by Jake Bible
“I’m going to rip the bandage off first,” Ballantine said. “It has been decided that the Beowulf III will have a new captain. Everyone please congratulate, Captain Lake.”
There was stunned silence as all eyes fell on Darren.
“Are you shitting me?” Darren asked, his eyes turning to Ballantine. Then to Lake. “Marty? Is this shit real?”
“It’s real, Darren,” Lake said. “But it wasn’t my idea, just so you know.”
“It’s true,” Thorne said. “It was my idea.”
“You fucking asshole,” Darren said as he stood up quickly. Then promptly sat down from the head rush and dizziness.
“That is one reason why,” Thorne said. “The other reason is it won’t work having the captain out on missions with the Team when he should be on the bridge. You can’t do both.”
“Did anyone think to ask me what job I wanted?” Darren asked. “I’ve been Captain for a long time now.”
“And it’s time you let someone else take that burden,” Ballantine said, nodding at Lake. “Thank you, Captain Lake. You can get back to the bridge now. I’ll make sureMister Chambers understands all the reasons why the decision was made.”
“You better,” Lake said then looked at Darren. “I didn’t ask for it. Know that.”
Then he left and heads turned from Ballantine to Darren and back.
“We need you as an operator, not a captain,” Ballantine said. “Things have gotten a lot more complicated for Team Grendel and the Beowulf III. Focus is the key to our survival.”
“From the Colende cartel, right?” Shane asked.
“From all the cartels,” Ballantine said. “And other various organizations.”
“What other organizations?” Max asked.
“The company isn’t the only player on the scene,” Ballantine said. “We have gotten the attention of various entities that would prefer we go away.”
“So we all have targets on our backs?” Kinsey asked. “Is that it?”
“The company will do what it can to keep those targets off, but yes,” Ballantine nodded. “I personally have zero faith in the company to protect us any longer.”
“Because we’ve been so safe since we started working for you,” Darren laughed. “At least this time we weren’t betrayed.”
“Not 100% true,” Dr. Morganton said as she walked into the meeting room. “Sorry I was late. Had to make a couple final adjustments on Mike’s new prosthetics.”
She stepped aside and Mike walked in. He was a little halting, but otherwise his gait was smooth.
“Holy C3PO,” Max said as his brother whistled.
“Don’t be dicks,” Gunnar said as he smiled at Mike. “Nice look.”
“Thanks,” Mike said as he stood there looking down at the lower parts of his legs.
The prosthetics were far from Popeye’s simple, yet high-tech, peg leg. From the knees down Mike’s legs were solid metal, shaped like real legs. He took a step forward and there was the slight sound of gyros, but if he’d been wearing pants instead of shorts no one would have noticed he was a double amputee.
“He’ll need to work with them for a good few months before I green light him for active duty,” Dr. Morganton said. “But for all intents and purposes, Michael Pearlman is a whole man again.”
“Except when I go to bed at night,” Mike said. “Then they come off.”
“We aren’t at full integration technology yet,” Dr. Morganton said. “But, with some help, we’ll get there.”
“Hopefully,” Mike said. “Carlos had designed the first prototype for Popeye, but he didn’t like it and wanted something simpler. Lucky for me Carlos is OCD and made a matching set.”
“It is impressive technology,” Dr. Morganton said. “Ballantine has been lucky to keep Carlos to himself.”
Everyone at the table stared at her and she took full notice.
“I, uh, will let you carry on with your meeting,” Dr. Morganton said. “I have a lot of work to do down in the Toyshop. I hope to maybe talk to each of you at dinner later.”
“Of course you will,” Ballantine said, giving each person at the table, except for Darby, a stern look.
“Right. Dinner,” Shane said.
“Which Beau won’t be in charge of,” Max added.
“Yes, well...” Dr. Morganton trailed off. She nodded and left quickly.
“That was rude,” Ballantine said.
