Page 27 of Whispers and Warriors (After #2)
TWENTY-SEVEN
William burst into the cabin with so much speed it was as if needed to reassure himself no one had gotten in or out. Even as his entire body wanted to drop down to sleep the battle off, he couldn’t calm down. The metallic tang of blood and gunpowder still scorched his nostrils. His arm still pulsed and bled, but his eyes wildly searched the room, landing on Emma and Liam sitting in the back corner, with Ranger having jumped up at the door opening.
In two long strides he closed the distance between them and crushed her against his chest, burying his face in her chestnut curls. “Thank God,” he choked out, his desperate kiss conveying more than words ever could. Emma clung to him just as fiercely, her slender fingers digging into his back as she returned his fervor in equal stride.
The thrum of adrenaline still sang in William’s veins, but slowly, gradually, his racing pulse began to calm as he drank in her presence, whole and unharmed in his arms. She was his beacon in the chaos, the light forever drawing him back from the brink of darkness.
A soft whimper snapped him out of his Emma-centric haze. Liam. His best friend was leaning heavily against the wall, one arm wrapped around his midsection, glasses askew on his nose.
Reason whispered in William’s ear.
The others need her, too .
With more willpower than he’d ever claim to have, he released Emma, letting his hands skim down her arms before dropping away completely. “Go,” he murmured, tilting his head toward where Bash was slumped in a chair. “I’ve got Liam.”
Emma squeezed his hand, hazel eyes shimmering with unshed tears and overwhelming love before her lips twisted into a frown. “Your arm.”
“It’s nothing, the bleeding will stop soon enough.”
“Or I can stitch you up right now you pain in the ass, sit.” Alex hissed, not even going to Emma. “You keep a kiss for me, I’m fixing him first, can’t have him passing out on us.”
Emma stepped to the side, a gasp pulling past her lips as she no doubt took in the damage one of them endured.
William made his way to Liam’s side, sitting down beside him hoping for some small talk. “Talk to me, Brother. Where are you hurt?”
“Took a hit to the arm that I swore also went into my side,” Liam grunted, peeling his hand away to reveal a crimson-soaked shirt.
“That’s because two pieces found you, you moron,” Alex hissed.
Liam rolled his eyes at Alex. “Fucking piece of wood came out of nowhere. You?”
“Knife. Fucker went deep, but I made sure the handler went down.”
“Good deal,” Liam winced.
“Here we go,” Alex pricked William’s bicep. “Hold the bandage until I tell you to let go. No way to rinse something this deep out so you be careful, you hear me. No fucking dirt anywhere near it, thankfully I know your Tetanus Shot is up to date.
“No fucking fair, you didn’t numb me.”
Alex clucked, “You passed out, dumbass.”
William smiled, gladder than ever at their good natured ribbing. It meant they were alive.
Alex grabbed his arm and William was thankful he barely even noticed the pressure of Alex’s grasp.
Chris cleared his throat, his authoritative presence instantly grounding the chaotic energy in the room. His sharp gaze swept over each of them, assessing, cataloging. “Wound check, now,” he barked, the order brooking no argument.
William pointed at his arm. “Arm’s a bit banged up, and I tweaked my knee pretty good. Nothing too serious. As I told Liam, the idiot who stabbed me got it worse.”
Chris nodded curtly, already moving on. “Alex?”
“Bullet grazed my cheek,” Alex reported, fingering the bleeding cut with a rakish grin. “And I twisted my ankle diving for cover. But you should see the other guys.”
“Bash?” Chris’s tone gentled imperceptibly as he turned to the big man.
Bash grunted, hands methodically checking his own body for damage. “Not sure. Bleeding from somewhere, but I’ll figure it out. No bullet wounds, I can tell you that much. Fucking amateurs if they can’t hit someone as big as me.”
“I’ll help,” Emma offered, already reaching for another med kit.
Chris waved her off. “I’ve got him. Somehow, I’m the only one who made it through unscathed this time.”
