The Sky Beneath Us (on hold)

TWENTY THREE

Day 28. 10:45.

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“Mark is right, these things just came outta nowhere and tore the psychopaths a new one”, Avery told Richard in the council chambers, “Ma’am” he nodded towards Agatha, who look distressed. Avery didn’t blame her. She had just lost her husband after all - Joseph, was just one of many casualties from the attack.

Avery stood with Eve before the two council members. Becca, Brady and Mark sat on pull-out chairs behind them, having already given their briefs on the situation. Brady was sporting a heavily bandaged arm. Becca was dabbing an antiseptic-smelling gooey liquid on her semi-battered face.

Agatha sniffled, before addressing Avery in a low and cracked voice.

“The Devil’s work is at play here” she whispered, eyes sullen and pointed towards her wringing hands, “first those people, like demons in h-human skin…k-killed Joseph…and now…monsters…”

“If hellhounds were real, we saw ‘em” Brady said quietly.

Richard moved to the nearest table, jotted down a few notes mumbling to himself. His shiny steel pen moved graciously over the paper for a few seconds, professional, like a businessman at any other day in the office. Richard for one, took his job very seriously. Agatha broke the temporary silence and caused him to cease writing.

“I…need to be with my son right now, need to be with Ben…” her voice trailed off, and slowly, she moved out of the chamber. All eyes followed her as she went, filled with a shared pity and sadness.

“Poor thing” Becca whispered, which caught Richard’s attention.

He gestured towards the others, a sombre expression across his chiselled features.

“You three. Leave us please”.

Becca, Mark and Brady left the chamber without a word, the former glancing uncertainly at Avery and then Richard before leaving.

“Like monsters, huh?” he muttered, more to himself than the others.

Avery stepped forward.

“The Settlement was not adequately equipped to fight those psychopaths, so we’re definitely screwed if those creatures come our way”.

“I agree”, Eve stated, “we need a plan of action, a failsafe if shit hits the fan. There’s a lot of shit, and this is one big-ass fan, Rich”.

“So”, Avery said, “what’s gonna happen?”

Richard took a few seconds, breathing deep in the silence. He scratched the back of his grey-black head, rubbing one particular spot of hair slowly.

“I’ll look into it”.

“What? If they come we’re all facing death!” Avery shouted angrily, not believing Richard’s reply. Him ‘looking into it’ was simply not enough.

“We need to sort out our more immediate affairs right now. People are dead here, Avery. My Fighters, Joseph…children. Agatha and I are going to talk, sort some things out. Right now, you both need medical attention. Especially you Avery, your entire back is crimson with blood. So get that checked the hell out. Then, the best you two can do for this colony is get to the wall and protect the damn thing, lest some of those freak show nutcases come back”.

“But Rich-“ Eve began, being cut off a second later.

“I don’t wanna hear it, Eve. Go now, you too Avery, or I’ll have you both done for dereliction of duty. And I mean that. Go”.

Avery and Eve left the chamber in silence.

They faced the destroyed Settlement, partly scorched from the blaze that tore through it, an attack that they, the Fighters, failed to stop, and suffered every consequence as a result.

***

Day 28. 18:00.

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As the clocks hit 6pm, four weeks after the ‘Lab Event’, Lieutenant Striker gave the order for his men to open the secured doors into the outside world. Corporal Kevins tapped each lighted blue button on the control panel with a small beep upon every press. He paused on the last, awaiting confirmation from Dr.Stone on the atmospheric toxicity. The thin man stood behind the other troops, wearing a pristine white lab coat and carrying a hefty lab gizmo of some sort.

“The air is clear” Dr.Stone announced, his glasses perched precariously on his pointed nose.

The thick metal parted slowly, and two troopers – Vasquez and Wright - advanced outside, weapons raised. Both privates gave the all-clear, and the rest of Striker’s team moved through and into the long service tunnel.

The contingency plan for the Lab Event was simple - if things didn’t fix themselves, stay inside the bunker for four weeks. Things outside sounded very much the same, inverted, according to the sensor scans, so here they were now. Ready to rebuild.

“Moving out, sir!” Private Wright barked, and the team began to creep carefully down the tunnel. Striker took out his personal data pad, and sent the all-clear to Colonel.

In a few days, they would hit the sewers. And Striker was damn interested to see what exactly had occurred in his four weeks away.