“No shit,” Max replied. “Isn’t this all her fault?”
“No, I meant you all were rude,” Ballantine said. “That woman has been in deep cover for over a year. We let McCarthy go so her family and the world hopefully, will think she’s dead. Let that sink in before you blame her for anything that has happened. Without her quick thinking Espanoza wouldn’t have been stopped.”
“Just explain it to them,” Thorne said.
Ballantine nodded and stood up. He started to pace around the briefing room.
“Lisa was in charge of our advanced bio-alternative mechanics division at the company,” Ballantine said. “That included everything from prosthetics, as you saw, to full size vehicles like the whale sub. There is no one in the field with her skills or genius. Which made her a prime target for outside influence.” Ballantine smiled. “But, Lisa is not one to be influenced easily, so when she was approached by Espanoza to work with McCarthy and offered an obscene amount of money, she came to me.”
“How much is obscene?” max asked. “Just for reference.”
“More than you can imagine,” Ballantine said and pointed a finger at Max as he started to respond. “Don’t say what I think you’re going to say.”
“You already played the Star Wars card with the ‘Holy C3PO’ comment,” Shane said.
“I was going for a theme,” Max replied.
“Boys, shut the fuck up,” Thorne ordered. They did. “Keep going, Ballantine.”
“It was my idea for her to take Espanoza’s offer since I had an idea of what the project might lead to,” Ballantine said. “McCarthy had been in the Colende cartel’s pocket for years and was known for running drugs up and down the coast.”
“Which I still find hard to stomach,” Thorne said. “The man was a SEAL.”
“We all have our price, Commander,” Ballantine said. “McCarthy’s was surprisingly low.”
Thorne grumbled, but didn’t add anything.
“Once Lisa knew what she was being hired to do, she was able to dig a little deeper,” Ballantine said. “The Colende cartel had developed a formula that to the naked test looked exactly like cocaine.”
“No shit,” Gunnar said.
“As Gunnar figured out,” Ballantine said. “But as Darren found out the hard way, it didn’t act like cocaine.”
“It acted more like meth on steroids,” Kinsey said.
“You are closer than you think,” Ballantine said. “It was designed to increase the addictive components of cocaine by nearly 100 times, but be undetectable. The cartel’s plan has been to cut the cocaine they send to market with the substance so they can make even more money while also creating a new class of addict.”
“Rich junkies,” Kinsey laughed. “Of course. Good idea.”
“Right again,” Ballantine said, pointing at Kinsey. “The quality of cocaine it was to be added to wasn’t going to the street, but staying in the boardrooms and bedrooms of the Southern California elite. If Espanoza had executed his plan fully, most of Hollywood, and Silicone Valley up north would have been in his clutches by the end of the year. They would have done anything for him just to get more of their drug.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” Darren exclaimed. “Am I addicted now? I don’t feel addicted!”
“No, you didn’t take the finished product,” Ballantine said. “You took the additive. It certainly messed with you, as you know, but it only boosts the addictive components of cocaine once combined.”
“Except for the sharks, “Gunnar said. “Their unique genetics created instant addiction. It’s
a compound that goes straight to the adrenal cortex while also hitting the limbic system. It drove them mad in seconds.”
“So what does this have to do with the sharks attacking the subs? They did that before they got the drugs in their bodies,” Kinsey said. “There were plenty of adolescent blue whales up and down the coast they could have gone after. If they hadn’t hit the subs then none of this would have happened.”
“Unfortunately, that was my fault,” Ballantine said. “The development of the whale subs first began within the company as decoys to lure in the sharks we have been hired to hunt and kill.”
“Hired by a client that created the fucking things,” Thorne said.
“Quite true,” Ballantine nodded. “The subs emit a signal that can be heard for hundreds of miles. With the client’s help, Dr. Morganton was able to make a signal that only attracted sharks that fit a certain genetic profile.”
“It only called the clones?” Max asked. “Are you shitting me?”
