. “Good to see you.”
“You too, Vinny,” Darren said, shaking the man’s hand and clasping him on the shoulder.
“Hey, man,” Gunnar said and gave Darren a big hug. “Miss me?”
“You know it,” Darren said. “Still a little pissed you didn’t want to help design the lab on the Beowulf III.”
“B3,” Kinsey said, smiling at Darren. “Didn’t you hear the boys?”
“Hey, ‘Sey,” Darren smiled back.
“Hey, ‘Ren,” Kinsey said.
“Oh, just hug it out, you two,” Gunnar sighed. “You used to be married, for fuck’s sake.”
Kinsey and Darren hugged, each taking a deep breath and glad, in their own way, to be back in each other’s arms.
“Okay, okay, I didn’t mean all day,” Gunnar said. “Can we get this meeting on with?”
“You bet,” Darren said, letting go of Kinsey and gesturing to the stairs. “Lake has our course set for Baja. We’ll be where we need to be in an hour.”