Mana Pool Snippets - The Days After

Four

"Understood, sir. Will have the report tomorrow at 0800. Talk to you—" He moved the phone from his ear looking lost. "He hung up," he said and leaned forward holding his head, rubbing his face. "God dammit."

"Who was that?" Scott asked.

Deryl did not speak for a moment, and then looked up at Scott. "Do you have any idea how shocked I am you're this healthy?"

Scott did not answer. 

"You know," Deryl continued, "ever since you left the hospital, we tried. We tried everything to lose that weight. It took over six months just for you to lose one pound."

"I remember," Scott said nodding, "and we have a reason to ignore it now. Come on, who was that on the phone?"

"Now look at you. Thin. Back to what you were before the tragedy. Except the whole...magic...tail...stuff."

Scott exhaled. "Deryl, we can talk about my weight loss and mana heart later." He asked again, firmer.

Deryl shook his head, agreeing. "Well. That was CIA Director Greg Haze. Mathews' superior."

"I remember him."

"Can you guess how scared and pissed he was?"

"More than the people surrounding the ship hours ago?" Katie asked.

"Like a raging bull," Deryl said. "He and Mathews sure learned their lesson, more for Mathews. He, the CIA, my employer, and every private organization is trying to be more aware of the Republic's conditions. The President himself is going on air to address everybody to stay away from Jaruka. So yes, I am in over my head in doing my job."

"It's good, I think. The more informed the better, right?" Scott said.

"No, it's not, son. Besides being a secret, everybody will want to see him. Imagine North Korea or Al-Qaeda trolling over, asking how to operate his weapons. Having him here he...he's a dangerous tourist attraction for sure."

"The shield will keep them out," Katie reminded him.

"But not his mouth, or his presence pissing others off." Deryl stood and kicked some dirt. "Great idea, man. Move him here near Scott. Good for you."

Even if Deryl wanted to, Scott thought it would be best not to have Deryl and Denverbay talk face to face.

"It's not your fault, you were pressured," Arana said.

"Probably right." He looked at the ship. "I don't know how to keep a riot from happening here. I'm just sure he has a plan."

Jaruka still had not come out. Scott noticed people getting passed the soldiers to make camp, but were turned around, even begging did not help.

"Speaking of riot," Scott said. "You mentioned captain. What captain? The one we just met?"

"Not him, the missiles," Deryl said. "Maybe you know this but it's the same MO as the zombie reports. A U.S. Navy destroyer in San Diego launched the missiles. None of them had warheads, thank God. My friend in forensics said the crew all had bloody eyes and mutilated bodies. How they killed themselves was not disclosed."

There are more...lots more, Scott thought and scratched his chest scar. "You don't think?" He asked Katie.

Katie shook her head saying, "No, maybe not him. And stop scratching it."

"Who?" Deryl asked.

"The one that spoke through that guy, but...it can't be. There has to be more than just one."

"More?" Deryl asked.

"Reapers," Scott said, but said no more.

"Tell me later." Deryl shook his head. "But the captain I'll tell you." He paused. "He was sliced in half in his cabin. Vertically." Deryl paused again to swallow. "Those are small rooms, and nothing on earth can do that with so little space, I don't know what would have that kind of agility. Not even the sharpest weapon could do that. Who does that? Or what?"