“I shit you not,” Ballantine said. He finally stopped pacing and sat back down. “Listen, all of you, there are things about the company, and the world at large, that would drive you insane if you knew about them. I’ll do my best to shield you from what you don’t need to know, while also letting you in on information, whether I’m allowed to or not, that I believe you do need to know.”
“How nice of you,” Thorne said.
“Trust me, Commander, there are things you don’t want in your head,” Ballantine said.
Darby snorted and they all looked at her, but she just stared back until one by one they turned away. Except for Max.
“Hey, did you do something to your hair?” he asked. Darby barely smiled, but didn’t reply.
“Ah, I thought I noticed a change,” Ballantine said. “The new look becomes you, Darby.”
Darby’s smile faltered then left completely.
“Where was I?” Ballantine asked.
“Protecting our delicate sensibilities,” Thorne said.
“Yes, thank you,” Ballantine smirked. “The reality is, folks, that Team Grendel is on the radar and will stay there for who knows how long. The Beowulf III is now your home until I can rest assured that you can live normal lives, well, normal for you, without ending up dead in your sleep, in a parking lot, watching a movie, out to dinner, walking in the park, or wherever whoever may strike. It is not ideal, but then nothing rarely is.”
“So what now?” Darren asked. “We just float at sea until the coast is clear?”
“No, hardly, Darren,” Ballantine said. “We keep on with our jobs of finding the rest of the genetically manipulated creatures out there, while also performing that research and hunt you have spent most of your adult life obsessed with.”
“No fucking way,” Max said.
“We’re still going to go after Moby Dick?” Shane asked.
“Don’t call it that,” Darren muttered.
“The whale species, as you know from our time in Somalia, is real,” Ballantine said. “And is more important than I can say right now. Darren will get to do what he’s wanted to do and search for another, while Team Grendel does what it’s supposed to do and kill monsters. And not just sharks. Let me stress that. There are way more things out there than what swims in the sea. Mega monsters come in all shapes and sizes. And live everywhere.”
“Yeah, I just shit myself a little,” Max said.
“Um, so where does that leave me?” Mike asked. “You all know where you stand, but what about me?”
“You have a bullseye on you still,” Ballantine said. “And with your new limbs, I figure you’d be safer and more useful here on the Beowulf III.”
“Welcome to Team Grendel,” Thorne said, offering his hand.
Mike hesitated then shook it.
“Thanks,” Mike said.
“You say that now,” Gunnar smiled. “But you haven’t spent enough time with these idiots to know how wrong you are.”
“Exactly what monsters are we talking about?” Shane asked.
All eyes fell on Ballantine.
“You’ll find out in a couple weeks,” Ballantine said. “When we reach our next destination.”
“Which is where?” Kinsey asked. “And I really hope there’s a GAP outlet there, because you’re looking at what clothes I own. And I’m wearing my only pair of underwear.”
“We know,” Max frowned.
“Fuck off,” Kinsey said.
“We’ll get everyone outfitted before too long,” Ballantine said. “Just give me a day or so to make all the arrangements. Until then, and until we reach the point of our next mission, I advise you rest up and then start training.”
“Good idea,” Thorne said. “What else is there?”
“Nothing,” Ballantine said. “For now, at least. Relax on deck and enjoy yourselves. Next port will be in Panama, so we have some time to work everything out.”
“Panama?” Darren asked. “We’re going south?”
“That we are,” Ballantine said. “But I’m not going to discuss it right now.” He nodded to Thorne. “Commander?”
“Team Grendel is dismissed,” Thorne said. Everyone sat there for a second. “Get the fuck out, people.”
They didn’t have to be told a third time.
***
“So...”
“So...”
Kinsey and Darren looked at each other as they sat on the observation deck, the starry night sky above them.
“Looks like we’ll be sort of living together again,” Darren said, turning his eyes from his ex-wife and out to the calm of the Pacific Ocean. “Kinda.”
