Up From The Deep by Vaughn Jackson (highly recommended books txt) 📕

“Sorry, but this is for your own good,” Devonte said. “You need to take care of yourself and heal up. We’ll need you at full swing to take on Tempest for real.”

Brannigan clenched his fists. “Just because I know you’re right doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

“You’ll be okay,” Devonte said, rolling over and gently tapping the man’s shoulder. “Marines are tough, right?”

Brannigan barely managed to contain his laughter. “Get going, kid, I’m sure you got shit to do.”

Devonte gave the best salute he could. “Sorry it’s with the wrong hand, but it’s the thought that counts, right?”

“That was entirely unnecessary.”

Devonte offered a one-armed shrug as he backed out of the hospital room.

#

Kurtis wondered what kind of person it took to hop on a transport helicopter with a device designed to draw the attention of a hundred-meter monster. He knew for a fact he wasn’t that kind of person. Jia Ming also wasn’t that kind of person. Yet still, many men and women were perfectly happy to play their role as cannon fodder and bait, either out of loyalty or fear. He didn’t care which. He was just glad idiots like them existed.

The outpost was a few miles outside of the city and carved out of the face of a rocky outcrop in the desert. Its observatory could render the city down to the smallest detail, via the use of insect-sized drones that circled the city with omnidirectional cameras, high enough not to be noticed, but low enough not to interfere with air traffic. Kurtis sipped his soda, casting a curious glance at Jia Ming.

“So,” he said.

“You’re not my type,” she responded coldly.

“Excuse me?” Kurtis coughed, choking on the drink in his mouth.

“You’ve been staring at me since we left San Francisco. I assume you want something from me. I don’t pity fuck.”

Kurtis blinked. “Odd assumption. Making an ass out of yourself a bit there, but okay. No, I was going to ask if you were sure this was a good idea. And if perhaps you could be dissuaded from something so…over the top.”

Jia Ming gave him an icy glare. “I will not change my mind.”

“Wasn’t asking you to. Just asking if you would. I’m not sure how I feel about wiping out an entire city for a training exercise. Not only does it seem unnecessarily violent, it doesn’t exactly scream secrecy.”

“The time for secrecy is over. With this on our side, we won’t need to rely on the shadows to exist. We will stand above all others with power and pride.”

“I see.” Kurtis steepled his fingers in front of his scowling face.

“You don’t agree with me.”

“I’ll reserve my judgment for after the demonstration. How much longer until contact?”

Jia Ming looked at her watch. “A few hours.”

The 3D render of the city sat below them, like looking down on a model city, perfectly and painstakingly crafted. They could see the army’s tanks lined up on the street surrounded by little soldiers, and all manner of other artillery. Fighter jets swarmed the sky, cruising around the hovering forms of at least three attack helicopters. Kurtis could tell this battle would not be in the army’s favor.

The hours passed slowly, and in silence. Jia Ming gave no indication of wanting to speak or be spoken to, and that was just as well with Kurtis who grew less comfortable with the events about to unfold as time went on. He was just about to voice his concern a final time when an ear-splitting roar echoed throughout the desert.

“She’s here,” Jia Ming said. Her blood red lips stretched into a cruel smile. “Let the show begin.”

#

Skylar couldn’t help but be in awe of the giant metal structures lining the hangar. Only two days had passed, and yet here they all stood, arching over her so high she had to crane her neck.

“Staples,” she said. “Giant staples.”

The man named Gunner cleared his throat indignantly.

“Not to undermine the accomplishment,” she added. “A fantastic accomplishment.”

The welder gave a self-assured, half-cocked smile, and clicked his teeth. “You’re goddamn right. One hundred meters and god knows how many tons each.” He scratched at his beard. “Good luck lifting all that.”

Lieutenant Greenwood gestured to a cluster of construction helicopters. “Don’t worry. We have that covered,” she said. “These will be divided into three groups and given an accompanying military escort to Vegas.”

Gunner waved his hand. “I don’t need to know your Art of War shit.” He lit up his torch. “I got fire, I got steel, and I got the knowhow to make something out of them. That’s all I need.”

Greenwood flashed a glance at Skylar, who simply shrugged in response.

“Yes, well, thank you for your hard work. Bonus payment will be delivered to the account you provided,” Greenwood said. “Dismissed.”

The gathered metalworkers trickled out of the hangar one by one until only Gunner and his team remained. Greenwood arched a questioning eyebrow at them.

“We work here,” he said. “Most of us didn’t sleep to get these done for you.”

“Take the rest of the day,” she said.

“That’s more like it,” Gunner said loudly over the cheers of the rest of his team.

Skylar gave them all a quick wink, which Gunner return with a barely perceptible nod. They headed towards the exit past the helicopters.

When all the welders were out of sight, Greenwood turned to Skylar and said, “Are you ready?”

“Ready for what?”

“Lift off. This is your mission plan, you should be in the field to supervise,” Greenwood said. She noticed Skylar’s look of concern. “Don’t worry, our chopper will hang back from the escorts and the construction choppers.”

Skylar swallowed hard. “Yeah, I’ll go.”

Interlude IV

Hot. The heat on Inkanyamba’s skin is not unpleasant. Yet. She tracks the silver flying creature. They sound like her prey. Curious. She doesn’t understand how it can fly. The wind rushes past. Each beat of her wings carries her forward. She roars. The other creature ignores her. She is far from her nest. There is no water, only sand. Light from the