William frowned, a tendril of unease curling in his gut. It wasn’t like Chris to emerge from a firefight without a scratch. Before he could give voice to his concerns, Chris resumed speaking
“Alex, you’re with me. We need to check topside, see how the rest of the crew fared. Med bay is going to need you, and as much as I want to be selfish, we all know we can’t.” Chris’s expression was grim, the scar on his cheek stark in the harsh light. “It’s gonna be awhile before we can regroup.”
“Understood. I should report to the unit anyway, let them know we made it, but give me a few to stitch up this joker.”
William watched the slide of the needle in and out of his skin, the wound closing just a bit each time. Blood still dripped down his arm, but Alex worked quick, a skill few civilian medics could manage, but a necessity for military.
Alex pushed to his feet, favoring his injured ankle. “Okay, two idiots stitched. Bash if you find a real injury, you come find me.” He crossed to Emma in two long strides, cupping her face tenderly as he kissed her. “Stay safe, Sweetheart. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Emma clung to him for a moment, reluctant to let go. “You better be,” she whispered fiercely. “I can’t lose you.”
Alex tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, his cocky smirk softening into something infinitely more intimate. “Never gonna happen. You’re stuck with me, remember?”
With a final press of his lips to her forehead, Alex released her and headed for the door, clapping William on the shoulder as he passed. Chris started to follow, but William called out, halting him.
“Who else is going out there?” William hated the way his voice shook, but he had to know. Had to brace himself for more loss, more grief.
Chris’s jaw tightened, a muscle ticking in his cheek. “No one is leaving that doesn’t have to. You and Bash rest. I want to keep it clear for the poor fuckers who have to throw the dead over… and I have to assume we’ll be part of that group due to our strength, so let’s rest now.”
William nodded, his stomach rolling at the idea of staring at more death, but if he could handle something someone else couldn’t, he was doing it. Just like joining the unit after the bombs when he had no business in the military.
Chris strode over to Emma, his hands framing her face as he searched her eyes, his own reflecting a maelstrom of emotions. “You sure you’re alright?” His voice was low, urgent.
Emma managed a shaky nod, leaning into his touch. “I’m okay. Just shaken up.” Her gaze darted to Liam, who was gingerly flexing his injured arm, his face a mask of pain. “But you’re all so injured. And Liam…”
Chris followed her line of sight, his brow furrowing. He pressed a swift, hard kiss to Emma’s lips before pulling away, his attention shifting to his second-in-command. “Liam, you think you can walk? If not, tell me, but I think I want you with me when we find out what’s going on.”
“In case you go into a rage fit?”
He snickered. “Yeah, that.”
Liam grimaced, but pushed himself upright, cradling his arm against his chest. “Yeah, I can manage. It’s just my arm, like Will’s but longer and with a fucking splinter still in it if I didn’t know better. And a concussion.”
“Good deal,” Chris took Emma’s hand and squeezed it because if he kissed her again he was going to insist on a wound check and he already knew she was somehow fine, just dazed. “No one leave. Understood?”
The chorus of understanding was enough for him, so he strode out with Liam behind him.
“Chris?” Liam’s hand wrapped around his wrist, stopping him.
“What’s up?”
Liam hesitated, something haunted flickering in his eyes. “Chris, those uniforms the attackers were wearing... I’ve seen them before. Long before the bombs dropped.”
Chris’s head snapped up, his gaze sharpening. “What do you mean? Where have you seen them?”
Liam shook his head, frustration etched into the lines of his face. “I can’t quite place it, but I know I’ve seen that insignia. It’s not military, but it’s definitely not civilian either.”
Chris absorbed that information, his mind racing. He hadn’t even gotten a good look at the people they were fighting because they just kept showing up. He’d assumed they were dealing with just another band of desperate survivors the military paid, but if Liam was right... This could be something far more dangerous.
He tore his gaze away from Liam, taking in the chaos of the hallway. People were huddled together, some weeping quietly, others staring blankly into space. The metallic scent of blood hung heavy in the air, mingling with the acrid tang of gunpowder. It reminded him of some of the early days of hell when the population turned on each other.
Chris’s stomach churned as he surveyed the damage. Bullet holes punctured the walls, shattered glass littered the floor. And the bodies...god, how many had they lost? How many more would they lose to injuries before this nightmare was over?
