Demon Seed

Chapter 33

Chapter 33

The Team Camp site

Courtney, Tracy, Meaghan and Ross were sitting near the equipment tent watching the seismometers showing the data for the latest earthquake to hit Japan this week. Many scientists were reporting that a nuclear reactor was damaged by a tsunami and several small islands in the Pacific Ocean were inundated from the huge waves that struck them.

This was in the realm of their research expertise but the death of Emily was still very tender in their minds and hearts. The ladies were all asking Ross to stay near when they were out in the field and this caused Ross to be tired and ill-tempered when he was around them for too long.

He was trying not to snap at any of them, especially Courtney, and was trying to reassure them when he needed to leave to "check" a seismometer. In reality, Ross was talking to Cameron or Jagoe in order to plan the assault more thoroughly when Cameron arrived later tonight.

Meaghan and Tracy were trying to hold it together and support each other, as Courtney maintained her leadership role and Ross was able to maintain his ruse and speak to Cameron in a timely manner. His conversations with Miguel, and then Hector, proved his mettle even more as he dealt with the team and with the town's issues.

Ross felt the satellite phone buzz in his bag again and knew he needed to get away to answer it soon. It had rang three times since he met up with the ladies and was afraid it was Hector or Cameron again. "I'm going to go check number 475 again. I felt a few minors when I was over there yesterday and think I should recheck since this japan earthquake was so strong."

Courtney walked up behind him and put her hand on his back and asked, "Do you want me to go with you? I would like to see the papers myself." Tracy and Meaghan looked at the pair and Ross could see the fear in their eyes.

He felt horrible saying this but he needed to be alone for the call. "I'm sorry but I need to get there quick and back so I can be around for you three. I'll grab what I can when I get there and check the sensors and then come back quickly. Will you three be okay here by yourselves while I'm gone?"

Courtney sowed her disappointment but acquiesced and nodded her head as she turned away from him. Meaghan and Tracy started to move towards the fire that Ross had started a little while ago. Tracy was preparing to start cooking and Meaghan was heading towards her equipment tent to look at her sensors and computers.

Ross looked at Courtney's back and felt his heart ache to hold her again, but knew that it may cause issues with the group if he did. Ross turned and picked up his bag and headed to his truck to drive out to the desert and check his phone.

As he drove off, Courtney turned her head and wiped away a tear and picked up the readouts from the computer Meaghan had printed earlier from the Japan earthquake and entered her office tent to sit down and analyze them. All was quiet except for the sound of dinner preparations and the little bit of night sounds the desert produced.

Ross looked in his rearview mirror 10 minutes after he left camp and figured he was far enough to stop. He pulled to a stop and turned off his truck. He pulled out his phone and checked the list of received numbers, looking for Cameron's familiar one, and hitting it when he saw it.

"It's about damn time you picked up your phone. Geez! My ETA is about 30 minutes to our rendezvous point. Hector said he would leave a vehicle for me near the outpost and when I find it, I'll head to the village and find Hector. Try to call me when you can because I will be busy trying to coordinate all this shit." Cameron instructed his friend.

"I'll do my best, but I'm finding it hard to get away from the girls long enough not to raise suspicion and call any of you. Just be patient." Ross explained.

"I'm sure it is hard getting away from Courtney now that you're fucking her finally. I remember her looking pretty fucking hot, so I'm not surprised you're having issues getting away." Cameron teased.

"That's pretty fucking sad you are joking about that after Emily being killed. You must be experiencing PTSD or mourning, or you are truly the asshole Jagoe was telling me about. Did you actually love Emily, or were you just fucking her for her money and dad?" Ross wondered.

"I'll admit that her dad was a big part of it, but I do..er, did, love her a lot, but I can't dwell too much right now. I need to focus on killing this creature and then I'll mourn more. Remember bro, 'once a soldier, always a soldier!'" Cameron laughed as he hung up.

Ross just shook his head and looked at the list of calls again. He noticed a number he did not recall from any familiar ones. He was just curious enough to hit redial and see who it was. When the call picked up, Ross heard, "You have reached the offices of Dr. Jerry Gant, Director of the National Earthquake Center, how may I direct your call...", Ross hung up quickly and stared at the phone for a bit. "Holy shit! That was Emily's father! Fuck, we are in the shit now!"

Ross looked at the last number on the list and knew just who that was. With a sigh of disgust, Ross hit redial and waited for the call to be answered. "Amigo! I was afraid you were not answering your fucking phone anymore for me. I am tired of being ignored, talked down to and generally fucked over by you and your so-called friends in America! What good news do you have for me finally?" Hector said sarcastically over the phone to Ross.

Ross laid his head on the steering wheel, took a deep breath and spoke slowly, "I have just talked to Cameron and he will be at the outpost in less than 30 minutes. Then he is heading straight for you to plan out the next step. Don't bust my balls about anything because you know Jagoe runs the show and we are just gophers for him."

"Gringo, you sound tired my friend. You getting any sleep out there in the desert? I heard that one of your team was killed by the monster and the site tore up pretty good. I also heard you are fucking one of the ladies. Good grief man, no wonder you can't answer the phone. You're too damn busy dipping your wick and not doing your goddamn job!" Hector said venomously.

"You need not worry about my team, my sex life or my life in general asshole! If there is anything I feel you need to know, I'll fucking tell you myself. So go get your men and weapons ready and Cameron will be there in about an hour." Ross spoke slowly, "And if you ever talk to me or about Courtney, or any of the ladies for that matter again, I'll fucking kick your ass, motherfucker! We understand each other, friend?"

"Don't get all bent out of shape gringo. I was just trying to lighten the mood some. I do see that since this is such a sensitive subject that it probably has some truth to it. And gringo, if you ever talk to me like that again, I'll shove my foot up your ass and walk on your goddamn guts until you bleed to death. I'm not one of the ladies, your inferiors or your fucking US Army grunts, I am my own man and will fuck you up if you do. Are we clear?" Hector gave him no chance to answer but hung up.

Ross sat staring at the phone and then set it down on the seat and punched the dashboard repeatedly until his temper eased up. When the red in his vision cleared, he saw that he had dented the dashboard and broke the vent in the center of the dash.

"Fuck!" That was all he could say as he started the truck, turned around and headed back towards the camp site. Trepidation followed in his wake as he drove back to Courtney, his meeting with Cameron and the unanswered question of why Emily's dad was calling him. Guess he will find out soon when he talks to Cameron or if they call him back. Either way, he knew it did not bode well when Dr. Jerry Gant called your personal phone.

"Now what" was all Ross could say when he neared camp and saw Courtney and Tracy running for his truck. The look of terror on all their faces showed that this was not going to be a good answer.