Kinsey rolled her eyes. “We’ll have our own quarters, so not really even kinda.”
“I guess,” Darren said. “But it’s the closest we’ll be since before the divorce.”
“Yeah,” Kinsey nodded. “True.”
“You cool with that?” Darren asked. “I am, by the way.”
“I don’t know,” Kinsey said. “I haven’t really had time to process much of what’s going on. I guess we have time to work it out, though.” Kinsey’s face broke into a big grin. “And I can help you with your cocaine dependence and road to sobriety.”
“I’m not addicted to cocaine,” Darren snapped.
“That’s what every junkie says,” Kinsey replied, smiling even wider.
“You’re liking this, aren’t you?” Darren asked, smiling also.
“A little,” Kinsey said. “You seen my cousins since the meeting?”
“Up there,” Darren said, pointing to the crow’s nest. “They’re smoking the rest of their joints in one sitting.”
“Why the hell would they do that?” Kinsey asked.
“Smoke out the old and bring in the new,” Darren said.
“What the fuck does that mean?”
“Not a clue,” Darren laughed. “I think they were six joints in when they came up with it.”
“We should probably get them down before they fall down,” Kinsey sighed.
“Nah, Lucy’s up there with them as designated thinker,” Darren said.
“The woman with a serious concussion is doing their thinking for them?” Kinsey asked. “Yeah, what could go wrong?”
“No shit,” Darren replied. “I think part of it is so they smoke it all now and it’s not around you. Those cousins love you more than weed, ‘Sey.”
They sat there in silence for a long while.
“You ever going to forgive me for fucking us up?” Darren asked, finally breaking the silence. He reached out and took Kinsey’s hand. She didn’t pull it away. “I know you don’t have any reason you should. But if you do that would be cool.”
“We’ll see,” Kinsey responded.
Again, more silence, this time hand in hand.
“Have you seen Max?” Darby asked, making them both jump as they turned their heads and found her standing behind their chairs.
“How long have you been there?” Kinsey asked.
“The whole tim
e,” Darby said then that small smile of her’s crept across her lips. “Kidding. Just got here.”
“Max is up there getting blitzed to high heaven,” Darren said.
“Hmmm,” Darby said. She nodded at them then went and climbed up to the crow’s nest.
“You think she’s going to kick his ass?” Darren asked.
“I don’t think that’s her intention,” Kinsey said.
“I can’t even guess what a woman like that’s intentions are,” Darren said.
“I can,” Kinsey smiled.
She took her hand from Darren’s and stood up, stretching her arms high into the night.
“I’m turning in,” she said. “Sleep well, ‘Ren.”
“You too, ‘Sey,” Darren said. “Need some company?”
“Not yet,” Kinsey said as she walked to the steps. She looked at him for a few seconds then sighed. “But maybe at some point.” Then she laughed. “If we live to that point.”
“Okay,” Darren said. “Night.”
“Night.”
He watched her leave the observation deck then looked back across the dark waters.
“If we live,” he said. “One can only hope.”
There was laughter from above, and Darren was very surprised to realize that it was Darby. Then someone shouted, “Ow!” and he wasn’t too surprised anymore.
“Yeah,” he chuckled to himself. “If we live...”
The End
Read on for a free sample of Predator X
Author’s Note:
My idea for the Mega series, and Team Grendel, has always been to combine the fun of the old Clive Cussler novels with the camp of today’s SyFy Channel sea monster movies. With Mega 2: Baja Blood I have upped the monster shark count, as well as the body count, and made sure there was plenty of fun, excitement, horror, and intrigue. Playing with Team Grendel has been a blast and I intend to keep them fighting monsters of all sorts for many novels to come. I hope you as a reader get my intentions and know that the Mega novels will never be about science reality, but instead about adventure fun.
Hooyah!
Cheers,
Jake Bible
April 2014