He scrubbed a hand over his face, feeling the weight of leadership settling heavily on his shoulders. They needed answers, needed a plan. They needed to make sure this never happened again. Eyes needed to be trained on the sky and the sea at all times.
Chris forced himself to walk across the debris-strewn deck, his boots crunching on shattered glass and splintered wood. The bitter tang of smoke and blood hung heavy in the air, a grim reminder of the chaos that had torn through the ship. His jaw clenched as he navigated the twisted maze of passageways, eyes scanning for any sign of further threat.
As he emerged onto the bridge, his gaze locked onto the captain, her silver-streaked hair gleaming under the flickering lights. She stood ramrod straight, a beacon of calm amidst the storm.
“Captain Novak,” Chris called out, his voice carrying the weight of command even as he inclined his head in respect. “What’s our status? How bad is the damage?”
He walked even as she answered, trying to bridge the distance and not look at the bodies under his feet.
The captain turned to face him, her steel-gray eyes assessing him with the precision of a laser scope. “We’ve confirmed there’s none left alive onboard, no real way of knowing where they came from and diverted power to maintain life support,” she reported, her tone crisp and efficient. “But we’ve lost a significant portion of our supplies, including food.”
Chris absorbed the information with a grim nod, not that he knew what any of it meant—except for the food bit. They’d have to ration what remained, maybe even send out fishing parties if needed. But first, they needed to ensure the immediate safety of the survivors.
“What about the crew? The passengers?” he pressed, his brow furrowed with concern. “How many casualties are we looking at?”
The captain’s expression tightened, a flicker of pain dancing behind her eyes before she blinked it away. “Too many,” she said softly, her voice threaded with a weariness that spoke of countless battles and hard-fought victories. “We’re still assessing the full extent of the losses, but it’s... it’s bad.”
He swallowed hard, the weight of those unsaid names pressing down on his chest like a physical force. Each one represented a life, a story cut short by the cruelty of this new world order. And though he’d seen his share of death and destruction, it never got easier to bear.
“I’m confining all passengers to their cabins for the next four days,” the captain continued, her tone hardening with resolve. “We’ll set up a rotation for them to assist with cleanup and repairs, but we can’t risk any further security breaches.”
Chris nodded his agreement, his mind already turning over the logistics of such an order. They’d need to post guards, establish communication protocols, maybe even set up a temporary triage center in one of the larger rooms.
“And the food situation?” he asked, dreading the answer even as he braced for it. “Just how much is gone?”
The captain’s lips thinned into a grim line. “We lost almost all of our meat storage in the attack. Not the meat yet, but the means to keep it fresh. And with most of our cooking facilities damaged, we won’t be able to prepare much beyond basic rations for a few days, everything will spoil long before we get to morning because it was never salt coated.”
Chris exhaled slowly, the implications sinking in like lead weights. They were looking at weeks, of stretching their meager supplies to the breaking point.
He shook his head, forcing the dark thoughts aside. They’d cross that bridge when they came to it. For now, they needed to focus on the immediate tasks at hand.
“Understood,” he said crisply, squaring his shoulders as he met the captain’s gaze. “My team and I will assist with whatever you need. Just say the word.”
The captain studied him for a long moment, her eyes searching his face for something he couldn’t quite name. Then, slowly, she nodded, a glimmer of something like respect flickering in her expression.
“I’ll hold you to that, Chris,” she said quietly, her voice carrying the weight of a promise. “We’re going to need all hands on deck if we’re going to make it through this.”
Chris held the captain’s gaze, his eyes glinting with a steely resolve. “Captain, with your permission, I’d like to propose having my unit assist with patrol duties.” His voice was firm, the words measured and precise. “We’re trained for this, and we can provide additional security to keep the ship and its passengers safe. Yes, we can stand guard, but we’re better at watching, waiting, than babysitting.”
Captain Novak’s expression was inscrutable as she weighed the options. The silence stretched between them, broken only by the distant sounds of the crew working to repair the damage. Finally, she gave a curt nod, her decision made. “Very well. Your team’s expertise will be invaluable in maintaining order and protecting our people. Coordinate with the head of security to establish patrol schedules and protocols.”
