The Plagues Series: Emergency

Prologue

International waters, Atlantic Ocean

2053

The drone of the ship's engines rattled Michael's brain. It had been doing so since they left Boston the better part of a month ago.  Just before they set sail, he saw the infamous docks where Bloody Boston happened, setting forth unrest in his mind. He was more than happy to leave it all behind.

The rusted metal door to the engine room screeched open. It was Derek, a thin line cook from the ship's kitchen. He carried a bucket that weighed on one of his skinny arms, and had a plastic bottle in his other hand. He walked over to where Michael usually sat, just around a corner at the end of a catwalk behind a small wall where the noise of the engines were the least jarring.

"Here, happy New Year," Derek said with a sad smile.

"Thanks," Michael said, rising to his feet.

Derek chuckled in awe up at Michael's broad, muscular stature. "Man, I had no idea vamps could be so huge."

Michael smiled politely and graciously took the bucket and bottle from Derek. They both sat.

"Is it really January already?" Michael said, filling his bottle from the bucket of raw meat blood.

"Yup, January 4th."Derek nodded awkwardly.

Michael brought the bottle of blood to his lips and took a long gulp, finishing with a refreshed gasp.

"I hope that stuff's okay," Derek said. "It's the best we got."

"It's great, thanks."

"It's not everyday you get a vampire stow away."

Michael's smile brightened on the last syllable of vampire. The smile though quickly dashed from his face. "Any news States side?"

Derek's face became grave. "Yeah, actually."

Michael looked at Derek expectantly.

"The whole conflict over NATO's deployment in L.A. finally boiled over," Derek said."They were ordered to be out of the country by last Wednesday."

"The 1st?"

"Yeah."

Michael nodded soberly and set his bottle down. "After all those guerilla attacks on them while they were guarding the quarantine, I'm not surprised."

"Well, everyone's saying this is the beginning of the end of our ties with NATO."

Michael sighed. "There was just too much fear. It was all bound to fall apart. Just like before. I think President Abel understands what Liliac just didn't."

"Well, after all that's happened, can you blame them?" Derek said excitedly. "One of our most, like, major cities went from a battlefield to a ghost town! I mean, NATO coming in out of nowhere felt like an illegal occupation!"

Michael gave Derek astern look. "We couldn't handle the Maniac Wars on our own, so we definitely couldn't handle everything that's happened since on our own either."

Derek retreated into himself. He slowly exhaled through his nose, crossed his legs and picked at his nails. "Also, and I'm sure you saw this coming, Bloody Boston's been ruled a terrorist attack."

"Nothing's gonna happen to those pigs, huh?"

Derek looked at Michael helplessly.

"Boston's finest, my ass," Michael spat. "Those people, vamps or not, had every right to demand their jobs back! It doesn't matter how they look – inside, they're the same people! Same old faithful, tireless dockworkers! Part of the backbone of that city." He took a drink and settled against his wall.

"I'm sorry about Boston, and about your home," Derek said, his voice and face sincerely solemn.

Michael huffed sharply out his nose with a smirk, shaking his head. "I fought in L.A. I'm part of why it's gone. I know that and that's okay. It was gonna happen anyway with or without me." He looked to Derek as his smirk grew to a sly smile. "And with NATO gone, Americans don't have to worry about the Europeans painting their White House blue or some shit."

Michael grinned as Derek burst into a laugh.

"That would put a whole different spin on fighting the Union," Derek said between breaths.

Michael chuckled, joining Derek's amusement.

Derek caught sight of his watch as the two collected themselves. He sighed and begrudgingly lumbered to his feet.

"I'm sorry. I gotta go, man," he said.

"Go," Michael said with a wave of his hand. "As a Latino, it's embarrassing being around a white boy darker than me." He looked to Derek with an impish smile.

Derek chuckled. "Well, while I may be human, you're practically immortal!" His smile softened and his tone slid down to a casual hush. "But, inside, we're the same people."

Michael got to his feet and the two bumped fists.

"See you later, Mike," Derek said, hurrying out the door.

Michael waved slowly after him then resumed his spot. He took another sip of blood, listening to the lulling white noise of the ship's engine.