Relief washed over Chris, mingling with a renewed sense of purpose. “Thank you, Captain. We won’t let you down.” He hesitated for a moment, then added, “If I may speak freely?”
The captain’s eyebrow arched, curiosity piqued by his request. “Go ahead.”
Chris turned to Liam, who had been standing silently by his side, observing the exchange with a pensive expression. “Liam, I need you to tell the captain what you saw during the attack. Every detail matters. But keep your voice down, we don’t want to scare people.”
Liam stepped forward, his blue eyes sharp behind his glasses as he met the captain’s inquiring gaze. He drew a deep breath, organizing his thoughts before speaking. “Captain, I got a good look at the attackers during the chaos. Their uniforms, their weapons, their tactics... It’s like nothing I’ve seen before, at least not since the bombs dropped.”
When she didn’t ask questions, Chris motioned for Liam to continue.
Liam’s voice took on a grave tone as he continued, “Captain, based on what I saw, I believe these attackers are connected to one of the richest men in the world. A man who clearly survived the apocalypse and is now holed up with resources that even the US government doesn’t have. Victor Warrington.”
Chris’s brows furrowed as he absorbed this revelation. The thought of a single individual wielding such power in this shattered world was both intriguing and deeply unsettling. He glanced at the captain, wondering how she would respond to this information. They all knew the man who created the most powerful AI in the world—the same AI that turned on them and wrote code to trigger the bio-bombs.
Captain Novak’s steel-gray eyes narrowed, her posture stiffening almost imperceptibly. “Are you certain of this, Liam?” Her voice was steady, but Chris could detect an undercurrent of concern beneath her composed exterior.
Liam nodded solemnly. “I’ve seen those uniforms before, Captain. Long before the bombs fell. There’s no mistaking them. That little white logo of the plane always stuck with me because I didn’t understand it.”
Chris stepped forward, his mind already shifting to the practical implications of this discovery. “Captain, have you ever been attacked like this before?”
The captain met his gaze, her expression deadly serious. “No. In all my years at sea, both before and after the apocalypse, we’ve never faced an assault of this magnitude or level of coordination.”
A heavy silence fell over them. The ship, which had once seemed like an impenetrable fortress, now felt vulnerable, exposed to an enemy they had grossly underestimated.
Liam broke the silence, his voice thoughtful yet urgent. “Captain, I know it’s not my place, but I’m a navigator first and foremost. I suggest we change course. Even if it adds time to our journey, we need to find a way to replenish our supplies, especially if we’re going to be dealing with more attacks like this.”
Chris nodded in agreement, his mind already running through the potential risks and rewards of such a move. Changing course would be a gamble, but it might be their best chance of staying one step ahead of their mysterious adversary.
To his surprise, the captain didn’t immediately dismiss the idea. Instead, she considered it for a long moment, her brow furrowed in concentration. Finally, she looked up, her decision made.
“You’re right, Liam. We can’t continue on our current path, not with this new threat on the horizon. We’ll alter our course, find a way to fish for food and gather resources where we can.”
Chris and Liam exchanged a glance, both equally shocked by the captain’s agreement. It was a testament to the gravity of the situation that she was willing to deviate from her carefully laid plans.
Chris turned back to the captain, his voice solemn yet resolute. “I’m so sorry you and your crew have been caught up in this mess. But hopefully, with this change in course, you and your ship can lie low for a bit.”
He ran a hand through his wavy brown hair, before fiddling his fingers over the scar on his cheek. “It’s clear someone was watching us, tracking our movements. Thank god we took down that helicopter before it could report back our location.”
The captain nodded grimly, her shoulders sagging under the weight of the day’s events. “We’ll do our best to stay off the radar, but I fear this is only the beginning. Whoever is behind this attack, they have resources beyond anything we’ve seen since the world fell apart.”
“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to brief my crew on the change in plans.”
As she strode away, Chris couldn’t help but admire the woman for her strength and resilience. In a world where so much had been lost, it was people like her who kept the flame of hope alive. Even if she’d failed to do so back in the states.
He turned to Liam, clapping a hand on his good shoulder. “Come on, let’s get back to the others. We have a lot of work ahead of us if we’re going to make it through this in one piece.”